I'm back!!

So it's been a long time between blogs! And i'll tell you why. This picture on the left says it all - Yes - Uni. I have been studying hard and trying to get through to my exams. The one on the left (Contemporary Indigenous Australia) is done and dusted and i am awaiting my results which will hopefully be released on Friday. I have to say that i have enjoyed it so far even though the time restrictions with a family of two adults and five children has been challenging. 

I do have one exam left though and it is my Sociology exam. It is a deferred exam as i was sick on the day and had to apply to sit it later. All the deferred exams are being held in December so i am about to get back into study again.

We have also been galavanting around the countryside and spent 3 glorious weeks in sunny Queensland in October. The next 3 shots are snippets of our trip and i will try to do a whole blog about our holiday. This pic above is at our accommodation in Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast. This is the rooftop spa (which Asha DID NOT like one little bit). Everyone jumped in every night for a steamy hot spa!!

 This pic on the right is of Morgan and Asha on a tea cup ride at Aussie World (also on the sunshine coast).

 On the Giant Slide at Aussie World! fun. And yes i did go on this . . . and nearly everything else.

 But as all trips have to . . . it came to an end. We got home to discover that YES! we needed a new washing machine. So we toodled on in to Harvey Norman and grabbed an 8.5kg LG front loader. I have wanted a front loader for ages as i want to build a bench in the laundry. We had also been struggling along with a tiny 4.5kg washer for many years (and with 7 of us i really mean struggling!) so i am thrilled to be spending way less time in the laundry!!

 While we were in Queensland we went to a market up on Tamborine mountain where i was inspired to make these little pencil pockets. 


I searched for a pattern online that i liked but couldn't find one so i drew up my own. 


The next pic will not turn but you get the idea. I made one each for Jory an Asha to take to places like church or in the car. Anywhere they need to be amused really.

 I am really happy with how they turned out and the boys have already been getting plenty of use out of them.

 So after so many months of studying a little sewing got me inspired!! I decided to get some stuff made . . . just for fun. Now sewing may not sound like the most usual thing to do for fun but i find it really relaxing and satisfying. My grandma (who died just over 4 years ago) gave me her Janome memory craft 4000 quite a few years before she passed away and i am very grateful to her (and also for the things she taught me about sewing) as i would never have been able to afford a decent machine so early on in my life. 

The first thing i decided to make were these super cute dresses for my neices (on Heaths side). They are a Simplicity pattern and the fabric is just from boring old spotlight but i just love how they turned out!

 

I modified the pattern to suit my own taste as the original pattern called for a tulle skirt to go underneath - i replaced it with a nice white linen trim. This is much more modern i think.

I also changed the waistband as the pattern only called for a white ribbon to go around and be tied at the front. I attached a white linen band and stopped sewing at the side seams to allow for it to be tied at the back.

I also made up a cute little headband for each of them. How cute do they look??!!!

I made them in a slightly bigger size as they're mothers wanted them this way so that they will fit them next summer too.
 

I have also had a birthday along the way and i asked Heath if he would buy me a cabinet for the dining room so i can store all my sewing stuff including my machine (this will allow the use of the dining table again) 

 This is the cabinet i chose and matches well with our dining table. I really love it as i can have all my stuff sorted and within easy reach. I can't take credit for the idea though as it was inspired here

http://tonicoward.blogspot.com/2011/07/where-i-sew.html

 Toni's sewing room is really cool and i loved the cabinet she has all her fabrics sorted in to.

 I grabbed some boxes to put my patterns in while in Hobart which will help to keep it neat!!!!

 So now it's time to get a few things made for Christmas. This fabric on the left is on its way to being something cool for Makayla. But thats another story.


Kind of a boring sewing blog i know but this fabric on the right is a true 'vintage' peice from my Grandma's stash. I know it could be great for something but i just don't know what?? If i use some kind of classic pattern then it will just look old. I was thinking of some kind of modern funky thing that will really make it shine! 
Any ideas??!! Please help.

Easter Weekend

Warning - this post has A LOT of photo's on it.

So for Easter i made the boys some Pj's. They were going to be for their birthdays in July and August but i felt like sewing and i had their choices of fabric there so i went for it. Plus i can knock thise ones up in no time once i've got the pattern organised. This pair below is Jory's choice! Skateboarders!! Kinda cute.

Plus i decided to make him a little sleeping mask to match. He was stoked with it as he has a thing about them and has been using one that my mum gave him. The pic below he is actually asleep and this is how we found him! Cute!

Below is Chey modelling his pj's in his choice of fabric plus a sleep mask to match 'because he has always wanted one' but after the first night he said he didn't want to wear it anymore. Brat!

Jory being radge!

And posing again!

On Easter morning Jory yet again had a long string trail to follow in order to reach his eggs. He requested this from Easter Bunny as he has enjoyed it before. The older kids had them on their beds as they now have the knowledge of the 'secret' about easter bunny!!

After a long hunt he found his prize. I don't usually like the boxes that have things other than eggs in them as i feel that it adds to the commercialism of easter and promotes buying actual gifts for children rather than just the token eggs. Plus i HATE merchandise! ie. stuff that is directly targetted at children like disney princess doonas and ben 10 bags and every other peice of crap that advertisers throw at child comsumers! (sorry for the whinge but it bugs me A LOT! and it bugs me more that parents are drawn into it and encourage children)   BUT . . . . . .  yes Jory received a Ben 10 breakfast set - as in the moment i thought what the hell, it'll probably be the last year he doesn't know the easter bunny 'secret'. So i have gone to the dark side and joined the masses in the blatant consumerism! Will i do it again? I hope not but i'm not perfect.

You see, Rad rabbit choc is not an actual cartoon or anything that has had advertising thrown into prime 'child viewing' time on TV.

Anyway, enough of that! Asha was happy to see these little fellows on his change table. He loves chickens and ducks so these were the perfect choice for him.

He didn't know they had choc in them yet though.

And then he worked it out. . . . . .

And ate chocolate for breakfast . . . . .

So after going to church on Sunday and reflecting on the true meaning of Easter, we decided that we should spend Easter Monday/Anzac day (yes! combined - don't even let me get startted about that one!!) going motorbike riding. Don't worry, Heath and the kids went to the dawn service (which they do every year) and i stayed with Asha as we thought it a bit mean to get the 1 year old out of bed at 5.30am.

Below is the remnants of the bus that Heath's dad and some friends towed out the bush. It used to be all kitted out with beds and windows and a fire and an annex with a floor. There was even some criminal living in it at one stage and to his credit he made some improvements. Heath had heard recently that someone had trashed the old bus but we were not prepared for the severity of the damage. It's just a shell now, with peices of it strewn into the bush! Like matresses etc and it now looks like the scene of some kind of murder.

It's a real shame as it was there for anyone to use. Anyway, as it took ages to get out there and after nearly getting bogged in the process we decided to make base there regardless of what had happened to the bus.

Below is Jory on the Quad bike.

And with Chey on the back just mucking around.

Asha having a very very very slow go.

And with Daddy!!! (on Makayla's bike)

Below - getting ready for when he's old enough.

Asha with Makayla

Everyone (except me) had a ride and then it was time for lunch so we gathered some wood and got a fire going.
Jory was thinking big

Heath cooked us up some packet hamburgers ( or cardboardies as they are better known for obvious reasons! lol) and some sausages for lunch. In bread with sauce, no plates. Just good fun.

Asha thought he was helping to gather the wood for the fire!!

Chillin and having lunch and a chat.

The kids had a play in the bus. Below is Chey posing (of course!)

Morgan about to climb up on top

And Jory being the monkey that he is!

Also, pretending to be the driver, i guess!

See even Asha had a ride!!! He thought he was part of the gang!!!!

And then he had a read of the papers headlines!

At the end of the day it was time to load up and head home. . . . . .

It was a great day and and awesome place to ride. We will definately be going back soon and hopefully i will have a bike by then!!!!!!! And it would be good if we had a 4 x4 by then as well rather than Heath trying to take us 4x4ing in my Tarago!!! We were lucky to make, i tell ya! Some spots were so deep it would have buried the Tarago up to the windows.

Anyway, we all felt refreshed this morning so it was well worth the trip!!
Oh and i'm not too sure what Asha is putting in his mouth here but he's been fine so it was probably food!!!

Happy Easter Everyone :-)