Postcard from Orlando

Do you live in Celebration, Orlando??? Anyone out there from Celebration? I love your little community, your town is so cute. Wow, a real life Disneyland Main Street. The first time we visited Celebration in 2005 we thought it was an amazing little 1950's American Town. We initially visited in search of a yarn store that turned out to be a clothes boutique with a shelf of yarn in the back.

This time visiting we found out it is a purpose built - by Disney - Town... so you can imagine how cute this little town is. Cute little man made lakes (with alligators), A Celebration Hotel (that you darn't take a child under 10 inside), Desperate Housewife style tree lined streets (no cute gardeners though), a cute little bookstore (with a desperately friendly shop owner) and "the doll shop".

Are the people paid there to be cute too? Everyone was so friendly and cheesy. Hubby and I were so obviously the British tourist, with the Virgin luggage label hanging off our buggy.

Apart from the trip to Celebration we have run wild through the Parks of Disney. Lazared Buzz Lightyear to bits, sat for hours on a curb-sides waiting for parades, licked enough mickey ice-creams and shot enough photos. The Bubela was called on stage for the Lion King Show - made me cry. The charactors are enjoying the Nosh laughing and them. Goofy wasn't too pleased with the Nosh bonging his wiskers throughout the photoshoot.

The weather is far too hot and the pool is 2 short of freezing.

The craft shopping has only just begun with magazine purchases. Clothes shopping is going crazy. Hubby has thing for buying every colour tee in every shop. Then coming out puzzled whilst checking out the bill with how he managed to spend so much in one shop.

Loving the pancakes. Worried about the scales when I return home.

Photos to follow.

Learn-along quilting with Sweetpea

I usually have a knitting or crochet project on the go, as its fun, easy and mindless to do in front of the TV. These granny squares were the result of last nights Desperate Housewives. I'm hoping they will result in a couple of pram blankets for gifts.

As for my first quilting experience, I'm looking for an easy project. One to follow, one with embroidery, and possibly a little applique too.

Oy vey, talk about fussy.

I have bought endless magazines and books, as always when I find a new "thing", but I've not found what I'm looking for. Nautical quilt, anyone? There are a few more essentials I need to purchase first, but I'll probably purchase these in Florida, or when I return home. *shrieking with excitement* - I'm going on holiday in 3 days!!! Oy vey, what am I doing taking an 18 month old on an 8 hour flight. At least the Bubela can make the most of the Virgin experience of entertainment.

As an absolute beginner, I'll be hoping/begging for advice and tips along the way. Unless of course you want to learn along with me and we can all shout for the same advice at the same time.

I was told there are 4 essentials to quilting

1. 1/4" foot for sewing machine
2. Rotary cutter
3. Cutting board
4. Quilting ruler

There are other rulers, stencils and bits and bobs, but we can get those along the way as and when they are needed. Spoken like an expert.

My 1/4" foot for my Singer machine dropped through the letter box this week. I was as excited the moment I found and used the button hole foot on my Singer.

Honey Monster meet Cookies. Buttonhole, buttonhole, buttonhole.

So, all ready for my quilting venture, well almost.

Photos revealed

As promised, here are the photos of the little girls summer dress. It was only made in a size 0-3 months as a mock up. I'm dead proud of this little dress as it was a huge learning project in many ways. Pattern cutting, binding, pleated folds, buttonholes. I even found the buttonhole foot for my Singer and it turned out a real gem.

On quilting.

Many months ago a friend tipped me off about a beautiful shop that I'd never known existed. She used to make bags and bought her fabulous fabric from there. (Since, she has gone into another line of business - cookie making but unfortunately blogless)

It is only a stones throw away from my first flat Hubby and I bought together. *Smiling whilst I reminisce at those childless, carefree and early years* And whilst I'm in this special place let me share a story of many.

We lived on the first floor, there was a respectable young man living next door, a couple of not so respectable people upstairs, and a batty old lady downstairs. Our first Sunday morning we awoke at 7am, firstly a ridiculous time to rise should one not need to - strictly speaking childless. And, secondly it wasn't our alarm clock doing the singing.

First Hubby (then fiance) took the broom to the ceiling. Again, the broom - a little harsher, then stormed upstairs banging, banging on the door to turn the noise down. He came back down, it wasn't the penthouse making all the noise... woke them up though. And, that was the day Hubby met Batty Old Lady from Downstairs.

Oh Vey. Batty Old Lady from Downstairs. Tck. With her over hanging parking into our car parking space, her notelets anonymously posted into our letterbox, Oh Batty Old Lady from Downstairs.

Back to Summer 2007.

Pushing the Nosh in the pram at 9 months old, I bumped open the door with my bum to Just Between Friends, pulled in the pram to a beautiful shopped lined with fabric, craft books, pins and needles, a table full of chatting women over coffee, quilts and projects displayed on the walls. Eye candy to a quilt and crafter.

Warmly welcomed and about half an hour later, I came out with the lovely lady offering to teach me quilting. All booked in, but unfortunately due to untimely and unpredicted circumstances, I had to cancel many times.

Yesterday, and 9 months on, I took my first quilting lesson and now with my imagination running wild with projects I'm raring to go.

Here's what I completed in my first lesson, I'm yet to learn about the wadding and the quilting bit.

On other news:

April 6 outside and its snowing!! Again!! Photo above is the view of our garden this morning.
10 days to go until we go to Florida.
10 days to go to lose a few pounds.
10 days to go to clear the pile of ironing.

I've finished the dress. Photos to follow.

Its a KITTEN

Last night upon completion of sewing all the pieces together

Me: Is is ok?
Hubby: *Eyes glued to tv* Yep
Me: Well, what do you think it is then?
Hubby: Its a thing, isn't it?
Me: A what?
Hubby: A bear type thing. Isn't it!

The morning after the night before

Bubela: What is it?
Me: What do you think it is?
Bubela: A puppy?
Me: *deflated* yeah...
Bubela: It doesn't look like a puppy.

In crawls walk alot talk alot but doesn't, the Nosh

Me: *being goofy the way that one does when talking to a baby* What's this?
Nosh: Mine *crawling off with it tucked into his neck* arrrrrrhhhhhhh

Not wrong.

At least IT'S got a home.

Kitty Cat crochet in Rowan Cotton Glace
From the book Baby Crochet by Lois Daykin

I've found a couple of recycling websites, one is a swap shop for books. I'm reading The Kennedy's at the moment. I swapped it with The Diary of an ordinary woman by Margaret Forster (also a good book). I've made some great swaps, not sure when I'm going to read them all though.

ReaditSwapit site, its my site of the month at the moment, along with this global freecycle site which, I'll admit, I haven't actually used yet, I love just browsing.

Have you got any great website finds to share?

Smoking kills

The Bubela has being ill this long weekend, poor little chooch. We had so much planned but we've not left the house.

Rephrase.

He's not left the house. I've been out to have a set of acrylics put on.

Oh, and to purchase the beautifully written list of ingredients he wrote out for me from the Cookies Galore book the boys bought me for Mothers Day.

He made blueberry shortcake cookies and I made fudge. Chocolate fudge which I boxed and bowed to gift. Far too delicious to keep and temp (I kept a few bites back to nosh on though).

Here is the start of my psychedelic summer girls dress. I'm not going to pretend it was easy - those pleats were a bit niggly. The pattern called for a twin needle sew, but seeing as my Singer doesn't possess that foot, I made do with the conventional iron and straight stitch. Is there such a thing??

I ironed the pleat then straight stitched 1mm away from the fold. I did have to unpick a couple of times because they were slightly uneven - and have you ever unpicked without an unpicker, oy vey.

I needed a cigarette for my nerves when I'd completed it - however, settled with a strong coffee and a bite of fudge.

Then there was the piping around the neck. That was a sweat breaker.

And here, a find too late. Tutorial for binding edges. Well, not too late. I've still got the rest to edge. Its like having a pack of cigarettes and a box of burnt out matches, then discovering the gas hob.

But you know what the biggest frustration of all was... my false nails couldn't pick up the pins that had dropped on the table. My flipping acrylics. And when your holding in place with one hand and trying to pick up and pin with the other. Oy vey. Like placing your fag up to the gas hob and discovering the gas had been disconnected.

So, my advice upon all of my lessons learnt today would be don't drop anything if you're wearing acrylic nails.

P.s. I don't smoke - It kills and its far too expensive.

He has arrived. Toby Jonathan. Muzel tov to all of the family.

The Debbie Bliss hoodie was completed last night, I just need to re-sew the hood to perfection. Its looks a little fcuckternickle(?!!)

Happy Easter everyone.

Its snowing!

What no fudge

With the long weekend due to be a wash-out, I might actually get some of this lot completed.

The Debbie Bliss hoodie is washed and blocked waiting to be made up. But where's the baby, t'was imminent weeks back one thought.

Plus, I've got this gorgeous little dress to sew up. Baby couture - psychedelic style. I've cut the pattern and its straight *grinning and feeling really pleased with myself* However, I'm slightly nail bitingly nervous, yet excited about stitching it together. I will be forced to experiment and explore new avenues with my old sewing machine. My old Singer sewing machine that belonged to my grandmother, the one that has only sewn a straight stitch, the one that my Ubba used every now and then to fix and hem his trousers, the one that saw more dust than fabric. And now a new life for this Singer is about to evolve... Buttonholes.

Oh, and the other project... I'm going to have ANOTHER attempt at fudge. The first lot was... lets just say you needed a spoon. Runny fudge aint no fun. Apparently, its an art of its own, making fudge. Any tips??

"Mummy, when you used to use your interactive white board at school..." "Mummy, what DS Lite games did you have when you were little?" "Did you used to have your own email when you were a kid?" "What winks did you have on msn?"...

The sentences that fall out of the Bubela's mouth sometimes really make me feel old. I'm not old I hasten to say, I'm ONLY 34. But nothing made me feel as old as this week, whilst out with friends for dinner my friend and I are reminiscing and giggling over the Southend disco that we used to go to.

"DISCO!!!!!" shrieks a voice of laughter from the other end of the table. "You sound like my mum... when I met your father at the local disco...".

That shriek came from a 20-something - born in the eighties. Her in nappies and me trying out my first perm!

So, when I explained to the Bubela that we used a little blackboard with chalk instead of the white interactive board, he knew what I meant because he saw one of those in the Victorian Museum this week! VICTORIAN??

My Debbie Bliss Hoodie is coming along lovely. Its a fast and easy knit great for mindless tv-watching after too many late nights out.

Have you seen the new Tendances magazine from Phildar. I must buy it, there are loads in there that I would like to knit up.

Size 5mm meet Cashmerino Aran

I'm about to pick up my needles again. [Hoot]

Its certainly been a while since I've purled. It was as if my fingers wouldn't allow my hands to touch those sticks. Of course it wouldn't have anything to do with my fingers wanting to fondle a needle and thread in a cross-stitch kind of way, nor the fact that I've been trying to sort out my crochet kitten (which is almost done by the way, just need to sew all the pieces together).

However, with a list of friends and family due to have babies (and a set of twins), I'd better re-introduce needles to yarn. Actually, I'm getting quite excited at the thought of the reunion.

As you can see, I've dusted my baby books off and had a browse over the net too. First one is Hubby's cousin due any moment, and luckily enough we know for sure its a boy. For sure!

I thought that little blue hoodie would be cute, what do you think? Here's a cute and practical sleeping bag I found too, and I just love it

In other news...

Still on target with the WW, just need to keep watching it.
The Nosh is 16 months, not walking yet, babbles for England.
The Bubla has his big teeth growing through, making him look so grown up (where have the years gone).
...we all still miss Ubba

Finishing touches to the little room

This is the finished product of the Roman Blinds I made for our guest toilet. I am absolutely delighted with the outcome, I think they look quite professional and only a snippet of the price. I used an old cotton curtain for the backing and an off-cut of fabric from when my mum had her chair re-upholstered. I just wanted to practice before paying out for fabric. It turned out that this fabric went well with the decor so I kept it. I only had to purchase some hooks, rods and rope which probably totalled about £10. It would have cost £200 for my curtain lady to do it!

P.s. that's our bathroom photo when Hubby met Prince Phillip.

In the making

Facebook. Dare I even say have you heard of it. I meet someone out now, be it at the Tumble Tots with the Nosh, or in the supermarket at the checkout, my ciao, my au revour has become my "Facebook me!"

So, what is Facebook? Whats all the fuss over? I guess its an individual addiction. Lemon to one's vodka, or the petrol to one's car. My addiction? I'm more for an aperitif (just lots of them).

I have loved rekindling old friendships and hearing what old friends are up to.

Now that I'm loving the cross stitch, I've decided to make keepsake wall hangings to sell. I've set myself up an Etsy shop ~ do go in and have a browse. I've even Facebooked a group *blush* ~ and be sure to join it.

As for the other crafts and loves of my life:

Knitting - None on the go at present
Crochet - Still have the little kitten amigurumi to finish
Sewing - My roman blinds are ready to go up just waiting for Hubby to do his little handy work with drill
WW - Started again this week and lost a pound (still at target, just want to lose another 5lb or so)

Dont forget and facebook me. Find me through the group Personalised Baby Keepsake Gifts.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Just a quicky post to welcome you all to 2008. May this be a happy and healthy new year to be had by all.

My new project to end 2007 was embellishing a number of clothing in hot fix crystals. This was one of the tops I had embellished for the Nosh to wear New Years Eve for dinner.

I've had a bumper 2008 so far with regards projects. I'm in the midst of sewing my own roman blinds, I'm just waiting for some little plastic ring thingy's to come through the post then I'll be done and I'll take some photos. I'm also cross-stitching at the moment, photos again to follow.

As for knitting, nothing has caught my eye for the Autumn range, I'm waiting for the new Rowan mag in February. What's everyone knitting?

Crochet - the little kitten has become my UFO for the moment, in fact, I'm re-crocheting parts of it as I somehow slipped from a regular dc to a trb.

Happy Christmas

This is a photo of Little Sis and I, 1984 visiting the Big Man.

I took the Bubela and the Nosh on the "Santa Express" last week. A lovely friend of mine had invited us along to join her and her kids. We picked up the "Santa Express" at Selfridges in London and took the 15 minute journey to "Lapland" to visit Father Christmas.

NB. Its all a bit confusing in our house with the Channukah/Christmas thing. We visit Father Christmas, but we know that its Father Channukah that delivers the presents - on Christmas Day. And, Mummy and Daddy give the presents for the 8 days of Channukah. Phew, anyone else wanna throw their little tradition into this mess?

Anyway, the journey to "Lapland" was picturesque. We saw reindeer's and rabbits, trees and tinsel, snow drops and snow flakes. Just beautiful. It set the scene to visit Father Christmas.

Now, upon this journey I thought about who would apply for such a job as Father Christmas. What would the job description say? He had to be short. He'd have to be 50ish. And he'd have to be extra friendly.

We dock at "Lapland" and enter the room. "Hello my friends" in the broadest Yiddisher accent you could ever here. My ears pricked and my eyes twinkled like we were on familiar ground. "So, Vhat vould you like for Christmas?" The Bubela shrank into me. He gave the kids a book, "The Snowman" and vished us good health and a heppy new year.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE. I love you all dearly.

Be good, be kind and keep healthy.

xx

HAPPY CHANNUKAH

*Sigh*. Sorry, I hate to start a post with a sigh, but I saw those feet in my last post and it seems like moons ago that they were exposed and bathing themselves in the warm salty sea. How time runs away with you. And it doesn't help that I'm all bunged up with a cold, tired from an interrupted nights sleep because the Nosh is also bunged up with a cold. So, I'm sitting in and scoffing a box of chocolates (nothing special, just an Advent calender that the Bubela left behind).

Anyway my dear friends and family, Happy Channukah to you all. With Channukah here, it brings to light just how near Chruxmas is *the excitement turns the corners of my mouth upright*.

This explanation of what Channukah really is has been circulating the net - it chuckled me!

1st night - argue over which side candles start
2nd night - cut knuckle grating potato for latkes
3rd night - lose dreidel under fridge
4th night - spend hour getting wax out of menorah holes
5th night - lose track of which night you're on
6th night - get latke grease on good shirt
7th night - fish chocolate coin out of dog's mouth
8th night - be short one candle


As for my latest project. This used to be a pair of maternity trousers that I obviously have no more need for. So, I chopped off a leg, seamed up the sides, made a couple of handles and voila. Well, not exactly. That was the easy bit.

I played around with a photo of the Nosh on Photoshop to give me this negative. Then, used hotfix transfer paper and encrusted with bling. Its my new little nappy bag! I love it.

My Amigurumi Kitten is coming along lovely. Its been my project of late. Photos to come.

Im back!

Great holiday. Beautiful weather. Lots of sleep. A book (almost) read. A few pounds heavier. Same time next year, girls?

There's no place like home though.

The Bubela's top teeth fell out and I wasn't even there. The generous tooth fairy still visited him though. He couldn't say I missed you mummy, it was more of a mithed you mummy. My Bubela is growing up.

The Nosh, unfortunately, caught a bad cold which later developed to a chest infection. Poor Hubby, I just wanted everything to run smoothly (with maybe a slight glimpse of what goes on in the world of 3am). Is it just this household that has a 3am movement world? If its not one thats stirring and calling out for the toilet, its the other moaning and crying for his souther. And this all goes on whilst the Hubby catches his Z's.

Boys - I missed you!

My fingers haven't held the needles yet, nor the hook. I've something else up my sleeve, but I'll try and finish my UFO's first.

Confessions of a Plutzing Mother

So, my suitcase is packed and I'm off. My Sister. My Mum. And I. Eilat, here we come.

I'm leaving Hubby to hold the fort for a week whilst I holiday in the sun. *Imagining lazying under the sun umbrella with my ipod plugged in my ears, a trashy novel in one hand and a Margareta in the other... ahhhh*

Seriously, its a much deserved break for my mum and the reason we are going. It'll be a week of recoupe and re-charging the batteries, a week of togetherness and reminiscing our childhood and a week of pure family love (and hopefully no arguments).

So, in my absence I've left a note of bits n bobs for Hubby. *smiling*

Well, *confessing* a few pages of what goes on behind the scenes.

OK, *don't shoot me* a War and Peace Vol II about the packed lunches, the medications, the social timetables, the homework... Did I say I was supposed to be relaxing on this holiday, Oy vey, more like plutzing.

See you next week.

Washing Day

When I was a little Clayna, only knee high, my favourite doll was my Rageddy Ann. She was life size, with a beautiful patchwork dress and red wool hair. She went everywhere with me. No one was allowed to touch her nor clean her.

One rainy day (I remember it well) my mummy wanted to wash her. After the tears and a good fight she succeeded. I cried throughout the whole cycle. We BOTH (what mother's do) stood outside in the rain. Me waiting, hands cupped, to save Rageddy Ann from when she shot out of the drain pipe, and Mummy trying to reason with me.

After the tears (from me) and the screams (from my mum) a very soggy us came in and I sat by the window of the washing machine watching Raggedy go round, and around, and around. Tears and tears and tears.

Eventually, she did come out - albeit damp and shrivelled. She wasn't the same again. Her hair was a mass of knots, but thank goodness it didn't felt! Her stuffing became all nobbly, but thank goodness it didn't escape.

So, after visiting the dry cleaners on Saturday with my sheepskin and faux fur lined coat.

And having them refuse to clean it.

And being told to do as the label says.

Wash in a large capacity washing machine on a 40 degree cycle.

Flashback. Raggedy Ann.

It wasn't raining, but yes, I sat by the window for approximately 57 minutes during a delicate wash cycle.

How did it come out - Ach you don't to know.

P.S if anyone knows where I can purchase this mirror...

Kooky Cakes with Naughty Numbers

Thank you to my dear friend for booking the Nosh into the creche today so that I could attend the gym. Maybe it was a needed hint, maybe to be a chaperon, maybe to see the new walking machine. Nevertheless, a great excuse for Nutella on toast. So, really, Thank you! Next week, same time?

And, this year, instead of cutting a pumpkin, and preparing a gorgeous roasted pumpkin soup, we decided to go for calories make scary cupcakes and decorate them instead. Rather, a messy kitchen, dyed fingers, temptation in the cupboard, and a whole load of E numbers to contend with.

Whilst awaiting two skeins of Rowan Cotton Glace to finish my amigurumi kitten, I've been charity knitting for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. These two little jumpers will become keyrings to be sold for £2.50 each. So, should you have a lonely key in your drawer and you wish to purchase a knitted keyring (handbags and jumpers) (UK ONLY) please contact me with your email address where I can forward on the details of where to purchase them.

The Nosh's 1st Birthday Balloon Cake

I'm so pleased with how the Nosh's birthday cake turned out. It wasn't too tricky, well, certainly not as fiddly as the pirates ship which I made for the Bubela.

The balloon cake comprised of two 7" circular sponge cakes placed on top of eachother (Nigella Lawson's victoria sponge recipe). I severed the top with a sharp knife to make a dome shape.

Using Royal Icing (ready made) and a half a teaspoon of blue dye, I kneaded it until it was even coloured. Then I rolled it out large enough to cover the whole cake. I'd never iced a cake using royal icing before so it took a couple of attempts to pick it up using the back of a rolling pin, but I got there in the end.

I reserved some of the icing to make the little bow thingy at the end of the balloon and covered three cookies (also Nigella's cookie recipe) for the smaller balloons.

A proud little mama had lovely compliments on the day, not to mention my lovely little "A" Cookies! Take a look.

Now, with a cupboard full of cakes and biscuits and fingers that magnetise to them, I had to buy something to divert my attention. With me its either tea and biscuits or knitting and needles.

This weeks Women's Weekly Knitting and Crochet special have one of Lois Daykin's gorgeous crochet kitten patterns. I've always admired the wonderful Japanese Amigurumi (the wonderful art of crocheted toys), but I've always shyed away thinking I couldn't possibly. Nevertheless, even though I'm a self taught crochet-er with only a couple of stitches under my belt, I went ahead and put hook to Rowan Cotton Glace.

I've already stumbled across a problem dc2tog (eeek!!). I've done something, not sure what though, oy vey. Maybe I've created a new stitch, or maybe somehow actually managed the dc2tog... who knows?