[needlewoman]

Well done you J! What is sherpa? Is this show in Perth the equivalent of Sydney’s Royal Easter Show/Adelaide’s Royal Show (just finished)? Let us know how your efforts are received, won’t you?

[Tamara]

Yep! It’s a biggie! This is the one that people from other states come to show their wines and cheeses in in – not to mention some livestock and dogd etc. it goes for a week and even though Imogen has her birthday on the Friday of that week, I think we will go to the show earlier. My husband decided to set the incubator and they will be hatching during that week so he has announced he can’t come down with us this year. Another reason why we have to go early.

Apparently my mum did some crocheting and had to present it on blue card. She pinned it all but was told to take all the pins out and sew it! She had to sit there and stitch the doilies to the card and it took her almost two hours! I’m so glad I don’t crochet!

The stewardesses are always so gracious. One was having a real good look at the little blue Edwardian daygown I was putting in the children’s wear section. Because it was all lace insertion sewn together they were having a real good look. One asked if my machine had those patterns or was it lace – she couldn’t tell and the other asked how I had done the sleeves as she was saying that some ladies put sleeves in that are far too big. I just told her I follow the pattern I’m using at the time – the compliment was that I did my sleeves just right. I should jolly well hope so! The little silk library dress for the naming day section was a real hit too! The pink one is still in pieces at home but will be one I can do for next year.

Sherpa is this fabric I found in Spotlight yesterday. It looked like faux leather on one side and had fleecy wooly typ fabric on the other. It can be used to make really warm jackets and coats – you know the biker style jackets with the fleecy collars? Made from sherrpa. It was rather expensive so I put it back and kept moving but it is something that would be handy to hand should they decide on doing a sheep for the special class next year.

[needlewoman]

Thanks for explanation about Sherpa, J. How long do you have to leave your entries with the Show, and how do you get them back? Nice to the have the compliments too.

[Tamara]

I will go and collect them the day after the last show day. I could have them send it back but I am not really secure in how Australia post operates (I mean our mail gets to one destination and stays there for like three days just because they wait for a “load”). What they do is collect the things from people then they are judged and arranged this week ready for display all of next week and then they break down the display the next two days after that. Each section is separate so if Murray were to show any livestock (not sheep as we aren’t breeders of wrinkly merinos – our sheep are considered too plain) such as his chooks, he’d have to bring them in on a different day, like Friday and then the stewards would look after them.

Imogen has just informed my sister that she would like a pink electric guitar for her upcoming birthday. Of course she was quick to also include the word optional. I say PASS! And the reason is because there are two instruments for which lessons are done and not an ounce of practise is had! Mean old mum I am I am!

[Tamara]

I woke up to the news this morning and heard that one of our historical building in a nearby town called Greenough was destroyed by fire overnight. It was a mill that was built in 1860 and was a part of the historical village. We don’t have many really really old buildings but this was heritage to the area so it is a bit sad.

We have just come home from the Perth Royal show where we saw glow in the dark horses! They were part of the troupe called Horse power. They also performed at the Sydney Olympics. It was just so great to see them here. Hope they come back next year and then I will make sure I get a better seat!

I was sent on a “wild chook chase” to find Andalucians for Murray. He’s decided he doesn’t have enough breeds to contend with! I think 115 chickens from the latest hatch is plenty myself! I am beginning to think that we need to add poultry farmers to our occupation description.

Music practise has stepped up thanks to watching fellow class mates play in the band and experience feelings of jealousy. We are loaning my late sister in law’s trombone to try out so that the decision can be made once and for all over the swapping dilemma that has lasted most of the year. The new aim is to get into the junior band after all.

We have the all important birthday tomorrow. I think everyone we spoke to at the show has bee. Well informed. Amazing how kids even at this age still get excited about getting older!

[Masha Richart]

Glad the music practice has improved – I’m with you, Tamara, on denying the pink guitar until such time as motivation has been well proven.

No sewing for me these days as we are in the midst of the annual birthday marathon. My daughters’ birthdays are 18 days apart. We’ve celebrated just-turned-4’s birthday already at home, and almost-3’s birthday is next week. This Saturday we are having a with-friends party for both. The girls have requested a princess theme, and the most important part was that there should be edible princesses atop the cake. I did not think I would be able to grant the request, but I ended up constructing two reasonable (if slightly zaftig) looking princesses using an online tutorial. There are pictures on my flickr. Last night I made turrets out of rice krispy threats and ice cream cones – all covered in marshmallow fondant. It’s my first time using that medium and I really enjoy it! The cake will have three tiers when complete.

Younger daughter will receive her Cinderella dress the morning of the party so she can wear it. I quite enjoyed making that one even if I did have to sew the sequin trim on by hand. I can’t wait until she sees it. And then I can’t wait until after the party so I can sew again.

My sewing for older girl has been put on hold – she has been throwing epic fits each morning before preschool so we now have a sticker chart. She gets a sticker for each hysteria-free drop off. In 4.5 weeks of school she has only earned four stickers. Once she gets five, I will sew her a new dress. We’ve got the fabric and pattern (Playtime!) picked out. I hope she can manage the fifth sticker today …

[Tamara]

Oh I experienced that with both my children and it came to light that there was bullying going on – first the students then the teachers! Yes! But thankfully it has subsided and we are a little happier.

Sticker charts I found were great when my kids were little. Not so much these days though.

Music practise has revved up in hot pursuit of the pink electric guitar – and the microphone which has now been added to the Christmas list. Lets face it she is a music nut and wants to be a rock goddess! I told her she will have to get used to practising in the shearing shed! We will consider the guitar for christmas provided she practises the others first.

Noah has announced he would like a banjo!! Maybe when he is 11 as by then I will have found one for a leftie! (I play but right handed and not the banjo and I am certainly not in the rock god category!)

The dresses sound so worth the effort of making them. Can’t wait to see pictures.

[with love Heidi]

I just realised I made and decorated an ombre cake! I had to post it here because I am not sure anyone else I know would even know what ombre is! But most of you do. Even the cake colour and candle colour fit the theme! And it was by accident, well, I picked the candles to go with the icing decorations and then realised that it was ombre 🙂

White chocolate marshmallow fondant is very easy to make and use, we had so much fun because it was like plasticine 🙂

Totally not sewing related but I had to share. 🙂

[Masha Richart]

Marshmallow fondant is so fun, Heidi! I want to see pics of your cake.

[Tamara]

I have never heard of marshmallow fondant! Sounds like it turned out really well.

[with love Heidi]

Marshmallow fondant is amazing, and this one with white chocolate as well is even better! Here’s the recipe but I use a much easier method http://thebakingpan.com/recipes/chocolate/white-chocolate-marshmallow-rolled-fondant/#.UoSkEX07bMK

[Tamara]

Thanks, I might have to put the ingredients on my list for shopping today.

My daughter is having a friend to stay for the whole week and we are all pretty excited about it. We don’t really get to have alot of social interaction outside of school that has such eagerness surrounding it. This little girl almost invited herself to our house. I don’t mind at all because she is a great kid who seems very positive and up but cops alot from her female peers. I have alarm bells ringing when I hear that. She’s going to have a fun weekend with us just chilling. I am thinking this is the best thing for two girls who seem to be on the bottom of the social pecking order at school yet are two of the nicest kids you could imagine.

I will let you know how well it was tested out. I think it will be a definite – sugar has been cast out of this house for a few months now so bringing it back in will be seen as the best thing ever.

[Maggie]

I am feeling a little fragile today. My four- year-old was up for a couple of hours in the night. There was no settling her no matter how I cuddled or pleaded. Finally I left and she whined until she got tired.

To top it off, I brought my machine in for annual service, so no sewing therapy for me. I might have, ahem, done a little retail therapy at fabric.com. A girl needs a pick-me-up some days.

How often do you get your machine(s) serviced?

[with love Heidi]

Only when there’s a problem! But I don’t have an ultra fancy top of the line machine, nor one that needs constant computer updates. But I do clean out the lint and oil regularly.

[needlewoman]

I’m like Heidi – while I don’t wait for the machine to grind to a halt, without a car it’s a work of art/muscle to get my machine to a ‘servicer’ that isn’t going to take forever to get it done. Mine could do with a little extra TLC at present but I wasn’t impressed with the local Janome chap last time, and a recommended service person is tricky to get to. This means I have to try and arrange a lift for me and machine which takes time. So yes, I spend quite a bit of time cleaning my baby, and have taken to changing the needle far more often than I have in the past.

Sorry your little one has been hard to settle, Maggie, and short of alcohol, online shopping (especially at Fabric com) sounds very therapeutic.

Heidi, at the risk of sounding extremely rude, can you actually eat this marshmellow fondant you’ve been raving about? I can appreciate that the cake would look fantastic but even looking at dear Sharon’s wonderful cakes, and their mountains of frosting, my teeth (fillings) shiver at the thought of biting into it. Does this mean I’m too old, or is it like the icing on wedding cakes – ie. appearance rather than edibility. I’m happy to be enlightened/tempted.