I want

This bookshelf from Ikea for my fabric stash and other crafty bits to live in.

Why didn't I decide that when I went there about 3 weeks ago?

Maybe I need to plan another trip, but this time I could even think about something I wanted to make from Ikea fabric and buy some of that while I was there too.

Finished and my 200th Post!

It's been such a busy week, I don't think we've been home in daylight any day this week so I haven't been able to take any pretty photos or actually do anything worth taking a photo of.


I had my 36 week appointment last week with the doctor and little bubbles has now turned around, she was lying transverse for awhile so we thought maybe we'd have to have a c-section... but she's moved into the right spot so now we're just waiting for another few weeks.

During the week I did manage to make the new liners I wanted to make for these baskets. I'm really happy with them now but I'm starting to wonder when my obsession with red is going to end, I think it might be getting a bit out of control. We even have a red pram for the little one (which we are still practicing putting up and down so it doesn't take us 15 minutes every time we want to get out of the car).


Also been baking, as usual. This week we had some carrot cupcakes with maple frosting and some real neinish tarts (not like the pink and brown bakery kind).


I had to steal one of the tarts for afternoon tea on Friday while getting through some paperwork.


This coming week I'm hoping to get most of the hand stitching on my quilt finished. I've been slowing progressing, but I do tend to put it down in favour of other little jobs that I can finish quickly. But time is running out so it's time for a big effort.

We'll see how we go though I've got some fabric and plans for about 4 other 'quick' things to make and I don't know if my attention span can handle it.

And I really should have thought of something more important to say than all of that, because I just realised that this is my 200th post. Yay for me :)

Blind Faith

This wouldn't have been my choice of book to read normally, but G read it while he was over in the UK and made me read it after him.

I think this might be the second Ben Elton book that I've read, I can't really remember though. I wouldn't say that I loved it but it was definitely an enjoyable read and actually quite thought-provoking.

It's about the future where privacy is bad and religion has been distorted to the point where medicine and immunising your kids is bad because if it's God's that you get sick and die than you should let it happen. Everyone has a blog and full time web cam streams to broadcast every detail of their lives to anyone that is interested in looking. Fiction is banned, and everyone has to read self-help books and there are group hug sessions at work and public 'emoting' is normal.

It's easy to read and generally just a light-hearted funny story... but if this is where face-book, blogs and you tube takes us it's also a bit scary.

I love a night away

After our last ante-natal classes yesterday we headed down to Kingscliff on the Tweed Coast for what is most probably our last time away as a family of two. We were actually with a bunch of other family members.. but still, it was probably our last trip without a stroller, port-a-cot, bag full of nappies and everything else we're going to be carrying around with us from now on.

Perfect weather, being on the beach front, fish and chips for dinner and going out for breakfast. It may just have been one night away, but it is so relaxing to get away every now and then.


On Friday night I finally got around to making up this baby blanket. Months ago I bought a few pieces of flannelette at Spotty meaning to bind or back them for the bubba and I'm only just getting around to them now. I backed this white flanelette with some jersey and I think it's kinda pretty. Another 2 to go.


I also bought this grey flannel from Spotlight awhile ago, and I think I want to make some baby clothes with it. But I can't decide whether I should make it into a pair of pants which I'd have to line or maybe a pinafore or maybe a skirt. Big decisions.


Oh and the dress arrived, pretty.

Catching up and a recipe

Tuesday night already. Time really is passing way too quickly. Maybe it's because I seem to be about ready for bed as soon as I get home from the cafe these days.

We had our first day of antenatal classes on Saturday up at the hospital. The sessions were about labouring and physiotherapy and really I don't know that they were that helpful. We watched a few birthing videos and that kind of thing.. but they all showed women in 'the zone' with soothing music in the background whose labour seemed to only last about 5 minutes and they were quiet and strong the whole time. I don't think I'm going to be that zen. Apparently though a gym ball is going to be my best friend in a contraction and that's good to know. I think this Saturday's will be a bit more interesting, it's more about how to care for the baby once you bring it home.

After our classes we called into A Day on Earth, because they were having a closing down sale. We saw a couple of old tables that it would have been great to be able to buy but instead we had to be content with this little birdie, name Lulu, from Tuesday Designs. It will go well with the picture I bought from the same sisters last year.


There were lots of other pretty things to look at as well.. it would be fun to have a shop like this.




In other important news, I caved in a bought the dress from my previous post. It should be here on Thursday, yay! Hope it's as cute in real life as it looks on the internet.

And cause a few people asked for it.. here's the recipe for the custard tarts. It's a Donna Hay recipe, so no big secret.


You need 1 batch of shortcrust pastry. I just used a recipe of my mum's that we always use, but any would be ok. They'd work pretty well with frozen pastry also I think.

And for the filling, you need:

1 cup milk
1 cup cream
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
3 eggs
3 egg yolks, extra
1/2 cup caster sugar
freshly grated nutmeg.

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius. Roll out pastry to 3mm thick and place in the base of 6 x 9cm pie tins. Line with baking paper and fill with pie weights. Bake for 10 minutes, remove the weights and paper and bake for a further 10 minutes until golden. Reduce oven temp to 140 degrees. (I didn't bother baking my pastry blind and I think that may be why mine didn't have quite enough custard filling in them).

Place the milk, cream and vanilla bean in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to the boil, remove from heat and set aside. Whisk together the eggs, egg yolks and sugar until pale and thick. Remove vanilla bean from milk mixture and gradually whisk into the egg mix. Pour into tart cases and sprinkle with nutmeg. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes until just set.

If you have more custard left at the end you can pour it into a ramekin and bake in an oven tray filled with water until the custard sets and then you have baked custard, which was quite yummy too.

I really love..

This little girl's dress.


And I think I want to buy it.

But, the smallest size it comes in is 12 - 18 months so I have no use of it for 12 months. And then we're heading into winter again, so should i buy the next size up? But what if my little bubba is a chubba? Plus there's of course the thought that it's kinda stupid to buy something this far ahead of when you'll be able to use it. And what if the doctor has it wrong and we actually have a little boy. But am I going to be sad if it sells out and I can never buy it again? Like when you find the perfect pair of shoes and they're your size.. then you have to buy them no matter what.

I really want it, I've kept the website open for about 5 days now trying to decide whether or not to buy it.

It's from here.

Will I or won't I?

(I'm thinking about asking my sister's opinion, but that could just be cause I know she'll tell me to buy it).

Online baby shower

There seems to be lots of bloggers out there at the moment who just had or are about to have babies, so I thought it might be a good opportunity for a fun swap. Kind of like an online baby shower, only everyone gets presents.

I thought anyone who is interested can sign up and I'll partner everyone up randomly and you send your partner a little handmade gift for their bubba.

Want to play? Here's how it works.

If you're interested you can let me know by commenting on here or e-mailing me by the 6th of July. A day or two after that I'll let you know who your swap partner is. And because being a new mum must be more busy than I can even imagine, I thought we could give it a nice long deadline and get everyone to try and have there little presents sent off by the end of August.

Let me know if you'd like to join in. If you want you can also leave some details about your little one (if you know any already, for example if it's a boy or girl, or how old they are if they're already born) in case it will help your swap partner.

Looking forward to finding all the new mums or mums-to-be out there.

PIF presents

I received a lovely package in my PO box today, A PIF package from Catherine. I couldn't wait to get home before I opened it up, but it was wrapped so prettily that I had to take a little photo on my phone. Such pretty ribbon.


And look how lucky I was... a notebook, 2 different packs of gift tags, some beautifully printed cards and a pen and pencil from Kikki K. I especially love the notebook and cards.


Freakishly, I nearly bought the yellow pen the other day when I was shopping. I walked past Kikki K and saw it in the window but then I forgot to go back and buy it. It's so cute, and writing with such a sunny yellow pen has to put you in a good mood right?

I was very spoiled, thanks Catherine!

(I really better get mine posted now)

This week...

I made some mini banana and cinnamon breads and some homemade custard tarts.


I can't believe how much better homemade custard tarts taste compared to mass produced bakery ones. The custard is so yummy and smooth and not gluggy like ones you buy. I do need to improve the tart to custard ratio though because there's a bit too much pastry in these ones.


Finally found some white wicker baskets.. I want these for the change table for nappies and toiletries and stuff. I have to change the lining though, I don't go much for the pink roses.

.
Was a terrible friend who forgot the birthday of one of my best friends in Melbourne and then tried to make up for it by sending her chocolate brownie.


And sadly realised that if I was still at my old job in Melbourne I'd be going to maternity leave this week... not such an option when you work for yourself though. (I don't regret the change though).

Birds

How beautiful is this mobile?


It's on Spool (inlcuding the pattern for the birds) and I found it via Unruly things who found it via this blog.

Puts my little mobile to shame. I do like the idea of a few of these little birdies just sitting around the place though, they don't have to be on a mobile. Or maybe I could make just one or two little birdies on twigs to hang on the veranda of the house which we will have one day (one day). That could be cute.

Owlie

Some friends of ours from Melbourne were up visiting this weekend and we had dinner with them tonight. I made this little owl for their little girl. He's about 90% finished in this photo but I'm a last minute girl and had to finish blanket stitching around his eyes and tummy in the car on the way to dinner. Lucky we met them on the Gold Coast for dinner so I had enough time. I really should try and be more organised.

Didn't find anything too exciting today at Ikea, which is probably a good thing really cause I really didn't need to buy anything.

And once again I returned from Ikea without buying any fabric. I have never bought fabric from there but every time I go there are at least a few that I would like to buy some of, I don't know why I don't ever do it. I think it's got to do with having to call someone to the desk to get them to price it for you, that seems like too much effort to me and also I have never really known what I was planning to do with the fabrics when I got them home. I think if I had a project in mind then I could probably make the effort.


As well as the range of black, white and neutrals they have had for awhile which I really like there were some reds and greens that I hadn't seen before that also took my fancy. Will have to be more organised next time we make the trip.


Hope you're enjoying your long weekends too (if you're having fun).

The Sweetheart Season

I'm sorry book, but I'm giving up on you. I did try and try but I'm just not that into you and other's keep taking my interest away so I'm giving up.

I don't like giving up on books, I don't do it very often, I keep on ploughing through until eventually I finish but not this book, not at the moment anyway.

And it's sad cause I really enjoyed reading the Jane Austen Book club. Not sure where we went wrong here. I think it could be me and not the book, really.

The start of a long weekend

I love love love long weekends, especially when there isn't too much going on.

My plans... some sewing, some baking, some taking photos, dinner with friends, start a swap and a trip to ikea. Yay!

I want to play

The flickr game, yay. From lots of places, but I got the details from here.

1. baby anna, 2. Chocolate Cupcakes, 3. Trumpets, 4. The Photographer, 5. Colin Firth - glorious hotness, (i know, it's a bit pathetic) 6. pinot noir--pinot gris !!!, 7. don't cry - sillustani, peru, 8. Panna cotta, 9. cafe nostalgia, 10. Friends & Family (and me), 11. Happy Birthday Flickr Account, 12. Apple and Raspberry

Presents from UK

G got back from the UK a week ago now, but today was the first chance I had to take a quick photo of a couple of presents he bought for little bubbles. If you knew G, you'd know how amazing it was that he actually went into a shop and picked something out all by himself. He's not much of a shopper (by not much, I mean not at all).

So looking for something all proper and English like he found Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddleduck, but couldn't decide which one to go for so just bought both of them. I think Peter might be my favourite... poor Jemima got a bit squashed in the suitcase so she's got a bit of a crooked neck at the moment.


He also picked up this mobile for the little ones cot, but he's not allowed to take full credit for this one.. we actually saw it on the internet awhile ago but it wasn't available in Australia. Then, when we found out he had to go over for work we remembered it and figured he'd be able to pick it up over there. In the end, he didn't even go to the shop to get it.. but got one of his English work-mate's wife to pick it up for him. How's that for slack.. and nice of the work-mate's wife. She even bought a little stuffed bunny for our little one, so cute and how nice is that?


I've also been a little spoilt lately but by my sister-in-law. She bought this Cath Kidston oilcloth table cloth a little while ago and didn't need it anymore so she sent it to me knowing that I'd like it. I think I'm going to save it to use on the deck of our new house (one day...) when we'll have an outdoor table big enough to hold it.


And finally, in my sad attempts at nesting our little studio I finally planted up our pots so we have a little temporary garden near our front door and I even got to re-arrange some furniture on the weekend to fit in all the baby bits and pieces.

Sunbeam Love

I don't know how new these are or not.. but I've only just seen them and I love love love them.

Sunbeam have a ceramic range and you can get a kettle and a toaster.. they come in cream, chocolate and a pale blue. Cream would have to be my choice.


I think these might be going on my wish list for our new house (along with about 3 billion other things, and seriously we have a perfectly fine kettle and toaster already so I spose they shouldn't be high on the priority list).


When you buy the kettle you get 4 ceramic cups with it, and 4 ceramic plates with the toaster.

Maybe they can go on the Christmas and birthday list, hmmm.

(photos from Sunbeam)

Sunday Supper

It was a cold and rainy weekend in Brisbane so for Sunday Supper it definitely had to be a bit warm bowl of something hearty.


So we had lamb tagine with new potatoes and baby peas from this cookbook. There is another lamb tagine in this book with dates and almonds and it's actually better but it was good to try another one. I love tagines.. and although they take a long time to cook they are pretty easy because you can just throw it all in the pot and forget about it for a couple of hours.

To make it you need:

Olive oil
1.5kg lamb (the book says neck or shoulder but I just used diced lamb cause it's easier to find and that works)
1kg new potatoes
500g baby peas
2 onions, diced
2 cloves garlic
1 teasp ground ginger
1.5 teasp saffron
2 tbslp chopped coriander
2 tblsp chopped parsley
approx 16 green olives (which i didn't have so I forgot about them)
1 tbslp preserved lemon

And then...
Throw the oil, onions, garlic, ginger, saffron and lamb into a pot or tagine and cook for about 5 mins until the lamb is browned. Cover with water, season with salt and pepper and then cover the pot and leave for 1.5 hours until the lamb is really tender. Then add the potatoes and more water if necessary, cover and cook for another 20 minutes until the potatoes are soft. Add the peas, olives, lemon, parsley and coriander and cook for a further 5 minutes until it all thickens and the peas are cooked.

I can't believe the weekend is over already.. I had one of those weekends where I had lots on my list that I wanted to get done but didn't really get through much of it at all. We did some furniture re-arranging in our little studio which I'm glad we got done.. we had to swap some things around to fit in all the baby paraphernalia (7 weeks to go now, eek!).


We also went to the PMA Imaging Technology show because G is desperate to get a Nikon D300 and it was a good chance to have a play with one.. had some interesting seminars about taking better photographs etc also. Lots of displays about photobooks, has anyone ever ordered one of these over the internet?

Looking forward to next weekend now, a long weekend yay! So hopefully will get a bit more of my list crossed off.