Archive for November 30, 2009

Muffin Tin Monday

November 30, 2009 / Molly / 10 comments

MTM125Button

This week I remembered to do the lunches in the Muffin Tin style….actually on a Monday! There was no theme this week so I made up a simple one of ’round’(ish) things. I decided to try doing one for little L as well as K and it worked a treat. She didn’t pick it up and throw it on the floor although she did suck on the patty pans so might skip those next time.

We had ham and cheese on a toothpick rolled up (for K not L), grapes (cut in half for L), baked beans (ok, so they are oval but they are still roundish), cherios, cherry tomatoes (for K not L), cheese cut with a bell shaped biscuit cutter (round edges), bread cut with a scone cutter and L had pieces of ham to chew on. Almost everything was eaten!

P1170072

P1170076

P1170077

Category: All Sorts of Things, Darling Daughters, Family / Tags: , , ,

A Christmas Give Away

November 30, 2009 / Molly / One comment

I am having a give away over at my Polyclarific blog. Go to this link: Polyclarific.com and follow the instructions to enter. Your Prize will be this Hills and Dales Necklace. This competition is open to anyone anywhere in the world. The winner will be selected using a random number generator and will be chosen on Sunday 6th December, 3pm Perth time. Feel free to enter as many times as you want to.

IMG_4998

Category: All Sorts of Things, Polyclarific, Polymer Clay, Sales and Competitions / Tags: , ,

Yay a Pair of Socks!

November 28, 2009 / Molly / No comments

Last night I completed sock number two. It was so nice to finish this as I’ve been knitting these for a few months. Funny thing was that sock number two took about a week and a half! Once I found the right instructions on-line I was set. I’ve ordered some more sock wool and some has arrived (pictured below) so I’ll start the next set soon. K has been asking for a pair of pink and purple ones so I’ll see about doing a kids pair first. They’ve got to be a lot faster I imagine.

Summer starts in Australia in two days time so its a bit odd to be knitting at this time of year however its been so cool that its not bothered me at all. You are meant to do all your knitting for the next winter during the summer and autumn anyway so maybe I’ll just be able to do that this time.

P1160964
More sock wool!

P1160980

P1160984

Category: All Sorts of Things, Knitting / Tags: ,

A List of Questions

November 27, 2009 / Molly / 2 comments

Narelle over at Moments For Mum has created a list of questions and asked us to give them a go. Here’s the list and the answers. Feel free to copy and paste and be sure to leave a comment on her blog if you do.

1. What are the most important values in your life right now?
I think honesty is the most important value right now for me. I need people to give real feedback in all areas of my life.

2. The best thing about your family is?
That we are able to bring ourselves back down to earth when we have been grumpy towards each other. I also love having two girls, they are complete opposites to each other in every way and they are both a LOT of fun.

3. Things that make you angry are?
Disobedience (from the kids), Lying, people who are inconsiderate of other people’s feelings

4. The biggest dream you have for yourself is?
To be able to get my painting legs back again and sell some of my work successfully.

5. Your favourite hobby/thing to do?
Anything artsy and creative.

6. 2 things that make you laugh?
L’s cheekiness and her attempts to talk and K’s craziness, Michael’s stories

7. 3 of your favourite possessions are?
My moleskine sketchbooks, my little worn out (not from overuse but from shoving it in my bag and from L getting to it) Bible, my computer.

8. Your least favourite thing to do is?
Ok, for most of us its ironing, for me its a toss up between going to bed at night and putting that rotten fitted sheet on K’s bed.

9. Your best 3 qualities?
Hard work, perseverance, compassion (I think)

10. The achievement you are most proud of is?
Being pregnant twice as it was one of my two biggest fears (the other one is driving)

11. A mother you admire is?
My own. Also my Nanna (who passed away 11 years ago)

12. If you could go back and change something in your life, you would change?
The self-righteous version of me from my teenage years or maybe stop myself from perming my fringe in high school.

13. How have you showed love to someone else this week?
Well, in amongst being annoyed at the girls for things related to #3, I did set out the breakfast table the night before for Michael and the girls complete with stickers and drawings. This is done very rarely!

14. Something you wish you could change about yourself? (excluding physical attributes)
My impatience

15. Your favourite quote?
Dare you go where the Holy Spirit Leads and Leave the Consequences with Him. A spiritual quote I know, not one that everyone will appreciate but its something thats stuck with me since high school and has given me confidence to go to some wacky places in the world.

Thanks Narelle, hope I answered honestly!

Category: All Sorts of Things, Deeper Thoughts, Family / Tags: , ,

Toddler Translation

November 27, 2009 / Molly / One comment

toddler translation 1

This week’s Toddler Translation word is ‘trust’. The theme is chosen each week by Childhood 101‘s author (and my friend) Christie. She has asked us to show a photo that embodies trust for our toddler. After thinking about the photos I have of little L recently, I couldn’t think of anything that suited. I did however go back through the archives of the year and remembered this (set of) photo(s). This is the typical ‘throw your child in the air and catch them’ sort of trust photo. Little L is obviously not a toddler in this photo but the reason I like this is that it shows how we slowly build more and more trust with our child as they grow (see the quotes below). This picture is actually my brother Johnathan throwing L in the air and catching her and she loved it!

P1050227

P1050228

P1050230

P1050237

~ It takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it. ~
Anonymous

~ To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved. ~
George MacDonald

Category: All Sorts of Things, Darling Daughters, Family / Tags: , ,

I Love Retro!

November 27, 2009 / Molly / 2 comments

Last week we dropped into a newish store not too far from our place called ‘Hey Joe Retro’. Its full of stuff from the 50′s – 70′s and its a treasure trove! I love to poke around in shops like this and see what we can find. This time I came away with two things, a genuine 50′s barkcloth apron and a cute little egg timer. Here’s the stash:

P1160754

Next time I go I’ll be after a melamine butter dish and a set of salt and pepper shakers. They even have some fabulous clothes in there! If anyone wants to know where it is, its on Stock Rd in White Gum Valley. I think I might be a regular.

Category: All Sorts of Things, Thrift/Op Shopping / Tags: , ,

Quick and Easy Dolls High Chair

November 24, 2009 / Molly / 2 comments

We picked up some fruit from the markets the other day and it came in a couple of boxes. These are mango boxes, the sort that are a bit stronger than others and I was thinking about what to do with them and this came to mind.

P1160727

Here’s what I did with the boxes:

P1160729

P1160731

I made a cut using my stanley knife through the middle of the box on both sides. I then scored the inside of the box joining the two cuts so that I could bend the box outwards.

P1160730

Then I bent the two halves backwards so they met in the middle. You can see the chair taking shape.

P1160732

I then did some shaping with my knife to round off the sides. I also used wide sticky tape to secure the middle flaps to each other as well as some on the back and sides.

P1160734

I then added a pillow for a seat and taped on some straps (and sat dolly in the chair).

P1160735

P1160736

You can see I simply taped the straps on, the doll comes out by slipping her out of the straps not undoing them (here anyway).

I then did the same with the top of the box so that Miss L had one to play with too:

P1160738

and as you can see, it was a hit!

P1160739

P1160740

P1160750

Although little Miss L seems to like to sit on it, amazingly it takes all 12kg!

P1160777

Let me just say that this was totally impromptu and unplanned. If I were to continue with making this I would do the following:

1. Either paint or cover the whole thing with contact to hide the stains from the fruit and give it continuity.
2. Make a little seat for the high chair that fits.
3. Make straps that are secured properly and clip together, maybe even use a set of harness straps.
4. Make a tray.

In looking at this little chair I can see many uses for it. You could easily use it as a shelf if you are selling at markets like I am. you could even use it as a little light box for taking photos with. If you turned it on its side you could create a dolls house with a series of these. I’m sure you could come up with a whole lot more to do with this. I’d love to hear your ideas and see anything you make!

Category: All Sorts of Things, Darling Daughters, Family / Tags: , , , , ,

Shirring/Smocking Update

November 23, 2009 / Molly / 2 comments

Over the last few days I’ve had two whole days in which I could sew to my heart’s content as the girls were being looked after by their wonderful Grandparents. I spent Saturday morning doing the prep for the shirring that I mentioned two posts ago but had to stop at lunch time due to another appointment.

Today was day two and as soon as the girls were picked up I got everything ready. The shirring is meant to be easy according to the tutorial I am using but I discovered that my Brother BM 2600 will not do it! I adjusted everything accordingly, rewound the bobbin a few times and nothing! After feeling frustrated and searching on the net for answers I discovered a few reviews for this sort of basic machine. One review basically said to ‘forget shirring with this machine’. Sigh. All that prep. Looks as if I will have to borrow a machine off someone because I’m determined to finish what I’ve started. After all, I’ve got five tops/dresses all marked up and ironed and ready to go! I have been pointed in the direction of buying a gathering or walking foot but I think its just the machine.

Anyway, after a short break to let my frustration subside (and a walk to the shops in the heat) I came back to the machine to attempt project #2 for the day. I managed to successfully make these three bibs (using this free pattern, slightly modified) which will go to special bubbies who have been born recently (actually, haven’t all bubbies been born recently! Oh dear). The good thing about going over the the shops at intermission was being able to poke around inside the local op shop. I normally can’t do this because the stroller won’t fit in the door. Poking around turned up a towel that I was able to cut up and use for the bibs as I’d already given away all my cloth nappies. So, here are the results of all that work, at least I was able to achieve something in my two days of quiet.

P1160801

P1160803

P1160804

Category: All Sorts of Things, Family, Sewing / Tags: , , , ,

Muffin Tin Monday

November 23, 2009 / Molly / 4 comments

Our Muffin Tin lunches are not really following the theme BUT I am at least attempting to improve the look of the food K is eating. Amongst the busyness of the day this is as far as I got…..putting nice patty pans into the muffin tin! She liked the idea and she ate most of it.

My aim is to find a pretty muffin pan, maybe heart shaped, silicone or something along those lines to use and then to try and follow the theme. Seeing as this week’s theme was ‘Thanksgiving’ and we are in Australia, I can get away with not doing it! (not that I’m not thankful, its just not our celebration). So here’s the shot of my efforts slowly improving:

P1160540

P1160544

This is tuna and tomato sandwiches on multi-grain bread, carrots and cheese, sultanas and lime jelly. She liked it anyway!

Category: All Sorts of Things, Darling Daughters, Family / Tags: , ,

Fabric Addiction

November 19, 2009 / Molly / No comments

Recently I found this page that tells you all about how to do a sort of smocking using your sewing machine. Its a Martha Stewart tutorial and while I’m not a fan (bit too overly commercial and crafty for me) it looks pretty easy and I’m sure its all in the way you wind the elastic around your bobbin. Being a ‘pretend’ sewer means that I can pretend I know what I’m doing so I’m going to pretend away and have a go. Might have to try it out on some scrap first methinks.

Anyway, in anticipation of this actually working I have been buying fabric from all over the place for the girls. Actually I’ve bought some for a few other people, should the whole exercise be a success. I sound confident don’t I. I’m not as cynical about it as I sound, I like to say I’m a realist (one of those expect the worst and then if it goes well you get a nice surprise kind of people). So without further adieu I give you, the fabric!! Loving the colours (not all pink and purple for a change). I’m not telling you which fabric is for other people, just in case they happen to read this.

P1160626

P1160621

P1160622

P1160625

I have a feeling that not all the fabrics shown will become little smocked dresses and tops but if my plans succeed then they will have a few each.

When I was in Cairns we visited a fabric shop which is closing down. Actually I think from the amount of stock they have it will take around 10 years to close down but I don’t mind. They had every sort of ribbon and trim that you could think of, even seat belt stuff and stretchy belt stuff. I’m a bit of a ribbon hoarder so I had a field day there, here’s some of my stash:

P1160628

Much of this will become the straps for the dresses. Stay tuned and in a few weeks time I might have something to show for my planning.

Category: All Sorts of Things, Sewing / Tags: , , ,
« Older Entries  
Wordpress Theme by ThemeZee