fabric frenzy....

Before we left to go overseas I was a craft mama. It started with knitting S a jumper and quickly spiralled out of control and now includes sewing as well (thanks to a sewing machine from my parents). Simple stuff: bags, toys and the like. As my sewing and knitting have continued my stash has grown considerably. It is currently being housed in three big plastic tubs with a few sneaky little stashettes here and there.
Why all the fabric (and wool)? The first reason is that sometimes something is just too pretty to resist and the other reason is that I am about to embark on a crafting frenzy so that I can sell some goodies at the Market Day @ the Arts Centre in Cootamundra in November http://www.cootamundra.local-e.nsw.gov.au/events/pages/15810.html
My mum has been generously contributing to my stash (she's my enabler) while I was away, so when I returned I had a veritable trevor trove of fabric to admire. There's some lovely fabric this one matches my blog from the wonderful Amitie (http://www.amitie.com.au) which is a fantastic shop in Victoria run by very helpful ladies and another reason why I like them so much is that Jack was on their blog once http://amitietextiles.typepad.com/amitie_textiles/2007/12/somewhere-near.html
I was chuffed.
And some great novelty prints like these monkeys and lions, and also some fabric (by Amy Butler) from the shop called Picklemouse (http://www.picklemousecorner.com/) that used to be downstairs under her office. It's such a shame they closed but they still have a shop in the blue mountains.And she got this great fabric from a textile artiste extraordinaire called Saffron Craig (http://saffroncraig.com/). Love the owls.So as you can see I'm thoroughly spoilt and already thinking up ways to use the fabric. Can I bear to part with the owls?
When I got home there were some samples from a shop in Wagga called Simply Stitches (http://www.simplystitches.com.au/) including this one which I thought was very funny.In a couple of weeks Mum and I will be going to the craft fair at Rosehill which I'm really looking forward to. Better buy another tub or get sewing so I can make room.
I went to the Craft fair in Wagga on the weekend but it was really a load of tatt. Or should I say not my thing. Sigh. S asked if it was as bad as last year and I said it was worse. I did manage to find this fat quarter of Katie Jump Rope fabrics amidst the chintz. They even had a quilt made from it which looked sensational but was being kept under the counter. Sigh.

the last leg

And so after three months travelling we got in our car (stuffed to the roof with bags and bags of stuff) and drove the last five hours of our trip. The drive was pretty uneventful. We stopped at Mittagong for pies and Jack insisted on nursing his new tonka digger (thanks Uncle Craig) pretty much the whole way home.
Lucky (looking clean and fluffy) seemed pleased to see us which was a surprise. Knowing that he had been lavished with attention by Belinda while we were away, we thought he might tell us to bugger off. The house was lovely and clean and the fridge contained not only a veggie lasagna (thanks Diane) but also a yummy quiche (thanks Belinda).
After a chat with our excellent house lookerafterers and dogsitters, Alex and Belinda, and some dinner we went to bed and slept till 8.30 the next morning. There's just something about sleeping in your own bed.

The next day, Jack reacquainted himself with his room (and the fish), with his books,

the yard and of course Lucky dog.

It is cold here, but the days are mostly nice and probably about the same temp as London, Edinburgh or Dublin at the moment. And it means we get to us our gumboots.

giant giraffes in glebe

On the Monday after we arrived back in Australia we went to Glebe to
a) pick up our car
b) see the relos
c) so Jack could see his other grandparents (most importantly!).
After catching a number of buses and getting caught in the rain (just like English summertime) we made it to Boyce street. There was a reunion and the cat in residence, obviously experienced in the ways of children, beat a hasty retreat.
Above the door to the kitchen there is an enormous giraffe puppet that Jack was completely and blissfully unaware of. Once he'd spotted it though he gave it a wide berth. I mean look, it is very large. Even Noel looks disturbed by it.Luckily Auntie Ros distracted him with toys and S and his Dad put on a video of Shrek (though they seemed more into it than Jack).
After a lovely dinner we went back to Mosman to get plenty of sleep so we'd be ready for the long drive home.

duck aversion therapy

Lesley asked how the duck therapy was coming along and I told her it was going swimmingly. Jack had some intensive duck therapy during his stay at mosman. It seems to be working.

The aunties

On Sunday after a smashing breakfast at Gamin de Paris, we went to the park and Jack got to see the Aunties Lesley and Sandra. He had quite an entourage as he tested every piece of equipment in the park. It passed with flying colours (it's a very good playground) and a good time was had by all.

After the park we walked up the street stopping (every couple of steps to say hello to people my parents knew) at one of the amazing toy shops where Jack had a ride in one of those little cars for the first time. The verdict was positive. So much so that he took it for a spin on the way back and didn't even mind sharing. Luckily there were two steering wheels!

Scarlett and Jack

The day we arrived home was my sister in law Louise's birthday so we all had lunch on the Saturday. Apparently while Jack had been away his cousin Scarlett had mentioned his name a lot and whiled away many an hour watching him on Youtube. I was interested what she would do when confronted with the real thing.
And really she didn't seem too fussed. He tried to hug her and she said, "no..no..no" in a very determined manner. Later he tried to kiss her and she turned away so he pretended that he wasn't puckering up at all (be cool little Jack).
We had a nice lunch in the courtyard (though Jack and Scarlett both didn't seem keen on their sausages - must be lacking some Nelson genes there) and finished with a lovely chocolate tart from Gamin de Paris, which is a fantastic patisserie/cafe in Mosman. Jack and Scarlett had fun playing in the courtyard and I think Chelsea started writing her prize winning novel. The last time I saw her she mentioned she was going to be a writer but this time she said she might be a beautician, though she'd only do facials, no waxing. This sounds very wise to me.

And so to sydney....

The next morning, after not one but two wake up calls, we made our way to Changi airport (possibly the nicest airport in the world). Unfortunately we didn't have time to use the free cinema, massage service or many other things it has to offer. I did however have some rather yummy veggie dumplings for breakfast and I bought Jack a pain au chocolat though I could tell it wasn't going to be too authentic.
We were seated a bit further back on the plane this time but still got to sit at the front of the section so you don't have the problem of someone reclining their seat into your lap. We did have Jack though, but he was pretty good. He slept for four hours (meaning that I could watch Kung Fu Panda) and then I held him while S watched Kung Fu Panda. There was a couple next to us who were groovy in an understated way and I was thinking that they were maybe from Newtown, but it turned out that they were from Bondi and they had a little girl called Scarlett (Also the name of one of my nieces). She was pretty cute and well behaved and for awhile she and Jack shared the DVD player and we all got to watch the wiggles. She also shared some of her biscuits with Jack so it was a win win situation and Jack didn't flirt outrageously with Scarlett's mum, also a plus.
The flight from Singapore is 'only' seven hours and didn't seem too bad (but then I didn't have to hold Jack while he slept for four of those hours). Everything went pretty well except for some turbulence while Jack and I were in the loo. Actually I thought the plane was about to land at any moment judging by the tilt of the loo. I broke the record for fastest nappy change ever.
Relieved we landed and everyone immediately jumped to their feet and switched on their phones (even though they're not supposed to). Then we waited and waited and waited. There was an announcement about a sick passenger and how the crew were waiting for quarantine officials to arrive. You could hear the words 'bird' and 'flu' being whispered up and down the plane. Then we were allowed off with a very nice Singapore Airlines lady carrying one of our many bags, and down to immigration. By this stage Jack obviously knew the drill because he stood in his pram so the immigration lady could see him.
At the baggage carousels something strange was going on. Customs officials were talking to every person asking if they had anything to declare. Having been to a rural area and being honest folk we said yes. Unfortunately there was also a plane load of Czech tourist with suitcases full of cheese (I'm not making this up) also queueing with us. Finally, after flashing the soles of our one remaining pair of shoes at the customs man we wheeled our bags out into the hall and found a man with a sign saying KRISTY AND S.... and after a few last minute preparations (securing a baby seat) we were Mosman bound.