We have opened all our presents, eaten a lovely Christmas lunch so now it is off to have a big afternoon nap!! I hope everyone is having a lovely day and enjoying themselves as much as I am. Merry Christmas to all:)

The gingerbread house.........

 Well we did it!! We had a few free moments this week and went through the whole process of making our very first gingerbread house. Don't look to closely as you will see the big gaping holes where it doesn't quite fit together properly but isn't that why we make so much royal icing to be able to fill any holes that need it. I must admit as tricky as it was we had a fun time making it. Juliette did all the piping, I did the construction and Django did the decorating and eating of leftover treats!

 

 

We even found ourselves a little snowman for our front yard. We are going to start eating it tonight but I think it will be sad seeing all that work and beauty come crumbling down. Oh well what the good of making something so tasty if you can't eat it!!

Blue!!

We are one week into our 2 month long holidays(gasp)!! Last week was way too busy for my liking running around here there and everywhere for the kids, for Xmas get togethers and the like. This week has started off much more slowly(phew!!) and a picnic was had at the beach. It was a bit too windy for swimming but there was still a lot of rolling/running around to be done. We are very lucky to live not 5 minutes walk to the beach and my husband literally works across the road. I hope we get a few more of these in in the next couple of weeks before we head back to Melbourne for a month. I doubt I will be seeing the water too much while there!!

P.S I haven't forgotten about my giveaway just haven't had time to organise it but I promise I will:)

Fab Friday............

1. Gingerbread House, 2. gingerbread house pops 4, 3. Gingerbread House Displays at the George Eastman House - December 2, 2007, 4. Gingerbread house, 5. Gingerbread house, 6. Day 16 - Gingerbread house 

Gingerbread houses are oh so cute and they are popping up everywhere I look at the moment, obviously so as it is nearly Christmas!! I have never ever attempted to make one but seeing all these sweet creations is getting me almost excited enough to try. Just look at the pictures above and all those decorations and varieties of houses you can do. I may have to start off with something a little simpler then those found on flickr but it certainly has given me some ideas. 

A request for help is needed for this to take place though. Some of you may have some tried & true recipes & instructions or tips & tricks that work. Please let me know otherwise I will seek the help of the almighty internet!! Wish me luck:)

P.S This is post 600 but not the giveaway one I will come back in the next few days with the info and instructions.

Babushka.......

Happy babushka christmas decorations.
Does anybody know what you call a group of babushka's???? A family??

Blythe's just desserts!...........

This weeks Blythe physical challenge photo.  We had fun taking this shot as we had to eat it after the photo taking was all done:)

Beads & stuff..........

It's been a quiet week around here as I just havn't had the time to come and post. We are leading up the the end of the school/dance year and the concerts are happening. Driving around to rehearsals this week has keep me busy on the roads and not in the crafting space even though I did spent a few stolen moments making some more Xmas decorations. I had my bead box out which always makes for a lovely photo with all that colour and glitter. One dance concert is on tonight so I should be off getting everybody feed, made up and organised rather than sitting on the computer so that is what I will do.

Oh and another thing I am near to my 600th post so I will get my thinking cap on for a giveaway prize to celebrate:) Stay tuned!!

Made it Monday..........

Some Christmas inspired hats as that season is on the horizon. It is a tad warm here for my girls to wear such hats but who cares if they look so cute!! 

They are in my shop if you would like to take a peep.

The winner circle.........

WPWD photo challenge with a twist- Spring racing carnival was the theme this time around. This photo is aptly named the winners circle.

P.S the dead rat smell was a dead rat that had died under the cupboards. The husband was very good and worked out how to get it out before we all suffocated from it. God it is an awful smell:(

Me...........

There I am with my wares and at the end of our little sale. My table looks a little less full which is always a good sign that it was a success. Things sold that I wasn't really expecting to sell and then others were left behind that you think are the winners. You never can tell what people will spot and want but aside from that it is always nice that people like what they see and know you have created it with your hands.

Oh well now it is back to normal world of cooking and cleaning. We have a dead rat smell that I must contend with this morning.........wish me luck!!!

Decorations.........

Last photo of goodies for tomorrows sale I promise. It is all for the benefit of the local peoples who may be thinking of coming along. See what you can get pretty felt Christmas ornaments for your tree or to decorate gifts or for whatever you please.

It has been a busy few weeks of sewing and stuffing so I may take a break for a few days and get the house tidy it has been a bit neglected. Then get back into making anything more I need for Xmas gifts for all my lucky family & friends!!

Goodies made by my crafting buddy..........

Some of Gemma's goodies that will be coming along with her to our little sale on Wednesday. Cute clothes, fancy passport covers, Xmas stockings and kiddy friendly travel stuff will be on her table.

 

Give me a Q............

This weeks Blythe physical challenge photo.  Blythe & the letter 'Q'. Local fast food joint Quick come in very handy for this one!!

Fab Friday.............

 My owls!

 Busy Friday today!! Been very busy talking to my friend, Gemma about a little Christmas sale we are doing next week. My husbands workplace has a morning tea every Wednesday and on that day you can set up a little table to sell your wares. We have motivated one another to get off our butts and make some stuff to sell rather than just talking about our stuff that we would like to sell. 

Some squirrels!!

So here are some of my many doudous I have made, my owls that I love( I have many more but they all wouldn't sit in the tree for a photo, it's too windy) and some squirrels. I will show some more things tomorrow and show what my crafting partner is doing.

Now for those in Noumea and would like to see the things in person it is next Wednesday 23rd Nov, 9.30 at the SPC social club!!

Made it Monday.............

The other day when I was sitting on the couch sewing and watching tv I was making some wee litttle fellas and these are them all finished.  Little sleeping bunnies!!

Berenice...........

Once in every Blythe doll owners life she/he pulls it apart to inspect what is inside and how it works.

Then you muck around with pastels and do a little face-up.

and then you put her back together a different girl. Here is Berenice pronounced Ber-re-nice with a wonderful French accent.

I am happy with my first attempt at customising a Blythe girl not sure if I will do more there are particular skills involved and not sure if I have them!

Here are some ladies that do do some fabulous customs.

Happibug

Melly Kay Customs

MorganOrton Blythe Customs

couch=sewing..................

I snuck in a bit of sewing on the couch time this afternoon. I don't always do it as I feel a bit guilty about sitting down while the hubby is at work and kids at school but these are little craft things that I am making for an upcoming sale I am having here. So it is kinda work isn't it????

...............

 

Some sewing done this weekend and trying something new in my shop. 

 La Petite Chouette. 

Having a little sale there aswell, enter the code Spring special to get 10 % off all the goodies!!

Hope everybody has had a lovely weekend and is all rested up for the week ahead:)

Books..............

I haven't talked about a book for a while and thought it about time I told you about the last book read in our book club. The death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave. Well didn't this one cause a bit of a stir within the ladies. Some really liked it(me) and others thought it was a total waste of time and I can understand why. The novel is about a middle aged man who is a womanising, alcoholic which comes to a head after the sucide of his wife. He is a shady door to door beauty products salesman(who tries to get into their pants as well as sell cosmetics) and ends up going on a distructive road trip with his 9year old son. He finds he is losing his grip on reality which is quickly spiralling out of control.  It is dirty, crude, gritty, full of sex and mentions Kylie Minogue & Avril Lavinge several times.  The novel is abit like riding a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs, loads of twists and turns, and a cracking pace that threatens to derail it all.

Nick wrote this novel in 6 weeks on a tour bus. I originally bought it for my husband to read and put it up as a suggestion for the bookclub as everyone know Nick Cave because of his music but I don't think they really knew what goes on in his mind. I liked it & I would recommend it to anyone but only if you have a strong constitution, some of the ladies couldn't finish it. They said it made them physically sick. so with that in mind read at your own peril!!

Treasure Tuesday...............

1. Rockabilly Geisha, 2. Vintage Simplicity Pattern 1704 Full Poodle Skirt Rockabilly Dress Jumper 50's 50s Size 12 Girls, 3. Rockabilly chick 

It's all about the music today. Have discovered Lanie Lane and am loving it. Check out the link as it has a video of her lastest song.  And if you like her you may also like Imelda May.

 

Made it Monday..........

Little zip purse made from what I started in the last post. 
Sorry about the photo. iphones can be handy but they don't always take the best photo!!

Happy Halloween everyone and look here for some cute crafty ornaments.

WIP..................

A few minutes free to sew and see what comes of it. Hopefully I will show you the finished product on Made it Monday.

Fun Fridays.............

Our week of school vacances is drawing to a close and boy has it been a busy week. Usually we chill out and not do too much as the kids get up for school so early here it is a good time to go slow and re-charge the batteries but not this holidays!!! Juliette did a dance stage(holiday program) in the am, the 2 of them had a gazillion swim lessons( these haven't finished yet), we went for morning tea, saw a movie and even went to see an amatuer production of 'The Mikado' last night. So to finish off what was a rather hectic week we had a nice muck around at the pool after lessons this afternoon even I got in and had a cool off. I must admit it was nice, it would have been even better if I was floating around on a lilo and sipping a cocktail!!

Special treats..............

We have had a big special surprise here today!! I picked up a parcel from the post office  to find a picnic basket overflowing with Maggie Beer products and one of Pip's crafting books. Can you imagine how happy this made us all:) It was gifted to us from a work collegue of my husbands who come to stay for a week a little while back. He didn't have to do this but we are all very grateful for a bit of home stocked in our cupboards. My husband can't wait to get into the burnt fig jam( on warm baguette) and I am going to cook some Toulouse saucisson this week so I can try her tomato sauce. mmmmmmmm!!!!!

Made it Monday mushrooms............

Literally made today(3 of them) on this Monday first day of another round of school holidays! In my La Petite chouette shop right now for you to browse:)

Treasure Tuesday.........

1. Heart of Stone, 2. Heart Lights, 3. Macks' Big Heart (20 Things About Me), 4. Heart Rose, 5. heart with smile, 6. Heart , 7. My Little Heart, 8. heart buttons, 9. Heart Garland

A little tresure trove of hearts for you today. I love how they are found in nature and made with the hand............Whatever way they come they are lovely!!

Made it Monday................

Nothing made this weekend but a good time!!! My husband and a friends husband have both been away for a couple of weeks now and we treated our families to a weekend away at some local bungalows. This place is actually a golfers resort but they have a pool and a restaurant and you can sit on your little terrace for a pre dinner drink while the kids play on the lawn. What more could you ask for!! 

We returned home last night the kids were dog tired from swimming so much and me well I came home with an insect bite that has gotten all infected. A visit to the doctor today, a course of antibiotics and a little rest and all will be fine. You have to careful in this heat and bites I only got this sucker on Saturday night and by Sunday evening my big toe was throbbing like you wouldn't believe.

Anyway come back next Monday and you may see some handcrafted stuff!!

Fun Fridays.............

 

Fun sewing this Friday...............some cute Middie dresses in the shop.

 

Myself, a girlfriend and our kids are heading out of town for the weekend. Our husbands are both away and we need away from the house time. We are just going to some bungalows an hour away but there is a pool and a restaurant which means easy kids entertaining and no cooking involved.........fantastic!!! 

Hope you all have a nice weekend whatever you do:)

Surprise...........

A bit of trivia for you all today but my very neglected orchid in the garden surprised me with some beautiful flowers!!

Treasure Tuesdays.............

Oh the path of treasures we will travel down today will be cute and interesting and moreish. It is the Etsy path and it is one of those ones that once you get on you can never get off!!
I am just going to list them and you can discover them for yourselves. Enjoy!!!

Mabgraves
Jamfancy
Decoylab
Gingermelon
Feltland
Miss behave

Made it Monday............

 

Monday Monday!!! We have woken up to a beautiful day which makes it so much easier to start the week!! Actually the weather over the whole weekend was marvellous so there was not much done other than soaking it all in which meant not much crafting. Django was the crafting boy in the house and he made another feltie. His name is Pumpkin head and he is from the Zombie Felties. This book sure is a winner in my eyes, if it gets boys doing things like learning to sew then I see that as a very good thing. It's a good book if you are looking for stocking fillers for boys & girls!! The time to be thinking of such things is getting near and for us who need to get it all sent to far off places you need to be prepared. Anyway enough ramble hope you are having a great start to the week!!

P.S I have been making a few new Blythe hats for the shop in my spare moments:)

Beach disturbances............

The Blythe Physical Challenge #38- Blythe & wienies!

This is the best we could pull off!!!

Fun Fridays...........

It seems that I have been a bit absent from here this past week. Inbetween one sick child and one sick pig there hasn't been much time for frivolous posting but today you are in luck. I have a picture and something to post about. Friday is crafter morning with my friend Gemma. We had missed last week but all was in alignment this week. She actually didn't get to do much as she was dealing with a washing machine repair man but I got to nearly finish a little project I started sometime back. A little amigurami lion.

Sad day...........

Sorry no fun treasure Tuesday finds today. For the last 2 days we have been watching over our sick guinea pig Moustache, he stopped eating on Sunday and tonight took his last breath. He was with us for nearly 4 years which is a long time for little pigs like him. 

So no fun in this house tonight but I will be back next week with some treasures!!

Made it Monday.........

Made it Monday is bought to you by Django this week. He has entered a competition in The Utterly Awesome Blythe Club and had to produce something for the blythe girls made from cardboard. Here it is their own special dressing screen. As you can see Guava used it straight away!!

Sunsets...........

We get the most terrific sunsets here and today was no exception. I just went and picked the kids up from Kuendu beach and this is what greeted me. The days and nights are getting warmer you can feel that summer is coming. Oh I love the changing of the seasons, well the little we get anyway!!!

p.s photo taken with the iphone not bad for a quick shot me thinks:)

Books...........

 This weeks book that I am going to go on about is '1974' by David Peace. It is a gritty novel set in Yorkshire the year is 1974. A young naive journalist comes back home from an unsuccessful stint in Fleet street and is quickly sent into a whirlpool of  child murders, corruption, violence, conspiracy, blackmail, sexual obsession. 

Even though it is a fictional book it is based on real events of that time in Yorkshire and it's surrounding areas. The Yorshire ripper is one of them. It is tightly paced with fast witty dialogue, it doesn't  take to long to read. 

I loved it but if you don't like raw books with too much swearing, violence and gritty sex I wouldn't pick it up to read.

On from this novel David Peace has written three others 1977, 1980, 1983. The series is apparently intertwined and goes by the name of Red riding quartet. I have not read any of them but intend to find 1977 to see what other violence , crime and panic he can conjure up.

For further indepth reviews read here and here.

Treasure Tuesday on Wednesday............

Sorry for no post yesterday. The day seemed to get away from me and then all of a sudden it was 10.30 and there was no way I was sitting down and writing a post about new finds. I had thought about what I was going to write all day but alas at that hour bed was calling and it won over. Anyway the new finds for this week are kids blogs. I think we are discovering them because my children are now spending a bit more time on the computer looking at what interests them(no different to me).I am going to list a few that we all like to read and included are my childrens blogs.

Django's Cute club!

Juliette's Toko's Adventures.

The others-

Craftygirl*

Coco Belle Writes

Picking Daisies

Blythe Art

I know alot of these centre around the Blythe doll but I think it has the kids thinking about a whole heap of other stuff. It gives them a place to practise their photography skills, create craft and show it off, write and learn about the computer & the world of the internet. In our household writing these blogs is also helping the kids to write and read in English. It is a kind of learning even if they don't realise it.

You can have a look at these links or if your kids are interested in blogging it is a world of inspiration for them. good luck and I hope you have a few hours spare because you will need it!!

Made it Monday.............

No craft for this Made it Monday only yummy banana choccy muffins!! I honestly thought I was not going to be able to post anything hand/homemade today but something always pops up doesn't it!! This recipe is literally a 5 minute put together and there is always brown bananas here which is always the incentive to make them.

Recipe as follows-

1 1/2 cups sr flour

1/2 cup caster sugar

1/2 cup vege oil

1/2 cup milk

1 egg

vanilla

and then anything you wanto add to them. We do love banana choc but we also love a little passionfruit mixed in too!!

Method

Place dry ingedients in a bowl, mix wet ingredients together. Put wet into dry and add your flavouring. You know the rest in a moderate oven for about 15 mins or until they spring back when touched.

Let me know if you have a favourite muffin you like to make as we are always open to trying new things around here.

The end of a weekend.............

 I am just going off to bed after a weekend at one of our most favourite camping spots, Thio. The weather was fantastic, the company great and there was even some swimming with a dugong(not me) but I couldn't go to bed without showing some images of our spot. 
I hope you enjoy the blues and the palm trees!!

Fun Fridays...........

Blythe physical challenge for this fortnight- Blythe & rainbows!!

Treasure Tuesday.............

Voodoolady's fab photography

Something very appropriate for Treasure Tuesday............' talk like a pirate day' ! I know I am a day late but that is ok. I don't think pirates would have ever arrived on time anywhere anyway!! Here is another very happy treasure flickr find foto!!

Blog find for this week- little dear tracks ................lovely felt stuffs!! 


Argh happy Tuesday to all ya scurvy seadogs out there!!!!!

 

Made it Monday............

Last Friday we had a visit from a friend and her mum. My friend is American and her folks were out here visiting. This friends mum is always sending her new things that a all the rage back home. This time she bought me a little gift. Something so completely new to me, I haven't even seen it around the internet and often you come across new stuff when you are seeking out other stuff. Anyway this new thing is called Zentangle. It is all about the creative doodle apparently! I got a book to show me where to start, some of the little cards to draw on and a pencil and fine outlining pen. So here you go my little bit of creativity this weekend was drawing and I liked it. The book & bits were left on the coffee table so I picked it up and did a little everytime I had a free minute. The kids even had a go.  I think it will be good for all of us to do as it is a bit of free thinking art, no rules that need to be followed you just go with the flow.

Has anybody got anything to show on made it Monday!!

Fun Fridays............

 

 Friday morning I have started to get together with some new craft girls in town. Twice so far!! We get together talk, drink tea, I crochet others sew. I had fun this morning and am excited at the prospect of more  sessions to come. This get together is not just about the craft but also about me making some new friends. Many have departed this year leaving a little hole. That aside I think my husband is happy about these session too as he is hoping he will no longer have to give his opinion on matters concering fabric combinations and other such crafty matters.

Hope your having a fun Friday too!!!

Books..........

I am in a book club here in Noumea and have been for a couple of years now but never seem to have written about the books we have read or will read so I  thought Thursday could be the day I talk about books. I am going to start with the one I have just finished reading and will be discussed next week at our monthly meet-up. The Hunger Games. Here is a blurb written by the author Suzanne Collins-

In a not-too-distant future, North America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcast throughout Panem. As the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss' young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart Peeta, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives. Written by Suzanne Collins   

  

Young adult science fiction, fast paced & not hard to read all equals a good book. I liked the characters, they weren't soppy as in the Twilight series(which I read). They have a bit of guts and determination about them, a bit of spunk. Everybody was likable even the badies! The theme of reality tv is so relevent to us at the moment with so much of it in our faces. I know it is in a grander scale in the book but who knows what our future holds for us!

Anyway we are a diverse bunch in age and nationality in our group so it will be interesting to see what everybody thinks but me I give it a thumbs up. I would suggest it to any young adult, boy or girl as I think they would enjoy it.

Let me know if you have read the book and if you liked it or not. I see the movie is coming in 2012 some of you may hang off until then!!

Treasure Tuesday.........

Prairie mouse treaure bottles- flickr find!!

It's Tuesday and on this Tuesday and future Tuesday's I am going to give you some links to new treasures I have found. It could be a new blog, something from Etsy, a photo from flickr or even a fab recipe. Who knows what it will be, I will see where the winds takes me on any particular Tuesday!!!

Blog find- Ana Camamiel horror vacui  she makes some wicked dolls!!

I am sure you all know the Pioneer women blog and I go back there every now and again to check out what she is up to and today I found this recipe. It is on the dessert menu tonight cause who doesn't love bananas cooked in brown sugar, butter & cream. Yum Yum!!!

Happy Tuesday readers!!

Made it Monday...........

Over the last few months my little blog has been floundering all about the place. I lost interest a bit, I didn't think I had much to write about and sometimes I just didn't have the time. I was having thoughts of giving it up but then did a backflip on that idea. I do really like having my blog and sharing some of my life with you all. Anyway I thought to get No life without wife back on track I would give it a bit of structure. A few days of the week I will talk about something in particular. I am going to start it off with Made it Monday. Usually on the weekends I get a little time to do some crafting and thought on a Monday I can showcase what I have done and if I don't get to do anything I am sure I will find someone in blogland that has been crafty.

Here is my offering for this week! Yesterday while watching the rugby with my hubby I finally worked out the pattern for a pixie helmut for my dollies. I love it and the pattern is so easy I have completed another 2 already in between looking after everybody else in the house. 

Decorated with a couple of flower shaped yo-yo's.

Let me know if you got up to anything crafty on the weekend that's what Made it Monday is for!!