Christmas cake port balls

I have started our yummy Christmas cake port balls. I soak a Christmas cake in port overnight. Roll them into balls and dip them in dark chocolate. They a

1900 piece of lace

This piece of lace belonged off a dress of my great grandmother. my mum passed it on to me. The mother in the photo is my great grandmother do you think I should use it???

Or keep it?

Getting into the christmas spirit

This week I went to Spotlight and bought a panel to make an advent calendar.

It was so easy,  lots of fiddly little squares to sew on but apart from that very simple, if you find one have a go, the children will love it,  a freddo frog in each little box, what child wouldn't love that, but if you don't want to put chocolates in, maybe a crayon, or something like that.

Laying it out ready to make a start.

 

 

 

 

 

Finished calendar and a cute little christmas corner in the dining room.  The children in my day care setting helped me put it all together.  The santa comes out every year and was kindly given to me from Chrisartist.

 

I got this beautiful handmade Samantha robinson tea pot and cup for my birthday. I love it so much.

Little patchwork blanket for Finn

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I made a little patchwork blanket for a friends four year old son,  lots of squares with pirates,  basketballs,  four wheel drive jeeps,  and cars,  just what little boys love.  I backed it with Thomas the tank engine polar fleece,  It is just the right size to carry/drag around.  Have fun Finn

Sugar bowl Made in England

I was going through the cupboard and wondered why I had never got this lovely colorful sugar bowl out and actually used it!  It looks so pretty on the bench and everyone comments on it now.  It has made in England on the bottom, what is cute is the plate is part of the bowl, so no dropping the plate when you pick the bowl up, I presume it is to rest spoons on when you have used them?

color pencil rolls

Months ago I was asked if I could make a pencil roll,  I finally got around to it today, for some reason it popped into my head and away I went, no pattern - just what I thought would work.  Probably not professional but it does the job and little people will love it I'm sure,  great to carry in your bag and pull out with some paper to keep busy little people occupied for a while.  I made two, one for a girl and one for a boy. 

Jewelry sent out from England in the seventies

This jewelry (costume) once belonged to my three spinster great Aunties in England.  It came out to Australia in the seventies.  The collection sat in a glass dish at my mothers house and now sits at my house but I have passed it onto my daughter who treasures it.  Going through it there are many matching pairs, some clip on, some with pins and backs.  There are two pairs and stamped on the back are west germany! what a find!  I have them sitting on doilies which I have a plan for - stay tuned for the outcome.

Family wedding ring

This beautiful Rose Gold wedding ring belonged to my Grandmother Elizabeth Fidler who married in 1914 in England
It then became my mothers Elsie Bennion married in 1937 in England.

In the year 2000 my mother passed it on to me and although I was already married I chose to wear this lovely Rose gold ring as it was such a beautiful thing my mother had given me and meant so much every time I looked at it on my finger.

Sadly my knuckle has swollen and it no longer fits me. But every now and then I take it out and look at it, what I love most of all though is my Mums handwriting explaining the years of marriage.

It reads: Elsie Bennion
My mothers wedding ring 1914
and became mine 1937
I then wrote and Judys 2000, by this time Mum wasn't up to writing. Something I will never forget.

Sewing on a wet miserable day

Nothing nicer than a warm room, cups of tea and the sewing machine, that is after a quick trip to Spotlight to look at all that lovely material. As you can see in one pic even the cat wasn't going outside, she joined me at the kitchen table. Today it was apron making.

Sydney 2000 Olympic torch on loan

My friend Lynn carried an Olympic torch in Sydney in 2000, she was nominated as a carrier and loved every moment of it, she kindly loaned me the torch this week for my day care children to have a look at and hold, each one loved holding the torch and was very excited to be just like the games going on in London right now. Because I can't put any of the daycare children on we photographed my 11 week old grand-daughter Siobhan lying next to the torch just so she didn't miss out! Here she is in a pic, isn't she adorable.

Pillow for big boy bed

My two year old grandson has gone into a big boy bed, He loves elephants so I thought I would make him a pillow for his new bed, African animals on one side with a pocket and inside the pocket I put a toy elephant, he can keep anything he likes in the little pocket. I wonder just what he will take along to bed? Can't wait to see a pic of him in his bed with his new pillow.

quick and easy quilt top

I found this panel at Spotlight and just sewed it over the top of a cot quilt, it has brightened up an old but still good quilt and looks nice and bright for my new grand-daughter.

Bibs for Siobhan

This morning I enjoyed dragging the sewing machine out and having a relaxing sunday with cups of tea,nice music and running up bibs for our grand-daughter. 4 weeks have gone so fast and her mum is finding the bought bibs just don't seem to be thick enough. Of course I did'nt mind one bit making a few for the collection. In the photo of the little darling she is wrapped in the crocheted blanket my Mum made 31 years ago - two generations have now used it.

Siobhan Elizabeth O'Malley has arrived

Nanna Jude is proud to announce the early (23 days) but safe arrival of Siobhan (pronounced shh vaughan), on Friday 25th May. 6lb 14 ozs Mother and baby both doing well. I'm sure my daughter Kate will blog as soon as she is up to it.

We are all so thrilled for Kate and Tom - Welcome to the world Siobhan.

Egg stripping from the trout

Every year the Inland fisheries have an Open Day at the Great Lake (central Higlands of Tasmania), people come to watch the eggs being stripped from the Trout ready to hatch out into little fish. It's a great day and thousdands go to watch. It was very cool, but I was prepared with my new gumboots given to me by my hubby for Mothers Day. Nice warm fire at the shack and lots of wood collecting - and cups of tea - I was in my element. Here are a few pics of the fish and their eggs.

Hungry caterpillar cushion

My darling little grandson is turning two next week, his theme for the party is The Hungry Caterpillar, so I went to spotlight, bought a panel, did a bit of chopping and turned it into a cushion for the little darling. I am sure he will like it don't you?

My dear friend Dendra's 50th

My dear friend Dendra celebrated her 50th birthday this week, we celebrated with afternoon tea and she opened her lovely crystal candle stick holder off me and just loved it. I included some yummy chocolate coated raspberries too.

Cheese scones

Today is Anzac day and instead of Damper I made the next best thing
Cheese Scones (Lest we forget) I think my Mum would be proud

Adding to my Hull collection

I came across some more Hull U.S.A pottery in a local OP Shop my collection is growing.

cradle for Baby O

I couldn't resist this beautiful cradle for our darling grand-daughter due in June. Hanging over the edge is the beautiful crocheted blanket my Mum made me back in 1980, and my daughter Kate who is due in June actually came home from hospital wrapped in this blanket 31 years ago. I am so glad I have kept it and can pass it on down the line.