Tutorial - Shortening a Too Big Bedspread

The intention this weekend was to go to a place called Carribean Gardens and since we are looking for car #2, which will eventually become Miss M's car, we were going on a few test drives. HOWEVER, neither was to be. It rained most weekend and looks to do the same this whole weak. Today is the last official day of summer :( and the cooler days and darker nights are fast approaching. Anyway, so we had to fill our weekend with other things. Out with the sewing machine!

I bought a bedspread for Miss M's room from a recent trip to Ikea, but unfortunately it's much too big for her King Single bed. The smaller size would have been too small, so it was out with the sewing machine to make it fit the way I wanted it to.

The bedspread was 250 x 250cm. A double duvet/cover in Australia is 210 x 180cm and that meant that all the excess fabric was trailing on the floor. I left the length at 25ocm, and made the width 200cm. Here's how;

I measured in 50cm from the hem...

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The hem around the bedspread was 2cm and I wanted it to match, so I made a second mark 4cm from the 50cm markings (the original hem in this pic is on the right)...

cut the fabric along the 2nd marking line...

then folded a double hem of 2cm each before pinning in place...

I then ironed the hem flat before sewing in place.

Finishing off. See how the threads are on either side of the fabric?

Tug one of the threads against the sewing direction. One will give easier than the other, until there is a little loop...

Insert a needle and pull the thread to the same side as the other, knot and cut off the excess. Then do the same on the other end.

Perfect! And I have plenty excess fabric to make a separate cushion cover.

Robyn x

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My Little Turtle

I have enrolled my 2 children into an Aussie institution. Swimming. Today my little man, kicked his legs off, floated like the tupperware lids in the sink, and was even dunked underwater by the instructor to swim back to the side. All with high 5's encouragement.

 They did start lessons in the UK, but it didn't last very long, and that was my fault if I'm completely honest. Having to leave a warm cosy house - and that was just in the summer! - take off 6 layers of clothing for a half hour in the pool just became too much of a schlepp.

I've been swimming since as long as I can't even remember, so thought it was important for my 2 as well. Growing up in South Africa with warm weather and nearly every household having a pool in the backyard, how could you not learn? However, the UK just doesn't have a swimming culture. There aren't outside pool parties, pools in your friends back gardens, or even a warm sea when visiting any of the UK's coastal waters. No, you have to go abroad for all that.

But now we are in the same environment as South Africa. The warm hot sun, the pool parties, the neighbours with pools, the warmer seas. So it's back to the basics of re-learning everything all over again with them.

And after today's 2nd lesson, Master T has declared that he likes it. Just as well, because there's no getting out of it this time.

Have a great weekend!

Saved

Robyn x

Mmmm...Banana & Cinnamon Muffins

 Ah man, if only you could be here right now. There is nothing quite like the smell, or taste, of something freshly baked straight out of the oven. The way the smell just hits you as soon as you open the oven door. Just as well I don't work at a bakery!

And these were so easy to make. I have a few variations but I prefer recipes that use simple ingredients that I already have in my store cupboard. So with some bananas that have now gone too soft for anybody in this family's liking, it just made perfect sense for me to bake something!

Time for a cuppa, me thinks!

Robyn x

 Banana & Cinnamon Muffins:

2 cups self-raising flour
1/3 cup plain flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup mashed banana
2 eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, extra


1. Preheat oven to 200C/180C fan forced.
2. Sift flours, cinnamon, bicarb and sugar into a large bowl; stir in banana then combined eggs, buttermilk and oil.
3. Spoon the mixture into paper cases.
4. Bake for about 20 mins.
5. Let the muffins cool in the muffin tray for about 5 mins before turning out to cool on a wire rack.
 6. Eat as is, or cut the muffin in half and spread a layer of margarine or butter.

Enjoy!!
 

Kinder Duty

Yes. Me. Kinder duty. Who would have thought? Master T's kinder like parents to volunteer up to 3 times a term for kinder duty. Today was mine. I have to admit I was both excited and dreading it.

Exciting because I would get to see just what went on in there after I had dropped the little man off. Dreading it, because I love peace and quiet. I don't get a lot of it. So I try and treasure the time I do have on my own. I could think of nothing worse than listening to 27 4-year olds for 3 and a half hours. So a fly on the wall I became taking - of course - special notice to see how my own child was doing in this brand new environment with a whole bunch of new friends.

But I'm writing this which proves I made it through those hours! And you know what? It wasn't bad at all! I did an activity with all 27 of them in groups of 4. I helped paint a tree, opened difficult wrappers at snack time, re-sealed hat bags, handed out birthday cake, wiped down glue sticky tables, swept the floor, made tea and coffee and came home shattered.

And the kids? Not one scream, not one cry, not one shout, no-one running around and everyone doing as they were told. They were little angels! Hats off to Amanda and Wendy who have got all the kids well trained, making sure they always use their manners, sitting quietly during story time, and co-ordinating everything so seamlessly.

Unfortunately, numpty here forgot to take her camera, hence the lack of pcitures. Next time though. Promise.

I look forward to kinder duty part 2 next month. I think.

Robyn x

My Very Own Junior Masterchef

The last couple of weeks in my life have been a little hectic. Schools are back after a 7 weeks summer holiday and Master T is finally had a full kinder hours week. This week I have also enrolled both the kids into swimming lessons and Miss M is to re-start Kumon after a 5 month break since she finished in the UK.

I STILL haven't gotten into any kind of proper routine. I know I should be preparing lunches and snacks the night before, but if I'm honest, by the end of the day I'm just too knackered. So it's a big rush in the morning to get it all done before the early starts. Do I learn from it? Hell no!

Enter Miss M. Ok, so she's not making the lunches yet. However she is more than happy/keen to do dinners. There's nothing I don't like more than having to prepare a meal for my family when I just couldn't be bothered. Please tell me I'm not the only who thinks this?

So Miss M offered to make it last night. There was no way I was going to say no. I had taken chicken out to defrost - just didn't have any idea what I was going to do with it. So while I sat back and read for a while, and Mr C and Master T were doing what they were doing, Miss M was slaving away in the kitchen.

The result? This very appetising Chicken and Bacon salad. Right up my street!! Simple, tasty, filling and one of my all time favourites. There were a few things missing I would normally add - avo, feta and mixed seeds, but we're out of stock of those at the moment.

Doesn't food just taste SO much better when someone else has prepared it?


Robyn x

ps I know the photo's are terrible - they were done in a hurry on a point & shoot

Pretty Packaging

We have a brilliant vintage shop in our village and Bev has everything vintagy. Clothes, shoes, accessories, furniture and loads more. And I mean REAL vintage items. None of this knock-off nonsense. It's a choc-a-bloc full shop which would make any vintage lover hyperventilate!

A lot of things caught my eye, as they always do, but I kept being drawn back to this bit of fabric (which was housed in one of those really old wooden X-framed and fabric knitting baskets). So for a mere $5, the heart print came home with me. But not before having a long chat with Bev about what I had planned for it.

But it was the way my purchase was handed back to me, that left me very pleasantly surprised. Instead of a paper bag I got it all wrapped up in some pretty floral wrapping paper. When last did you purchase something that was packaged like a gift?

Robyn x

Happy Valentines Day

I managed to get my little Valentines project finished in record time over the weekend and Master T trotted happily off to kinder this morning with a gift bag full of something for his mates.

As I said on Friday it isn't anything like some of the blogs I follow, but it did inspire to me to a little something.

I made a batch load of heart-shaped biscuits, sprinkled some icing sugar over them and popped them into some cello bags.

Then sealed them with a bit of ribbon and the handmade card hearts I made on Friday afternoon.

And that's it. Something really simple, which I thoroughly enjoyed making and they went down pretty well too!

Oh and the tray? A thrift find which is currently going through a transformation, but will share all in another post. When it's finished.

Wishing you all a very special and loving Valentine's Day!

Robyn x

Little Valentine

So eeeeveryone is doing something for Valentines day out in the land of Blog, and so I thought I'd put in my few cents worth. We aren't big on Valentines generally but thought I would do something for Master T's new kinder friends. Nothing fancy, just a token something.

Here's the start. Some red scrapbook paper, a cookie cutter and lots of cutting out. My craft supplies are nearly non existent so I have to still do things the old fashioned way. Well the weather was lousy and I had ironing nothing to do.

I haven't crafted since Master T was born and probably a bit before then, but I really enjoyed myself. However, I had forgotten that being in the same position for a certain amount of time also relates to a stiff neck. And I hadn't finished with these yet either.

I know this is a really bad picture - sorry - but more sore neck later I had hand written on all 30-something hearts - both back and front.

I'm still not finished with these yet, and have done the baking I need to do for now. I will finish all of this over the weekend and show you what I've done on Monday. Don't hold your breathe though, it's nothing as fantastic as I have seen on other blogs!

Now, I'm off to watch BHG and then Twilight. With popcorn. And drinks. And hopefully in peace and quiet!

Have a great weekend!

Robyn x

Laundry Room Shelves

Hi!

The joys of renting. You can't do anything without prior approval. What a bummer. It's not as if I have a 100 plates that I want to display, or paint the walls black. So while I have to ask to knock a nail in the wall or anything else visible, I'm sure no-one will complain if I make a few cheap-and-cheerful changes to neaten this old house.

Laundry room shelving. Yuck! While the outside is painted a box-standard cream, the shelves seemed to have missed the make-over list.

Nothing a rip-out, clean up and a few tools can't solve.

 

Ok, so it's not perfect but you have to admit it looks a lot better! And at least my linen can sit on something nice. Wonder if I can paint the insides white?


Robyn x

Road to Here

Hello!

Well, it seems Australia is really having a bad time of it right now - can we take any more? First the terrible floods in Queensland, then cyclone Yasi and now bush fires in Perth! Surely the "everything happens in three's" is now done? Lets hope so.

We haven't experienced any of these first hand, but this weekend we did get a LOT or rain. In fact a whole months worth in one weekend. So we weren't able to do our usual Sunday outing as playing tourist. So instead, I thought I would post some pictures of gorgeous Melbourne that were taken when Mr C and I came in Feb last year.

When we were planning to move Down Under we didn't know exactly where we were going to settle. Neither of us had been here before, so could only go on what we had seen on tv and from talking to the folk at this expo. Perth was out - too windy and too isolated from the rest of Aus. It was closer to South Africa though! Easy enough to take a trip to the born-and-bred land.

Sydney - nah. We'd heard that is was like Melbourne on Viagra. Not our words! We will go one day as we have friends there and as they've just bought a nice big 5-bed place we know they have room for us!

And besides, Mr C is one of those people who does MAJOR research before doing/buying anything. Not a bad thing. Sometimes. Also this was a massive move. New country. No job to go to. House in UK to sell. New everything for the kids. Literally just pack up and go and hope for the best.

So back to the research. Mr C is a Software Engineer. It was/is on the skills list. It was/is on the CRITICAL skills list and after much researching/foruming (I know that's not a real word!) and more talking and more research, we decided that since Melbourne seemed to have more opportunities in his field (he specialised in defense in the UK - need to be a citizen to do Defense work here), then Melbourne it was.

And then? More research now that we had decided! But this particular research I didn't mind getting fully involved in! Hop on a plane, make that 3 planes, and 2o-something hours later we were here. We arrived at half 8 in the morning and it was already 28 degrees C. Yes!! I like!!

We spent some time in the CBD doing all the touristy things and sussing everything out, hired a car and spent a lot more time doing a lot of driving around looking at the 'burbs with a little note book about what we liked/didn't like. We also went to a LOAD of new housing developments so cast our beady eyes over what we could buy. And I discovered something while looking at those pics earlier which I'm chuffed with, but about that another time.

And after 3 truly glorious weeks without the hip attachments (they stayed behind with the grand folks) Melbourne was definitely the place we wanted to come.

Why do we love Melbourne? The people are soooooo friendly and seem to have all the time in the world to chat. Everyone smiles, even if they don't know you. It's spotless. And just look at these pictures? Old with the new. Traditional mixed with the modern. Lush. There is ALWAYS something going on somewhere. From the markets, to the street entertainment, walks, and if you are feeling fit one day - hop onto a bicycle and see the city differently. There are even horse and carriage rides.

So! When you plan your next holiday, get your butts over here. You won't be disappointed!

Oh, a new tv commercial has given me an idea about how else to show Melbourne, but that will come another time.

Hope you enjoyed the tour! So far.

Robyn x

3 Problems, 1 Screwdriver

Hi all!

Everyone has their own place where they think of all the best ideas! Mine? Lying in bed way after bedtime still wide-awake. Then by the morning it's mostly sometimes forgotten about. Where's a pen and paper when you need one?

So, one of my ground breaking decisions concerned Miss M's bedroom. You know from here it isn't very big. What you didn't see is this.

Shoved underneath is a plastic crate holding her collection of shoes. 
Or this.

Introducing Miss M's wardrobe. She'll kill me if she sees these! Sliding doors, one long shelf and two bolted down set of 80's melamine drawers. Great, lots of storage. But there's a problem. No closet space for shoes. No closet space for longer dress items.

Now that I am not having to play referee in this constant battle between siblings, I thought a bit of work with a screw driver might temporarily solve 3 problems at one, just by removing one of the sets of drawers.

Problem 1 - hanging space solved

Problem 2 - shoe space solved

Problem 3 - bedside table

Yes, I know those handles need changing. I'm onto it. Remember this is a TEMPORARY solution until I find the right bedside table. I quite like this one from Ikea or perhaps I'll get lucky one day thrifting.

The insides of the closet will also be getting a makeover. As soon as I've been to Ikea. As soon as Master T starts kinder on Monday. As soon as I have spare cash.

Have a great weekend!

Robyn x

2 More Sleeps...

 Is it wrong for a parent to be counting down the sleeps until schools back, or is that just me?

It's been a really loooooong, and hot 6 weeks. Despite the days out, the odd few hours trips here and there, it hasn't come without the "I'm sooooo bored, what can I do".

And this is what this week has been all about. Covering and labelling up books, labeling stationary, and putting up hems on startch stiff new school dresses. These have been in every colour wash since we got them a few weeks ago and they still look and feel like cardboard. Glad I don't have to wear them.

Robyn x