Cleaning? What's That?

I just knew you lovely ladies wouldn't let me down!  No, I knew most of us crafty sorts would be a little slack in the housekeeping area.  But I have to say it's very nice to know I'm not alone!  One can only improve after all, and there is certainly room for great improvement over here.  And I am trying a little harder than usual at the moment.

No.1's class was involved in a Water Wise programme today.  This meant a trip to the local beach to learn about sailing, water safety and kayaking.  And a morning off cleaning for me.  No.4 and I went along to watch with our little morning tea picnic.  A lovely time was had by all, especially the two of us.  Such a lovely way to spend the morning.  We get to do it all again next week too.  I can't wait.

I took this photo a couple of weeks ago for you.  I only just discovered this amazing building and was quite blown away at the size of it and the materials it is built in.  It's the new home of Lion Brewery.  I'm not a beer person personally, but I do like their new premises.  It's a bit tricky to see, but on the right hand side of that hugely huge glass window, there is a lion etched on the glass.

Now have any of you had the pleasure of reading either of these lovely books?  I recently issued them out of our library.  Great bedtime reading.  They are titled quilt and stitch, handmade style. 

Just look at this beautiful photo.  So pretty and peaceful.  The quilt reminds me of my first nine patch.  I think I quite like this pattern and the button in the centre of each patch is a sweet touch.

These little jar covers are very natural looking.  I can see linen with a string tie looking just as nice, but simpler and quicker.  And I'm all for quicker!

How about some covered buttons with stitching?  I absolutely adore covered buttons.  Have I told you before?  I must find out where to buy them in bulk as they are so expensive in the shops.  I think they make any outfit or creation just that little bit more special.  Personalised.

And it's never too late to start preparing for Christmas is it?  Well maybe a little but you could be tempted  to start early with this darling little tree.  See the presents below?  They each have a little ribbon bow on top.  So cute.

Now I found this little drawn thread Christmas sampler in a box.  I stitched it when I lived in England for a year pre children and hubby.  It's very difficult to see in the photo, but there are tiny little seed beads on the wreath.  I think I really should do something with it.  Not sure what really.  Frame it I guess.  Not sure what would suit it best.  Any ideas?

I haven't got anything out for dinner yet again!  It's now 4pm.  The washing is still in the machine.  The toast plates are still on the bench.  But the children are happy and I'm enjoying my time with you.  But really, I must shoot off and do some wee chores.  Must get that clean pinny on too before hubby arrives home soon!

It All Started When This Arrived...

My 'Your Home and Garden' magazine.  It's a gift subscription from my parents, but I fear it's going to run out soon.  Well it all looks fairly innocent, does it not?

Mmmm, well, until you arrive at this page!  I think anyone who wears pastel blue would have to be more organised than myself at the best of times.  I dream of living in an organised home.  Well OK, probably not actually dream of such things because that would perhaps make me a little obsessive with cleaning, organising, tidying etc.  But more along the lines of, gosh I wish this place were a little tidier.

It's a bit of a one (or two when hubby is home) man game at keeping this house tidyish.  I really lost that battle years ago with four children.  But I do have the odd area that I do have well organised and it really does keep tidy.

Now click on this little bit of writing.  Go on, just for a laugh!

OK are you thinking you are outrageously filthy, like I now do?  Or are you wondering what the problem is?  Now be truthful!  I have to admit that I'm failing pretty much all of the above.  I won't say I'm proud of the fact, but it's just how it is.  Personally I would consider these things a 'once a year' spring clean!

Then I happened upon this dinky little photo of a very neat and tidy bookcase.  Well I thought, where better to start with a bit of a tidy up than here.  Pretty harmless really.  Oh please No.3's toes.  You know how they are sometimes!!

Here we have a pre-prepared, messy bookcase for your viewing...

And now we have a very neat and tidy bookcase, where one can actually find a book with ease.  It's a bit like using the local library really.  Would you care to borrow one?  Please just remember to put it back in the correct place when you return it.  There's a love.

Well today I need another wee project didn't I?  No.1's wardrobe.  It's a dangerous place at the best of times.  Takes after her mother this one. 

I now have tidy shelves and a jolly sore bruise on my right foot.  Seems mother put a farily large glass picture frame, on top of a whole pile of papers, on the top shelf.  Mmmm and I can't even blame her.

Does it look more organised?  I think it does.  Well if she could only see what I threw out!!  Oh the paper and the pencils we own.  Goodness, does anyone else have enough to open their own stationery shop?

And of course, just for us, there was a section on revamping your bathroom.  Ours is about to have a makeover, along with our bedroom.  Jolly exciting I can tell you!  Did I tell you this man of mine is on a mission??

I'm thinking ours will be along the lines of the clean/minimal picture.  But with coloured walls.  Not sure of the exact colour yet.  Perhaps darkish, brownish, greyish?  Or a half strength if I chicken out.  Oh and some outrageous accessories!  I'm prepping hubby for some splashes of orange.

This is our current bathroom.  So plain and boring.  The shower is about to fall apart.  And there's the same boring wallpaper on the walls.  It was a whole house job, the wallpaper. 

So that's what I'm up to at the moment.  So if I go missing for a few days you can picture me surrounded by bags, boxes and rubbish.  Lovely isn't it?

Anyone inspired to join me in a little clean out?

A Ducky Time

Well she's finally three years old.  Our baby is growing up... finally.  Although to be quite honest, I'd keep her this age for much longer if I could.  She's so adorable, cute, cuddly and so funny.

She unwrapped her few presents this morning.  We've never given so few presents before but just couldn't think of anything much to buy her.  I think she's lucky than most anyway, with three big sisters and all their toys to play with.  And she wasn't complaining with what she received.  She even got a little bit excited which was sweet.

And the cake got done eventually.  Last night.  The heat wasn't too good to work in.  I had the duck's head in my hand trying to adhere the icing to her head, with the sticky butter icing sandwiched in between.  It just went all gooey and flopped all over the show.  You can imagine how fun that was!  It really was looking like a huge disaster, but it all came out sort of alright in the end.  And the spell in the fridge, with No.2's singlet tucked under her beak to stop it from falling off, worked wonders!!

You have to admit she is looking a little Plain Jane.  Perhaps a few flowers are in order to cheer her up a bit.

And some green fluff.  We'll pretend she's sitting on the grass waiting for No.4 to come and feed her bread. This also hides some nip and tuck surgery too!  Oh it's amazing what a bit of fluff can do for a duck.

Three green candles for the little madam.

And now she's all ready to present herself to the birthday girl.

And this is what happened when the Happy Birthday singing started!  It was just soooo embarassing!  I have to admit to hating that part as well.  It's quite mean really, especially when you aren't expecting it.  Still once it had finished she came right and enjoyed her cake.  It must have been alright as she had another piece for pudding tonight.

Here's a shot of party food for you to enjoy.  Chicken and salads for the adults, rubbish stuff for the children.  See that huge jar of marshmellows?  They pretty much all went!  I think I know who ate the most as well!!

And after the party was over, we all felt a bit like this...

 Kind of tired and empty.  

And then there's the clean up part.  But there's also the lovely leftovers.  And then there is the playing with new toys and reading the new books.  We even went to the park next door to fly a new kite.  Yes of course it got stuck in a tree.  And Daddy went home for the floor mop to get it down!  Now that was funny!!

Happy Birthday Sweetpea!

I'm Procrastinating!

I realised in the shower this morning, that tomorrow was No.4's third birthday.  Now don't get me completely wrong, I did know it was tomorrow, but it was morning and these things can come as a bit of a shock at that time of day.  And me being me these days, meant I hadn't done a single bit of food shopping for her party. 

Luckily I managed to find her a few things to buy as presents yesterday as I was a desperate woman.  Well you try and think what to get a fourth girl!  Trust me it isn't easy.  Oh and I made her a pretty nightie last night.

So here I am on the computer, instead of sorting the house out.  I'm thinking of this time as a download of information and head clearing.  I think it will help greatly.  Well here's hoping anyway.

So first on the list of chores was the supermarket, with two littlies in tow, due to the fact that No.3 is overtired from kindy this week. Perhaps home life is just way too relaxing.  My goodness the tantrums this week would make you hide away in a cupboard and not come out for a week. 

So we bought many suitably sugary foods and green flavoured milk.  Big sister will not be impressed as she had planned a pink party for her.  Well actually it won't matter as she was sacked as Party Planner this morning.  Honestly that girl couldn't organise a picnic for ants!  And check out these serviettes!!!  I passed her the pink spotty ones but no...  I want these ones.    All 50 of them!  She insists they are yellow.  We always did worry about her lack of colour names.

I have since made a list to help me on my way.  It's not been much help so far, has it?  Goodness just look at all that cleaning!  It could take me most of the afternoon just to locate the vacuum, let alone find the duster.  The girls take much pride in writing their names in the dust on the TV cabinet, so they really should be removed.  Clearly a man invented the staticky materials the cabinet is made from.

And these packets, dear friends, is somehow to be turned into this...

Apparently.  Good grief!  I'm hoping its simplistic design is simple to make.  I have shaped the cake and it's in the freezer, so step one completed.  That was in a mad panic last night when I realised the sponge was going to go stale if I didn't get a wriggle on.

Oh golly, the pressures we put upon ourselves.  Still it's only her third birthday, so one should probably look like they've made some sort of effort.  My mother thinks it would be a good idea to have just one party per year, for all of them.   I think she may be on to something there.  I actually remember a joint party when I was six and my brother was 7.  We were born 19 months apart!  Mmmm.

Now I really must pull myself away from your lovely company.  Oh look... it's five to twelve.  Lunch time. 

Well I'm sure the list will empty itself sometime.

Some Little Homemades

No.2 requested a padded case to protect her new pride and joy - her camera.  Well of course No.1 needed a case too for her ipod didn't she?  So on Saturday evening I made a couple of little cases for them.

The fabrics and buttons were all carefully chosen by them the day before (from their own stashes), and the plans were accepted.

They turned out quite well I think.  Now I need to make a camera case for my own camera.  Luckily it's exactly the same as hers.  Oh they still need to find suitable straps for their new cases.  That means a trip to Spotlight.  And a trip to Spotlight can only mean extra goodies will be bought!

Here is the tea towel bag I made as a sewing bag for the birthday girl.  As you can see it doesn't get much simpler than this.  I love this tea towel with the crochet trim and it looks so lovely all gathered under the handle.

No.2 was very delighted to see so many lovely birthday wishes especially for her from you lovelies.  And thank you ladies so much for the comments regarding her new quilt as well.  I know you know how long it took to make and just how much love and time was poured into making it.  It's a huge relief to have it finished.

Now how about another little mini transformation?  Oh great, I got the photos muddled up and you can see the after before the before, if you get what I mean!

Ah well, never mind.  Nice and simple and so very easy to keep tidy and weed free.  We really do have too much planted garden, so a few of these little patches will be so much easier to keep neat.

Have you seen these red pears before?  Aren't they just beautiful?  Of course I just had to buy a packet of them and they taste as good as they look.  And cheap too, always a good thing!

Well hubby is back to work today, poor man.  No.3 is back to kindy.  Big girls off to swimming lessons this afternoon.  It's the beginning of the new term for us unfortunately.  No more swanning around until 9am in our pj's.  Boo hoo!

But that doesn't mean an end to the renovations.  Oh no, the man is on a mission to transform another part of the house now.  Seems he's a bit sick of it looking grumpy too.  Next to be done is our bedroom, ensuite, and the little girls rooms.  Sounds large doesn't it?  He's decided to get some help this time.  Thank goodness I say.  I only hope the tradesmen do a good enough job.  I can see the red spot stickers on the imperfections already!!!  Aaaarrrggghhh!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday No.2!

Our No.2 has just turned nine.  A sleepover was requested, but only two special friends were invited, much to her parents delight.  There were a few very lovely presents to open on her birthday morning.  The much longed for quilt was unwrapped with much excitment...

and placed carefully on her bed.  Co-ordinating pillows were added, and it all came together rather nicely.

I have to say that with each quilt I make, a learn a new technique.  OK this is only my second quilt, but still, I've learned so much already.  This quilt called for straight stitching in a criss-cross manner.  I now know how to attach the walking foot correctly (yes it does make a huge difference to the performance of it!).  I know that perfectly cut fabrics make the job of criss-crossing the stitching easier.  I have since learned there is a special knot function on my sewing machine that means you don't have to hand knot every single row ending!!!  (Good grief if only I'd know that one before!)  And I've also learned that I need lots of practice with freehand quilting although I did rather enjoy hand quilting the flowers.

I did have to put in quite a few hours in the evenings to complete this quilt as I wanted the finished quilt to be a surprise.  It was a little worrying especially when I realised the amount of handstitching required.

 So even though her birthday was on Saturday and it's now Monday, she's yet to sleep under it.  With her sleepover party in the lounge and then a sleepover at her Grandparents, tonight will be the big night.

 The good thing about having big girls, is they are quite useful when it comes to party planning.  I try and leave the menu up to them and they even make some of the goodies.  You should see what's on the menu  next Saturday's party for our nearly three year old!  Saves me having to do everything and they really enjoy the responsibility.

 White tigers are No.2's favourite animal, so I wasn't too surprised when a tiger cake was requested.  I'm getting a bit slack when it comes to having everything ready well in advance. This was put together the night before and finished off on the day.  The girls were working out how many cakes I've had to make over the years and the number was scary.  Over 40, but probably 50!!  No wonder I'm over the whole party thing!

Another of her gifts was a camera, so you can expect the quality of photo on my blog to improve.  Oh and maybe get more interesting as well!  I also made her a sewing bag out of a tea towel and some goodies to go in it.  I'll have to get her to take some photos of them to show you next time. 

Pretty much all in the spirit of 'The Challenge' as well.  I'm still doing very well with that by the way.  I think I tend to live like that anyway so it's not too much of a struggle.  Oh and we're not counting the renovations in the challenge, that would be too difficult and limiting.

Off to plan the next renovation.  Not kidding either!  Will inform you next time as well.  See you for now, and have fun in your spare time.

The Birth of a Rainbow Patch

Last night I got back into my Rainbow Quilt.  I do love its colourful nature when working with it and the memories in some of the strips.  Dearest Liz sent me some a while back for my Family Memories Quilt (the one in my side bar) and I received a few vintage fabrics from Pomona for my birthday.  Over the years I've collected fabrics from making my girls dresses and craft items as well which are really lovely to see again.

 

 Now would any of you be interested in seeing me make one of my patches?  You can enjoy the best part

without having the stress of finding just the right length of fabric in the correct colour too.  You would?  Splendid!  Come along then and we'll watch a little 9" patch being born.

 Cutting off the messy edges is lots of fun.  Lucky for me I have a marvelous cutting mat, with inches ruled nicely for me, so all I have to do is line up 9" each way and cut.

Ooooh lookie, nearly there!  Nicely squared, all ready for turning over.  Look she's crowning!  Oh ouch, yes the memories just came flooding back, sorry ladies!!  Peekie, peekie...

Oh look, it's an orange and yellow square!  And isn't she beautiful?

 Just look at her all snuggled up with her Mummy, Daddy and big sister.  What a pretty picture it makes.

How lovely, the extended family have all come to great the little poppet into their arms.

Good grief, have I lost the plot or what?!!!  Perhaps a few too many lines for my brain to cope with. 

Remember I promised some magazine pictures to give you wonderful people ideas of things to make?  Well haven't I been slack?  Here we are with a very suitable patchwork collection.  Click on it to blow it up if you are interested.  Quite nice ideas really.  I could see myself making the scarf, the apron and even the bag perhaps.

 Ooops nearly forgot about the curtains!  The correct answer was B.  The top one was too pinkish for the room and the other one has just the right colourings and sheen.  Hubby admitted to messing me around about the samples and was tricking us about liking A.  Goodness he's naughty sometimes!  So B it is, like it or not.  Thanks for your advice and wonderful opinions.  It was very helpful indeed.