.Where I Sew.

I'm excited to be featured by Kathy Mack over at Pink Chalk Fabrics today.  During July she is taking her readers on a virtual tour of sewing spaces of some of her favourite designers and sewing enthisiasts, and today you can read a bit about me and where I sew!

There have been some gorgeous sewing rooms shared so far, and I have to admit that I was a little nervous that my room wouldn't compare to some of the amazing sewing studios that I was waiting to be featured, but it is lovely to see a mix of rooms from people who creatively and beautifully "make do" with small spaces in their homes to stunning studios and work rooms.  I think we are all a little bit curious as to where others do their work, and I've certainly enjoyed picking out fun little details on sewing desks, walls and cupboards.

I asked Kathy if I could be towards the end of the month to give me time to get my room cleaned up - haha!  While it was tidy (and I'm telling you now...this is a RARE occurrence!) I took a few snaps as I realise that I've never given you a decent peek into my sewing space before.

My sewing room is situated directly off our dining area, and from it I can see into the kitchen, dining area, lounge room, deck, and play area outside.  When we designed our house we were deciding between including an ensuite off our bedroom or a sewing/rumpus room.  Because I sew a lot, this option far outweighed a second bathroom and I love that we can keep all of the toys out of the bedrooms and loungeroom as well.  The sewing room is combined with our playroom, kids toys on one wall and sewing stuff on another.  It works beautifully.  I leave my sewing stuff out all the time and my kids are so used to it being around that they very rarely touch anything.  Other people come around and ask me how I keep them away from it, but I really don't have to.  The only time they are interested in the sewing machine is when I am actually using it!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE that I can keep my sewing space set up all the time - gone are the days of packing everything away before going to bed each night.  It makes it much easier to quickly sew for 10 or 15 minutes here and there and get things finished a lot faster.  I don't sew a lot when the children are awake, but when I do, it is nice that they can play at my feet and we can all make big messes together in the one room!  The only downfall about sharing the space with the toys is I feel like I have to clean them up before I can sit down and sew properly so sometimes that turns me off sewing for the night!

Toy storage = Ikea Trofast...best storage investment we have ever made.

This is my sewing wall...table from Officeworks where all the action takes place.  There is a built-in cupboard to the right where I keep all of my bulky sewing bits and pieces - baskets and boxes full of haberdashery, loads of Make It Perfect samples, quilt wadding, etc.

 Inspiration board made by me (I'm not very good at putting stuff up though!).  Saffron Craig Wall Decals.  Sarah Jane Calendar.

The chairs are ones that we rescued from the side of the road when we first got married!  They have had many a coat of paint over the years and I recovered the seats with oilcloth to match the chairs at our dining table.  Cupboard - Billy with Nyckelby doors, Ikea.

My fabric cupboard is full to the brim now...but how can I resist the lovely new ranges that keep being released?!  Buy another cupboard

 

My non-sewing sister embroidered the funky sewing machine for me.  Love it!  And I think every crafty person needs a spool or two of bakers twine, right?!

 

The back of the sewing room houses another slim Billy cupboard.  I keep some Citrus Pop stuff in here as well as pieces of fabric under 1/2m and ribbons, spools of thread, buttons, etc.  You can also see my view onto the deck.

 So there you have it, a sneak peek into my sewing room! 

.Announcing Winners.

As per usual, I forgot to draw the Big Sprout winner - congrats Kristi!

And the winners of the Craft & Quilt Fair ticket giveaway...I'll be seeing you at the end of the week!

I've sent each of you emails and look forward to hearing from you!

.A rainbow of knits.

My desk...this is what work looks like.  Finishing up the last bits and pieces of a new pattern to send out to my testers.  It's been a slow and steady process with lots of interruptions over the last few weeks but I'm happy to almost be there!

And while I plod along with the boring computer side of things, I keep looking to a MASSIVE rainbow of sensational knit fabrics sitting along side me.  This is my motivation to get all of the computer stuff done - cutting into this rainbow and creating a whole array of beautiful garments.  Yay!

The new pattern is using knit fabrics and is an absolute basic wardrobe staple.  I guarantee that anyone with kids to sew for will get a lot of use out of it.  The amazing fabrics on my desk are from Crafty Mamas (thanks Lisa!)  

Super cool Hilco Campan stripes below...

 And loads of my favourite Stella solids...

 I don't know about you, but I find it hard to visualise what solids are going to look like in real life from a colour swatch online...hopefully these pics will help give you an indication of the colours and I'll be sure to list colour names next to finished samples when they are done!

.Want to come to the Melbourne Fair for FREE?!.

Do you realise that it is only SIX sleeps until the Melbourne Craft and Quilt Fair?  I didn't, until yesterday.  Yikes!  

Lucky I'm orgainsed this time and don't have as much to get ready as I did for the Sydney Fair.  And just like I did with the Fair in Sydney - I've got another FOUR ENTRY TICKETS to give away to four lucky winners!

If you'd like a chance at winning a ticket, leave a comment on this blog post, or a comment on the Make It Perfect Facebook wall.  I need to be able to get in contact with you if you win so make sure you leave an email address.

The giveaway will end at 8pm on Sunday night and I'll be in contact with the winners to arrange getting tickets to them.

Please only enter if you are able to use the tickets (i.e. if you can go to the fair yourself or have someone that you can give the ticket to!)

And after my slackness with no photos from the Sydney Fair, I did manage to scrounge a few off some friends...

...with sweet Yana...who was the lucky winner of one of the entry tickets in Sydney!

...me and my banner (thanks for the following pics Bec!)

...Elissa from Kelani Fabric and I in her amazing stand!

...catching up with special friends - Kate (with baby Grace) and Bec!

See you next week Melbournites!!!

.Thermomix Cooking - Chocolate Chip Cookies + my Thermomix DISASTER!.

I've got a new Thermomix recipe to share with you today, but before I do so, I need to fill you in on my TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE Thermomix disaster.  It happened last Sunday and I am only just over it enough to talk about it!

So, I was making chocolate truffles (might share that recipe soon when I get over the trauma associated with them!) and using a metal teaspoon to scoop the mixture out to roll into balls.  I know we hear it over and over again to never use metal spoons in our Thermomixes, but I was being careful not to touch the blades or do anything harmful, it was just easier to get the mixture out that way.  I'd finished the rolling and decided I should make another batch and pop some in the freezer to pull out for snacks and school lunches during the week so I dumped some more biscuits into the bowl and started to whiz them up.  I realised that the Thermomix was making an unusual noise, but thought it must just be stuck on a tough biscuit and turned the speed up a bit.  It was then that I realised that something wasn't right and I opened the lid, had a poke around and almost died when I found my METAL TEASPOON mangled up in the blades!!!!!!!  I didn't take it out after the first batch because I was going to wash everything up and didn't notice it sitting in the bowl before I put the biscuits on top.

If you are a Thermomix owner, I can guarantee that you are gasping right now!  (If you are a wannabe Thermomix owner, you might be laughing at this story!!!)

It was bad, bad, bad.  I felt sick and quickly called my Aunty (who also happens to be my trusty TM consultant).  She scolded me to "NEVER use metal spoons in your Thermomix EVER!" - apparently this is not the first time a Thermo has had a battle with a metal spoon...Thankfully, the spoon lost the battle.  Apart from a couple of small chips in one of the blades everything else is working fine.  It took me a few hours to turn it on and check everything out, I was soooo scared that it was going to be stuffed but I've cooked a lot in it since Sunday and everything is working as it used to.

Anyway, let this be a lesson to all of us to NEVER use metal spoons in or around our Thermomixes again!  Just not worth the risk.

Check out the spoon...it looks much worse in real life - some of the scratched/chipped parts of the spoon feel as though they would be sharp enough to cut you - I'm keeping it on my kitchen windowsill as a gentle reminder ;)

This is a family favourite Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe, converted to turn out perfectly in the Thermomix. It took a few tweaks to get it just right, I'm starting to learn that cake/cookie mixture needs to be handled in a certain way in the Thermomix to get the same results as with a mix master.  These cookies are delicious with a soft and chewy center and crisp outside.  

(If you are wanting to make the cookies without a Thermomix, I posted the original recipe here.)

Only THE BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies EVER!

125g butter
110g white sugar
110g brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
260g self-raising flour
1/2 tsp salt
150g chocolate chips


Place butter, sugars and vanilla in TM bowl.  Cream together for 1 minute on speed 3-4.  
With TM still running, add egg through hole in lid and continue mixing on speed 3-4 for 30 seconds.
Add flour and salt, knead on interval speed for 30 seconds.
Add chocolate chips, stir through with spatula.
Drop teaspoonfuls of mixture on trays, leaving room for spreading.  Bake in moderate oven for 10-12 minutes.

.Feeling Grumpy.

Hi Guys!  

That's me, Tommy in the bath and I'm feeling grumpy.  Actually, I've been grumpy for about 5 days now.  It sucks, but I'm getting a lot of attention.  Mum and Dad think I've got a split personality now because they used to call me "super happy boy" and now they are calling me "grumpy bum".  Whatev'.

Anyways, we are all allowed to have a grumpy day (or 5) every now and then.  At the moment, I'm really just happy if Mum is holding me.  And it's much better if we are sitting still, like on the couch and watching ABC Kids or the Wiggles or something entertaining.  A little bit of rocking and singing doesn't go astray too.  It really annoys me when Mum wants to get up and do something, like put the washing on the line or answer the phone or go to the loo.  Seriously, she can hold on, right?!

Truth be told, I have been a bit sick, and that makes me miserable.  First off I had a fever for about 3 days and didn't know if I was hot or cold or if I wanted people to touch me or not (and can you believe that my parents took me to the snow in that condition?!)  And now I have a runny nose and a cough and I am just over it.  Mum says she is over it too, but, hello?...she's not the sick one here!   All she wants to do is clean the house and answer emails and sit at the sewing machine.  But she will have to wait because that's her job.

Mum wanted me to tell you that if you are waiting on an email or phone call or something else from her, then you'll just have to be patient and wait a bit longer because I'm clingy and not letting her out of my sight.

Thanks for listening, it feels good to get it all out!  

Tommy Ross :)

.From Rob Ryan.

I was shopping with the kids a few weeks ago during school holidays when I spotted an enchanting ceramic vase in our travels.  I have been on the look out for unique items to decorate our home with...there are a few bare spots that I still need to fill but I want it to happen naturally, as I see bits and pieces that call out to me and slowly build a collection of beautiful things.

The vase...I fell in love.  It is big, a little quirky and features the artwork of Rob Ryan - an extremely talented paper cutter and print maker.  As much as I wanted to buy the vase then and there, it was a little pricey and I REALLY wanted it to come in red or green as I didn't think that blue really went with anything in our house.  So I ummed and aahed and decided to leave it for now.

After we got home I searched online for the vase and found it on sale at Lark (sale has finished now).  I couldn't help myself and popped it into my virtual shopping cart and made the purchase :)  

It has been sitting in our lounge room for a few days and makes me smile every time I look at it.  Sometimes a girl's just gotta have a little splurge!

 If you are not familiar with Rob Ryan, check out his website and some of his paper cuts below...most of these can be purchased on his Etsy store.

 

.Cradle Mountain.

We bundled the troops up and headed to Cradle Mountain to the snow on Saturday.  Last week was FREEZING and we knew that we should make the most of the cold and have a snow trip before it was too late.  So after two or three layers of clothing and a quick stop to Kathmandu to buy everyone a pair of decent gloves we were set!  The gloves were on sale, but still a little pricey so I made sure we got them way too big for the kids - Oscar will be wearing his until he is 15!!  But it definitley made for happy kids at the snow, no crying that hands were cold and lots of time for fun playing...

 

 

It really was a perfect day...great snow cover, no wind, lots of open spaces to run around in.  Tommy was a little off though and later we realised that he was sick and has had a fever ever since.  He was okay with lots of cuddles though.

 

 

 

We had to drag the big two away for lunch and had a delicious meal at the Cradle Mountain Lodge - our favourite stop every time we visit the mountain.  The meals are delicious and huge and there is a massive log fire to get warm by after being outside in the cold.  The kids had a ball - it really is great now that they are getting older that they are able to enjoy outings like this, babies in the snow is not much fun, heaps easier when they can run around on their own and enjoy themselves!

They are already asking when we are going to go back...hopefully we'll make it again in the next few weeks - get some more use out of their gloves ;) although Oscar and Lil were up at 7am playing on the swing set outside with their gloves on!!