A Giveaway

Back in August I had the best intentions of having a little giveaway....here we are in October & I've finally got here!

So you ask...whats up for offer???

Well Summer is on her way, so I have popped together a little bundle of smelly goodness, including:

Sun burn lotion

Mozzy repellent

Hyper Cal anti-septic gel

Lemon, Lavender & T-Tree soap.

All vegetable based & made by moi

To go into the draw leave a little comment below & as a bonus if you pop a link on your own blog I will give you another chance to win, just pop me a message to let me know if you've done so.

Yay for giveaways!!!

I think that's all............?

Oh...I will post any where in Nz & Oz...sorry peep's living elsewhere xox

Making & Reading

A few goodies I've been making over the past week. I am determined to have a decent amount made for cross hills market in November. I recently tried out a new baby shoe pattern, a free pattern off the web for reversible slippers. I wasn't all together happy with it as I found the hole for babies feet too small, so I have gone back to my own one I've adjusted over the years. I am however looking forward to trying out THIS pattern over the next few days.

Now for some seriously beautiful knitting..I found this book at the library the other day. It is divine! All the patterns in THIS book are classic well made styles with beautiful detailing.

Vintage knits for modern babies

Hadley Fierlinger

ISBN:978-1-58008-960-9

Well I hope you're all enjoying the obvious changes in the weather. I know I am. Serious gardening has begun at our whare. I was lucky enough to score 5 bare rooted fruit trees from the Hort department at Massey in the weekend for $50. Our fence is now displaying 2 apple varieties (including one called 'peasgood nonsuch' what a name!) a quince, elephant heart plum & a dual peach. Its the first time we've tried 'espalier' growing, so I hope we don't kill them!

How is your garden growing?

xxx

Pretty Carrot Muff's

Best carrot muffins ever

2 Cups Flour

3/4 Cups white sugar (raw or brown would be fine)

2 tspn Baking powder

1/2 tspn Baking soda

pinch of Salt

2 tspns Cinnamon

1 tspn mixed spice

1 Egg

1 Cup of Milk

1/2 Cup of Oil

2 grated Carrots

1/2 Cup Sultanas

1/2 Cup Walnuts (or sunflower seeds)

Sift dry ingredients, mix wet ingredients & add to dry stuff. Fold in carrot, sultanas & nuts. Spoon into muff pans & bake at 180 C- 200C depending on how mental your oven is.

Ice with cream cheese icing:

1/4 Cup cream cheese

1 Cup Icing sugar

2 Tbsp melted butter

zest of 1/2 a lemon

Beat all togeather.

Nom Nom

xxxxxx 

The Red Racer

A few years ago I scored this baby for $10 bucks at a local oppy...no not that hot man in the background...he was free.....I'm talking about my Red Racer baby!

Well the old girl has been chilling the shed for a while, I did take her for a spin when I was about 7 months preggies...it wasn't pretty.

So yesterday I popped into the local bike shop for some new brake pads & found myself at the counter with the tinniest bike helmet I've ever seen.

Imogen hates hats so this will take a little getting used to for her (hence the pics) but after a few laps round the house she was quite happy & chatting away. Initially I thought she was still a bit young, but she fits quite snug in her little seat so I'll take her for a few short laps round the block until we both get used to riding together.

It was quite cute as the chair made her hair all fuzzy with static & she looked like some mad old man.

Hope you're all getting some sun this weekend, & maybe your first BBQ of the season...whoop whoop!

Thrifty

Last week was a good one for opp shopping, the salvos had a 'vintage week' which was very exciting. Ged & I spent Sunday afternoon licking the windows & drooling over all the bootee awaiting new homes & eager collectors. 

I arrived outside at 2 minutes to 10 on Monday morning & joined the cue, many of whom (to my disgruntlement...is that word?) were antique dealers looking for a bargain.  

It was probably the most intense opp shopping I have ever done, swift whips & enamel tea pots were being waved about left right & centre.

There were definitely some beautiful items to be had, sadly I missed out on a stunning oak bed side cabinet which was only $30, but I really can't complain at all the other little treasures I've acquired...& yes I've blown my budget big time!



I love this little vase. It has some interesting stamps on the bottom, but I can't make any of them out sadly.

Retro whistling kettle $3.00

Coffee perk $4.00

Awesome enamel ladle...essential for soup on the coal range

Vintage can opener

Do you remember these!!!! They're getting as rare as milk bottle crates!

Mini sewing machine. I've had one of these on my wish list for a while. Both Anya & Alex are fascinated by it.

A collection of fabulous Plunket patterns. The owner of these has kept the originals in mint condition, tracing each one & filing them into individual brown envelopes.

I also scored a handful of beaded milk jug covers & an old lace up boned girdle with matching brassier. It's a little worse for wear & possibly a size 20 something, but I'm looking forward to mending it & hanging it on the wall.

Now I HAVE to get into the garden.

xxxx

Blossoms in the sun

Lots of grass was eaten today

Mrs Bunny hops & hops

I've been away from bloggy land for a few weeks. I decided to change phone companies & resulted in no phone...no Internet...then phone..then no phone again. In the end I lost my rag & said F*#K... F@#K Sake & a few more choice words, well would you believe there was a technician on my door step the next morning! I don't like to abuse call centre staff as I used to massage the Telecom's 018 centre staff, but this situation brought out the best of my potty mouth!!

So...being away from blog land has made me realise how important my little blog has become to me. It's funny that most of you I have never met, but your inspiration and daily events become much like a close friendship. I guess many of us are Mothers, potentially 'socially isolated'  by the demands of family/ mother hood etc (I know this sounds like some 50's mental health phenomena by the way I've written it, but I know you all know what I mean!) So I'd like to say a little thank you to all the wonderful Woman who inspire me...too many to name, but rest assured that sharing little glimpses of your creative endeavours often makes my day! xxx

Now to some sewing missions... I scored this little pillow case from a new oppy in town the other day & decided it needed to be made into something for Imogen to cuddle. The sewing up part ended up being a pain in the proverbial, but all turned out in the end! I'm hoping to sew one of the THESE with the rest.

Now for any of you who are inspired by totally beautiful vintage children's clothes go HERE for a serious drool session!

xxxxx