Afternoon all, how's your Thursday? I feel a bit like I'm running along behind everything that needs to get done, and I never quite catch up to it. I'll keep running though, because thats what we do - I wish it burned calories like real running, that does seem rather unfair. I'd be as skinny as a rake if it did!
Lots of fun Christmas highjinks happening. Thanks to everyone for your lovely messages about my cooking video with Hope :D She was SO excited to be "producing content" for me that I didn't have the heart not to. She and her parents are off to Fiji for the holidays next week and it's not our family's turn for Christmas, so this past few days has been my Hopey time. We went Christmas shopping earlier in the week. Apparently she does not need anything on Christmas Day and would like it all right now, thanks Aunty Sair. All extremely important items for her Year 6 dance, like cream suede Adidas Sambas and lip gloss and perfume. She's my only little girl so not only do I spoil her rotten, but I have an absolutely wonderful time doing it. She's heaven.
The figs are truly delicious though, boil some up you'll be glad you did. My little Christmas hampers to neighbours and family will include this year figs, this Apple, Ginger, Chilli and Mint Jelly (https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/vegan/apple-jelly/) and some gingerbread. The jelly is made, the figs are made. Gingerbread yet to materialize. Oh and the Christmas cakes. Must get on to those.
Do you like to bake or make food for gifts at Christmas? I'd love to know your go to recipes! Drop them in the comments.
This week is full of stitching up the samples for The Lemonade Stand program - the kits and pattern will be revealed on December 15 (the first pattern doesn't drop until January 15). I'm on the last little bit, but I've been on it for days and I can't seem to find enough hours in the day to finish that last few stitches!! December, December. I'm determined to get it finished this afternoon so that I can put it together and move onto the February project, which is also half done and in pieces, as is the March project. They're all designed and ready to go, it's just the actual execution. Pushing piles of fat quarters up hills!
Another fun little sewing project waiting for me is to turn these vintage tablecloths I bought on Facebook (there's a great group called Vintage Fabric Destash Australia - like most Facebook groups some of the members can be a bit hectic but there is a lot of cool vintage fabric up for sale on there to repurpose, like table linens and sheets and tea towels) into zippy box pouches for the girls in my family for their Christmas stockings. I have a fun Kaffe green/green stripe for the lining and red zippers.
I'm going to use the Ultimate Boxy Pouch pattern that I bought on Etsy for them - yes, I can make a box pouch without a pattern but I liked the shape of this, and the zipper on the outside, and I always believe in buying someone's pattern rather than reproducing their design. As a designer I wholeheartedly believe in supporting other designers where I can! Sister solidarity :)
Unfortunately its REALLY hot and humid in Sydney and all I REALLY want to do at the moment is flop in the shade and read my book. In a very unlike me moment I have three on the go. I'm usually very much a read one and then start the next one girl, but for some reason I'm kind of simultaneously reading I Seek a Kind Person and The Boy Who Lived. And I had started The Peacock and the Sparrow and got distracted when The Boy Who Lived arrived in the mail. I'm enjoying all three of them, in different ways. I Seek a Kind Person is very interesting but quite a dense read, the writer could do with a little bit of air in his facts. I will definitely finish it, I just needed a little break between things so I started The Peacock and the Sparrow, which is a spy thriller billed as one of the books of the year by the New Yorker.
I wasn't far into it when The Boy Who Lived arrived in the post, and I have been just dying to read it. I am a complete Harry Potter tragic - my boys both grew up with it, I took Charlie out of school each time a new book was released and we spent the whole day reading on the couch together. This story isn't really about Harry Potter though, its the story of Daniel Radcliffe's stuntman, and best mate, who had a terrible accident on set while filming The Deathly Hallows and was left a quadriplegic. There's a wonderful documentary of the same name if you're so inclined (in Australia it's on Binge). The book is written by David and is fascinating and touching and brave and honest. I really recommend it even if you don't really know much about the Harry Potter phenomenon, because David is an inspirational human.
Anyhow sitting here chatting to you lot wont get those Lemonade projects finished! What are you reading? What are you cooking for Christmas? What are you sewing for gifts? Enquiring minds want to know! Have a great week peeps
Sarah x
and hello from Chippie :)
I’ve been “hearing” quite a few books lately. The closest town to me is 10 miles away, and I often have to go another 25 miles for more expansive shopping. So it helps me stay on track with books I want to complete. Green lights is fabulous in that format because Matthew McConaughey is the narrator, and I love his voice. I also love thrillers, so I’m finishing all of Michael Connelly’s books. Seeing is on hold for a bit while nursing a back problem, hard to cut and sew when you can’t stand or sit for long in one place. I have some handwork to pick back up tonight. Hope to bake some cranberry pecan bread for neighbors next…