The new member of our family.

No.... I have not given birth yet. I still have about 17 weeks to go (touch wood) until that happens, but yesterday I had another little baby join our family. A new sewing machine!


A couple of days ago I did not even think about buying a new sewing machine. I was pretty happy with my old one. However, I was in Spotlight and a lady was buying a overlocker using the 35% off voucher.

That night I was thinking in my sleep (which you do) and I reaslied that I had the Spotlight sale catalogue that had sewing machines in it. The sale did not start until 27th December, but for VIP members you could get the same specials on 24th December - plus there was still the voucher that they had put out that was valid until the 24th which gave you an additional 35% off a single item (even if it was on sale)

So on 24th December I made a trip to Spotlight and I enquired about the machines. They retailed at $799.00 - but in the sale catalogue they were $599.00 and with my 35% off voucher - total $389.35! Thanks very much.

Yesterday, after I gathered all of my Christmas money (and some of Mat's) I went and got my machine. The lady told me to be careful on the way out of the shop that I was not mugged. I had gotten the last one - and quite a few people had already been in that morning asking for them.

Now I just have to get used to it. It is so different from my old machine. I had to read the instructions to thread the bobbin! Now that we are past that milestone - it is all good!

A simple dress for the last hoorah

It is the last hoorah for my sewing machine today.

I got this sewing machine just over a year ago. It has been a great beginners machine, but the time has come to upgrade it. If you know anyone that wants to purchase a great Brother XL-2620 - email or leave me a comment.

I thought that seeing I am getting my new machine tomorrow, I thought it would only be fitting to make something on it as a last hoorah. I wanted something simple to complete while Ella was having a sleep. The Lil Blue Boo Sundress Tutorial says that this dress can be finished in 30-45 mins. I think I must be out of practice as it took me a bit longer than that. Actually Ella finished her sleep and Mat had to babysit for a while so that I could finish the dress.


The fabric is from Spotlight. I bought it on Wednesday when I was killing some time whilst waiting to pick up Mat from work. I have not been in there for months and spotted it straight away. Only $6.99/metre and this only used half a metre - so a bargain dress.


Trying to get Ella to pose for photos these days is a nightmare, and I have included some of our outake pics.

Stay tuned for my new baby tomorrow. I can't wait!

Little cuddly animals

We are currently getting ready for the arrival of a little boy. I know it is still 4 months away, but first 5 months have gone very quickly, so I expect that the next 4 will fly by even quicker.

I bought the flannel for the Valeri Wells Urban Baby quilt back in August. This is just before my morning sickness set in and I still had energy. I planned to make it for a friend of mine who had just given birth to a little boy. Maybe buying it was what brought on my morning sickness. So instead of making the quilt, the fabric was banished to my stash, until I knew someone that was having a boy, and I bought some clothes as a present instead.

Little did I know that it would be me that was having a boy, so last week, I got the urge to make my first quilt.

Once I started, it was addictive, and I must say that this quilt was finished pretty quickly. I was like a woman posessed.

Mind the stains on the flannel - my iron decided to spit all over it. Needs a wash and maybe a new iron.

back panel

I am in love with this quilt. Ella has taken quite a shine to it also, and she likes to cuddle up with it in the pram whilst watching TV (that needs a photo of its own) I cannot wait to start decorating the nursery for the arrival of my little boy.

A special thanks needs to go to my Olfa rotary cutter and my Olfa cutting mat - without you two I would not have been able to complete this project.

I love to colour

On the paper! On the paper! Need I say more??

Why that is such a lovely dress

It feels great to finally be back sewing. Yesterday was a rare day to myself. No Ella and no Mat. What was I to do for 1/2 a day on my own..... Sew!

I wanted something quick and easy that I could finish in one sitting. I decided upon the 3 way dress from Ottobre 3/2009. The only problem with the pattern, the sizing was from 92cm - Ella is probably 10cm shorter than this.


I didnt make the bottom panel as long as the pattern stated and I did not add any seam allowance. It did turn out way too short to wear as a dress, but teamed with some white leggings it looks lovely as a long top.



My only problem with the patten is that there is way too much fabric in the front of the dress. The photos are not too good, as Ella is coming down with yet another cold, and started crying as soon as the camera came out.

I will make this pattern again, as I think it is a lovely summer dress, however, I am going to take some of the bulk out of the front, just so it does not balloon as much - and add some length so that it can be worn as a dress.

A lovely thing happened today, we were out shopping and a lady behind us on the escalators commented about Ella's lovely dress. It is nice to get a compliment, especially when you have made the clothes yourself.

Why do mothers do this to themselves?

Last year, being an over ambitious mother, I decided that I was going to make Ella a double tiered fondant cake. It is not that I am a cake decorator or anything like that, and I had never made one before, but I had watched quite a few You Tube videos, and I thought that it looked pretty easy. I found a cake decorating shop and I went and bought all the supplies that I would need and a bit extra for practising. I wasnt completely stupid, I gave myself about a month to practice on styrafoam cakes.

This year, I was planned to make Ella another fondant cake, but I dont know where the time went.

Last week I bought the Womens Weekly Birthday Cake book, I intended to make something out of there, which I am sure would be simplier than making another fondant cake and a lot cheaper too.

Mat asked why I had bought the book as Ella is a massive Dora the Explorer fan and I should have just make her a Dora cake. So a Dora cake it was - how hard could it be.

I hired a Dora the Explorer tin - $5.00 and bought all of the colours and icing $55.00 - gee I didnt realise it would be that expensive to make a small Dora cake.

A good idea might have been to make the cake (or at least iced it) after Ella had gone to sleep. I am only just getting used to having a little helper as last year I had a one year old that did not walk and did not want to help. This year, I had a little helper - but 2 year olds and cake colouring dont really mix.

This is what I was working too - now I certainly do not have the patience for all of those little blobs - plus I have not acutally realised this this Dora is a lot bigger than the outline on the tin - so not as much detail could go into it - and it made it more fiddly to work on.

The Dora Cake un-iced. Thank goodness it came out of the tin. I did not read the 'tin instructions' before I made the cake and it said not to use butter or margarine to line the tin - ooops.... but after a couple of hard wacks on the top of the tin it popped out all in one piece. Note to self - read instructions before you do things, not afterwards.

Everyone needs a helper

All that pure icing sugar.....

This is the bench after it had been cleaned twice. Are they little Ella hand prints to go with the red colouring

Bath time after all the fun

After a few hours of icing, a long soak in the bath for Ella and a lot of cleaning up, this is my Dora the Explorer. I am pretty happy with how it turned out.

Can you tell who it is?

Maybe I should have had a practice. I was pretty ambitious before hand and bought enough cake mix for 2 cakes, one to go to daycare on Tuesday. That idea is scrapped as I cannot think of anything worse making this cake again (well in the next day or so anyway)

Next year maybe I will stick to a bought cake, or an icecream cake. Ella loves icecream - but knowing myself I will spend hours making another over ambitious cake, just because as a mother that is what we do.

Its a.........

I have thought from as soon as I got pregnant that I was going to have another little girl. The feeling was so strong. I thought I was having a girl when I was pregnant with Ella, but this time, I was dead certain. I had not even entertained the idea that we were having a boy. I had had people look at the 12 week scan shots and using the nub theory, the guess from everyone was that we were having a girl. I did quizzes and ring tests and they all said girl - except for the Chinese gender prediction test - it said 'boy' but I thought it was stupid, it did not know what it was talking about. Mat was resigned to the fact that he was going to have a house full of girls and he was going to have to go and get a male dog to get more testosterone in the house.

We had our morphology scan today. I have been waiting for this scan like a child waits for Christmas. I applaud the people that can wait until the birth to find out what they are having, but for me, waiting until 19 weeks is long enough. It is like a half way surprise for me. I thought that it would be routine and they would confirm that we were indeed having a girl, even though over the last day or so the thought that we might be having a boy had started to creep into my mind.

Little baby was being difficult this morning and was laying across my stomach with its back facing us and it head hidden (and its little girl or boy bits) so it took about an hour of measurements and prodding until they got to the money shot.

What do we have.........

A boy!

I couldnt believe it! I was speechless. I expected a girl. Mat is extremely happy and was smiling like a cheshire cat the rest of the scan and just shaking his head. I had my heart set on a girl - for the reason that I have 3 brothers and I always wanted a sister and you always want for your kids what you didn't have yourself.

So Ella, you are not going to get a little sister, but a healthy little brother is just as good. Plus you know what that means now.

SHOPPING!!!

Two today

***warning - shameless mother post ***

Today my little girl turns two. At this time we would have been making our way to the hospital. My contractions had started at 8pm the night before and they have been very painful all night (Ella was posterior) and 7 mins apart from when they started. The hospital told us to stay at home until they got to 5mins apart, but after 12 hours of contractions (still 7 mins apart) and no sleep we were told to come in. Flash forward another 14.5 hours, three epidurals and a lot of stitches later, I had my beautiful little girl. She was born at 10:25pm weighing 3.250kgs or 7 pounds 2 ounces in old money. Length 47.5 cm. Ella was born on her due date - so she must be lucky.

Within 24 hours, she started having breathing difficulties and ended up in Special Care Nursery for 4 days

It amazed me at that time, with how fierce your love is for someone that you have just met.

Two years have gone by in a whirlwind - I say to Ella on a regular basis that I will take her back to maternity and they will shrink her back down to a newborn (where she cant move and cant tear my house apart).





In all honesty, as much as I complain about my house, I wouldn't change it for the world. Ella has changed so much and it is amazing to see the difference each day. Sometimes I yearn for that little baby again, but I am grateful for the little girl that I have growing before me.

Happy birthday little girl - looking forward to a lot more birthdays to come (and maybe a clean house)

Me-me gone?

Ella will be turning 2 on 3rd December - so it is just on a week away. Ella has always been a big fan of the dummy and she was given her first dummy when she was in Special Care Nursery soon after she was born as she had a tube down her throat. Since then it has been a regular occurance and shows up in many photos.


We always said that by 2 the dummy would have to go. It has been greeping up on us and she is still pretty dependent on it. She uses it to sleep and when she is upset and as we generally have about 5 or 6 kicking around at one time, she will find one in the house and have it in her mouth at random times during the day.

This week all of those dummy's went missing. For some reason or another we searched and searched, but could not find any. So what a perfect time to stop using them.

So we have told Ella that me-me has gone. She walks around saying "me-me gone" and we say that it has gone. So far we have gone three nights without the dummy and doing pretty well.

Hopefully by Ella's birthday we will be totally dummy (or me-me) free.

Handmade Kids Giveaway

I used to post about giveaways all the time. I am yet to win one, so I have not entered for a while, but this one is a great one, and must be entered and blogged about.

Handmade Kids are having a giveaway. Two prize packs one for the boys and another for the girls.

Make sure you check out the Handmade Kids blog and leave a comment to gain an entry.

Wordless weekend - hatching.

From England to wake

*** Warning! Image heavy post! Warning.!***

It will be 7 years on Boxing Day since Mat and I arrived in Australia to start a new life. I had lived in England for nearly 2 years with him, so I was looking forward to returning home to an Australian summer. So much has changed in that time. We have gotten married, had a baby, moved more times than I care to count.

In England Mat would not have counted himself as a strong swimmer. In the time that he has lived in Australia he has changed into a beach regular, trying his hand at surfing and body surfing. This weekend was another weekend for firsts for not just for Mat, but for Ella too.

Ella is obsessed with water. She has been on the ski boat before and loves the waves and especially when the boat jumps over waves. This was her first time of being in the river and being on the tube.

All dressed ready for a day on the water.

A few false starts

Starting off gently

A bit more speed

Give Ella a few more years and I am sure that we will have her out on a pair of ski's.

After the fun of the tube, it was down to the serious task of learning to wake board. I would have loved to have a go, but being pregnant, I had to sit it out, but I am waiting for next summer when it will be my turn.

Firstly, to start on the knee board, just to get the feel of the water and to learn some balance. Mat took to this quickly and soon enough he was having a duel with Dave on tandem ropes.



Then after an exhibition from Jason and Dave how wake boarding was done, Mat had a go. It certainly was not as easy as he thought it would be. He tried quite few times at trying to get up. He was just about to give up, and said that he would have one more go, and then he was calling it a day.



He got up, and stayed up. I could not have been more proud, screaming from the back of the boat as he went down the river. He fell a couple of times and got up each time again. I am sure that next time, he will be learning to jump the waves with the best of them.


For the time being, I will post some pics of Jason showing us how it should be done.




Thanks to Jason for the weekend out on the boat. We had a great time! Looking forward to doing it again soon.

A little bump

I have been quiet of late. I can no longer blame the morning sickness, as that has finally left (about 14 weeks) but I have been slack and I am out of the habit of sewing. I have made some progress to get back into it, cutting out 4 pairs of O+S Puppet Show shorts, which Ella desperately needs with summer hitting us.

On the baby front, I thought I would post an update. Probably not the most interesting thing for everyone else, but when I was pregnant with Ella I only took photos from 35 weeks onwards. This time I am determined to take more photos.

Here is my little bump at 16 weeks. You will have to excuse the quality of the photo - it was taken on my iphone - with a grubby mirror (note to self to clean it before taking photos) My hand looks huge in this photo (which I swear is of normal size)

I have been having flutters for the last couple of weeks and a few little thumps here and there.

The countdown is on to find out what we are having..... only 20 days to go.

Wordless Weekend - the cool kid

Wordless Weekend

What Ella received in the EB swap

I posted earlier about what I made for the swap, but I need to also post what Ella received in the swap.

I cannot remember really what I said Ella liked, but I think it was Dora the Explorer, cats, birds and books.

I think that Ella's package came from Kylie (Buttercup-Bob) - if I am wrong, please let me know.

Mind the bed hair

In the package there was a little Dora the Explorer bag - Ella is a massive fan and as soon as she saw the bag, she started pointing out both Dora and Boots - saying their names over and over again.

The little bag was filled with....

Two little birds, that DD will have fun with. I might make these into a little mobile for her to hang up in her new 'big girls' bedroom.

And last but not least, a little Dora zippered purse.

This is perfect for storing all of Ella's me me's (dummy's) we always seem to lose them and dont have one when we need it in the middle of the night - so this will come in very handy.

Thanks Kyls for all your hard work - they are most appreciated.

Thanks also to Emma - for all your hard work in organising the swap!

Its opening day in the EB Stocking Filler Swap

It is opening day in the EB Stocking Filler Swap. Last swap, I was so organised and had my item made weeks in advance. This time I was grateful for the 5 weeks (or so) that we were given to make and send our item.

I knew from the beginning what I wanted to make and was also sure that I had enough fabric to make it. I probably should have checked my fabric stash a little sooner, because when I checked last Thursday, I realised that I had only bought 0.5 metres of fabric and it was not enough, so I needed to make a quick (45 min drive) to Spotlight, where they had sold out of the fabric I wanted. Emergency averted with some more fabric purchased, and this is what I came up with.

I sewed for Ruby who was 6 years old. My brief was that she loved girly colours, cooking and playing babies.



Every good chef needs an apron, and I thought it would be good to have plastic on the outside, so that it could be wiped off easily.

To add a personal touch, I put Ruby's name on the pocket.

And an extra little surprise - gingerbread men cookie cutters. I hope that Ruby likes her present.

EB Stocking Filler Swap.

My sewing machine and I have been taking a break from each other for the last couple of months. I have been getting to know the couch (and the toilet bowl) during this time.

I am glad to say that I am back, and finally feeling good. I think that the morning sickness (or should it be called 'all day sickness') has left (touch wood)

My energy came back just at the right time for me to get my item completed for the EB Stocking Filler Swap.



All I can say at this time, is that I am sewing for a little girl - well I thought that this would be obvious from the fabric choice.

Opening day is this Friday.

Missing In Action

I have been very quiet of late, but I have a good excuse.

I have had a little bean that has been making me quite sick (which lasts all day) and very tired. So if it has been a choice to sew or to lie on the couch when Ella has her daily nap, the couch has been winning.

I am currently 12 weeks pregnant - which makes the baby due beginning of May 2010.

My morning sickness lasted until just before 12 weeks with Ella, and I was hoping that this would be the same, however, it seems to be continuing at the moment. Hopefully my sewjo will return soon.

What happened to Lily?

What happened to my cute little puppy. When we got her, just on two months ago, she was a dear little thing that you could pick up and cuddle. Here is a picture of her to refresh your memory.


As I have been MIA for a while, I have not been doing any updates of her, but I was shocked to see both of the pictures to see how much she has grown in two months.


I know she has grown and she has grown alot, and she has quite a bit more growing to do - she is currently nearly a tall as my full grown Boxer and weighs 20kgs. I think she was the runt of the litter, but with the size of her paws, I think she is going to be quite big.

Wordless Weekend

The view from our driveway

Wordless Weekend

Wordless Weekend

Butterflies

It seems that before Ella was born she has always been surrounded with butterflies. Her bedding has embroidered butterflies on it, there are butterflies on her walls, on her backpack and now on her clothes. When I originally saw this Timeless Treasures Butterfly fabric, I knew I had to get it for Ella.

Yesterday, after a busy weekend, I wanted to cut out a few simple things that I could sew together today when Ella was having her nap. Ella had a great nap today (3 hours) so I got both items sewn together.

Firstly, the top, you will recognise as the Ottobre top that I made last week. This time I tried to make it slightly longer, but I don't think I actually managed to make it any longer. Again I added the elastic to the bottom.




The shorts - they are my favourit shorts pattern, Oliver+S puppet show shorts. I have made this pattern 3 times now, so they come together pretty quickly. The fabric is left of pink camo from a skirt and pair of pants.

Wordless Weekend

Ella overload

** Warning ** this post is an image overload of Ella ** Warning**

I am saying sorry in advance as this post is Ella image heavy. I couldn't help it though as I found a new function on my camera and I got a lot of nice pictures of Ella and her new little summer dress.

Today I went shopping to find Ella some little white t-shirts. I didnt come back with anything (mind you I only looked in BigW and Best and Less) I must say that their summer ranges are pretty poor and I came home and thought that I would make something myself. It would be cheaper and a lot nicer.

I made the Oliver+S Popover Dress again, this time I did take a bit of the width of the dress out. I have left it a little long though - so debating whether to take it up again.

The fabric is from my last Etsy purchase - and it is the Erin McMorris Wildwood collection. I love this fabric. The only thing that I am a little dissappointed with, the yoke and the straps dont really stand out.

If you think that you have seen this combination before, this is because I was inspired by Anna from Tillytom Designs. Her dress is beautiful. Thanks Anna for the inspiration.

More summer goodness

Two posts in one day! All this warm weather has inspired me to sew some little summer creations.

I bought some Amy Butler material in my first Etsy Order back in May (it could actually be earlier than that) and I quickly cut out an Ottobre top from it. Since that time the top has sat on my desk waiting to be sewn together.

Today, I got a spare 20 mins while Ella had a cat nap and so I thought it best to sew it together (plus I had nothing else cut out)



I am really happy with how it turned out. It is the Japanese influenced top Issue #1 2008 - item 1, the only thing that I did do differently is I have added elastic to the bottom. Ella has another little top, that I love that detail. I will make it again, but I think next time I need to add a bit more length to the top.


I also made another pair of O+S Puppet Show shorts - from the left over denim from Ella's Sunday Brunch Jacket . I love this pattern, the shorts are so easy to make and they fit so well. They are going to be a firm favourite this summer.



Hopefully the warm weather hangs around and I can get making some more summer things.

Another Oliver+S pattern.

With it going to reach 29 degrees in Port Stephens today, I thought I would celebrate the sunshine with a summer dress.

As you know, I am a great fan of Oliver+S patterns, and from the first time that I saw this pattern (thanks Novy) I knew that it would have to be added to my list. I went as far as buying Issue 6 of Sewhip magazine two weeks ago and having it sent from the UK - I should have procrastinated a little bit longer as Oliver+S released the pattern on their website free a few days after I purchased it!


I used some of the fabric that I got from my last Etsy Order - Zinnia Path in Ocean and bought some Max New polka dot fabric for the yoke and straps. I overcame my fear of ricrac and followed the suggestion of the pattern to use it to add extra detail (even though the seam ripper came out more than once)


All in all it is an quick and easy pattern to make. The only problem that I do have with it, is I think that the dress is too wide. Ella is small - she is only a size 1 and the smallest this pattern came in was a size 2 (so that might be part of the problem) but I think for next time, I will make it not as a-line. Plus, I think that this pattern would make a lovely summer top. So there will have to be another version, but shorter.

Watch this space!

Wordless Weekend

Maybe Ella has a small head

The general consensus from people that have made the Make It Perfect Lazy Day Hat is that it is quite small sizing.


Maybe it is just me and my dodgy sewing, or maybe it is Ella having a small head, but I made the medium size (second smallest) and it is too big.

I am glad that I made the hat first time around in my Op Shop material, as next time I am hoping to get the sizing better so that Ella can actually wear it. At least this one has a lot of growing room.

Its not only me that loves shoes

I love shoes! BE (Before Ella) I used to buy shoes all the time. I actually had a shoe rack made for me by my dad that has three tiers and is 1.5 metres long. I have outgrown this rack and so the remaining shoes are lined up infront of my shoe rack - anyway, getting back to the point of my post.

This morning I was having a shower. I have been pretty careful to leave doors shut since we have gotten Lily as I dont want any accidents on the carpet. This morning, I didnt close the door completely, and Paris and Lily walked into the bathroom. They stayed for a bit and left. I was hoping that when I got out of the shower I would not find any little presents from Lily, but this is what I found when I did get out.




Lily has been obsessed with my ugg boots since we got her and it seems that they are pretty snuggly to cuddle up with for a little nap.

No its not a present.

Today I received the most beautiful packages in the post. They were not presents, but with how they were wrapped you would think that they were. What I received in the post today were two out of my three recent orders from Bella and Vintage





What were in those packages????? Full of fabric and pattern goodness.




Thanks to Kerry from Bella and Vintage for her help and fantastic service as she has been a little in-undated of late with all of the girls from EB buying fabric and patterns.

What can you get for 10 cents?

A pair of of O+S Puppet Show Shorts - that is what you can get for 10 cents. OK OK, I know you could not buy them for that, but this is what these little shorts cost.

I am never afraid of a bargain, and last week I found some fabric in an Op Shop that I thought would be perfect for these shorts. The fabric cost me $1.00 for 4 metres of fabric - $0.25 a metre, now you cant beat that. Ella is pretty small, so these shorts do not take much fabric at all.



I love O+S patterns, and I have been known to make a few. This pattern does not dissappoint. They are easy and quick to make.



I love the pocket detail and the pattern is well designed so the shorts fit well. I have a few ideas up my sleeve to change this pattern so that Ella can have lots of pairs of shorts for summer with them all not looking the same.


Now, where is the warm weather? We just need it to heat up a bit more for Ella to try these little shorts out.

Introducing Miss Lily

I have posted a couple of times about the new puppy that we were getting. We had 'ordered' our dog when she was only 1 week old - which was in June, but feels like a long time ago. We have been patiently waiting for her to grow. She is now 8 weeks and this morning Ella and I took the 2 hour drive to Taree to the home of Cedarrose Ridgebacks to pick up Miss Lily.



Isnt she the cutest little thing! She is actually quite big, but she was the smallest of her litter, but the breeder said that she is full of character.

Paris - she has not left Lily alone since we got her home. I have to keep wiping Lily off as Paris keeps covering her in drool. Ella does not know what to make of the new puppy - as Lily tries to follow Ella (as she is a familiar face) but she ends up getting stepped on by two dogs.

So there you have it. Little Miss Lily - with the size of those paws, she is not going to stay small for very long!

Fabric fabric everywhere!

To say that I love fabric is an understatement. I can spend quite a few hours trailing through Etsy fabric stores. However, I dont usually stop at just window shopping and usually things end up in my shopping basket.

This week has been no exception and I have been buying lovely summery fabrics ready for the warmer weather that is trying to break through.

My first purchase was 9 yards from Fabriccloset. The reason behind my purchase, was I was inspired by the clothes that Anna from Tillytom Designs made using the Erin McMorris Wildwood fabric. I could not pass up buying this beautiful fabric and I knew that if I did not buy it, it would sell out.


I could not pass up some more Sandi Henderson. I love love love Petal Party in Pink, so I am not sure if I will cut this fabric up, maybe I will just keep it and look at it!


To finish off my Fabriccloset order, I couldn't miss out on some Paula Prass Zinnia Path in Spring and Zinnia Path in Ocean.

I thought all of my buying was finished, however, we made a flying visit to Sydney on Saturday and I stopped in at my old local quilting store - which has amazing fabric and they are cheap cheap cheap and I was pretty good and only bought 2 metres of fabric.


The next fabric is what I thought was going to be my final fabric purchase for a bit, but I have gone and blown that and bought some more fabric - which is currently winging its way to me. However, this fabric is what I bought from the Op Shop during my trip to get the mail at work yesterday.

I am not sure how many metres there are there, but there is quite a few. I got one full shopping bag of fabric for $7.00 - bargain.

Now what to sew with all of these new things.......

Starting to feel like it fits.

It is coming up to 6 months from when we made the move from Sydney to Port Stephens. It seemed like a whirlwind move. Things happened before I was really ready. I stupidly made the comment to Mat last year, on the October long weekend after seeing a lovely house in the paper, that I would move if we could get a house like that! Mat had wanted to move to Port Stephens from his first visit, I was more apprehensive. I was happy where we were.

I have lived in Sydney all of my life (except for 2 years in the UK) so it was home to me. It was a big step moving - even though it was only 2 hours away. Mat, he made the move from the UK with me and so he had no ties to Sydney and for him it was only a small move, plus his mum had recently moved from the UK with her new husband and was living in Port Stephens, so his pull was to be closer to his only family in Australia

The house was put on the market and sold and we moved all in the blink of an eye. I did not think the house would sell so fast. I have not felt homesick, but I have wanted to be back in the convenience of Sydney. Having everything on your door step.

It was not until yesterday, when we went down to Fingal Bay for a walk along the beach, that it dawned on me, that I am truely blessed to be living where we do.

I finally feel like Port Stephens fits!