Kelly Casanova Weaving Lessons

Kelly

Happy day

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Can you tell I’m still reading the Little House series? I made this pretty vintage nightie for dd, I thought of Little House straight away when I saw the pattern at the op shop. I then scored the pretty rose fabric for $2 a metre on a clearance table. The buttons actually cost more than the nightie! Little shadow had to be in the photo too!

So, why is it a happy day? RAIN! We’ve had a good drenching this morning and there is water in the tank again, which means we can plant some vegetable seeds again.
Also, our old hot water system died on the very same day we received our government bonus, which paid for the new one we’ve had installed. Thankyou God for being so good to us!

Have a wonderful day, and if your day isn’t going well, do something creative, I guarantee it will help!

Gorgeous outfit

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Had to share once I saw this little outfit at Heather’s blog its so lovely, I’d love for my girls to have some outfits like that (not sure about the white t-shirt though, it wouldn’t be white for long). I’ve been off sewing for the kids for a while as I find dressmaking so challenging, but I’m itching to get back into it now. I’m attempting a pretty vintage nightie first. One thing that dollmaking has taught me is just how much you can improve when you work at something. I’m too inclined to give things away if I find them hard.
I’ll have to start getting my Crafty Mamas swap ready, its a fun one this month – fill a jar with crafty goodness. I’ve got a few ideas!

It feels like Autumn

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The bread is in the oven and a pot of pumpkin soup is bubbling away on the stove. The day is mild and overcast. The garden is recovering from the heat and some bulbs are shooting. Husband has the week off and has taken the boy on a camping/fishing trip to the Otways for a couple of days, they will have a great time.

My pregnancy is progressing well (21 weeks) and baby is moving around a great deal. The 20 week scan showed a very normal and active baby, thanks to God.

While the men are away I endeavour to organise a clean the house and hope to have enough time for dollmaking as well. I’m currently making a knitted pouch doll and a small waldorf doll.
In the interest of beautfiying our home a little I’m also on the lookout for a pattern for a table runner or small table quilt. Our home is very functional but not at all beautiful and I would like to start changing that to reflect our personalities and make our home cosy.

Have a lovely Autumn day!

Moist carrot cake

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This is the only carrot cake recipe I use. I make it in the food processor, so its really quick too.
My kids like to eat it plain, but the icing is beautiful too.

1 cup plain flour 1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda (bicarb) 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and cinnamon
3/4 cup sugar 2 eggs
5 tablespoons oil (I use olive oil) 1 cup grated carrot
400g crushed pineapple, drained 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
You can also add some sultanas if you like.

Process all ingredients together then stir in pineapple. Pour into greased and lined round or square tin and bake at 175 degrees celsius for 35 – 40 minutes or until skewer comes out clean.

Cream cheese topping:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter 3 tablespoons cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence 250 grams icing sugar

Beat well together, add a little milk if too thick. Spread on cool cake.

Garage sale score

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Husband got all these games in mint condition for $2 each! And no missing pieces!!These are from a time when they bothered to make games out of durable materials and not that light, crappy plastic.I’ve never played Jumanji and Yahtzee I remember my Nanna playing with my siblings but I never wanted to play (don’t know why).I feel a games night coming on!Oh, by the way, I’ve made a few changes to the look of my blog, even girls can have too much pink. Hope you like it!

Another bear doll

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She is being sent as a gift to someone who has been generous to me. I like making these – they’re really cute and feel just right to hold. My 3 year old daughter is giving much encouragement at the moment with her exclamations of “oh Mum, she’s beautiful!” and by hanging around the sewing table to watch and read to me while I work. I even have to appreciate my 19 month old daughter snatching handfuls of wool from the bag and running off with them held to her face – at least she appreciates natural materials!

Ash Wednesday

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Today is the beginning of 40 days of fasting and penance for Lent to prepare for Easter. As Jesus went into the desert for 40 days before the crucifixion we try to imitate Him as we prepare to celebrate his Resurrection at Easter. It is a great time of “toughening up” mentally, physically and spiritually by challenging yourself to go without and denying yourself comforts and luxuries.

A near perfect evening….

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Lastnight. The children were all silently tucked up in their beds. It was cool outside with a breeze. My husband sat at the keyboard playing beautiful, relaxing and random music. I sat at the table working on a doll at my leisure. The phone did not ring, there were no disturbances.
Sigh. It was wonderful.

What I’ve been up to

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I finished this custom doll to send off to a US customer, I hope she likes her. She is 18 inches tall and came together beautifully. Now on the to do list is a bear doll as a gift and another doll for the shop, which is looking a little empty. I really think we need a better camera, my photos always come up blurry and don’t show detail.

We spent a nice sunny morning at the park where we met some other homeschoolers, which is always nice. The kids had a ball at the park, I must make the effort to get there more often!