My Tee-Ball Champ

Tonight was Jacks teeball windup - an event where he was presented with his team photo and his first medal. I am so proud of him and he had a great season. The 4 YOs was a skills session but next year he can play a real game!

I of course cried - who wouldnt - I am so proud of him and he is just growing up so fast....

Yah Jackie!

Action Shots

Here are some action shots of Jack in the Imke I made him in WCE colours.



And here is Jack in a t-shirt that was given to me by Lissy. She had made it and it was too small for her boy so she gave to us - how generous!! All I had to do was the bottom hem - and he wore it to a birthday party on Sunday! Thanks so much Lissy - that was very kind of you :)

Sewing Clothes Kids Love

Today in my mail box arrived the long awaited copy that I ordered of Sewing Clothes Kids Love by Nancy Langdon. I am also very luck to have received a signed copy as I bought it through Lisa @ Crafty Mamas. How cool is that!

Its a really great book chocked full of great tips for sewing as well as 10 full patterns from her wonderful range. The first pattern in the book is the Imke shirt. I love this pattern and it is so versatile. You can have so many variations and you can make it for him and for her.

I made one up for Jack tonight in the colours of our football team the West Coast Eagles. Jack is a mad fan and its that time of year again. I chose a lined hood and I mixed the colours on the arms to break up the blue.



I used an iron on patch which I bought last year - its the clubs old logo but it made a retro comeback recently and some official shirts have been re-released with this one them. Oh and notice that even though its for the footy I still got the fledge patch in the side seam!




The fabric is stella from Crafty Mamas and the yellow is the remainder of the fabric I won last year from Sara at willow & moo.

Its a great pattern and one I will be doing again soon. But for now - onto the next in the book!

Oh and as a side bar - this completes my entry into the challenge of the month (sewing with knits) over at Carolyns blog :)

Keep Ya Knickers On!

Jack brought home a book from school today as a special treat from his teacher. It is his favourite book apparently and he was allowed to bring it home overnight. We read it twice and he literally knew it off by heart!

The book is called Knickerless Nicola and is about a little girl who doesn't want to keep her knickers on until she realises that has draw backs..like splinters and sweaty bus seats.

It was very entertaining and both Lainey and Jack loved it....it was nice he could bring it home.

Jack and Ernie

Jack got to bring home his friend Ernie from Pre-Primary yesterday. He was allowed to come home with us as Jack was very well behaved. he was so excited and had Ernie out of the bag all the time - he even ate tea with us.

Well done Jacky boy! Keep it up :)

ETA - Ernie is a hand puppet :)

Back to School Baking

Today I decided to make some great little things to put into Jacks lunch box when he goes back to school on Monday.

Last year I was putting cupcakes and muffins etc into his lunch bx but this year we are dedicated to healthy eating and so I wanted to find new recipes that were healthier for being put into lunch boxes 5 times a week.

So this is what I made:

Lunch Box Muffins - Mac 'n' Cheese Flavour
This recipe comes from The Sneaky Chef To The rescue by Missy Chase Lapine.



4 large eggs
1 cup of Orange Puree (this consists of sweet potatoe and carrots)
2 cups cooked macaronni
2 cups grated low fat cheese
salt and pepper to taste.

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line a muffin tin with paper liners. Lightly spray the liners.

In a mixing bowl whisk the eggs and puree. Mix in the macaroni and 1 1/2 cups of cheese. Divide the mixture evenly amongst the muffin cups. Top each with a sprinkle of the reserved cheese. bake in the oven for about 20 minutes until the cheese is lightly browned and bubbly.

Each one of these contains 155 calories.

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Yellow Cake
This recipe is from Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld



1 x 500gm packet mix of plain cake
1 cup of puree pumpkin
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons of veg oil
2 large eggs
1 large egg white
170g of non fat vanilla yoghurt

Preheat the overn to 180 degrees. Coat a cake tin with oil and lightly flour.

In a large mixing bowl combine the cake mix, pumpkin, eggs and egg white, and yoghurt. Mix for 1-2 minutes.

Pour the batter into cake pan and bake for about 20 minutes or until the skewer comes out clean.

I cooked this in my slab pan and turned it out a little early! It broke a little!

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Choc Chip Cookies
This recipe is from Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld



1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup of marg
2 large egg whites
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 can chickpeas drained and rinsed
2 cups choc chips
3/4 chopped walnuts (optional)
3/4 cup sultanas (optional)
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup oats
1 teaspoon baking sod
1/4 teaspoon salt.

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

In a large mixing bowl or food processor beat the sugar and marg. Add in the egg whites and vanilla. Add the chickpeas and choc chips. Add the flour, oats, baking soda and salt - mixing on a low speed until a dough forms.

Drip the dough by the tablespoonful onto the tray spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart. Press gently with a fork and bake till golden brown - about 11-13 minutes.

Transfer to rack to cool.

Store in an airtight container for up to three days.

Note: I used wholemeal flour instead of white flour in this recipe.


I would seem that Jack isn't too keen on the Mac and Cheese muffins - he is extremely fussy - to the point o aggravation! But he loved the cookies and we will try the cake when it cools :)

Sants Claus Is Coming To Kindy

Today a very special man came to kindy to visit Jack and all his class mates. Parents were invited to come too!

He arrived by police car and gave all the children a book present.

Lainey got to sit on his knee the whole time (because she just walked up to him and sat there!)

Then he left by police car...hopefully not because of one too many sherries!

Jack then gave Mike and I our christmas presents....a beautiful key chain and his kindy memory book...this mama cried...I am so proud of him...and I love him to pieces.

Manic Monday - Drab to Fab!

A couple of weeks ago I laybyed four of these big European size cushions at Target.

On the weekend I collected them and had to cover them.


I had bought some fabric from my favourite Spotlight at Innaloo. They always seem to have excellent home maker fabrics for $2 and $3 a metre and I often grab indiscriminate amounts to have in the cupboard. I actually bought these fabrics especially for the cushions.

So I made the plain old drab cushions into something fab! Please forgive the fact I didnt iron the Barbie fabric...they are after all floor cushions!




They were simple to make...the cushions are 65x65 so I cut out one 70x140 rectangle per cushion and overlocked the raw edges on the sides together. On the top edge I folded down a double hem and ironed it and then using my stud press put 4 studs along either side to make closures so the cover can come off for a wash. They were very easy to make.

Now the kids will be super comfy whilst playing on the floor and watching telly!

Polly Practical Stikes Again Again..

I found this great pattern for toddler knit boxer briefs and thought it very cool - so I decided to make some up for Jack.

I ran out of elastic though so I will grab some to finish off the others tomorrow...dont you hate running out of elastic!

Polly Practical Strikes Again

I have some sewing that I do that I call Polly Practical...you know - the real utility pieces....and last night and this morning it was shorts for Jack.

I have bought a new pattern - for the sizing more than anything - from You Can Make This...its the Easy Fit Pants...I used to have a great shorts pattern in a Top Kids mag but I gave them away and forgot to keep that one! This pattern is good because you can make them any length and its two pieces...really quick to whip up on the OL.

Jack recently picked some fabrics at SL and so I whipped them up last night. I made them all and then this morning hemmed and did the waists. I can get two pairs per metre.

I love the fabrics Jack chose and the pic of the shorts on their own - they are made from boardie material...so they are for swimming too.

I love being able to sew practical things. I love the fiddly more decorative pieces...but this is one of the reasons I got into sewing. Beats buying shorts at the shops thats for sure.

What To Do After School

Is there any better way to cool off after a hot day at school...

Pirate Party

Jack went to the pirate themed birthday party today for which I made a costume for on Thursday night.

Here are him and Lainey as we were about to leave to go - Lainey went as a fairy - of course what else!

Mama Mia! The Concert

If you are a regular reader of my blog you will have read about the costumes I have been making for the childrens dance concert. Well last night was finally the concert! The theme was Mama Mia and it was a truly awesome night. The atmosphere was brilliant, the whole town turned out in support, the kids did amazing and they really looked the part.

I was so proud of Jack and Lainey that I balled and cried and gave them a solo standing ovation - what do I care what people think of me - they are my babies!!!

So here are some pics of the night. Some just are not that great as we actually were not supposed to take cameras in but we snuck ours in hehehe.

Jack is third from the left and Lainey is behind the little boy far right.


Jack with the children post performance


Jack in one of his costumes - the lady in the blue shirt is his class aide from school and out great friend Caroyln.


This is a pic of one of the costumes made - they looked really good with the lights on them.


This is a pic of the finale - the polka dot costumes in the front I made too.


My gorgeous friend, mentor, sewing partner and teacher Onah Lawn


One packed out town hall


Lainey is second from the left - this was their other dance


Lainey and Jack are first and second from the left - Deb their dance teacher is standing in front of the stage leading them.

Jack Starts Cricket

This weekend was an exceptionally busy one! One of the many things that happened was that Jack started Junior cricket. The club here in our town runs an excellent program for the little ones and there were 33 kids all up.

Jack of course loved it and I really think its going to be great for him. Also Mike is helping out so its something nice to do together.



This pic is of Jack and Mike - Mike is in the foreground and Jack is the little boy changing direction...great pic hey!

Of course Lainey did the usual sister thing and just looked cute as always!

Yo Ho Ho

Jack is going to the birthday party of a good friend of his on Sunday and the theme is Pirates! So of course I saw a prime opportunity to make a costume :)

I think he looks great! Its McCalls 4952. The fabric is stash poplin from when I made school dress ups. The sword and patch courtesy of Red Dot.



The picture is a little grainy - I will take some nicer ones on the day.

The Torch is Passed

Jack started tee-ball yesterday. This is a picture of his first hit. I cried! Tee-ball is a family sport around here with Mike and his family having a long history with the game as well as baseball.

Congratulations Jack - I hope you love it!!!