NYR's

I've reeled you in with my amazingly coloured Zinnias haven't I?  I adore their colour so much in my vegetable garden.  Aren't they just the cheeriest flowers out?  How could you not be happy looking at their beauty?  Anyway I went out and bought another five pots of them yesterday as I just can't get enough of them!!  Yum-me!  Consider these a Happy New Year gift for you, from me. 

Now I'm not really one to do New Year's Resolutions, but... this year I decided that we would each make one for another member of our family.  No.1 drew my name out of the box.  Lucky me, look what she wrote...

Isn't her writing just a tip?  Her bedroom is exactly the same!  Anyway isn't she just the sweetest?  Hubby and I nearly wet ourselves reading it.  I mean does she really think I clean all day??  Has she not noticed the huge folding pile?  Well she didn't mention cooking so I guess I'm not hiding the fact that I haven't cooked for days.  But spending more time sewing and gardening sounds rather lovely.  I actually was thinking that I should cut back a bit this year, but clearly not.

So I did exactly what I was told.  I've been very busy in the garden all this week in the boiling sunshine getting the garden back into some sort of order.  The tomatoes are finally staked.

The pumpkins are doing a splendid job in the compost heap.  All self sown I might add.  Yes the whole pumpkin I'd say!  I have no idea just how many pumpkins I'll end up with but we'll all be making pumpkin soup, pie, quiche and more for some time I'm sure.  This year I'm planning to use my new garden diary and garden by the moon.  Should be better for me as I will know what to do when.

And of course I must do some sewing!  A new quilt just cut out ready for sewing.  I actually pinned and started quilting a quilt for No.1 last night.  Long overdue!  Of course I ran out of thread so had to stop mid flight.  Off to the sewing shop for more tomorrow when the shops are open.  Gosh I wonder if Spotlight will be? 

I think I've made a good start to my NYR, don't you?  So funny.  Oh and I took the big girls to the supermarket tonight so that was good quality time, sort of.  Well it was fun except for the trolley running into the heels moment!  And they all had lots of cuddles through the day too.

Moving right along now.  Here's a sneaky peek at our new bedroom I've been promising you...

This is all I can show you as this is basically it.  The ensuite still only has a shower in it and we need to choose the tiles for the floor soon.  The bedroom needs new carpet and the wardrobe is naked.  We also need a new bed and storage either side of our bed.  But for now it's perfect.  It's dark.  It's relaxing.  It's ours.  It's so quiet in the mornings too.  Just heavenly.

Have you made any NYR's?  Don't be too hard on yourself.  It's pretty clear that we are too hard on ourselves.  Go on, have some fun this year, you have permission!

Handmade Christmas Challenge 1

I've been wanting to design and make something sweet and simple for a little while now.  I was hoping that this bunny might be something I could produce lots of to sell.  But I just don't think I'm cut out for mass production. 

Greta doesn't think that she wants too many sisters either.  She likes special attention, and you just don't get that with having to share with lots of other little bunnies do you?

Poppy quite agrees.  Although having one special sister to play with is very lovely indeed.  And they are the best of friends too.

A big bonus is that they are the same size, so they can swap dresses if they want to.  And dressing up is something they both like to do.

They just can't believe that they used to be a pretty pile of fabric like this.  Gosh isn't life amazing?!

Well... maybe a few more friends might be fun.  We'll see.  Pop on over to KnickyKnacks for more Christmas Inspiration if you fancy.

I Was Tempted - Was I Good?

A present all ready for the new baby! Check out the handmade card (made by Daughter No.1) and the recycled wrap. What do you think of the fabric strip for the ribbon? I like it! No expense here.

Last evening I attended a Tupperware Party. I do love the products they have, I even have a few of them. I just needed a replacement drink bottle for No. 3. Has anybody seen her old one? They are expensive so I would dearly love to find it.

So the demonstrator ran through the new products she had with her, and my goodness there were some beauties!! Really, I could have found a good use for a number of them. But I ticked the drink bottle box and that was it. Yep, I did it, I resisted temptation. And do you know what? It was such a relief not to have to decide what to buy because I wasn't allowed any of it. There was no pressure on me at all. It was such a great feeling. I'm so bad at making decisions anyway.

Glad to see some others popping in to say 'hi' from the challenge. I must pop over to your places soon too. It's a bit difficult in the holidays to find time for everything. I'll get there eventually. I might even set up a new blog list just for you - that would be special, wouldn't it? I've had to cull few off the current list as I just couldn't keep up with all the daily listings.

Anyway this morning I had my friend over with her children and the new baby. He's so little and compact! But I have to say, as lovely as babies are, I'm so glad to be passed this stage. Yep, I'm quite through with tiny people.

I made pikelets with the help of No's 1 and 2. They are such fun to make! We quite enjoy a bit of jammy mess for morning tea. Especially good with company too.

Here is the cheaty quilt I've been working on. Thanks for the name Liz! I felt a bit naughty buying a panel to make a quilt, but then thought of the positive side of things. It would be ready super quick, be fun to quilt, see the finished look, have co-ordinating fabric for the backing and binding, and not cost a fortune.

The baby is only a couple of weeks old and he has it already. Great little project. Good for more quilting and stippling practice too. Which reminds me, people keep asking me about this stippling thing. The pattern it creates is me guiding the fabric around. My machine sews in all directions so all I have to do is hold the fabric and guide it in swirly motions. The idea is not to cross over the stitching lines of other swirls. A bit tricky sometimes and the odd fault occurs. Ahem! Not to worry, who's going to analyse all of it anyway? It is good fun to trace your finger along the lines, as they never run out.

Now the problem I'm going to have at this time of year, being near Christmas, is to show you what I'm working on but not give away the little secrets items. Bit tricky really. Here is a little peak at one project. Aren't the colours lovely? Yes that's the baby quilt leftovers. More savings here!!

I'm thinking that I will start answering questions you have for me in the comments section. I keep forgetting to talk about them otherwise and some of you don't have a blog either to get back to you. It's also great for anonymous commenter's as well. I feel bad when you ask me a question and it looks like I'm ignoring you. Really don't want that to happen. So if you ask me something, check back a little later and see if I've answered it.

It appears someone else is in the Christmas spirit as well. Little No. 4 planted a Christmas tree in her Weet-Bix this morning. Well I guess she felt she should do something with it as she obviously wasn't planning on eating it, yet again!

Now you're going to like this. My big girls announced this morning that they are going to make Christmas presents for everyone in their family this year too. It's catchy this challenge! Good on them I say. I personally can't wait to get stuck into their gifts. I have to do a little second-hand shopping first for one project I have in mind. I think I'll have to start doing some secret squirrel sewing in the evenings too. How exciting!!

A Challenge Of The Utmost Kind

Hi everyone, I'm back. I've managed to book a spot on the computer to do a blog today. No just joking really. The girls only get the odd session on here. I prefer them to play real games than waste time like their mother!!! Most of what I do is research really though, isn't it?

This challenge I've signed up for is an interesting one. I'm sure some of you think I've gone nuts, but really, I haven't. No, not at all. You see it's all about not buying commercial stuff we really don't need. We don't have heaps of stuff, in fact we are really lacking in the furniture area. But we get by and there is plenty of room for the girls to do cartwheels in the big lounge this way.

Not it's all about making clothes, gifts, home items, growing food and food preserving. Kind of like the old way of living, but with the luxuries.

There will be mending and altering... I will make more clothes for the girls and me. I will still buy myself a pair of shoes for the summer and winter seasons. I won't be buying anything to wear for me though. I'm looking forward to having some clothes I've made myself.

Making use of the fabrics I already have... but I can still buy sewing items when necessary, even fabrics. But only for a particular project, not willy nilly purchasing!!

Making gifts for family, friends and each other as well... I will not buy any presents for other people. There are plenty of things I can make. I can still buy flowers and anything handcrafted is OK too. And the girls will still have things they need bought for them.

The idea is that I challenge myself to make do and create new. There will definitely be more coins in the jar as well after a year.

Should put a smile on their faces!

So to sum it up. Things I can buy: secondhand, handcrafted, shoes, underwear, sewing needs, plants, supermarket items, essentials for the girls and husband. I think that's it. Doesn't freek me out at all. I'm so busy with sewing and the girls these days that there isn't much time for the shops anyway.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the others manage the challenge as well. We will be able to share experiences and ways of doing things. Good luck to all of you who have taken up the challenge. It's not too late to join in either. Just click on dottie angel's picture in my sidebar and it will take you right there.

Recycling Big Time Challenge

Right before I start with a big announcement, I would first like to say thank you for all your lovely comments you have gifted me with lately. I do love popping on to the computer and seeing another one there. It gets me all excited! And who has been cheeky enough to go all anonymous on me and say they have bought me a present from the French Market?!!! I have completely no idea who this might be. I haven't done anything to be thanked for as far as I know. How very exciting for me.

Now pop on over to Dottie Angel and see what she has started for herself, and others who have been brave enough to join her. I have been thinking about signing up myself but it's a pretty big thing. I have been ever so good of late and made all sorts of goodies for family and friends. Remember I even pickled some veggies? And the items my lovely new machine has been producing have been gratefully received too.

So after reading through her challenge and a few others as well, I have decided to set myself a challenge too. It's nowhere as brave as theirs, but a start is better than nothing isn't it?

Well now, I am going to make as much as I possibly can for 365 days starting from today. This day being 27th September 2009. I will choose to make over buying, check second hand before buying new, give handmade gifts only (with the exception of a few bought things for the girls and husband, but I will discuss these choices with them), I will bake and cook more often and learn jam making, preserving skills etc.

This will be fun mostly, even if hard work for me. But I do like the feeling you get from making the effort. There is nowhere near the same pleasure from bought stuff.

I will recycle more than just the household items we usually recycle. I love this new recycling clothes idea I have been working on. Jeans are truely one of the greatest clothing inventions! Did you see sweet Michela has offered to send me her old jeans all the way from Venice!!! What a lovely, kind offer. I just can't accept it as the postage would be soooo expensive. She is insisting though. Imagine a Venetian jeans handbag!

I don't buy myself many clothes generally, as I really don't enjoy the experience. But I would like to start making myself more clothing now that I have such an awesome sewing machine.

I topstitched this skirt I made this morning for No.4 over six layers of denim in places!! Imagine that! That just goes to prove that I can make anything I wish to.

I will use my garden more this year too. I would like to extend the types of vegetable I grow and add a few fruit bushes to the garden.

So this year will be a thinking year for me. I will think before I buy. I will try and reuse as much as I can. I will enjoy what I already have. I will buy what others have already used. I will teach my girls what I am learning. I will enjoy!

Hmmm. I wonder if my newish jeans could be something else too one day?