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failed test knitter

December 14, 2010 By corrie 17 Comments

Please, let this be a lesson to everyone! Do not ask me to be a test knitter for you and if I say yes, give me a strict deadline and don’t be too nice to me! Because life gets in the way with a new baby and it will take me over a month to knit up a simple baby vest. Yumiko, you were so nice and patient and I loved knitting this up for you!

I feel terrible and lesson learnt! But how cute is this pattern? Super quick and easy to knit even if you’re nursing a newborn yourself and tending to another 3 children. I used a 5 ply from the back room (also known as knitters heaven) at Bendigo and I wasn’t sure on the grey at first but I love it now.

You’ll be able to find the baby pattern soon on yumiko’s website and in the meantime can buy her children’s version…………….

yes, I could eat her up!

And I haven’t blocked this or anything, I basically just put down my darning needle, grabbed my camera and started snapping pictures. But gosh it reminded me why I love my crafts, the pure satisfaction and warm fuzzies that come from making something yourself. It’s my drug……………just like spending money on my craft.

Filed Under: knitting, ravery

giveaways

December 14, 2010 By corrie 3 Comments

Ok, a bit of housekeeping with our giveaways. The Blurb book was won by Debbie who is very excited to be making a book for her dear mum who has alzheimers. I think it will be a very special book and I hope you enjoy making it Debbie.

You can still win 1 of 3 magazine subscriptions to ANY magazine from magshop. Just go here to enter and get in quick before it closes. Think I’d pick AWW or House & Garden.

~~Still time to win $1,000 thanks to Magnum Temptation and play the highly addictive dice game~~ ~~here~~…. closed

we went out for sushi train last night!

And if you’re on facebook you already know this (because I talk non stop there) but Flower Sugar 2 is arriving this week and I went a little overboard ordering most of the range so a huge giveaway is coming for that too this week! And hopefully by that time I will have posted out all the sweet broderie winners who are probably waiting for their parcels to arrive! Did I mention I have a 2 month old baby who feeds 24/7…..ok yes I have, well I’ll stop going on about it then…….

Filed Under: giveaways

I’m going short

December 13, 2010 By corrie 50 Comments

EDITED: Well first I might need to reassure a few readers that I am a strong independent woman! No man rules my life and this post was written a bit tongue in cheek.

I don’t know about you but sometimes I like to spice things up……….with my hair! After the twins were born I went for the big chop of my hair…………and loved it. However, retro daddy has very specific ideas on how he likes my hair….very blonde, very straight and long. Easy for him to say mr chuck-some-product-in-his hair-and-walk-out-of-the-bathroom-in-one-minute. He even bought me a hair straightener for christmas just after we were married…subtle hint, no?

me and my niece Beatrix April 2009

Anyway, I love my hair very blonde and very short! I’ve been telling him for ages I’d love to go short again, his own Mum even said I’m too good and should just go and get it done (yes, you read it here people, his own mother!). And then over the weekend I got the ok from him! So next saturday look out world, I am going short…………. and I’m not mentioning it to him again all week (honestly I’m not) in case he changes his mind.

So does your other half tell you how he likes your hair……..

Filed Under: hair, marriage, retro daddy, retro mummy

two months

December 11, 2010 By corrie 28 Comments

Littlest princess, as I like to call her, is 2 months old tomorrow! I just don’t believe it because a) it feels like she’s always been here and b) 2 months sounds so old. Time must be flying because I’m having so much fun but I’m not really. I have big babies and big babies are hungry babies that like to feed……….a lot. So I spend most of my day feeding and I’ve had to give her a bottle or two which are guzzled down after a feed. And no, don’t tell me I should be losing weight because I’m not. And that might mean no more sharing rocky road recipes……………in the new year it might be exciting new ways with lettuce!

But on to more serious matters, we do like to dress up. I love putting her in new outfits and wait till she sees how overboard I went with christmas presents for her. The lady at David Jones thought she was my first baby, ha! No, I do realise she’ll grow out of them soon but it’s Christmas and I can’t really buy her anything else essential…..so clothes it is.

We are not a fan of the hair ribbon but there is plenty of time to change that

she really is a doll! If I wasn’t so flat chat busy I’d be asking retro daddy to let me go for number 5 further down the track but I’m coming to realise that most people with 4 or more children s……p……r……e…..a…….d them out. Having them all close together is really starting to hit home but I know things will get easier.

So on we go to the next 2 months

Filed Under: baby, breastfeeding, parenting

I haven’t done a thing

December 10, 2010 By corrie 25 Comments

Many a day retro daddy comes home from work and I tell him I haven’t done a thing all day, nothing……and with a new baby feeding on you 24/7 that is pretty easy to say. But as the week draws to a close I realise that we put up a tree…

OK, I put up the tree and got hit in the head several times by excited little people waving branches at me….we still haven’t finished decorating it…….

Yes, to keep the peace at the shops I had to buy that ben 10 drink.

I’ve made 6 batches of rocky road for teachers, helpers, playgroup and us! I have sooo fallen off the diet wagon and better get back on it soon.

I’ve posted out over 40 orders, made breakfasts, lunches and dinners, done the dishes, answered emails, washed clothes (no folding though – haven’t got up to that yet), swept floors, made a dent in the christmas shopping list, waited in line at the post office twice, been to the preschool concert, been to the paed for Elodie, started on some lap quilts for christmas

changed basinette sheets umpteen times, changed the nappies on 3 little people, bathed children, fed and cared for an 8 old week baby…..

We breed ’em big here!

tidied up at the end of each day, taken the bins out while retro daddy was away, blogged, bought 3 new dresses online to hide my weight and done 3 rows of knitting. Phew! So next time you think you haven’t done much in a day just think about it because you’ll be surprised………I am!

Filed Under: parenting

more FAQ

December 7, 2010 By corrie 19 Comments

I love receiving emails from you and I read them, think about my answer and sometimes forget to write back! Ooooooops, you might not know this but I feel really bad when I don’t reply to your blog comments and emails. So here are some answers to your questions from the last few weeks……

What car do you drive and recommend for 4 children?

Well this one was embarrassing as I drive an old kia carnival and remind my husband on a regular basis I need a new car! It just doesn’t reflect my style! And very important ladies to use the word need, not want, N-E-E-D. Having twins meant buying a bigger car and a bigger house at the same time so we put everything into getting a big house and paid cash for the car.

Thankfully, next March we are upgrading as she’s about to clock up 100,000 k’s! But I’ve got to say (and touch wood) the old kia serves us well. Roomy, reliable, corridor for the kids to get to the back row and we can fit the whole family and market stock in! And hello, when someone treads on a cookie on the carpet or leaves chip bits everywhere I really don’t care. There are loads of 7+ seaters out there and the final decision rests with retro daddy (ok, that’s what he thinks!) and we’ve changed our mind a zillion times so who knows what I’ll be driving!

What quilt pattern do you recommend for a beginner

You can’t beat charm squares in my opinion. One pack of charm squares, lay them out in a nice pattern, sew into columns then join them together, sandwich and using a walking foot stitch either side of the seam. Buy some pre-made binding or make your own and you have a lap or pram quilt. I found this great tutorial during the week. Also check out the Moda bakeshop, you can search on charm squares or jelly rolls or a particular designer and all of the projects come up. Best of all……..they are free!

How do you upload photos to your blog?

Most of the time I use flickr, I load them up a few at a time. To place on my blog click on the photo and there are 2 drop down boxes above the image. Click on the right one which says share, then select grab html and I copy and paste it over to my blog.

How did you make your blog header wide?

So go into flickr and click on the photo. Click on the left tab above the photo and click on edit in picnik. Now you want to crop and dragging out the box making a rectangle over what you want as your header. Then you click on create on the menu just above the photo and text. Scroll down till you get the text you want. Then save your work. Now click on the new photo and select the left tab, click on all sizes and save original to your computer or you could use the link from the share tab. Now save to your header in your template and I select replace title and description as I’m doing it. I also clicked on shrink to fit. Still with me? Ok now preview and admire! You are so clever and tech savvy now! Ha!

What sewing patterns do you recommend for christmas fabric?

Keep it simple! Online you will find templates and patterns for christmas stockings or how about a bunting, table runner, simple tablecloth, simple apron, tree skirt, placemats or just wrap up a christmas pudding in a pretty fat quarter. Too simple. This year I’ll be making some simple santa sacks for each of my little ones – just a large drawstring bag and hopefully some little shortie pj’s that they can wear on christmas eve! the internet is a great place for free patterns and tutorials and go through your craft magazines and books for some more inspiration. All you need to do you is use festive fabric!

How is your mum going?

She is amazing. Her strength and bravery keep us all going and she has never once complained. To meet her you would never know what she has been through and is living with. This year has been the toughest year in her fight with cancer. She has the best specialists in sydney and has received cutting edge treatment with the gamma knife earlier this year. I hope that they make this available to everyone who needs it as it isn’t yet covered by medicare/health funds and costs as much as a new family car. My Dad is doing an amazing job looking after her and takes her to all of her appointments and they still keep their sense of humour throughout it all!

Where did you get the pattern for your knitted Christmas stockings?

There are a few patterns on ravelry but I got my pattern from an old Patons book I picked up at Spotlight which has patterns for easter, christmas etc. I need to have a good look in my sewing room for it but have a good look on ravelry too!

Can you make me one of your dresses before Christmas?
I’ll be loading up on the weekend a range of dresses for sale but at this stage won’t be able to take custom orders as I’m just not getting sewing time with this baby girl permanently attached to me! If we’ve already spoken about it you’re one of the 5 that I’ve agreed to…………

Are you coming down to Canberra for markets?
At this stage sadly, no. I rely on retro daddy for helping me and it’s just too hard lugging everything and everyone for the weekend, finding (and paying for) a 2 bed apartment, entertaining everyone away from home plus having a new baby. I love doing handmade but will stick to Sydney markets for the time being. Markets will always be there when I’m ready.

Got a question, just ask! I’m a talker and a sharer!

Filed Under: questions

more rocky road

December 6, 2010 By corrie 18 Comments

So the scales are still telling me I’m still fat and are not budging! So instead of eating carrot sticks and hummos I made a batch of rocky road! Because didn’t you know that diet coke and rocky road cancel each other out? Oh yes. Now, also the kids can make this which counts as an activity to keep them busy and a special afternoon tea treat as well. I’m all about keeping them busy at the moment as big miss finishes up preschool this week. So here are 2 more versions of rocky road…here is old faithful:

375g milk or dark chocolate melts
100g mini marshmallow bag
1/2 cup sultanas

Melt your chocolate. I do mine in the microwave for 2 minutes on medium stirring a couple of times. Add in marshmallows and sultanas and pour into lined lamington tin. Refrigerate for an hour then slice. And now here it is a little bit more fancy. You could use any nut you like really but I’m quite partial to a pecan or ten. Follow the same instructions as above but using the following ingredients.

375g dark chocolate (I use nestle melts)
200g marshmallows (not mini)
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup sultanas

So I put it in those pretty tumblers again, I have more as I sent retro daddy out to get me another 6! A few of you have been asking me where I bought them. I got mine at Akita here (lovely little store, no website) but they are called JAB tumblers if you wanted to track them down. Enjoy…………..but don’t come back to complain I’m not helping your waistline either! All care taken, no responsibility accepted!

Filed Under: christmas, recipe, rocky road

and another great mathilda’s

December 5, 2010 By corrie 14 Comments

Well yesterday was another great market day for me! I was up at 5am to make sure Elodie was fed and dressed and to still have time for some makeup (on me, not her, she’s beautiful enough). We also tried something new……I never ever thought I’d say this and I kind of can’t believe I am admitting this. But I put the kids to bed in their clothes for the next day…..genius. I’m telling you. We just had to wake them up and pop them in the car. Too easy. Of course you need to change nappies on the little ones.

kicking back after unloading the car for me

I had more stock than I’ve ever taken to a market before. It was fabric city…..honestly looking at these baskets I just want to dive right in and get started on a new project. I just love fabric and I really do love what I do.

My little miss slept the entire time I was setting up, oh she’s a good girl like that. I fed her just before 9am, she then threw up all over one side of my shirt and then slept on me for over 2 1/2 hours in the ergo. I love my ergo. I love my girl.

I think the market stall allocation gods were shining on me as I had a fabulous spot to spread out and show off all my fabrics with enough room for 2 card tables on the side of my big table.

And Jennie would be oh so proud of me as I had my little cooler bag full of diet cokes, ham and mustard sandwiches, milk choc rocky road and some muesli bars. I didn’t need to leave my stall at all and will definitely bring my bag with me from now on.

It was a funny old day. Really busy in the morning and a quieter afternoon. I thought we’d had a good day but didn’t think I’d reached my rather optimistic target….. but then we got to the car and started counting and realised we had my best market ever! Woo hoo, thank you lovely customers for making it happen. It gets retro daddy off my case about all the fabric deliveries and towering fabric bolts that live here! And a big thanks to Liss my friendly helper who keeps me smiling all day….she is fabulous at markets and we have good fun together!

Lots of christmas packs and goodies going into the store tonight for my out of towners and if you’re waiting for an email from me I’ll get to it today too……………..promise!

Filed Under: fabric, markets

rum balls

December 4, 2010 By corrie 13 Comments

So I took a break from market stuff yesterday to make these delicious rum balls. And I say yesterday but really it’s 1.30am and I haven’t been to bed yet!! I only make my rum balls at Christmas time and it’s probably the only time you’ll see a bottle of rum on my blog, it lives at the top of my pantry and comes down at Christmas time. I’ve been making these since I was taught the recipe at my cake decorating classes in London. I was terrible at cake decorating, just in case you were wondering. Hopeless.

If you don’t do alcohol then use orange juice or reduce your rum and use a combination of the two. These are also delicious made with Cointreau instead of rum……….

rum balls in progress

loaf of madeira cake (mine was 450g)

1 cup icing sugar sifted

1/2 cup cocoa

rum – enough to make the mixture moist (or orange juice)

coconut or chcolate sprinkles to coat

– Slice off the brown edges of your cake then crumble the rest of the cake into a large bowl.
– Sift in cocoa and icing sugar and stir well as you want it all evenly distributed. I use the back of a spoon to squash out any bigger cake bits too.

– Pour in rum ( about 2 good sploshes) until you have the right consistency and your mixture is coming together. Mix well.
– Roll tablespoons full of mixture into balls and coat in coconut or chocolate sprinkles. Don’t worry if you can see little bits of cake, the mixture all comes together and they turn chocolatey in no time.

I keep mine in the fridge and then put into pretty containers as and when I need them. I’ve used pretty mason jars for this batch with a bit of organza ribbon.

Filed Under: baking, recipe, rum balls

things I haven’t told you lately

December 3, 2010 By corrie 25 Comments

Although I blog daily, lots of things happen here that never make it to my blog so here is a bit of what you’ve been missing out on………

a rare daytime nap that wasn’t in my arms

– last week I wore my slippers the entire time a friend visited and I wasn’t at all embarrassed!
– sometimes my kids have a muesli bar for breakfast because we are running late
– I made them ham sandwiches for dinner one night and they loved it
– I think I’m buying a juki tl-98p for christmas – for myself – I deserve it!
– I’ve been trying on clothes in my wardrobe and nothing fits
– I’m addicted to california sushi rolls because they are 3 pro points on weight watchers
– I dream about making quilts and am itching to make something
– I sing carols to Elodie as I walk her through the house and change her nappy
– I dream about breaking off the roof of my gingerbread house and eating it early
– Elodie had a little cough and I took her to the dr to check it wasn’t whooping cough – it wasn’t. I like my Dr
– my cleaning lady is my new BFF as she makes my house sparkle every monday
– morroccan oil is my 2nd new BFF! good stuff for the frizzy hair
– I lost a kilo then gained it back then lost it again.
– I bought pink and silver asic gels for almost 3 times the price of the shoe retro daddy showed me.
– The shoes are still sitting in their box upstairs.
– ~~Elodie~~ Tillie has a tantrum with me every morning and wants to wear keira’s dresses every day!
– I call my girls the wrong name on a regular basis
– retro daddy told me to throw the ventolin up the stairs, I said no I’m not a good thrower, he said go on do it underarm, I did and smashed the ventolin on a stair…plastic chipped off and we still can’t find it all. I did warn him.

And that is pretty much some of the stuff that goes on around here that I don’t always share!! Exciting times here as you can see!

Filed Under: everything else

Win a Blurb book!

December 3, 2010 By corrie 49 Comments

So the nice people at Blurb are offering a free book to one of my lucky readers this month!! Before Elodie was born I was lucky enough to have a book made by them for my family and the finished book is just gorgeous. A quality coffee table book that you will want to show off to everyone who walks in your door. You can view mine here and all of my photos came from flickr.

It’s very easy to make, you choose your size and layout then upload your photos and choose any words you want to appear with the photos. There are loads of helpful hints, tips and sources of inspiration once you’re on blurb. I am just so impressed by the quality of the book and it looks so much smarter than a photo album. And if you’re really stretched for time, use this and have your book completed in about 20 minutes. Hello time poor mummy, that is just what you need! Here’s another one too, called Booksmart.

The most important thing I did learn is that you really should ask someone else to check your words for you. Like your husband who routinely reads contracts and documents. Because otherwise you’ll write the year of your wedding as 2009. Which is all fine and dandy if you got married then but I did not. It’s the first photo in the book. I know, such a silly mistake to make and one I noticed as soon as I opened the book. So do yourself a favour and get someone else to read it!

But moving on………….the kind people at Blurb have offered free shipping for my lovely readers in December. Just enter this code RETROMUMMYSHIP in the order details and you’ll get free priority shipping on up to 3 books tha you make or from the bookstore. This is a great saving and these books make beautiful presents for family and friends. Offer ends 31st December 2010. And if you’d like to go in the running to win one on my blog just tell me what kind of book would you make and who you would make it for this Christmas. Entires close 6pm, 8th December so you still have time to order your book and receive it by Christmas! Good luck! I’d make another one for my parents so they could look at our sweet faces all day long!

And if you want your book BEFORE Christmas then get your skates on and have it ordered by the 12th December!

Filed Under: giveaway, photos

mathilda’s market preparations

December 2, 2010 By corrie 19 Comments

Preparing for Mathildas this sunday is yet another occasion where I shake my head and say why do I do this to myself with a new bub. Normally, I’d be sewing and keeping busy in my craft room (aka making a huge mess)………kind of hard to do when you’re either feeding, settling or walking around the house with a baby on you. But this morning I can kind of say it will be ok! There are dresses waiting for labels and price tags

I’ve been going all out pulling out all my stock, checking every drawer/tub/basket/cupboard for things that never made it to the store, patterns and books I forgot about, making up fabric gift packs, pulling out old end of bolt fabrics that have been ~~forgotten~~ stashed away, clearing out all my jelly rolls and moda odds and ends……..and have another order of Moda arriving today!!!!!!

My sewing table gives the impression of calm and order….

and then you turn around and see the rest of the room – just keeping it real, people! I’m just keepin’ it real!

and because I ~~couldn’t be bothered~~ didn’t have the time to make metres and metres of binding, I used some binding my very lovely sister in law Julie kindly ordered for me on my navy dresses and LOVE it! This is still my favourite fabric, Love by Amy Butler.

So I’ll get there……..eventually! I’m actually looking forward to the day with little miss in the ergo and Liss as my helper again. So be sure to come by and say hi to us! I’ve dropped the price on all of my fat quarters and my clearance basket is huge at $4 a fat quarter!!!

You’ll find us on the back wall in the far right hand corner, 9am – 1pm this Sunday 5th December at Riverview, Lane Cove. There are so many lovely stallholders and friends there too so it’s going to be a great day! Bring your cash too as my intention to get eftpos for this market just didn’t happen. Or do what I do, bring your husband! Pick what you want then turn around and look at him and say ‘will you get this for me, honey. Thanks’ and smile sweetly! It works and I see my customers do it too. Don’t think I’m not watching what you do, ladies!

Filed Under: fabric, japanese fabrics

white chocolate rocky road

December 1, 2010 By corrie 24 Comments

So one of my favourite and super quick recipes to make and giveaway is my white chocolate rocky road. It’s so easy, everyone wants to know what the red ‘bits’ are and it’s nice on the wallet coming in at around $6 or $7 for a batch. But I always make 2 batches – one for us and one to give away.

Now one Christmas I decided to make a fancy rocky road recipe which cost me over $40. It had white toblerone, pistachios, good white chocolate, toasted coconut marshmallows, turkish delight and most of the ingredients came from David Jones in the end. Everyone loved it but these days I don’t have the time to traipse around looking for ingredients (much as I’d love some solo time in the shops right now) and if retro daddy ate most of it from the fridge (as he so likes to do) I’d get the serious crankies.

So here is my white choc rocky road made just a little bit fancy! I found some turkish delight at coles (I’m a one stop shopper at the moment) for $8.99 and you could easily do 2 batches with that box and each batch still comes in under $10! Follow the same method as above but once you’ve spread into your pan just sprinkle over the coconut then pop in fridge.

white chocolate rocky road

Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

3 mins

Total time

23 mins

Serves: 18

What you’ll need

375g bag white chocolate melts
150g turkish delight, chopped
100g bag mini marshmallows
2 Tbsp dessicated coconut

Instructions

Melt chocolate for about 2½ minutes on medium in the microwave, checking a few times as it melts and stirring each time.
Add in turkish delight, mini marshmallows and stir quickly.
Spread into lamington tin and top with the coconut.
Refrigerate at least ½ hour, slice and serve or wrap up to give away

WordPress Recipe Plugin by EasyRecipe

white chocolate rocky road

Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

3 mins

Total time

23 mins

so quick and easy and everyone loves it

Recipe type: Chocolate

Serves: 18

What you’ll need

1 375g bag White Chocolate melts (or 2 blocks White cooking chocolate)
1 bag mini marshmallows
1 bag raspberry lollies

Instructions

Melt chocolate. I do mine in the microwave for 2½ minutes on medium and stir a couple of times.
Quickly stir in marshmallows and raspberry lollies.
Spread into lined lamington/square tin and refrigerate at least one hour. I use my tupperware silicone slice pan thingo which just pops the whole thing out.
Slice and wrap up or enjoy now!

WordPress Recipe Plugin by EasyRecipe

Filed Under: white chocolate rocky road

let the preparations begin

November 30, 2010 By corrie 5 Comments

Last sunday was the 1st sunday in advent, today is the first of December and the carpark at the mall also tells me it’s time to prepare for Christmas. I get so caught up in all of the rush and present buying so I have to say that carols are a great reminder of what I’m really preparing for.

I’m loading up a few carols onto itunes today (now that I know what I’m doing) so that throughout my day, my baking, my cleaning, the general crazy that goes on here so that I don’t forget what I’m really celebrating. And I wouldn’t be a retro mummy if I didn’t love this song at Christmas….sit back, relax, it’s the full length version ……….

Ahhhh they don’t make music videos like they did in the 80’s!

Filed Under: catholic, christian, christmas, music

christmas cooking plans

November 29, 2010 By corrie 18 Comments

I’m a creature of habit when it comes to the yummy things that come out of my kitchen in the lead up to Christmas. Every year I do rocky road (white and dark chocolate), rum balls, christmas cake baked early (so not happening early this year), chocolates and on christmas eve I always do shortbread, cookies and fruit mince pies. Phew!

I take this very seriously and have been doing it since my early 20’s. Sometimes I try a new recipe like a different shortbread recipe but I do like my old favourites. And let me tell you ladies this is one way to keep your man happy. Yes sir, retro daddy is chief taste tester and I often have to buy more supplies because a batch of rocky road earmarked for a special person gets eaten by ‘someone’.

So starting tomorrow I’ll be sharing with you my recipes and hopefully trying out a few new ones – and I’ll also be preparing myself for the fact that I have a few more taste testers this year who like the sweet stuff. And so tell me, what is coming out of your kitchen this Christmas?

Filed Under: baking, christmas, white chocolate rocky road