Blogtober: Upcycled Hooded vest

A couple of months ago, Tessa needed a little something extra to keep her warm. This is what I came up with, an adapted version of Anna Maria Horners' 'Baby in the Hood Jacket' from her second book Handmade Beginnings. This book has lots of interesting projects and I definitely recommend it.


I removed the sleeves for easier toddler movement and omitted the elastic in the hood. I also used a much heavier fabric, recycled wool blankets for the outer and a flannel pillowcase for the lining. Because their wasn't anything suitable in the button stash I had to buy some new and before I could sew the last one on my helpful assistant lost it. Oh well I think it wouldn't have been done up that high anyway.

Blogtober: Creative Space: the start of a handmade stash

Well this is the start of a much needed handmade stash of fitted nappies. As you may have guessed we will be welcoming a new sweet and cuddling addition to our family soon. A small explanation for the very quite blog of late. The big day will be sometime at the end of January. Tessa is very excited and asks continually when Bubby will be arriving and we say after Christmas when it's hot with big smiles.


I'm quite pleased with how these nappies turned out, quite simple really. I used a free pattern from the TNN or The nappy network, what a wealth of information this New Zealand website is.
Now to get a production line going, I wonder how many of these I should make? Any suggestions? Lots I would think :D

For more creative spaces check this out

Blogtober: Baby Boom

Well the start of our local wee baby boom has begun, with three girls born in as many weeks.
Very sweet and I have been busy knitting up a storm. The above top is an adaptation of the Dueling Wands pattern by the talented Kelly Brooker. I added puff sleeves and a sweet heart lace insert to girl it up.


A more unisex option is the above Young Einstein by Julie Stanfield, which experimented with and steeked. Cutting knitting is certainly not for the faint hearted, arghh but it was quite interesting and I enjoyed it. The sweet little stranded hat in Benji by Sheryl Greenfield, I loved learning two handed stranded knitting and knitted one for Tessa straight away. Very unlike me to the same pattern twice in a row.


And finally a more boyish colourway, I knitted a short sleeved Puerperium cardi by Kelly Brooker also. So practical for newborns and very cute.

Now to figure out what the next girly baby knit will be.

Blogtober: Hanging at the beach

A few weeks ago we decided to go down to beach, it was lovely. Tessa really enjoyed herself and I always love seeing the delight on her face as she squelches her fingers and toes in the sand. It always surprises me how much cooler the sea breeze makes us feel, which is refreshing in summer, not so much in late winter.


She really didn't want to go home, not that I can blame her. I'm planning for us to go to the beach more often this summer as she is at a wonderful age. Where she is more confident and curious about everything around her. Everyday I really want to burn the neat memories of her discovering everything around her into my mind. I really feel the need to record this, so I'm going to take a whole lot more photos as it already feels like her short wee life is racing by.


So my poor blog I have neglected you of late, I have decided to make it up to you and I have joined Blogtober. Which is the daily blog posting for the month of October, joined by lots of lovely bloggers from around the world. A great way to meet new people and discover new blogs.
If this sounds interesting join the fun at Tinniegirls blog and sign up.

Blossom

I was surprised to find the first blossom of the season the other day in the middle July. It's from our lonely surviving Almond tree of a group of nine we planted in winter 2008. Honestly I'm not normally such a bad tree murderer. But that was the summer I was very pregnant with Tess and carrying buckets of water up the hill in that condition in the heat really wasn't going to happen. Not to mention the fact that sheep were in the paddock before I realized that they thought the trees were very good scratching posts. I have learnt from that and if anymore fruit trees are to be planted in that paddock they need protection, when I dare try again, hehe.



In the last week or so it has been soup weather, really it's soup season so have a go they really are quite easy. For the above luscious tomato soup I used the recipe from Tiny Happy which she posted this week and served it with some yummy feta spread on a toasted roll. A very simple but a effective recipe which makes it easy to whip up quickly for an easy lunch.



And this soup I made on a whim just adding different seasoning as I went. I started with most of a pumpkin cut up into small pieces for faster cooking, chicken stock and onions, then I added cumin, thyme, and curry powder to taste (which sweetens it up quite nicely). When the pumpkin was soft I whizzed the soup to a smooth constancy with the stick whizz. And added some frozen spinach, and let this heat though and finally added some sour cream just before serving. You could use yogurt or cream instead, a friend suggested lemon juice which would also give it a lovely zing.

Blue mountains etc

Some gorgeous shots of the Blue Mountains, we were lucky enough to have a stunning, clear day when we visited on our wee holiday to Australia. We went to visit family and surprised my lovely SIL for her 30th birthday. She just thought my MIL was coming to visit for ten days but it was her hubby's brilliant idea that Tessa, Ian and I come too and surprise her. And boy was she surprised it was so fun and we had a lovely time.



The famous three sisters, rock formation.


We went to this really great wildlife 45mins south of Wollongong. Where you could buy bags of animal food and feed quite a range of the animals, from goats and emus to kangaroos and alpacas.

Tessa was fascinated, and really enjoyed the kangaroos which were tame enough to get up close and personal. Here she is with her Uncle and Aunty feeding this friendly and hungry kangaroo.

We also stayed two nights in Sydney at Darling Harbour and did the tourist things like go on the ferry to manly beach and have their famous fish n chips. We went to the opera house and had a look, it really is quite stunning architecture. I really enjoyed the restaurants we had Italian the first night and Spanish the second night for the birthday dinner, the Tapas were very popular.
Were very lucky to get home as the very disruptive ash cloud arrived as we were about to fly home.

Pizza making, Tessa style

On Sunday Tessa and I made Daddy his favourite, pizza mmm. Something great to make when your food supplies are getting low, although I would preferred a few more veges, hehe.

Tessa had a great time, sampling at every stage. She followed instructions well and didn't want to miss out on any step.

Here is the yummy finished product, mmm tasty.

The slightly out of order pics, but you get the idea. I think her favourite part was the rolling, something she like to do a lot, whether it's rolling on the floor or rolling toys along.