quilt in a day

Markets always sneak up on me. This week I've been quilting, packing my market tubs, cutting and folding, finding fabrics to bring to market and still have a huge pile of appliques to finish and some little jobs to do. One of the more exciting jobs I've been doing is getting some little quilts made up in brand new charm square fabrics. And I'm writing a tutorial to give to customers who always ask how do I make a quilt with these......

I think this is my favourite one, Good Fortune by Kate Spain. Lovely, bright and modern. I really love this. So keep an eye out for my easy tutorial...................because yes I did make this in a day. And I still had time to go shopping, do my banking, the post office, the school run and fish & chips with the kids. I would call that my most productive day.................of the year!

Don't forget to come and say hi this Sunday at Mathilda's Market, Fox Studios from 9am - 1pm. I've booked a double stall and am on the left wall as you walk in the main entrance. And I have a double stall so I can spread out and also give my lovely customers more room. I know. I'm so nice. I love markets so be sure to introduce yourself and say hi. It's going to be a great market and I have 2 lovely helpers throughout the day so thank you Amy and Lisa. I didn't think I could do it solo!

Christmas baking + making : Christmas blondies

I love white chocolate so I knew I had to try this recipe from the December 2011 issue of AWW. These are really good, even Elodie has been tucking into a little bit of it. And there is nothing left so I always take that as a sign of success. Don't do what I did and replace the plain flour with self raising flour, stick to the plain flour. Mine rose quickly and then was a bit crumbly. But it still tastes really good and even better the next day.

2/3 cup fruit mince
2 Tbsp brandy
180g softened butter
1tsp vanilla essence/extract
1 cup (220g) brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup (150g) plain flour
1/2 cup (75g) self raising flour
1/2 cup (60g) almond meal
1/2 cup (95g) white choc bits
1 1/4 cups (110g) flaked almonds

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees (160 if fan forced and don't overdo the heat). Line a square cake tin with baking paper. In a small bowl mix the brandy into the fruit mince and set aside.

If you have a thermomix then place butter, vanilla and sugar in bowl for 40 seconds on speed 4. Scrape down bowl and add in eggs and beat for 10 seconds on speed 4. Add in flours, almond meal and process for 30 seconds on speed 4. Add in fruit mince mixture, chocolate and half flaked almonds and  mix for 40 seconds on closed lid position and speed soft. If your choc chips aren't evenly distributed just do another 20 seconds.  **Press into lined tin and sprinkle the rest of the flaked almonds over the top. Bake for about 40 minutes until a knife comes out clean. Mine took a little longer but don't be tempted to increase the temperature or the top will cook too fast. Allow to cool in pan then slice and enjoy. It tastes better the next day too. If you can wait that long but I'm guessing not.

If you don't have a thermomix then combine your fruit mince and brandy and set aside. Cream butter, vanilla and sugar together until pale and creamy. Add in eggs and beat until combined. Add in flours and almond meal and mix well until all combined. Lastly add in fruit mince, chocolate and half the flaked almonds and ensure all evenly distributed. Follow from **.

our kitchen renovation : day 18

A big day today. Installation of the kitchen cupboards. I was so nervous about how it was going to look but it looks lovely. The twins were obsessed with checking that every, and I mean EVERY cupboard and drawer worked.

I've realised that there isn't much room for a bulkhead so the cornices will have to be finished and a bit of painting up above the cupboards. The appliances, tiling and caesarstone should make a big difference but I'm kind of wishing I'd hidden the fridge behind a cupboard door for a bit of symmetry. But it's looking lovely and is only going to look better once it's all finished. One very happy customer. And it's not even finished.

I'm actually sewing

I can't believe it either. My machine is out of hibernation. With the help of retro daddy I gained entry to my sewing machine and after an hour could bring out my sewing machine. Just like riding a bike and I've missed my machine so much.

Retro daddy is away this week and as any sewer knows means a golden opportunity to pull out the machine to the dining room table and get some sewing done

I also have mathilda's market this Sunday at Fox Studios and am madly trying to turn some new charm square packs into sample quilts! It's so lovely to see a new range all made up in a little quilt - which I'll give to my little ones this Christmas. This is Cape Ann by Oliver & S which I have oodles of.

Christmas baking + making : coconut snowballs

When it comes to my Christmas baking and making, I am a creature of habit. Rum balls, rocky road, fruit mince pies, fruit cakes and maybe a new recipe or two. This year I want to try quite a few new recipes since I have my Thermomix and should be able to get through a few more. First up I had to try Coconut Snowballs from the current issue of Super Food Ideas.

Coconut Snowballs

250g packet marie biscuits

1/2 cup desiccated coconut

50g glace cherries

1 tsp vanilla extract

395g sweetened condensed milk

1 and 1/2 375g packs of Nestle white chocolate melts

1/2 cup desiccated coconut for sprinkling on top

If you have a thermomix then place your biscuits in the bowl (whole) and process for 10-15 seconds on speed 7 or 8  until you have fine breadcrumbs. Add in coconut, cherries, vanilla and milk and process for 10 seconds on speed 3. Remove from bowl. ** With damp hands roll a tablespoonful of mixture into a small ball and place on lined baking tray or container. Repeat with the rest of the mixture and then freeze for about an hour. Now melt your chocolate for 2 1/2 -3 minutes on medium in the microwave (stirring a few times in between) then dip each ball on a fork into the chocolate, wait till any excess chocolate drips off and then place on lined baking tray again. Sprinkle with the extra coconut straight away (you really need to do this straight away because the chocolate sets pretty quickly) and then repeat with the rest of your snowballs.

If you don't have a thermomix just crush your biscuits until they become fine breadcrumbs, add in remaining ingredients and finely chop your cherries before you add them in to the mixture. Follow instructions from **.

Ta da you have coconut snowballs. You should get about 28-30 snowballs from this recipe it just depends on how big your balls are. Sorry I couldn't help myself. And I'm very happy to report that these were very popular at church morning tea! Retro daddy even went so far as to tell me they were better than my rum balls! I'm more of a rum ball person myself!

another baby kina

Yes, perhaps I have a slight obsession with knitting baby kina's. This one being my 4th one knitted this year. I just can't help myself. It's such a sweet little cardigan, easy to knit and can be worn with anything.

I knit this one in Bendigo's Spring Cotton which is a new yarn of cotton with a touch of lycra. It feels more substantial than the regular cotton and has a bit of stretch in it which I like.

And the colour I am totally in love with. I'm such a pink girl and this hot pink is just gorgeous. I was in love with it from the moment I saw the shade card. Sometimes Bendigo get a little stuck with their pale colours so having a bright hot pink is very welcome in this house.

The buttons were an eBay find and were just the perfect way to finish off the project.

And models don't come cuter than my Elodie.

Now the fun of picking my next knitting project! And perhaps stocking up on a little more Spring Cotton for the stash! And you can find all the details of this project on my ravelry page here.

our kitchen renovation - day 17

Well today was another big day. The arrival of the kitchen cabinets. I was so nervous about them arriving since I had chosen the colour and finish from a catalogue. But no sooner had the delivery drivers left and I was out the back admiring the cabinets. And the knobs complement them perfectly

This is my pantry. 

And I know on Monday when the installer arrives that I will be peeking my head around the door to see how it all comes together. I just can't wait. And isn't this a pretty picture, the dining table's new home. I just can't wait to get some white chairs around it.

koolaman designs

I get a lot of requests to receive and try out products and tell you about them on my blog. The thing is if I accepted all of them I'd never have anything else to write about. But I couldn't say no to a lovely pendant from Koolaman Designs. I've been wanting one for ages.

I've met the lovely ladies behind the brand, Stacey and Lisa, as they do Mathilda's markets and we once had our stalls back to back in Canberra. Lovely mummies who live in the country and run their business from home. I love that. And their range of personalised jewellery is stunning. I had always wanted a piece after the twinnies were born but I knew my family wasn't complete and I wanted to wait. If your family isn't complete you can still leave space for names.

And I've been wearing this for a month or two now and it's lovely and light to wear which I need with 4 little ones all day. The names look lovely and I've received lots of comments on it. That's what you want with a piece of jewellery.

Next on my wish list is definitely the Amelia bracelet. Better send that off to retro daddy now then. I promise I've been a good girl all year. And I better be quick because orders need to be received by the 8th or 12th December depending on which state you live in for Christmas delivery.

image source

And with Christmas around the corner it's the perfect time to put your request in or ask for a gift certificate if you can't decide. I know you won't be disappointed. You can even get cufflinks or keytags for your hubby too. And I'm totally in love with the bracelets and bangles for little ones. Definitely something special for my girls when they get a big older.

I'm just so in love with my necklace and hardly ever take it off. You can find out more about Koolaman Designs on their website, blog, facebook and twitter. And they have a few more markets and events before the end of the year, just check out their website. I know some of my readers are already big fans! And a big thank you to Koolaman Designs for sending me my lovely necklace. It's come to a good home.

keira's 1st school concert

Well last night was the big night, we all came together to watch Keira's 1st school concert and it was adorable. Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take pictures in the theatre. Boo hoo. She was so cute. Now being in kindy she was just in the chorus singing but was chosen to go and try on cinderella's shoe.

We started calling her the star of the show (well to us she was) and as she was going to bed, Finn said 'but you were the star of the show at the feetah keira'. So cute. Keira's buddy was an ugly stepsister and STOLE the show. The funniest little actor, singer and dancer I've seen in a long time and no wonder she has won an arts scholarship to a local private school with all that talent!

and this is what taking the whole family to the theatre looks like. I am so proud of my twinnies! from the moment the music started they were mesmorised, they didn't cry, didn't make a scene, sat beautifully. Well during the show. Intermission was a whole different story and tillie screamed the house down until she saw her little friend Chloe.

It was a wonderful night and I was such a proud mummy of my Keira!

our kitchen renovation - day 16

The table has arrived! And even if I had to wait all day at home for it, it was worth it. I just love walking out the back to look at it again. It's big. 160cm in diameter and made from reclaimed elm wood. It is very rustic but I am already imagining it being set for a Christmas lunch with my best cutlery, glasses and white china. Maybe a touch of silver too. Even the little ones had to come in and have a look and admire it.

Since we went over ahem, cough cough the budget, the chairs will be coming from Ikea with matching stools to go at the kitchen island too. The upside is I don't need to worry about the little ones damaging any chairs. That's what I'm telling myself. The french bistro style chairs that I had previously envisaged will just have to wait. Because there really is no more money in the budget once everyone has been paid. But that's ok, I feel that everything has been done and selected to suit the style that I wanted.

I'll be back friday to show you the cabinets which are arriving. Sadly they don't get installed until Monday and then it's a 2 week for the lovely caesarstone benchstops to arrive but we're making progress.

Win a vtech Storio

Sponsored by Nuffnang

There was much excitement when a vtech Storio arrived on our doorstep last week. The little ones get very excited when toys arrive on the doorstep and it's not their birthday! We ripped open the box and got very excited to find out what was inside. We all sat around it and turned it on then realised we needed 4xAA batteries. Oops. Retro daddy was out in the city so we asked him to bring some home and he got home after midnight so my very patient twinnies waited till the next morning before we could turn it on.

Now the vtech Storio is the first interactive animated e-reader aimed at little ones aged  3-7 so it suits us nicely as the twins are 3 and keira is 5. It comes with a cartridge included in the box and you can also buy additional cartridges and download extra activities direct from the internet with a cable that is included. It also has a SD card reader  Now we have the Toy Story 3 and Dora cartridges and we're still having so much fun on the Toy Story 3 cartridge with lots of games and activities that we haven't got to Dora yet. Other cartridges include Disney Princess, Disney Cars Toon,  Disney Mickey Mouse and Scooby Doo. It will be nice to buy a few more cartridges for the twins this Christmas.

There is lots to do once you turn on your Storio. You can have the story read to you, you can read the story yourself, you can trace letters, learn numbers, do comprehension questions, select biggest and smallest etc. Once you're on the Toy Story 3 main menu you can watch the story, do reading games and there is a story dictionary and then within each category there are activities. So the littles ones won't get bored too quickly. And there are easy activities that the twins can do and harder ones that keira can do too. You can also track your little ones progress if you like. At the moment we're just making it all about fun and the twins are just enjoying listening to the story, tracing letters and answering simple questions from the story. They have learnt a few more letters and are just having a lot of fun.

So what do we think about it? Well we get our iPhones and iPad back because the twins have their own little computer. It's very intuitive for them to use so they quickly worked out how to turn it off and on, select games, exit, change the volume and it has a touch screen so they are really loving that. I think I will pick up an adaptor for it so we can plug it in at the wall as we mostly use it at home so it's easy to sit on the couch and have it plugged in nearby. You can also buy a carry case and car adaptor for your Storio too.

It's come in the car with us, it's come to swimming, it's been to the hospital, it's been used during quiet time, it's been fought over, it's been fought over some more and Finn has pretty much taken over it but is already tracing letters and enjoying it. We love it so much we're going to buy a blue one for him this Christmas.

Now of course it doesn't replace traditional books and teaching your children to read yourself. I love books and so do my little ones but in an age of iPads and technology it's nice for the little ones to have something and feel like their mummy and daddy and do their own work. I wouldn't buy another one if I didn't think the twins were loving it. Keira has had some fun on it too but doesn't really get a look in since the twins have taken over it.

All in all a great and well priced toy for christmas. And you can find more information here. And I love giving away lovely things to YOU, so just tell me who you'd love to give this to for Christmas and I'll pick a winner who will receive a brand new vtech Storio just in time for Christmas. Competition is open to my Australian readers only I'm afraid and full T&C are here.

a day at the beach

It is very easy to spend weekends at home catching up on the washing, cleaning and outdoor jobs. The never ending jobs. But today was such a gorgeous day that after church I made a big container of sandwiches and we headed up further north to the beach. That makes it sound easy but really there are hats to collect, bags to pack, some little people decide they have to find the right beach outfit to wear and need you to help them. And then about an hour later we can get into the car

And it felt like we were a million miles away. But it's still hard work. Just eating iceblocks requires baby wipes, extra hands on deck, tears and unfortunately if you had a fly to the mix it will send tillie into a spin. Dear little tillie can be told calmly 100 times that flies don't hurt her but it still doesn't matter. She thinks flies will bite her............

and shortly after this photo was taken it was time to get back into the car and head home. Thank goodness for that. But not before Elodie decided to scream halfway home. Why? Still hungry. I had nothing on me so emergency stop at a bakery to grab her a scone. Just confirming that she really does only cry when she's hungry. And that was our trip expedition to the beach. Never easy but the kids loved it.