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we have moved

April 3, 2012 By corrie 18 Comments

Well I told you I was moving on! And I did! Literally! One house totally packed up and put into 3 huge containers….just waiting till we get into the new house.

One house was cleaned top to bottom (thankfully I didn’t have to do too much) and when I did start to help, well retro daddy was at me for running around the house with the sugar soap and a cloth getting rid of little marks here and there. And I’m amazed at how many little toys, odd socks, shoes and hair things were found under beds, behind wardrobes and so on in all of the bedrooms.

We settled today and met the new owners beforehand who are just lovely! My only piece of advice to the new owners- now this will sound silly! Any stain will come out of the caesarstone with gumption and I’ve left you some under the sink and then clean over it with window/glass cleaner which leaves it streak free. Me obsessed with my big caesarstone island? Oh no, I don’t know what you’re all talking about!

this is what packing for a family of 6 for 3 weeks looks like! retro daddy had words with me!

The last few days have well and truly flown by. Today was just a huge relief hearing that settlement had gone through but only to discover that our house purchase has just got messier (I know! as if it could get messier, well it just did!)…like Elodie’s face when I had to give her some chocolate as I had no other food to hand and the pizza I had ordered for dinner was late! She’s back on the fruit, yoghurt and plain rice crackers now we’re settled in.

And so for the next few weeks we’re just trying to live a normal family life in a serviced apartment. There are benefits. The door to the shopping mall is directly opposite the building. The downside is driving an oversized vehicle that requires you to get out of the car and run into reception, collect a key, get back in the car and drive to spot (if there is one, tonight we are parked in a loading bay while 2 small hatchbacks park where we normally do), get out of car in front of main gate to carpark, unlock bollard and put it down, get back in the car, drive into spot, return key and car keys to reception. Do it all over again the next time you come home. At the moment it’s ok because retro daddy is here but I’m not looking forward to adding 4 kids to that routine

But you know what, the kids are loving it! Didn’t you all tell me that? In fact, finnie boy was asking all day when we were going back to the hotel. They are all sleeping on the sofa bed in the lounge and loving the whole experience! Me and retro daddy not so much but someone does come and clean the room and change the towels each day so I can’t complain too much.

let the countdown to the new house begin………………

Filed Under: homes, moving on

someone crossed the line

March 31, 2012 By corrie 64 Comments

Last night I had a little bit of a scare and a lot of reality check. I’m pretty careful on this blog about what I share and keeping some privacy. And I do that for the safety of my family. People have asked on facebook for links to our new house and for the auction of furniture. I’ve said several times that I don’t share my address out. So someone took it into their own hands and shared the link on facebook with my new address all over it. So not cool.

I wonder did that person think for a moment how many people read my blog (a lot! about to hit 1.5m hits) or put themselves in my shoes as a mum to a growing family. Would they want strangers or readers walking through their house before they got to. I’m not going to the onsite auction so it would be weird for people to be going just to check out my house. It’s all a bit weird and unsettling.

so retro daddy has made me delete all references to and pictures of the brady bunch house, we’ll have the address removed from the sale listing and it’s just a real shame that someone decided to share that on the web and put my safety at risk! Thankfully I have some gorgeous online friends who deleted the link before too many people could see it and I’m so grateful. I am dying to show you each and every bit of the Brady Bunch house when we move in but I’m going to have to think very carefully about what I do because of people who think it’s fine to share my address out in public.

Lesson learnt. If you want to go and hunt down where I live, well fine. But keep it to yourself. Don’t go putting it out on the web for everyone with my name on it. Thankfully, I know that 99% of my readers are gorgeous genuine people who I consider dear friends and wouldn’t do this to me but I thought this all deserved an explanation!

So moving on………….because we’re moving tomorrow! All pictures of how my house is looking less than 24 hours before the removalists arrive!

Filed Under: homes

Kidspot Top 50 Bloggers Launch Party

March 29, 2012 By corrie 7 Comments

It’s not often that I go out on a weeknight. In fact, it’s not often I go out fullstop. Getting make up on and putting on a nice dress (well I only have one really nice maternity dress at the moment) just doesn’t happen very often. In fact I took a photo as I was going out the door to show off my makeup and realised it’s not even fancy night time make up just me in makeup! I just don’t wear it very often. And when I do go to wear it I have to call out to keira where she has put it because she likes to take it out of my makeup bag with tillie and play upstairs.

Anyway so last night I was invited to the official launch party of the Kidspot Top 50 Bloggers competition. I wasn’t in it last year so it was great to be there on the night and get together with lots of amazing bloggers. And there were some big names there. Here is the always funny Mrs Woog (I must keep remembering to call her Kate, not Mrs Woog) warming up before she interviewed us all. So not looking forward to that 2 minutes of interview coming out.

The venue was gorgeous at the Pavillion in the botanical gardens and I sipped on my orange juice all night while the champagne was flowing. I mingled (retro daddy was very proud of me) and met old friends and some new faces which was nice. I always love when you get to meet people whose blogs you read but you haven’t met yet – and then you leave and remember you didn’t get to talk to people you really wanted to like pottymouthmama! still don’t know how that happened. There were some very funny ladies there – honestly just start a conversationn with Mrs Woog, Eden and BabyMac and you’ll feel like you’ve been friends for ages. Those ladies make me laugh. And Madam Bipolar who is also so sweet and has nice things to say. And I got to chat to Hello Owl, A Beach Cottage, Danimezza, Samelia’s Mum, My Little dummer boys, Suger coat it, Life Love & Hiccups, Corinne Daze, Lovely Living and some lovely ladies who work for kidspot.

So back to the competition, you can vote for me if you like (you know you want to) and you go in the running to win $5,000. Nice. I’d love one of my readers to win. And I’d also love to make it in the top 10 this year since I was 11th place in 2010 so would love to just nudge in there. And you can just go here to do that. I’ll write up another blog post about why I want to win later on in April. Thank goodness I have a bit of time to think of an amazing blog post AFTER we’ve moved house.

And the top blogger for 2012 receives the brand new Ford Territory Titanium Diesel model as shown in the lovely pictures here. For a year. The very cute Ford lady announced the price as winning the car. Can you imagine that? Wow it really is a gorgeous car and I had some serious car envy going on. I would love that parked in my driveway for a year. And I’m glad they pitched the car talk at a level suitable to the mummy blogger. I tend to lose concentration when things get too technical for me but I did learn that there are 7 seats, all leather seats, a reversing camera, sat nav and plenty of space on board. The winner also receives a trip to BlogHer12 in NYC. I have my ticket already and a baby due the first week of July so you can see why I’m aiming for the top 10 position! Better to let someone who won’t have a newborn win the trip to NYC and experience BlogHer this year.

And here is the goody bag I came home with. Keira only asked me about 50 times to photograph it and put it on my blog so she could rip open the smiggle pack and eat some chocolate. I love that there is a gorgeous big candle and also a room diffuser in there both from Freedom. How perfect for the new house. Well done on the goody bags. Seriously good.

A huge thank you to Kidspot for such a lovely night out! I know you all worked hard organising it and a special thanks to Chantelle for the gorgeous goody bags and her hard work and Sam for all her organising and then letting me take the first taxi going home! So sweet!

And lovely readers don’t forget to vote for me here!

p.s I would have shared this post with you all this morning but Telstra had other ideas and I’ve had no internet for 28 hours! yes count them, 28 hours! Just about killed me because my iphone screen is smashed but I survived…..somehow!

Filed Under: kidspot top 50 blogger, mummy blogger

knit one, purl one, breathe

March 27, 2012 By corrie 11 Comments

There has been a little bit of craft going on here. Not much. Only about 2 or 3 rows a day but a little bit of knitting does help keep the stress away.

I’m making the Louise cardigan from Vintage Baby Knits and it’s turning out just lovely. Ravelry details on the pattern are here

I’m using Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino which is super soft and I’ve gone for a fuschia to make it a little more fun. I got mine here at suzy hausfrau. Now I’m ‘supposed’ to be making this for another baby Elodie but if it fits my Elodie then I might need another present because it’s just so soft and I’m just loving the seed stitch border.

And in case you were wondering how the little cardigan is constructed (of course you were), well here is the diagram from the book. So you start from the bottom and work upwards and then knit the sleeves separately and join them on later. I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

And I’ve packed a big tub of needles and wool to keep me busy in the apartment and pass some time when little people are sleeping or busy. I might get this finished and something else started!

I hope you’re enjoying a bit more craft than I am!

Filed Under: knitting, ravelry

super easy sultana scones

March 24, 2012 By corrie 5 Comments

With just over a week to go until moving day we have been eating our way through fridge, freezer and pantry. I have to admit it’s getting a bit boring but at least we haven’t resorted to canned salmon/asparagus/beetroot and chickpea surprise. Why on earth I always end up with cans of these and odd bags of pasta and different types of rice I will never know. But today I found sultanas and flour and decided to make the scone recipe on the side of the box (since all my cookbooks are packed away) and I have to say what a hit! Super easy and nothing beats a super easy recipe. So good hot out of the oven with some butter on them and I’ll get the little ones to make next time.

What you’ll need:
2 cups SR flour
2 – 3 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp butter
1/2-3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup sultanas

Rub butter into flour and sugar with your fingertips. Add in 1/2 cup of the milk and mix with a knife and add in rest of milk gradually until you get a nice dough and combined all the flour in. Tip onto a floured board and knead gently (I kneaded mine in the bowl actually) then flatten with your hands. Using a glass or cutter cut into rounds and use up all the dough. Place rounds on lined baking tray, brush with a little bit of milk and bake for about 10-15 minutes in a 200 degree (Celsius) oven and then enjoy. Too easy.

And while I was baking and then packing littlest miss was keeping busy with the packing paper and pencils. It’s sometimes when I look at pictures that I realise she is growing up on me………….

Filed Under: baking, recipe

never wake a sleeping baby

March 19, 2012 By corrie 25 Comments

One thing I learnt pretty early on. Never wake a sleeeping baby. Especially when they’ve been fighting sleep all day like this little princess. And on the weekend at Power of Moms there was universal agreement that watching your little ones sleep is a great thing about motherhood. I love watching them while they sleep. So sweet, innnocent and peaceful.

I can’t believe she won’t be the baby of the family much longer. And I love that she is wearing one of Keira’s baby dresses which our ‘aunty nicky’ from america sent to us all those years ago. I’m going to miss having another girl to pass them on to.

Filed Under: everything else

a walk in the woods giveaway

March 19, 2012 By corrie 375 Comments

Long time no giveaway! And this fabric arrived last week so it’s time to share the fabric love. I’m giving away 2 charm square packs and 1/2 metre of each of the fabrics on the bolt. You can definitely make something sweet with all of that!

Just leave a comment and tell me what you’d make and you’re in the draw……………………………competition open to everyone wherever you live in this great world and closes this Sunday. I’m going to make a sweet quilt for my Tillie.

Filed Under: giveaway

Power of Moms Sydney Retreat : Day 2

March 18, 2012 By corrie 14 Comments

Well yesterday I spent another wonderful day learning, reflecting, thinking and dreaming about what I want for my family. Taking time out of my normal routine to go to the retreat is one of the best things I’ve done as I really got to take some time to reflect on my own little family without all the crazy that is normally going on around me.

I thanked retro daddy about 20 times for minding the little ones, driving me there and back each day (50 minutes there, 50 minutes home and then he’d do it all over again to collect me). I really did appreciate having that opportunity and time away from the home to do it.

There was more lovely food, more new people to meet and chat to, a lovely warm atmosphere where you could really share personal things and not be afraid about that, I was on another panel and the lovely Sheridan took a few pictures (I said please no double chins and happy to report there weren’t!).

On the panel I was talking about what I do when my children say they want the latest toy or something bought for them. I admitted that when it was just Keira I bought her so many things, then we had the twins and I felt bad for keira that I was so busy with the twins so I’d buy whatever she asked for and more, then we had elodie and the twins were wanting things and I realised I couldn’t afford to buy them whatever they wanted.

And I’m glad I reached that point. Now if the little ones want a toy they can drool over the catalogues picking out what they want, keira loves to make lovely lists with drawings, stickers and cut outs of what she wants and it always changes and they are told to wait for their birthday or Christmas to get it.

20.5 kids between us – Naomi on the left has 7, me well I have 4.5 and Lisa has an impressive 9!

And do you know what? They are surviving! No one is deprived. No one goes on and on about the same thing for weeks and weeks, they move on to something else. Keira knows we get presents and toys at our birthday and Christmas. They still get little treats, go to the movies in the holidays and what’s best is when I do bring something home for them as a surprise like colouring pencils, paper, or a dvd they get so excited about it. It’s tough love for some of you but do I want 5 primary schoolers making my life difficult whinging and whining for everything? No.

And so what did I learn and am going to put into practice in the short term. Well just off the top of my head and I’ll share more later:

– I really do love my family and this was the perfect time in our family life for me to go to this retreat and start putting in place some systems and routines before baby 5 arrives.

– we already have some little family traditions and it’s important to start some new ones and be consistent with them.

– teaching my children about money and the importance of earning it and it’s never too early to start (OK, Elodie is too early to start but the twins are not)

– putting family rules on display in our house and not expecting my little ones to read my mind about what is right and wrong. Retro daddy said to me, but we have such intelligent children of course they can read your mind. But this was a huge one for me. It has never occurred to me to put rules up in the house.

– be consistent with consequences when rules are broken such as a first warning then time out then less tv/computer time and so on. I really liked these ideas because you can adapt the time per age of child but consistency can be a hard thing when you are having a really bad day or are dealing with a few personalities.

– I must read the book Love Languages (it kept coming up in conversation)

– sort through my hotmail inbox into folders and deal with things. Over 13000 messages in my inbox and I am not kidding.

– review the week ahead every sunday night and check everyone’s schedule so that I start the week organised and with a clear idea of what is on. Even put in retro daddy’s AFL games that he likes to watch on tv and don’t ask him to mind the kids or do something for me when they are on. I’ve been really naughty at this when his big grand finals have been on in the past.

– I loved Naomi’s tip of keeping a little book with each child’s name and when something comes up she writes it down and goes over it with her husband in a regular meeting and then he can go out with that little one and have a little chat/deal with it. So often we just blurt it all out to our hubby or deal with it ourselves but what a great way to get Dad involved.

And so my head is full of lots of great ideas and initiatives that I want to start at home. But we were warned about Post Retreat Let Down Sydrome. And yes I came home to a house that needed tidying and noisy little ones.

And then to top it off I sat in the middle of church this morning on my own with all the kids this morning because childrens liturgy was supposed to be on. Big mistake. Picture it. Finn decided to jump up and down crying out for childrens liturgy, then he and tillie crash tackled each other onto the ground fighting while Elodie is arching her back and crying. So I calmly made everyone pack up everything into my bag and marched them out 10 minutes early. We get to the car and everyone starts crying that we had to leave early………driving home each of them had to say what they did wrong and say sorry. So a little bit of practice what I learnt on the weekend and everyone was very sorry when we got home. Definitely back to reality here!

A big big thank you to April and Saren as well as Alia and Ashton their ‘helpers’ who came all the way out from the states to run the weekend. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me and really set me on the right track for the future. To Felicity and Naomi the aussie organisers who did an amazing job organising both the Gold Coast and Sydney retreats and also gave me the great giveaway opportunity, Carli who provided the gorgeous flowers (I didn’t realise she runs a florist with her hubby called Urban Flower) and was always in the kitchen and just a gorgeous person inside and out (we HAVE to get together again with all the kids and chat more!), all those gorgeous ladies in the kitchen who kept the delicious food coming (such healthy food! I loved that), Melinda one of my lovely blog readers who filled my giveaway spot at the last minute on the day and loved it, Sheridan for keeping me company and all of the gorgeous mums who I met over the weekend. I had such great conversations with mums who I had so much in common with. I’ve never been in a room with so many warm and friendly people before and I loved that! Everyone was just so friendly!

p.s someone noticed 2 Thermomix in the kitchen! True! I had to take a picture didn’t I!!!!!

Filed Under: power of moms

Power of Moms Sydney retreat : Day 1

March 16, 2012 By corrie 17 Comments

Wow, wow and more wows. I’m just home from my first day at Power of Moms and what a great learning experience. So many lovely mums in the room, so many friendly people with a story to share, little babies to look at, things to learn, delicious food and all in the most wonderful house you’ve ever seen. What a generous family to let us all in for a weekend. So kind.

Everyone has been so friendly including April and Saren the founders of Power of Moms who have so much to share with us. And there are even a couple of craft bloggers there – hi Sheridan and Kate. And I got to meet Toni’s sister, Carli and I met so many lovely people that I could just keep going. And I even led a little small group discussion and sat on a panel and it wasn’t that bad.

Normally I don’t really like speaking in front of groups but I love talking about being a mummy and it does come naturally to me.

I think retro daddy will appreciate me putting into action the things I learnt about organisation. In particular that pile on the kitchen counter. What do you do with your pile of paperwork? Me? I just move it. To another place. And let it grow. But armed with some strategies I am going to get on top of those piles, those odd jobs and those big jobs. Overflowing hotmail account anyone?

I’m so excited to head back tomorrow for another full day and am just so grateful that I’m getting this opportunity to learn, reflect, challenge myself and work harder for my gorgeous family. Because I have made this my life and I know that there are things I could be doing better!

Now of course I had to take a picture of a sleeping baby. All those babies in the room and they were so good. I always stare a little too much when a baby is nearby

And after dinner and games it was home time. The little ones were so excited to see me when I got in the car and while I was excited to tell retro daddy what I’d been doing, keira piped up from the back ‘ And mummy did you learn how to listen to your children?’. Well that’s telling me. So it was time to listen to everyone tell me about their day!

ps.retro daddy has done a champion job here. He told me that the kids all ate up their dinner including Tillie who didn’t eat it last night. He said you won’t like how. I said I don’t mind because you got them to eat your dinner. Of course the solution involved tomato sauce. But I really don’t care. Just his way of doing things. See I learnt and am putting into action

Filed Under: power of moms

leaving for a day

March 16, 2012 By corrie 22 Comments

I don’t know how it goes in your house but if I’m going out for the day, just one day, then I need to leave instructions. In writing. By the hour. I love retro daddy but since I tend to handle all of the food/nappy/baby stuff in this house he needs to know exactly what to do. I’ll never forget the call I got as I was getting off the plane in Sydney once – it was retro daddy,

RD: What do I give elodie for dessert?
ME: a banana
RD how do I give it to her
ME: mash it up
RD: what did you say?
ME: mash it up
RD: what?
ME: MASH IT UP WITH A FORK AND GIVE IT TO HER WITH A SPOON PLEASE (people are now looking at me on the plane)
RD …..hangs up the phone.

So I have left for Power of Moms today and retro daddy is in charge. The kids are excited. Lists are onn the fridge. Dinner is made in the fridge. Supplies are left out to keep everyone happy and I’ll be home later tonight.

So do you need to leave lists when you go away?

Filed Under: everything else

120 cookies in the Thermomix

March 15, 2012 By corrie 18 Comments

Now I wish I could take credit for this recipe but sadly I can’t. The 120 cookie recipe has been doing the rounds and there are a few variations. I found this recipe here and of course being a lover of my Thermomix had to convert it. This recipe really goes a long way. I had to make it in 2 batches because I didn’t have the 500g of butter (yes that is no misprint) required!

what you’ll need
1/2 cup – 1 cup sugar (I use raw, adjust sugar if you don’t like them to sweet)
500g butter at room temperature
1 can sweetened condensed milk
5 cups self raising flour (or more, I used about 5 1/2)

Place sugar in your TM bowl and process for 9-10 seconds on speed 9. Add in butter (cubed) and cream them together for about 30 seconds on speed 3 or 4. Now if it needs a bit longer just give it another 10-20 seconds because the softness of your butter will affect how long it takes to cream together. Scrape down the sides of your bowl and add in the condensed milk (yum, yum) and flour. Now process for about 40 seconds on speed 3. You can take off your lid to see that it’s coming together nicely. Now you want a nice soft dough but if you think your dough is just too soft just add another 1/4 cup flour (or even 1/2 cup if you need it). My first batch was too soft so I added a bit more.

ready to go! 120 cookies in the thermomix

Take a teaspoonful of mix and roll into a little ball, place on a lined baking tray and flatten slightly with a fork or I just used my finger. Fill up the baking tray (or a few) and bake for 10 – 15 minutes in a 180 degree (celsius) oven. Now my new oven is hot hot hot so I had to watch these babies in the oven. In the end I lowered my temp to 170 but see how you go. Just watch them closely. Remove cookies with a fork (they’ll be a bit soft), cool on cooking rack and enjoy.

Now you can add lots of flavourings after you’ve mixed in your flour. Think choc chips, dried fruit, hundreds and thousands. Go crazy. And if you haven’t frozen cookie dough before it’s super easy. Just make a long sausage out of some dough, wrap in glad wrap or baking paper, twist ends and freeze. When you want to use it just slice it frozen and bake your cookies. Too easy.

These were a huge hit at our house and I’m sure they will be at your house!

Filed Under: baking, thermomix

I just need the baby

March 13, 2012 By corrie 30 Comments

One finished baby cardigan, ready for baby!

Such an easy pattern. Ravelry details are all here. I think baby number 5 needs a little white number too. Just to go with everything. This was one week start to finish and seriously the easiest baby cardigan there is!

Filed Under: knitting, ravelry

retro mummy goes back to school

March 12, 2012 By corrie 12 Comments

Yes! That’s right! Today I went back to school. Keira’s school to be exact for Mothers Monday. A very special day where I get to spend all day with keira and do what she does.

Which is be a sweet little year 1 girl. It was such a lovely day but something I totally underestimated was just how exhausted I’d be. Lugging around Elodie all day did not help and girlfriend is not getting any lighter. I haven’t been this tired in a long time.

We started with a special mass. Somehow I didn’t cry, probably because I was so focused on keeping elodie quiet but it was so adorable when Keira’s grade got up to sing the special mothers song ‘Mum I want to tell you, just how much you mean to me……..’

Then we did english where I got a refresher on nouns and verbs (I’m not kidding, english was not one of my best subjects)

morning tea where elodie stuffed no less than 3 pieces of banana bread in and got it all over my black dress and cardigan. Then it was maths (not one of keira’s best subjects) and a spot of bingo then lunch.

After lunch was my favourite activity of the day…………………scrapbooking. And I did let keira do some of it. I promise. I didn’t take over. We made a little memory book and it was such a lovely activity to do together. And keira has taken to it so quickly that she hasn’t stopped since we got home this afternoon. I think I have a little scrapper on my hands. Which might come in handy since I never finished any albums I started after she was born.

So I am now lying on the couch, exhausted and did what any sensible pregnant lady who has lemonade and ice cream in the house does……….LEMONADE SPIDER! I’ve got a bit more energy now to do teeth and bed before I collapse on the couch again.

but the best part of the day, when I got home and a little someone wrote me a very special letter telling me how much she loved today, she hoped all of my dreams came true and that I’m the best mum in the world. Awwwwwwww. Talk about buttering me up!

Filed Under: school

church then craft

March 11, 2012 By corrie 9 Comments

Well first thing on the agenda this morning was taking these well dressed little ones to church. But I think I’ll call Finn a well dressed little crazy as his mood in the picture pretty much sums up his behaviour all morning.

Then it was up to Spotlight for some buttons to finish off the latest little craft project of mine. The easy baby cardigan from More Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

It really is easy! Here it is before I seam it all up and block it. Knit all in one piece and the easiest kind of cardigan for a beginnner or someone wanting something quick and satisfying. My kind of project. And although I can now see a couple of boo boo’s in my knitting I’m pretty happy with it.

I am totally in love with the colour (Elm in Bendigo Rustic 12 ply) and because it’s knit in a 12 ply is super snuggly and a little bit rugged for the next addition to our family. I know there are some old school knitters who don’t like to use 10 or 12 ply for babies but I think it makes for a quick and easy little knit and great for winter!

Filed Under: church, knitting, ravelry

where do I buy my wool/yarn/knitting stash?

March 8, 2012 By corrie 22 Comments

Another knitting question popped up in my inbox. Where do I buy my yarn? Good question. Most of my stash over the past few years has come from Bendigo Woollen Mills. Good value, Australian yarns and you buy direct from the mill. Just get in touch with them to get on their mailing list and you will receive their shade card and latest releases and they have a big sale towards the end of the year which is a great excuse to stock up (and save money). Something I learnt early on in marriage is the importance of telling your other half how much you are saving them.

If you’re ever in Bendigo then a trip to the ‘back room’ is a must. You can buy all of their regular yarns in their shop but you can also go out the back and get all the clearance stuff. Old ranges, odd weights, samples and more. A great place to shop. And a little tip if you’re on ravelry and you find a pattern you like, you can search through the projects that other people have made (it’s a tab up the top) and put in bendigo and see if anyone has made it from Bendigo or a yarn you have at home. Makes a really easy way to substitute if you’re new to it all!

Now when I returned from the UK to get married I was stuck on english yarns. Namely Debbie Bliss and Rowan. I was and still am a huge Debbie Bliss fan. My favourite place to buy from now is Suzy Hausfrau an online store based in Canberra. Lots of lovely colours and ranges and I like using these yarns when I’m making something for a baby or a special present. Definitely check out the store here.

Other great aussie shops that I’ve bought from before and you might like to visit are Wool Baa in Albert Park (love Albert Park), The Wool Shack (online in WA), and SunSpun in Canterbury and that’s just off the top of my head. I also love eBay as there are stores that you can buy from too. If I’ve missed your favourite store then let me know……………………..a reader just reminded me of Nundle Woollen Mill here

Hope that helps answer a few questions……always here to help you build up your stash:)

Filed Under: knitting, ravelry