Bibs

My SIL is due in a few weeks so I am making some bibs for her as per her request : )
We don't know the sex of the baby yet so I have to be gender neutral - but I couldn't help but have one girly bib (cherries) and one boysy bib (helicopters) and she can decide what to do with the one that isn't quite right.... : )

The lion is crooked in this one and it's really annoying to me! But I learnt a lesson about using interfacing instead of pins to keep the fabric fixed and I don't think the baby is going to care.... It will probably be hidden under mush anyway - he he he Recognise the orange sheet from the op/thrift shop?

Above and below - front and back of the same bib - reversible!

Two cut out but not finished bibs. I think I am going to use red bias tape on both bibs.... or I might use a light denim on the helicopters.... dunno...

Fabric fun

I went to the crazy huge Spotlight (fabric etc) store in Bayswater with Hubby's Step Mum this afternoon. We were there for about two and a half hours. My Dad is here for the weekend to visit my Aunt so he baby sat - I was baby free and excited! Here are some of the fabrics I got.....

I bought a few others but didn't want to 'double post' - the other fabrics can be seen in the bib post.

Random $3 purchase...buttons...

$4.89 a metre!
(What is with Blogger and randomly turning my photos on their sides..???)

What can happen if you don't pay attention.....

As I was cooking dinner last night Missy Moo was getting very cross as she wanted her dinner straight away. I had already made chicken and sweet corn soup and the rice was ready but I still needed to cook up the Mongolian lamb. I interrupted Hubby who was doing homework and asked him to please feed Moo her soup and rice.
So, Moo is in her high chair and hubby is about to start feeding her when I notice that he is using the teaspoon measure to feed her...

Me - Why are you feeding her with the teaspoon?
Hubby - ??
Me - OH MY GOD!!! That's marinade!!! What are you doing?????
Hubby - Oh, you said to feed her so I got her dinner off the bench....
Me - Her dinner is still there. That's the marinade!
Hubby - I thought it looked a bit cold and gross but I thought maybe she likes it...... She did look at me a bit funny though....

Oops~ Thank goodness she didn't actually eat any of it! he he he

Bought it!

Next week's pocket money has been spent on an Amy Butler pattern - the Barcelona skirt that I wanted. It had better look good on or I won't be happy... ; )
OK, the model above is thinner than me and doesn't appear to have an empty 'baby house' but from a few blogs I have read that skirt is flattering to all kinds of figures.... Besides, I REALLY need a summer skirt so I can't afford to be too fussy or I will be wearing nothing but pants/shorts again this summer!

Mouse poo

I use sitemeter to count visits to my blog. Firstly, just let me just say that I'm not obsessed with how many visits I get. What I am interested in is where the people come from and how they find me - in a nerdy kind of interested way.... Anyhoo, I wrote a post about mouse poo a while back and I have noticed that I am now getting a lot of hits from people 'googling' "mouse poo." Now, I haven't bothered to check if it's the same person because I'm not a stalker but I have to say that it's got me wondering if 'mouse poo' is a common google search.........

One thing leads to another......

I've noticed the past few days that one thing definitely leads to another.

Yesterday I went into our bathroom that we will renovate in a few months. I thought I would take down the curtains and move the shampoo etc to our other bathroom. Ya know - clean the place up a bit ready for demolition. I take down the towel rail and soap tray next to the vanity. Then I thought, I'll just check out how the shower screen is fixed. Hmmmm, screws, "I could undo those myself," I thought. So, I change my slippers for work boots, go out to the garage for some eye wear and gloves - 'cause I'm no He-man. I undo the screws and start dismantling the shower. As I do this, the tiles that were stuck on the wall (not that well it turns out) all come crashing to the ground! (Good thing I decided on eye wear!) Now we only have a shower base...... and a lot less work to complete before the 'reno' man comes to install our new bathroom.

This morning I went shopping. Was in Coles having a wander about and I went over to check out the 'reduced' items as they often have weird health food items there that no one else wants selling for peanuts. I was lucky enough to find a 1kg bag of organic wholemeal spelt flour for $5 so I bought it (Use by Sept 09 BTW). I already had spag bog on the menu for tonight so I thought I could make some spelt pasta as Moo loves it (and so do we!). So, I made HEAPS of spaghetti with my little hand cranked pasta machine. Then I was looking at my handy work, thinking, I wonder how it tastes? So, I cooked up a pot of hot water and threw a tiny bit in. Yum! I wondered, 'Pasta is really a sliced pancake, isn't it? What if I put Maple syrup and butter on it.....? So, ends up Hubby and I had home made spelt pasta with maple syrup for 'afternoon tea.' Not a little, but a lot.....

Yes, one thing really does lead to another.

OK, this is not my kitchen but it may as well be..... Photo by emomilk.

I wanted to take a picture but *surprise* my batteries are flat.... must do something about that!

Tea obsessions

I got a link to this site today from Camilla Engman's blog. It's a tea cup that improves through use. I think it's so pretty.

Happy talk or 'how we did Moo's nursery.'

I am getting excited about fixing up our front room. Before Moo was born we did her room and it's lovely but it's a bit babyish for her now (?) As we didn't know her sex we couldn't be girly so I chose a 'colourful but not in your face' theme. I think we spent about $300.

• Hubby's Dad painted and did the electrical fittings (he's an electrical engineer - lucky us!)
• Hubby's Dad and Hubby sanded and varnished the floor while I camped out elsewhere for a few days.
• Friends 'round the corner gave us a second hand cot - white.
• I used an old cupboard that I had already 'decorated' and hung IKEA organisers in there ready for teeny tiny baby clothes
• Got the blind and curtains on sale at Spotlight, bought some jungle quilting fabric and appliqued animals on the $12 blue plain curtains as a 'wish this baby would hurry up' project
• Used my old desk (a huge IKEA one) for the change table. L gave us baby changing equipment so we just put a changing pad on the table and used some storage boxes we already had
• I made a mobile from little $1 stuffed animals, again from IKEA
• Nanna gave Moo a fish rug
• We accidentally got a free rug from IKEA. We bought a bunch of stuff and didn't realise until we got home that we had been charged for it and for some reason the charge was then removed... woo hoo~!
• The chair in Moo's room is my favorite. I picked it up from hard rubbish when I was a student living in Hawthorn about 15 years ago. It's from the 50's and I LOVE it. So does Moo so I don't think I will be getting it back anytime soon. She won't even let me sit in it!

As you can see, it would be easy for us to update the room by taking out the cot, changing the curtains etc as we have floor boards and white walls as a base. The blind and light fitting are light blue which would go nicely in a pink/blue/white theme. But, I think we might do the front room up as Moo's room and tailor it to an older child and keep her old room for the new baby that we are starting to think about having at the end of next year.... Now that's a happy thought!

*sigh*

I haven't been sewing much the past week. My parents have been staying. My aunt is in the final stages of cancer so we have spent some time at the hospital, comforting family, talking to Aunty M, holding her hand, telling her we love her and doing all the things you do when confronted with such a horrible reality.
I wanted to make a care package for my Uncle but he has so many people surrounding him with the same thoughts that I am going to wait. I think his freezer is full and overflowing!
Lots of tea and chocolate here. And there will be lots of tea and hopeless waiting in the coming weeks......

This is.....my favourite children's book

I got this lovely photo from Uncommon Grace as I couldn't be bothered today with getting the camera out.... If you have time and haven't read Uncommon Grace then go and visit. It's lovely.

Anyway, my absolutely most favourite book is 'Now we are six.' The poetry is great but the illustrations are what I love most. I don't care much for the new Disney 'pooh.'
I had a really old copy as a child (possibly first edition or at least close to it) that I think belonged to my Grandmother. My brother has it now as he is a Christopher.
I love the title poem;

When I was one, I was just begun.

When I was two, I was nearly new.

When I was three, I was hardly me.

When I was four, I was not much more.

When I was five, I was just alive.

But now I'm six, and clever as clever,

and I think I'll stay six now forever and ever.

Loved it then. Love it now.

Thanks Mum

I don't know where Mum got this recipe from but she wrote it out for me years ago and I have rediscovered it! Very easy to make - I can do it with my eyes shut!

CARAMEL SELF SAUCE PUDDING.

1 cup self-raising flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 oz butter
Pinch salt
1/2 cup milk

SAUCE
2 tablespoons golden syrup
1 cup hot water
1oz butter

Sift sugar salt and flour into bowl. Melt butter mixed with milk add to flour. Combine thoroughly. Place into a well greased ovenproof dish, pour sauce mixture over top. Sauce; Combine all ingredients in saucepan, stir over low heat until butter melts. Bake in a moderate oven approx 30-40 minutes.

Olympic fever

Hubby and I have been watching the Olympics after Moo has gone to bed. Tonight we were watching the women's beam and one of the competitors fell off.
Me: OH NO!~ Poor thing, she looks like she's going to cry.
Hubby: "Yeah, if that was me I would finish me routine like this." (*waves his arms about flippin' the bird*)
Hubby: "And that's a perfect double bird with a wrist flick 'kiss this.'"

How to entertain a toddler #4

Moo and I have been having hours of fun with used tissue boxes. I have to admit that I think of her now when I buy tissues and try to get boxes with pictures on them that she will like - like penguins or kittens/puppies. (I know........)
So, what is so great about an empty tissue box I hear you ask? Well, it has a little hole in the top and you can put stuff in it! And take it out. And put it back in. And take it to another room and take the stuff out again. ha ha ha ha
You can tie pieces of material or scarves together and stuff them in the box and pull them out again.
You can fill it with little bits and bobs and shake them around to music.
You can put materials of different textures in there and play a feeling game.
You can see what fits and doesn't fit through the hole in the top.
The opportunities are endless! tee hee
Missy moo is loving putting her little wooden blocks in there and shaking the box about and then dumping them back onto the floor - shake, shake, shake. She never tires of it. Luckily it's winter and Moo has a perpetually running nose as all this action destroys the tissue box after a few days.

Another onesie

I decorated another onesie a few days ago but my camera batteries were flat so I didn't post until today. (Note to self - get new rechargeable batteries for the camera!)

All made from scraps.
The cat etc from remnants from a cushion I made for my mother in law a few years ago.
The bias tape on the arm bands left over from Missy Moo's PJs I made the other day.

I just loved the little ladybird so I stuck it to the back of the neck..... cute!

New bib for Moo

Stupid Blogger is flipping my photos....... grrrrr

Front - food catcher at the bottom!Back

Dolly modelling how the bib does up at the back...

Our Missy Moo is (like most toddlers!) a very messy eater. Her favorite food is pasta with vegie sauce or Malaysian noodles so she often ends up COVERED in her dinner. I bought a 'cover all' bib a few months ago and used it to make the pattern for this one. Not so difficult and fun as an exercise in my new found skills.... : )

I made this bib from an old nappy/diaper, an old shower curtain, a fabric remnant, thrifted elastic and new Velcro. The bias tape I made from an off cut Mum gave me.
The only thing I am not happy with is the way I sewed on the bias tape - I did the food catcher part in the wrong order so the tape twists a bit on the side when it's on. It doesn't detract from the usefulness of it - but I can see it and it annoys me! I learned something though....

How to keep a toddler occupied #3

Love this post on Bagels and Crawfish on making home made watercolours.

OK, you don't have to make your own but painting and drawing are absolutely loved by Missy Moo. I have a basket full of crayons on the ready as Moo loves to sit on the couch, pull up the coffee table and have a draw before dinner. It is an activity that I save for when I need to get something done and she won't let me be : ) Painting of course takes more effort and can be messy - but oh what fun! I'm looking forward to summer and painting outside on the deck - Missy will be getting an easel from Mummy and Daddy this Christmas - yay!

This is.....how I like to spend my weekends.....

Thanks to 'The bird bath' for this weeks 'This is....'

Well, this weekend was a great example of an awesome weekend. Yesterday morning we hung out with Missy Moo - I made pancakes for breakfast and we had family play time. Then we dropped Missy Moo off at Grandad and Granny's and Husband and I made our way into town. We had lunch at our favorite spot (Shanghai Dumpling - where we had our first date!) and then went and checked in to The Stamford hotel 5. Had some retail therapy and back to the hotel for Earl Grey tea and slice. Then out to dinner for my sister in law's 30th birthday party - lots of great food and drink in Hardware Lane followed by a luxurious initerrupted sleep and buffet breakfast. Back to pick up Missy Moo for lots of hugs and kisses!

This is of course in no way typical of our usual weekend. So, I will say that we usually spend our weekends as a family, sharing a good meal and going to the park or something like that as a treat for the little one. Some lounging around and perhaps an afternoon nap. Cups of tea and maybe a biscuit or piece of cake. The simple pleasures.

I couldn't help but think while I was out in a bar last night that usually Hubby and I would be sitting on the sofa with a blanket watching a DVD and sharing a block of chocolate and some tea. What a contrast.

Yummy vegie patties for toddlers

A fast and yummy dinner!

Grate: 1/2 carrot
1 small potato
1/2 small zucchini or courgette

Squeeze the liquid out of the grated vegies. Add 1 tbs LSA mix and one tablespoon of plain/all purpose flour and season to taste. Mix. Form into small patties and fry in vegetable oil. YUM!

You can use different vegies, try adding peas or corn, some herbs, or maybe an egg if your toddler tolerates it.

Poor little munchkin (Poor Mummy!)

Missy Moo is teething. According to the ol' primary (baby) teeth chart there are teeth that Missy Moo should already have and teeth that should be coming soon. Well, she decided to get all of those teeth all at once and so she is NOT a happy camper. Neither is Mummy. Nothing can prepare you for what it's like dealing with a child who can't express themselves other than to whine and cry and be altogether grumpy...... She can't decide what she wants, she's tired but doesn't want to sleep, she's hungry but it hurts to eat, she wants to cuddle but doesn't want to sit still long enough. Last night we were up every 90 mins. Poor chicky. Poor Mummy chicken......

PS - according to many baby books teething does not result in any pain etc Bull borry! Ask any mother and they will tell you the real truth!

What I did when Missy Moo was sleeping today....

Made booties and did an appliqué on a onsie. The jungle material was left over from the curtains I made for Moo's room before she was born.

Sunny pictures

The other morning after having rained all night the sun came out in the morning. It was shining through the raindrops on our little mandarin tree. They looked like little diamonds shining there and they made me feel so happy......

Not quite captured in their sparkly best but I tried!

More pictures of Moo's PJs

Lots of room in the 'bum' for a cloth nappy!

Good for relaxing and sleeping in!

Comfy for sitting........

(Ignore the fluffy hair! : )Pass the 'bend over' test!

They've gone around in the washing machine a few times and haven't fallen apart so I think we might have a winner in the PJ pattern stakes.

Free patterns

There is so much cool stuff to find if only you have the time to look! Here are a few 'useful' things I have found lately while 'surfing.'

Sew your own Nursing Pads

Sew your own cloth nappies

Various breastfeeding and baby wearing paraphernalia (From Jan Andrea - remember the chair sling?) I'm especially interested in making the breast feeding pillow in the event of a friend for Missy Moo.)

Baby Booties
Very cute - I'm planning on getting stuck into making these as soon as I finish this post!

Pull over the head bib
Great for cheeky monkeys like mine who rip the Velcro ones off!

Excited!

I just bought Amy Butler's little stitches for little ones from Canadian Amazon - it was cheaper than the US site even though the book is shipped from The States. Go figure. I also want to buy her Barcelona skirt pattern as I have heard that is an easy, nice looking pattern that suits most figures...... but I ended up buying this book instead. Will have to start saving my pocket money!

Can't wait for it to arrive!!!!!!

And another one.....

Mums 'n' Bubs again this morning. B announced she is expecting in March next year. I'm excited for her but on the other hand I'm glad it's not me! : ) I wonder who's turn it will be next week (chuckle, chuckle).

I love.....Tiffany Ard's nerd baby series

For that little nerd baby in your life.

'The effect of gravity is inversely proportional to the distance squared.'

When Moo was smaller I saw a onesie that said, 'This is what happens when nerds mate.' I thought it was hilarious but I'm not really into novelty T's so I never bought it. Although, if I ever get pregnant again I wouldn't mind a T-shirt that said, 'Pregnant not fat,' which a friend of mine swore she was going to put on her T.

'Twinkle, twinkle, little star! How I wonder where on
the Hertzsprung Russell diagram you are....'

Engagement Party

Last night Hubby and I went to a friend's engagement party. So that we could drink we caught the train in to Richmond and got a lift home. On the train there were loads of 'young people,' looking cool, drinking beer, running their fingers through their fancy dos. I was thinking that I suddenly felt very old when Hubby mentioned that he was feeling old....
Hubby: I feel old.
Me: Me too.
Hubby: These kids look so young...
Me: When did we get so old?
Hubby: Maybe we should do some extreme sports?
Me: But then we would just be 'old people doing extreme sports'....
Hubby: *yeah* *sigh*

Brrrrrr

We got up this morning after attending an engagement party last night and decided to head off to the local Farmer's Market. We rugged up, Missy Moo on my back in her Podaegi and an umbrella to keep the rain off. We wandered around quickly because it was freezing and purchased a few things for breakfast; real wood smoked bacon, organic free range eggs, organic Vienna loaf and some fresh coffees. Husband cooked breakfast when we got home. Nanna baby sat last night so we had a nice family breakfast. But I diverge - it was FREEZING at the market. It was raining and the wind was blowing. My cheeks were numb and I was a little worried about Moo but she seemed very comfy cuddling into me and wasn't complaining at all. When we got home I checked the temp. and it was only 4.5 degrees - snow in the 'burbs today. I've lived in a few places, some of them with real snowy winters (I've had 8 white Christmases) and I still think Melbourne feels colder than all of them......

Se horisonten, havet där himlen går ner,
se horisonten, ingenting önskar jag mer,
än att sitta här med dig, det är min innersta längtan.

This is....... a work in progress.

This week's 'This is..' comes from Debbie at [kept in a jar].

I have a couple of projects on the go. I decided to make birthday presents and Christmas presents for the kiddies this year so.....

1) I am making felt food for 'O' who is turning 3 in October. I was the first person in the whole world to see 'O' and so he is very special to me. (And his Mum just happens to be my bestest friend the world!)
So far we have eggs and sausages and I will add a few more things but not sure exactly what yet.....

2) One of my nephews is totally obsessed with all things fish and fishing. He'll be turning 2 in October so I am making him a fishing set. Fabric and felt fish with magnets in their heads with a matching 'magnet on a stick' fishing rod to catch them with. I've made 2 fish - here is the first one I made (and for some reason blogger keeps turning the picture sideways.....)

3) Third is my biggest and greatest project. My little Angel (aka Missy Moo). A life's work in progress....... This is an old photo from when we decorated the Christmas tree last year. Moo is 15 months old now - time sure flies when you're having fun : )

Little sack of sugar I could eat you up!

One word meme

from Curly Pops.

1. Where is your cell phone? um?
2. Your significant other? reading
3. Your hair? blonde
4. Your daughter? amazing
5. Your son? nope
6. Your favorite thing? cuddles
7. Your dream last night? gangsters
8. Your favorite drink? coffee
9. Your goal? happiness
10. The room you’re in? bedroom
11. Your church? world
12. Your fear? spiders
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? alive
14. Where were you last night? home
15. What you’re not? jealous
16. Muffins? chocolate
17. One of your wish list items? bathroom
18. Where you grew up? country
19. The last thing you did? blogsurf
20. What are you wearing? PJs
21. Your TV? Off
22. Your pets? none
23. Your computer? timewaster
24. Your life? content
25. Your mood? tired
26. Missing someone? nope
27. Your car? walk
28. Something you’re not wearing? Underpants!
29. Favorite store? Etsy
30. Your summer? dry
31. Like(love) someone? hubby
32. Your favorite color? blue
33. Last time you laughed? before
34. Last time you cried? today
35. Who will repost this? Nicole?

New PJ bottoms for Missy Moo

I used one of my Op/Thrift shop patterns to make these PJ bottoms. Not sure of the date of this pattern but it is fully imperial so is pre 1966. My guess is early 60's. They were supposed to have pantaloon bottoms and an elastic waist but I did a draw string and straight legs. Mainly because I was too lazy to fit the elastic and I really wanted to use my new bias tape maker - what fun!

Ignore the crumpled look - Missy Moo wore them to bed last night..... She likes them so I count it a success!

The legs are a little bit long so I turned up the cuffs - Missy Moo grows so fast it seems a waste to make something that fits her. Makes sense to have a drawstring too!

Places for a toddler to visit in Melbourne

Collingwood Children's farm is open every day from 9am to 5pm.
Entry price is $16 for a family or $8 per adult, $4 for a child with free entry for children under 2.
You can see the cows being milked at 10am and 4pm.
The farm is only 4km from the CBD but you'd never know it! There is a community garden and lots of space to run around. There's even a river! Some of the animals roam freely and the children can meet guinea pigs, chickens, ducks, horses, cows, goats, pigs, geese, peacocks, cats, bees and worms (in their worm farm house).
There's a cafe to stop for a nice coffee and snack and a farmer's market on the second Saturday of each month.
We took Missy Moo for a visit and she was sooooo excited! She especially loved the cows - of all things! She laughed and laughed at them.....! She was not at all impressed by the guinea pigs but loved the horses - one was even called Annie.
Visiting the farm is a great opportunity a talk about different animals and how they live and it's always nice to get some family time in the fresh air.
If you are looking at going on a day when the market is on be prepared and in a zen frame of mind ready for parking nightmares near the entrance....... Better still - catch public transport.

From the farm's website: The Farm is located at the end of St Heliers St in Abbotsford, 44G5 in the Melways

VIA CAR - We are located at the end of St. Heliers St, Abbotsford. The easiest way to get here is to go via Johnston St then onto Clarke St.
(See MELWAYS Ref 44 G5)

VIA TRAIN - Catch the Epping or Hurstbridge line train and get off at Victoria Park train station. Then it’s a 5-10 minute walk east along Johnston St.

VIA BUS - Catch the Garden City/Bulleen Bus 200, 201 and 207 which leave from the City in Lonsdale St, and runs along Johnston St. Get off at Clarke St. (Just ask the driver if they are going in the Kew Junction direction).

For more info visit their website.

Another one bites the dust : )

I hosted Mum's 'n' bubs here this morning. Our 'babies' are now 15-16 mths and C is already 32 weeks pregnant with baby #2, due in October. K announced this morning that she is also expecting around when our babes have their second birthday. I wonder who will be next? I can promise you it won't be me!

Congratulations K!

Cures for morning sickness

Mum - don't get excited I'm not pregnant!
I just thought I would share. When I was pregnant with Missy Moo I had awful morning (all day!) sickness. It lasted 7 months and resulted in me losing a meal at least once a day. I didn't want to take medication and I wasn't losing weight so I researched and tried everything you could think of. Things that worked for a while would stop working so I had to get creative. Here is what worked for me.......

• Acupressure travel sickness wrist bands (awesome! and very 'Flashdance.')
• Ginger - sucking on glace ginger (ginger in syrup), ginger beer, ginger tea which you can buy in the Asian grocers
• Starburst sour lollipops (although I can't eat them now - they remind me of feeling sick!)
• Apple or orange juice watered down with soda water
• salt and vinegar chips
• bacon and cheese toasted sandwich (Greasy stuff is supposed to make morning sickness worse but it actually helped me)
• Mineral water
• sour green apples
• vitamin B tablets - ask your pharmacist for the dosage, you can get them over the counter
• I ate lots and lots of dry biscuits - had a box of them next to the bed
• ditto with wafers - I ate bags of those sweet Austrian hazelnut wafers - - I just had the biggest craving!
• fruit tingles
• hamburgers (weird, huh!)
• lasagna (I think it was the combination of carbs and fat)
• NEVER having an empty stomach. I used to munch on breakfast cereal all day - without milk. Those little honey oat things, like cheerios.
• use baby toothpaste in fruit flavour and use a REALLY soft kids toothbrush. Just looking at my toothbrush made me feel sick so on really bad days I just brushed my front teeth. (Obviously I'm not a dentist!)
• drinking sparkling mineral water - I really craved it in the evenings
• vegemite on white toast (wholemeal made me sick)
• fresh air - going outside
  

And, always carry a plastic bag in your handbag for those 'stuck on a train' moments...... ewwww

Baby's jacket

Also for my new niece or nephew due in October. I'm getting excited!

One photo is too dark, one the flash makes the cream material seem too bright. Will take another photo in daylight tomorrow.

This is the very first 'garment' I have sewn since doing textiles in early high school. I won't tell you how many years ago that was - let's just say that is was long ago enough that I had to call my Mum several times for advice because I couldn't remember anything! I'm quite proud of the result...... Not too shabby!

Mashimaro (I think.....) inspired softie

I made this bunny for my soon to be arriving niece or nephew.

I was feeling all inspired on Sunday afternoon so I quickly sketched a 'pattern' on an A4 sheet. Once cut out, I adjusted the length of the limbs and ears. Then I embroidered a face - sleeping eyes because I couldn't quite draw eyes that I liked! Now I quite like that he's sleeping.....

It's mostly made from an old nappy/diaper (washed and sanitised of course!) and the ears are from my stash. My original idea had straight stuffed limbs but I thought they would be nicer to play with if they were thin and floppy. I knotted the legs as an experiment (they were really long) and liked it so they stayed that way.

Fabric shopping

I wanted to get some flanelette to make some baby clothes and some cotton to make some summer dresses for Missy Moo. This is what I came home with. (Along with pinking shears, quick unpick and two sizes of bias tape makers.)

Here is the cotton.

Flanelette - this was all I could get!
More cotton - the polka dot is a remnant.

This is...... my trade secret

OK, I'm fairly new to the craft thing so I am going to learn from everyone else's posts.

I'm told that I am a fairly good cook, so I thought that I would give away my cooking trade secret instead.

My trade secret is to have the audacity to ask someone else for their secret recipe.
I ask the cook questions when I taste something I like and sometimes they will tell me their secrets! When living in Korea I tasted THE best Korean 불고기 (Bulgogi) so I asked the chef (my friend's mum) how she made it. She told me her secret ingredient was Coke and I was flabbergasted! However, I'm game to try anything so I gave it a whirl. The Coke tendorises the meat and gives it that lovely sweet caramel taste that it should have and is usually obtained by using grated Asian pear and syrup. So, here is my 'trade secret' recipe (especially for Clare from Quarter Acre Roots!):

Photo from Grab Your Fork.

300g thinly sliced sirloin (it helps to put it in the freezer for a while to stiffen it up before slicing)
4 spring onions (shallots) sliced thinly on the diagonal
sliced mushrooms to your taste

Seasoning:
3 tbsp soy sauce (preferably Korean or use a light soy sauce - not a dark one!)
4 tbsp of minced onion (use a fine grater)
3 tbsp coke
1 onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 tbsp minced garlic
a pinch of ground sesame seeds
1 tbsp of finely grated Asian pear if you can get it
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all the seasoning ingredients and then add your meat, spring onions and mushrooms. Toss. Grease a cast iron fry pan heavily with oil (don't use olive oil or other strong flavoured oils). Place the marinated meat on top. Cook for 250 degrees Celsius (480 Fahrenheit) for 20 mins.

If you prefer, you can cook this Korean style on a gas table BBQ.

Thanks to Bollewangenhaptoet for this weeks 'this is.....'.