It's Friday

.... and I haven't posted at all this week.

I'm in a bit of a slump.... I guess I can use the excuse that I have been busy - which I have - and that Moo hasn't been sleeping well - which she hasn't - but the real truth is that I feel crappy.

Yep. With a capital C.

I'm sure I'll be over it soon. In fact I am certain. Because it appears to be a hormonal thing and in a few days I'm sure I'll be back in crazy crafting/cleaning/mothering mode.

~please~ make it true!

In happy news I am very excited about my upcoming birthday celebrations at The Cuckoo. If you're not from around here 'The Cuckoo' is a themed German restaurant with yummy food and lederhosen wearing Bavarian thigh slapping fun. Lame. I know. But lots of fun all the same - and who doesn't like German food???? Mmmmmmm Black Forest Cake. I feel better already.

Eye spy..... love

Spying doesn't just have to be for eyes does it? Spies also listen to things - right?

Moo said something wonderful yesterday. We were having before bed stories and cuddles when she stroked my hair and said, 'Love Mummy.'

It was the first time Moo has said 'love' and such a beautiful, could make Mummy cry moment.
Love if there ever was love. <3

I love you Moo! Especially when we're being silly together.....

To play 'Eye spy' or to 'spy' (pardon the pun!) on who else is playing head on over to BUGANDPOP and get yourself some fun and games (and lots of sewing goodness too). : )

I heard a strange sound....

.... like radio static....

A slow, deep shooshing.

I wondered what it could be.
I turned off the TV news to listen.

RAIN!

It seems like such a long time since I've heard real rain.
Not drizzle or spots - actual rain! Woo hoo~~

meme

"Open the 6th picture folder on your computer, open the 6th photo and blog it. Write something about it."

I have two different picture folders so here are the 6th and the 6th of both of them.

The picture above was taken during a bush walk in Taggerty. I believe this whole area is burnt out now...... ; ( sob sob

Although it was a short holiday I have many fond memories. Moo was almost 5 months old and we stayed in the caravan park with the in-laws. We had lunch at the bakery in Alexandra. Browsed the second hand book store. Went walking. Visited friends who have an amazing view of the Cathedral ranges from their outdoor toilet (that doesn't have a door so you can enjoy the scenery.....)
We took Moo for her first trip to Marysville where she enjoyed Steavenson falls. She was mesmorised as a matter of fact. She's been back there a few times and every time I love to see the look of wonderment on her little face. Although, she's getting a bit heavy to carry to the top!
We had afternoon tea at the bakery on the corner. Browsed the lolly shop with Moo asleep in the hug-a-bub and stocked up on things good and sweet. Wandered up and down the street and drank a coffee in Gallipoli park. Then we drove up to Lake Mountain and Moo saw snow for the first time - even though it was late September.
Remembering this particular holiday upsets me right now. I REALLY love going up there. Last year Hubby and I spent our anniversary at Marylands hotel and now it's gone...... The lolly shop is gone. The bush is gone. And I don't even want to think about what else is missing......
But, if you look carefully you can see that the photo is of a fern shoot. The bush behind it is brown but this little shoot is green and rising towards the sun.



The picture below is Moo looking very surprised! I find it hard to delete any photos unless they are out of focus or make me look ugly (he he he) so although it isn't frame worthy it still sits undeleted on my computer.....

More toddler fashion

If only I were brave enough to dress like this in public.....

Eye spy... my secret food shame.

I've already shared with you that I carry the terrible weight of loving a Quarter Pounder from Maccas.

So, now I'm forced to admit another sin. I believe (in my heart of hearts : ) that there is absolutely nothing shameful about cakes or chocolate - you just have to take one look at my hips to know this, so, what else could there possibly be?

My secret food shame is...........

.........eating butter instead of margarine and drinking full cream milk instead of skim.

It's all about the taste. Everything in moderation, right?

Thanks, Jade, from 'Just needs salt' for this weeks embarrassing theme ; D

Handmade help

I've never sold anything I've made before. This will be a first. All profits will go to the victims of the Victorian bushfires via Handmade help.


I'm yet to put the fasteners on. I hadn't planned on making this until tonight so I will have to go and buy some studs - I don't want to spoil the pretty fabric with velcro : )

I'm going to make a few more things before I auction - as I'll have to work out how to sell on ebay because I've never done it before! I've bought plenty of things (don't tell hubby!) but I've never been a seller.

There has been an eerie glow about the sunlight today. This afternoon's light was red/orange. It's more than a little stinky too. My eyes are stinging from all the smoke. I'm lucky that's all I have to complain about.......


Please forgive my less than elequont rantings - it's waaaay past my bedtime and I've been sewing black on black by lamplight....

Want to help people affected by the bushfires?

Head on over here to Handmade help.
Make something.
Buy something.
Volunteer.

Photo found on flickr by annie-wilson

PS This is what happens when you let toddlers dress themselves....

Pants for Moo

Is it possible that a toddler can grow out of their clothes in 2 weeks?
Apparently it is.

Before the heat wave Annie was happily wearing the same pants she had been wearing for the past 6 months. Granted the cuffs were not turned up anymore and they were a little short but now after just 2 weeks I went to dress Moo for the cooler weather we've been having and her pants looked ridiculous! Luckily I had bought some material for just his occasion and the following pants were quickly made up....

Cuffs turned up for wear now

With cuffs turned down for 'later.'

I've also left the casing open so that I can easily change the elastic as she grows. Yup, I'm thinkin' ahead. Moo is very determined to dress herself these days so an elastic waist is perfect. No zippers or buttons here.
If you're wondering why they look like PJs it's because they are. The same 1950's pattern I used for Annie's PJ bottoms. They are made up of only 2 pieces and are soooo fast to sew up. Perfect for the 'oh my goodness all your pants are too short' emergency.

Charity

I went to the supermarket today and bought up big in the 'personal needs' aisle. BIL is going to Whittlesea tomorrow with the State Emergency Service so we're sending up a couple of boxes with him. I popped in a few extras (other than hair brushes, deoderant, tampons etc) like Dolly magazine and styling wax. If I were a teenager and lost everything I would like to get a Dolly magazine to look at with my friends. And what teenager wants to look like a dag? I'd like styling wax..... I was looking at the piles and piles of donations on the TV today of clothing and essential items so I thought it would be good to give some 'nice' things.

*sigh* I just can't comprehend what it must be like. I just can't.

I don't have much to say....

We have friends and family still under threat from the bush fires. So far they are OK but as we all know any change in weather can mean disaster.

Family friends in Marysville have lost their home but are thankful to have escaped with their lives. They obviously have lost friends in this terrible tragedy. Please pray for them and everyone affected.

My BIL is in the SES and they are taking stuff up to Whittlesea on Thursday. We are collecting what we can (Moo's old clothes, towels, toilet paper etc) and sending it up with him.

Please visit Meet me at Mikes for info about all the wonderful bloggers out there who are doing what they can to help. Or, click on the 'rainbow comfort pack' button on the top left to find out how you can help the kids who have been affected.

A message from Pip at Meet me at Mikes

Apart from URGING you to donate MONEY to the Victorian Bushfire Appeals - via NAB, ANZ, Bunnings and Myer to name just a few donation points, we urge you to start making!

Mike's and The Toy Society are both keen to get you making toys, clothing, quilts, baby things and other handmade items so that we can work together to get them to people in need!

You can drop your donations off at Mike's - or mail it to us - we'll hang onto it until the appropriate time (once agencies are ready to receive such donations).

Visit Mike's or The Toy Society to register your support or to get your business involved in this community project.

xx Pip

Don't forget to DONATE (via the Salvation Army or Red Cross) and register to DONATE blood too!

Terrible

Photo from The Age.

I turned on the news this morning to see that the place where we go for holidays and to celebrate our wedding anniversary has burned to the ground. Not the one building. THE WHOLE TOWN.

There were many fires burning out of control in Victoria yesterday on the hottest day on record. Confirmed death toll is 25 35 with up to 40 unofficially. 400 homes burnt to the ground. It's terrible. Really terrible.
Even my brother was out on his roof hosing it down - in suburban Melbourne..... So scary.

Update: latest news reports 84 are dead. I'm speechless.
........ 173 now......

Mind your eyes

Cause this stuff is BRIGHT!

Bias tape and bright orange table cloth from Ivanhoe oppy. Yellow fabric from IKEA (offcut). Firefly Japanese print from Kimono House.

I want to make something for Moo. Any suggestions? What should I make with it?

Scoodie

In a weeks time my BIL is off to Oregon for a friend's wedding. It's pretty cold over there (in the minus I believe) so I made him this scoodie (= hoodie + scarf). I got the idea from here and modified it for my own use. I had a very wide and thick polar fleece scarf that never got used so I re purposed it. Because it was so thick and didn't need finishing I did the following:

• used a hoodie that fitted hubby well and used the hood as a template
  
• lined the top of the hood up with the fold so that there was no seam on the front edge
• sewed up the back, gradually reducing the amount of the seam to give a smooth finish to the hood (no pointy bit!)
• sewed the two pieces of scarf together, end to end
• sewed the hoodie to the scarf along the bottom edge
• DONE!
  

Here is BIL doing his best 'catalogue' pose. It's a bit hard to see with the dark scarf on the dark shirt but you get the picture....

BIL is also quite the creative guy. Click here for his manly craft blog.

Hooray!

Things are finally back to normal. School started back after the summer this week so Moo's creche also reopened. Granny and Grandad are back from their holidays so Moo will be having 'grandparent time' every Wednesday again. Tuesdays we spend with Nanna, Wednesday Moo spends the day with Granny, Thursday is Mum's group for a few hours and Friday she spends 3 hours at creche. All this means I will have more time to do all my projects! 1 1/2 days a week entirely to myself. *yay*
What am I going to do with this time? I don't have too many sewing plans at the moment - I'm too obsessed with painting the hall and the bathroom....... We have 'faux embroidery' wallpaper in cream, green and brown in the hall and the skirting boards are dark brown wood. It makes things feel so dark and drab so I am going to paint everything white. My favorite (albeit boring) decorating base. I've never found a colour that I think I could live with 24/7 for years. Yes, I could repaint but I'm just not that excited about repainting when I get tired of the colour. At least with white you can change your accent colours whenever you feel like it....
A little white interior and tidiness inspiration found here at chez larsson.....

Eye spy...... a small object

Actually, I don't spy a small object. All small objects are banned in this house due to a certain Missy Moo who likes to put small objects in her mouth and the ensuing paranoia felt by her parents.
You might find a lentil that has missed being sucked up by the vacuum as Moo loves to transfer lentils. We're into Montessori in this neck of the woods. I'm sure I could find a lentil that's rolled away under some furniture but to be honest I just can't be bothered getting up from the sofa.....
x x x