cute overload - now in store

I think my middle name should be cute due to my addiction to anything cute (or it could be chocolate, coffee.....the list goes on)! Tonight, a healthy delivery of cute arrived on my doorstep....


this is a super cute and soft double gauze....anything bambi and pink wins in my books! You can find it all here.....I must admit to keeping some of this to myself...ok quite a bit for myself!

Sunday Food Day

Today was our Sunday Craft Day but you might have well renamed it our Sunday Food Day as this was the spread...oh no wait, this is just the savoury table.


here is some of the sweet selection.....I'm sure I said in my email that this was not masterchef! And that absolutely scrumptious looking chocolate tart was made by this lovely lady...who I've now renamed that chocolate tart lady! Thank you everyone for the wonderful food you bought...you put my egg and mayo sandwiches to shame!


We had a ball, there were 18 of us in total and despite my best efforts I didn't even finish 2 rows of my ripple blanket as there was too much conversation to be involved in.


I know I'm not alone, I don't think this young lady touched her machine till after lunchtime. We finished up after 3pm but as you know time flies when you're having fun so I think a longer day is on the cards next time.


thank you to each and everyone of you clever crafty ladies who came along and made it the special day that it was.....we will definitely be doing it again....


but perhaps we'll bring less food next time or we'll have to call our husbands in to clear the lunch table for us when we're done.


and the day was made even better with the news that my mum is back in the ward, did a little walk around the bed and is on the mend! thank you for your special prayers and thoughts......it was the worst week of my life but ended on a high!

oh thank you

Thank you again. I knew I would receive the most wonderful messages that I will pass on to my mum. Its always a tough decision knowing how much to share online and I've kept it all to myself until now. These are the lovely flowers that I organised from her favourite florist yesterday but there are no flowers allowed in ICU so they no sooner arrived than came back to live with me.


and I'm still baking this morning....these are the easiest little cakes ever. Take 1 packet of basic vanilla cake mix (I just use a 99c no-name brand) and drop in a few frozen berries into each one. Bake for 20-25 minutes, dust with icing sugar and you have the most deliciously moist little berry cakes.

Thank you...please keep praying

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your lovely thoughts and prayers. Unfortunately, today my mum was transferred to intensive care due to complications with her lungs. Please keep her in your prayers to those of who pray..she'll be in there a few days before she can get back on her feet again. We weren't expecting this setback and another batch of rocky road was required to get me through the afternoon. My Sunday day of craft will be a welcome relief to take my mind off things............

keeping my mind busy

yesterday I really needed to keep busy. It was the day of my mum's big operation, her third operation in a few years to remove more cancer. What started out as melanoma on the back her leg and has been removed twice is now in her bones. Its been too hard a topic for me to think about let alone talk about but I tried to keep really busy yesterday and think of nicer things. I made 43 hair clips and ties...quite a feat in itself, a batch of cookies to take in today, a big pot of soup and some rocky road...I won't reveal how much comfort eating of my own went on late yesterday.


I wasn't prepared to see her so dosed up on morphein but I visited her today and am feeling both better and more emotional at the same time. Cancer is so evil a disease but I know my mum is strong and will fight it. She has had her hip replaced and part of her thigh removed to get it all out and I know she has a long recovery ahead but seeing her laugh about her bed hair today reminded me she will get through it! I came home to this big pile of liberty fabrics on my doorstep which are for my liberty classes and made my day (this represents one lady's huge destash of liberty fabric on ebay and most of it came to live at my house).



Off to remove keira from the bath after she threw up in the car on the way to the hospital. As any mummy knows, things like this always happen when you don't have a change of clothes with you. here is my mum with my little niece....

perfecting the yo-yo

I haven't touched my yo-yo makers since Christmas but I didn't feel like knitting or crochet last night so pulled out my basket with scraps and yo yo makers instead.


and I am now in full on yo-yo making mode....and isn't my model co-operative! She stood so still and we enjoyed a little piece of chocolate afterwards for being such a good little model!

winners

Thanks everyone for playing.............

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

52 89 Timestamp: 2009-06-21 20:54:12 UTC

the winners are Leah and Louise please let me know your addresses by emailing me on retromummy@gmail.com! More competitions coming soon.....I also have 10% off all sewing classes so get in now! I am already taking bookings which is very exciting...book your place and pay one month before the class starts!

who's afraid of the big bad zipper?

I've never been a fan of the zipper! Sure, I've made pants and shorts for myself with zippers but generally avoid them. However, last night I decided it was time to overcome my fear.....


So armed with 5 little zippers I measured fabric to the same length as the zipper and made a few little pouches. They're not perfect but are cute and will be good as a little extra with presents.


ta da...I'm not afraid of the zipper anymore!


ps I'll draw the fabric giveaways tomorrow!

pink paris outfit!

Sometimes you can just stare at fabric wondering what you could use it for! I have this problem and I also had the problem that I couldn't get the prettiness of this fabric to show up in photos.


This morning I got 2 wide rectangles of fabric, added an elastic waistband, hemmed it and matched it with an appliqued tee! Finished in less than an hour and a perfect sample......


so I better go and update the photo in the store as this looks so much better!!!

we're open for business + a giveaway

Yep, the Retro Mummy store is now open! We have fabrics, books and classes. Now I only have a small selection of fabrics at the moment but I have several more deliveries in the next few weeks to keep everyone happy. To find our classes just go here, click through the months and email me on info@retromummy.com to book your place. More classes coming!


Hope you like the new store and if you have any questions or problems please ask! (she says nervously hoping there are no problems with the shopping cart she has set up herself!) Fingers are crossed. If you get overcharged for postage I will refund the difference as I tweak the shipping calculator!!!! LEAVE A COMMENT HERE AND GO IN THE DRAW TO WIN ONE OF TWO PACKS OF 7 FAT QUARTERS......................MORE COMPETITIONS COMING

Now I better fold the 5 loads of clean laundry that are calling out my name...this web stuff is time consuming!

there goes the neighbourhood

Yes, a dark and sinister force has entered my neighbourhood....a brand new shopping centre. I was excited at the thought of having a great big new supermarket and patisserie within a short drive from home let alone great shops. Then I heard there was a french childrenswear store in there that I had to check out. I was prepared to do some serious damage in there today.....and to my suprise it was all reasonably priced and oh such beautiful clothes!!!!!!! With cute tee's from $11 and sweet t-shirts for my girls with peter pan collars for under $20 I did some serious shopping without the serious damage.


The highlight of the morning for keira were our little strawberry tarts for morning tea and pint sized shopping trolleys at the supermarket. And suprise suprise all the mummies were having shopping tralleys rammed into the backs of their legs by their little princesses!!!! And while I was out having a lovely time, the first of my many fabric deliveries arrived!


Time to take pictures and maybe open for business tomorrow morning!

Productivity!

I've had a very productive weekend...with a few skirts and dresses whipped up. The freshcut FQ's were crying out to be used straight away so I made a little skirt for miss keira......


Then I thought a dolls quilt would be cute so I whipped this up last night....I just need more energy to make the binding, but it was quick and easy.


I'm trying to finalise a class list for my store and think a dolls quilt would be good for a total beginner quilter. what do you think? You can at least cover piecing, sandwiching, quilting and binding on a Sunday!


and how much does this $3.49/metre flannel from Spotlight remind you of Cath Kidston! I'm thinking cute pj pants and appliqued tee's for my little girls! I took the whole bolt at that price, well there was only 4m left on the bolt but it sounds so much more dramatic!

white chocolate rocky road

this one is for the kiddies but I'm sure everyone will be eating it. It was perfect at Keira's pink party and the leftovers didn't last long! Its an adaptation of a Woman's Weekly recipe which was too fussy and time consuming for me.


heres what you need
375g white chocolate melts
1/2 cup desic. coconut
1 cup raspberry lollies (chopped)
1 bag mini marshmallows

* melt chocolate for 2-3 minutes on medium in microwave. Stir several times and remove just as it is melted.
* Add remaining ingredients and combine well.
* pour into lamington/square cake tin. I use silicon pans which don't need greasing or lining but if you're using a metal tin I'd probably line it so it just pops out! Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.
* Cut and enjoy. These also looked adorable in tiny pink patty pans! As always, I take no responsibility for the number you consume!

And how great is the current issue of Family Circle...so many craft projects for winter! Follow the link for a free chocolate caramel slice recipe..yum!


there are so many great craft projects and the recipes will have winter covered too....why haven't I bought this magazine before! Knitting, crochet, quilting, french embroidery....


I'm impressed!

craft show haul

Today we made a trip to the city (oh so brave of me with the twins) for the Craft fair...this is my favourite one as I can park at hubby's work and pop over. I always pack as if I'm travelling for a week and hope my children will behave. It was a great show as usual but I was so busy talking and shopping that I missed the 2 workshops I wanted to sit in on...there's always next year. Here is what I came home with...some lovely wool from Bendigo....


some lovely fabrics from the always lovely Amitie and another store I didn't pay attention at because I was so distracted by Heather Bailey fat quarters for $3....at this point the babies lost the plot and we had to quickly stop for lunch. Devonshire tea with the works and a big table to ourselves was perfect but unfortunately there was a 10 minute wait on coffee. I had peppermint tea and a huge headache later and 2 coffees back to back when I got home. I'm so glad the show has improved with a coffee and cake pitstop - of course its what all good crafters need!!!!


All in all a great morning....the twins were very well behaved and I decided to bring them home with me as well! Mind you there were plenty of ladies who were quite taken with them. And a big hi to Kate who I met at the Amitie stand, its always nice to meet other bloggers at the show!

I love a bargain!

Yes, I love a bargain and $5 patterns from Spotlight made me very happy! Of course there were no prices on the boxes so they weren't being snapped up but it meant there were more for me! I love the Built by Wendy patterns!


and I found my little miss under the table today, we start them sewing early in this house!

lazy afternoon sewing

I love afternoons where the babies are napping, miss keira is happily playing on her own (OK, the truth is she was watching her new Little Mermaid dvd and fell asleep watching it)...but you get the picture...the house is quiet and no one needs me. So I whipped up 2 little dresses...this one is going to a little miss having a party tomorrow (not my little miss).


The fabric was a 100% cotton from Spotlight and has a sweet little floral design going on....


and I made this little dress as a sample for my store....I think it will be great to see how the super cute japanese fabrics look made up into items. Gosh I love this fabric and pretty dresses aren't wasted in this house....


And lastly one of the little onesies I appliqued this week using the super cute Atelier Akiko fabric. I can't wait till I receive my order of this fabric range from Japan!



Hope you are getting some 'me' time too!

Another day, another bolero

Ok, I promise this will be the last time I make this Debbie Bliss bolero for a while since this is the third one I've made this winter!


Keira loves it (not that you can tell by her facial expressions) and modelled it for me complete with fluffy princess tiara and sore lip after a playground altercation yesterday.


Pattern available here and made in Bendigo's Luxury 8ply in pink. The pattern calls for Cashmerino Aran and 5mm needles but in my experience ends up huger than huge. I used 8 ply and 4mm needles and the 18-24 months size has turned out a perfect fit for Keira who is a size 3.


And for dinner tonight I made a chicken version of pork tonkatsu....super crispy chicken pieces complete with homemade tonkatsu sauce and steamed spinach with sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds. I have one very happy and contented family after a week of japanese home cooked meals!

like a kid in a candy shop

yep...deciding what to restock my store with at the trade show was like being in a candy shop....all that choice, all those pinks, all that cute. Now I need to wait patiently for the orders to arrive on my doorstep....


Just think cute, just think japanese and think over 50 fabrics to choose from including Far & Away by Heather Ross (yipee!). I'm going to be one very busy lady but trust me when I say there is something for everyone and you won't be disappointed! These photos were kindly taken in the Lecien corner by my assistant buyer for the day. It was nice to get a second opinion and have some company on the day............


I should mention that retro daddy was my 'manny' for the day as the thought of being stuck at home with the twins for a few hours didn't appeal to him (um hello welcome to my world retro daddy). And while he doesn't ooh and ahh over bambi prints he was very impressed with the beautiful quilts and outfits on display. These projects are Melly & Me and Rosalie Quinlan and looked just fabulous.

how cute....

is this fabric? I'm so in love with it and want more but will have to settle with the yard I have of it (edited to add that no I have ordered 6 bolts in this range....woohoo)


its from the country that does cute fabric best..Japan! In top secret news, I have 11 bolts of new Japanese fairy tale fabric winging its way to me now and I look forward to getting back into business later this month! I knew I couldn't stay away for too long and I'm off to my first trade show this week which should be fun!!

Japanese Cooking 101

I can now cook japanese! On saturday we made vegetable tempura, agedashi tofu (my favourite), pork tonkatsu, cucumber salad, miso soup and sauces to accompany each dish. Our lovely teacher Keiko was my pattern making teacher and gave us plenty of tips and other recipes. She classifies her cooking style as japanese home cooking which is just what I needed to learn. Sydney ladies I did my course here!


Here is the agedashi tofu that my kitchen made. I was most suprised by how easy every dish was, the ingredients are so simple and once you have your basic supplies (cooking sake, dashi powder, soy sauce, rice) you just need to add a few things and you're off. Yesterday I wasted no time in heading to Tokyo Mart (sydney ladies this place is a fabulous mini supermarket in Northbridge) and bought all my supplies. I then popped next door for a rice cooker and last night made chicken and egg donburi (do you think I remembered to take a photo). Retro Daddy is thrilled with the new recipes and we're having japanese all week!


I also whipped up a quick skirt and top for keira yesterday which she loves! Nothing like a 1 hour project on a Sunday afternoon while babies nap...fabric from Spotlight last summer and a target long sleeved white tee....too easy!