a cold, wet & sleepy weekend - preparing for the crazy that will be Monday

Greetings all,

What better way to spend a cold, wet & sleepy weekend without any sport, parties or shopping to do, than in your jammies & knitted booties, baking & playing with fabric.  I did go to Pilates, there was also sunshine in spurts, then took a bath, slide into new pyjamas & put fresh linen on my bed, which i shall enjoy tonight (after the finale of The Block).   

After the success of the chocolate self saucing pudding, we gave a butterscotch one a whirl.

For authenticity i thought i'd add this next image - the moment after shooting the pudding, which had already been attacked by it's maker (middle daughter) . . . a sword fight broke out between her spoon & her little brother's fork. 

 I have a few giveaways coming up with Lego & books, i thought i might play around with my Scrabble magnets to make a fun image for the giveaway posts??

 It's not the neatest of fabric stacks but i'm trying to turn from fabric stockist & return to sewing as a hobby, reducing this to a personal stash.  At least i'm no longer a lazy fabric librarian.  I'm using up all my bolts on sewing & selling FQ at the next Handmade Market.

 Yay, i have a studio floor again.  All the vintage Tshirts on the rack will be on my website for sale in a few weeks, huge discounts, stay tuned for when i next open my on line shop.

 Look what i unearthed . . . my Marimekko remnants.

 The prints are so large & bold, i've made bags & cushions from them before, maybe now i'll make some simple retro cot quilts??

 We had lamb on Friday night, i NEVER cook lamb without my husband, like EVER.  I used a gourmet lamb rub, i think it's a New Zealand brand, it was fabulous!! 

 The children made a waffle batter & used the Penguin machine thingy, which we hadn't touched in years - it was a slow weekend indeed.

So feeling well rested, a bit zen & thoroughly organised in my studio.
Wish me luck getting the children to school tomorrow (we live 20km north of the city) as . . . Canberra is expecting over 10 000 cars, trucks & caravans to descend on our nation's capital city at 9a.m. for a dozen different no confidence protests - most coming from our direction.  To say it's going to put our little city into grid lock, is an understatement.  I'm talking road trains - no idea how they are going to get through the roundabouts??  This is going to be crazy.  Most of we mummies were chatting on Friday afternoon at the school gate, we don't plan to attempt to head to school before 10a.m.  Eeekkk, there goes my Spin class, bummer.  The schools are expecting children all day, it's that HUGE & insane. Wishing you gorgeous weeks, spare a thought for me stuck in a protest convoy for 2-3 days, i'm just trying to get the children to school, love Posie

things i'm loving & i'm grateful for 'our cute & fluffy family Easter'

Greetings all,
Combining this week's 'Things I'm Loving' with Paisley Jade & 'I'm Grateful For' with Maxabella Loves this week to bring you a long week double post of Australian family Easter cuteness.  I love it when my husband is around, we do so many fun family things. 

 Full marks for cuteness with this family.

 Ok so they sleep like 22/24 hours . . .

 but this koala was super active, climbing, jumping & stretching.

 Oh who doesn't love a great petting zoo??  Don't be fooled by the high schooler's facial expression, she is not loving her smile or photo being taken at the moment.  It's a faze.

 I really like goats, not sure why, everyone complains about them but surely if they are in proper fencing & entertained, they'll be great on the farm.

 This animal lover of course wanted to take them all home with us.

 Animals bring out the best in children, don't you think??

 Wallabies . . .

 a huge reason why i want a farm, space, animals & a simple family life in the country . . . it's based around the fact we'll have 4 teenagers very soon.  They can go & complain, cry & let out all their tension in their own space with the animals at the end of each day.

 These were very chilled wallabies & kangaroos.

 Best of all, we have handsome soldier with us.

 So wishing you all a great slide into Easter from my family to yours.

Relax & enjoy your long weekend!!  Love Posie

post market merchandising

Greetings all,
So how can you make your tax deductible small business dollar last forever . . . invest in gorgeous merchandising ideas you'd want to keep on display in your home!!

I do the entrance displays & decorations for the Mathilda's Market in Canberra & this was my double effort today, as we have 2 entrances into the ballroom where it's held.  They are only metres apart so i thought a matchy matchy style subtle Christmas look would work well.

For my regular readers & Christmas-theme-lovers . . . you'll be pleased to see how my bird ornament collection is really coming together & it appears that i love red too!!  You don't have to spend much, sure the trees are new from Bed, Bath & Table, but i waited patiently for their 15% off sale.  The picnic basket was $5, some feathery bird ornaments from a $2 shop & lanterns are $14 from the Reject Shop.  Don't go & buy up all the lanterns in Canberra please, i dropped one in the garage when i got home & smashed the glass.  I need them for next Saturday's Handmade Market as it goes into twilight hours!!

I was next to Red Berry Designs, how gorgeous are these mobiles??  After dinner last night my eldest daughter made origami cranes out of the Haig restaurant napkins, impressing the wait staff & my parents!!  She read the '1000 Paper Cranes' book this year, incredibly sad, i remember doing it in senior primary too & crying in class.
Well i'm exhausted after a very long draining weekend & market.  My husband loved the praise & comments in the last post, now he's making a butterflied leg of lamb for dinner.  No, there is nothing he can't do.Now have you checked out the latest giveaway to win a copy of Handmade Living, a sewing craft kit & fabric . . . follow this blog & leave a comment now!!  Go two posts back.
Have lovely weeks everyone, love Posie