Snailblazer

Well it's finally here the end of Blogtoberfest. I've missed a couple of days here and there and missed yesterday because I was so sick. So because of that I'm having an end of blogtober give away. I can't promise what the prize will be, it could be any or all or some of these (or something totally different altogether)



I can't promise the prize will arrive quickly but it will definitely arrive before Christmas.

So leave a comment (you can tell me what you would like if you want/your favourite colours/whatever) by Sunday night and I will do the draw next week.

I'm a bit late with this week's This Is.... what I am surprised I am good at.

Look at this gorgeous Sandy Henderson Farmers Market fabric that arrived in my letter box today.
It's from my wonderful friend Helen, if you haven't visited her blog you must as she makes the most beautiful quilts.

My mind is reeling with things to make.

Day 27 and all I can say is thank goodness, I am starting to struggle with posts. I just realised I didn't post any photos from our holiday, so here goes.

It's fete time all around us at the moment. We popped down to a little pre-school fete yesterday evening. It was only small but they had a great white elephant stall. I got all this and 2 games (Trionimos and Guess Who)

Some vintage fabric (I think it might have been a curtain, seems a bit heavy for a sheet but it is all hemmed)

Well normally I do but Lucy is still sick, Charlotte was home from school today with a cold, my internet connection keeps dropping out, I've done no sewing because it's hard with a nearly 2 year old attached to you.
Pop over here and check out all the giveaways

Lucy has been sick since last night, kind of a croupy virus so it's been cuddles all day long here.
Go check out these other blogtober-festers over at Big Cat.

Sorry no pictures today.

This is what I have been working in fits and starts lately. Some envelopes, tags and Moleskin notebooks using some damaged books I got recently - Never Talk to Strangers and Debbie's Birthday. They will all be used at the market in some way.

I thought I should update you on the kid tote name from this post. I loved all your suggestions but Stacey from A Rosy Outlook suggested Trailblazer and that got me thinking about playing on the Snailblazer name and so I came up with this

Well it got a laugh out of Ingrid.

30 metres of binding, need I say more!

I've been a bit of a slack this is'er recently but here is my favourite movie. I had to list two because I couldn't decide.

First up is To Kill a Mockingbird. I love this movie (and the book), the movie is one of the great book to movie adaptations.


The second movie is Field of Dreams. I love this movie and my brother and I even went to the movie site when we were in the US in 1999. It was fantastic although everyone thinks we were crazy to hire a car from Chicago and drive to Iowa, but it was heaven!

Thanks Hollie for this week's theme and thanks Angela for hosting

I found a new Salvos yesterday in a little side street about 10 minutes from home that I never knew was there. It is actually a really big store and had a few vintage sheets I contemplated but as I am trying to clear my stash at the moment I thought I would restrain myself.

I did pick up a couple of books though that are all a but damaged inside that I will use for some paper crafts, except the Lucy Atwell's Annual which is in great condition. I think I had a few of these as a child but had forgotten all about them until I saw the illustrations which looked familiar.

Today is our re-scheduled photo shoot so I decided to make another skirt to wear because I didn't love this one. I picked this fabric up at my last visit to the Remnant Warehouse and I fell in love with it. I made a few changes to the skirt this time using buttons on the front flap instead of the ties and I think it suits my bulging body shape better.

Well I'm struggling today with Blogtober so luckily I was tagged for a meme by this lovely blogger. So here is the deal:

6 unique things about me ~
1) Link to the person who tagged you
2) Mention the rules
3) Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about yourself
4) Tag six other bloggers by linking to them
5) Go to each person’s blog and leave a comment that lets them know they’ve been tagged

1. I can bite my toenails (not that I do but it's a handy skill to have just in case!)
2. I hate housework but I hate the house being untidy - catch 22 that.
3. I am not a morning person but unfortunately my kids are.
4. I have to read before I go to sleep every night, even if I've had a few (not that this ever happens now).
5. I can/could sleep all day, not a problem.
6. I wear really daggy clothes at home and cross my fingers I don't get any unexpected visitors

I'm not going to tag anyone as this has been doing the rounds lately but feel free to join in, let me know if you do so I can read about your quirkiness.

Ok Blogtober is killing me especially since I am back at work this week. For some reason Charlotte has been obsessed with Banana Bread recently and keeps saying she loves it and can we make some, mind you last time I made it she didn't eat any!

At the fruit shop yesterday I noticed a bag of very ripe bananas so I grabbed them and last night we whipped up some banana bread. I used this recipe but made a few changes. I used brown sugar instead of granulated so it gave it a nice brown colour and also a bit of a caramel flavour. I also used wholemeal flour which probably made it a bit denser. It turned out great but did crack a bit on top unlike the picture in the recipe.

I participated in Meika's Vintage Sheet Swap and last week just before we went away I received a lovely package of fat quarters back.

Thanks again for organising this Meika.

If you've been following this blog for a while you would know about the box swap that left my house way back in May. Well it's finally returned, It literally travelled across Australia, from Sydney to Canberra to Victoria to Tassie to WA to Qld back to Victoria and finally home. It was exciting seeing what was in there and what was left. I'd probably do a few things differently next time, like maybe run two at once starting in the opposite direction and maybe make it smaller with people only taking 1 thing out so it could maybe fit in a satchel to make it a bit cheaper. There was only 3 of my original things returned


And then there was all this wonderful stuff


I was also lucky enough to get wonderful gifts from Adds, Stacey and Jodie

Thanks to everyone who participated hope you had fun. Amanda, Jodie, Annie, Meika, Helen, Adds, Tanya, Marie, Stacey, Cam (let me know if I have forgotten anyone)

Hi everyone I'm back from a lovely few days away. Thank you all so much for entering my little competition. I was thinking around $25 so most of you were close. I love all the names and am still thinking about that although one came to mind in bed last night that I am playing around with.

Can't have a post without a picture so here's a little family snap from our holiday.

Oh I guess you are all waiting to hear the winner. We did the old fashioned print the names out and and draw them from the hat (only because the girls find that much more exciting).

The winner is Michelle . So Michelle send me an email with your address and which bag you would prefer and I will pop it in the post.

Thanks again everyone for entering

So far Blogtober has been going really well but unfortunately I need to leave the bier garten (see I know some German) for a few days of rest and relaxation (well as much as you can with 2 kids) so to keep you amused while I am gone I am having a give away.

A few weeks ago Charlotte needed a bag to take somewhere and of course couldn't find any of the bags I have made for her so I grabbed one from my trusty for sale stash (a left over from the Pink Ribbon market that I hadn't had time to list yet) and it turned out to be the perfect across the body kid size tote. So of course and idea popped into my head to make them for this market Ingrid and I are going to have a stall at.

So here are the first two. I will be giving one of these away but first you have to answer a couple of questions for me (no easy ride on this giveaway).

1. How much would you pay for a bag like this, I have a figure in mind but want to see if I am totally off the mark or not. A few details - the bag measures approx 32cm x 37cm, they are fully lined and close with a magnet snap. The have one strap which is 67cm long and is designed to be worn across the body. Depending on the fabric some of the bags are also interfaced.

2. Does anyone have a good name for these bags. Kids tote sounds too boring. You don't have to answer this question but if you do you get an extra entry.

Of course these bags are designed for kids but there is no reason they couldn't be used by an adult they just probably wouldn't go across your body (ok they won't go across mine anyway).

I won't be back online until Sunday so you have until then to enter (I am happy to post it internationally as well) so come out of lurkdom and tell me what you think.

Don't tell anyone but Amy Butler is coming I just got my ticket (and 1 for you too Ingrid)

Here's a sneak peak at the quilt I made for the EB Doll Swap Quilt. There's lots of talented girls in this group so it's very nerve wracking. I've actually made two quilts and I love them both so it's going to be a big decision which one to send.


Stand by for a give away tomorrow!

Ok this week's This is was hard because I have so many kitchen appliances (probably too many if I'm truthful).

This would have to be my favourite though. I love baking and Jeff bought me a Sunbeam Mixer a few years ago for Christmas. I wish mum had kept her old Sunbeam I would have loved that.

It's Grand Final day in Sydney today so all the sports fans are glued to the tv. I'm not that into NRL so can take it or leave it.

Friends of ours have just recently bought a new house so the girls and I popped round this afternoon to check it out. I made Michelle (Lucy's godmother) a versatile skirt from some Heather Bailey fabric, just because she is a great person and deserves something nice.


I'm happy to say she really liked it and I am so glad. She's also a crafty person but she doesn't have a blog (you should get one Michelle) just had to add that as I know she reads mine.

I might have to do This Is tomorrow as I am trying to think of my favourite kitchen appliance (I love them all)

I was going to take a trip down to Rozelle Markets today but it is a wet day in old Sydney town so thought a couple of op shops might have to do. Of course Charlotte wanted to come too so off we went.

First stop didn't yield much except for this Debbie book. I got all excited when I saw if on the shelf but when I looking in side some of the pages were drawn on. I still got it though because I am sure I will find something to do with the good pages.


At the next shop we scored some Ladybird books (I seem to be amassing a collection of these now too), but I find Charlotte likes reading them.

I also picked up this illustrated Seven Little Australians. I loved the tv version of this when I was a child and I have the "grown up" book but I thought this one will be good for me to read to the girls.
Lastly we picked up a copy of Little Black Goes to the Circus after Charlotte assured me that our copy at home was ripped. Of course when I checked it there was nothing wrong with it. So
I may do a giveaway sometime of this copy, probably a day when I don't have anything to say!

I recently took part in the Kiddio Kid's Stationary Swap recently and Charlotte's package arrived today. She was so excited to see the BIG Fed Ex package when we arrived home from a play get together this morning. Our swap partner was Gbemi and this is her blog. I forgot to take photos of what I sent and I am hoping it arrived safely as they recently moved.

I didn't get a great photo because Charlotte grabbed everything up and ran to her room.


Thanks again.