A Lego Mat

I've kept hold of a box of Lego that has been hanging around our house for years. It usually comes out when we have visitors and each time I take it out I'm reminded how difficult it is to pack it away, how much it hurts when you step on a stray piece of Lego and how the box that it's in is just not doing the trick. The Lego only just fit in the box and because the box has handy handles, bits of Lego would inevitably escape through those handy handle holes.

Last week I was given a couple of dinosaur doona covers for a single bed. Hamish is a long way off using a bed and it was a lot of free fabric. I decided that I would cut up one to make into a Lego mat. It looks great! The Lego is now nice and tidy, hanging from a hook on the top of our bookcase.

I've done a step by step photo tutorial below. Pretty much I folded the fabric in half, quarters and then eighths and then cut it in an arc. I hemmed it and measured the circumference of the circle and then bought 5.5m of blue cord and a toggle. I used a safety pin to thread the cord through the hem. Attached the toggle and then tied the cord afterwards. Tipped the Lego into the middle of the mat and then pulled on the cord to tighten the bag around the Lego. Hung the bag up. Simple!

Recovering Dining Room Chairs

I finally got to the store to buy some more of the material I needed to do the recover of my dining room chairs. My baby brain had meant that when I first brought the fabric I forgot that our chairs actually have backs to them! I didn't want to start the recover of them until I could buy the same material. Well that was accomplished on Tuesday after my physio class and lunch with my mum and sister.

So here goes. I've done a little tutorial with photos incase you happen to have the exact same dining room chairs in your house! I missed a few photos in the middle, but it was too hard to insert them after I had rearranged the photos for the umpteenth time. So when you use the backing as a pattern you need to cut out two for each chair back so that you can of course sew them together. When sewing the chair backs use the yellow chalk as a guide for the edge and sew inside this. You need to sew about 1.5cm inside this line. Before turning the right way round check that it fits by sliding onto your plastic wrapped back. If it doesn't fit properly then sew it smaller checking as you go until you happy. Then cut off the excess, and use this as a pattern for the rest of the backs. The plastic that is around the chair back is just glad wrap. It will make it much easier to slide the tightly sewed backing onto the foam covered back. The rest of the photos are self explanatory. It took about 4 hours to do three chairs while taking photos and entertaining a 3 month old baby. If you had a helper you could probably have done all six chairs in 4 hours!

Before

Take the chair apart.

Lift the staples up.

Use pliers to take the staples out.

Pick the seam to take off cover on the back of the chair.

This is what the chalk mark looks like before cutting out backs to chairs.

Trace this one onto all bits of fabric for backing.

Staple the one side down.

Unpick stitches where the metal prong needs to come through.

Fold other side over and staple.

The completed back.

Take out all staples.

Use the chair cover as a pattern.

Staple new cover on stretching taut as you go.

Staple gauze cover back onto chair to hide mistakes.

Screw it all back together.

The finished product!

Poppy made a Rocking Horse

This is the email from Dave's Dad today. He's been quietly making the most beautiful rocking horse I've ever seen!! The kids are going to absolutely LOVE it! What a family heirloom it will become. Thank you SO much Dad!!
Here is the email...


Hi Dave and Angie
Pictures attached of the rocking horse from "Go to Whoa".
This will be for Isabella for a couple of years and Hamish later.
There is nothing preventing Josh and Sammy having a go other than getting
Isabella's permission I guess.
I have sat on it and had a small ride.
Probably will have to partially dismantle to get in car to bring down.
So looking forward to seeing you all again, seems ages. It is ages.
Love to all
Dad and Anne
XX

Here's the finished rocking horse. Isn't it beautiful!

Here's the man in action. Isn't he talented!!

Making Bunting

I have been talking about making bunting for Sammy's room for months. Today I finally got around to starting.

First I used the cardboard template and traced around it on the ironed fabric with a special chalk pen. Sorry no photos of that. I cut them out and pinned them wrong sides together.

Next I sewed the two long sides together using a straight stitch.
You can see how I put the foot next to the edge of the material.
I cut the point off each flag.
I turned them all inside out using a knitting needle. Make sure to do it carefully so that you don't push through the stitches.
I was lucky enough to have two twelve year olds helping. Sammy has her best friend staying over and she was keen to help. Yay for me! It's really hard getting anything done with a newborn around. I love my little man but some days he doesn't want to do anything other than attach himself to me.
Iron all the flags and then cut the little bit of seam sticking out off.
Almost done!
Then take your bias tape and pin the flags in the fold.
Once the flags have been pinned in place it's time to sew your bunting together.
Turn the ends in and sew them.
You're now finished. All you have to do is put the bunting up now and Hamish has been sleeping peacefully in Aunty Lisa's arms after much standing and rocking by her. So grateful!!

Two-Tone Choc-chip Cookies

 Preparation time: 15 minutes
Total cooking time: 12-15 minutes
Makes about 40

125g butter
1 1/2 C soft brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla essence
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 1/2 C plain flour
1 tsp bicarb of soda
150 g dark choc bits
150 g white choc bits
1. Preheat oven to moderate. Line two trays with baking paper.
2. Using electric beaters, beat butter, sugar and essence in small bowl until light and creamy. Add eggs gradually, beating well after each addition. Transfer to a large bowl.
3. Using a metal spoon, fold sifted flour, soda and choc bits into creamed mixture; mix until smooth.
4. Drop level tablespoons of mixture onto prepared trays, allowing for spreading; flatten mixture slightly.
5. Bake 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned and cooked through. Transfer to wire rack to cool.

Mix well.


Put spoonfuls on a cookie sheet.


Bake.


Cool.

Repeat one handed until all baked. Try not to put the baby down or he will scream.