Ellieboo

January photoaday update

2012-01-30T18:39:00.000+11:00

I lost momentum towards the end of Fatmumslim's January photoaday. Life just starts to catch up with you and time runs very thin sometimes. Here are my last entries.

Day 21 | Reflection......the kid when she was a babe

Day 22 | Shoes

Day 24 | Guilty pleasure

Day 25 | Someone you made

Im going to have to give the February photoaday a miss as I just wouldn't do it justice. But was excited to see Chantelle has set a "quick challenge" this month which I will definitely be doing.

Photoshop Elements

2012-01-29T10:21:00.000+11:00

I decided at the beginning of the month that I wanted to learn Photoshop. I downloaded a trial copy of Photoshop Elements from here and let myself loose. I have tried to teach myself before but I got nowhere and got very frustrated in the process - what were these layers, why didn't my Microsoft office knowledge work here, why is this package so hard? I gave up before really starting.

But not this time. I approached it from a different angle and admitted I needed a bit of help with this one. I looked around the internet for useful tips and tutorials and here are a couple of my favourites:

Adobe TV

The fantastic Elise Blaha Cripe has some great tutorials - this one I used to create the banner above and here is another

Cathy Zielske - Elise's blog recommended checking out Cathy Zielske's blog for tutorials too. Haven't had a chance to check them out myself yet but I will.

I watched, I listened and I practiced. And then it happened - a lightbulb moment. It was quite a small, dim lightbulb but there was light. I suddenly started to see why people love Photoshop, I started to see the potential of this package, I started to finally GET what a layer was.

Now, I have a long way to go but I am going to put my money where my mouth is and actually purchase this package and continue my learning.

Do you have any other recommendations on how I can further my photoshop skills? I would love to hear.

No spend week

2012-01-25T20:32:00.000+11:00

Last week I decided to have a no spend week, which really should have been called a LOW spend week because I know I am not able to get through a week spending zero money, Freeganism is not for me folks.

The week started out well and I only bought what was strictly necessary for the first half of the week. Apart from food and drink (non alcoholic I hasten to add) the only extra things purchased were a train ticket, postage for a letter to my family in England and a charity donation for a work collection. Packed lunches, packed breakfasts and packed nibbles came with me every day to work.

But then come Day five my inner shopper REBELLED big time. I was in Woollies just to buy a couple of grocery items when I saw the display of back to school sandwich boxes and my little heart leapt. I filled my basket with plastic containers galore and it felt GOOD (if only for that moment). The rest of the week was pretty much down hill from there.

However I think the exercise was well WORTH it - I am still taking packed lunches and that is actually a huge saving each week (trust me city prices for food are OUCHY) and 4 days of low spending is better than no days. I gave myself breathing space for purchases - it made me ask the question "did I really need buy that"? The old wait a week and see if you still want it is a good rule to follow and I one I am going to keep doing.

I am going have a low spend week every month and in February I will be trying to get through the whole week.

Recipe 1 of 15: Easy one bowl orange cake

2012-01-23T18:57:00.001+11:00

I really am woeful in the kitchen and quite seriously lack talent when it comes to cooking. But I do want to be better and that is half the battle don't you think. My repertoire is pretty non existence so I have pledged to add some new recipes to my life in 2012 and try to include the kid in the process, because what kid doesn't love getting mucky in the kitchen.

A week ago I saw a divine looking cake and knew I had my starting point. Thank you Cathie over at M.E. your Easy One Bowl Orange Cake was a perfect first recipe for this culinary challenged girl. OK so my effort didn't look quite as good as the original but can I tell you, it tasted bloody great.

Notes to myself. Use a smaller baking tin i.e. the size the recipe suggests and maybe my cake won't be so flat.

Five things we did this weekend

2012-01-22T21:42:00.000+11:00

1.....we watched TV. I snuck in the latest episode of Project Runway Allstars whilst the kid watched Rapunzel for the 53rd time.

2.....we baked - nom nom nom

3.....we cursed the rain for keeping us cooped up most of Saturday

4.....we swung

5.....we cycled but only one of us pedalled!

Roll on next weekend I say

January photoaday update

2012-01-20T21:19:00.000+11:00

January is racing along isn't it? Work is relentless and the kid is hilarious, life goes on. And here are the photos from last week for Fatmumslim's photoaday:

Day 14 | In your bag....or the kids bag on this occasion

Day 15 | Something you're reading

Day 16 | Happiness......is a giggling kid

Day 17 | Morning.......dropped off at daycare (not prison)

Day 18 | Water

Day 19 | Something you bought

Day 20 | Sweet.....nom nom nom

Day 20 | Someone you love....no brainer

How do you read a book?

2012-01-18T21:34:00.000+11:00

So Santa was quite generous this year and popped an iPad into my stocking. It is serious love - I am now wondering how I ever survived without it. But here is the thing, Im not sure I love reading my books on it.

There are definitely some positives about books online - like getting a book as soon as your hear about it (no waiting for the shops to be open), you can read in bed without having the light on (great when you've got a snoring kid next to you), its a bit cheaper and you can quite often download the first chapter for free.

However, I am not sold on it. I love a proper book. I love the feel of a book, the look of a book, I love that I can read a book in the bath or at the beach (aint no way Im taking the iPad to either), I love that you can lend it to your mates when you've read it, I love browsing in an actual bookshop. I love seeing all my books on the shelf and snapping up a bargain at the op shop. Hard back or paper back - I love you all.

So I have read 2 books on my iPad so far and I don't think I am going to be reading that many more on there for the time being.

Have you gone crazy for electronic books or do you still love the feel of the paper?

12 Books in 2012: 365 Thank Yous

2012-01-17T18:32:00.000+11:00

I love to read but it does seem to be one of those things that I have less and less time for. To encourage myself to not neglect my reading I thought I would set myself a target to read 12 books in 2012. I am pretty sure I will have no problem achieving this goal...well if I just occasionally turn off the TV that is.

I decided to read 365 Thank Yous by John Kralik as my first book of 2012. But I am sorry to say it was a disappointing start to the year. I just didn't like this book and after 4 chapters decided I didn't want to waste any more time on it. Its takes place over a year of John Kraliks life - he is down on his luck and decides to start writing thank you notes to everyone who has touched his life in some way and it changes him (but don't ask me how as I didn't get that far). I don't know why, but I just did buy into this story, it all seemed a bit a contrived and ultimately I didn't really care about John's quest.

As I didn't finish the book I supposed it should really count in my twelve books - but sod it, in it goes.

Cashed down

2012-01-16T18:44:00.000+11:00

I always start to HYPERVENTILATE about this time of year. Its the time when I realise I spent way too much over Christmas and this year is no different? My credit card is weeping in a corner begging me not to use it again - its literally about to go on strike from being overworked. DAMN you Barbie camper van, damn you iPad, you should be ashamed of what you did to my poor bank account.

Time to cut back.

Time for a week of looking at everything I spend.

Time to ask the question do I really need that.

Time for packed lunches.

...........................................................................................
So how did I go on Day 1?
....train ticket - $33 (definitely necessary)
....v drink - $3.70 (my first fail of the day - am slightly addicted)
....groceries - $19
....diet coke - $1.40
....TOTAL $57.10

January photoaday update

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000+11:00

Another week gone, just like that. But a photo a day has made it a fun one:

Day 6 | Makes you smile

Day 7 | Favourite

Day 8 | Your sky

Day 9 | Daily Routine

Day 10 | Childhood

Day 11 | Where you sleep

Day 12 | Close Up

Thanks again to Fatmumslim for hosting January Photoaday

I knew it was time...

2012-01-12T06:07:00.000+11:00

...to clean up the kid's bedroom when she called to me "mum, Im STUCK in my bedroom". I am just a little ashamed to show you the before picture, Im not sure quite how it descended into such disarray - I have slovenly tendencies obviously. You will be pleased to know that the kid doesn't sleep in the room (not for the past year and a half anyway but that is another story altogether).

It took my ENTIRE day off to get the room ship shape again but I am so glad I made the effort to keep going - I was seriously tempted half way through to switch on the TV and lie on the couch for the rest of the day. The effort was definitely worth the look of sheer DELIGHT on Ellie's face when she got home from daycare and she spent the rest of the night rediscovering toys she had forgotten had even existed.

Also more gold stars for me - 3 bags of rubbish went out to the bins, 2 bags of stuff to Vinnies and 1 bag of hand-me-downs to a friend - consider yourself DECLUTTERED.

Future careers

2012-01-11T06:31:00.000+11:00

Just lately The Kid has been telling me what she wants to do when she GROWS up. Its quite cute really. For weeks she has been fixated on becoming a dentist - a little friend at school's mum is a DENTIST and we have been reading a Topsy and Tim book about going to the dentist, so it all made sense.

Anyway, the other day we were going through the Maccas drive through when The Kid got rather EXCITED and started shouting "no no no Mummy, I know exactly what I want to be when I grow up......I wanna be the chicken nugget girl!!"

Oh crap ha ha - looks like free fries for life.

Longest project ever

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000+11:00

Meet my LONGEST ever project. This is a log cabin quilt that I started making by hand - it was in the days before I owned a sewing machine, before I had a stash of material, before my the kid was even a twinkle in my eye.

I have tried to work out how long this unfinished project has been sitting around and my best guess is 10 years. Yep this work in progress is a decade old. I REDISCOVERED it when clearing out some boxes recently and thought it was time to just let it go - I couldn't even find the rest of the fabric strips needed to finish it anyway and all I had was a third of a quilt.

I sadly took it to the bin, thinking of all the hours of hand sewing I had put into it (albeit 10 years earlier) but told myself to LET IT GO and get on with decluttering.

Half hour later a LIGHT BULB moment and the quilt was rescued from the bin - I am going to turn it into a quilt for the Kid's dolls - a bit of binding and backing and Bob's your uncle.

What is your longest project ever? Is there something in your unfinished pile that beats a decade?

First project of the New Year

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000+11:00

We are 9 days into a New Year already and officially the end of my STAYCATION with the kid. Its back to work and back to daycare and back to normality.

My mind has turned to CREATING again, to projects to sink my teeth into. Last year I joined in the Little Things to Sew-along and whilst I got a bit lost towards the end I am now back on board with the January project which is the cutest little Bear Carrier for the kid.

Finally got around to using the freezer paper I ordered last year to cut out my pattern - lets see how that works.

Have you started creating again? Maybe you never stopped. Whats your FIRST project of the year going to be?

January photoaday

2012-01-06T08:06:00.000+11:00

Am really loving doing the January Photoaday organised by Fatmumslim. Are you joining in?

DAY 1 | You

DAY 2 | Breakfast

DAY 3 | Something you adore

(that would be the beach...not my feet)

DAY 4 | Letterbox

DAY 5 | Something you wore

All photos taken in Instagram

2012 Manifesto

2012-01-04T08:37:00.000+11:00

I have seen a few manifestos around the place and I love them. The one above is the Holstee Manifesto and is fairly well known and then I saw this one over at Fatmumslims and fell in love with it.

So I sat down with pen and paper and brainstormed what I want 2012 to mean to me. Then came to the execution - how to put my ideas into a funky format that I could stick on the wall? And this is where the problems started - seriously how the hell does that photoshop package work?

So instead I have just a boring listy format below and one of my goals this quarter is to finally learn how to use photoshop and my first project is to make my manifesto PRETTY - this may take a while but watch this space.

... swim in the sea
... energy, zip, snap, crackle, pop
... be present on my blog
... sew more, create more
... be more patient with the kid
... drink some water occasionally
... remember ME
... friends and family are more important than anything
... get rid of stuff, buy less stuff
... step away from the tv more often
... laugh at myself
... give more
... count to 10 and breathe before reacting
... squishy cuddles*
... discover what that room with the oven in is actually for
... be a kid with my kid

* Thanks Cathie (M.E.) for the inspiration for this one

Quarter 1 - the goals

2012-01-03T20:27:00.000+11:00

About this time last year I set myself GOALS for the year and was feeling quite proud of myself....then I promptly posted them and ignored them. As the year went by I probably looked at the list once and as the year progressed my priorities and desires CHANGED and what I wanted to do at the beginning no longer seemed that important anymore. I didn't get to tick many things off and it was all a bit humdrum.

This year I thought I would look at things DIFFERENTLY - instead of setting year long goals, I am going to set goals quarterly and hopefully keep it more fluid in the process. I did myself a little mind map yesterday of all the things that I am hoping to achieve in the next 3 months. I have stuck the map up next to me and may add or delete as the coming months go past - its a work in progres, front and centre, rather than filed and forgotten.

Lets see if a little change of FOCUS helps me actually get some stuff done.

The goals

... read and plan energy improvements

... take my iron tablets and re do tests

... learn how to use photoshop

... design and make a birthday card and a baby card

... make bear carrier for sew-a-long

... make some skirts for Ellie

... make theatre for sew-a-long

... finalise legal paperwork

... read 3 books for fun

... declutter 3 areas

... start menu planning

... cook 3 new things

One Little Word 2012

2012-01-02T07:58:00.001+11:00

I have been inspired by Ali Edwards One Little Word project for the past few years but this is the first year I am actually going to join in. It wasn't too hard to pick, definitely no soul searching required to find my word of 2012. In fact it was obvious to me what it should be.

ENERGY

Energy is the thing I have been lacking for so many years now and the thing I want back more than anything and I really want it to be my focus for 2012. Just think what I could achieve with a little bit more of this elusive stuff.

I have some thoughts already about what I can do to make this year all round more energetic and full of snap, crackle, pop and lets just say some will be a lot easier to achieve than others.

Stealing a process from the Happiness Project I thought I would try and implement one idea each month this year rather than try and do everything at once and I am starting with an easy one - to take my iron tablets that were prescribed and have sat on the shelf for over 6 months and then revisit the docs for blood tests to see if my iron levels have improved.

Have you got a word for the year - what is your focus for 2012?

* A gratuitous picture of the kid whose boundless energy I aspire to.

Added 8 Jan 2012 It seems great minds think alike and one of my favourite bloggers Maxabella Loves is also a lover of the one word philosophy. There is a little old linky party happening for everyone to share their words - and looking at the list so far, 2012 is going to be a good year.

A tough December

2011-12-31T09:40:00.002+11:00

Phew! I am glad this month is almost over - it has been one of my toughest months in a long time. I have basically been sick for the entire month and feeling a wee bit sorry for myself. It culminated spectacularly two nights before Xmas when I had to spend a night in hospital with my 5th (YES 5th) bout of gastro this year and by far my worst.

Its one of the hardest part of single motherdom - being sick and having to look after a small one. Poor wee Ellie has been quite upset by how sick I have been, even scared at times - at one point she was convinced she was going to be motherless or worse still Christmas might be cancelled.

Good friends rallied around at my lowest point and even the kid's daycare would come and pick her up and drop her off - I was impressed!

Am definitely on the mend now and whilst not back to 100% am feeling so much better.

All I can say is here is to a much healthier, happier 2012 for everyone ....... including me.

grateful time

2011-11-26T13:37:00.000+11:00

This is the first time I have joined in Maxabella Loves weekly post about gratitude. I have been meaning to to join in for so long but, ah you know, time just gets away from you.

I have to start the whole thing with a biggie, the thing I am most grateful for in the world, though sometimes I have to remind myself of that, ha ha.

Talking about the kid of course - my little pink goddess of giggles. You will be pleased to learn that I dont always call her kid - she is also goes by the names BooBooMcGoo, Bumble Bee of Love (dont ask), Stinkpot, Lovebug, Elsey, Grumpiana, Doll, Gorgeous (mind you I call everyone that!) and most used Bubbles/Bubblicious.

No 1. Ellie

Procrastination

2011-11-24T18:55:00.000+11:00

"We fritter away the days with the small pleasures of television and computer games, of Internet surfing and Sudoku puzzles and end up with nothing to show for it. This is a recipe for regret".

I am re-reading this book and the above quote really resonated with me. Oh how often I have wasted time on tv I didnt really want to watch or played on the internet for minutes that stretched into hours. And I have often wondered how other people seem to get so much done, when really I already knew - they dont SQUANDER their time like me.

After reading this book I have realised that my biggest problem is just starting. I nearly always think the task ahead is going to be much worse than it is, or too big to handle, or too overwhelming.

But if I just start it always turns out to be a lot EASIER than I expect.

So whilst there were lots of great ideas in this book and I am just going to concentrate on one - and that is spending 15 minutes a day on my sewing. That is all I have to commit each day - totally doable and if after 15 minutes I want to stop I can, NO GUILT.

Yesterday I started my 15 minutes of sewing and ended up doing 2 hours - I obviously just needed that PUSH to start.

Off to start tonights 15 minutes.

Decluttering for real this time

2011-11-23T16:23:00.000+11:00

If I were to look back at previous posts from my blog over the past couple of years I would notice a worrying trend. Every 6 months or so I jump on the decluttering band wagon and proudly beat my chest and shout how I am going to Declutter with a capital D.

If I now look around my place I realise zero decluttering has happened - a big fat nothing. I am still drowning in STUFF.

So on the back of finding giant creepy crawlies within these ever increasing piles of stuff I decided it really was time to DO SOMETHING. For real this time.

In the past I have looked at things no longer wanted and thought that would probably raise a couple of dollars if I had a garage sale. For five years I have been promising to have a garage sale - my unit is full of plastic boxes marked "garage sale". It is NEVER going to happen and this stuff has to go. I am letting go of the mythical garage sale and letting go of all the crap.

This post was also inspired by A Thrifty Mrs who is on her 30 day declutter.

Our camping trip

2011-11-16T19:25:00.000+11:00

Went into my room last night to tuck the kid in (she has slept in my bed since she turned 3 and could climb out of her cot).

Was met there by a cockroach the size of my head crawling through the clean washing pile near the bed.

Much screaming later and one failed attempt at lobbing a boot at the gigantic beast, the kid and I agreed it was best to sleep somewhere else that night.

Me to the couch, the kid to her room. But she wasnt having any of this and insisted that her bed be brought into the living room along side me. I huffed and I puffed but I got it the damn thing through the doorway.

Now we are both camping out in the living room!!! Its kinda fun. We may stay a while. Well until our other guest moves out.

Sparkle time

2011-11-09T17:41:00.000+11:00

Some gorgeous metallic embroidery threads have now been added to my collection. They will add some sparkle to my Christmas cards that are coming along in leaps and bounds. I cant believe how organised I am being - its a little scary really.

The kid cracked her head open at daycare (thankfully no stitches this time) and is sitting on the couch making the most of the fact that I want to cheer her up. More sweets...of course my dear.

Was meant to start boxercise classes in the park this morning but Sydney, 31 degrees is too hot I tell ya. I promise to start next week.

Ho ho ho

2011-11-07T22:05:00.000+11:00

Determined to get some Christmas cards made this year.

Left it way too late last year - and didnt end up sending out any homemade cards.

But behold....work has already begun for the 2011 festive season.

Patting myself on the back

Instagramania

2011-11-06T14:33:00.001+11:00

I have gone stark raving instagram mad!

what about you?

are you crazy for instagram too?

I cant stop taking photos

of everything

yes, even my feet

My instagram name is ellieboo296 - drop on by, Id love to see ya.

Something

2011-11-05T20:35:00.000+11:00

I finished something. At last.

Havent felt much like sewing or blogging lately - I have let a person from my past affect me and I got a bit bogged down feeling sorry for myself and achieving approximately nothing in the process. Geez I am annoyed at myself for letting that happen.

Anyway, fired up the sewing machine the last couple of nights and finished off my sewalong project - a bias trimmed apron for the kid. Loved making my own bias binding, it was dead easy - who knew!

Really looking forward to November's project, the puppet theatre - bring it on I say.

Bugger

2011-10-22T22:19:00.000+11:00

Bugger. Some books are over way too quick, before you are ready to let them go even. This book was bloody fantastic and I am mightily pissed off that I have finished it already. Bugger.

Its funny how it goes - I didnt pick this book. It was a birthday gift. I hadnt even heard of it. Wasnt sure it was for me.....but it turns out it definitely was.

Add it to your pile, you wont be sorry.

Sew Along

2011-10-18T07:18:00.001+11:00

Time to get working on October's project for the Little Things Sew Along. The project is a bias trimmed apron which is probably not something I would have got around to sewing if it werent for the sew along. But bring it on I say.

Havent done much with bias binding in the past so am actually keen to do some learning here - decided to make my own binding as well, another skill I need to familiarise myself with plus cant be bothered to schlep over to Lyncraft to buy pre made binding.

Was hoping to use the Reynolds Freezer Paper (everyone was talking about in the last project) to make my pattern but it hasnt arrived yet. Oh well back to the tracing paper.

Calendar girl

2011-10-17T05:29:00.001+11:00

I fell in love with this calendar - so funky but a bit too exxy for me sadly, so decided to make my own version out of black and white card whilst watching Project Runway US (go Anya) this weekend.

Its nowhere near as glamorous as the original but I like it all the same.

Descending into delirium

2011-10-13T05:14:00.041+11:00

My jetlag is getting worse - I cannot believe it. I woke up at 2am this morning and today is the day I go back to work. CRAP - this is going to be the longest day of my life. My colleagues are going to think I am off with the fairies.

In desperation have been trawling the net for help - one of the suggestions I read was to go back to England - am seriously considering this? May have to resort to drugs - can you get some kind of over the counter sleeping drug? I have no idea?

Did manage to finish my Red Riding Hood dress up for the auction night tomorrow. I need to learn how to take better pictures of clothes - I seem to be a bit lost on how to capture them well.

Sleepy sewing

2011-10-12T06:48:00.001+11:00

4.15am wake up this morning which is quite positively a lay in compared with the 3.00am wake ups for the past 3 days - damn you jetlag.

Hadnt expected to be quite so knocked around by this jetlag - oddly we didnt seem to be affected at all going the other way.

Weeks ago, I somewhat confidently committed to making a red riding hood outfit for the kid's daycare auction night this Friday. Which basically means it has to happen today - sleepy or not. Sewing machine here I come.

I am using the Little Things to Sew book again - quite frankly I love this book cover to cover, cant rave on about it enough. Decided to tweak the pattern a little bit though - going to make it longer, leave out the arm holes and replace the button with ribbon - fingers crossed it will turn out ok.

Back to reality

2011-10-11T08:17:00.001+11:00

All good things come to an end, I know that and more often than not after a long holiday I am keen to get back to real life. This time however I wanted to stay - we had such a fun time and it was so relaxing and I knew both the kid and her grandparents would be sad when it was time to say goodbye.

The tears flowed at Heathrow.

I wont dwell on the flight back...it was horrendous, its just too damn far, too long to sit in a small space. The kid kept asking if Grandpa was still sad?

Unpacking nearly done.

Unwrapping the little treats I brought home...
...3 packs of Marks and Spencers knickers - restocking
...a couple of cute cardis
...a minnie mouse tree decoration from disneyland
...a cute cake stand found on sale and irrestible
...Peppa Pig chocolate advent calendar - to be hidden
...shortbread in cute tins - gifts and one for me

Damn jetlag is making the kid and I delirious and dreary (respectively).

Work looming.

Projects in my mind.

holiday

2011-09-27T05:32:00.002+10:00

I cant complain about the weather that England has put on for our holiday - it has been great and it looks like we are going to end the holiday on a high with balmy temperatures of 26 degrees forecast this week.

Yesterday we bounced.

Today we swam.

Tomorrow we shop.

What more can I ask for?

Nom nom nom

2011-09-16T17:48:00.001+10:00

I cant stop making iced gems.....they just so remind me of my childhood.

Holiday reading

2011-09-08T18:44:00.000+10:00

I dont read much fiction these days but I needed some light holiday reading and saw this on special at Asda and decided it would just fit the bill.

I have to admit I am thoroughly enjoying it - its a bit like Bridget Jones has grown up, got married, got a good job and a couple of kids.

The weather has come over all dark and broodyhere after quite a good start so the kid is watching Barbie Princess Charm School for the fourth time whilst I am chortling away in the corner.

Think....Sarah Jessica Parker not a bad choice to play the mother Kate Reddy.

What are you reading?

Some holiday sewing

2011-09-07T21:47:00.001+10:00

I managed to sneak a little bit of sewing inbetween all the holiday activities that have been happening whilst we are here in the UK. I couldnt resist these jammy dodgers featured in last months Mollie Makes and I had to get some real mini jammy dodgers - purely for research you understand.

Ooooh also I am so excited because my mum and dad have booked a little side trip for us to here.

That was the week that was

2011-09-04T19:14:00.000+10:00

What a wonderful first week back in England we have had - the kid is lapping up the grandparent love like a demon and who can blame her

mon :: a day out at an English beach - it may not have the weather or the looks of a Sydney beach but boy did we have fun. My parents had to drag me away from the arcade penny push machines

tue :: Oooooh a bonus of being in England - managed to get last months and this months Mollie Makes

wed :: steam trains, a castle and cucumber sandwiches - cant get much more English that - a lovely day out with the family.

thu :: I went for my first run in forever, the kid earnestly commented when I got back "your tummy is still big mummy!"

fri :: The kid got sunburnt - we are in England for goodness sakes.

sat :: Swimming and a trip to the duck pond.

sun :: A little bit of peace for me as the kid has gone to the park with Grandpa - dont rush Grandpa.

How was your week?

Flying Hell

2011-08-29T16:11:00.000+10:00

This is what Kylie looks like when she gets off a plane. I, on the other hand, DONT (but trust me, I have spared you all an actual picture!).

Now we all know long haul flights suck especially travelling with small children but I can now tell you that this was the WORST flight I have ever undertaken. EVER. The first 8 hours werent too bad but just as we started to approach Bangkok I started to feel ill and got progressively worse.

A 40 minute turn around and we were back on the plane for a 12 hour flight to London and the vomiting began. I was spewing for about 8 hours! I had to be taken up to the front of the plane to the galley with the head stewardess who looked after me.

But what of the kid - isnt it your worst nightmare to be taken ill whilst travelling alone with a small child. The two lovely ladies sat next to us took up baby sitting duty along with the other stewards. I thank them all so very much, what wonderful people. When I finally did get back to my seat the kid looked mighty disappointed - but was quick to show me all she had learned. "Mummy if you press this button the man will come and bring you another croissant" Ha ha I think the kid managed to wangle some first class service in a coach seat.

Thanks British Airways, thanks Rita and Arja - you were the stars in my dismal journey.

But thankfully we are all recovered now and enjoying ourselves with our much missed folks.

Today is the day

2011-08-25T12:19:00.001+10:00

Today is the day that we head off to England and the nerves have taken over - flying is most definitely NOT my favourite thing to do.

But to help us through the trip some little things to keep the kid and me going. The kid most definitely got the quantity:

but dont you worry, I got the quality:

See you on the flip side lovely people.

A travel diary

2011-08-22T07:24:00.002+10:00

I contemplated buying a new notebook for my upcoming trip - you know how much I love my notebooks, but decided at the last minute to make my own. I have long admired the notebooks made by Elise Joy but it was way too late to order one.

I then discovered that Elise sold Big Mini Workshop pdfs so that you could make your own - and it was well worth the spend.

I decided on green and brown as my colour scheme but my addiction to pink crept in and i started adding some mini pink pages. I love the way Elise uses patterns in her notebooks, but I just could find any paper that I loved and I wanted to keep the notebook fairly plain as I want to fill it in as we go.

The front cover needs to be designed - have to give it some thought.

Only 3 more nights to the big trip - I am very excited.

That was the week that was

2011-08-21T16:46:00.000+10:00

mon :: full on day at work - this is going to be a long, long week.

tue :: am wondering if the holiday is going to be worth all this crazy work - no time for blogging this week.

wed :: snuck a quick break from the grind and visited the magic shop around the corner from my office and bought supplies for my balloon twisting training (see pic)

thu :: am hoping my parents dont think I am slightly crazy when I turn up with a suitcase full of balloons

fri :: packed up my office - moving to the other side of Sydney into a funky new eco building - quite excited by the move actually

sat :: After much debate with friends, bought a bottle of Phenergen for the kid on the flight - not sure I am going to actually use it, will wait and see.

sun :: big house tidy - dont want to come back from holiday to a horrible mess.

How was your week?

That was the week that was

2011-08-14T21:09:00.003+10:00

mon :: seriously kid, its 9.20pm you should be asleep, is it payback for making you eat fish fingers for tea?

tue :: watching the incredulous scenes of London burning, rioters and looting live from the BBC

wed :: my usual day off, bah humbug to a five day working week

thu :: gastro strikes - too sick to even take the kid to day care (single parenting sucks sometimes)

fri :: continued gastro - see I knew I wasnt ready for a five day week

sat :: ditto

sun :: ditto - well, mostly recovered but still moping around and not achieving much

* I didnt look anywhere near as glammy as Barbie does whilst she pukes :)

Sewalong: Bucket Hat

2011-08-09T21:53:00.002+10:00

So my first bucket hat is now completed and it turns out the kid may have a larger head after all - we had to pull this hard to get in on her noggin. So it looks like I might be making another one very soon and we might give this to a little friend who has normal sized head.

A scary stitch

2011-08-08T21:59:00.000+10:00

It is the stitch that sends shivers down my spine, it is the stitch the sends me into a blind panic and it is the stitch that I was going to have to get to grips with if I was ever going to finish my Sewalong bucket hat.

Just why the hell blindstitch scares me so much, I just dont know. The bucket hat was coming together swimmingly until I read those dreaded words. I cast the hat aside and started to sneer at it everytime I walked past.

I did a bit of googling for some tips, there was some stuff out there but I didnt really find anything that switched on a lightbulb for me, so eventually I just had to bite the bullet and get on without. Hey it turns out it wasnt half as bad as I had anticipated. It actually only took half an episode of Project Runway to sew around the hat and it is way neater than I thought it was going to be.

Sometimes, just starting is the hardest part of the whole process dont you think.

That was the week that was

2011-08-07T22:38:00.000+10:00

mon :: bank holiday - you beaut - but shhh I havent told the kid who is off to daycare (cue evil laugh)

tue :: the kid announces she is sleeping in her own bed tonight after a year in mine

wed :: a dear, sweet friend tells me she is having a baby, I am over the moon for her, go Looby

thu :: Mr Tax Man, what do you mean I owe you money!

fri :: found the kid asleep on her bedroom floor, hmmmm

sat :: sydney sunshine in winter, cant beat it, hung out (literally) at the park all day

sun :: anticipating a 5 day work week next week, my first in 4 years, holy crap!

Heading Home

2011-08-04T19:28:00.000+10:00

In about 3 weeks the kid and me are heading back to the place I still call home - England. I am super excited, it is two years since I saw my mum and dad and I am desperate to see them again and the kid is going to have so much fun with Grandpa and Nan.

We are going to be gone for 6 weeks and I got to thinking that I needed a plan - I need some things to achieve while I am away. Obviously there will be plenty of catching up with old friends and family but what to do for the rest of the time.

My thoughts go something like this:

Complete an embroidery or handsewing project (hmmmm more thought needed around this)
Be a tourist in my own town, county and country (need to do some research)
Half an hour of exercise just for me (almost) every day
When nothing special planned, take the kid swimming
Learn a new skill or hone an existing one (had some fun thoughts around this - I was wondering if I could learn how to make balloon animals and shapes - come on...tell me that is not a good skill to have)

Picture from here

Sew-Along: Bucket Hat

2011-08-03T15:25:00.000+10:00

Jessica from A Little Gray had the inspired idea to have an Oliver + S sew along. We are doing a project each month and August is the bucket hat. I think I am actually going to make a few of them, well if they turn out ok that is.

I have a day away from the daily grind today so it is the perfect time to get started. I am making the medium sized hat for Ellie - she thought it was snortingly funny when I started measuring her head last night. I was going to make the large for her and then plumped for the medium at the last minute - she has a sort of imbetweeny sized head (havent we all). The other hat I started is an extra small for a newbie baby boy due into the world early October.

The kid is a whopping 4 years old now and she told me that as such she got to pick her own fabrics for her own hat, not Mum - the two pinky fabrics are hers. I think she chose well dont you.

My notebook

2011-08-02T19:59:00.000+10:00

I love my notebook. I tried once to put all my stuff on the computer but it didnt last - I simply love paper and notebooks. Everything goes in my notebook and I include pages of inspiration ripped from magazines. I know it is not practical and I know my Mac could organise me much better - but I need some pretty in my life.

I also adore ink pens but sadly find my favourite notebooks can rarely cope with them - the ink annoyingly bleeds through the page. So after much research I have come to the conclusion that the cheapo Papermate Flexigrip Med is my favourite biro by far and I have them all over the house and work just to prove the point.

I am addicted to graph paper in my notebooks and it is rare that I would use one without said gorgeous little squares. I collaged the cover of my latest notebook, and am really happy with the outcome.

I have a confession - I have a whole cupboard full of empty notebooks, ready for me to use. When I see a notebook that fits my narrow criteria I quite often buy 2 or 3 of them.....I get nervous that the shop will stop stocking them. But then a month later I find a new notebook that becomes my new favourite and the process starts again. So as you can imagine, I have a lot of notebooks.

Do you love your notebook or is it technology all the way for you?

The Spotlight Challenge

2011-08-01T15:11:00.000+10:00

Well how was I to know there was a 40% off all fabric at Spotlight when I set the challenge? I was doomed before I stepped out of the front door. I really think I could have stuck to the target if it wasnt for the aforementioned sale but 40% is a big saving and I only bought a little bit of fabric for my stash. The dotty fabric at the top is for another circle skirt I think, the pale pink is good lining material and I just loved the bottom fabric but alas there wasnt even a metre of it left, but maybe just enough to make a little sun dress for the kid

Thanks to Cindy and Jo for pre warning me - the damage to my finances may have been a lot worse had I been unprepared.

Spotlight: A challenge

2011-07-30T09:01:00.001+10:00

Have you ever gone to Spotlight and only bought what you went in there for? Nope, me neither. Do you actually think it is humanly possible to do this? Nope, me neither.

But I am going to give it a go - wish me luck. I need to go to Spotlight this weekend and all I need is some elastic (for another circle skirt) and an ink pad (to try out some stamping). And that's it. I am hopefully heading there this afternoon or tomorrow sometime and my challenge is to come out with only those 2 items.

Do you think I will be able to? I will report back on the flip side.

Little Things to Sew

2011-07-28T21:15:00.000+10:00

I am seriously in love with this book. It is rare that I buy a sewing/crafting book where I want to do every single project in the book but this is one of them. The book, if you didnt already know is by Liesl Gibson of Oliver + S fame and it is simply gorgeous. Books are a serious weakness of mine and this one has got me good.

I have already made two things from the book and they were a joy to make, I am just kicking myself that I made the red riding hood cape for a friends little one and forgot to photograph it before giving it to her. Damn.

I stumbled across a sew-a-long for this very book and joined up without hesitation - if you want to come along for the ride, pop along to A Little Gray and get yourself a copy of this little gem. We start in August with the bucket hat and I cant wait.

Twirly Circle

2011-07-27T22:30:00.002+10:00

I made Ellie another skirt, no not the one in the pictures today, but one that when I had finished and looked at all the froth and frills involved, my head promptly exploded - it was just too much I tell you.

What I needed was a sleek project, I needed.......a circle skirt. I vaguely remember seeing something over at MADE and headed over there. I found the quickest little tutorial ever and before I could say "you spin me round round baby" I had finished my first circle skirt.

The kid has been twirling ever since...

Backpack Backpack

2011-05-30T20:40:00.001+10:00

I finally got off my bottom and did some sewing. I lost my mojo for a while as I do from time to time but I think I have got it back now, phew! I have had a backpack for the kid on my to do list forever and I decided to just launch into this project over the weekend and voila, I love the result.

I can thoroughly recommend the Oliver + S book "Little Things to Sew" by Liesl Gibson where this delightful backpack pattern came from. The book was a present from the kid to me for Mother's day (not that the kid actually realises this is what she got me - haha). The instructions for this pattern were a dream, so straightforward, no curly what the moments I often get with other patterns. Loved it.

This Week I am.....

2011-05-10T18:34:00.000+10:00

.....doing 4 chores on my to do list
.....watching lots of masterchef
.....making a skirt for Ellie out of something old
.....celebrating that I have given up V drink and am saving $4 per day which is $1500 per year!!!!
.....making the boys bat mask
.....cutting out red riding hood capes ready for sewing

Sweets Workshop

2011-05-05T07:36:00.002+10:00

This is the sweetest little book and can you believe the Kid won it in a colouring in competition. It is beautifully illustrated by Andy Geppert and the Kid was totally thrilled to get it - she couldnt help herself and had to read it before she even got home:

Obviously you want to see the masterpiece that won her this marvellous prize - check it out here. Ellie won the book from the latest little bit of shopping loveliness here in Summer Hill called Sweets Workshop and it is as cute as button...I tell you, I could buy nearly everything in it, if only I had enough dosh and wall space for all the gorgeousness.

So if you are passing through Summer Hill anytime soon make sure you check out this lovely gallery - they have regular exhibitions to keep you coming back for more

Funny Sunday

2011-05-01T21:07:00.000+10:00

So I drove from Summer Hill to Chatswood today, takes about 25 minutes in the car - but being a good girl scout I thought I would check the water in the car before I went. I know, impressive huh. I took off the radiator cap filled her up with water and went on my jolly way.

Hmmm one minor point, I forgot to replace the radiator cap.....who knew but you actually sorta need it. Half way there, doing 80 along the freeway I noticed steam coming out the engine and the temperature guage going bezerk. Ooops.

I made it to within a block of my friends house and the car died on a clearway - aaaargh. I waited, panicked about what to do, and then tried the engine again - it started, and I breathed out. Managed to get to my friends house.

Ha ha - you should have heard the good natured telling off I got from Mr NRMA - he said if it overheats like that - it doesnt matter where I am - I MUST STOP THE CAR. He was surprised I hadnt completely killed the engine. Doubly ooops.

Mr NRMA gave me a temporary radiator cap.....and went away with a wry smile.

Sunday just got better from there.....my friend bought this Little Leona party dress for the kid - reduced from $75 to $6 - yep $6

(the kid is testing the dress' twirl factor)

I test baked a cake for the kid's school fete next week and brace yourself.....yep it tasted bloody good.

And Masterchef is back. Ooooh I do love a funny Sunday.

Did you have a good Easter?

2011-04-27T18:53:00.001+10:00

Did you eat too much chocolate. Did you then eat some more. Did you eat so much chocolate that you began to resemble the Easter bunny? Yep us too.

By beautiful friend Gen put on a fantastic easter hunt for the kid, with clues and treats along the way. I stress a lot about holiday season time, I stress about being lonely on these holidays with their focus on family and with the kid and I having no other family in the country - but I tell you, good friends are every bit as good as family.

Though Gen did get some eye rolling from me when I looked in the kids bucket and saw she had clocked up 8 full size cadbury cream eggs and one choccy chick during the hunt. To give the kid credit she gave away ALL her cream eggs (and yep, Gen and I managed to score 2 each!!).

Showbags

2011-04-22T08:21:00.000+10:00

When picking your Easter show bag you should always make sure it is as big as you are! Happy Easter everyone.

This week I am...

2011-04-19T06:44:00.000+10:00

(This picture is from 2006 when I scored big with the Easter bunny)

...posting Rosie's card to England even though it will get there late
...walking the stairs - week three, it is almost a habit
...not drinking V - week two
...thinking about packaging for my cupcakes and making something
...finishing the boys mask
...completing 5 chores from my list
...posting 4 times on Ellieboo
...cutting out 3 red riding hood capes
...organising a lttle easter egg hunt for Ellie
...eating an egg bigger than my head

The world according to Ellie: Snow White

2011-04-17T20:36:00.000+10:00

Do you have strange conversations with your kids? Do you find yourself discussing things that boggle your mind? Conversations that before you had kids just would not have happened? Yep, me too.

Today the Kid wanted to wear her snow white dress (fine by me) but she was reluctant to wear any undies. She fixed me a steely look and earnestly said "mummy I dont think Snow White wore knickers".

Obviously I assured her that Ms White did - and if Ellie wanted to continue being Snow White today she better put some knick knocks on quick smart.

And that is the world according to Ellie.

Oh Happy Day

2011-04-15T09:02:00.000+10:00

It is a happy day indeed at Ellieboo because look what I have got my grubby hands on. Bye bye crap old laptop that I had to reboot 5 times a day and allowed me to read a page of my book whilst it thought about opening an application. Hello iMac......where have you been all my life.

Now I am complete novice to Macs - and although I am typing this post from my new machine - it is going to take a bit of getting used to I think. I have had to revert back to my old modem as I couldnt get the wi fi to work - probably had more to do with the fact that I couldnt remember the password than by any failure of Mr Mac.

And the kid got a brand new, ultra modern, polystyrene dolls house - everyone is happy I tell ya.

I do however, fear for my to do list this week now I have new toy to play with.

This Week....I am forming new habits

2011-04-11T18:54:00.001+10:00

Apparently it takes 30 days to form a new habit and I have bloody lot of new habits I need to form. But I am starting slowly (you can't rush permanent change), I am just working on one or two little things each week and I will be leaving them on my to do list for four weeks in the hope that by the end they will brand new habits.

Last week I started a new habit of walking the stairs at work - and I did it. There are 47 stairs to get to the floor I work on and at least one day last week that meant I walked up 188 stairs and down 188 more in one day....I was tempted to get the lift but I stuck to the program. Hallejujah.

That is the amazing power of "This Week" - you see I didnt want to let ME down. I achieved all the other things on last week's list too - Im telling you "This Week" works like some kind of voodoo magic. But please dont tell the dame off to the left.

Well to this week - what have I got planned:

Walk up the stairs again this week
Give up my daily V drink!!!!! Yikes this will be a toughy
1 x 20 minute aerobic work out
Make and send a birthday card for Rosie
Set up an Etsy/Made store and sell some cupcakes
Finish two masks for Ellie's birthday
5 things from my chore list
Finish third batch of cup cakes
Buy my Apple iMac jumping up and down with excitement as I type
Minimum 4 Ellieboo posts

This Week is the inspiration of the wonderful Punky and Me.

Stuck in the 80s

2011-04-07T20:45:00.001+10:00

So I was doing a bout of tidying today- I had the place to myself, I cranked the music up and before I knew it I was boogeying and brushing, shimmying and shammying, dancing and dusting.

This song came on my ipod and I had forgotten what a sodding good it is. The Jam were the first band I ever went to see in concert and I was seriously in love with Paul Weller for a while back then.

And as I jumped around the room giving it all my best moves, I realised that when nobody watches I dance like this (specifically 23 seconds in!):

Aaaaaaargh.

A gathering conundrum

2011-04-06T19:47:00.001+10:00

Firstly I have to say, I really wish I knew how to take a better photo and how to style my stuff a bit better but its all a bit of a mystery to me and quite frankly it shits me a little that I am so crap at it.

The good news is that I finished the little skirt I was making for the Kid and rather like it despite the crapola photo.

I was originally planning on a much more gathered affair but I got all kind of panicky when I cut out 10 strips thinking it was going to be way too wide and over gathered and then it turned out to be the complete opposite - what the? I am thinking of making another skirt with perhaps 14 strips in it - but dear readers I have to confess, I just hyperventilated when I typed 14 - my brain is shouting "too wide, too wide, it will never work".

Yes I am just a little bit crazy - now pass a paper bag, breath, breath.

A quarterly update

2011-04-05T18:46:00.000+10:00

Seriously, how did it get to be April already? 3 whole months, whoosh, gone in a snap of the fingers. I thought I would just check up on myself. What did I promise at the beginning of the year, am I a quarter of the way through.. lets see.

Ellie's List. Well we made the most of the glorious sun and warmth in the first couple of months of the year and hit a fair few beaches, sheltered away from sweltering heat at the Powerhouse Museum, made it to the zoo, went ten pin bowling and took Ellie to see her first movie at the cinema. 8 things ticked off a list of 30.

Amanda's List A much shorter list of to dos and have managed to do 3 things out of 8 - I had an amazing day at the Ashes, went to the movies (without the kid) and went to Rozelle Markets.

Creative Projects A bit slower on the creative projects front but still have managed 3 things from a list of 25.

How is your year going so far?

This Week.....Im taking the stairs

2011-04-04T18:21:00.001+10:00

The magic of Punky & Me's "This Week" continues - I am serious, it really works. Just look if you dont believe me. Last week I promised to:

Do 6 things off my chore list - big fat tick
Make a new skirt for the kid - 70% done, silver star
Tidy up the hellhole that is my home - an even fatter tick
Make 3 batch of felt cupcakes - 75% done, that makes two silver stars

So to This Week, obviously based on the past two weeks of great success, I am really going for it:

Do 5 things off my chore list (I know, first week I promised 7, then last week 6 and now Im only committing to 5 - what gives? Well basically Ive done all the easy ones - only the toughies left)
Finish the kid's skirt
Mini tidy up
Finish the cup cakes
Start a list of creative projects for the next 3 months
Start one of these projects
Post on my blog more regularly - that means at least 4 times
Take the stairs at work - no cheating

I heart books

2011-03-30T21:12:00.000+11:00

As you know, I recently moved the kid to a local daycare after 3 years of commuting with my little buddy into the city. I am loving that I now have my commute back to myself - its only a 20 minute train ride each way but that is 40 solid minutes of reading a day and I am powering through my book pile

Just finished these two books which I read back to back and definitely would recommend. But you would think after reading books on procrastination and self control, that I would be an expert. You would be wrong.

I took today off work with the specific reason of tidying the bombsite I currently live in - I had a whole day to achieve this mammoth task and I didnt need to leave to pick up the kid until 5pm.

What time did I start? 9am? 11am? 1pm......you are getting closer .....3pm to be precise. Some serious procrastination in action, I could have been a perfect case study for either book!

This Week

2011-03-28T19:30:00.000+11:00

Part of the mess taking over my home - see point 3 below

I joined in Punky and Me's This Week last Monday and knock me down with a feather - it worked. I set myself some tasks, committed to them in a post and then [cue fanfare] achieved them.

I think in the past I have written long lists of things I want to get done in a single week and get quite demoralised when I only manage a fraction of the list. Obviously what I need to do is be a bit more realistic - I work full time and I am a single mum, and I need to accept that there is just not the room for a giant weekly to do list - 3 or 4 things, now that is doable!

So back to This Week - I want to

Do 6 things off my chore list
Make a new skirt for the kid
Tidy up the hellhole that is my home
Make 3 batches of felt cupcakes

Do you want to join in - head on over to Punky and Me.

Meet Katy, Katy and Katy

2011-03-27T21:57:00.001+11:00

Hooray for me - I have finally finished my Katy Kitty dolls. I let the kid have first pick and she was quite adamant that she wanted the one with purple shoes!

The other two need to pack their suitcases and possibly their passports as they off to further fields. One is going to the Queensland Flood Appeal Dolly Drive organised by the lovely Monkeemoomoo, and the second one is off to Calico and Ivy for their Japan appeal. Farewell kitties.

I got the pattern for Katy Kitty from Mmmmcrafts and would totally recommend it.

The kid's kisses

2011-03-24T22:48:00.000+11:00

Some of you have asked if the kid has now settled into her new daycare....and I am pleased to report that yes, we now (touch wood) have weep free farewells each morning. Phew, sure am relieved about that.

Obviously you are thinking well it was all down to the wonderful kiss I made for her. Well, lemme tell ya about the kiss. Day One of the kiss - I picked her up and she said "I lost the kiss can you make me another". A second kiss was made and on Day Two Kiss Two she said "I lost the kiss again mummy". Hmmmmm kiss number 3 was entrusted to the kid with firm words from mum "dont lose the kiss kiddo!". Day Three Kiss Three. Do I really need to tell you.

Seriously, is there a black market for felt lips? Is the kid swapping them for sweeties? We may never know but there were no more kisses .... well of the felty variety that is.

Cupcakes

2011-03-23T18:19:00.000+11:00

I have finished my first batch of cupcakes that are my own design - what do you think. Do they look yummy? My kid sure thinks so.....it always good to have a resident fan, dont you think?

This Week

2011-03-21T21:17:00.002+11:00

I have just finished reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. Its a light read but I loved it and she had some great ideas, some I am definitely going to pinch. I am, however, starting out slow because there are only so many hours in the day. I loved her idea of gathering a list of those niggling chores that need doing. I cant tell you how many times I have walked past some boxes that need to go down to the garage but yet they still remain blocking the front door; or how many times the thought "I must book an eye test" has popped into my head, only for it to pop pretty much instantly back out again.

Well now those little doo dahs (as I affectionately call them) are gathered together in one place and are ready for action.

I am joining in Punky and Me's This Week. And this week I promise to do 7 things off my Doo Dah list - thats one a day - easy right? I will let you know how I go.

I am also plan on finishing my Katy Kitty dolls that have been sat in pieces on my sewing table for a few weeks now and to finish a batch of felt cup cakes which are the first lot of felty food that are my own design.

Wish me luck and if you want to join in This Week or see what everyone is promising to do - pop along here.

A thought about mums and daughters

2011-03-15T07:16:00.000+11:00

I was just thinking I wish my mum had kept a blog of all her crafting exploits I would really love to sit down with a big cup of tea and chocolate digestive and read that.

Then I thought, shit my kid will be grown up one day and will be able to look back at the blog. Holy crap I better be nice about her.

Ha ha ha.

Dear Blog...

2011-03-09T18:31:00.000+11:00

...and sewing machine....and kid (not necessarily in that order). I apologise for the neglect but my head as been elsewhere. But its ok, normal life resumes now I have found out whodunnit.

Now that's what I call a beach

2011-03-02T19:51:00.000+11:00

Does that face say it all? This is me at the age of about 5 enjoying the delights of an English summer - you know its an English summer holiday by the miles of jagged stones pretending to be a beach and the woolly cardi being worn.

Those were certainly the days dear friends.....oooh and I have something to tell you, I am so excited. I am taking the kid on her very own holiday to the land of the pebbly beach - she has been way too spoiled by long sandy beaches and warm balmy days and quite frankly she needs to harden up.

My gorgeous mum and dad rang me at the weekend to let me know that they wanted to shout me and the kid a trip back to blighty. Now THAT was a good phone call.

what are you up to right now?

2011-03-01T09:12:00.000+11:00

Well here at chez Ellieboo work continues on the three Katy Kitties I am making - I seem to be surrounded by legs and arms and hats and skirts and pussy cat shoes. Did you notice the pattern and the highlighter - yes I am that sad, I highlight each part of a pattern as I do it - what can I say I like to be methodical, its in my nature.

So what are you up to right now?

rozelle markets

2011-02-20T19:12:00.001+11:00

Its been a while since I went to my beloved Rozelle Markets and when I found myself with not much else to do Saturday I thought, why not. So the kid and I toddled along. Its probably a year since I took the wee princess to the market and last time, to my utter disgust, she was just not into it.

Ooooh but what a difference a year makes, in fact I think I have created a M.O.N.S.T.E.R. She couldnt get enough of all the stalls, she touched everything (which was a tad worrying to me who rapidly saw our shopping budget being spent on broken crockery). Some market holders where grumpy looking when the kid approached and some were delightful and steered her towards age appropriate stuff.

The kid and I managed to spend $50 in total (oops - way over what I planned) but we got some cracker things - dont you think? All for the kid mind you.

a gorgeous Country Road

dress for Ellie

stacking indian dolls that the kid just could not

leave alone - so we snaffled them up

and the bargain of the century - this gorgeous Le Toy Vans

doll furniture set and dolls- just adorable

more creative projects for 2011

2011-02-19T10:01:00.000+11:00

If you are like me you have a big pile of gorgeous sewing and craft books that you regularly drool over. I have so many of these books and want to make so many of the projects within them but until 50 hour days are invented it just aint going to happen.

So I spent a rather contented evening in front of So You Think You Can Dance last night went through all the books and decided I would pick just ONE project from each book that I would like to make over the coming year - and you know some books I decided to leave altogether for this year. So here are my 16 craft book projects I want to make this year:

Baby's First Book from Sew Liberated by Meg McElwee
Ms Green Tea Bag from Softies by Therese Laskey
Painted pillow buddies from Bend the Rules Sewing by Amy Karol
All day tote from Simple Sewing by Lotta Jansdotter
Pig/Wolf from Softies by Therese Laskey
Bird Pillow from Zakka Sewing by Therese Laskey and Chika Mori
Aunt and Uncle dolls from Bend the Rules with Fabric by Amy Karol
Pyjamas for everyone from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross
Market Tote from Applique Your Way by Katye Jenny
Bookmates from Simple Sewing for Baby by Lotta Jansdotter
Childish Inspiration from Embroidered Effects by Jenny Hart
Felt leave bag - from one of Japanese books (name unknown)
Felt flower box - from one of Japanese books (name unknown)
Portrait bookmarks from Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule
Screen print my own artwork from Printing by Hand by Lena Corwin
Shoulder Bag from Sew by Cath Kidston

Monthly Handmade Treat: February 2011

2011-02-16T18:36:00.000+11:00

This month I decided to treat myself to a pattern rather than a finished object - I was looking for a new softie to make and fell immediately in love with the Katy Kitty by the multi-talented Larissa at mmmcrafts.

I have jumped right in and decided to make 3 kitties all at once - one for the kid (obviously) who has requested a pink one but is getting a blue* one like everyone else; one for a friends daughter who has a birthday in a couple of months time and one for Monkeemoomoo's Dolly Drive that I signed up for.

Back to the cutting out for me.

* well I do seem to be the owner of 10 metres of blue corduroy for some strange reason

a little bit of sewing

2011-02-15T18:48:00.000+11:00

I havent completely neglected my sewing - in fact I have actually completed a couple of things. I think that deserves a pat on the back - which I am giving myself as I type.

I appliqued some little vests- a last minute present for a visit to a friend and her new baby and whipped up a new skirt for the kid because she just keeps shooting up and her current batch of skirts are what you might call mini minis.

Oh and my camera has had to go off to camera hospital - the prognosis from Doc Repair was that sand and water may have got it - yikes. But he was hopeful my camera would live. In the meantime I am relying on the Iphone for photos.

a kiss

2011-02-14T18:58:00.000+11:00

So the kid has been having a hard time when I drop her each morning at daycare - and it doesnt seem to be getting better. She always wants one more hug, one more kiss but eventually I have to leave to get to work. (I know it would be great to just kiss and hug all day!)

But then someone had a great idea - to make the kid a kiss to keep with her all day long. Thank you Katie - totally inspired. So this is my version of a kiss, made of soft as soft crimson felt - I gave it to the kid early this morning and told her to pop it in her pocket and that there was a 1000 kisses from mummy on it and if she got sad during the day she could just grab the kiss from her pocket.

She loved it. There were still tears when I left but at least she had her kiss with her.

some days

2011-02-10T18:27:00.000+11:00

The kid went on a day care excursion today - twenty 3-4 year olds got the bus into the city and went for Yum Cha. How seriously cool is that? The kid has a better social life than me I tell ya!

I was so excited for her and she was too but when I picked her up one of the teachers came up to talk to me and asked if Ellie suffered panic attacks or was claustraphobic. Apparently she lost it the minute she got on the bus and screamed the whole way to town hall (30 minute bus journey) and was inconsolable. I asked Ellie why she got upset on the bus and she said it was because I didnt give her a goodbye kiss this morning. Which is sort of true - I hugged and kissed her goodbye 6 or 7 times in the end I just had to leave. Geez talk about make me feel bad. Guilt factor times 20.

I actually had a little cry when I got home - it made me really upset to think that Ellie had been so distressed.

Some days just go that way I suppose

do you want to help me declutter

2011-02-08T18:38:00.000+11:00

A Giveaway of Sorts

The following two books are in my "to sell" pile but I suddenly thought some of you lovely people might like them instead. So I am holding a little giveaway of sorts. If you would like one of these books just leave me a message with your choice of book and if I get more than one person wanting the same book I will draw the names out of a hat.

So to the books:

The Gift....How the creative spirit transforms the world

by Lewis Hyde

I have to be honest, I didnt get past about 10 pages of this book - I found it a bit heavy going. But that doesnt mean you will - for blurb on the book check out here.

Living Artfully....create the life you imagine

by Sandra Magsamen

Now this one I have read and it is much lighter and easier. I read it quite a while ago and it wasnt quite my cup of tea and I havent picked up since.....but you may love it. Read more about it here

So dont be shy - help me declutter and join in my giveaway. The books are free and I will cover postage in Australia.

Monthly Handmade Treat: January 2011

2011-02-05T08:55:00.001+11:00

Last year I went through a little phase of treating myself to something handmade treat. I love the beautiful creations from around our blogging community and handmade in general and I want to support the glory of handmade even if it is in my own small way.

This beautiful feather crown is from Pretty Little Things and I actually bought it late last year for the kids Christmas stocking. But somehow it got mislaid and I only discovered it again when tidying out the closet yesterday. Isnt it totally gorge! (Obviously as is my own little supermodel).

Also Lori's beautiful crowns are featured in the latest issue of La Petite magazine - more lusciousness.

must try harder

2011-02-04T19:03:00.001+11:00

Decluttering of my 100 things started today with this wardrobe in my bedroom:

I only managed to let go of 7 things:

Look its a start and better than nothing but I gotta try harder if I seriously want to declutter. I dont wear half the things in this wardrobe but I just couldnt let them go - doesnt make sense does it.

And yes I am throwing out a fan during the hottest week of the year....lets just say, I laugh in the face of the temperature guage. Well that or have way too many fans in the house!

decluttering

2011-02-03T18:55:00.000+11:00

Part of the reason for having some time off recently was to sort out my out of control piles of stuff. I had grand ideas that the whole of my unit and garage would be decluttered and streamlined by the time I returned to work but no such luck. Im not that upset because I also needed to catch up on my reading, sunbaking, socialising and napping during that time off - which I did in style dear friends.

Over the course of the 2 weeks however, I did manage to donate 5 bags of stuff to the local op shop.

A good start but there is sooooooo much more. So I have decided to join in Spring Fling 2011 over at One Little Minute. The idea is to get rid of 100 things between now and the first day of spring (20 March). Can donate to charity, give to friends, sell on ebay, or just plain chuck out. What a top idea.

Out it goes I say

who's a lucky girl?

2011-02-02T19:30:00.000+11:00

Well, I am actually.

I was lucky enough to win the giveaway held over at the multi talented Clares Craftroom - and what a prize to win. Woo Hoo. I can tell you there was literally some jumping up and down on the sofa (a la Tom Cruise) when I found out I had won.

Thank you so much Clare. I had a good browse through the book today - love love love - so many projects to add to the to do list. Oh and did I mention I was double lucky - Clare also sent me her Little Party Frock pattern - super cute indeed.

See told you I was lucky.

Last day of the holidays

2011-01-30T19:34:00.000+11:00

Friday was the last day of my little holiday just for me and I have got to go back to work tomorrow - BUGGER. How quick did that go. I was feeling a little bit miffed at the fact that the holiday was nearly over when I had a corker of an idea - I needed to give myself a special treat.

So I headed off to the newly opened Balmain Calico and Ivy and trust me, if you want to treat yourself this is the place - it is just full of loveliness from the moment you step through the door. My treat was some gorgeous new felts for food making - these Heather Bailey colours are just divine. My vow to not buy any material was broken within about 3 seconds. Seriously how could I not.

Thank you Amy for showing me around - I dont know how you resist not going home with new stuff every night.

Happy Australia Day

2011-01-26T20:03:00.000+11:00

How did you spend your Australia Day?

the auction has finished

2011-01-25T08:54:00.000+11:00

My auction for the Queensland Flood Appeal has now closed and I can I tell you I was blown away be each and every bid received (and to think I thought there might be no bids - need to work on my confidence I think).

I want to say a whopping thank you to everyone who bid - for their wonderful generosity - Anna, Three Dancing Magpies, Taylor Made, Sharon, Posie Patchwork, Christine, 5oh19, Melanie, Rachael and Vanessa. But there can only be one winner and that person is:

JAN with a humungous bid of $130

Thank you so much Jan - you are a complete star.

Now to the business of donating - your payment should be made into the Premier's Disaster Relief Fund. If payment is made by Credit Card, a receipt will be emailed to you - this email should then be forwarded to me. Alternatively if payment is made by internet bank deposit transfer, you can save a pdf file at the time of making the transfer and forward that instead. My email address is mooandboo1@optusnet.com.au - and Jan dont forget to include your mailing address so I can send the goodies out to you.

I must also give a huge shout out to Toni at Make it Perfect - our wonderful organiser - thank you so much, what a fantastic effort you have put in.

Dont forget if you missed out on this auction or any other there are still lots of raffles going on, dont miss out.

point and shoot: clifton gardens beach

2011-01-24T15:06:00.000+11:00

Sunday 23 January 2011 . 11.30am . Clifton Gardens Beach

Clifton Gardens beach is rapidly becoming my absolute favourite beach in Sydney. It is just picture perfect, with no surf (just how I like it and great the for the wee kid) and a great playground just behind where I am standing. I have been there 3 times in the past seven days and have realised that swimming in the sea is really one of my all time favourite things to do. And just to keep my beach addiction going - I am planning to spend Australia Day there too.

Ahhhhhh sublime.

More point and shoot over at the lovely Fat Mum Slims.

mmmmm biscuits

2011-01-19T16:38:00.000+11:00

The kid was a wee bit jealous of the auction bag of goodies I have made up, especially when told she could not play with them. She was particularly taken with the little biscuits in the bag so I decided to "bake" up her own little batch to play with (and yes there were originally 6, the monkey has lost one already).

I had tried to explain to her about why I was making stuff for an auction (in very simple terms obviously) and it was pretty sweet when she saw me making the above cookies and asked very earnestly "are they for the little girl with rain in her house?".

point and shoot: excited and nervous

2011-01-17T14:11:00.000+11:00

Monday 17 January . 8.30am . Outside our house

Ellie started her new daycare today. The kid is certainly not a newbie to daycare, in fact she is almost a veteran - since the age of 10months she attended a great daycare in the Sydney CBD and was very comfortable there. But when a place came available for her at a local community centre, I jumped at it. To be honest the number one reason for the change was money - the city school was crippling me financially and I have watched my precious savings whittled away. There are lots of other benefits for the move - she no longer has to commute, she will probably end up going to school with the new friends rather than never seeing them again and if Im sick I dont have to do a 1.5 hour round trip twice just to spend the day in bed.

The picture above is her excited to be going to her new school, but I knew it was not going to be plain sailing. She was quite upset to see me go and I have to say I have been way more nervous and upset myself this time around (at 10 months old - we both seemed to take it much more in our stride).

Well it is 2pm and I am seriously fighting the urge to go and get her (I am on holiday this week for just this reason) - especially as they have already rung me to tell me she got bit by a mossie and her hand swelled up (but she is fine now).

More point and shoot can be found over at FatMumSlims.

Auction for Queensland Flood Appeal

2011-01-16T22:32:00.000+11:00

So many wonderful people are auctioning goods for the Queensland Flood Appeal - such a great thing to see - the entire list of auctions can be found here.

In the meantime here is my auction - it is a mini toy shopping bag, but wait there is more, inside the shopping bag are some felt food goodies including 4 strawberries, 6 iced biscuits, 4 mini macaroons, a yummy cake and an apple. Oh and a little gingham table cloth to lay out the picnic for your dollies or teddies.

I have listed the standard auction rules - I do so hope this appeals to someone out there and dont forget what a blooming good cause it is too.

ow this auction works:
1. Bidding will start at $20 (Australian).
2. You can place a bid by leaving a comment on this blog post with your bid amount and email address. Please make sure that your bid is higher than the previous bidder.
3. Your bid must be in whole dollar increments.
4. This auction is open to everyone. Postage is FREE.
5. The auction begins NOW and will END at midnight on Monday 24th January 2011.

6 At the close of the auction, I will contact the winners (please make sure your bid comment includes your email address). The winners will pay the winning amount directly into the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal and send me proof of payment via email. Once proof of payment has been received, I will post your mini picnic to bag and food to you
7. Thankyou for participating and happy bidding!

embroidered effects

2011-01-15T18:42:00.000+11:00

I was lucky enough to get this gorgeous book for Christmas by the well talented Jenny Hart. When I say I got it for Christmas, I mean I went out and bought it, wrapped it myself and pretended to the kid that Santa had brought it all the way from the North Pole.

Who cares how it got here - its fantastic and I decided to dive right in at the beginning and make the sampler. So I am officially off the starting blocks and have my first finished object for 2011- just need to keep my eye open down the op shop for suitable frame.

home holiday

2011-01-14T18:52:00.001+11:00

I have 3 weeks off work. Woo hoo you say, good for you. The first week Ellie is at home with me and then the following 2 weeks I have just to myself whilst I transition the kid into her new daycare. All sounds pretty good huh?

But you know what I approached the first week with some trepidation. A solid nine days with Ellie quite frankly scared the hell out of me, I haven't spent this much time with her in over two years and the honest truth is I find this mother thing a bit hard.....a lot of the time. I wish I was more relaxed, had a heap more patience and was a LOT less shouty - but sometimes whole weekends seem to pass in snappiness.

So nine days, just me and a feisty red head stretched ahead of me, very, very ominously.

I couldnt really afford to go away for a holiday (especially if I want to head to the UK later this year) so I decided to make this a home holiday. I have filled the week with trips to the zoo and the beach, catching up with her friends and my friends, doing new things like bowling and the kid's first visit to the movies. And you know what - here we are with only 2 days left of our home holiday and I have had so much fun that I am now really sad that it is nearly over.

Funny how things turn out sometimes.

A bloody good cause

2011-01-12T18:13:00.001+11:00

Like all of you I am totally shocked by the goings on in Queensland - total devastation. My heart and hope goes out to everyone caught up in this disaster.

Obviously I want to help out in a way I can and will be joining in the Flood Appeal Auctions being organised by Toni at Make It Perfect.

There is a hint of what will be put up for auction hanging over my sewing machine - please do come back and bid - I dont normally sell my creations, usually I just make stuff for the kid and friends so am a wee bit nervous - but it is for a bloody good cause - so I am sure one of you gorgeous people will buy it.

Will put the finished object up in a few days.

Keep safe lovely people.

what about me?

2011-01-11T08:53:00.003+11:00

So I made a list of fun things to try and do this year with the kid but (in my best Shannon Noll voice) - What about me?. So with no further fanfare here are some things that are just for me and would make ME happy in 2011 - hope I manage to tick them all off:
1. Do all the fun stuff on the kids list (see I get double fun)
2. Have a massage
3. Go on 3 walks from my Sydney's Best Harbour & Coastal Walks
4. Go to the theatre
5. Go to the movies - NOT a kids movie
6. Go on 3 cycle rides from Cycling Sydney book
7. Mathildas market
8. Have a facial
9. Finders Keepers market
10. Rozelle market
~~11. Go to the cricket~~ - Ashes Jan 2011

Point and Shoot: Engerlund, Engerlund, Engerlund

2011-01-10T07:45:00.000+11:00

Friday 7 January . 5.30pm . Martin Place

So I was on a bit of an Ashes win high and the kid didnt need much encouragement to wave a Pommy flag up a major thoroughfare in the middle of Sydney - though if you asked Ellie she is quite clear, she is an Australian.

Mind you the kid didnt get to go out to the SCG like moi - and boy was it fun. Whilst I like the odd bit of cricket, I am certainly not a die hard fan - you know what I love - the crowd, the atmosphere, the pulling for your team (win or lose), the spectacle, and the all round general buzz you get from these events.

The barmy army didnt disappoint and had me in stitches, I loved that everyone (regardless of who they supported) wore pink on Wednesday to support The McGrath Foundation, and obviously I loved that England won - I will always be a Pommy.

I am joining in Chantelle's Point and Shoot this week.