Friday, April 30, 2010

We're at war...

with one of these
 Look I think brushtail possums are cute, but not cute living in the bedroom wall.  Our possum originally got in months ago through a gap that was created between the old and new roof.   After many nights of scratching in our bedroom wall, we blocked up that hole one evening when the poss went out. 

Then our ducted air conditioning was put in, and our split system was removed.  The split system had a drain onto our carport and the hole was blocked up with a piece of metal.  Well cheeky possum pushed and scratched at the metal until he got back in.  That hole is above where I sleep.  So yet again we block the hole when the possum goes out one night.  The first attempt at blocking was thwarted.  The possum pulled a brick that was wedged into the hole out of the wall.  So the next night Col put a piece of wood over the hole with a pile of bricks in front of it until he gets a chance to screw the piece of wood in.  It's the kind of job where he needs daylight, so can't be done when he gets home from work in the evening.

Thought the problem was solved, but this morning I was awoken by the sound of scratching.  That little bugger is try to scratch a hole into the eaves (see the area circled in red!).
possumhole

So at 6am I was outside, throwing bits of gravel at the possum to make him go away. It took 4 or 5 times of him scampering away until he finally gave into my coercion. Col's going to patch that hole this afternoon. I am going to pressure him to put a box up in a tree for the possum. We really should have done that last time!

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Meet Rebecca

mollie n rebecca

Rebecca Rubin joined our household when Grandma arrived last month. My mother really wanted to give Mollie this doll because of 'her story'. Rebecca is a Russian-Jewish girl growing up in 1914 in New York City. My great-grandmother's name was Rebecca and she was from Russia, and yes, she was Jewish. Rebecca came in a beautiful outfit, but Mollie and I thought she need some more clothes.
rebecca kyoko

Rebecca's outfit is a ModKids Mini Kyoko. Mollie and I are both pleased with it. The pattern went together so easily, and the directions were excellent. I think I might have to try my mini Frida pattern next.

I might try to put together a Frida in the midst of my Redondo-fest. Yes, I've started working again, so I might go a little quiet while I working on this batch of skirts.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

It's good to be sewing again

I was going to wait for a modeled picture, but I don't want to wait.  I feel like it's been ages since I've blogged.  We were busy with Mom here, and I really didn't have time to sew.  I did manage to find some time to demo my machine to my mom, and I think she has Bernina lust now.

I've set up in my little corner of the house. I'm still waiting for the study to be painted, so I can get some shelves for my fabric. I can't wait to have all my fabric in one place. It makes it so much easier to work when I can see what I have.

I sewed this Uljana skirt back in February.  It's made from some cute printed corduroy that I picked up from Spotlight last year.  It has a Daisy girl embroidery from Jolijou's Florierendes Frolleins embroidery set and Miss Daisy is surrounded by a few more flowers from the Glizterblumchen embroidery set.  I don't know that I needed to add more flowers to the skirt.  It's fairly hard to see them amongst the flowers on the fabric!
floral uljana


Of course we needed a matching top for the skirt. I decided to finally use my Hilde pattern.
floral hilde


Here they are together
floral uljana n hilde


Mollie loves her new 'clown' outfit. She wanted to wear it to school today. It was 29C in Sydney today! Way too hot for a cord skirt and a long sleeve top.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

The Aquarium and back

Yesterday we went to the Sydney Aquarium.  As we left, Mollie insisted that we  buy the photo that they take of you as you walk in.   Funny thing is that I think Mom and I look okay in this photo.  Mollie looks scared, and Will looks like he's trying to escape.

Sydney Aquarium 060410


Kids had a great time and enjoyed their rides on public transport (ferry, monorail and train).    I have to admit I've become a bit of a suburb dweller and didn't see where to stick the ticket at the gates for the train.  OMG totally embarrassing!   I will just claim that it was at the end of the day when my brain capacity was greatly diminshed by the over-stimulation.  The day's adventure was too much for my introvert self.   

Today we went to the toy store for my mom to buy Will a birthday gift, and we went to look at outdoor furniture.

Tomorrow night Mom and I are off to see Wicked.  We were given three tickets for my birthday.  One is for Mollie, but I am not convinced that she will like it and more importantly I am concerned that she will be frightened by aspects of it.  She scares easily.   Anyone seen Wicked?  Do you think Mollie would like it and would it be appropriate for a 7 year old?   Not sure if I am looking forward to trekking into the city again.  I'm not really a fan of musicals.