Market find

Browsing through the bric-a-brac stalls at Salamanca on the weekend I came across a very nostalgic find. When I was little we used to have this exact same mug and I would always want my morning cup of tea in it. I loved the feel of it, warm and snug in my hands. It fit so perfectly and felt so smooth.  It's vintage Wade Irish porcelain which explains the smoothness!

Sadly one day the handle came off and my Mother said it was time to say goodbye to it so off to porcelain heaven it went *sniff*. I am so happy to have found another just like it and this one has (apparently) never been used! It still has the tag, so it could be true :)

Big V also reckons the mug rocks... I hope this means there'll be no fighting when it comes to cuppa time. I might just have to keep my eye out for another just in case!

Strawberry Shortcake

 Mon Pippy looking so strawberry shortcake.

Playing along with Meet me at Mikes: Five Faves

I have so many favourite things, to pick five is a hard choice! Which category to choose from? I have favourite recipes, colours, people, things to do, things to make, places, numbers, movies, books, I mean you can see the dilemma.  Ah, I think I'll just write them as they come to me. If you want to play along too then go to Pip's place at Meet me at Mike's to sign up :)

1.  New tan leather boots.

Number one is a new favourite as I have only just acquired them but have actually been keeping an eye out for just the right pair for nearly two years now so this is why I love, love, love them!

2.  The colour green.

This is not a recent fave, I have always loved the colour green. It always seems to be my first choice in a lot of things so I had been trying to give other colour choices a go but lately green is becoming dominant in my picks again. 

3.  Zucchini and bacon muffins (otherwise known as party quiche!)

I was introduced to this recipe by another new Mama who said it was da bomb for fussy eaters because it hid the veggies well. I'm pleased to say it works and is really moreishly delicious, I can see a lot of possibilities for variations too. I brought some out for afternoon tea with Rosie the other day and when she ate it she exclaimed that it was 'party quiche'! Apparently her sister used to make them for her kids and referred to it as party quiche so as not to alert them to the fact that it contained 'poisonous veggies'! Whatever works, I say :)

Recipe found here.

4. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.

 I think this would have to be one of my all time favourite movies. I first watched it when I was twelve on holidays in New Zealand, it was so surreal and such an incredible, fantastical tale. I used to think about it for years after and a while ago decided to watch it again to see if it still held the same magic for me. I'm pleased to say it did and more. Being older, I now understood some of the more subtle references that are often put in children's movies to amuse adults but fly right over the top of kiddie's heads. I was also pleased to find that it contained many of the actors that are still my favourites today; a real stellar cast. 

This movie, five stars.

 Mum and I having a chat at my wedding (and Dad looking kind of startled!)

5. My Mother.

Total corn I know but I was thinking about favourite people in my life and she is definitely one of them. Having just become a mother myself I have a new found appreciation of this wonderful lady in my life. 

Did you know she NEVER told me I COULDN'T do anything? I'm not saying I had free reign, it was still very much 'don't jump on the sofa' or 'don't play footy in the hall', of course she told me NEVER to do those sort of things. I mean she gave me the belief that you could do anything, ANYTHING on this earth if you really wanted to. You could be a gymnast, a scout, an artist, play any sport, any instrument, basically undertake any task because all in life was for the learning.  

She let me do such a crazy amount of activities when I was young and never complained if I switched from one to another or told me something would be too hard or beyond me.  When I think about all the things she let me experience when I was young I am amazed she had the energy to ferry me from one place to the other and still be on time too!  She has instilled in me a taste for learning and exploring and life never gets boring because there is always new things to do.  Perhaps this is why I have many a half finished projects lying round the house but I don't care because most of the time it's the journey not the destination that contains the most fun :) Thanks for that Mum.

Possible addition?

Today I was out at the Salvos with Rosie looking for an old picture frame to make a notice board when I came across a cabinet, fairly beat up but exactly what I had been searching for to put in the kitchen to store my big bowls, various serviettes and table paraphernalia. It is kind of 1950s style, two cupboard doors with two long drawers above it and best of all, on top is a flip up lid with a secret space inside! 

Okay, not so secret but I love the treasure chest feel of it :)

Like I said it needs a fair bit of fixing. There are no draw bottoms for one! The outside will need some sort of touch up but whether that ends up to be a coat of paint or varnish I am not sure. I've also been tossing up with the idea of using wallpaper or fabric on the draw and door fronts... Hmmm, the possibilities!

Listen to me writing as if I have it already! The first order of business will be to try and talk Big Val around to the fact that we NEED this item of furniture, it's possible I may not function without it... and so forth. Well, I did try tonight and whilst he hasn't committed to it he said we could 'go and see it' tomorrow. I'm hoping that means it's as good as mine ours. PROVIDED that it's still there of course! Oh, please let it still be there!

Because I don't have a photo of the magical cabinet I will just put this picture up by artist Ben Kehoe. I have come across it a few times while surfing and each time I think it's awesome.

Acting Cockney

Oi! You lookin' for some biff?

Presumed innocent

Moi? Mess up all the folded clothes in the baskets? Pull down all the books from the book shelf? Post bits of food out the back of my high chair? Never!

Squiggly Flowers Bloomers

Having been bitten by the sewing bug, I have started to build up a collection of lovely 'how to' books along the way. One of which is Lotta Jansdotter's 'Simple Sewing for Baby'. This book is filled to the brim with wonderful little projects, all at a nice easy starter level which is just perfect for a beginner like me!

I have had for a while now a piece of Saffron Craig's Squiggly Flowers in pink and green which I bought just because I liked it. I had no intention for it's use in mind at all until flipping through the book and finding a pattern for some cute little bloomers. 

Little G has been living in Bloomers with this hot weather we've had so I thought it would be a great project to start off on my own with. I figured if I got into any trouble I could always take them with me to my sewing class and get help there if need be. But now I'm glad to say I needed no help at all :D Yay me! Well, Yay the book really ;) It's very easy to follow with it's step by step instructions and drawings.

So here its my little model wearing the finished product and looking very darling while at it.  I also have enough material left to add to a dress or skirt which is the next home project on the list. So if all goes to plan, my Little Pipit will have a matching outfit soon. Fingers crossed!

wagon love

When I was little I always wanted one of the little red wagons found in the pictures of kiddie books. They look just the ticket for toting round all things precious.  Obviously now I am older t'would be unseemly to walk down the street with one rolling along behind me. 

However, should I have a little tot to give a ride to (and luckily I do!) then owning a wagon could be a distinct possibility.

This is a modern update on the little red wagon by kaiku and happily for me, it has green bits; my favourite colour! There is also another model with all green sides but it doesn't have the cute little seats for cute little butts that are required for riding all round town :) There's a great write up on babyology.com about Kaiku's products, all very drool worthy!

Ahhh, this so could be G and me, out for our daily perambulation. I'll definitely have to save up to make this one a reality though, in the meantime, I still have my story books :)

images found from here.

Pin cushion swap

I was talking to Bec the other day about my terrible habit of not finishing projects and how I love to leap frog from one new thing to the next, getting excited over something new and shiny and leaving half finished things all over the place. 

I have on the go a chair to be painted and then planted for my balcony. A piece of lino waiting to be cut and then printed.  Buttons waiting to be covered with fabric and used. A skirt for my niece. Some quick dry clay bought and never played with.  Not to mention the blogs I haven't written, the list goes on! Don't even get me started on the list of PS3, Xbox and Wii games waiting for attention - yes Bioshock 2, I am talking about you. Big V is currently finishing his game of FFVII on the PS3 so it's not as if I can play at the same time anyway... So many things to do, how can anyone ever get bored!

Seeing as I have such a fad-ish nature, one of my New Years resolutions has been to stick to something once I begin it and I have to say, so far, I am doing ok.  I have started a sewing course at Adult Ed and I am loving it. It is concentrated time on one task (block hours spent away from my little Pipit are a rare thing these days!) around people who are all busily crafting away which helps me focus on what I am doing because there is nothing to distract me and I am finding it really satisfying to make a creation that has a function.  

I have only been to two classes so far and already I have made some cushions for my Mother (an exercise in sewing with zippers), a pair of reversible pants and a pair of bloomers for mon Pipit and a baby quilt for tiny Sascha. Next up will be a dress for me... the biggest undertaking so far. ULP! 

Bring it on, I say! I feel like a regular Martha Stewart! (Not the prison bit, just the creative bit)

Anyway, all this has led me to commit myself to a pin cushion blog swap that Kate from Fox's Lane is hosting. I figure if I can already make big couch cushions then I can handle a couple of pin cushions here and there :)

I've started looking at some pincushion pictures online to get some inspiration and there are so, SO many out there! Who knew there were that many pins needing houses!

Here are some of my favourites.

Cute little bottle cap pin cushions from here.

 Heather Bailey pin cushions pears from here.

A most awesome cactus pin cushion from here. Love this one a lot!

Little birds are always a winner for me :) Found here.

This one is the one that really takes the cake though. 

Found at Doll: the art and craft of Miri Kirchner.

She does the most amazing tiny worlds all in tea cups, almost too good to stick pins in!