Adventuring in the city.

Sometimes, it's easy to forget that for small children, even the 'everyday' is exciting.

Ever since we saw The Wind in the Willows last year, the girls like to say whe are going on an adventure, like Mr Toad, when we go out for the day.

For our adventure yesterday we drove to East Melbourne and caught a tram into the city (the trip would probably take about an hour from home, which is a little too long for the very busy smallest person to sit still).

We visited the Myer windows which this year feature the very non-traditional Christmas story 'Olivia Helps with Christmas'.

It's been noted before that we are Olivia fans in this house so we knew the small folk would delight in this.


and they did...

At the end of the windows it was asked where the next story was...

From there we went to visit the man in the red suit.

One of the girls asked him for a fluffy toy for our cat Molly.

It seems not to matter to her that Molly died in March, apparently we can send her the toy.

She also asked for a scooter for her little sister because she doesn't have one.

Nothing for herself.

The other wants a big basketball "like mummy's".

It seems she's ready to move on from the small one we bought her.

We then each chose one special decoration to put on the tree when we set it up next month.

A small child confronted with choice can take a while to make a decision...

To finish the morning off we shared a couple of milkshakes, had a walk through the gardens, then caught the tram again.

Cheap and easy entertainment.

They couldn't decide what they enjoyed the most.

PS - oh yeah - and the hats were as easy as everyone said - great pattern Toni!

The drawing board

Next on the drawing board for Christmas are the roll-up chalkboards I've been wating to do for some time.

I got the chalk cloth from here the other day when I was picking up a few other bits and pieces.

This is a 50 cm x 60 cm piece and I think with pockets for chalk and a cloth and also binding that this piece should be about right for making four roll-ups.

In the information about the cloth it states that it should be sewn with monofilament thread so I grabbed some of that too.

I also read here about the difference between nylon and polyester monofilament thread and as I want these to last a decent amount of time I thought it was worth getting the new thread so it wouldn't go brittle or discolour.

You can see the plans for these are super-high-tech!

My creative space

Hats!!

The sun is out and with predictions for 30+ for the weekend and early next week it's time I got to making hats for the small folk of the house.

This one is for the oldest apple loving girl.

Some of my favourite fabric and a hat pattern that everyone says is quick and easy.

We'll see about that...

Head on over to Kirsty's place to see who else is feeling creative this week.

Making progress...

Well there you go - I did take a short blog hiatus after all.

An unintended one though, the whole Melbourne Cup long weekend thing meant we had lots of activities to fill our days (picnics, movies, swimming, trips to the beach) - none of which I remembered to take photo's of.

I have been making some progress on the nativity though.

I'm lucky enough to be able to sew in the car which helps, nope no sign of travel sickness at all.

So here's the progress.

The main players are ready to get some hair and shrouds/veils.

Mary on the left with the babe and Joseph on the right - the felt under Mary's main cloak is actually a gorgeous deep red.

I've kept them simple - they weren't rich folk like the kings.

Then a couple of shepherds - with woolly cloaks in my first attempt at needle felting.

I was going for a rustic, earthy look.

Their cloaks need some sort of closure at the top and then hair, beards and coverings too.

I also have underway what now appears to be a grossly oversized sheep...

The pattern was reduced to 70% of original and I thought it would be OK - but after putting it near the shepherds today and I am not convinced.

I think it could be a rogue sheep and would not be able to be contained by them.

And that just won't do in such a peaceful scene.

And lastly the star - to which I will add a little more razzle dazzle - it is a star after all so OK for it to shine.

I'm thinking more of the seed beads branching out from the centre of the star.

I'm pretty happy with where I am at given that it's still early November.

I want to get a donkey and angel done as definite items and there's an inn-keeper also on the go if I get time.

In the words of Porky Pig...

(Image Credit)

It should really read "that's all for now folks".

Well I surprised myself and did manage to blog each day in October as part of Tinniegirl's Blogtoberfest, and I have to say that I really didn't find it too much of a trial.

It made me think about blogging the many parts of my life other than sewing and crafting, and to assess the level of interest others might have in these (or not), or how such things might affect my blogutation!

I've met lots of new lovely blogging folk (which has made my 'to read' list even longer!), and got to know a few other bloggers better, through them finding me or by keeping up with their posts each day.

I don't plan on taking a big blog-recovery period as I think participating in Blogtoberfest has made me realise how much I enjoy having this little place, in what are often very busy days, that is just for me.

Thanks to Cathy and also Cam for getting everyone up and running.

And thanks for coming along for the ride.

It's been fun.

I say, I hear

It's not been so much about what I have been saying this week as what I have been hearing - there have been a few corkers, often relating to height.

(Photo credit)

I hear...

When I grow up if I would be as tall as Daddy I would be a giant! But that's OK, girls are allowed to be giants too.

Mum why do you wear a bra on your ankle to basketball?
I think you mean 'brace' honey!

Me: On Tuesday Daddy doesn't have to go to work because a horse race called the Melbourne Cup is on, so he gets the day off.

L: Can I ride one of the horses too?

Me: Oh no honey we don't ride the horses, we get to watch the race.

L: Just Daddy then.

(She seems not to have noticed her dad is 195cm tall (6 feet, 5 inches!) - hardly jockey material.

The man of the house made a quick trip to Surfers Paradise this week (Yes poor him having to swim in the warmth and get room service!). This one was on his return.

Dad did you see lots of queens in Queensland?

Mum after quiet time, will there be loud time??

I say...

All the usual things really;

G don't put your toe in your eye ( but oh to have the flexibility to do that!)

Don't lick the Bluetack honey.

Ah no, it's not OK to play with the cymbals during quiet time.

My creative space

Is outdoors today.

Do you remember doing chalk drawings on the footpath outside your house?

I do and it's as much fun as ever!

(once I had reassured the small folk that it really was fine and no-one would be upset with us for drawing on the footpath outside our house!)

Of course the rain that is now falling will have cleaned the slate - ready for new creations.

I hope your day has a rainbow with two suns in it too.

To see who else is passing their time creatively, pop over to Kirsty's.