Random thoughts

I would love to be here! This photo is from last year holidays with the family.  Lots have happened since this time last year. 

Time to see what happens in the next year.  Spring is the time for new beginning.  I really can't wait. Moving, new schools, new jobs and new house.

So in the words of the great

I drank the silence of God from a spring in the woods. Georg Trakl

(Me being calming) 

ok

thats the smart one this is one for the wicked witch in me

Why slap them on the wrist with feather when you can belt them over the head with a sledgehammer. Katharine Hepburn

(Boxes and moving will something do that for you...............I will try the calming one first)

Be back soonish

Suzy

 
 

Why I haven't been around....

Well, it has been a real long time since I posted.  I haven't intentionally been forgetting to update, it just is that LIFE has been getting in my way. 

My darling hubby gremlin is in the Australian Defence Force, YAY!!!!.  Well not at the moment, we could be moving again.  So I have been sorting out schools for the junior gremlins.......... One easy, one not.  Oldest gremlin child has Aspergers, so finding a school that has a Autism Spectrum Disorder has been real fun.  I have to enrol them before we even have a posting order.  This is called the "just in case method", so I have been emailing, phoning and lettering.  Up shot is that Oldest gremlin child has been offered a spot for next year.YYYYYYAAAAAAYYYYYYY........ 15 yr old, Assie with hormones changing schools and states I'm in for a fun time.

NIPPER UPDATE

Also I have been bailing Nipper out of jail............. Yes my dog has now got a record.  It will cost me a small fortune in fines.  I have disputed the fines. One on the bases of he is registered but eaten his plastic tag, secondly only one dog escaped out of a secure back yard.  How we don't know with seven foot fences that he could not even jumped in a superman costume.

My theory is Toby (the good dog), decided to help Nipper to run away.  Toby reached up and un-latched the side gate and offered him the wide, wide world.  Toby has denied this all, looking cute and gazing up with lovely eyes.  Giving you the thought that he was an only child again for a brief time, and he had loved it..........

The lovely Dog pound guys thought Nipper was a well behaved cute dog, who gave them no trouble and jumped gladly into their van.  Yeah right.....

Have been sewing again, So I will show what I've done later in the week....

Nipper sideway, well I couldn't get it to rotate.

Take care
Suzy

Book Review ~ Simply sublime bags by Jodi Kahn

Hi all


Well I bought this book last month and paid full price too.  And boyo it was worth it... So I have no affills with this book at all, only that I like it heaps.

Also I have check my local Library and it is available to borrow.


It has 30 no-sew, low sew projects.  Have stapler and tape will travel, and make drop dead beautiful bags.


As I went through this book, it opened my eyes to using materials that I have overlooked.  I do make bags and design them myself, but this made me think even more about looking out side the box.


The photos are clear and the patterns where easy to understand. To prove this, my youngest gremlin looked through and pick out a bag.  He decided that it would be a great pencil case.  The pattern showed a easy way of using a stapler, but I used the sewing machine.  It turned out great.  Youngest happy, proud to take it to school.  So that in itself means the book was a major winner.  I have gotten more ideas from this book than quite of a few that I have bought and borrowed for a long time.


The basic hardware is available from  the hardware store.  The tape didn't cost that much and I have enough to make a few more, or even using them in different designs that are now going through my brain.

I found that the guys at the hardware store where the greatest.  They found everything I needed. One of the kind gentlemen wrote down the details of the book for himself.  They all know me at the local hardware that started with a B.  That is another story.


If you want more details take a jump over to her blog and check out her stuff it's
http://simplysublime.typepad.com/

Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Potter Craft (July 8, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307393623
ISBN-13: 978-0307393623

Take care

Suzy

Heres the photo of my sons pencil case, I had to mug him to get it of of him

I promise I Will be back...........

With everything going on here, I let you down.... I will be back on Friday with a book review, and piccies.

Take care suzy

Happy Happy Joy Joy

Well the fudge mind in gone.... I have been sewing up a storm......

As of 6pm today
45 Monsters
12 headbands
30 Babybibs
1 pencil case made with gaffa tape and caution tape.... (I love it)

I have been also designing bags again, Whoo Hoo.  I will put some photos up through the week. 

I'm even half way through a stripey quilt, from a Moda Honeybun roll.....................

Mo jo your back....I have missed you

Take care
Suzy

A Little Humor Tuesday

Darling senior Gremlin sent this to me in one of those emails.  I normally just delete them, but in this case I must share.........


Kitchen Wisdom


Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of an ice cream cone to prevent ice cream drips. 


Just suck the ice cream out of the bottom of the cone, for Pete's sake! You are probably lying on the couch with your feet up eating it anyway!


To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.


Buy Hungry Jack mashed potato mix.  Keeps in the pantry for up to a year..


When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.


Go to the bakery!  Hell, they'll even decorate it for you!

If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant 'fix-me-up.'

If you over-salt a dish while you are cooking, that's too bad.  Please recite with me the real woman's motto:  'I made it, you will eat it and I don't care how bad it tastes!'



Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.


Celery?  Never heard of it!

 
Cure for headaches:  take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead.  The throbbing will go away.  


Take a lime, mix it with tequila, chill and drink!   All your pains go away!

Don't throw out all that leftover wine.  Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

Leftover wine???????????  HELLO!!!!!!!




Take care


Suzy

Motivation ................where are you............?

Hi all, I'm sitting here wondering where the mojo has gone.  I have got quilts to finish, monsters to make, bags to design and cakes to bake.

And what am I doing, sitting here and going through all the blogs I love going "ohhhhhhhhh" and "ahhhhhhhh", "must try that".

I even made a weekly chart.  That started Monday and it is now Wednesday and I'm already two days behind.

Come back dearest mojo, come back.  I miss you........... You brighten my day, make me do strange things, you make me step out of my comfort zone.  I need you.............

So I'm going to make a real effort today, coconut jam slice and at least a bag.

I will let you know how I go.............................................

Take care
Suzy

Chocolate Chip Cookies and a sort of Book reviews

I  this week I thought a cookie recipe was the go........... Even cooked a batch, they are all gone.  I could blame Nipper as he is known to eat cookies (not recomended at all, but what can I say....... "youngest gremlin")

The recipe is adapted from the fantastic cookbook called  "The Country Show Cookbook", award-winning recipes from country shows. Agricultural Societies Council of NSW. The photos in the book are beautiful and the food ones actually look like real people have baked them.

I was given this cookbook for my birthday and inside are the most amazing recipes from Scones to Spreads.  The gremlins love the fact I have been baking the recipes from this book.  Also from there point of view of the boys, I've made snacks for them for school.  The baked recipes I have made have frozen really well.  Also on the money side the cost is only a fraction of what I have been spending on there snacks.  

As You can guess I love this book,  gremlins love this book, senior gremlins wookplace is loving this book.................... I have also made some relish out of this book aswell and that is yummie.  

So here is the recipe

Chocolate chip Biscuits (pg 144)

Ingredients

125grms Butter (4 oz)

1/2 cup castor sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla essence 

1 egg ( I ended up using 2 eggs because I  am guessing they are meaning country size big egg)

2 cups self raising flour

1 cup of chocolate chips (I used a 125gram bag of chocolate chip that way I wasn't tempted to snack on them)

Method

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C (350 degrees F)

Grease a baking tray (I lined my tray with baking paper, less clean up)

In a bowl place butter, castor sugar, brown sugar and the vanilla.  Beat until light and creamy. (Beat until all the sugar in almost dissolved)

Add egg and beat untill combined.

Add flour and chocolate chips and combine to a soft dough (looks crumbly but holds well when making into the ball)

Roll tablespoons portions of the dough into balls and flatten (don't make any bigger, because they really do expand)

Place evenly on the tray (make sure not to over crowd the tray because they expand, I know I am harping on about the expanding but they do.......)

Bake in oven for 12-15 minutes.  (12 minutes for the chewy centre, 15 minutes for a crunchie one)

Cool and try and not to let gremlins eat all in one hit......................................make about 18 cookies/biscuits

Take care 

Suzy

More Monsters and Bags

Bags, Monsters, Bags, Monster and a dash of Aliens....... that's what I've been making. 

I have been on some pretty strong medication lately, and boy does the creative half of my brain like it.  The bags are based on one I grab from an op-shop for .50cents and just big enough for a wallet, phone and maybe a lippy.  I am quite happy with them....

The monsters have taken on a life of there own, they tell me what they are going to be.  Even the adopted-gremlins love them.........

The Aliens have been nick named "Kylies"by senior gremlin....Here's some of them

Take care

Suzy

Anzac day

ThAnK You CamEra FaiRy

Wellllllllllllllllllllllll  

It seems someone in this family reads this blog.  Yesterday the dogs gave me a camera, ( on the counter $20.00 pinned to a catalog)...

I wasn't going miss an opportunity like that. I went to the shop with my trusty catalog, and bought it.

OK its not the most fancy, it is good enough for photos for the blog.  But yes its a camera. A kids one that if I break, or lose I won't be heartbroken.

I win, now what to wish for.............................................

Take care

Suzy

I need a new camera

Why, you ask................ well my phone has one and I keep on forgetting to download them.  I have a camera that my gremlins keep on pinching out of my hand bag.  My senior gremlin has one. But when I put batteries in it, they seem always to be flat when I grab it.  I need one to take photos of my quilts and other stuff....... 

I'm whinging and I know it...

So dearest family I want a camera, not to fancy one, one that can be thrown into my bag, easy to download and is mine only.  Not to be taken on trips to skate park, football, camps and other places that I am not there.  Maybe a pink one or purple, that is to girlie for you pinch (oh sorrrrrrrrrrrrrrry I mean borrow).  

Gremlins just think, I won't be grizzling, nagging and pestering you anymore about a camera.  Or lack of one.  

Just a hint gremlins, juniors and senior.  Mothers Day is coming up soon.  So no smelly stuff, slippers that are dog fodder, chocolates that I reallllllllllllllly don't need, garden gnomes, mops and Dustbuster.  I want a camera!!!

I hope this message is received loud and clear.

Take care

Suzy

The Great Escape, Man or Dog

What the different between Steve Mac Queen and my sons dog "Nipper".  Well Nipper is still alive and kicking...............................................

Nipper is now UN-officially called "Steve".  He is the best dog escapee I ever met.  Lovely Senior Gremlin has been trying to make a secure dog pen.  Toby "the normal one" quietly sits and watches the other get chased, yelled at, cursed and quizzed when "Steve" escapes.  Senior Gremlin has re enforced, the pen.............. and the dog still escapes.

He also can escape from...............dog containers, harnesses, cars, vets pen and can break into houses....(that is another story)

Nipper has gone under, over, around and bite through the wire fencing material.  Leaping on to the dog kennel, then over, after it being made higher..... was one of my personnel favorite.  

It has been a great watching DH and Nipper, it is amazing.  The concentration, the determination, the damn doggedness of Senior Gremlin fixing this fence.  A dog watching planning its next escape.  Who will win....................... Who will lose.  

Score Man 0, Dog 6.................................................................... DH angry, Dog happy, Us Laughing.

Oh its less then three metres long.  It started with a wood picket fence, now it is a re-enforced two thickness fence.  With pegs, wood, star pickets and bricks.  

Now its ugly, it was pretty.  Now its waiting for the next attack, will it be dog or man....

Does this look dangerous.....................I think not.  We are all waiting, Nipper

Take care

Suzy

Happy Easter

To everyone

May you have a safe and an enjoying Easter with family and friends.


Take care
Suzy

March FAIL

Thats it.... I couldn't plow through the book. 



Maybe April's challenge will, work out for me!!!!!

Take care
Suzy

I really can't

Every time I pick up this months reading challenge of Jane Austen's books.  I can't do it....... Really can't. 

I start to read the book and the words start to lose me.  That is strange, love Shakespeare.  I get that.  But Jane Austen, just doesn't get me.  The words are too flowery and old.  Yes writing is so descriptive, I get that.  I personally just can't get into the story.  

I will try another Jane Austen novel.................. but so far this months challenge is a FAIL!!!!!! 

Take care
Suzy

 

March is.................................... Jane Austen

Went to the library to borrow "Pride and Prejudice" or "Northanger Abbey".  But Jane is popular, really, really popular.  So I managed to borrow "Mansfield Park" .  The other two have been requested.......... 

Well the story so far is, it has a green cover and a nice picture of a big mansion................

Okay I picked it up and put it down again, sewing fabric Easter eggs called my name.  I will try again this arvo, I will try............................ I sudo promise

 

Take care 

Suzy

M.I.A

Well I am back again.  With DH away in the land of the "feral chooks".  Having the gremlins birthdays and stuff everything time got away from me. 

So what happened...................

Well

Mum and Dads 40th Wedding anniversary

 

Then Oldest ones birthday

(okay it was going to be a giant cupcake)

Then Youngest gremlins birthday

 

So there is my month of cakes................. 

I think this is a keeper month I really enjoyed this. 

Take care 

Suzy

Valentines

Hi,

This year Valentines is going to be sad and happy for me and the gremlins.  The oldest gremlin is away from work and will miss his, both junior gremlins birthdays and Valentines Day.  So its sad I don't get to spend the day with Richard, but he know I love him and I feel that every day should be a Valentines day.  Okay I am the one who forgets.........

The Boys are going to be my Valentines, yes they think its sad.  Too Bad..........

On the Upside, my Mum and Dad are celebrating 40years of marriage.  I spent the day decorating a cake.  Its a carrot fruit cake, the boys are happy about that.  I will post a picture this arvo, when its finished. 

So Happy 40th Anniversary  Mum and Dad

 

From Me and the other two Gremlins

Take care 

Suzy

Blog of the week

Hi

I love this blog, the ideas are fantastic.... pop along and have a look.

I am soooooooooooo addicted to this blog.

Take care

Suzy

Head bands are a go-go

Yesterday afternoon I was bored, hot and sticky.  At the moment here it is really humid.  I decided to make some headbands.  I didn't feel like spending heaps of time sewing, but my sewing room has air con.  I used my Lady Janyne expensive one as a template and modified it.  They all took less time than I expected, therefore my hair was up quicker and I was planning my next attack (quilt that is)....

I have a plan to finish another quilt this weekend, or maybe I will just start another.

 

  

Take care 

Suzy

Work quilt

 

Done and dusted....

A easy quilt and really striking.

Take care

Suzy

My New Baby....

On Saturday I cruised by my favourite second-hand shed.  It's amazing what I find there, and I love the Lions guys and girls they are great.  I happily strolled past the entrance and found this lovely baby.  I looked and went, "you need to come home with me, you need to be loved.".  The Lovely Lion Guys and Girls, put a sold sticker on it and it was mine!!!!!!  

Okay there was another lady wanted it, but she didn't get there first.  HAHA (Evil laugh) its mine. I'm not even going to tell you how much I paid, that is so wrong.  I feel that I am gloating.   Oh well I'm going too...........Think low............real low, Giant gremlin even smiled. Then he lugged it off to the car.

I had never heard of this manufacturer, and when I "Googled" I still don't know much.  So any help would be greatly appreciated.  I have never seen bodkins like it before.  It also works...

 

  

  

I'm off to work out how to conserve the docket I found in the tool box, Manchester on Thyme in 1953.  I am loving this baby, did I mention the wooden hardcase with working lock and keys.  

Did I mention the artwork......

Over my gloating now, thanks for listening because the gremlins are sick and tired of it.

Take care Suzy

Minnie Bag

 

Another bag.... More Furnishing fabric, lined with black and white spot.  With the largest self covering button I could find.

Take care Suzy

Short by that much...

I'm making a quilt for display for work.......... And I'm short by 10cm for the backing!

Back to the drawing board, and it will teach me to actually read instructions.

Take care Suzy

My First Cake is Done

I did it, I have officially made and decorated my first cake. I am so proud of myself. I knew I could do it, but that little seed in the back of my head I had my doubt. My mother make and decorates the most gorgeous cake. In our extended family, if you have a cake made by Mum, your chances of the marriage working is a 95%. Not bad at all.

Yes I was dared to make this cake, and I might say glad I was. It was worth killing a Barbie doll, pouring over books and the net. Also remembering the good times helping my Mum. Sitting around the brown wooden veneer table making the piping bags, licking the spoon, decorating the biscuits with the left overs. Memories that are so sweet and loving that just going down this track has made this memorable. 

My mother was at the end of the phone cheering my on, if I has a question she answered it. I had a few “oh Bugger” moments. Like remembering that the cake needed to be cold not rock hard solid, and putting plastic icing on a cake when its like that is “not good”, a panicked phone call was needed.

Youngest gremlin sat across the table from me kneading the icing for me, just like when I was a child. When I had finished and stood back, I was silently doing a happy dance inside. I did it. Simple as it was I did it.

I rang Mum, told her and her words were “ well done , I had no doubt, It was you that seriously thought you couldn’t” 

Why I had doubt, maybe it is I didn’t believe I could do something as good as my Mum. Maybe I thought that my memories where all wrong, but they weren't, they are still as good as pure as the white icing I used.

Last night when we all got together for the belated bridal shower, they all oohed and arrged over it.  Thanks girls, and the "Bride that was, was very reluctant to cut.  She wanted to keep it looking so good, but after I told her that if she didn't we would all stave it was cut.

Take care

Suzy

Death to barbie

Yesterday was a really funny and disturbing day. Youngest gremlin had pleasure in dismembering a barbie doll. Before you band me from never touching a barbie again, please be aware the the said mentioned doll was bought from the “Salvos”and we did buy one that was determinately pre loved, haircut real short and had no clothes.

The D/B is to be used in a cake for one of my girlfriends bridal shower. It might be seven weeks after the event, and I have been dared to make one. Putting it out there that I am going to learn how to decorate cakes has people coming out of the woodwork.

Youngest gremlin would like me to mention that it was me who used the garden shears to cut off the arms. The arms where a tad difficult to pull out. I couldn’t let him completely loose with those.

We where going to post photos, but just in case there are people out there that don't want to see the death we decided not to. I decided to use this one instead.

In a very sad and demented way, why did I found it very satisfying. I am not going to analyze that.

Take Suzy and youngest Gremlin

Daisy Bag

Today was a day for hiding out in the sewing room, thanks to the famous school holidays.  PS3 and computers where ruling the world of the gremlins.  I really do love my two boys, but sometimes they drive me to sew.  Hence the bag...

I wanted a bag that was easy to wear with jeans.  Big enough to hold all my stuff, that seems to collect in my bags.  And basically just wanted another one.  No one can have enough bags I feel.

I went through my remnant bags and found this lovely furnishing fabric.  The chocolate brown lined with a yellow 1930's print.  The flower was made of scraps of 30's fabric from a quilt a made 18 months ago. Ric Rac was found in the bottom of the barrel, so to speak.

It only took a hour was start to finish, I was quite impressed with the bag. Youngest gremlin then had fun taking it outside to take photos. So thank you youngest xxx

Take care

Suzy

Soap Soap and more Soap

Things I have learnt in this Soap month


1.Well nobody told me that I would have to wait 4 weeks for cold proess soap to cure......
2. Its real fun
3. It could become a addiction
4. Its really fun.
5. I could of blown myself up!
6. The info out there is amazing
7. Everyone I know is getting soap this year for pressies
8. The recipes are really easy to follow
9. I have used nearly 4l of olive oil in the past three days
10.  Essential oil is really expensive...
11. Castor Oil is not as easy to find as you think....

To start I went to the library and search the net, gotta love the techie world we live in! The books I read back to front, then re-read them again was
Making Candles & Soaps For Dummies by Kelly Ewing
The Everything Soapmaking Book: Recipes and Techniques for Creating Colorful and Fragrant Soaps by Alicia Grosso

The web sites  that I found  that really helped
www.millersoap.com/index.html
www.teachsoap.com/soapmakingmethods.html
www.aussiesoapsupplies.com.au/
and heaps others...

The Tablecoth Dress

My life here is not always normal, far from it.  Two delightful boys, a husband and now two dogs.  I feel that sometimes I walk into the "twilight" zone.

Take for example the "The Tablecloth dress".

Well late last year we the family had a wedding to attend.  I had decided to make a dress, instead of trolling the stores. Store shopping scares me, I mentally work out the fabric costs and making times and feel ill.  It is the bargain shopper/sewer coming out in me.

I found a beautiful a beautiful cotton sateen in the furnishing department where I work, okay it was on the clearance table.  I love the colours, so I bought and made.  I wizzed it out in less than two hours, whoo hooo I thought, done and dusted I thought.

Oh no not in my house. I proudly walked out to show the boys, feeling on top of the world.  It had hidden all the yucky parts, and looked pretty and me look taller (ok, it could of been the 12cm heels).  I swanned out, feeling damn fine, hot to trot, red carpet ready.  My delightful three gremlins told me I was "great", "beautiful", "looked not fat", "happy", "okay for the wedding", "don't kill yourself on those things".  Self confidence on top of the world.  Ready to take on the world, and the family wedding.

With that, the happy gremlins all depart..  

The oldest child gremlin walks up towards his room saying himself

"I still think she looks like a Tablecloth on legs" Yes I heard.

Yes I did make another dress, same pattern but dark gray.  I wasn't loosing the shoes... Still haven't wore it either.

 

Simplicity 2886

Take care Suzy

2010 Time for change I think

Times are a changing and I feel I do too.

So I have made a promise to myself too do things that make challenge myself.  This could be craft wise, thinking wise or just putting me out of my depth so to speak.....

So January is Soap making

February is Cake decorating

March is reading "Pride and Prejudice" without throwing the book across the room....(good luck I say) and Northanger Abbey both by Jane Austen.  I love romance books so I wil try the classics.

April  is to learn how to Felt....

May is the 2009 Pulitzer for Fiction: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout and  2009 Nobel Prize for Literature: Herta Müller, The Land of Green Plums. Well if the experts say there good, I say why not.

June is to get enough nerve to enter a quilt into a show... Well if get enough nerve that is...

So that is the first six months and I will still do all my other crafty stuff as well.  All I can say is let the year begin, even though it is half way through January. 

Take Care Suzy