I took the potential tiger in our house to the footy for the last qtr a few weekends ago.  We inherited some tickets this week so we set off to see how far through a whole match we could get.  We lasted just into the last quarter.  And, I can’t believe I am saying this, I was ok with having the excuse to leave.  Usually I would stay until the final siren - win or lose.  But 100 points down, and in the middle of a very large flock of stinky pies supporters (actually they were all quite nice as far as collingwood fans go), I was content to pack up our bags when the little one said ‘let’s go home’ for the 10th time.

Sad to see they couldn’t dig deeper for Joel - he deserves a grander send-off.  Did you know they have a mobile TAB van at the MCG - what is the world coming too?   I have such fond memories of Dad taking me to the local footy, pestering him for money to buy a drink or a hotdog, and scouring the crowds for cans to squash onto our feet and clunk around in.  Probably with boys from the central school who I would later in life have massive crushes on but was never brazen enough to do anything about……..

Haven’t had much time to get into the craft zone but here’s the quilt which was off to Japan (I lashed out on a walking foot and although I had no real idea how to work one, it did seem to make a difference to my “in the ditch”-ness - way less bunchy):

And the present for a 5 yr old’s birthday (where a funny thing happened: it was at one of those play centres and was a kinder kid. One of the non-invited kinder kids co-incidently turned up at the centre - this kid had cake with the party and was not at all camera shy when the parents wre trying to take a photo of the birthday girl and her family. Too funny…):

Part of the present was also one of the glittery headbands with a rose.   I really like these tops, I gave them to a few special little ladies last year for christmas.  Ours get wear in winter as well with a long sleeve underneath.

that’s what the last few weeks feel like. buzzing on by. Did get to a few brown owl meets, a couple of ivanhoe quiltoffs, a perle 8 but mostly hanging with the fam. Took Sadia to the last qtr at the MCG to watch the tiges not quite lose to Melb (if you want to dip your foot in at the footy, the ‘g lets you in for free for the last qtr - great option for certain 3 yr olds who don’t concentrate on far away games for that long. We got to sing our song - which she loved.  The other kid is totally converted to dad’s poos and wees so I have to fly the black and yellow flag - I refuse to be outnumbered).  

We also went to Peter and the Wolf played by the Heidleberg Symphony:

Someone had a practice exam - freaky man - it’s ok anti-over schedulers, she only does ballet, she LOVES it and she can opt out whenever she wants.

I got a new neice - two weeks early:

and she got a quickie quilt - which looks like its still on the camera so that will get aired sometime in the next 100 years (I wonder what blogging will look like in 100 years?  perhaps we can just think things and it will go on our blog - that could be very very dangerous….and really quite messy in my case…)

xoxoxo

if you have any pocket money left after the quilt show, the gj’s sale is still on for a couple of days. 25% off all fabric and craft accessories in the patchwork floor. I picked up this lot on friday. The first group is an emergency quilt for my bro who is flying off to Japan later this week and whose bambina is due in a couple of weeks. How exciting!!!

I have been making a few of these for gifts.  We had a mass production session recently.  They are sooo fun (as in the tiaras, not the 5 hours of sewing with kids pestering you - although 5 hours of sewing would be fun if you had someone else to manage each and every want 7 children can come up with).   It was actually a lovely day - an almost guilty pleasure hanging out for the whole day - kids and all.  You can’t do that often or with just anyone.

Follow this link to my attempt at a tutorial - Sequin Tiara - and make one for yourself - or for someone who you think would appreciate some party headwear.  Go on -  “HAVE A CRACK!!”

Had to have the lime papercuts from cookie’s fabric delights yesterday. Have been thinking about new cushions for a while for the couch. Will also do a couple more when I get some of that fancy printing fabric. (Jemima is in the photo as it was the only way I could keep pushy, cranky little person out of the photo.) One of the othersides is this gorgeous vintage curtain fabric - an op shop find from a few months ago.  This is such a quick turnaround for me - the papercuts didn’t even make it to the stash.

Got an impromptu night out with mr last night, lovely relos offered to hang out with the girls.  They also provided some one on one attention for our day in the city on Thursday. 

Puppets at Fed Square, Ferris Wheel and Birrarung Marr park. (this is Gordon - he is staying with us for a week from creche - the kids are keeping a scrapbook of what we get up to with him)

Knowing we would be cooped up in the house today, I took the girls to breaky.  They smoozed a cookie -

Tomorrow, we will have to do something though - we all get a bit frayed around the edges if the girls are left to their own devices for too long……  Happy Rainy Windy days

One of the ladies turned 5 last week - I can’t believe it.  And for 9 months she has been talking about a spotlighting party.  To anyone who has been in the ute for traditional spotlighting: you’ll be relieved to know that she just means looking, not anything more sinister than that.  It was a quiet birthday year this year, last year’s dino party at the museum was ridiculous really so it was a much smaller affair this time. 

So the kids decorated their paper glasses Dame Edna style - Hello Possums - thanks to Nikki for the tip off re the glasses at Riot Art.  They are also at Windmill but I didn’t get there.

We covered our torches with red cellophane (I called the ranger a few days before looking for any intel I could pass on to the kids about the possums we would be looking for.  I explained what we were doing and she said “you do realise it’s against the wildlife protection act to shine any type of light at wildlife??”  Great, there goes the party…..  Anyhow, it turns out if you tint the light with cellophane, it’s not as damaging or disturbing.  Gave the kids something to do - they were soooo excited to have torches out - it was gorgeous.)  We had a quick bite to eat - Planning Queen style:

Then we gaggled off to the gardens in such of something to spotlight:

The kids had soooo much fun running around the park spotting possums.  We were looking for the Powerful Owl but she remained elusive.  Then we walked back home for ice-cream cake:

Thanks to everyone who helped on the night - to Mum for coming down and helping get things organised, Nic for the tea cups and Carmen for the grownup food.  Happy Birthday kiddo:

mental note - take scarf off…..

Saw this while walking the streets on friday night. Big red trailor. Love clever people

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..