birthday patchwork...

Sorry for the delay in posting, but this week is VERY chaotic. It's the girls' last week at school, and it's packed with sports days, swimming galas, picnics and lots of things in between. I am therefore a very busy mummy trying to split myself across two classes (very unsuccessfully according to Pickle)!

And, of course, I have to keep up with my social life!  Today, it was a friend's birthday, so we had a birthday lunch, and the birthday girl opened her pressies.  Now, I've been threatening meaning to do some patchwork for ages, and I finally got around to making something, albeit small.  She's a particular fan of green, so I used a very pretty floral print which I've had for ages, and a beautiful soft vintage green material that started off as the lining from a pair of curtains, circa 1930.

I'm building myself up to the coasters in this book, so this was a nice little project to get me started.  And whilst it was a little fiddly 'squaring up' the fabric and working with such small seam allowances, I ended up with the seams meeting up, so I'm definitely encouraged to try my hand at something else.

Wishing you a lovely week xx

and when it rains, it pours...

This morning, it rained so much, that by the time we got to school, Pickle needed a change of clothing,

and by the time I left (some 30 minutes later), the water was more than ankle deep.  I had to take my shoes off and wade through the water.

It reminded me of three summers ago back home, when we had terrible floods at home and narrowly avoided water coming into our house.  Thankfully it's stopped now.  Having only just arrived in Singapore, I don't know how normal or not this is, although my understanding is that it is unusual.  And of course it's coming hot on the heels of the floods in Orchard Rd last week.  In any event, I think we need to step up to the mark and consider the impact our actions are having on our environment.

Lecture over (eek) - wishing you a happy weekend xx

panda thank yous...

Just thought you might like to see the thank yous that Pickle sent out to her friends.

I was inspired by shim + sons.  Not only was I pleased with how they turned out, I can also report that she wrote them all very quickly, so we didn't have ANY of the usual prevarication tactics.  It's true what they say...... small is beautiful.

xx

birthday madness part two...

Well.  I'm delighted to report that the birthday festivities were a big success.  Our two overnight guests were a pleasure to have, Alice in Wonderland (the sleepover film of choice) was brilliant and the cake was not bad, even if I do say so myself (although sticking sweets on in this temperature is a very slippery business).

Yesterday, Pickle's actual birthday, we played tennis on the roof top in the morning, swam and went out for our traditional birthday supper.

Oh yes, and did I say, there can't be many panda things left in the shops....!

Have a lovely week xx

birthday madness part one...

Once again, apologies for my absence, but I have been busy, busy, busy. 

First things first - The French Stall.  Ambience lovely, food delicious - and everyone was served at the same time - reasonably priced, great company.  All in all, a fabulous time was had by all.  The only downside was the loo.  I don't like squatting loos at the best of times, but I'd been for a run in the morning so it REALLY hurt my legs (as well as my sensibilities)!  Anyway, will definitely go there again.

Next up, it's Pickle's 9th birthday on Sunday.  The forthcoming weekend promises sleepovers, craft parties, more panda paraphenalia than you can imagine, and lots more besides.  So this week I shall be busy baking.  So far, the smartie cookie dough is ready, fairy cake decorations planned, cake design selected - 'bedazzled fairy cake mountain'  (see page 88 of this book).  Now traditionally, my mother makes the girls' birthday cakes, but of course that was before we moved here, so I am very much keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to deliver the goodies.  I have at least managed to track down a stash of sweeties to decorate it with, although I can't find any dolly mixtures....

I've also been busy making bunting, both fabric & paper, the latter inspired by Shim + Sons (thank you).  Pandas being the birthday girl's favourite animal, the colour scheme is black, white & red (she's finally outgrown pinks/purples).  I seem to have a lot of red fabric stashed away, but very little black, so I think an emergency dash to Spotlight might be in order.

And, as if that wasn't enough, I'm doing a photography course, run by my girlfriend, Kate, over at Little Ones Photography.  (She complimented my photograph at the top, which is why I've included it!) So, my head is now full of shutter speeds, f-stops, depth of field etc etc......Last night, I was flicking through a magazine and found myself looking at one particular photograph from a photographer's point of view!!  But I think some of it is starting to make sense.  Yesterday afternoon, I took photos of the girls' inline skating class and the pictures definitely seemed sharper.  Even Mr W was impressed.  All I need to do now is get myself a bigger memory card - 64 photos don't go very far!

Will try to pop by on Friday, but can't promise anything.  If I don't, it's because I'm baking up a storm in the kitchen whilst listening to Woman's Hour (I am SO my mother's daughter!).

Have a lovely week x

PS I see someone from England has visited my blog - hello, and thank you, hope to see you again!

we're going to the zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow...

Well, I say we, what I actually mean is Pickle, and when I say zoo, I mean the Night Safari, but I'm sure you get the gist!  She'll be spending the night under canvas (haven't mentioned how hot the tent is likely to be to her) tomorrow night with school and is VERY excited.  It's her first overnight school trip.  Sleeping bags(!!!) have been aired, small pillows magicked out of thin air, every thing's been packed, unpacked and repacked several times, and treats have been squirrelled for late night munching.  Now I just need to get her to go to bed early tonight.....

Mr W and I, on the other hand, are off to the French Stall in Serangoon Road with friends - will report back on Friday. 

xx

wobbly teeth...

There was great excitement in our house on Saturday night - Betsy lost her first tooth.  She went to the cinema for a friend's birthday party, apparently sat there happily munching the popcorn, went to wobble her tooth, and realised it was missing.  Needless to say, she'd eaten it.

She wrote a sweet little note to The Tooth Fairy explaining what had happened, carefully placing it in the pot on her bedside table, which she has been desperate to use for weeks now.  She also decided to take a leaf out of Lola's book and go to sleep smiling, just to make sure The Tooth Fairy didn't miss her! 

xx

empty nests & pandas...

So, Mr W's parents left last night, off to Koh Samui for a week before returning to Devon.  Needless to say, when we woke up this morning it was a bit too quiet, a bit too empty.  But the good news is, the girls and I are off back home in 5 weeks time, with Mr W following on, so it won't be long before we see them again.

 It's Pickle's best friend's birthday next Saturday.  They've known each other since they were weeks old and were pretty much inseparable back home, sharing all their milestones together.  Lots of letters, drawings and little bits have been going too and fro ever since we arrived here.  So, a parcel of carefully chosen goodies is being sent back.

The satchel was inspired by Amanda Soule over at SouleMama.  The pattern is in this book.

Inside, there's a card made using this book, and a bookmark with the girls' initials, and a panda.  Not sure if I've mentioned it before, but Pickle and her best friend are both obsessed with pandas, and are both what is known around here as a VPP - Very Panderie Person!

Wishing you all a lovely weekend xx

meanderings...

Yesterday, Mr W had the day off, so we took his parents to Little India, which was even better than I remembered.  We had a wonderful time wandering around Mustafas.  It really is the most amazing shop.  They had HUGE bags of rice...

a seemingly never ending selection of lotions and potions, where I bought some henna paste to give to my girlfriend back home who loves henna tattoos...

And the most beautiful selection of fabrics.  I picked up two gorgeous long scarves to wear when the air con is overly efficient on the odd occasion when we're out for supper...

And of course, wandering around the streets you feel like you're stepping back in town, from the freshly made food...

to the truly beautiful architecture...

and of course the garlands of fresh flowers...

We also popped into the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple in Serangoon Road, which never fails to amaze me in its beauty.  All in all, a thoroughly good time was had by all.

See you all on Friday xx