Whilst in town today we popped into the vintage market at the Carlton Hotel.  I haven’t been there since it’s reno but it still bought back lots of hazy memories of long nights and late / early mornings……  did score this dress which has the added bonus of buttons up the front for next year’s dairy days..

I was lucky enough to have a cuppa on Friday with lots of lovely ladies at Nikki’s morning tea.  Bloody great to meet some bloggers in person.  To be honest lately I have done more real-life crafty catch ups than the online variety so it was very special to meet some new people and be inspired to trawl around in cyberland.  See you all there.

And here is Humpty Lumpty - this is the name the girls have decided on for this little one until they get here in december

They came with us to the scan and they are very excited. We are now almost 16 weeks and my belly is getting lots of attention.

not the NGV - as I found out after I waited in line with all the other very keen Dali-heads for about …..half an hour!!!!  Nevermind, we got there, the kids got to do some dali-stuff while I waited in line:

I love living in Melbourne - and it’s nice to be home long enough on the weekends to enjoy it.  And Damage cooked tea on Saturday night - he conceptualised, he hunted and gathered and he executed - chicken casseroley thingy - yum, all the better because I didn’t have to lift a finger….  But then, he did spend half of our sunday listening to the footy via his phone.  Which gave me the shits and I behaved like a child.  Then he composted the garden so I stopped being a spoilt brat and made some pumpkin soup. Which was yum. And a chocolate self saucing pudding.  Which was also yum.  I’m off to have some soup.

gosh I feel better about monging in front of the tele when I am doing something as I watch / listen.  CSI is losing me slowly but these have kept me in front of Katherine, Jim, Nick and of course Horatio and co.

And have embarked on another epic (for me) adventure with the needles which made it all ok to have (don’t tell anyone) Brothers and Sisters on.  It took me a while to work out how to cast on (my mum did it for me last time) - i love this wool, its so busy it doesn’t matter how not very neat you are….

Signature Prints is having a sale pop-up style - 4 days only

This Thursday 18th June 2009 - Sunday 21st June 2009

10am - 6pm

Shop 11, 71 Merchant Street, Victoria Harbour, Docklands

see their website for more details: http://signatureprints.com.au/index.htm

Between the farmers market on the weekend and the queen vic this morning, I have enough fresh fruit and veg to open my own shop. But this is what I went for instead this arvo……

What would you have done??  After all, you can’t make friends with salad…….

I feel like we have been FLAT CHAT.  My niece was staying with us all last week and we had a weekend away to my hometown.  It was busy - we did fit in a trip over the river to non-swineflu land and the Farmers Market - it was awesome!!!!  I go to the Queen Vic for all my fresh produce but have been to the collingwood cf farmers market and will have to hunt down a few more.   SOOOOOOO FRESHHH - I was in heaven.

Anyhow, after only two days in the country, I was feeling claustrophobic and thought a day at home in melbourne would be what we all needed.  So we fled back to melb on sunday and yesterday we had a lazy late breaky at home and a bit of a tidy up.  Me and ladedah were in our pj’s until after lunch.  Damage took the girls to the park, I went for a walk after being inspired by Pip last week and we capped it off with a drink at local cafe.   Damage even cooked tea!!  Rested, feels better.

Although it’s been a while, I have been keeping up menu planning and things have been ticking over in the sewing room…

finished 9 patch quilt - this sprinted out of the blocks but took its time getting around the course:

 Princess dress - my kids are petite and many of our dress ups don’t fit the girl’s friends.  

Knitting - three years ago, I started a scarf in that dreaded feather yarn - it took me two years to finish, is totally uneven with a few holes and left some serious dents in my knitting confidence.  When my Mum was here recently, I thought I’d give it another go - (this wool from spotlight, I have just used plain stitch but the wool makes it interesting.)  Finished.  In much less time than my last tragic effort.

And finally, Judy at Perle 8’s spent some time and patience recently and guided me into the land of granny squares.  Haven’t had the time to get obsessed but I can see why people are ‘hooked’….

Hopefully this arvo, will get some more time to hang out with the janomes.

After reading Handmade Nation, I am inspired to try to make as many birthday gifts as I can.  You can too.  Got any old, scratched cds lying around? Turn them into coasters. These ones were a gift for a friend. I had bought some for my sister many years ago and always wanted to give them a go. I used flannelette for the top cover and double layered felt (fused with visofix) for the base. Blanket stitch around the base edge should keep it secure.

I made these for the kinder fete last month. This recipe is taken directly from taste.com.au - I have only recently discovered this site but what a minefield - especially handy if you get given a bunch of something and Stephanie’s suggestions dont float your boat.