I'm back

 My favourite view of the front garden at the moment, that corn blows me away.  I think I've only grown it once or twice, a long time ago.

The first 26 heads of garlic pulled over the weekend.  These were the biggest ones.  Luckily I decided to pull the rest out on Monday, before we had some decent rainfall.  I think we have about 40 heads of garlic in that trug now, full to the brim!

Ahhh, computer problem easily fixed after husband arrives back from a 12 day work trip.  So much easier to fire up the computer at home, than battle with account and PIN numbers at the library. 

Dodgy computer

Might be away from this space for a week or so, the computer is having problems.  I'm at the library at the moment, will try to get to the library as much as I can until it's fixed.

Myer Christmas windows 2012

 We went to Melbourne today to see the Myer Christmas windows

 They opened last week, and Evie had a curriculum day off today, so we went and had a look before they got too busy.

 The theme was "Russell's Christmas Magic", a book by Rob Scotton

 Lots of sleeping sheep!

 There were miniature frogs in the corner of each scene, good for the tiny kids to see up close.

There's a good behind the scenes here on Youtube

Cuddle Craft

Cuddle Craft Collective is running an online auction from 15th - 18th of November on Facebook.  They are aiming to raise $5,000 for Softacare.  These pants are my donation to the auction.

About Softacare:

Softacare’s vision is to create a nation where every child in foster and kinship care feels safe and loved, and that they are empowered to create security and connection through healthy self-expression.
Since October 2009 Softacare has been providing direct assistance to children in foster and kinship care through the delivery of innovative ‘Xpress’ programs.  The Xpress programs help kids develop healthy self-expression and confidence through the creative arts and adventurous outdoor activities. And they’re free of charge.

So have a look to see if there's anything you'd like to bid on.  I'm not on Facebook,  so I can't participate other than donating an item, but good luck with your bids.

Big shop update

Just a selection of what I've put in my Etsy shop so far, with just a few more to go.  The Ashby market is all over now, and this is some of what's left.  A great (and busy!) day was had at the market, with lots of people stopping by to take a look.

3 more sleeps

 3 more sleeps until the Ashby Primary School Market Day.  1 more sleep until Andrew comes home from a 10 day work trip to the USA and UK.  Yay, I'm a little tired of solo parenting right now!

 I think this is the last item I will be making for the market.  Another tablecloth dress in size 5 this time.  It was a gorgeous cream linen tablecloth with subtle lemon and mint green embroidery, begging to be made into a dress.  I've used a reproduction cotton print in vintage yellow with little flowers on it for the back and sleeves.  This is one way to make bigger sized tablecloth dresses- tablecloths aren't always big enough for bigger dresses unfortunately.  I meant to cut this one out as a size 6, but had started cutting when I realised I was cutting a size 5.  Oh well.

After I said I don't find nice tablecloths very often, of course I find a few.   Maybe people are having a bit of a spring clean and declutter.

It's a bit squashy in there!

 My 2 broody Araucanas, with a Plymouth Rock laying an egg, all in one lawn mower catcher.  I hope Betty's ok up the back there, Plymouth Rock's are quite big chickens.  Betty just about stood on Frankie's head yesterday when she climbed back in there, she likes to be at the back.

Just a little driveway garden pic, showing some of the 8 fruit and nut trees that are all quite small at the moment.  They are interspersed with calendula, sunflowers, rainbow chard, thyme, yarrow, chives (garlic & onion), artichokes and comfrey.

Bark cloth

I found my first barkcloth tablecloth this week, and have made it into two little dresses, size 1 and 2.  They will be coming to the Ashby market with me.  Bark cloth is quite a heavy fabric, and the tablecloth didn't look like it had been used.  Love the native Aussie birds, bottle brushes and wattle!