My Place and Yours: Blog HQ

A bit dark and cluttered in my blog HQ, but I do love the Mac!

One of my favourite things about Mr Mac is that he has iMovie and for the last 2 years I have made a DVD of our family's "Year in Review". I finished our 2008 in about May 2009 (oops!), and I am starting to realise that it is November now, so it might be time to start on this year's highlights reel. I am so pleased to have our years video archived in this way- it will make for fun times reminiscing in the future, which is one of my favourite past times!

To address the "dark" situation in our study, we are getting a skylight put in on Monday! It will make such a huge difference to the whole house, as it is in the centre of our place and is a bit of a thoroughfare. I think once the "dark" situation is rectified, the "clutter" situation will be easier to deal with.

Thanks Pip for hosting, and Ninon for the theme!

PS I am so pleased it is cool and rainy today in Sydney. I have been sick the past few days, and the cooler weather is a nice welcome back into "well land".

Eye Spy... shoes

Dressed to impress at my brother's wedding

My little girl really wanted a pair of "ballet shoes", so we went in search of her first pair of ballet flats. We soon found out that Jemima has broad feet compared with the general population of size 7 ballet flat consumers, and I will say there was some tears along the way.

Finally we found these sparkly purpley pink ones at Cotton On Kids, and they are a little big, but at least her feet don't bulge out of them.

The skirt I made from vintage fabric in my stash from the Lazy Days skirt pattern.

Many thanks to Anastasia for this week's eye spy theme, and to Cindy for hosting.

And the winner is...

....Jo so and sew. Congratulations! Send me an email to redchocolate@ymail.com so I can forward on your address to Maree from Buyster, and she will be in touch regarding your prize!

Thanks to everyone who entered the buyster rug giveaway! I am planning another giveaway soon (this time of stuff I have made and a few other bits and bobs probably), so stay tuned.

Our week has been.. interesting. Caleb hit his head on the lino floor at preschool 20 minutes before I picked him up. A very large googie egg had taken up residence on his forehead. I had already arranged for an overnight trip with the kids to Newcastle, and he seemed fine (did not lose consciousness, was not lethargic etc etc), so I decided to go.

Well, then the fun began- he was really sleepy and off his food, and had a vomit. I kept going as my friend's husband is a doctor, besides when I started to get worried I was an hour from home and an hour from them. Eventually I ended up taking him to hospital in Newcastle as he had another vomit. He also had diarrhea by now, so I was fairly sure he had gastro, but the head injury was a bit .... complicating. A diagnosis of gastro and about 5 hours later, we were able to take him home.

He is fine now! He always bounces back after these things. And this was actually the first time I have ever taken my kids to hospital in my 5 years as a parent, so I count myself lucky!

We all feel a bit seedy, so we'll see if anyone falls victim to the bug.

Hope everyone has a great sick-free weekend!

Eye Spy... something cuddly

Cindy asked me to choose the theme this week and I did it fast, like ripping off a bandaid. But it turns out to be a most appropriate theme for me today, as cuddling something cuddly is all one feels like doing today in rainy Sydney.

The wedding on the weekend was and delightful. The bride suitably stunning in a drop waisted strapless champagne coloured gown, the groom dapper in black skinny jeans, vest and skinny tie, the attendants all adorable and everyone could not be happier. It was a wonderful celebration of Luke and Savannah's new life together.

That said, we all missed the irrepressible Grandpa George terribly and just about all of us had a little tear at one point or another. Grandpa also did the message at my other brother's wedding last year, so he seemed particularly absent.

This little softie was a gift for Jemima from Grandpa George and Grandma Margaret just months before he died. We call him "Puppy George" and I take great comfort in giving him a big squeeze every now and then.

See more cuddly things at Cindy's place.

My Place and Yours: Bedside

This week I am joining in with Pip's meme "My place and yours"!

How fortuitous that the honourable theme queen decreed this week's theme to be Bedside. For this is the best my bedside has ever looked.

The flowers here are off cuts from a big $8 bunch that I put in the kitchen. I have never had flowers on my bedside table before, but it sure is lovely.

Handmade Home is a gift for someone who pretty much began sewing around the same time I did. I am taking a sneaky peak before I wrap it up (!)

The Australian Prayer Book is not a regular fixture, but borrowed from my Dad for inspiration. Because my brother and his sweet lady are getting married today! And I get to do the prayer!

Also pictured: my journal, some family snaps and a little Ikea lamp.

Just to the right of this little scene are the children's "good clothes" all laid out ready to party this afternoon and way past their bed times. Gotta love a family wedding!

The things we do

A few years ago, perhaps even 6 months ago I would have honestly thought anyone who crocheted their own dishcloths was a little bit barking. Why spend all that time making something you wipe down benches with? Invest that crafty time into something a bit more fun! Buy a dishcloth for goodness sakes! I would say.

I saw this a while ago, and thought they were just so appealing. I can't explain it.

And you know what, why not have something cute and handmade for a task you do several times a day, and an item which is on display all day long?

I draw the line as hand washing my dishcloths in wool wash however. I have washed the blue one in a lingerie bag in with my normal clothes washing and just let it dry flat on top of my washing machine rather than hanging it on the line so it kept it's shape. It is not quite as soft as it was, but hey, it IS a dishcloth.

Now the pink one is off the hook too and ready to get grubby!

PS If you haven't already seen it, check out my giveaway!

Eye Spy... bed

Not my bed, obviously, but the chambers of Miss Jem.

I took this photograph after a bit of an adventure. Chris was away, Caleb was at preschool, and the door knob broke with Jemima and I inside her room- just before I was about to put her down for a nap.

The only way out was through the window.

Can you see the fly screen I detached to make my escape resting against the wall? Can you also see that there is a shade cloth window covering on the outside, which made my exit most difficult? I was also wearing a long skirt which was making the task of clambering out the window impossible, thus had to remove said skirt, which was quickly put back on once outside...

Ah the hi jinx.

The door was openable from the outside, so I could set my little one free. Of course with all the excitement, there was no nap that day.

More beds here! Thanks Miss Muggins for the theme!

PS Cindy has asked me to come up with next week's theme. I hereby pronounce the theme to be... Eye Spy something cuddly. (Here is some inspiration...)