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