Busy hands

Scrapbooking and cardmaking have taken a bit of a back seat recently. I needed a break away from paper and have a new obsession with fabric and wool. I have a few project on the go at the moment.

Here are a few I have finished.

A Frilly Dilly bag on it's way to someone special for their birthday next month. I saw this pattern by Janelle Wind and fell in love with it. I just had to make it. I have big plans for more.

Some more bags

And Rach sent me this LINK and of course I just had to try one out. Which of course became two. A boys version is next

I've also crochet two scarves, while watching telly (Mainly cricket, thanks to the men of the house) I need to take some photos. I have also started a crocheted blanket for Jarred. I wanted a nice colourful one, but nope the boy insisted on Geelong Cats colours only. It will be a project that will take some time.

Next on the sewing front, is some baby items. I am going to be an Aunty again in August. I can't wait to get started on some cute little things.

It's a girl

Honey our other cow gave birth in the early hours of this morning. Last night she was showing signs she was very close, but I didn't think it would happen that quickly. We missed the whole thing!!! She did it all on her own. We have a new little girl and her name is Dolly.

She is so placid, just like her mum. The kids walked straight up to her and patted her.

You can see how much Totum has grown from this photo. We are thrilled with our expanding family.

A little creating

With so many January birthdays the card stash was looking a little sad. I had to make a few more, for some very special people.

Using some Scrapmatts - thanks to the lovely Angella


For Christmas I received the most beautiful gift. My friend Rach made me a gorgeous cushion. She inspired me to dust off the sewing machine and do some sewing. She seems to have this effect on me. Thanks so much Rach. I pulled out the fabric I had here and got to work.

I made some fabric baskets. I used this TUTORIAL

Some journal covers using this TUTORIAL

And some cushions. Totally using Rach's idea and design.

Kloe turns 11

It's our little princesses birthday today. Gosh her birthday comes around so quickly after Christmas. She has been planning her special day for a few weeks now.

We celebrated an early birthday before Dad went back to work. We all went to see Gulliver's Travels (by the way this is a great movie, lots of laughs) we had a picnic dinner at the park. Kloe helped me make a sponge cake filled with fresh cream and strawberries from the garden. We also made a peach pavlova roll. Kloe decorated the cake and was so proud of herself

She was up at 7am which is very early for her, considering she has been getting out of bed at 10am most mornings!!!!! She sat very patiently and waited until 9am, until the others had woken up, before opening her presents.

She got a new quilt, pillows, lots of clothes, pj's, Aqua Sand, swimmers, hat, glitter pens, knickers, earrings, a keepsake box, jigsaw puzzle and money.

After a breakfast of croissants. Her best friend Szara came over. We then went to the park and then out for lunch.

Photos taken on an old train, just down the road from us.

We came home and had icecream cake. All requested by the birthday girl.

The girls are currently playing. There is a big disco and movie night planned for tonight :)

It's a boy

Yesterday, there was so much excitement in our house. Missy our cow (or should I say Kayla's cow) was acting very unusual, we were all hoping it was time........................

As the morning went on, her behaviour got stranger. Our friend Bruce the cow man, must have known something, because he showed up, just to check on her. He confirmed she was definitely in labour and we would have a calf within 24hrs. We sat, watching and waiting. Just after 5pm her waters broke and we could see a hoof. There was much squealing and excitement. Bruce happened to show up minutes later. He calmed us all down with his experienced words of "It will be hours yet until it is born" He told us, he would be back at 8pm to check on her. More waiting and watching. Oh I could feel her pain. It was so hard to watch nature take it's course. Bruce arrived at 8pm and she had progressed a little bit. He told us if it hadn't come out on it's own by 10pm, she would need some help. We got everything ready and hoped that it would all happen on it's own. We all sat outside in the bitterly cold weather...............waiting. HOPING, watching!!! Bruce arrived at 10pm, the plan was to catch her and tie her up and then help the calf along. Bruce and Jordi went into the paddock, while I was on spotlight duty and the others were all looking. The poor girl was so exhausted they walked straight up to her, with a few quick tugs, the calf was out. It was a boy. Kayla and Jordi have named him Totum. Oh the excitement!!!!!
And here he is..................................


He is so gorgeous. We can't wait until Honey our other cow calves. She is due next month. We get to go through all the excitement (and pain!!!) all over again.

Lolly Christmas Trees and Lolly Wreath

You will need some wrapped lollies or chocolates of your choice, a foam cone, pins. Staring at the bottom of the cone pin lollies in and work your way up and around. Add any extra decorations

Lolly wreath

You will need a wire circle, thin wire or pipe cleaners, wrapped lollies or chocolates, tinsel. Attach the lollies to the wire circle with the wire. Wrap the tinsel around.

Chocolate Puddings

This is a very big favourite in our house at Christmas time. You will need Arnotts Royale Biscuits, white chocolate melts, jaffas and mint leaves. Melt the white chocolate and leave to cool, drizzle over biscuit and add the lollies. An extra pair of hand (or two or three come in hand).

These also made lovely gifts. I have recycled a plastic lid (off some dounuts from Safeway I think) wrap in cellophane and add a little decoration.

Chocolate Trees

Another super easy recipe, that we use all through the year. At Christmas time they are trees, Easter we shape them into eggs. At other times just balls and we roll them in coconut.

200g Arrowroot biscuits crushed
1 cup coconut
2 Tbs Cocoa
1 tin of condensed milk
Mix it all together. Wet your hands and mold into tree shapes. Drizzle with white chocolate and sprinkle with something pretty. We only had 100's & 1000's.

Gingerbread recipe

Gingerbread recipe


125g Butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup treacle
1 egg yolk
2 1/2 cups SR Flour
1 Tbs ground ginger
1 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp bicarb


Cream butter and brown sugar. Add treacle and egg yolk, mix until smooth. Add to sift dry ingredients. Roll out on a floured bench. Cut as desired. Bake at 160 until golden.

Shortbread

Shortbread
2 Cups Plain Flour
2 Tbs RiceFlour
1/3 cup castor sugar
250g butter
Wizz it all in a food processor until it resembles breadcrumbs. Lightly knead together, roll out and cut. Sprinkle with extra castor sugar. Bake at 160

Chocolate Playdough

Chocolate Playdough
1 1/4 cups of plain flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup salt
1/2 Tbs Cream of Tartar
1 1/2 Tbs Oil
1 Cup of Water

Mix all dry ingredients in a saucepan, add wet ingredients. Cook over a low heat until it forms a ball.

Fun little Christmas gifts

Reindeer food
You will need some oats (Just the cheap no name brand ones) glitter and some small plastic bags. Mix the oats and glitter and put into the bags. I made my own labels and put this cute little poem on it

Sprinkle on the lawn at night
The moon will make it sparkle bright
As Santa's reindeer fly and roam
This will guide them to your home.


Reindeer Poo - a funny favourite with the boys. Buy any type of chocolate coated lollies or nuts. Put into bags or a glass jar.


Rudolph noses - A another cute one. Jaffas in a little zip lock bag

Christmas favourites

Over the next few days I thought I would revisit some of our favourite family Christmas traditions.

Candy Cane Reindeers

You will need some candy canes, pipe cleaners, fuzzy balls and some eyes. This is a great activity to do with the kids. Glue on the eyes and nose, twist pipe cleaner onto candy cane. You can shape the antlers with a pencil.

Documenting everyday stuff

Some pages on things I want to remember

Boy oh Boy

What do you do at the beach when you are bored? Dig a hole, a very big hole!!!!!!!!
Photos taken during the September School Holidays - Murrays Beach, Jervis Bay

Miss Klo

This page tells a funny story about how Miss Klo has been the tiniest person in her grade for the last few years. Well she grew this year ALOT!!!! She recently had school photos and came home so excited because she is not the smallest anymore, she is the 5th smallest LOL!!

Christmas Kangaroo Paw's

Well who would have thought that the $2, root bound pots of Kangaroo Paw would take off like they have. We have never been successful growing Kangaroo Paw, it's a funny plant. They don't like to be wet. Just don't tell that to our ones, because they are growing so well in very wet soil. The colours are pefect for Christmas - red and green.

What a dilemma

Yesterday was the official start to our count down to Christmas. I say official because the kids have been counting down for some time. Each year we have filled the advent calendar with little Christmas chocolates and started at 1 and worked our way to 24. This year all hell broke out, when someone deciding we should be starting at 24 and working our way to 1. Oh boy was there some arguing over which way to do it!!!! One wanted it one way and the other wanted it the other way. Santa almost had to be told, not to come to our house this year :)

Gingerbread Men Cards

These set of cards appeared in the September edition of Cardmaking, Stamping and Papercraft. I have used October Afternoon PP's and stickers.

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas

I love Christmas time, it's my favourite time of the year. For years I have been wanting outdoor lights. Each year I was told, next year. Well if you want something done, sometimes you just have to do it yourself. I bought 100 metres of lights and decorated the outside of the house. You can also see my two gorgeous reindeer. The plan is to have them outside but it's been wet and very windy. We don't want any flying reindeer just yet :)

The plan is to buy lots more lights and decorations. I would love to do all the roof line. Pssst I hope the man of the house is reading :) Love ya babe