Yarn -A -Long over at Crafty Mamas

I am joining in over at Crafty Mamas in a knit a long. I would really like to finish this Tropical Lily top for Mollie. It is such a sweet pattern and the part I have done, I am really happy with!!

Tracy @ Mad Quilter has kindly organised it..Thanks Tracy for getting me back into knitting :D

Just when you are trying to test out your homemade billy cart......

You are under attack..by a big black dog named ODIE!!!

And after you yell "BACK" enough times that he finally listens, he grabs his favourite toy The Coconut!
QUICK, get out of the way of the flying coconut :D

The joys of having a PET :)

The value of STRING GAMES

What fun I am having teaching the children string games. It first started while sitting in the back of the Motorhome touring round England, trying to keep Mollie amused. As we always have a ball of yarn close by, I cut a piece tied it in a circle and taught her Witches Broom.

Now two years later, we have searched the internet, Mama has dug deep in my memory to remember more and now we have 6 string figures - Witches broom, cats whiskers, bridge, hand trap, cup and saucer and the wink.

I think all children should enjoy learning this game not only it is excellent for their hand eye coordination and fine motor skills but it is just basic good FUN!

Edit to add: our favourite website is here and we have just added 'the moth' to our repetoire!

Nut baby tutorial

I designed this Nut baby for our Autumn Nature Table. The kit and supplies are available at Spiral Garden Here is a photo tutorial to help with your kit! Cut out all pieces using the pattern provided in your kit.

Stitch the body, and make the head

Stitch the hat together and fill body and head with fleece. Using your embroidery thread, stitch the face .

Place the head into the body and stitch to secure. Then pop the hat on the dolls head and stitch down.

This is such a sweet addition to an Autumn table and so quick to make :)

Happy Australia Day 2011

After a yummy breakfast at a local Australia Day Beach BBQ, home to swimming, lego and maybe some lamington making!
Happy Australia Day!!

Snapshot!

 

 

 

Lucas is enjoying an activity book and Mollie is needle felting... Yes with a very sharp needle.
She LOVES it..she is making a wool dolly.

My apprentices!!

Mollie LOVES (and is very good at) hooking the hair into the caps of the dolls I am making. As soon as she sees me hand sewing the caps onto the dolls..she is next to me ready to hook the hair in.
She washes her hands, changes her clothes and then sets herself up on the sunroom lounge and gently and quietly ties the hair in...

See the concentration on her face.....


And between ideas..Lucas likes to help too. He gets the job of passing the hair to Mollie.
They have some lovely conversations while doing it...

A very proud Mama moment :)

Frozen Mango Bar

Made using mangoes from Rusty Markets...yes it does taste as good as it looks :D
Recipe here
Beautiful!!

Our afternoon viewing!

The kids and I went and saw this musical today..put on by the Cairns Choral Society.
It was FANATASTIC!!!

Qld Flood Appeal Auctions

Click the picture above to join in the auctions and raffles happening round many crafty blogs!!
The generosity of so many is heartwarming :)

I have entered so many I have lost count :D The prizes are amazing, I can't resist!!
Go on, check it out...

Hope Softies

Creating softies for Hope Softies has been our focus this weekend. We have donated money to the flood appeal, but it just feels right to create something special for the children to cuddle in such a stressful time right now.
Click the link to Mon Petit Poppet to find out more.
Thankyou Steph for organising this softie drive :)

Lunch at the beach photos!

Time for a change!
So it was chips down the beach for us today.
We are lucky to have some really beautiful beaches up here in North Queensland..ok so you can't swim in them for a 4 / 5 months of the year but to be there is beautiful.

And the playground is pretty good too :D

And while the kids played, I knitted..nice :)

Crafty afternoon

Mollie and I spent the afternoon yesterday sitting at the kitchen table craftying.
I have always wanted to try some needle felting and after looking through a couple books, I decided a sweet table doll would be fun.

She is made from fleece I hand dyed and has a pipe cleaner body structure inside.
I am really happy how she turned out. Mollie put her straight on our summer season table.

I would like to try needle felting a summer scene next..maybe today!

And here is what Mollie finished off. She started these when your friend stayed over Tuesday night. They are made from my hand dyed felt and wooden pieces. She even set the photo up herself..sweet!

I think she has plans for beading today...

Screen free time = BIG puzzle time

The time had come to break the 'can I play the computer', 'can I watch TV' routine so we had a three day screen break.
This was Lucas' choice of activity..and it has been fun!!

Nearly finished..just sky to do! We have friends coming over today so I have to move it (gulp) wish me luck!!

Edit to add..two days past the break and he still hasn't asked for the computer..HOORAY!

Day 6 of photos

The Great Bocce Competition down the back today...with one spectator: Odie
We decided to call it a TIE!

The ground finally dried out enough to play :)

Day five of photos

Our drawing trip to the zoo.
The children are right into drawing at the moment so a trip to our local zoo yesterday provided an opportunity for some sketches. They chose two animals to draw..crocodiles and snakes.

Friday is our next drawing excursion..they want another trip to the zoo, I am thinking beach or bush walk.. the ZOO it is then :D

Photo meme day three!

All was quiet at home yesterday so I grabbed my camera and had a wander both inside and out. These are a few items I captured. Nothing too exciting but I am enjoying the process of stopping and looking :)

Wishing you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year!!