Holiday time.

This school holidays I decided that everyone could choose a family activity to do, and everyone had to go along with it, no complaining!! I chose painting which went down like a lead ballon with Dave and Matt, but once they had started on their canvases they actually enjoyed it!!

Sarah, of course loved it and made two!!

Jonathan chose ten pin bowling.......
followed by Yum Cha.
The others are still deciding, with beach/ferry ride/movies/ bike rides being discussed.

Christmas Day.

Finally, blogger is playing nice and letting me post some piccys of Christmas Day. We had a wonderful day with Dave's half of our family, a total of 14 people.
We told our early rising kids not to wake us until at least 6am, at 6.01 they were in our room... We opened our pressies, had brekky, then went to Church.

Sarah taking after her mother, shaking the presents......
and taking lots of photos.....
Jonty polishing off the Gingerbread House......
Just some of the food (roast beef, pork and chicken), we also had ham, prawns and smoked salmon, baked vegies, and a million salads.... and dessert!!

Of course Christmas Day means matching clothes for the boys, the only day I can really get away with it. (Sarah really needs a sister..............)

Christmas Eve

One sleep till Christmas Day.......
The pressies are wrapped and under the tree, the relo's are here, I queued up at 6am this morning to buy prawns, only the stockings need to be filled before I go to sleep (must not forget this!!)
Church in the morning, then a day spent eating, chatting, calling North Coast relatives (the South Coast ones are here) and backyard cricket of course!!
Merry Christmas to you. Jo xx

PJ's

Another bag using my favourite free pattern. I made it this afternoon. It is for our women's worker at Church (who is also a friend).

I have a thing about the kids having new PJ's to wear on Christmas Eve, something about the photos being better Christmas morning....I don't know if it makes any difference or not, but it sounds like a good theory. I made these boxers and appliqued a singlet for Sarah last night.

I found this book in the library today and am looking forward to having a good look at it. The material I bought yesterday at Spotlight to make a couple of bags. I am showing this in B&W so the recipients won't see what colour bag they are getting.
Speaking of books, this is my all time favourite sewing/craft book by Yolanda Gifford. I love her style and even did a major Visual Art assignment on her last year.
I have my own version of this scrap quilt in my pile of UFO's. I am determined to finish it by next winter, it would be perfect to cuddle up with on the lounge to read a book or watch a bit of TV.

Yesterday I had a rather surreal (but fantastic) moment at the school Talent Quest. After what seemed like 100 Veronicas/Delta/JT/Christina A songs, a little girl (who was born in India by the way) got up and sang one of my favourite Paul Kelly songs, "Have you ever seen Sydney from a 727 at night?". I nearly fell off my chair, but was delighted just the same. I have decided to put the lyrics here for all to see. Enjoy!!

Have you ever seen Sydney from a 727 at night?
Sydney shines such a beautiful light
And I can see Bondi through my window way off to the right
And the curling waves on a distant break
And the sleeping city just about to wake
Have you ever seen Sydney from a 727 at night?
Now the red roofs are catching the first rays of the morning sun
My eyes are full of sand from my midnight run
And the captain says belt up now we'll be touching down in ten
So I press my seat and I straighten up
I fold my tray and I stash my cup
As the red roofs are catching the first rays of the morning sun
Have you ever fallen for a girl with different coloured eyes?
And sent her letters full of lies
Have you ever longed to see the sun fall where it used to rise?
And quit your job on the spot
Bought that ticket yeah spent the lot
Have you ever fallen for a girl with different coloured eyes?
Have you ever seen Sydney from a 727 at night?
Have you ever seen Sydney from a 727 at night?
Have you ever seen Sydney from a 727 at night?
Me I've never seen Dallas from a DC9

A new bag.................

Above are Dave's extremely yummy baby orange tomatoes. I have no idea what the proper name for them is???
Our chooks.
Sarah's giant 'Seahorse'.

The Op Shop skirt has been reborn as a bag. It is the perfect size for wallet, phone and keys, but too small for the kids to load it up with all their junk. I love this free pattern that I used. The lining material is out of the remnant bin at spotlight and cost 50c !!

I had great fun hitting the op-shops in Blacktown on Saturday. I bought a pair of jeans for me, a skirt for Sarah, some books, a funky vintage handbag and this skirt. I have great plans for the skirt, stay tuned........................
Here is Jonty who was a great Santa last night in the preschool Christmas concert. I can't believe that this is our last day ever at preschool after 6 1/2 years straight!!!!

A gold bag for Sarah's teacher.

Sarah and I sewed this lovely bag for her teacher for Christmas. It took about 2 hours and we really love it, and both wish it was ours!!

I have had this brocade fabric for about 5 years and have never known what to use it for. Sarah chose the buttons out of her button jar. Her teacher is young and funky so I hope she likes it.

I am a chicken.

No, I didn't cut out the skirt for Sarah when I realised that there was a zipper involved, I thought it was an elastic waist. I am a big chicken!!

I wondered why the lady at Spotlight looked at me a bit strangely when I said, "this looks pretty easy don't you think?", when I was buying the pattern.......

I know I can't do elastic waists and shirring forever, but I am only just getting back into sewing after a very long break. (excuses I know)

I am planning on making one of these or these for Sarah's teacher this weekend. I can't decide which one to try.

My Secret Stash

I have been going through my stash of fabrics the past few days, washing, ironing, sorting.....

There are quite a few UFO's (unfinished objects) though not as many as I thought. A couple of things are worth finishing, but the majority are destined to be turned into something else, particularly the size 10 skirt all cut out ready to sew for me............

Here are some Fimo creations Sarah and her friends made after school

This afternoon I plan on cutting out a tiered skirt for Sarah out of some material I found in my stash, white background and blue flowers.

Boxers and Cupcakes

Jonty was not too happy about a photo in his new boxer shorts, this will have to do. He chose the fabric himself. I am hoping to applique a matcing singlet top for PJ's.

I used to always be amazed when mum's turned up to playgroup or Bible Study with goodies they had baked that morning, but now that the kids are older and able to get themselves ready I can actually cook in the mornings. I made these cupcakes (using my new favourite recipe, the Women's Weekly rich chocolate cake) for the Bible Study Christmas Party this morning. I also received a lovely face washer and candle in the Kris Kringle.

Flowers

I aquired this today from a box of stuff they were throwing out at preschool. Sarah and I have already put some flowers in it. I hope we remember to check it in 3 weeks time.........

Gingerbread House

At the request of Amy in the UK, here is my Gingerbread House for this year. I usually do all pastels, but decided to go bright this year after we couldn't get any pastel MM's.

Green dress

Here is Sarah in her new shirred dress. she wanted the straps to be halter style, but they have been annoying her all day so I may change them. It was hot today so she was really cool until the storm hit.

Some of the hail we got was huge. All the cars in the street were badly damaged. Unfortunately my old 1996 Commodore was safe and sound in the garage. You can see in the background that our veggie patch took a beating also. I havn't been out yet to see how the chooks are, they are crazy anyway, I know where the saying "silly old chook comes from".....

Boxer shorts

I found a pattern for some boxer shorts in an old sewing mag. They took about an hour to make, and Matt sat on my lap to do a bit of the sewing (pretty cool for a 9 year old boy).

I apologise for the t-shirt!!!

Miss G in her new top.

Here is the shirred top I made for G. I probably could have done a few more rows, but I like it like this.

Advent Calendars

Do you use an Advent Calendar to count down to Christmas??

My mum started this train calendar about 30 years ago. She passed it on to me a few years ago, and I passed it straight to my mother in law to finish. They did a great job and it is really special because it was done by both grandmothers. I hope this becomes a family heirloom.

This year I have tied tree decorations to the rings, but have done small wrapped presents in the past (lollies, balloons, sharpeners etc...) We also read a short Bible passage each day when we hang the ornament.

New ideas.

For those wondering how the shirring is going, let me say.....................I rock at shirring!! I have followed the instructions to the letter and taken my new sewing machine back to the shop where I bought it and got a quick lesson from the lady. I know what I am doing now!!! (And thanks Bron for the advice also).

Today I have made Sarah a dress, and also a top for a little princess from Hornsby Heights who is coming over tomorrow. I will take photos when the owners are modelling their new fashions.

Matt is desperate for me to make him something so I am going to have a go at some Boxer Shorts. I have been searching the net for a free pattern, but may have to go and buy one.

I took the top photo at Sculpture By The Sea a few weeks ago, I think something similar would look cool on a t-shirt, with lots of "stuff" sewn on, (ribbons, beads, buttons etc...) I am working on this idea...

In the other photo (also taken at Bondi Beach) Sarah is wearing my favourite bag that I bought from Target. A black and white version would be lovely, I will put that on the list to make too.

Off to bed, thanks for the lovely messgaes.

Who reads the instructions anyway?

Of course I didn't read the instructions properly and was wondering why my shirring was not working. I forgot to change the stitch length to 5mm. After much frustration, I abandoned the dream of a shirred top, and embraced the ruffle top instead.

Sarah liked it anyway and was happy to model it for the camera.

6 metres??

'6 metres' refers to the fabric I bought yesterday at Spotlight. Uni has finished for the year (results are in on Thursday!!) and I want to get back to doing some sewing. Here is the fabric I bought.

I thought I would start with a shirred top for Sarah. I saw the pattern here and it didn't look too hard. Is that laughter I hear?