Just Like Martha

Norwegian Fete

As I mentioned in an earlier post I helped a friend at a local fete, it was held by the SJOMANNSKIRKEN - the Norwegian Church Abroad which just happens to be quite local....the organisation was established to "secure the moral and religious education of Scandanavian Seafarers..." today it represents a "resource centre" for all Norwegians travelling internationally....it really was a lovely way to spend a Saturday (even if I was one of the only that spoke English LOL!)

Here are a few pics taken earlier in the day with the wonderful Norwegian 'local' produce on offer...

 
I couldn't resist some of these wonderful cookies cutters, they were sold in sets of three for only $7 - bargain...I have NEVER seen a cookie this size before, might be nice to trial at my Christmas Market?? 

And finally what fete would be complete without a home-baked stall...and Norwegian yummies at that....

 
Yes, a lovely day was had by all xx

I am such a lucky Girl.....

...to have such wonderful friends and family xx

Yes, I'll admit it, it was my Birthday yesterday...hard to keep a secret with www.janecurtis.typepad.com and www.frayedattheedge.typepad.co.uk both posting special Birthday messages on their blogs LOL...I don't mind I had the most wonderful day and was spoilt rotten...

Started the day with a long walk and yummy breakfast in Manly with my good friend Jean....Jane arranged a special girly lunch with all my good buds which was a lovely surprise...then out to dinner with close family friends..the celebrations continue today with a morning tea with my mum and dad and dinner out with hubby (just the two of us - perfect!) then another breakky harbourside with good friends in the morning and an afternoon session at the movies with a buddy....told you I was LUCKY!

Look at this beautiful card my good buddy Jane made me...very special..

And this one blew me away...a lovely lady that works with John...I make all the Birthday cakes for him to take into the office...they all call me "Martha"..she has gone to so much trouble - I Love it!

Enjoy the rest of your Saturday...oh and HAPPY HALLOWEEN XXX

Halloween is almost here...

Only a few more sleeps to Halloween..the time of year you either love or hate...love it as its kinda cute to get the kids dressed up and walk door to door asking for lollies (our street usually organises themselves and if you WANT to participate you hang a baloon on your letterbox - perfect)...and hate it as if you are not planning on participating the constant bashing at your front door long after its kids bedtime is very tiresome....

But I have to say love it or hate it, its becoming more and more popular in Australia..the shops are all decked out with all sorts of amazing creepy stuff to buy and decorate....perhaps we just need to 'go with the flow'....

A few of our friends 'get into the swing' so I have purchased some ghastly treats and decorated a cello bag....what do you think???

I am really pleased with the way they turned out!!

Happy Birthday Bryan...

Hello, back again after a busy morning in the kitchen getting ready for tonights Birthday Dinner ..our friend Bryan is celebrating a (lets just say) 'significant' Birthday and we wanted to make it extra special by having a surprise Dinner Party for him...first things first...a special Birthday card..

Part of his pressie...these are the yummy new chocs I am trying instead of my usual Rocky Road...

And one for each guest to take home that doubles as a placecard...

I wanted the dinner party to be special but there had to be some reference to the 'Birthday Boy'...

Well that's all I can show you had better get back to it...my kitchen beckons...we are starting off with a Cheese and Dip platter compliments of one of the guests followed by Asparagus served on pastry with hollandaise sauce....Atlantic salmon on a bed of mash, topped with deep fried chilli and a side dish of seasonal salad and corn couscous....Roasted pears with a toffee sauce and French vanilla incecream for dessert then of course Birthday cake...if anyone is still hungry (LOL) there are some choc treats to have with coffee and tea....my tummy is rumbling...time for a cuppa then back to it for me xx

Happy Mail

Today I received some HAPPY MAIL from my new blogging buddy Anne, all the way from Scotland...you may recall Anne and I met up for coffee one day when she and her hubby were on holidays in Sydney...and the rest they say is history...we keep in touch on a regular basis...go on over and visit her at www.frayedattheedge.typepad.co.uk and be inspired!!!

I recently won some RAK on her blog (for the un-initiated that's Random Act of Kindness = RAK - cute huh!) and today it arrived in the mail...lots of goodies for me to create with..

Lots of yummy stuff...cool animal print papers (maybe for the scrapbook pages of our recent trip to Dubbo zoo???) some great fabric (a Christmas decoration perhaps??), buttons, ribbon and REAL dyed wool (cards for sure), some 'local' postcards to put on my corkboard in my 'creative space' to remember my blogging buddy and last (but certainly not least) some very old pages from a book (ahh I think Anne knows me well and has been following my French book adventures..).

Anne, these are fantastic - I love them - thanks so much I feel very special xx

A Dust Storm...some notebooks..cards and cake!

Well most of Sydney woke this morning to an eerie sky..a severe dust storm had hit most of NSW bringing with it winds up to 90km/h...the skies looked thick with fog and glowed an eerie orange...

The sky finally cleared but the winds have been up ever since...a good day to stay inside (so much for my three loads of washing LOL) and create..

First some cards...

And come notebooks...yep more Birthdays coming up at school (before long everyone at Taylor's school will have one of these - LOL)..

I am loving these plasric bags Jane....we need to shop together more often!

After all this creating must be time for a cuppa and a slice of this yummy cake...

Vanilla and Coconut Cake with passionfruit icing ....yummo..after all a girl can not live on 'creating' alone..LOL..seriosuly this cake is good, the recipe was in the Sunday paper a few weeks back but if anyone would like a copy just leave me a comment.

Bye for now xx 

Babies, babies everywhere

Our extended family is expanding...there are three babies due within a month of each other so I have been busy gathering some nice baby gifts..

I also had a play with this baby blanket..embroidering a message with cottons and adding some cute buttons....the message says "With a butterfly kiss and a ladybug hug sleep tight little one like a bug in a rug"...

There are even more babies expected for some overseas and interstate friends...postage can be a killer so I came up with a gift that is made with luv but light and easy to post...its also not likely to break in the mail..

This was easy to make all you need is two pieces of fabric, some assorted ribbons (babies love textures so choose a variety of ribbons), something 'crunchy' (I recycled some bubble wrap), some polyester filling (available at Spotlight and other craft sores) and a little sewing (trust me my sewing skills are minimal)!

First decide on the shape, I chose a square, nothng hard or tricky about that, cut two pieces of fabric to size,  then pin various ribbons on one of the squares, right side up (make sure you face the ribbons the right way so when you turn the shape the right way they are placed correctly...then machine stitch the ribbons..

Then place the two pieces of fabric together (right sides facing in) and sew the 'something crunchy' along with the squares together leaving a gap so you can turn it out the right way and fill with a little stufing...alternatively you can simply sew the right sides together then includes 'something crunchy' with your stuffing (either way works fine)..if you have baby wipes lying around (they are constantly used in my craft space LOL) then the packet once empty makes a great sound and inclusion for this toy.

Fill with a little stuffing (doesn't have to be too 'fat' - the idea is the baby can hold on to it) and then hand sew the opening...and voilla..a handmade gift in no time at all!

A visit with a fellow crafter.....

The world of 'blogging' is a funny one...years ago we would never thought of meeting someone we didn't know in a strange country for a cuppa...but, luckily these days we begin to blog and 'meet' all sorts of wonderful like-minded people along the way...now if you are able to get together for a face-to-face chat all the better...

A while ago I had the pleasure of meeting (via my blog) a lovely lady called Anne who lives in Scotland and has a fabulous blog called www.frayedattheedge.typepad.co.uk (don't you just love the name!)...she is a very talented knitter, quilter and sewer extrodanaire...Anne and her hubby are currently in Australia on a holiday and I was honoured that they gave up some of their precious holiday time to meet with me for a cuppa and chat!

Of course we had nothing to chat about (LOL) and easily spent a few hours swapping blog experiences and chatting about all things crafty, I look forward to keeping in touch 'electronically' xx

What I am loving right now.....

Thought I'd post a few pics of what I am loving right now.....

 

My own 'creating space', tucked away where I can potter to my hearts content (when I find time) and leave my mess (which I always seem to do - LOL) now I know its not one of those glamorous CRAFT rooms that I drool over but hey its a start, its mine and I LOVE it...

 

Our new chandeleir...we have wanted one for sooo long, it is now proudly hanging in our dining room - very nice don't you think?

 

Our new deck area....a very nice place to sit and ponder..lovely with a cuppa in the morning and the fire has come in very handy on cold wintery afternoons with a glass of vino....LOVE it...

 

Hmmm you may well ask what this is....they kinda look like pineapple rings don't they?....well its the girls creating 'artwork' whilst waiting for the biccies to cook...LOL cute huh!

 

In case you can't read this it says "Just Like Martha"...luv that your children have to support you!

 

I am certainly LOVING that my kids enjoy baking as much as I do....

 

I LOVE these stunning tulips that my dear buddy gave me..thanks Jen xx

And finally.......

 

I LOVE that I finally have started to gather a collection of cards that I am going to try and sell on ETSY, such stunning flowers and they look great as greeting cards...what do you think? Almost ready to unveil my Etsy venture.....

So its almost Wednesday and these are some of the things I love to LOVE at the moment...what are you loving right now?

Back to Nature

 We recently enjoyed a weekend up north with friends...stunning winter weather encouraged us to go for some lovely bushwalks and along the way my camera went into overdrive....

 

 

 

One of our great walks led us to discover Maitland Bay with its desserted beach we shared with no-one...a great place to picnic and take more photos...

 

 

Are you still with me???

Anyway it got me thinking..... I have so many gorgeous tropical flower shots from our time up in Far North Queensland...think I'll organise some card sets to show them all off and have a go at selling them on Etsy..something I have wanted to do for some time (set up an Etsy shop) seems like there is not time like the present...stay tuned!