Nagging is my specialty

I nag alot. No!!!! really I would never have guessed I hear you say. Well its true I do.

I know I do it but I just cant seem to stop.

It got so bad that I realised I had turned into horrible naggy parent. No one wants to be that parent do they. So I am trying to stop and part of that, was that I would no longer nag Jnr about the state of his room. As long as he kept the door shut so his sisters could not enter to get into any harm I was happy. Well sort of the inner anal OCD part of me hated it. Jnr thought all his Christmases had come at once.

Last night however Snr overruled this and he has to keep his room in some kind of order. I decided to keep out of it as I truly amsick of the sound of my own voice.

With holidays soom closing in on me I am scared of the anarchy that will ensue.

I came across this little gem





over at Modecokids.

So in the interests of less nagging and a small glimmer of sanity I hope to implement this little beauty and hope that it will result in less nagging.


Will keep you posted.

49 more sleeps

Till I get to see my most favourite group of men together (excluding husband and son of course) I will be the old enough to know better but doesn't give a fig lady boppping like mad (see really showing my age by using the term bop) at the front.


Eeeekkkk so excited.

Just for Gina

Hi Gina *waves* and my poor neglected readers (if I have any left). Life has been busy and I have been slack so here is a quick pictorial update as to why I have been so neglectful.

We went here




Am growing these (hardy but difficult)


Making heaps of these (am a little bit addicted to making aprons atm)


Went without comfort for a short period


And building one of these



And that folks explains my absence. Hopefully the message I received this afternoon on my phone was the kick up the butt I needed to start blogging again.

Oh and Gina get your arse onto Facebook

p.s Jo would love some in kitchen action shots of the aprons (especially the red one with the red splashback :-)

Hunters & Gatherers

Here is Jnr with his first offical (did it all by himself) catch.

Just legal bream.

Panfried with a bit of chilli, parsley and butter. With some sweet potato fries on the side.


The little bits that he deigned us to try were quite delicious.

MOre Sewing on a Sunday

This is becoming quite a productive habit of mine and just quietly I love it.

So here is a collection of stuff that I have made today and last week. The twin boys pram blankets (really crappy photos that I took on a windy day so had to hang on the clothesline - excuse the shadows).



A scarf I made using some Amy Butler that I had in my stash backed with pink flannel quite warm and cosy and pretty...


I have also made 2 aprons this week but no pictures I will wait until I get some action shots to blog about those.

A sneak peek at a little birthday gift.


And lastly the other day The Little One was super quiet you know so quiet you kind of gulp as you prepare yourself for major mayhem and destruction. No not this little angel she took her self into her sisters room and laid on a mattress that was out being used for cubby play time and was 'reading' awww bless her little cotton socks.

Sewing Sunday

After my morning trip to the markets to get my fresh fruit and veg for the week I decided to make a Flipsy Skirt.

Using some fabric from my ever growing hardly decreasing stash this little baby is on it's way to Canada for a birthday girl.

This really is such a great pattern. I deviated slightly from the pattern and only put belt loops on and no buttons or loops on the hem. I hope she likes it and that I get heaps of photos of her wearing it.

Scones and Aprons

The other week I made Lemonade scones my first ever attempt at making scones.



Whilst making said scones I came to the conclusion that I need an apron and not just any old apron - no way. So I head over to the Queen of Aprons Louise at Made by Miffy and ordered an apron in an hour kit complete with fabric. And if you didn't have kids I am quite positive you could actually make this in an hour. Very easy pattern to follow and the end results are rather spiffy if I do say sew (ha ha) myself.



(Excuse messy house in background but I did try to sew all day)


Snr has now put an order in for one - which I guess makes sense seen as he is head Chef and chief bottle washer. Now to find something suitably manly and not too emasculating.

Little Fairy

Only wants to be held at present, wakes up far too early but by god we love this little girl.



Have inlcuded a photo of my F&V shopping this morning at our local farmer's market. I am not too sure if it is as cheap as I once thought it was. Have a guess how much this lot cost which incidentally will not last me all week (gosh you don't think I am that organised do you!!!)

I have been sewing just really slack at blogging

As the post suggests I have actually been sewing quite a bit just slack at blogging.

I have been making a lot of these crossover shoulder bags for gifts and have been well pleased with some of my fabric combo's especially the vintage mushroom with green dot lining. Like last years crayon roll gift this year is the year of the bag.

I also have just finished a very cute pram blanket in pink for a new baby girl and I have on the machine 2 boy versions for a set of twins born earlier this month. Cluck cluck cluck

edited to add that my photography really does need some help. These shots are woeful.

Procrastination Skirt

This is a skirt I have had in my WIP box for longer than I care to share with you all. My very patient skinny, leggy friend is waiting for.

It is supposed to be 3 tiers of blue corduroy but because my friend has great pegs it was to be customised as a short skirt. So after sewing the 3 tiers together on one panel I deemed it to be too long and so cut off one tier and added a beautiful Amy Butler Lotus panel as a contrast hem. I hope it fits okay which I think my skinny friend is too skinny and it will be too big.

Dont you just hate skinny people and their problems...

p.s I do love you Mothership.

Musings on a whiteboard

Translation:

Mum likes to watch Powderfinger. What do you think mum likes to eat? She likes oysters.

Yes I do my boy yes I do indeed.

Op Shop Wednesday

And today we have a daisy theme. I never really find too many 'bargains' or great vintage type stuff whenever I go looking but today I had a feeling so strong that I even woke my sleeping baby to go into this shop and I was rewarded with a daisy tea cup and some very cool green daisy fabric (well it is a sheet actually) but it immediately reminded me of the Amy Butler Daisy Chain fabric.

Can't wait to have my tea out of that clean cup tonight.

Turning One

It is such a huge milestone but one that the recipient is really none the wiser about apart from looking back in old and worn photo albums.

Last week The Littlest One in our household passed this milestone, the last one to be celebrated in this house unless we have any post vasectomy surprise babies...bwahahahahahahaha

To say the year has gone by far too quickly is a huge understatement it truly has gone by in a blur. She is such a (normally) easy going little girl. Who goes with the ebbs and flow of a loud and enthusiastic family.


She has 6 teeth (those last 4 came through not so long ago) is standing and taking a few tentative steps but not officially walking yet. Loves her vegies but loves them even more with a dash of gravy. And because she is a big girl now she insists on feeding herself these days (much to my floors dismay)


We love you Little One all the way to the moon and back.



Special mention and big thank you's to our dear friend Hilly who decorated the cake for us...mwah

Summertime

Take me back to the sweet sounds, hot nights everything is gonna be all right in the summertime... (Thirsty Merc)

Well its over and tomorrow will really bring it home with the last day of Nippers.

The mornings are crisp and I am starting to dress the Little One in warm pj's (she has an aversion to blankets).

I miss you already summer come back soon now you hear.

I've seen it all now.

Yes that is right I can now officially say that I have seen and heard it all.

Jnr Hillbilly was invited to his first Tupperware party today. Yes that is right his first tupperware party.

What has the poor kid got to look forward to now when he becomes an adult?

The box is back home.

Emma has received her pay it forward gift and has photographed her goods (far better than I ever could) and with a very cute model.

Go check out Emma's blog and all her beautiful quilts.

8 & 9 months- a catch up

I have been a bit slack with my blog of late. November & December was rather hectic for the Hillbilly's and I just seem to be coming back into my self and am on the sewing machine when I can.

Anyway enough about that here is The Little One. In my eyes she hasn't changed all that much in the looks department. She is just like Jnr Hillbilly which probably explains all the "...isn't HE beautiful" comments we get. I just nod and agree I mean SHE really is rather gorgeous, who am I to argue.

December 2008 - 8 months old



Still only 2 teeth, but now, not only is she crawling but cruising around the furniture. Still can be rather picky on the food front but has a few firm favourites that we stick to. She has also discovered her voice and is rather fond of using it and using it well (read loudly) but hey she is cute we can forgive her.

January 2009



Hard to believe she will be one soon where has the past year gone. This time last year I was very pregnant and spending a lot of time whale like at the beach. It is funny though as two of the school mums are due in April so they are where I was last year it is funny now that I get to give that commiserating smile as they 'waddle' up to the gates at the end of the day.

Back to work (part time) next month eeek.

Pay it Forward - Sneak Peak

As the title says a sneak peak at my Pay it Forward




So Emma expect your little package in the mail shortly.

p.s Don't look too closely at my sewing ability just remember that I am new to all of this.

This week I am loving

Gordon's G&T.

I don't normally go for this 'alcopop' type drinks but this one is seriously refreshing.

Heaps of ice a wedge of lemon (preferably minus the mint like I have in mine) and away you go.

It sometimes makes Witching Hour that little more bareable.

Give it a go I promise you will like it.

I died

... and went to Jogger's Hell.


Who knew 60 seconds could feel like 2 hours and that 90 seconds could go so quickly.

And while I am whinging who started this friendly hello thing going on between joggers. I can barely breath let alone get out a hello. I tried to smile but I think it was more a grimace just know if you passed the lady walking/jogging this morning that I was trying to be friendly. And same friendly joggers if you see a lady curled up in a ball on the side of the jogging path on Wednesday can you call me an ambulance.

Thanks

I did it... finally.

Today I faced a fear...sewing buttonholes.

Oh boo hoo Ellie I hear you say so scary. Well for me it was. Being mostly self taught I have two little dresses in my UFO basket (it is a big basket) that needed buttons and buttonholes. So while Jnr and Baby Girl were off at the grandparents and Snr was on Little One duty I faced my fear. I was supposed to be catching up on some sleep but the sewing was calling me.

I can't show you too much of the actual item because it is part of a gift. But I just couldn't not share my victory be it small with blogland.


YAY for me today.

And this last one is another UFO that needed buttons and buttonholes. Not very happy with my button choice here but live and learn I say.

Fad Lover

I am a lover of FADS. Not typically popular ones but I get into something whether it be food, sewing or whatever and will do it till I am literally sick of it. FOr example when I was pg with the Little One I could eat Peanut Butter M&M's till the cows come home. Funny I should use the word cow because towards the end of that pregnancy I was looking a little bovine'ish. Anyway so every week I will post about my new love of the week, it could be an appliance it could be something I am eating or drinking. Just so you know I am in no way profitting from my endorsements I just like to share the love (however if someone feels the need to send me products so I can see if I love them - email me ;-p)

This week I am in love with my Zyliss Potato Peeler. I know this is seriously lame but this thing makes me want to peel vegetables. THe colour is funky and from someone who for the past 20 odd years since I have been coerced into peeling potatoes we have only ever owned those cheap crappy ones that you buy like 5 for $2. This one is seriously good.

I took this photo of my peeler after I peeled some beetroots from our garden to make into this salad I kind of invented (was pretty yumm I thought and the guests had seconds so it must have been okay).



I fyou need a new peeler I seriously recommend this one.

I don't do resolutions

because invariably I end up breaking them so instead I am going to attempt (that doesn't imply any negative connatations if I don't complete them does it!!!)

**to do the Couch to 5km running plan like my good friend Jodes (note to self buy some joggers)

**do more sewing (note to self - you do not need anymore fabric you have enough to clothe a small village)

**be calmer and not wig out over the little things (note to self get some valium or stock up on some good bubbles)

**follow a good skincare regime (note to self you ain't getting any younger this is a must)

**return dvd's on time (note to self you cannot keep relying on your namesake - yes there is another Ellie Mae out there and she works at my local Blockbuster - to keep deleting your late fees because she feels some kind of kinship to you)

**write Christmas cards this year (note to self don't make it 3 years running with no cards sent)

Lastly the very yummy Turkish Delight Ice Cream cake which the Hillbilly's partook in lieu of a Christmas cake.

And finally one of Baby Girl just doing a thorough check to make sure she didn't leave anything in her Santa Sack