Thursday, 14 May 2009

Recycling.



I was tiding up the table, it was full with a lot of little items that I use everyday. Like measuring tape, scissors , treats etc. I had it in my hand to put it somewhere else and on that moment I thought I need a litlle basket to put it in. I could put an old ice ream container out of the drawer but I don't like plastic so it had to be something else. I went true my pile of fabrics and found an old pillowcase. And the basket was born.


I teared the pillowcase in strips from 1 cm. Made a nice ball and started to crochet. After an hour I had my little recycling basket and the table looks nice and tidy again.





Have a great weekend!

Tuesday, 12 May 2009

Happy days !

Today was one of my lucky days!
It was raining cats and dogs and it was really cold and I didn't want to go to the mailbox because it is at the beginning of our drive way. But I went and there was a big surprise waiting for me. A parcel from The Netherlands from Marian (vuurvlindertje).
She told me a while ago that she loved receiving real post from the postman so we send each other our addresses and I send her a card. But she send me a great parcel. Thanks!!!!!


I couldn't wait to open it and was really happy. She also send something for the girls. That is so kind. They love it!!


1000 times thanks , hope you like coffee. I made this especially for you. Enjoy!!!



On her blog she wrote about a project to make dolls for kids in Nicaragua. I think it is a fantastic project. So if you have some spare time please go to here and make a doll. You will make a little boy or girl very happy.
And what is better than make somebody happy.
You made me happy, Marian, Thanks!!


Monday, 11 May 2009

Bath-room make over

Before.

Cleaning, sanding painting, last weekend I did it all. I gave the girls bathroom a little make over. Every house in New-Zealand has two or more bathrooms. In the beginning I thought that's a bit over the top but now we are having our own en-suite and the girls have there own bathroom I think it is wonderful.
When we moved into the house two years ago we already did the walls and the ceiling but never did the rest. So now it was the time to do it.
You can tell me what you think about it. It think it looks much better!


After.



I love the new door knobs. Bought them in a great shop in Wellington called Magnolia.





Of course I made a little flower arrangement from fresh flowers out of the garden.
Flowers make the house a real home.
And I bought the girls a range of new bath products. But now we have the problem that they won't come out of the bathroom anymore.


And last but not least I want to show you the best breakfast ever. Sunday it was mothers-day and we don't really celebrate it because my birthday is a week before, but my little 10 year old made me this lovely breakfast and a great painting. The other two girls where off to there weekend job and daddy was biking, so we had a great time together. Thanks darling I love you!!!
xxx Mum.






Thursday, 7 May 2009

Warm feet.

I'm back home from work, had already one of my lovely bowls of coffee and have a great weekend feeling. No work for two days.
That doesn't mean there is nothing to do. I have a lot of things on my to do list for this weekend. First of all garage sailing tomorrow morning. I'm always a bit up sad if there isn't one. But we already looked in the news paper and we are lucky. One of the girls is in a ballet show for 2 days so that means a lot of driving in mums taxi. Up and down and up and down the theater. The weather forecast is rainy so I planed to do a lot of painting. The girls bathroom needs a lot of white paint and I bought a chair on a garage sale that needs a bit of white paint as well and a new cover. So lots to do for me.
I finished my bathmat and like to show you. When the weather is cooler now it is really nice to put your feet on a great warm bathmat.







Here a sneak peek, my garage sale chair that is waiting for a make over.


Have a great creative weekend all !!!




Wednesday, 6 May 2009


Just a quick post before I have to pick up one of the girls form school. This is on my table today. I'm making another bath mat from scraps. This are all left overs from a previous quilt.


I use an and old towel as backing like I did with the other bath mat. You can wash them over and over again.
Have a great day !!!

Monday, 4 May 2009

My moment.

After work I always make myself a nice cup of coffee. That's my moment. I enjoy every minute.
And what is better than a great bowl of nice coffee with a good fluff on top and some chocolate.
I bought the bowl on a garage sale and use it now every day.
This is the coffee I like , Lazy Sunday, but o so nice during the week to give you a lazy Sunday feeling.



The plunger and the milk-foam maker are also garage sale founds.
I enjoyed my coffee today with home made mixed spice cake with sultanas (kruidkoek).
Here the recipe if you want to make it;
400 gram self raising flour
200 gram soft brown sugar
1/2 packet mixed spice
1 table spoon cinnamon
black pepper and salt
approx. 300 ml. water to make a soft dough.
handful sultanas, sun flour seeds, pumpkin seed, dried apricots, oats .
bake for 1 hour on 170 degrees Celsius.
ENJOY!!



Thursday, 30 April 2009

Sneak peek.

What should have been a great day ended in a nightmare for all the people who celebrated the queens birthday in The Netherlands. Why are people doing this? It makes me really angry!

I told you in a previous post that I like the hand sewing and quilting. It is very relaxing and you can keep going and going. I'm making a old fashioned hexagon quilt at the moment.
Here a little sneak peek.



So this will keep me busy for the winter.








Introducing

This is the first time that I write in my blog.
I am Jacoline, me and my family emigrated to New Zealand from The Netherlands 3 years ago.
I can tell you, we went through some hard times in those 3 years, but we found our dream.

We bought a lovely home close to the beach. I spend a lot of time in our garden which has a lot of fruit trees, a nice vegetable garden and great flowers.

I love to shop in secondhand shops and garages sales are the best invention ever.
My days are filled with craft, cooking , baking and of course my 3 girls.
I try to have a beachwalk every day and on wednesday I join the quilt club.

We are still busy with rebuiling the house to make it a great home.
We like traveling and like to discover our new country.
I keep you updated with new stories, recipes, ideas and pictures every week.