Puerperium Cardigan and Baby’s Booties
Posted: 21/05/2013 Filed under: Knitting, May 2013, Needlework | Tags: baby's booties, knitted booties, knitteed cardigan, newborn cardigan, newborn knitting, Puerperium Cardigan 7 Comments »
I’ve managed to finish two knitting projects in the past few days. The little cardigan was made with wool-mix yarn and is a nice rich green/teal colour. I’m so pleased with how it turned out – no mistakes - that I’m aware of anyway, and it was a simple enough pattern for me to follow. I used some mother of pearl buttons from my Mum’s old button stash. I think it needs a pair of booties in the same yarn to match? If youd’ like a go at this pattern the free ravelry download can be found here.
I also finished a pair of booties to match the other cardigan I knitted a few weeks ago (link to previous post found here) I love how quick these can be knitted up and they gave me the chance to practice some different stitches I hadn’t done before.
Taking part in this weeks’ posts over at Small Things, Frontier Dreams and Natural Suburbia.
recently
Posted: 19/05/2013 Filed under: May 2013 1 Comment »
1 – My little helper – always keen to help with the washing and add the ‘sugar’ to the washing machine.
2 – Home-made play dough – enough made to keep several playgroups going for a while, I will use a recipe next time.
3 – All set and ready for our new arrival – I keep looking into the moses basket and cannot quite believe that our baby will soon be here.
4 – New fabrics – ready to be made into some goodies for the Tabitha and Hugo store.
5 – Cheese, cabbage, carrot, tomato, cucumber and mayonnaise sandwich on home-made seeded bread. I don;t usually go to much effort with my own lunches – this was a treat.
6 – Ready to play ‘shops’.
7 – Sunday afternoon baking – it was filled with cream and some home-made plum jam from our neighbour (it didn’t last long)
8 – Late afternoon sunshine helping the washing to dry.
9 – She’s always bouncing…….. ‘Mum! – look at me!! I’m as high as the clouds!’
10 – Taken on the way to Tabitha’s horse-riding lesson in the McLaren Vale. Just beautiful.
Mount Lofty Botanical Gardens
Posted: 16/05/2013 Filed under: May 2013 | Tags: autumn colours, botanical gardens Leave a comment »We visited Mount Lofty Botanical Gardens last week to go for a gentle wander and to enjoy the Autumn colours whilst we can. It felt so good to put our Winter coats on and go for a wander, watching Tabitha play on her scooter and thinking that very soon there will be four of us – thinking about how much Tabitha’s world is about to change so much and wondering how she will adjusting to being a big sister.
For now I’m just relishing this small amount of time we have left as the three of us and excitedly waiting to meet our new baby.
Gardening with young children
Posted: 13/05/2013 Filed under: In the garden, May 2013, Play | Tags: gardening with children, growing violas, learning at home, planting peas, planting seeds, teaching at home Leave a comment »
We took a trip to the garden centre to buy some more compost, seeds and some flowers to plant. I decided on some violas in purples and whites and Tabitha proudly chose the ones she liked most and carefully carried them to the till. The next day we set to doing some gardening together – she loves pottering around in the garden and took great care and pride in planting out the flowers.
We also planted out some more seeds – the last batch were a complete fail due to me forgetting to water them and I have learnt the hard way that forgetting to water plants in Australia is a whole different outcome to forgetting to water plants in the UK every now and then!
I love to watch how much care and attention Tabitha will take when plating seeds and touching flowers and it’s so nice to be able to get something done at the same time as teaching and having fun with my girl. Now if only cutting the grass had quite the same appeal……..
Tabitha & Hugo update
Posted: 12/05/2013 Filed under: May 2013, Needlework, Sewing | Tags: 1930'S GIRLS DRESS, Belle & Boo, girls dress, PARTY DRESS, tabitha & hugo, tea party, toy tea bags 5 Comments »I’ve been really enjoying all the sewing I’ve been doing lately – since recently finishing my college course I’ve had some extra time to spend on the store. The recent release of Belle & Boo fabric has been a joy to work with and make things from – the following fabrics are all available to buy in the store - I think the ‘Woodland Walk’ print is my favourite:
![bb2[1]](http://2plus1dotme2.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/bb21.jpg)
![bb3[1]](http://2plus1dotme2.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/bb31.jpg)
![bb4[1]](http://2plus1dotme2.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/bb41.jpg)
![bb5[1]](http://2plus1dotme2.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/bb51.jpg)
I was also contacted by a lovely lady who was in need of a 1930′s inspired party dress for her adorable 2 year old daughter – after a few discussions we came up with this little dress – I can’t wait to see the photos of her in it – it was nice to do a different style than usual and in a different fabric:
I’ve been making some toy tea-bags too – ideal for tea-parties and picnics. Here’s the first set available to buy – I’m going to make some more in neutral and rainbow colours too – I really love how these turned out and I had better make a set for Tabitha too!
Have you been making anything recently? I’m always looking for more inspiration – thank goodness for Pinterest!
enjoying Autumn
Posted: 09/05/2013 Filed under: Baking & Recipes, Cooking | Tags: autumn, autumn baking, Autumn crafts, autumn leaves, leaf decorations, leaf rubbing 4 Comments »It’s so nice to have this Autumn weather. The air feels fresh, there has been rain for the plants and the cosy evenings of curling up on the sofa under a blanket whilst listening to the rain and wind outside have been gratefully welcomed. Comfort food is back on the menu, Autumn walks, collecting leaves, making hot soups and lighting candles in the evening.
I love the sunshine and have appreciation for all the seasons but I do find the cooler weather easier to live with, it’s not quite the same knitting with the air-con on or baking when it’s so hot.
1 – collecting leaves for Autumn crafts
2 – beautiful colours
3 – cheesy-mash leftovers for a warming lunch. Delicious.
4 – cottage-pie ready for the oven and a batch of mixed spice biscuits, a bit of afternoon baking.
5 & 6 – leaf-rubbing with my girl.
7 – leaf decorations
8 – puddle jumping in pyjamas – what better way to start the day when you’re 3?
9 – watching the rain from the comfort of the sofa.
10 – early evening sunshine setting.
11 – toad in the hole for dinner (and pancakes with ice-cream and chocolate sauce for pudding – would be wasteful not to use up all that batter of course.)
Autumn recipe collection
Posted: 06/05/2013 Filed under: Baking & Recipes, Cooking, May 2013 | Tags: Autumn cooking, Autumn recipes, bbc good food recipe, gumbo recipe, sausage recipe, soup recipe 2 Comments »The days are feeling much more like Autumn and it’s making me crave the comforting and warm food now that the weather is cooler. I’ve been looking forward to this time of year – I’m much better with cooking soups and cosy-comfort food rather than salads and summery food. Here are some of my favourite recipes:
- Curried pumpkin and coconut soup. Found here.
- Baked ravioli. Found here.
- Rigatoni with kale, mushrooms and sausage. Found here.
- Cranberry apple pie. Found here.
- Spelt pasta bake. Found here.
- Sausage and lentil simmer. Found here.
- One pot chicken gumbo. Found here.
- Autumn britle. Found here.
- Harvest apple cheesecake. Found here.
