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Mmmm Mmm Good

2010-02-08T16:55:00.006+10:00

Over our summer holidays my daughter was inspired to make us a dessert she saw in a magazine. With fresh peaches, banana and grapes. It went nicely with our hot days. She was proud as it turned out so yummy!

Sweet Flower Stand

2010-02-05T19:09:00.005+10:00

A fresh bunch of flowers on your table is so good, the smells and colors. For only $5 a bunch you can buy them at the flower stand up the road from my house.

In our area there are many stands, fruit stands, hay bails on the side of road for sale, mushroom compost, all sorts of manures available too! Fruit stands have a money tin for payment so you can buy citrus, avos, mangoes, pumpkins, and much more for pocket change while on your Sunday drive. I love living rural, this being one of a million perks.

Starry Night

2010-01-17T20:53:00.004+10:00

After buying this swatch of cheap wool blend charcoal fabric I pulled out the blues, greens and turquoise fabric scraps. Sewed up some stars. And added one yellow. I have not done a quilt in what feels like a long long time, so it was a treat to sprawl out all over the living room and pile up the dining table with fabric, everywhere. I will post again after it's quilted.

Cactus

2010-01-17T19:43:00.007+10:00

If you live in a queenslander home you are rich with veranda! Our "porches" wrap around most of the house. Being up high helps to catch the breezes in summer. My new project has been to declutter the verandas and create comfy space to drink, snack, read, or play UNO. My dear friend Emma the florist has an amazing creative eye for anything leafy/floral. She spotted our neglected cactus out in yard by the rain tank on top of the septic lid. She said, "wow that is such a cool cactus!" One Bunnings trip later our cactus is feeling pretty happy having moved up to veranda sunshiny views and a sleek new pot. With Emma's help (thanks Em..)we picked out some other grasses to compliment. I will keep you posted with stage 2 of our veranda make-over.

Bean Bag Makeover

2010-01-14T09:17:00.003+10:00

Our crappy old bean bag was such an eye sore. Blue denim. So finally this summer project is finished. I made a new liner with calico and a new cover with Denyse Schmidt's County Fair home dec. fabric. I found a gray fabric with some shimmer to match. It is sort of pumpkinish in shape. The pattern is kindly posted here.

Cactus Print

2010-01-10T19:15:00.006+10:00

Drew up this cactus and printed in green. I hope my curing is successful.

Favorite Fabrics of 2009

2010-01-10T08:34:00.014+10:00

Through the year so many fabrics have passed under my machine's needle. Fabrics are after all what inspire us to sew something. Some fabrics are saved for a long long time, waiting for that perfect project, because that piece of fabric is very special. I am just learning too that fabrics disappear from shops never to be bought again! Luckily designers are bringing out amazing new fabrics to be excited about! So here is my all time favorites list compiled with movtivation by True Up's blog.

Favorite HOME DECOR:
Anna Maria Horner's Drawing Room
Favorite Juvenile Print: Sandy Klop "Happy Campers"
Favorite Trend: 50's Florals
Favorite Geometric Print: Gingham Favorite Op Shop Find:

Favorite Novelty Print: Cheeky Squirrels
Favorite New Designer: Kristen Doran
Favorite Overall Designer: Anna Maria Horner
Favorite Fabric Shop: Buttercupity

Favorite Mystery Collection: (If anyone knows any info on this basket of fabric my Mom gave me I would love some.)

Little Desert

2010-01-07T13:36:00.002+10:00

A wonderful friend of mine makes these great potted mini deserts. I bought three from her the other day. Our drinking coffee, playing cards area on the veranda looks so much nicer!

All the way from Missouri USA

2010-01-05T19:45:00.006+10:00

A box came to me from my Mom. She is the best at posting wonderful boxes of pure delight to us. I thought I would share with you two items inside. Both knitted then felted by her super nice friend, Joyce. The handbag is cute with its frillyness, and the basket is a lovely shade of pink.

Sassy Kitty

2009-12-27T16:08:00.004+10:00

Given to me from my mother-in-law was a screen for printing onto fabric! Oh joy! So here is photo of results of my first attempt. My sassy kitty print. Meow~!

Christmas cheer

2009-12-27T12:10:00.009+10:00

Just thought I would share some wonderful gifts given to me this Christmas. This first one pictured is a green glass fish bowl. I spotted it in an antique shop in Missouri earlier this year. My Mom posted it to me for Christmas along with a green glass cabbage bowl. Both are so neat! I have put black cat liquorice in one.

The other neato gift given to me from my husband were these charming brooches from a local antique shop. One is a Beau Cat the other is a Trifari beetle. I love them both. I am in the process of screen printing a similar cat onto some material. If it turns out I will post later on.

Hot & Not so Hot

2009-12-16T11:01:00.005+10:00

Thanks to Loobylu for letting me participate in Hot/Not Wednesday's.

Not so Hot:

Setting out the butter to make cookies, then the butter actually melting because it is so hot outside, I need "room temp" butter please.
The clouds floating around and failing to rain!
Chipmunks Christmas music turned up very loud every morning. (it was fun the first three days)

Hot:

Our stockings all hung in a row.
This horse I can see from my veranda getting cool under the tree.
My husband pressure washing the car park and some windows I have trouble reaching.
School Christmas parties and concerts!
Ordering 1 box of cherries, 1 tray of mangoes, and 1 smoked ham for Christmas.

Have a great week everyone!

Tree Assembly 101

2009-12-08T16:44:00.003+10:00

I grew up in Iowa 1/2 mile from Strum's Christmas Tree Farm. So buying a fake tree was new to me. Big-dub had 11 trees to choose from! Who knew! Tree #9 was the most real looking, "Aspen Pine". Last year we bought a pretty Norfolk pine in a pot, then we planted it out in the yard, it's still alive!

The kids were happy to assemble this new tree. A few shouts and mix ups later, our tree was up and looking festive. A trimmed tree, Chipmunks Christmas CD, advent calendar, and some cookies later I am officially in the Christmas spirit.

Hot or Not

2009-12-01T07:18:00.017+10:00

Gosh it's all a little hot around here! Not enough watermelon and ice cubes in the kitchen to keep this family cool! Check out Loobylu who turned me onto the Hot~Not Wednesday's.

Not so Hot:

Market tents taking off in the wind! (a photo would have been funny)
Missing out on Cyber Monday's free postage cuz I'm international.
Nelli missing out on our mango champagne slushies.

Smokin Hot:

Giving kisses to my kids on their soft plump cheeks!
Making these paper flowers with Lilly.
Climbing up Anna & Murray's mango tree, and picking these.
My friend Tracey giving me some snazzy bag handles, cuz I love making bags.
Going with my girlfriend to her baby scan and finding out she is having a girl (she has two boys)!! Frilly bloomers here we come!
Celebrating Becky's Blog Birthday with her give away~Super cool vintage table cloth!!

Look

2009-12-01T07:07:00.003+10:00

It's our observant children pointing out the special things in life, getting us to stop for a moment.

What's Hot & What's Not

2009-11-26T13:14:00.000+10:00

I am joining in loobylu and her What's Hot and What's Not Wednesday's. Is it Thursday already?

OUCH !!! That's Hot!

My new Lee Mathews 50's style dress I purchased on ebay for cheap!
These grapes growing on our fence.
Celery and peanut butter on a hot day.
Going to the New Moon movie with my friends!
Andrea for having the Thanksgiving dinner at her place this Saturday. It's going to be yum and I need to keep my American roots!
The sweet tiny blue Kingfisher bird that visited our Silky Oak tree. We rarely see them at our house.

Not so Hot

Sammy the Siamese meowing at us early in the morning, walking from table to table because of his new phobia of carpet on his feet? Cat's don't read blogs I hope.

Exercising. I know it is good for me but...
Our dry, dry, dry spring.

To Market To Market

2009-11-26T11:46:00.000+10:00

Summer marketing is nice. The sun is already up. You get to leave your sleeping husband and children behind letting them fend for themselves. Not that they mind, Dad is fun.
Christine and I have done four Saturday's at Eumundi Markets. Being a newbie has its perks. We get a new site each time. Last week we were perched up high catching breezes. Situated on our right was Bill the oyster farmer from Bribie Island. Yes, of course I sampled one for you Dad! On our left, the Noosa Red tomato guy, did not catch his name. We both walked away happily with a brown bag full of good smelling tomatoes grown only a few kilometers away. And all around us was the finest foods. I sampled the wholegrain, sourdough, organic breads a little too much! Come on, chocolate brandied prune bread!! DEEELISH! Across from us were the tea people, selling herbal teas for any ailment, but Christine saw them drinking coffee.

Setting up on the wonky hilly site was a cinch. We both buzz busily along without much communication, it all just comes together swiftly. Resulting in a colorful attractive must go and look at stall!
So there we were perched among the foodies, hoping people remembered to wipe their hands of oyster before fondling our precious wares. We loved chatting with our customers while they told us how groovy our hand made goodies are. The reward of our weeks hard but fun creative work.
At the days end, the mad rush out of the hot market. Newbies must wait their turn! Permanents as they are called, get to park closest, first! Arriving home our kids are happy to see us talking about their day with Dad. Gin and tonic hits the spot. We put up our feet while dreaming up fresh ideas for the week.