We interrupt your viewing for a special announcement...

Another fabulous weekend away - I will blog about it but here is sneak photo of Cradle Mountain and the shore of Dove Lake. Lots of snow, fires and spas (grin).

I had to write this because my angel swapper wrote to me again and it just makes me feel like a little girl all over again. I am SO EXCITED I am going to be getting a parcel (can you see me doing a little dance?).

When I was packing for this weekend away I thought of something I need to make. Then I thought if my partner is struggling with ideas maybe she would like to know... SO my sweet angel swapper if you are struggling to think of something... I need something to put my bathrooms stuff in when I go away. Like you know toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant etc... I would forever use and love it! OR I might organise a toilet bag swap early next year after we get over the glutton of swaps and then Christmas... so WATCH this space.

Also don't forget to let any of your friends with a Janome sewing machine know I have a walking foot (must have) swap offer - see blog before this.

Janome Walking Foot and Quilting Guide

Since I have upgraded to a Paff I don't have the need for this foot.

So thought I would offer it to you for an exchange. Here is the idea. I will mail to any where in the world to the person who offers the most favourite exchange. To avoid making this complex just offer items or pieces (not hand made -that is to precious). I have no expectations as to what to exchange with. Ideas may be patterns, fabric or Suffolk Puff maker tool. Email me or leave a comment by 4th September and the best offer will be notified by email for their mailing address (woo hoo).

There is a Janome walking foot review on Hoppo Bumpo blog if you want to have a read (basic instructions are included with this one!).

Suzie's biscuits

Do these look yummy or what? A friend made these for us and they were all eaten up VERY quickly.

YUM YUM YUM

Oh (giggling here) I received my first contact from my Angel Swap Partner. I just LOVE that I have a total secret angel making something just for me - love it - it makes me feel all goose bumpy. Isn't she SO organised! I have started to plan for my angel as well (grinning from ear to ear). Oh isn't this just GORGEOUS! Hello to my anonymous Angel Swap partner (waving at you)

For Jo with lots of love

A very belated present for Jo. I had no idea is was her birthday and felt terrible I did not have something for her. Christine and I saw this pattern at the Evandale Stitching Day earlier this year. I decided to make the pillow for Jo's Christmas present. When I found out it was her birthday I had to make it now. I split the pattern into two as lucky Jo has two rocking chairs (I want one) and I thought they would be nice on them. Jo is a pretty special friend. She encouraged me to get back to stitching and quilting. She also encouraged me to start a blog. She has been so patient and generous with her goodies and time. If you want to see them up close check Jo's blog out.

Let it snow

Oh what a lovely day. We went for a drive to Miena - which is a little shacky place on the plateau of Tasmania slap bang in the middle. We were to meet up with other Citroen club members for a meeting (how more middle of Tasmania can you get). On the way up we decided the snow must have mealted. Then the themometer started to drop and snow patches started to appear on the side of the road. The children wanted to get out so badly. When we arrived at the place there was snow every where and a lake right next to it - really it was so beautiful I would have loved to have my bush walking gear on with the dogs and go for a walk. The boys were in their element. It even started to snow during lunch and they were outside in a flash.

The boys highlights - making a snow man...



On the drive back we saw two wombats. They are not cute and cuddly - this one ran as soon as he heard my camera click. Poor thing.

Buttons

Not sure what it is about them but I have caught the button bug. Lynette and I have been emailing and she suggested I went to my op shops to find more buttons. Well I visited four today and found these. There are wooden, metal and country colours. I even found a well worn silver Defence Force button. Not many blue or green ones to find.

The next day I visited a shop near my work place and found these luscious buttons and this jar to hold them in! Now I need to find another bigger one to fit the rest of my buttons in bags....





My surprise gift is almost finished.

The Vegie Patch

I am very excited as some of our crop is close to picking. We are talking of soon making the second - twice the size vegie patch at the front so we can have it ready to put organic seeds in for spring/summer crops. I think I should challenge the boys to make a scare crow. I am hoping this time round we can grow from organic seeds. I have all the seedling pots/ warm house stuff to do so. We have been purchasing food from The Organic Shop for a while now and I am hoping we can substitute our own organic vegetables to help the dollar go further and we can start buying organic/free range meat.

Wonder if I can talk Hubby into making a mini glass/plastic house to sit over part of the patch so I can try to grow the warmer crops like egg plant and capsicum which don't like the cooler Tasmanian weather. This will mean I will want to build a bigger patch! Wonder where we can fit these in our very small land. We live in a suburb very close to the city. We made this choice so we all live a more active lifestyle (we can walk to school and shops from here) but also Michael is in the middle of the 'spiderweb' for work.

You may be wondering why milk cartons are in the patch. Well they are 'housing' celery. They encourage celery to grow up right so you get long stalks and a cluster rather than spread out little celery bits. We all enjoy crunching on fresh celery (with humous yum yum). Hope the crop spreads it growing time so we don't go anti celery! In this patch is silverbeet (soon to start picking), celery, leeks (SLOW growing), beetroot, carrots, cauliflower (no babies yet), broccoli (soon to start picking) and Brussels sprouts (no babies showing - these are yummy young and fresh). Wonder what seeds will be at the shop to grow this summer.

Bag tease 3

I have finished my bag! REALLY pleased with it. I am going to miss her when she is gone.

I have been busy making something for someone. Once it is finished I will blog it. We are having COLD days here. Snow really low - apparently down to 100 m during the week. Lots of water for the garden.

5 Minute Chocolate Mud Cake

I received this email from my cousins wife. My son and I had a go yesterday morning before breakfast (like you do!)

You will need...

4 Tablespoons Cake Flour
4 Tablespoons Sugar
2 Tablespoons Cocoa
1 Egg
3 Tablespoons of Milk
3 Tablespoons of Oil
3 Tablespoons of Chocolate Drops (if you want)
1 Mug

Here is what you do...

Add dry ingredients to the mug and mix well.

Crack an egg and add to your mug (I pre beated it with a fork). Be sure to mix it well to avoid pockets of flour.

Pour in milk and oil then mix well.



Add chocolate drops if you desire and a splash of vanilla essence.

Pop your mug into a microwave and zap for 3 minutes on high (1000 Watt). Wait patiently.



Wait until the cake stops rising (ours did not rise) and the cake sets in the mug.



Run a knife around the mug, tip the warm cake out and sprinkle icing sugar on the top then eat eat and eat!

Variegated thread

Is this yummy or what? I just had to do something with it. I pulled out my punch needle and began another project for another swap. (Hint: when you have not done something for a while and it does not work - read the instructions before you get grumpy)