such a well behaved little pug! ... and a work in progress...

such a well behaved little pug!
Originally uploaded by summer pickles

Sometimes our litle dog just surprises us... As he did tonight, when he sat (yes, he is sitting in this photo) on the end cushion of the lounge and just watched me arrange all of these fabric pieces, trying to decide on a layout for bub's quilt. No picking up a piece and running down the hallway, no walking all over them, no licking them to try to get any loose threads... What a good little dog!

I am trying to make a quilt for floor time for our very-soon-to-arrive baby, without any of the usual quilting tools. It will be a four block, nine patch quilt (after some searching on on the good ol' internerd I think this is what quilters would call it?). After some handy hints from Lara though, I am seriously considering buying myself a cutting mat, rotary cutter and transparent ruler. If you haven't seen Lara's quilt yet, you might like to check it out here.

Perhaps with the right tools my quilts might be a bit more successful - better than when I rely on a dodgy paper template and a pair of scissors?

Will post an update when I get closer to completion...

Have fun everyone!
xo

what I did with my first day of maternity leave

day 1 maternity leave, originally uploaded by summer pickles.

1. got up way too early (7.30am) after an early breakfast wake up call from james brown at 5.30am
2. had brekkie - strawberry jam and peanut butter on toast and a mandarin (i love mandarins at the moment! would have been sardines on toast if I hadn't run out yesterday)...
3. read some of this incredible book...
4. had a lovely chat with my favourite mother-in-law in Sydney...
5. checked out some of my favourite blogs... am incredibly behind!
6. did a load of towels
7. enjoyed a phone call with the very gorgeous G in Sydney... not long to go now miss!
8. did another load of towels...
9. had a visit from an electrician... all bad news...
10. cleaned up a james brown accident in the loungeroom with much stressing about permanent staining to the new timber floors....
11. finished this amazing book - Cafe Scheherazade by Arnold Zable.... just incredible...

What's still planned for today...
1. have a visit from electrician number two for the day...
2. go to the shops for some real dog food...
3. buy some new smoke alarm batteries (i know, it's exciting stuff!)
4. sew sew sew

Have fun x

ps. I have been sewing! will have to post some pics... next time! x

things that make me happy

Has it really been a whole two months?!? Yep, it probably has been. (Judging by the growth of my stomach, it must have been a while!)

17 weeks... the view from the top

So, to welcome myself back into blogland (as many of you may have noticed I have been pretty terrible at visiting your blogs too), I thought I would celebrate some of those things that make me happy...

the hubby xo
being free of morning sickness! (for a whole three and a half weeks - yippee!)
tomato and cheese on toast
little kicks that make my beads bounce off my stomach
sunshine


renovation progress
crafting (though this has been much neglected of late)
flowers
visits from friends
good music

puppy play dates
getting back in touch with friends in blogland


and brooches by ilona (watch this space... will be doing a show and tell on ilona's brooches here soon)

Hope all are well and happy, chat soon

x

What I did today.... by James Brown the Pug

James Brown... staring into the distance
Originally uploaded by summer pickles

Well, the day started off well, She was working from home.

So I slept on Her lap for a couple of hours (snoring of course!). BUT, then She left me! All alone!!! I cried at the front door for a bit, paced a bit, went to my food bowl (empty!), and then I saw it.... this place (it was a little bit high) with all of THEIR food on it.

And they had left one of the dining chairs nearby...

It took me a litle while, but I got up onto the chair and then up onto (do they call it the kitchen bench?) from there, and there was water in a cup (from her breakfast) that I finished off and this stuff called bread (I was great at this... I got into two packets and ate half of each!) oh, and there were these round things (the packet said water crackers but there was no water in them.... btw, aren't I a clever pug to be able to read at six months?!?) , and those round things were GOOD (I ate the whole pack).

I couldn't get into everything (like this peanut butter stuff), but what I did eat was GOOD. I do have a bit of a sore tummy though...

She's home now, cleaning up... She's saying I "trashed the place" (!)... All I did was some exploring, with some little snacks along the way!

She has a lot of work to do before this baby thing comes into my house...

Will let you know if I have any more excitement,
James the Pug x

ps. How sweet (and boring!) do I look in this photo?!?

explanation for a brief absence

So, where have I been all of this time????

1. Toilet training the dog (still... any tips on toilet training dogs who refuse to go outside during or after rain will be much appreciated!)
2. Making softies for Mirabel, thanks Pip for organising this! (My softies are on their way ... sorry I am never on time!)
3. Hanging out with the hubby
4. Making secret surprises for my secret santa swap, organised by the good elf Donna

5. Celebrating my birthday (yippee! another year wiser! - ha!) with twilight lawn bowls with friends
6. House hunting...still hoping to find something by Christmas!

7. Reviewing the final print of my pages in a new slow craft book being published in China in January

8. Christmas crafting! (see the brief post below about my latest angel Josie)
9. And when I get the time, just lazing about the house!

Hope you all have a beautiful weekend! xx

James Brown

James Brown
Originally uploaded by summer pickles

My new love.... and what an amazing pressie from my gorgeous hubby!!!

This is James Brown the Pug. What a delight!

(for those of you who don't know, I have been in love with pugs for at least ten years.... I am in doggie heaven!) xx