wordless wednesday

 

 

order

I noticed a theme today as I finished one quilt top and started another

Order

 

Control

Simple

It appears I am seeking out what life can't give me right now xox

floods

This is my Dad's house in country Victoria

This was taken 2 days after the water came through about a fortnight ago.

They had no warning. 

Lucky for them the water didn't come completely inside and they are all safe and well.

The debris up against the bridge is meant to be the farmer up the road's new chook shed.

That's my Aunty's house under that circle. 

They had warning and could empty out their house. House is dry, property is not.

While Victoria is not as tragic or news worthy as Queensland, this is their tragedy. It's real for them. 

You can donate here xox

Reality

Reality.

I'm busy.

 The kind of don't talk to me, touch me or even look at me kind of busy.

Not even reading any blogs kind of busy!!
Too busy to even tweet kind of busy!!!!!!

We have no clothes in our draws kind of busy.

And we are not even going to talk about the bathrooms......

Popped out to grab the extra table from my partner in crime Mel today. The piles of sewing were taking over the house. There are still piles on the couch and kitchen bench.

Big kid bags

Little kid bags

Loads of little zippers

There has been new, old and different products sewn for market. Still an amazing amount to get through. I have to say. I am really enjoying it.

All of this while hubby is settling into a new job that has him flying all over the NT and away a lot more than at home *sigh* That's life!

So I am sorry if you are worrying or wondering what on earth has happened to me. I am fine :) And there are quite a few emails I need to return so please hang in there and I will get to you asap. I am also very very behind in swaps. Please forgive me. I will get to you too.

Better get off the computer. Build up storm has just hit and it is a doozy! xox

Thank you :)

Thank you!

I was so worried about blogging a little of my story. I have been thinking about it for ages. It was a really hard thing for me to say 'out loud'. Not many people in my current life know. So to make it really public is a big thing.

So thank you all for you kind comments, emails, tweets and facebook messages. I am a little overwhelmed at your kindness and understanding. Thank you :)

In other news, hubby has finished up at his job he has had for 3 1/2 years. Thanks a long time in mining. And a long time for us. Next week we start a new adventure in residential, campaign based work. So instead of being away 2/3's of the year it is likely to be less then 1/2! Ekkkk!!

Mmmmmm what shall I do with this extra time......!!! xox

build up

It's here. 

The time of year after the dry and before the wet. 

Where it's hot, humid and down right horrid.

The plus side is the amazing storms!

My brother took this while he was here. Isn't it amazing! 

I asked him very nicely to get me some curry while he was at the Mindil Markets. This storm literally rolled in while they were getting my tea. And them they got wet, really wet lol!! He's a keeper :) xox

meet Jessica

Jessica is Miss 9's first Blythe doll!!

We are both over the moon with her. Although this photo doesn't really show that. More hurry up so I can open her mum kinda photo! 

So beautiful!

In the fire we lost all the girls baby dolls and accessories. So when the money come through they had a choice of replace them or choose a new doll. Miss 9 immediately screamed "BLYTHE PLEASE!" And she knew which one she wanted too, 'Urban Cowgirl'. 

Needless to say Miss 7 now wants one too! This is after she had a complete meltdown when Miss 9 showed her Jessica's eyes change! Totally freaked Miss 7 out! But she very quickly got over that and we were straight onto the computer looking for one for her. However she appears to have tastes like her mother.....expensive!

We are all looking forward to sewing for our new friend! First up, a quilt, of course :) xox

Wordless Wednesday

Secrets, friends and 21st

There is one thing I do well. 

Talk. 

So naturally secrets are not something I 'do'!

But I did! I pull off a massive surprise for my family down south by going back for my brothers 21st. It was such a shock! My mother's screaming had my brother in a panic until he saw me! It was so worth the trip just to hear that screaming lol! I had a wonderful time. But sadly it is never long enough......

There is no way I could go down south without catching up with some of my favorite blogger friends. Though I think it is now safe to drop the blogger and just call them friends :) 

Me, Fi and Julie

Julie, Abbe and Fi

Abbe and me :)

A fabulous meal, including vegetarian lasagna for Kate, and a sleepover. Loads of silly grown up girls giggling. Perfect night to make up for months of crazy house fire rot :)

I also managed to have a very long lunch with some Ballarat bloggers, Rachel and Jodie. Such awesome chicks. And man, I miss Ballarat! Great food. Great people. Great op shops. Even in the 12 degrees. And Ballarat Patchwork!! Gosh! I think they are just might be my favorite Victorian fabric shop.

I did shop. Oh yes.....but you'll have to wait till tomorrow. Need to go and spend time with my amazing family xox 

Good News, Bad News?

Hi!! How are you all?! Oh I have missed you all!! So what do you want, good or bad?

I'm going with good news first.

Sew it together was awesome. I don't have words or as pictures to describe how incredible it was hanging out with such amazing chicks. I think once I get 'back on line' I will pinch some peeps pictures and tell you about some of my new bff ;)

Now for the bad news....

 

While I was in Melbourne, we had a kitchen fire. Everyone is ok! Thank god! But my house......not so much. We are in temporary accommodation for at least the next 4 weeks. Hence why I am blogging for the first time in nearly 2 weeks. So I'm blogging from macca's and hopefully will be back on line with mobile internet thingy soon. I can read emails with my still broken phone but am not so good a replying. Bit tricky with such a small screen ;) 

 

And just because I told the lovely ladies at sew it I would post pictures.

 

View from the front door

Kitchen :( 

Black smoke everywhere but the bed rooms :( Including all over some quilts, fabric, stock etc. And it doesn't want to come out :'(.....

Sorry about the quality. The pic were taken with my iphone.

So. That's that then. I must run now and drive the 1/2 hour to school for pick up and then 1/2 'home'. 2 hours in the car every day. GREAT!! xox

Happy Mothers Day!!

I hope all you mum's out there have had a wonderful day! 

Hubby is at work so no breakie in bed for me but my mum is visiting!! Has been a lovely day. I made roast beef for lunch with salad and cold roast meat for tea. Mum has helped out with the kids, although I'm still on pooy nappy duty, and is more than happy to clean. In fact the first day she was here she cleaned the girls room....I don't even go in there.....scary place!! And she has since done my pantry and there is not one piece of clothing not put away. Never happens!! 

So thanks mum! You are a star and not just because you are a cleaning machine but because you are amazing and I love you! xox

I made this last night for mum...

A Junior Ranger bag, mum style!

Senior Ranger bag? Mmmm no!

Big enough for her drinker, phone, wallet and glasses case. 

With gorgeous Saffron Craig on the front! I love it! And so does she! xox

the end of holidays

The Bianca Jae Makes Stuff Family!

Kids are back at school tomorrow. Hubby is back at work today. It seriously feels like the start of a new year not term. Hubby has been home for 2 months. And now he is not home for 12 days. It is going to be a very very hard 12 days. There has already been more tears than ever before and well, it really sucks.

So bare with me as we find our feet, get back into routine and find our rhythm xox

Home

We're home! And we are all exhausted. But this photo makes it all worth while...

That's me, seconds bridesmaid from the bride, with all my brothers and sisters.

Will be back tomorrow with pictures of the girls dresses. And the quilts are finished too! xox

...Victoria

Mother always said if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all....

.

.

.
So I'm not going to complain about how friggin' cold it is in Victoria.....

.

Or how I am sick with a cold.....

.

Or how incredibly frustrating it is not having a car....

.

Or that because of my cold and lack of car I may miss out on our sewing retreat....

.

Or that because of no car I may miss out on going to Ballarat to catch up with friends

.

So because I have nothing nice to say I'll say nothing about that. Instead I am having a really nice, cold time catching up with family and friends....

And while I'm busy on holiday's Corrie has been very busy at the markets selling my wraps. Thanks Corrie! You are a super star!!

So I'm now going to climb back in bed under the doona and try and stay warm. I do love a good snuggle under the doona, so it's not all bad ;) xox

Planes, trains and floods??

So. Dresses are finished, pretty much. Just the hand sewing to finish when we get down south and the hems tonight. Very happy with them. Was a little scared that they were going too be too much but I like! HUGE relieve!! But sorry guys you will have to wait until after the wedding to see them. Painful aren't I lol!

Quilts. Same as they were here and here. I am going to cheat and get them professionally machine quilted. Because I can.

That's the sewing bit done.

Stress levels hit a new high here yesterday. See our adventure down south was meant to go something like this. 

1. Pack the car

2. Put the car on the train

3. Fly to Adelaide with carry on, enough for one night.

4. Sleep, then shop, then pick up car.

5. Drive 4 1/2 hours to family.

Not too bad, anything with large family takes planning, time and energy. So this was the best option for us. Meant that we would have a car in Vic that we could fit in and would have the ability to do our own thing.

However....

For the second time this year the train tracks have been washed away!! So no car!! Seriously!! Life in the NT is never dull...

So. This is now our plan.

1. Repack. This means big one will not be able to take all her denim shorts. First melt down.

2. All luggage will need to be taken on the plane. Husband not happy. Sent to time out.

3. No shopping and catch up with Megs. Me. Sooky face.

4. Train to Vic booked out until Monday. And there are no hire cars (long weekend down south). Panic starting to rise.

5. We all need to be up and organized to catch a BUS at 7 in the morning. Cold sweats and heart palpitations begin.

6. We then need to sit on said bus for 6 1/2 hours.....with all the luggage....and 4 kids.....complete melt down!!

7. Weight Watchers chocolate biscuits do not help.

8. Once we are in Vic. The 1lt bottle of gin gifted by LMM will be had and kids can look after themselves for the rest of the holiday. Screw the points.

So. Yeah. And the icing on the cake is my orchard that hasn't flowered in 18 months has started to flower this week. So we are going to miss it in full bloom.

You can start the violins now. I'm off to eat a weight watchers friendly chocolate cake xox

Australia Day

I love my country

We are the lucky country

And I am proud to be Australian

And, well, proud to be a Territorian

Today is a lot of thing

Different things to different people

Some feel the need to wave our flag....alot

Some go to the Big Day Out or sit around listening to the hottest 100

Some love the day off to watch the cricket or the tennis

Some have a beer and a barbie with a mate

Some hang out at the beach and walk around in thongs

And some morn a life lost, a history lost, a generation lost

Whatever you do today, enjoy you loved ones and celebrate our wonderful country. And also remember, just for a moment, what the history of today really is...

Image via

Happy Australia Day xox

best . santa . present . ever

I'm sure if Santa could hear that he would be very pleased with himself. I know I would be ;)

Miss now 9!! Yes 9!! Where did that time go?! Anyway, she loves her new Lego :)

 The front porch, it even has a light. Love the little tiles.

A pond with a duck and even a pizza oven

Out the back there is even a tap!

Looking, looking....

...oh there he is! A little man visiting from one of Dad's old Lego sets!

For anyone that is interested this is the set Miss 9 got.

I see much much more Lego in this house! xox

On the first day of Christmas...

...my true love gave to me, a boy who likes to climb trees!

Well, by the time I post this is will be the second day, so just ignore the date on the post :P

So after a bit of tweeting on Monday, I decided at, like 4 in the afternoon, that we really should have a handmade advent calender. Crazy right?! So I jumped on the net, went to whip up, searched and saw this post. I really really wanted to make a garland with little bags or stocking but that just wasn't going to happen this year. Instead I decided to make a paper cone garland! Inspiration came from here.

And here is how The Wood Family made a paper cone advent garland!

Take 2 very eager and excited girls and a box of art work. Recycling is always good!

Add in a brother and lets start to write out numbers.

Meanwhile mum is rolling the 24 cones!

Cut out all the lovely numbers and stick them to the cones.

Line them all up and make sure we didn't miss any.

Then punch holes in them, thread with string, hang on the wall and fill with threats...

Well, turns out, I can't hang them up on my own!!  Miss 8 and I tried to stick and blu tack but no. Needs magic sticky on hooks and hubby to help. So we will have to wait until the weekend to hang them. But they are done!! We did it!! Woohoo!!

So as soon as they are up, I'll post pictures, promise! xox

...lessons

Well I'm back!

Not that I really went anywhere, just been so SO busy! So hopefully over the weekend I can finally catch up on emails and blog reading. I miss seeing what you all all up to :)

I have learnt some interesting lessons over the past few weeks

People really do like what I make. And will actually give me money!

My husband and kids are more patient then I even imagined.

Never EVER list something you have yet to make, as things very quickly snow ball and the next thing you know you are pulling all nighter's to finish orders! True story...

There will be people that will copy what you do and sell it. Having no understanding or appreciation for how long you have worked on something to get it right. Karma will get you. Mark my words.
Note - talking about someone that I gave a wrap to as a gift, copied it and is now selling in the big town. Not those sellers on madeit/etsy etc. We are all selling different products and that is cool :)  

And I heart Jacob. More then Edward. And not just because he takes his shirt off...ALOT! And yes Brooke, I know he is only 17 ;)

These are in to my madeit shop.

Have a great weekend.

Don't forget to enter my give away! xox