My creative space... part two

I'd like you to meet Lenny the guinea pig.

He arrived earlier this week all the way from America to be part of the Queensland Flood Appeal Dolly Drive. Thank-you Jen.



So I guess this is Jen's creative space. But I wanted to inspire you to join in our Dolly Drive.

Please, pretty please, with cream on top.

As I'm sure you are aware, the flooding has not been the only cause of devastation in my home state of Queensland this year. My father, an electrician, has spent the last week in the towns of Mission Beach, Tully and Cardwell. He and his team have been working around the clock, trying to piece communities back together after Cyclone Yasi.

The Dolly Drive is running for another 5 weeks, close date is the 18th of March. If I can double the amount of dolls that I am already receiving, I will send half on to North Queensland.

They don't need to be elaborate, a simple softie can still put a smile on a child's face.

You can read more about the Dolly Drive on my original post.

I just want to thank some of the other lovely crafters in advance. There are quiet a few gorgeous softies in transit as I write. I can't wait to show you. Amazing!

Thank-you so much for your support.

If you want to see some more creative spaces, go over to kootoyoo and be inspired.

My creative space... part one

"And...the Treasure Bag, made out of repurposed window screening, just right for keeping the sand out, and the treasures in." - Amanda Blake Soule

When I first bought this book, I thought that this would be the first project that I would make from it. We are all very big collectors in this house. No outing is complete without a little piece of nature coming home with us.

I eventually got around to making them and they are now waiting for an adventure this weekend. In keeping with 'my rumpelstiltskin challenge', I have used things from my stash to make them.

• the fabric is from old clothes, Spunky Monkey's shorts and Miss Moo Moo's peasant top.
• the one for me is made from a thrifted vintage cushion cover.
• the aqua trim, linen detail and cotton tape used for the handles were all op shop finds from long ago
• the brown fabric paint used for stamping was in the cupboard, waiting for a project
• the screens are from our house, they were taken off when we got security screens

Please Note: don't try and make these when you are suppose to cooking dinner. This will only cause you to rush and make mistakes. Maybe you will forget to change your cotton from white to black, and let me tell you, unpicking white cotton from fly screens is no fun at all!





If you want to see some more creative spaces, go over to kootoyoo and be inspired.

Computers and kids

A thoughtful gesture from a friend has left me feeling conflicted.

A friend of Mr Moo's gave us an old computer that has heaps of games on it, for children, our kids age. It didn't sit unnoticed for long. On Saturday, a rainy afternoon, we plugged it in and turned it on. There is no room, in this room, for another computer, so it went into Spunky Monkey's room and onto his bed side desk. The afternoon soon disappeared. I was happy enough, they were perhaps learning something and I could get on, uninterrupted, with a few little jobs.

But on Sunday night I found Spunky Monkey sitting in the dark playing games after bedtime. He sometimes sneaks his lamp back on after bedtime and will draw for a while before putting himself back to bed. I don't mind. But this computer thing, did not sit well with me.

On Monday morning after coming home from school drop off, I went straight to hang the washing. I could not hear Miss Moo Moo singing and playing with her dolls in her room, as she usually did. I came back inside to see where she was, it was so quiet. I found her sitting, transfixed at the computer. She had been there all morning before school too.

I wasn't expecting to be monitoring computer time so soon. So yesterday I took the computer out of Spunky Monkey's room and returned his textas, coloured paper and scissors to his desk. Last night, the kids spent over 40 minutes drawing before bed.

I know I have made the right decision for my family.


(a gum tree that is 200 years old, this is part of a series of seven gum tree drawings - Spunky Monkey)



(a T-Rex, that possibly started out as a gum tree? - Miss Moo Moo)

Jam drop biscuits

I told you I felt like baking.

With a yard full of workers (landscapers) at our house on Monday, I had my chance. I intended to whip up a batch of peanut butter and choc chip cookies, that I had made last week, but I couldn't find the recipe. This happens a lot. I know I will find it, slipped into another recipe book, three months from now.

Instead I made these, the recipe is from the side of the cornflake box. I have to share it with you because (a) they are very yummy (b) they make heaps and seem to be keeping well, and (c) if I don't put the recipe here, I will throw out the box and forget all about the recipe.

Crunchy Jam Drop Biscuits
Makes 15-20

• 200 grams butter (softened)
• 1 cup castor sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups plain flour (sifted)
• 2 cups cornflakes (lightly crushed by hand)
• 1/3 of jam (raspberry, strawberry, plum or apricot)

Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Line two baking trays with greaseproof paper. With electric beaters, beat the butter and sugar until light and creamy. Add the egg and vanilla and continue mixing until well combined. Add the flour and cornflakes and mix well with a wooden spoon. Using a heaped teaspoon to measure, drop spoonfuls onto the baking tray about 5 cm apart. Flatten slightly and make an indent in the center of each biscuit. Fill the centers with 1/4 teaspoon of the jam. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until firm and slightly golden. Leave on the tray for 10 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool.

Also, welcome to my followers, 'olive and esther' and 'by b and e'.

Flea market finds...

My aunt gave me this gorgeous apron for Christmas. I absolutely love it.





So imagine my excitement this week when I found this one at the op shop. It is exactly the same pattern, with similar handiwork. I love, love, love it. I don't think either one has ever been worn.



I feel a strong urge to bake cookies and slices, so I guess it was lucky that I also found this book for 20 cents. I think I might just be well on my way to becoming a fifties housewife.

A big thanks goes to my little model. It is impossible to photograph yourself wearing an apron. Miss Moo Moo was very patient with me. My special little helper.

Go here, to see what other treasures have been found this week.

Also....

Would you like to make a doll or softie for the Queensland Flood Appeal Dolly Drive? There is still plenty of time. The close date is the 18th of March. We would love you to join us. Please read more on my original post.

I'm grateful for...

Today I am grateful for sleep- ins.

They don't happen very often, but when they do - bliss. So it was a happy Saturday this morning, when I stumbled out of bed at 8 o'clock. I was, of course, awake at 5 am, but I pushed Miss Moo Moo out of bed to go and play. And quietly play she did.

The day has moved slowly since. Scrambled eggs with basil and feta, black coffee and the latest copy of Donna Hay Magazine (now on subscription- yay!). Later, orange and almond cake and a pot of tea with my aunt, when she came to visit. A few odd jobs around the house and soon perhaps, I'll sit with a book for a moment or two. For dinner, an easy barbeque, it is way to hot for anything else.

And that will be the the end of a lovely day, and it all started with a sleep in!

Go over to 'maxabella loves' for more gratitude posts.

Also....

Perhaps you would like to make a doll or softie for the Queensland Flood Appeal Dolly Drive. There is still plenty of time. The close date is the 18th of March. We would love you to join us. Please read more on my original post.

The Organised Home Challenge

Or should that read the The Un-organised Home Challenge, for if it did, I would have accomplished something this week.

I have managed to forget drink bottles, homework, sleep sheets, school swimming payments, sunscreen and my internet banking password! Yes, after five years of internet banking, my brain short circuited and went BLANK for a whole day.

I started re-organising the kids bedrooms in an aim to de-clutter, but I was over it very quickly. I got down a box of trims and doilies to sort out, I sat playing with them for over an hour, then jammed them back into the original box, unsorted. I walked into my walk-in-robe a hundred times and very quickly walked back out again. This is my biggest problem area in the house, but I just can't face it yet.

To be fair, I have not been feeling all that well. I spent a few afternoons on the couch and a few days out and about with odd jobs. I also spent two mornings at school.

So tell me, how is a girl suppose to get anything organised around here?

What's that you say - discipline. Yes, well, wish me luck for next week.

Go here, to see who else has been getting organised around their home this week.

I have also been a little disorganised in welcoming my new followers. So welcome, Alice, Carol, Mac, Tartankiwi, Tat, Karen, ILIS, Karen, Wendy, Caz and Julie.