Phil and Jack

First Baby Surprise - love it

2011-12-17T22:26:00.000-08:00

I've been out of blogger land..no real reason..but just had to share my first baby surprise jacket..Wonder if Elizabeth Zimmermann way back in 1968 would have ever envisaged how the internet would bring her pattern back to life. I guess Elizabeth was a 'blogger' of her time. I loved the challenge and had to resort to Youtube to solve some problems. Seriously can't wait to make another one. The plan is to keep adding a different colour. Lots of babies on the way so should be interesting. My very first Baby Surprise Jacket is for Noah Francis Lloyd..grandson of my friend Cher..and luck has it I can deliver it personally to Brooke (the mum) in London. Heading off to London very shortly to spend Christmas with Nick and Shannon in London. What a fortunate life I lead.

Presents for Shannon

2011-09-05T11:43:00.000-07:00

I had an excellent flight to London..Business class to Hong Kong..then Premium Economy to London..Sort of spoils you for any future travel that I have to do in Economy. So lovely to be able to stretch out on the flat bed and go to sleep. The very efficient Heathrow Express took me to Paddington and after a short taxi ride, I checked into the New Linden Hotel . Then Shan and Nick turned up...excitement, tears, etc. etc. But I was able to give her the presents in the bag. Besides a skirt and a top from Metalicus, I had made her a cardigan. I loved making it...few challenges..few glasses of red wine..few Sundays sitting in front of the fire...but I did get it finished..and best of all she loved it.

I bought the wool and buttons from Tangled Yarns. Shannon has proudly worn the cardi..on our visit to Suffolk...post to follow.

Not Just Thinking About Holidays

2011-08-22T03:37:00.000-07:00

I have been doing some sewing/knitting as well as planning my holidays..This little skirt was my prize in the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway..which was ages ago now.

And this little vest winged its way over to Elliott in New York.

And this little frock (Daisy Day Dress) from Little Bird Patterns is off to little Clare.

What's in the Bag?

2011-08-22T03:27:00.000-07:00

It all started when Shannon sent me a link to a vest she particularly fancied from Metalicus. Decided I would check it out. Metalicus has a new, smart shop in Queens Plaza and I was lucky enough to be served by the lovely Rachel. We decided on the vest..(so happened her sister lives in Cambridge..as does my Shannon). Thought while I was there and feeling so comfortable with Rachel..why not try on some stuff for myself. Well..what fun that turned out to be..not to mention the dent in my bank account. Absolutely no regrets though. Rachel was just fantastic...and I loved every minute I spent with her trying on things. At no time did I feel pressured to buy..it was a real fun experience.

I even went back the following Sunday and bought some more pieces to go with this and that.

Then, with the incentive of a $50.00 gift voucher, thought I would buy my gorgeous girl something as a surprise...so to cut a long story short that's what's in the bag! Just over a week and I'll be there..I am so excited and can't wait to see my darling girl.

Travel Plans Falling into Place

2011-07-17T00:57:00.000-07:00

I decided today to try and finally sort out accommodation and train journeys for my forthcoming visit with Shannon and Nick. I'm not too adventurous (maybe I'm getting old)..so felt compelled to book trains and accommodation. Shan, Nick and I are all pretty easy about what we do on holidays, but all agree that it must be a 'holiday' as well and not just racing around 'ticking boxes'.

The internet, in one way, makes it easy to do your own travel plans..But on the other side, it provides way too many choices. There are a number of excellent websites that provide an incredible number of options. Most owners respond quickly and it doesn't take long before you find yourself chatting away with Fabio, Walter, Mario, William, Elizabeth, etc. etc.

So accommodation now booked in Spello, Umbria; Menaggio, Lake Como, Venice and Ghent.

After hours of research and emails with Shan, finally booked train tickets today..breathed a sigh of relief...thought I'd done pretty well...but then got an email saying train tickets not confirmed...seems some of the tickets (at the quoted prices) might not be available! Anyway, fingers crossed, all will be fine...and the tickets will arrive via trusty Australia Post before the end of the week.

Our Menaggio house (on Lake Como) was recommended by friends and it looks gorgeous.
www.lakecomoholiday.com. We've got the little house on the bridge.

In Spello, we are staying here: http://www.inurbe.it. We have the flat with the terrace...

In Ghent we are staying on a boat: Bon Vivant on Travellerspoint.

Wonderful, hey..but how easy it would have been just to give dates, budget to the travel agent and let him/her take it from there. And we would have been happy with that.

Another Milo

2011-06-29T00:34:00.000-07:00

Tried as I did to get this one finished in a week or less, I didn't quite suceed, eventhough I indulged in one Saturday afternoon in front of the fire, knitting and enjoying a nice glass of red. This is my second Milo and the first PDF pattern I bought (have bought several since though). The next one I make, hopefully I won't have to unpick any..getting the hang of it and bought some shorter needles today as the next one is much smaller. I didn't notice until I finished it, that the dye lots were different..never mind..just adds to its character.

"When I'm Sixty-Four"

2011-06-26T02:35:00.000-07:00

When I get older, losing my hair

Many years from now

Will you still be sending me a valentine

Birthday greetings, bottle of wine.

I was just turning 20 when this Beatles song was first released in June 1967. Little did I know that when I did turn 64, my much younger work colleagues would all be able to sing along with me to celebrate my birthday. To help with the celebrations, I provided the cake..a beautiful butter cake from the Shingle Inn.

My birthday celebrations (on the actual day - which was a Sunday) started with a yummy breakfast with my sister and family and ended with a long walk through Toohey Forest with Liam and Addy. Roast lamb was on the menu for dinner and Liam had made a beautiful Italian dark cherry tart.

These were the leftovers that I also took to share with my colleagues. It had a lovely light texture and the perfect sweet with which to end my perfect Sunday. To add to my delightful day, Shan and Nick skyped me from France..and you can see what they got up by checking out her blog.

But the celebrations have continued...and today I went with some friends to the Spirit House at Yandina for a sensational lunch. We shared some entrees....this was the pork belly...

And this is the pork belly..all gone:

And the whole fish..bit gruesome for me but Tom said it was delicious.

June seems quite a popular month for birthdays amongst my friends and family..and my other Shannon (from my work) turned 30 a couple of weeks ago. I knew she loves chocolate cake, so chocolate cake I made her. This is a cake I have made lots of times from a very easy recipe which you might like to check out. I doubled the recipe on this occassion and filled it with fresh cream with chocolate icing on the top. Please excuse my dismal attempt at writing...won't be trying that again.

My First Fire for Winter 2011

2011-06-13T01:10:00.000-07:00

What a gorgeous weekend..
Sunday was cool enough that I could justify keeping the fire alight all day!! A rarity here in Brisbane. The house was ever so cosy..just right for knitting, reading papers and a nice glass of red wine. Addy and I did go for big walks through Toohey Forest, though..and I worked on another quilt..photos to follow.
Just to ensure that I didn't become a complete hermit over the weekend, I took myself to a movie today..Angele and Tony A thorougly enjoyable French film set in a fishing village in Normandy. Go see it if you get a chance.

Twirly Skirts and Sherbet Pips

2011-06-13T00:27:00.000-07:00

I just loved Moda's Sherbet Pips by Aneela Hoey from the moment I saw it and just had to buy the range. It has been sitting in my stash for a while..just needed an excuse to put it to use. My work colleage, Ivan and his wife were heading off for a family visit to the north of Scotland. So what better use then to make a little twirly skirt for Ivan's niece, Valia. Ivan and Bernie headed off today with the little skirt in their luggage.

Mastering the Milo

2011-06-01T05:33:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure where I first saw the cute Milo vest..maybe on Tikki Facebook's page..maybe I was checking out Ravelry. But as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to buy the pattern and make one. I have been knitting on and off for years, originally taught by my Aunty Glady when I was about 9..but never have I used circular needles. I had a few mishaps along the way..but after the third attempt, all went smoothly. Lots of lessons were learned and I am sure never to make the same mistakes. So enthusiastic am I to get into circular needles and 'top' down knitting that I intend to enrol in a course at Tangled Yarns. There is a whole other world of creative knitting just waiting for me to discover.

Faux Fur for Homeless Dogs

2011-05-29T02:07:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would share a good deed. My friend at work has made these cosy dog coats for the homeless dogs being cared for by the Animal Welfare League of Queensland. This is the second lot of jackets she had made for the dogs awaiting a new home.

Just a bit of background to the Animal Welfare League:

The Animal Welfare League of Qld takes care of approximately 10,000 strayed and abandoned animals a year throughout South East Queensland. The AWL receives no state or federal government funding, relying predominantly on the community for support. It is through the continued support of the community that we will achieve a brighter future for every companion animal in need. \\

But just couldn't help sharing this gorgeous 'family' photo of my friend's pets..the dogs looking very glam in her creations.

Sew Mama Sew May Giveaway Day - Custom Made Girl's Skirt

2011-05-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

The Sew Mama Sew May Giveaway Day has arrived. This is the first time I've participated in such an event..so should be exciting.

Give Away has now closed...Winner advised shortly

If you would like to win a little girl's skirt (sizes 1 - 8), please leave a comment on my blog. I will email the winner and check on sizing, colour preference, etc. The little skirts above are an example of what I love making.

I am happy to post internationally.

Give Away now Closed..Thanks for coming to look, though.

The Sydney Launch

2011-05-15T01:05:00.000-07:00

I decided just a few weeks prior to pop down to Sydney and surprise Liam on the occasion of the launch of his new book of poems. The launch took place at Glee Books and I am quite sure Liam and his friends got a shock when I wandered up the stairs. Vagabond Books, through the Rare Object Series, have published more than 50 short collections of Australian poetry since 1999 to the present. Liam was fortunate to share the launch of "Career" with Felicity Plunkett's Seastrands. Felicity and Liam read several of their poems and we all shared a nice glass of wine. How special it is to hear poets read their own works, and hear the stories that lead to the poems.

The little anthologies are indeed "Rare Objects" and are all signed and numbered with a limited print run.

The afternoon didn't end with the launch. After a drink and a game of ping pong at a very cute bar up the road from the bookshop, (I didn't play ping pong!)..(photo of Liam and I watching the playing of the ping pong).......

we headed off to the Red Chilli Restaurant. Now that was an experience.

Our cooking pot of very hot (chilli) stock

What we cooked in the pot of very hot stock!

We had quite a feast and the bill for the five of us came to $80.00 (and that included six beers).

One would think that would be enough to celebrate the launch..but no..we headed off to Chocolateria San Churro for a hot chocolate - Spanish style.

Thanks to Libby, Lucy and Elrig for making the afternoon/evening so special (and Liam for being such a fine poet!). Just have to give Shannon's friend, Phoebe a little mention here. She made the fabric necklace I was wearing and I get so many positive comments whenever I wear it. Another talented young person and you should check out her blog.

Finally Finished the Little Skirts

2011-05-03T04:22:00.000-07:00

I was asked ages ago to make some phil and jack skirts for some special little girls, Zoe, Hannah, Sheldon and Chelsea. Other things seemed to interrupt my sewing, like going overseas, finishing a long awaited quilt, getting my sewing room in order (will post some photos of my sewing room, which I am just loving). I love making these little skirts and I ensure that everyone is different. Such fun choosing the fabric and trying the match colours, themes to the particular little girls.

For Zoe and Hannah

For Sheldon and Chelsea

Fabrics included Zoo Babies by Whistler Studios, Riley Blake Rainy Days and Mondays, Riley Blake Sugar and Spice by the Quilterd Fish and Saffron Craig Squiggly Flowers. And to finish off the 'look' I made some brooches to be worn on a plain Tshirt.

What an enjoyable hobby...and more material came in the mail today. Can't wait to get started on some new creations.

Things I Found in the Spring (Autumn) Clean

2011-04-24T23:48:00.000-07:00

I must say I had a wonderful day cleaning out cupboards and drawers which took way longer than it should of as I kept stopping, reading, reminiscing and occasionally shedding a tear. But mostly it was a day full of wonderful memories. This little vest was my first discovery. I remember making it for Shannon whilst I was working in Cairns for two weeks...and amazingly I found this photo of her wearing it. This photo was taken on the occasion of their baptism.

Then I uncovered my dad's "Motorist's Record Book". Dad would write in this book every time...and I mean every time..he bought petrol. It seems to begin in about 1982 when petrol was 40c a litre and I think this coincided with the purchase of the Holden Commodore.

Speaking about Dad, I came across this card Shannon had made for grandad..absolutely priceless find:

In amongst some papers, I found a copy of a creative writing magazine where some of Liam's early writings were ;published:

This post could go on forever..so many forgotten treasures were unearthed..but will finish on this email from Liam which he sent to Shan and I after competing in the Gold Coast Half Marathon in 2004. It bought back memories of the finish of the half marathon and I was feeling pretty weary and was beginning to wonder whether it was all worth while. I suddenly heard Liam calling my name from the stands next to the finishing line. His presence there was totally unexpected. It made me feel like a champion and when I found this email, the memories of that wonderful day came flooding back.

That's it..Time to put the stuff away and get on with the cleaning.

The Finished Quilt

2011-04-24T23:00:00.000-07:00

I have been working on this quilt for Guy for way too long. So set myself a deadline of Easter Sunday to have it finished. Guy, who is three, had graduated to a 'big' bed and needed a quilt to snuggle under in the cooler months. So finish it I did. I used a Kookaburra Cottage pattern, Raspberry Shortcake.

And the fabric was a mixture of Freespirit by David Walker and Traffic Jam by Allison Jane Smith. The spots were from Spotlight. I still have difficulty photographing my quilts and tried hanging them outside..but the light wasn't right. Anyway, decided that any photo is better than no photo:

And just had to share this one of Guy hiding under his quilt...you can his tiny hands peeping out from the top. Needless to say, he was very thrilled and enjoyed counting all the 'matching' squares.

Now to move on to the next quilt...can't wait.

An Easter Treat

2011-04-21T03:49:00.000-07:00

How cute are these? Felicity made these tasty morsels for us today. You can find the recipe here:
They are truly a treat and I highly recommend them. Thanks Felicity for sharing them with us. Shannon and I had a bit of fun photographing these little gems to their best advantage. Apologies to those who missed out on Felicity's treats.

An Unexpected Distraction to Water Falling Down

2011-04-20T04:57:00.000-07:00

On leaving the Art Gallery on our way to the QTC production of Mark Swivel's play, Water Falling Down, we were suddently confronted by this:

Just wonderful watching the little people's reaction to him.

But we had an appointment with a play and couldn't dally any longer. So off to the Cremorne we headed:

Just to add a quote from the brochure:

"Water Falling Down is a powerful new Australian work which explores the complex and fragile relationship between father and son"

"Water Falling Down is a poignant and funny reflection on parenting, love and loss; an intimate and very personal story about fathers and sons"

Great piece of theatre in my opinion. We all agreed it was a rewarding way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Sunday Flowers (a bit late)

2011-04-20T04:25:00.000-07:00

My Sunday afternoon walk through Toohey Forest failed to provide much stimulus for my Sunday flowers post..but I did manage to capture a few gems. The forest, often described as an island in suburbia, is home to hundreds of native plants, the most prominent of which is the grass tree (Xanthorrhoea). Nevertheless, a small white dog and I had a very enjoyable walk.

Back home, I did find a couple of flowers that have graced my garden for more years than I care to remember.

Oh What a Lovely Walk!

2011-04-17T04:05:00.000-07:00

I meet up with a couple of friends on a Wednesday for an energetic walk along the Brisbane River. We meet after work and walk in a set direction for about 30 minutes and then head back. I took my camera along last week to capture the beauty of the Brisbane River.

Jessica's Ella's Pink Lady in the Maritime Museum

Page 105 of WeightWatchers Cook Basics

2011-04-17T03:26:00.000-07:00

Friday night..what should I cook? Well I turned to page 105 of the WeightWatchers Cook Basics new cookbook - Yogurt-marinated lamb skewers with tabouli...sounded good. Had all the ingredients and a bit of a fan of tabouli, decided to give it a go. Well, here's the results:

It was delightful..the Old Gold Bunny was impressed. The plate is part of a dinner service I bought in 1967 and I still love it. The brand is Bidasoa and it was made in Spain. I have done a quick search of the internet, but can't find anything similar, although there is fair amount of "Bidasoa" out there.

The Quilter's Companion

2011-04-16T01:43:00.000-07:00

Addy is the most fantastic quilter's companion...but I do have another one - a Hera marker by Clover

Just wonder who would have invented such a clever, simple tool which has been invaluable in marking out Guy's quilt. Maybe it was Mrs Hera..need to do more research. I bought mine at Peppermint Stitches when I was doing a course there. I thought Christine said "hero" marker..well my hera marker is a bit of a hero in fact.

Easter Bunnys at Work

2011-04-14T03:42:00.000-07:00

Looks like one bunny enjoyed the lunch way too much..Look at that smile!

Couldn't resist taking some photos of these Easter bunnys. My workplace has traditionally given all staff a small gift at Easter and this year we all scored these delightful bunnies. They looked so cheery hanging about on Cathy's desk.

Cabbage Rolls with a Hint of Reminiscing

2011-04-13T04:51:00.000-07:00

Shannon has requested a recipe for Lebanese cabbage rolls (Malfouf) so that she can cook up a feast for some friends. I first watched Shan and Liam's grandmother (Olga) (Morney to her grandchildren) prepare these in my kitchen about 40 years ago. Hunting through some old things, I found this delightful photo of her and her grandchildren..Shan and Liam are the youngest ones:

Olga never used a recipe..it was all in her head. I guess she had learnt from her mother who had fled Lebanon in the early 1900s. Confronted with Shan's request for a 'written recipe', I felt rather daunted as to how to explain the process. You need a very good cabbage..a nice big one..so that that you have lots of lovely leaves in which to roll your mixture. Anyway here goes..my version of Morney's cabbage rolls:

Ingredients:

1 very special cabbage

1 cup rice

1 finely chopped onion

500 grms of minced lamb

salt/pepper

1/2 tspn cinnamon

1/2 tspn allspice

You mix this all together (clean hands particularly good for this)

loads of garlic

lemon juice

Tomatoes

Then the fun begins:

Boil a big pot of water..and plunge the cabbage leaves in until they are soft and pliable.

Cut the leaves into squares (that's why you need a nice big cabbage) and place some mince mixture in the square, fold in the ends and make a neat little parcel.

(Boy I didn't think it was so hard to write a recipe!) Before you do the rolling bit, you need to have another saucepan (if you have one)..and line it with cabbage leaves..this will prevent all sorts of bad things happening. Place the little rolls in the cabbage lined saucepan..pack them quite tightly.

But I have forgotten one extremely important step...you need to place lots and lots and lots of unpeeled cloves of garlic in amongst the cabbage rolls. Don't be timid with this. Top the saucepan up with water..add some salt.

With the tomatoes, scoop out the fleshy bits which you put on top of the rolls. I try to use as many tomatoes as I have people coming to dinner. Another forgotten step...reserve some of the mince mixture and stuff the tomato shells. The stuffed tomatos (with their little cut off tops back on) go on top of the cabbage rolls. (This may have been an "Olga" extra.) Cover with a tight fitting lid and gently simmer for about one hour..then add the lemon juice and simmer for another 30 minutes or so. Remember, just a gentle simmer..you don't want to burn the bottom layers of the cabbage rolls.

If all else fails, check the internet, sure to be hundreds of versions on there. And I can't wait for feedback from Shannon or whoever else dares to follow my recipe. Now I know why celebrity chefs get paid so much money!

Yummo!!

2011-04-12T04:32:00.000-07:00

My commitment to blog and photogragh the meals I cook from the new WW cookbook (Cook Basics) continues. I did cook the Vegetable Pasta Bake on Saturday night but was way too hungry to get out the camera. It was very, very nice. As I tend to do, I launched on the recipe, and realised I didn't have all the ingredients..but being resourceful, used what I had in my pantry. The borlotti beans turned into cannolini beans..and I left out the spinach leaves (didn't have anything to substitute - and felt pretty certain that iceberg lettuce would not quite cut it). But will definitely make that one again. And there are leftovers in the freezer.

It has been years and years since I contemplated cooking (or even eating) sweet and sour chicken. For some reason I was drawn to page 23of my new cookbook. So tonight was the night to put the recipe to the test. Well, I just loved it. My only change to the recipe was the additon of celery which did add a crunch to the texture.

There are so many recipes in the book I want to try. Can't wait.

Sunday Flowers and a Beautiful Autumn Day

2011-04-10T02:44:00.000-07:00

Granny's orchids in full flower:

And some pretty bouganvilla:

A beautiful pink camelia (which I remember buying about 12 years ago)

Another camelia which has been around the garden for years and years and is always forgiving of the lack of care:

And lastly a day lily..beautiful one day..gone the next:

A New CD

2011-04-10T00:53:00.000-07:00

I was listening to the Music Show with Andrew Ford the other Saturday morning and heard an interview with Tim O'Brien. I liked his music and I liked what he had to say. It was an archived interview from the Blue Mountains Folk Festival. Not having bought a new CD for a while, I had no hesitation in checking out Amazons..had a bit of listen to the samples..read a few reviews and clicked on 'pay now'. It arrived on Friday and has been delighting me ever since. Pretty well a 'love it' from the start and that is always a good sign.

Just had to share the blurb on the CD:

" I called some friends together and we played this stuff without a lot of thinking. It felt good doing it - whatever else happens is gravy.

My dad's gone but I see him smiling"

And another little quote:

"Dedicated to the memory of Frank A O'Briend Jr who often said "I have never had bad ham. I've had some that's better than others, but I've never had bad ham"

Bit like life, actually.

You've got to love technology!

2011-04-09T05:22:00.000-07:00

Just enjoying Saturday night at home..listening to some beautiful music..enjoying a nice glass of wine..text message telling me to go to Orange and log in and put in a password and voila...this gorgeous photo of my darling daugher comes up. Here she is sitting in Liberty of London, one of our favourite London haunts. Thanks to Bek for taking the photo.

Weight Watchers @ Work

2011-04-07T05:11:00.000-07:00

I am sure everyone has heard of Weight Watchers..the most successful weight loss program there is. I have been so lucky to have been part of Weight Watchers @ Work conducted at my workplace, the Queensland Teachers' Union. It all came about following an informal conversation with me friend Jann. We are in our second session at work, and eventhough I am a life member and really need not attend, I just love our little sessions on a Thursday. Brian, our leader, from Weight Watchers, has been amazing. I really don't know how he comes up with so many little inspirational tips to keep our little group on track. Anyway, today I said I would photograph my dinner and put it on my blog. Well, I have a favourite at the moment and it is from the Programme Cookbook..Japanese Chicken on sushi rice.

Well I think I need Donna Hay to help me out with my food stylist skills. But it tasted good eventhough I forgot to include the sugar snap peas (I discovered them on the bench later). But I did add some capsicum for colour. I went a bit crazy with my camera then and couldn't resist taking some shots of my seahorses (a gift for my 60th from a my dear friend Ivan). They are on the wall behind my 'photo shoot'.

By then, Addy thought I should include a photo of her.

Isn't she gorgeous?

Parks and a Poem

2011-04-04T02:31:00.000-07:00

Addy's need for a 'wee' break on our drive home from Holmwood forced me to stop at a most delightful park at Walloon. The Henry Lawson Bicentennial Park is home to the moving "Babes of Walloon" memorial which commemorates Henry Lawson's poem about the tragic drowing of two young sisters.

The beautiful poem is even recreated in part on the toilet block:

And to think I would never have discovered this beautiful park if it wasn't for my little dog.

Sunday at Holmwood

2011-04-04T01:34:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, I took a drive in the country to visit my friends, Anne and Gary, who are about to move to their new home on their property at Thornton, about 20 kms from Laidley. Their new home, designed by Gabriel Poole is just about finished.

It looks sensational. Anne's mum (Jessie) is moving to Holmwood with them and has her own little part of the house.

Anne and Gary are growing lavender on the property...and maybe the sign down the road is an indication of what they will turn their little bit of heaven into.

As well as this gorgeous house, Holmwood also features:

a pizza oven!

a swimming hole (or a paddling one at any rate!)

and self-contained accomodation for guests (meaning me!)
Continuing with the lavender theme, I couldn't resist buying them this door mat from Peter Baker Finch at Annerley.

Anne and Gary on the lavender mat:

Me (and nearly Addy) on the lavender mat!

Addy had a wonderful day and rather fancies herself as a farm dog now.

Needless to say, a super day was had by all..and I wish Gary, Anne and Jessie loads of happiness at their new home.

A Quirky Quilt

2011-03-31T17:58:00.000-07:00

My friend, Nicole, is a self-taught quilter and has a real eye for quirky fabics. I love having work colleagues to share my passion for quilting. Nicole made this quilt for a housewarming gift - what a lovely surprise it will be for the lucky recipients.

The quality of the photos don't show the wonderful detail in the fabric...it was the first time Nicole had used an Ipad for her photo shoots!

the quilter's rest

2011-03-29T14:39:00.000-07:00

My friend Anne and I had the absolute pleasure of visiting the quilter's rest on Sunday and Monday. Alan and Marion Lees run this marvellous facility on their stunning property, Tamalba, just outside of Kingaroy. The purpose of our visit was for Anne to buy her new sewing machine. Marion is a distributor for Phaff and Anne couldn't resist this little beauty - an Expression 2.0.

Marion was an excellent tutor and it wasn't long before Anne was confidently working on her quilt. The facilities at the quilter's rest are excellent..lots of big tables, great lighting and views over the property. All very conducive to working on those unfinished projects...which is exactly what I did. I have been working on a quilt for my nieces son, Guy. It has been dragging on for quite a while so I took advantage of the large tables and got it pinned.

So I now have no excuse to get it finished.

There is also a shop on the property..which stocks everything a quilter could need. I couldn't resist this cute little steam iron and ironing mat/cutting board.

The shop is well stocked with a gorgeous range of fabrics.

It was a wonderful mini break made so enjoyable by the wonderful hospitality of Alan and Marion. I can't wait to go back for a weekend retreat with my quilting/sewing friends.

Anne and I reluctantly left on Monday morning to return to work in Brisbane.

No visit to Kingaroy would be complete without a visit to the peanut van!

Granny's Orchids

2011-03-22T04:29:00.000-07:00

My late mum (the Phil of the PhilandJack) would have turned 90 today. She took great pride in her pot of orchids that sat beneath the large tree in her front yard. The orchids always seemed to flower around her and Jack's (the Jack of the PhilandJack) birthdays. I think the original orchid came from a neighbour..but that is a long time ago. The orchids outgrew their pot and with great trepidation (and after reading hints of dividing orchids) I broke them up into smaller pots. My sister has one, my brother has one, and now this one is for Bree. I still have a big pot which is just about to flower. Then it will be time to divide it up again for the other grandchildren.

I hope it remains a living legacy of a much loved mum and grandma.

Cambridge Tabbouli

2010-12-22T08:19:00.000-08:00

Shannon loves the tabbouli I make which happens to be the recipe her Lebanese grandmother used to make. The last time I was here, we bought the bulgur (cracked wheat) but I never got around to making the tabbouli.

This time, I was determined to do a big Lebanese cook up and Shan has invited some friends around to share the meal with us.

Nick and I did the shopping at Sainsbury's yesterday..so today I have had a glorious day in the kitchen. It is really, really cold outside with some snow falling so welcomed an excuse not to venture out.

Now back to the tabbouli..I just happened to check the source of the all the simple products contained in recipe and I was amazed how far some of it has travelled to reach Sainsbury's shelves and finally into the tabbouli. So here goes:

Flat leaf parsley - Grown by P Langdale in Spain
Curley leaf parsley - Grown by J Porras in Spain
Spring Onions - Grown by Jesus Bustamante in Mexico
Mint - Grown by A Rachamin in Israel
Bulgar - (grower not named) but from Turkey
Lemons (grower not named) but from Spain
Olive Oil from Spain
Tomatoes from the Canary Islands

So truly an international dish. But with the weather the UK has been experiencing of late, can't imagine anything could grow here in winter.

To enjoy with the tabbouli, I have made malfouf (cabbage rolls), kibbi, labnah, vine leaves. I will also serve olives, fried hallloumi, falafel and Lebanese bread..and naturally some houmous. For sweets, we have a few Tunisian delicasies we bought in Paris and a home made middle eastern orange cake. I hope everyone enjoys it and Shan doesn't eat all the tabbouli before they come!

Up, Up and Away

2010-12-04T10:11:00.000-08:00

I am currently enjoying Nick and Shan's hospitality in Cambridge. We were meant to be in Paris tonight, but the European weather and Eurostar thwarted our plans. The Ferney family is getting quite a reputation for travel plans going astray..and it would take this whole post to explain all our travel dramas..so I shouldn't be surprised that our trip to Paris has been delayed. Hopefully we will get to Paris on Monday but Nick isn't able to share any time with us there.

The flight over with Qantas was just wonderful I must say. My flight to Brisbane was changed and Qantas picked up the tab for me to stay overnight in Hong Kong. My arrival time in London was unchanged, though. I have to say it is a great way to get to the UK..two day time flights and a night's sleep in a proper bed.

I got the most delightful surprise in London, though. Shannon had previously told me that she was unable to meet me as her boss had set interviews for her all day..so the last person I was expecting to meet me when I walked out was my darling girl. But there she was..running down towards me..all but bowled me over. Tears and hugs followed. Back to Cambridge we came.

Today we checked out the Mill Road Winter Fair. A pretty low key affair but everyong was having a good time..eventhough it was pretty cold. The Brits are a stoic bunch and take to festivals no matter the weather. It never ceases to amaze me..and all the little babies snuggled up in their prams with just their pink little faces showing.

I took Shannon and Nick to lunch at the Backstreet Bistro to celebrate Nick's birthday. Yummy lunch I must say. Off to a little birthday dinner tonight for one of Shan and Nick's friends.

Sewing Frenzy

2010-12-04T09:50:00.000-08:00

I don't seem to have had time to post lately..trying to finish some sewing and get ready for my big trip. ''

A phone call from Qantas putting me on an earlier flight meant I couldn't finish a a couple of projects..a table runner for Shannon and Nick and a wool tunic for Shannon. I did manage to get some little things made though

.
Some Christams overalls for Elliot in New York.

A little skirt for Bella, neice of a work colleague.

My lovely doll wearing a little peasant-style dress.

Castle Peeps!!

Some matching outfits for triplets..

Í've just bought a new camera and really haven't played with it enough..so photos not very good..but I am sure to improve.
t

Finders Keepers and Simply Phoebe

2010-11-09T12:46:00.000-08:00

Despite having lots of projects to finish before I leave on holidays, I took myself off to the Finders' Keeper
market
held in the old museum building at Bowen Hills. I remember fondly taking Liam and Shannon to the old museum on the day it closed..so different to the new museum in South Brisbane. But it is great to see this beautiful building put to good use as the home of the Queensland Youth Orchestra, amongst other things.

But Saturday and Sunday saw it turned into an extraordinary craft market. Shannon's friend Phoebe from Simply Phoebe was there with her fabric necklaces.

Needless to say, I couldn't resist buying a piece for someone special who I knows just loves Phoebe's work.

More Rainy Days

2010-11-02T04:37:00.000-07:00

A friend asked me if I would make a birthday present for a little girl. Naturally Phil and Jack was happy to oblige. I had in my ever expanding stash, the complete range of Rainy Days and Mondays in the cream/lemon/pink tones with the contrasting red dots. So I set about putting together this little skirt.

This I decided to make the little brooch which can be worn on a Tshirt which to coordinate the complete outfit. The stash is not reducing, though, as it is just too easy to continue to buy fabric..there is just so much out there to choose from. Can't wait to get started on my next project..will certainly post photos as I am buying a new camera tomorrow. Up until now I have been relying on a work colleague to help out with the photos. After much deliberation and research, I have decided to buy a Canon G12 as I really want a camera with a viewfinder and that limits the choices. Let's hope it lives up to expectations.

Shannon on a London Bike

2010-11-02T04:13:00.000-07:00

I love this photo of Shannon just about to take a London bike for a spin. She tells me her husband Nick uses a bike everyday to get from the tube to his work. I must admit it all seems a bit scarey to me to cycle around London streets competing with those big buses..and with no helmets. I guess bikes are more acceptable as a legitimate mode of transport in Europe and I am sure Shannon will want to take advantage of a similar bike scheme on a forthcoming trip to Paris. I am pretty sure I won't be joining her. Thanks for the photo, Shan.

Rainy Days and Mondays (and Saturdays, Sundays)

2010-10-12T01:50:00.000-07:00

I just love this little skirt I made from the Riley Blake Rainy Days and Mondays collection. I am having a wonderful time seeking out fabrics and creating stylish and practical clothes for little people. Lots of swirl for twirling around in this little skirt! I love this Little Bird pattern..but being a quilter often get myself in a muddle with inches versus cms. After I finished this little number, I realsed I had the raindrop panels upside down! But do love the umbrellas and the umbrella tops in the waist ands hem bands. What clever fabric designers we have out there. With the weather Brisbane has been experiencing over the last few days, this seemed an appropriate time to highlight my 'rainy days' skirt.

Yet Another Cook Book

2010-10-04T04:29:00.000-07:00

I just couldn't resist buying this beautiful cookbook from the Hummingbird Bakery in London. (I wasn't actually in London - but bought it at bargain price from one of the booksellers that comes to work). Gweneth Paltrow had this to say about the bakery: "The Hummingbird Bakery is a sweet tooth's delight. The cupcakes are legendary and our special occasions are always chock full of Hummingbird goodies."

We had a special morning tea at work on Friday to farewell a couple of folk who were heading back to Toowoomba, so I decided to try out the new cookbook. I made the chocolate cup cakes (patty cakes in my day). The process was a little different to what I have been used to, instead of creaming the butter and sugar, etc. you mixed the flour, sugar and butter together first. I was a bit dubious about how they would turn out. No need to be concerned, they were lovely. This is now going to become my 'go to' cook book when I need to prepare something sweet. All cakes quickly disappeared before I had a chance to snap this very last one.

Sweet Little Dress

2010-09-30T05:04:00.000-07:00

This little dress is a favourite of mine. The fabric is gorgeous Windham Fabric from their 1930s Storybook range. So simple but so effective. Bit hard to see, but it is Little Bo Peep looking for her sheep.

Same but Different

2010-09-30T04:47:00.000-07:00

My very first post related to the quilting course I did with two special friends at Patches. Eventhough the sample quilt involved the same techniques, the course produced very different results..just with the choice of fabrics. I wanted something to tone in with my Laura Ashley blue themed living room and Anne wanted something to suit her newly upholstered lounge which will shortly be moving to the Anne and Gary's new home on their property outside of Laidley.

This is my quilt top. I am very happy with it, despite the fact that on lesson 4, I left all my fabrics at home and had to make a hasty decision to purchase some extra fabrics.

And this is Anne's:

Gorgeous, hey?

I am still awaiting photos from my friend, Liz, who produced a really contemporary looking quilt..

Castle Peeps

2010-09-30T04:25:00.000-07:00

I can't remember when I first saw this gorgeous fabric on Funky Fabrix with the cute name Castle Peeps by Lizzy House. It inspired me to visit their store in Mitchelton. I think they were on special..so just had to have some. With the help of a Little Bird, I've made this very sweet little skirt. Not sure what I'll do with it..but just had to make it. I am continually amazed by the beautiful fabrics available and the creative talents of designers.

Cute Cords for the New York Baby

2010-09-23T05:36:00.000-07:00

I was keen to make a pair of cords for my great nephew in New York. Winter is approaching and he needs to look smart on his many outings to Central Park and coffee in the Village. It is difficult to know about sizes and I have already made him a few things that are too big..so wanted to get these little pants right for this winter. Yet to see if I have succeeded this time. I used a McCall's pattern M601- the medium size.

The green cord and the contrast fabric I found at Spotlight. I am happy with the 'look'.

Check out the Phil & Jack label:

International Craft Swap

2010-09-21T02:07:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to be invited by Bree to participate in an international craft swap. My swap partner was Emily. I noticed that she had a beautiful little daughter so decided to attack my stash and make this little skirt. I used Moda Wonderland fabrics and the pattern came from Little Bird Patterns. I was delighted with the result. Emily sent me some beautiful cards, some lavender from her garden and neat fabric envelope that could be used for a myriad of things. I love getting parcels in the post so was naturally excited when my 'swap' arrived. Thank you Emily and thank you Bree for helping to organise the swap.

Oh What a Lovely Quilt!

2010-09-21T01:36:00.000-07:00

My friend Anne has just finished this beautiful quilt top for her mum who is in her nineties. Not that long ago Anne and I had a lovely day with her friend Noelle who taught us how to hand piece a quilt. I just managed a few samples, but Anne has finished with very special quilt. It was her first attempt at any sort of quilting. She has since done the beginners course at Patches with me and is now quite addicted. On Sunday, I helped her get it ready for machine quilting which she is also going to tackle for the first time. We had a lovely afternoon chatting and pinning and planning our next projects. Anne and I have shared some lovely times together since the birth of our sons 31 years ago. Our boys..taken on the occassion of their 30th birthdays last year.

I am sure her dear mum will be just so surprised to receive such a beautiful gift. And I am so looking forward to lots more quilting afternoons and chats with my very special friend.

You've got Mail!

2010-09-19T23:49:00.000-07:00

I love going to the postbox and finding mail (not bills). Last week this postcard arrived from Shannon..and she said on the back: :Hi Mum.."Saw this postcard and thought of you" Made my day. She went on to say "I just love the tenderness between the two of them." I know exactly what she meant..mother/daughter relationships are special and these days and with email, skype and incredibly cheap phone calls..the special relationship goes on even when you are separated by vast distances. This postcard came from Germany where she and her husband had a super long weekend.

And then this came today:

It seems I've won an annual subscription to Frankie. Shannon will be very excited and I intend to forward them on to her..(will take a couple with me when I go to visit in December).

So thank you Australia Post for delivering my mail!

A 50th Birthday quilt

2010-09-13T20:21:00.000-07:00

I made this quilt for a friend's 50th birthday. I used Japanese fabrics from Sanshi. As usual, I left it all way too late and in the end felt how contestants must feel on Masterchef when they hear "move away from your benches", but for me it was "move away from your sewing machine" It was 12.00 and I was due at the birthday lunch at 12.30. But the guests didn't mind that I had to cut off all the loose threads over a glass of champagne. The quilt was very well received and a surprise for its recipient. Quilts, to me, signifiy warmth, comfort and love..all the things that good friends provide. I can recognise the mishaps in the quilt but not sure its new owner ever will. My next project is a quilt for my niece's little boy. I will keep you posted on its progress.

Quilting Course all Done

2010-09-09T03:26:00.000-07:00

Today, I finished my six week, 'beginners' quilting course at Patches
at Indooroopilly. I have just loved it. Two of my very special friends joined me in this adventure..so that made it all the more enjoyable. The 'sampler' quilt is just about finished..just have to attach the final border. It has been even more enjoyable because I have managed to fit it in during working hours. Felt like a little holiday and even a bit naughty for not being at work. Our little group was so connected, Patches has organised our own class to learn hand and machine quilting with Christine, our inspirational tutor.