Books for All

Brown Owls are having a Books for All appeal for their members as the first part of earning your 'Community Badge'

Badge aside it is a nice idea, and there are no shortage of books in our house so I thought I would send a package down to help out. Books are a big part of our day here as Miss Possum loves reading, as do we, so it is nice to think that we can share a small part of that joy.

Are you a Brown Owl? Please leave me a comment if you are, I would love to say hello :)

Lazy Day

I made a hat! A Make it Perfect ~ Lazy Day hat! A small thing I know, but it has been that long since I have sewn ANYTHING that it feels like a very BIG achievement. Sad aren't I?!

Now for the actually sad parts:

• It is too small for Miss Possum, it shouldn't be according to the size of her head so I think it is just a small pattern.
• The stiffener I used was too heavy and doesn't iron on well, not the look I was after, I have thrown it out. Don't use stuff just because you have it...
• I have learnt that stripes are not a good idea here, they are on the inside of this reversible hat, and they are a lovely stripe, but it doesn't work on a round pattern. I should have known :(

For the Good parts:

• Once DH looked at the pattern for me and told me I had skipped a step, it all made sense and was rather easy to put together. It was quick too which is a big plus with a toddler in the house
• The Butterfly fabric was from the Haberdashery Swap on 'EB' I took part in, it is always fun sewing with bits from a swap!
• I will be happy to make another (larger) version of this hat, butterflies and.... not stripes but I will have something!

Back to the drawing board for take 2!

Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway Day

GIVEAWAY DAY NOW CLOSED

Many thanks to all who entered.

Winner drawn HERE

How fun to be a part of this giveaway day. I had fun last December as a Blog trawler, so this year I decided to up the ante as an active participant and actually give something away myself!

Check out Sew, mama, Sew! for a full list of Blogs participating!

I will choose a random winner using a number generator which will be drawn after May 31st.
I am happy to ship internationally and will post by June 3rd as per the guidelines.
Please ensure I have a way of getting in touch with you, either via your Blog profile or by email.


To giveaway I have:
1/2 metre of Mushroom Fabric
1 remnant piece of Floral Kitties fabric measuring 20"x15"
1 metre of Vintage Ric Rac recently acquired from Grandma's stash
The 20cent coin is to provide scale.

Thanks for visiting my Blog, feel free to look around while you are here :)
Good luck!

On the Shelf ~ May 21st

I am taking part in a reading challenge (original post HERE).
I will only list the most recent below, the full list is in the original post as linked above.

29. The Mighty Toddler ~ Robin Barker
30. Toddler Taming ~ Dr Christopher Green
31. Let me sing you gentle songs ~ Linda Olsen
32. The Persimmon Tree ~ Bryce Courtenay

Anyone pick that Miss Possum has hit the toddler stage from the above list? I thought I had best read about the wonderful new delights in store for Dear Husband and I... Actually, she has been fairly good, we have had a couple of sleepless nights but I think it may be teeth related. The odd foot stomp and adamant NO we receive here is easy to deal with.

Our book club met this morning to discuss the Let me sing you gentle songs. It was an easy read and was given 2.5 stars at the meeting. We had a lovely early lunch while out and it was a good meeting all told.

Our next book to be discussed in a month is Susan Duncan's Salvation Creek. We are starting to settle in as a new group and I am looking forward to another meeting at the comfortable local Inn :)

Happy Mail Week!

On MONDAY: My Duckcloth order arrived so I now have the Oliver + S Bedtime Story Pajamas Pattern I wanted for the latest EB (Essential Baby) sewing challenge.

On TUESDAY: My Round 3 mail out from Chaletgirl's Block swap arrived. I have not taken photos as I will wait until I have finished them then blog them before I send them back. I have paired the fabrics and have them all ready and waiting for the phone call which will tell me my machine is ready to be picked up from it's service...

On WEDNESDAY: I received the biggest package of them all, my vintage sheet FQ from Chalatgirl's Vintage sheet swap! I cant wait to pair these with the samples I have here! I am not sure what I will do with them yet, but will be sure to let you all know as soon as I decide.

Maybe this idea HERE?

To the best of my knowledge, I have no more exciting mail to come this week, but you never know really (touch wood).

What have I been up to?

I have been enjoying time at home, catching up on jobs and commitments and re-discovering the art of colouring in, much to the delight of Miss Possum, who's favourite colour crayon just happens to be the one in my hand, without fail...

I have also been making gift tags for swap items, and am now kicking myself as I have realised that I didn't put any in with my items for the Snailblazer swap. I used pictures from an old secondhand copy of Pigling Bland. I still have the larger colour prints from the book which I will turn into cards on of these days.

The coloured card is left over scraps from my recipe swap creations each month. I posted off my latest recipe swap efforts this morning so now I am all up to date with that as well.

I will be Making it Perfect as well! I got excited the other day and ordered some new patterns from Kelani which all turned up today. My sewing machine is in for a service which will give me time to draw up the patterns, buy the fabric and get organised. Which one to do first... Maybe some overalls for Possums Winter wardrobe.


I also bought this Michael Miller Dick and Jane quilt kit while I was dropping my sewing machine and overlocker in for their service. I told DH (Dear Husband) that I was going to make it for Miss Possums birthday. It is 50"x50" so I will work out how to make it into a quilt for her bed, which she will be in by then.

I have had an email to say my order from Duckcloth is in the mail so I will soon have some Oliver + S pajamas to make as well! Never a dull moment.

I made myself a new Blog Header which is much nicer than the old template header that I had. I almost feel... professional?

And last but not least, I have been entering a lot of giveaways. I have provided links to a lot of them over the last few posts so go back and have a look as there is some great stuff up for grabs in Blog land at the moment. Maybe I will even be lucky enough to win something myself!

More Giveaways

It seems May must be the month for it...

Melly & Me are giving away TWO patterns Here to be drawn May 27th (drawn)

Whippet good is having a giveaway to help launch 'Sewn'
As is Myrtle & Eunice and also What Katy Did. All will be drawn June 8th.

The Crafty Librarian is hosting a giveaway to celebrate 100 Blog posts :) This will also be drawn June 8th to tie in with the Sewn launch.

Good luck and happy entering!!
There are even MORE giveaways listed a couple of Blog posts below if you have time :)

Block Swap Mail Out 2

Mail out number 2 is now complete and headed back to Sheridan!

The green spot is beautiful fabric which belongs to Maryjane.

The pink Chinese inspired fabric belongs to Louise.

And last but not least, the pink and black spot belongs to Leah

Hope the girls like what I have paired with them!

Now I am already waiting with barely contained excitement for mail out number 3 to arrive in my mailbox!!

All my sewing commitments are up to date (gasp!) so I have booked my machines in for a much needed service. While I am thinking about it, I will get some new blades for my rotary cutter and I will be all organised!

edited to add: I just dropped my machines off for their service and was told that it will take a WEEK! Guess I will get some knitting done :)

Giveaway(s)

Want to win a 'Make it Perfect' pattern?
Me too!! (unfortunately, I didn't win, I will now have to buy it I think...)
It would be nice to win as I bought three Make it Perfect patterns today (see below Blog post.)

Or, how about one of these wonderful felt kits from Princess Kirstie Jane? (already drawn)

Amy at Badskirt is having a giveaway in honour of her 400th post. Drawn May 21st

Sew,Mama,Sew! is hosting another Giveaway day on May 27th. I think I will sign up this time round :)

CurlyPops is giving away a brooch as part of the 'Sewn' launch drawn June 8th, and also an apron (edited to add apron is drawn)

Pip is giving away one of her 'Meet me at Mike's' books which will be drawn May 22nd!

Kelani ruined my lunch...

I made Cajun Wedges the other day, and I was that impressed with them that I decided to make some more for DH and I today...

Unfortunately, after putting the potatoes on to boil I got distracted on the Kelani website which is a trap for any fabric lover... I bought three Make it Perfect patterns, the Lazy Day hat, Versatile Wrap skirt and the Little Explorer overalls.

I was actually looking for the Oliver + S Kimono PJ's for the latest EB sewing challenge but it seems they are out of stock. Maybe I should just put in a back order?

My poor potatoes were a little over cooked by this time but still turned out ok in the end :) These photos are from the first GREAT batch, not today's efforts LOL.

Cajun Roast Potatoes

Serves 6 ~ (I adjusted below quantities to suit 1-2 people)

2 tsp Sea Salt

2 tsp ground coriander

2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp chilli flakes

1 tsp paprika

2 tsps dried oregano

2kg med potatoes

2 cloves crushed garlic

2 tsps grated lemon rind

1/3 cup olive oil

Sur cream & sweet chilli sauce to serve

• Place herbs in small frying pan on low heat and cook while stirring for about 1 min. Remove from heat.
• Peel and cut spud into wedges, boil in water until almost tender. Drain and shake to roughen.
• Put potatoes on baking tray, coat with oil and dust with spice mix.
• Bake in very hot oven until golden and crisp
• Serve with Sour cream and Sweet Chilli sauce.

In other news: I have hemmed my bedspread, mended the dog bed and finished my knitted scarf. Sheridan, if you, or any other Block Swap girls read this, your Block Swap is the next job on my list, honest!

Snailblazer Sneak Peak

Today is posting day for the swap items I have sewn for Cass's Snailblazer Swap. I thought it was a good chance for a sneak peak.

We have been sworn to secrecy until opening day so I am not allowed to give much away. Until then, this will have to do :)




This is the first sewing I have done in a month, and I am VERY glad to have the machine out again. I now have to set my sights on Chaletgirl's block swap as I am a bit behind. I also have a bedspread to hem, a scarf to finish and a book to read. No rest for me :)

Every Possum needs a Pony

It does seem strange to have a pony in the backyard, but Miss Possum LOVES it! First thing every morning she trots to the back door and points outside at Lily, her pony. Then when she is dressed Miss Possum goes out to say good morning in person.

Miss Possum took some bread out for Lily, but started to eat it herself while Lily watched on in the background. Lily didn't miss out for long, DD did not feel like eating too much :)

Miss Possum is learning a lot about ponies, including the fact that they like to eat grass. She must have been thinking about this as I caught her experimentaly eating some herself while Lily chewed on her own patch of grass next to her.

The week (or so) that was...

So much has happened of late so I thought a quick run down of my activities was in order to bring my Blog back up to date.

I will start with the biggest change over the last few weeks, which was my Grandmother's passing. We had been lucky enough to visit Grandma the day before she passed which has been such a comfort in the times that have followed. To know that we saw her, laughed with her and told her we loved her at just the right time.

I was lucky enough to be able to do a reading at her funeral with my cousin Dannii, a poem that was suggested by me that I got from Helen who very recently went through the same thing with her Nan:

When I am gone, release me, let me go.
I have so many things to see and do.
You must not tie yourself to me with tears.
I gave you my love, you can only guess,
How much you gave me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you have shown,
But now it is time I travelled alone.
So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must,
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It is only for a while that we must part,
So bless the memories within your heart.
I will not be far away, for life goes on,
So if you need me, call me and I will come.
And listen to your heart, you will hear,
All of my love around you soft and clear.
Then when you must come this way alone,
I will greet you with a smile and say,
"Welcome home" , for life goes on.

There is still room in the 'Pay it forward' if anyone is interested, there is no real time pressure to this project so I will enjoy creating something for this one.

We have had our kitchen ripped out, and the new cupboards in. I won't do before and after photos yet as we still need to organise splash backs, floor coverings and cornice, and then paint. You may be waiting awhile to see the finished product :(

My Brown Owls membership pack turned up and I was very excited clipping the keyring straight onto my keys and telling everyone all about it. My only wish now is for some time to be 'crafty'!

I went on a trip south with DH which gave me a chance to catch up with Kate and Kylie. It is fun catching up with online friends in real life :) Kate was mean enough to have a Tupperware party while I was down there so I 'had' to add to my already impressive stash of plastics :)

I also bought more wool, and patterns that will keep me busy for awhile. I did not strictly speaking need to buy so much but it was on sale so it seemed like a good idea at the time. DH was not too worried at the volume of wool to fall out of my suitcase when it was time to unpack so all is good on that front :) I now have enough wool to make three felted bags and some patterns for my stash of 'one day' ideas

edited to add: This wool is from Simply Stiches in Wagga. They had it at 35% off as it is the discontinued Vintage Hues Range. I got 13 balls all up in three shades to make felted bags with.




On the urgent things to do list I must:

Sew for the Snailblazer swap
Recipe swap cards
Chaletgirl block swap sewing
Read my book club book
Finish my knitted scarf

So, that is me, up to date so to speak...

On the Shelf ~ May 3rd

I have read a few books in the past week, I have also joined the masses and bought the Twilight series. I was going to wait but my brother came home with the DVD so I had to get the books before I saw it! DH bought me the first one for Mother's day and I got the rest the next day to have the full set.

These are the latest editions to the reading challenge I am doing this year. Guess what I will be reading next ;)

23. Testimony ~ Anita Shreve
24. Twilight ~ Stephanie Meyer

May/June
25. New Moon ~ Stephanie Meyer
26. Eclipse ~ Stephanie Meyer
27. Sewing Projects in an afternoon ~ Susan Mickey

edited 5/5/09 to add:
28. Breaking Dawn ~ Stephanie Meyer
My least favourite from the series...