I have moved

A change is as good as a holiday!  In order to combat my blogging drought, I've moved over here for a fresh start.

Come and join me!

Footy fever

I am well and truly afflicted with footy finals fever and just had to say....

GO SWANS!





Here's hoping for a good game tonight (and a win too!).  Also, congrats to Adam Goodes on his 300th game.  What a legend!

It's a boy!

So all is well here in the real world.  We just had our 19 week scan and found out we are having a boy!  The clothes shopping has now well and truly begun.

I am going to make some baby pants from this cool pattern and I just bought this book so I'm hoping this means the sewing bug has returned.

Does anyone know of any other cute baby boy sewing patterns?

Back on the wagon

Look, I made something!  Finally!  It took all of 30 minutes but I still got my lovely and neglected sewing machine out and gave her a whirl.

This cute little pencil holder is for a friend's little girl who is about to turn 2.  I think it's super cute and it makes me want to colour in.  I really loved to colour in.  It also makes me want to go back to Japan and buy some more fabric!

Maybe this means I'm back into sewing again.  Or maybe not.  I guess we'll have to wait and see....

A cupcake

With today being a typically horrible Melbourne Winter day I decided I might treat myself to a cupcake at lunchtime.  They have them at South Melbourne markets and I always eye them off but I never get one.  Never ever.  I am generally pretty good with not eating sugary, not-so-healthy foods but every now and then you have to have a treat, right?  Well...I got my lovely cupcake paid the lovely lady and started to walk away.  And then I dropped my lovely cupcake right on the ground!  At the markets.  On the dirty floor.  I very nearly cried.  I did in fact squeal.  I threw the lovely uneaten cupcake in the bin and then went back to work without a cupcake realizing that it just wasn't meant to be  went and bought another lovely cupcake feeling just a little bit silly.  The lovely lady told me, "there's always the 10 second rule".  Ummm...not when you're pregnant.  And not off the dirty floor of the markets.

Anyway, my cupcake was delicious.

The reason I've been MIA...

...is because I am almost 14 weeks pregnant.  Hooray!

So I have been feeling very tired and uninspired to craft / blog for the past couple of months.  I'm hoping I get some energy and inspiration back soon because I am really looking forward to crafting up some baby things.

And to answer the questions that everybody asks:

1.  I am due on Feb 1
2.  I haven't had much morning sickness at all - lucky me!
3.  Yes, we are going to find out the gender of the baby at the next scan

Hope everyone is doing well and I'll try and not be a stranger :)

another break in transmission

...and now here's a lazy attempt at a post.

Enjoy, and happy Friday!

it's a plus

By keso

Are you on Google Plus yet?  Do you know what Google Plus is?  Do you really not care?

I got an invite this week and have been playing around with it.  I really think it has the potential to rival Facebook in the social networking stakes.  They have clearly thought about what people want, and have carefully crafted solutions to some of Facebook's problems.  I like that you can group people into circles and easily share information only with the people you want to.  I like the idea of the video chat (although I am yet to try it out).

What do you think?  Do you think Facebook should be shaking in their boots?

(P.S If you want a Google plus invite just let me know your email address and I'll send you one over.  It is a bit quiet over there...)

whilst we're talking about brooches

...and we were, right?

My brooch fascination only started about 12 months ago and I really don't have that many in my collection at this stage.  But I do think they are wonderful and lovely and I must have more!

So...here is another of my favourite brooches (I promise my whole brooch collection is not cat related!)



This one is particularly special because of how I came to buy it.  I got it in Kyoto, Japan last year on my wedding anniversary.  My husband and I were wandering through the streets looking at all of the amazing pottery stores (and I was trying very hard not to buy big breakable things to bring home).  We found this little shop where a lady was handmaking and painting these cat brooches and selling them for 300 yen!  That was about $4.50 at the time!  Sheesh!  So I couldn't pass up such a bargain of course and have been proudly wearing it ever since.

Winter blues

I am sick of Winter and Winter clothes already!  I always feel grumpy and I don't want to go outside because I hate being cold.

The only thing making my Winter wardrobe slightly more bearable (how many more layers can I possibly wear?!) are my brooches.  I find them a cute and fun way to spice up my Winter layers of black, black, and more black.  This is one of my favourites.  Cute huh?

a mexican inspired weekend

After hearing the lovely Pip talk about it on Friday, I headed out and bought Mexican Food Made Simple by Thomasina Miers.  I had already been planning on making tacos for dinner on the weekend and was feeling a little uninspired by our usual taco fillings.

So...what followed was a Mexican inspired feast of a weekend.  We had stuffed potatoes with a yummy salsa for dinner on Friday night.



On Saturday night I went all out and made the Piccadillo, guacamole and red rice to fill tacos and tortillas.  And of course there was plenty leftover so it was also lunch on Sunday.  If I was smarter I would've taken some pictures.  You'll just have to trust me when I say that it was delicious and I am very much looking forward to trying out the other recipes.

I hope your weekend was as delicious as mine.  Did you cook anything yum?

butter wouldn't melt

He's been a real pain in the behind for the past couple of weeks, but gosh he's cute!



Don't you think?

not-so-lazy daisy

Wow, I am so looking forward to the weekend!  That seems to be all I ever talk about!  I guess it just proves that we should have more than 1 weekend a week.  What do you think?

Last weekend I was full of good intent but ended up being full of laziness.  It was good because it was needed but this weekend I really feel like I might get some things done.  Get some sewing done.  I really miss the whirr of my little machine and the happy mess I make whilst sewing.  It's been too long!

Tonight, I am off to see this lovely man in action.  Can't wait!

being a good sport

This is particularly relevant after the game I went to yesterday.  Sydney Swans (my team!) lost to Carlton by 34 points after a slight improvement in the last quarter.

Now I don't want to go on and on about the game, but I would like to talk about good sportsmanship.  Everyone wants their team to win but it just ain't gonna happen every round.  So you do what a good fan does and come back next week ready to cheer and hope for the best.  You might get a bit cranky, but you still cheer your team on until the end of the game.  And if you win you celebrate, sure.  You might gloat a little.  But I really don't think you need to be mean about it.  I don't think you need to boo the other team (whom you are beating by quite a lot) every time they take a shot on goal (and then laugh if they miss).  I don't think you should laugh when your child says things like, "haha, suck it! You guys are suckers!" and "No one's ever gonna beat us!" for the entire game.  I think there is such a thing as being a good winner.  And a good looser.

Do you agree, or am I just being overly sensitive?

Wow, I am so lazy

Hi there.  Remember me?  Yes, I am the incredibly lazy one that hasn't been around for awhile.  I have no excuse.  May I be excused?

So, what's been happening?  I have had a few very busy weekends visiting friends and having friends visit.  It's been wonderful but I am very much looking forward to a lazy weekend (see how lazy I am?).  I might even manage to fit in some sewing.  Hopefully.

Here's hoping you have a wonderful weekend too, and I will try and not be so lazy next week :)

Not quite a superhero

Well I certainly haven't felt much like a superhero this week, but last weekend I looked like one!  We had a great time visiting our family and celebrating my sister's 21st birthday.  It was so great to have the whole family together as it doesn't happen very often (I have 4 sisters!).  It was also great to see the creativity in everyone's costumes!  My youngest sisters were the most creative - going as the Hulk and a blue powerpuff girl (in the pic with me).

This weekend we're off to spend time with our other family - our fantastic and much loved friends in Brisbane.  I can't wait!  

my creative space

My cowl is finally done!  I'm wearing it today and it definitely passes the test - very comfy and warm!  I'm thinking I may have to make another in a different colour.




That means I have officially finished everything I am currently working on.  Wow, who can believe it?

The plan now is to start sewing myself a shirt (fingers crossed!).  Pattern is purchased and fabric is washed and ready to go.  Now I just have to find some time...

More creative spaces over here

today is all about cute

How cute are my new teapot and tea cup?  I think they are the cutest!  Sometimes our days just need cute things, don't you think?  You will also note that they are both Japanese.  They sure know how to do cute!  I also like how you can see my reflection in the teapot in this picture.

Simple things, people! Simple things.

my creative space

Look, I'll be honest - I've been knitting this for a while now.  It's a cowl and I'm sure taking my time with it.  I just hope I have it done before Winter is over!  To be fair, I have had a few other crafty endeavours going on at the same time.

In other good crafty news, I have finished my sister's quilt over a week BEFORE her birthday. My goodness, I am amazing!  Pictures to come after I have given it to her.

Check out some more crafty loveliness over here

autumn

Autumn is most certainly here!



Whilst I don't particularly enjoy the cool weather, it sure is pretty isn't it?  After having lived in Brisbane for a few years I really notice this season more than any other here in Melbourne (okay, maybe I notice Winter more but that's only because I'm freezing!).

Plus, I do enjoy wearing boots!