Sewing for the store

I got busy last night and made 6 project bags. These are destined for the store at some stage. I've pulled all the stock off the store and Peter has re-jigged the colours. It may be months before I open the store again. I want to get lots made. I'm debating whether to list the quilts again, or keep them as gifts.

I've been working on a couple of toy snakes and some rag dolls to add. I'm planning on making some applique polar fleece cot blankets, they're cheaper than quilts to produce and may sell better.

I have a huge stash of patchwork fabrics. especially fat quarters. So I'm looking for a few fat quarter friendly projects to add to the store.

There's no rush, a little at a time. The store keeps me busy, my brain in gear and nourishes my creative urges as I stay home and cherish my children's growing years.

Menu planning, slow cookers and other rambles.

I'm convinced every mum needs a slower cooker. I just love mine. This one belonged to my Mother in Law and must date back to the 80's. It's still going strong. I love the retro look and it fits in well with my country style kitchen. In this model the cooking bowl is fixed in which makes it a pain to clean. We need to buy a bigger one as the kids get bigger.

I make most of my recipes up, like I do with my stews. A little bit of this and little bit of that and a never to be repeated culinary delight is born.

In the pot today went chicken drumsticks, mushrooms, olives, tomato paste ( homemade!) and a Maggie Chicken Chasseur mix. I didn't add any extra fluids as the drumsticks cook they release their juices to mix with the Chasseur mix to create the gravy. I put this on to cook at lunch time and it will be perfect by dinner time. I'm planning on serving with broccoli and rice.

Organisation isn't my "thing"

But every now and then I get the urge to get my act together. This is my way of menu planning. I printed a plan out, the kids put the stickers on and I laminated it. I meal plan with the kids. That way I can argue they chose it, they have to eat it. The above was while daddy was away! The kids are very good at telling me there aren't enough veggies on the menu. They've been studying nutrition at school. The plan lives on a nail in the kitchen wall and saves me from answering over and over again that dreaded question...... "what's for dinner?"

Why I get slack and stop menu planning, I don't know. It saves me a heap of time, money and waistline when I do.

I've come to the realisation that it's not the big things in life that cause the most dramas but the little things. And if you stop the little things from happening the big things don't happen. I just had a "little" thing happen that could of been a tragedy. I'm so grateful I caught it in time.

I remember my Nan telling me once to look after the pence and the pounds look after themselves, she was Welsh. My Nan passed away last year the day before my dad. I have some very found memories of her, even though I grew up thousands of miles away here in Australia. She'd lived through the depression and war years and never wasted anything. I inherited a lot from Nan. My Gall bladder, we both had ours removed and my fertility we both had 6 children in the same order of sex.

Thanks for reading my ramble if you got this far you've done really well.

Until next time.

Longies - developing my crochet recipe

I've been busy crocheting in the last two weeks. These three pairs were made as swaps. I got nappies, winter clothes for Michael and a smock for Lilly. :) I was delighted with what I received and in my delight forgot to take photos and the goodies are now stashed in the kids chest of drawers.

This is the first time I've added a knitted waistband. I'm please with the result. I also put shaping into the legs. They narrow towards the ankle. In this pair there were three decrease rows added in the leg. I added the waist band and cuffs in a contrast because I ran out of the "choc blueberry" wool.

This pair has a knitted waistband, flower appliques and a lace cuff. Crochet takes a lot more wool than knitting. This makes for a very thirst nappy cover, great for nights. I changed the way I added the short rows in these. I'm keeping that part a secret ;) These also have tapered legs but only one decrease row.

In this pair I've worked the crotch like I would a gusset in my knit longies. I'm really please with the result. I also added a knit waistband and used my "secret" short row method. These also have a shell cuff and tapered legs with two rows of decreasing.

I hope they fit their new owners! The "fit" is just as important as the "look".

Shhhhh....

The lovely Donna shared a link with me on making this beautiful little man.

He's very sweet and simple to make. Michael smiled big when he saw this little fellow.



And this is my first post with my new Macbook!! Now I need to start building up my book marks again!

ssssssCyril

I spent this morning sewing Cyril the Snake. He's a very cute guy, not scary at all. But he has got himself all caught up on the trailer cage and is a very inquiring fellow and had to check out my NEW LAPTOP!

Peter arrived home from his weekend trip to Sydney with a new ibook to replace my poor dearly departed lappy. Pete's busy setting the new ibook up right now. He's refusing to swap and let me keep his pro-book :P I've got very attached too.



I think it may be time to get serious about making DRD make some money. I've really enjoyed sewing the baby blocks, balls and my friends Cyril. So keep a watch on the store for a few baby toys to appear in the near future!

Baby Blocks

Another quick project to amuse baby and use up a few scraps.

I made the cubes 4.5 inches and 3 inches. Lots of practice here with y seams!

I used old Yowie containers to house the bells I put in each cube.

Balloon Ball or Balloon cover.

A good friend Bronnie showed me how to make these a few years ago now. I haven't made any for a while. They are great. They make nice bouncy balls. They protect the balloon a little from being popped and if it is popped the bits are safe inside so baby can't swallow them.

I made a fabric ball a little bigger than the previous two. At one end I added a felt circle with a slot cut into it, by hand applique. I cut into the fabric in the slot and added some PVC glue to stop the ends fraying. Let it dry.

I had to search the house for a balloon. They don't last long in this house! I popped the balloon into the slot I had cut and blew it up. when you've tied your balloon up just tuck the knot into the slot too. And away you bounce!

My ball isn't as smooth as it could be. I'll have to play with my template a little to get the shape perfect.

It's mad around here...

These are nice and soft for Michael to play with. I saw that Tiny Happy had made some of these cute little balls on her blog and was inspired to make a couple for Michael.

I popped in a bell in one and a rattle in the other. I found the pattern pieces here. There is also a nice pattern for a toy snake too.


And here is the little dragon himself enjoying his new toys. While wearing his new shoes.

And why is it mad around here..well anyone who tries to sew with a sick dog, hungry children who are fighting over the Playstation, while the baby naps is MAD!

Baby Shoes Challenge

The lovely Donna and I had a craft challenge this afternoon to design and create baby shoes.

Here are my efforts. Very conservative. I had a little look around the web and got some ideas on construction. Then drew around Michaels foot and added some room for growth and seam allowance. Then evened the line out a bit, making the soles left and right. By cutting the front part off and splaying it I made the uppers. The backs I did two different ways.

I think next time I'll change the sole shape to points and make a pixie type pair.

More cooking

Stuffed Mushrooms.

I made this up myself last night.

100gms chopped bacon
2 spring onions sliced fine
1 cup breadcrumbs
6 cherry tomatoes halved
half a capsicum chopped
a little PORT to combine
2 Very Large Mushrooms
italian mixed herbs to taste I used about a tablespoon.

Take the stalk out of the mushrooms. chop it and add to the bacon, onions, tomatoes, herbs and capsicum. Pan fry for a few minutes until the bacon looks cooked and the tomatoes soft.
Add the breadcrumbs and pour on enough port for it to make a moist but crumble like mixture.

Stuff the mixture into the mushrooms and bake in a moderate to hot oven. Mine was 200C for around 40 minutes.

I only made two. The kids aren't found of mushrooms.




After reading Vi's Blog. I just had to make these. Very yummy, rich and decadent. Luck for me I have lots of children who also want a piece, so I won't get to eat too much of this rich dessert.

Quilt As You Go Blocks - finally a quilt post!

I discovered a patchwork bag hanging on the back of the spare room door as I was cleaning up. I had totally forgotten about these blocks. I had started them when we were doing trips from Tennant Creek to the house here. That was around three years ago.

They are all hand pieced and a few hand quilted. One day I may even finish them!

I went through a pink and green phase and have a lot of fat quarters in my stash similar. Not really my colours now. Maybe I should just finish these and turn them into a small quilt? I originally thought they would be part of a queen size quilt for our bed. It doesn't really appeal now.

Chit chat and the Cat

Ollie is constantly finding new places to hide from the kids. His other favorite spot is found by crawling into a drawer and then jumping down into the back of the chest of drawers and trapping himself. I have to check when I close drawers that Ollie isn't in there.

The kids are still on school holidays which accounts for all the food posts of late!

Michael had his immunisation today. He was very brave and only cried a little. One in each leg and a little syrup on his tongue. I had a flu shot and I was very brave too. Last year I caught every virus going, so I decided to try a flu shot this year.

The school holidays have whizzed by. The kids are back at school next Monday. I'm going to miss having them home. When they are in school the time I have with them is such a rush. A rush to get them up and dressed and to school. A rush to get the homework, sports and music practice done and then the rush to do the dinner, baths, dessert and bed routine.

I really miss homeschooling. But the kids are loving school and it was the right decision for us to put them into school when we did. I need to accept I can't do it all.

Thank you to all my readers and the nice comments you leave. I love visiting all your blogs too and reading what others are doing. I get so much inspiration from your blogs.

Choc Chip and Banana Muffins

These are very yummy! Very easy to make and a firm favourite with the kids.

2 cups of Self Raising Flour
1/2 cup of chocolate chips
2 tablespoons of sugar

Mix the above into a large bowl.

Melt 5 tablespoons butter or Marg. Mix with 1/2 a cup of Milk and 2 lightly beaten eggs.

Mash 2 ripe bananas.

Add the bananas and butter, milk and egg mixture to the Flour, sugar and choc chips. Mix until combined. Don't over do the mixing as this makes them tough.

You'll have a sticky mixture, which isn't runny at all. Spoon heaped tablespoons into muffin papers and bake in a hot oven 220C for 20 minutes.

Keep the kids away for 10 minutes to let them cool then watch them disappear!

Rocky Road

We made Rocky Road today.
Here is our recipe. We made it up by adding our favorites.

750 grams of chocolate
60 grams of Copha
1 packet of marshmallows chopped in half.
1 packet of glace cherries chopped in half.
1/2 a cup of coconut
1/2 a cup of chopped peanuts

Mix the marshmallows, cherries, coconut and peanuts together in a large bowl.

Melt the chocolate and copha together in the microwave.

Mix the two mixtures together and put in a slice tin to set in the fridge.

Chop into chunks and enjoy!

How to make a project bag

Take two fat quarters. Fold lengthwise. Cut a length off the end to make the strap from. You need 4 inches to make a 1 inch strap.



Sew the top edge of your bag lining and outer fabric together. Press.
Now fold in half length wise matching the seam.



Sew along the three sides leaving two openings. One in the outside fabric about 1 inch from the seam and about one inch in size. If you look in the photo above the opening will be between the two pins. The second opening is left in the base of the lining. It's used to turn the bag through.



Sew up the hole in the lining and push the lining into the outer bag.
Line up the top and press.



Make the casing for the draw string by sewing two lines around the top of the bag opening. One about 1 inch down and the other around 2 inches down from the opening.




Make the strap by folding edges into the center and folding again.
Fold the ends in to neaten them.
Top stitch around the strap.


Sew the strap onto the bag below the casing stitches. I use box and cross stitching for strength.
I added a snap so I could hang it from my kitchen chair as I work. You may prefer to sew both ends down to make a strap to hang from your wrist.


Thread cord through the casing and you're done!



And here is the bag in use. Hanging from a kitchen chair.

Let me know how you go following these directions. They were written up on blogger with the kids screaming at each other in the background and Michael nursing at intervals.

psss a hint:
Use shoe laces for the drawstring. Strong and ends are sealed, so no fraying!

Edited to Add: March 14, 2011

Also makes a fabulous drop spindle bag!

Vasectomy Song

Another one sent to Peter by his mate Michael! After Michael baby number 6 was born. A hint I think :P

Husband song

I had to share. Peter's mate Michael sent it to him.

Knitting bags

I've finally got a little time to get some sewing done. I finished my "The Knit & Go Girl Knitting Tote" The fabic came from an op shop. It's nice and big and will be great to take with me on those longer car trips. I bought the pattern from HERE I've only made the tote as I don't really need a needle roll. The project bag looks nice too, it has a circle base so would sit nice.

The girls have learnt to knit and I made them both a project bag to keep their knitting in. This is a very simply design with a drawstring and a handle which is snapped so the girls can hang their bags from the rails of their bunk beds.



The kids are on school holidays and have been helping to look after Michael. I'm really enjoying having my kids home. Fern is a great help with Michael she often cuddles him while I cook dinner.

Miracles

IMG_2608, originally uploaded by Tracymumto5.

We've just bought the block next door.
We've had record heatwaves here and are in the midst of a drought. We had a couple of mm's of rain last week and....
Look what's poking out of the dry soil! They are so pretty.
There must of been a garden there once. Someone must of planted those bulbs. Our cottage was built in 1910 and in the past there had been another cottage next door, now long gone but the bulbs are still there :D

He's so beautiful!

IMG_2601, originally uploaded by Tracymumto5.

He's growing so quickly! Still fully breastfed and putting on lots of weight. He's a happy little man as long as he's held! We're getting 3 to 4 hours between feeds at night. I miss sleep! But he only has to smile for it all to be worth it.

The hat was made by Suzanne for Suzanne's house of wool It was a gift. Thank you!