Today's book...

I totally and utterly wasn't going to buy any books today. Today was all about the fabric. These holidays are all about the fabric. Anyway, I digress. You guessed it, I bought a book. For me and yes it is a kids book.

Have you heard about Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus? I don't have it but I know it is very popular. Today I bought another book by the same author. It is hilarious!

The little mole, Wilbur, is the only naked mole rat who wears clothes. He gets teased a lot. It is all about him feeling okay about being a bit different. About him being brave. Great lessons in this one as well as being totally sweet!

A book made for travelling

I recently purchased this sweet little board book. Everyone knows the Hungry Caterpillar (don't they?).  I knew that my sister had been gifted this book early in her pregnancy - no need for me to double up! I did however spot the 'buggy' or 'pram' version at a local store. Perfect. It is small and light weigh. It attaches to your pram or cot with a bright red, stretchy coil. Each page contains a bright picture of a particular food the caterpillar munches through coupled with a single word like 'apple'. 

I try to buy simple board books for Eva. Simple stories, single words or even no words paired with beautiful, bright illustrations.  I haven't saved this book for her return... This one flew over to London to begin its life in the right place, right on her buggy!

She arrived...

Just a quick post to anyone who missed the news (I twittered, facebooked and SMSed it everywhere but forgot to blog)

Little EVA JEAN was born on the 11th of April. An Easter baby. The very best present that Easter Bunny could have delivered.

The family are doing well and Mum and Dad are over in London with them.  I just have to wait a while to meet my niece in the flesh (have done so via skype so far).

And my heart grows...

Petr Horacek

Author number one... Petr Horacek.  I love this author/illustrator.  It was the illustrations that caught my eye in the beginning.  They are bright and wonderful.  Open each book and it gets better and better...  The stories are simple and easy to follow with repeating and directional text such as over, under and through.

Choo Choo was the first book that I bought.  It just caught my eye.  I had no idea who Petr Horacek was.  
My god-daughter Milla and I chose this book during an outing to Borders.  We both loved how the story followed the little mouse through the pages.  It wasn't until I got home that I realised I now had two Petr Horacek books.  It was from this moment on that I was on the hunt!

I moved over to the Book Depository to look for more of Petr's books.  This online store is fabulous.  Books are usually affordable and cheaper than Amazon as there is no postage.

I bought my three most recent Petr Horacek books...

Hello Little Bird... Sweet
What is Black and White.  I love this one.  The texts repeats between "A goose is white", "A crow is black".  Each page is slightly shorter than the page before.  As the pages turn, the left of the book has long black and white stripes.  More and more appear until the final page which says... "A Zebra is black and white".  The body of the zebra is made up of the page stripes.  Lovely!!!
Beep Beep.  This is my favourite book so far.  The text uses words like over, around and through as the family travel in their car to Grandma's house.  Super lovely!

My baby library...

My sister and brother in-law are about to have their first child (not sure if it is a boy or girl - doesn't matter at all except for the shopping issue for me).  It is an exciting time.  Each time my phone rings or I get an SMS, my heart seems to skip a beat...

They live in London right now and are planning to return by Christmas.   Postage is one expensive issue!  Keeping all of this in mind, I am not planning on sending much over to them unless I think they will use it between now and then.  I have been thinking hard about what kind of presents I should buy.

This is where the baby library comes in.  Not a teeny tiny, small library but, a library for the baby!  From the time my sister was about 8 weeks pregnant, I have been buying books a few times a month.  I have been buying mostly board books but also several hardback picture story books.  I have collected picture story books for as long as I can remember and it works like a kind of relaxation therapy for me.  If I feel stressed or run down, I just head over to a favourite book shop and buy a book... Bliss!

I am planning to give these books to my sister when she gets back to Melbourne and presto... Instant library for the baby.

I am pretty fussy about the kind of board books I will buy.  They have to be simple and effective.  No long stories!  Single words per page are okay but these books have to be beautiful or clever!  My favourites have a short story and beautiful bring illustrations.  I think I am going to share some of my purchases and review books here.  Read if you share my love or read if you'd love an idea for a new book.

Anyway, thanks for dropping by...

Welcome to blog world...

Visit this friend of mine.  She's joined the blog world!

The love of crafting has always been there!

I guess that in some ways I have always been a bit of a crafter.  Though, I have always crafted in fits and starts.  Crazily knitting beanies all of one summer for example.  I remember being in the group to help the craftily challenged when in grade 6.  Somehow I always manage to be 'too busy' to really sit down and really enjoy any particular craft.

Circa 2005 (whilst living in Japan) I found my lovely friend Sooz via Loobylu's blog.  A whole world of crafting, the kind I love, opened up to me!

I have been to two crafter's weekends with this person, this person, this person and of course this person...

There had been lots of talk about the Stitches and Craft show coming up in Melbourne so I planned to go. 

The night before I felt like a kid about to be let loose in a toyshop.  The show totally didn't let me down.  It was WONDERFUL!  I loved it.  I spent a little bit and wanted to spend so much more!!

Here is most of the fabric I bought... Already stitched up.  I bought a green/orange pack from, Leni and Rose?

The boarder green was from Kelani.
Still have to do the quilting bit.  
You can't see it in the photos, but the back in a blanket off cut from Pear Tree.  Oh, Pear Tree how I love thee!
This lot is my favourite.  Very precious.  I am hoping to collect enough to make a quilt for my own bed.  You can see a wonderful pack from Green Olive.  The birds are you know who... yes Kristen Doran.  Love her!  And... Shannon, I'd like you to know I bought from you.  I didn't just pickup and put back.  I do wish I bought more though... I LOVE all of your wares!!!

In other news...
I won a blog giveaway.  How lucky am I.  These little felt bowls are much sort after and now I have one.  Thanks to the lovely Jo over at Jelly Baby for making the bowl and hosting the giveaway.
And here it is in situ.  Don't you just love it...

I feel the Earth move...

... under my feet - again!

Did you feel that?  Another tremor.  What is happening in Melbourne?  We aren't supposed to have Earthquakes here.  I lived for two years in Japan and it was an expected occurrence but not here!  That is two quakes in about two weeks.  It is almost exciting...

P.S. I wasn't imagining it.  See...

Melbourne's Age

Melbourne's Herald Sun

Suzie and me

ellen and suzie
Originally uploaded by muppinstuff

Having fun on The Great Ocean Road! Photo taken by Sooz and posted by Janet.

A flash back to Kyoto

I love furoshiki.  I do seriously believe it is one of the best inventions/ideas to come from Japan.

Each visit, I buy a few more for my stash.  I use them to carry objects, wrap things up and of course, as bags.

Before my most recent visit I found a shop called Kakefuda where they make and print their own furoshiki.  They are stunning.  Each one is very large and costs about 5000 yen... With the currnet exchange rate, that is about $90aud.

I found a map to Kakefuda via their website.  I also located them using Google maps (as seen above).  I committed this map to memory.  I guess I am pretty good at directions and I know Kyoto pretty well.  Even so, I was very proud of myself when we arrived at the store with no problems.  My Japanese friend Tomoko was so surprised (she knows the low level of my Japanese!)
Here is the bike that marks the shop.  It is always parked out front.  We chatted to the owner and I had to buy one (even though it was sooooo expensive!).  No regrets.  I am so proud that I found the store.  I LOVE my furoshiki!

A special moment amongst so much sadness and loss

As Victoria has burnt, so many tears have been shed.  I am so lucky that friends and family are safe and well.  I find myself watching the news, listening to the radio and reading the paper or internet to find out the latest news.  It is like you have to know but don't want to know.  You ask yourself if this is really happening!!!  I gets tears over the happy stories and the sad (of course).  The front of the paper is plastered each day with some smiling child who has lost parents or even their own lives.

I find that I am continually waiting for the wonderful stories amongst this mess.  This one is amazing.  A wild creature finding help from a human.  You really should read this story and take a moment to watch the video stream.  Makes me cry in the better way!

A personal wonderful moment comes all the way from Honduras.  Many years ago we had an exchange student from Central America.  She stayed a year and then went home... We basically lost touch for so many years.  Mum and Dad got a call out of the blue the other morning from her.  She was worried about us after seeing the fires plastered all over Honduran news!  She now has our email addresses and I hope this means we'll keep in touch more.  The family grows...

With the cool change, the fun outside begins again

A game of hopscotch anyone?  Not bad for a five year old about the start school!
Numbers backwards but give the girl a break as she was writing them upside down.
All ready to go...
Pause,
And return.  It was so much fun Milla, wasn't it?

It is damn hot in Melbourne

This is the 'ambient' temperature my car displayed after work today.  That is 52 degrees Celsius not Fahrenheit.  52 degrees Celsius = 125.6 degrees Fahrenheit!

The reality is that it was about 43 degrees and will be for the rest of the week.  Please help us!

Welcome to Flickr Annie

I am happy to say that I finally convinced Annie to join Flickr.  Her pictures are so good.  Drop by and check them out and add her as a contact if you are a Flickr user too. 

Not a great pic but I like the cut!

We will see how it washes and wears...  Give me a week to decide if I really like it!

Time for a haircut

Photo tomorrow - if you're lucky!

Twas the night before Christmas...

Where ever you are... I hope you have a wonderful Christmas amongst family or loved ones.  Eat and be merry.  I look forward to an exciting and eventful 2009 with a lot (or at least a little bit) more blogging.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Oh if I could quilt more...

I would make this Christmas tree skirt.  Isn't it great?

Made by the very clever Crazy Mom Quilts.

Wow... Finished.

I had so much to do this weekend but I couldn't put Twilight down.  I just wanted to know what was to happen next.  Twilight is definitely an easy read.  I know from seeing the previews that at least two things happen differently between the book and movie but I don't mind at this point.  I can't wait to see it!  It is released Thursday here... I will be lining up for my ticket Friday evening with or without company!

BTW... See Edward up there?  Recognise him?  Yup, that is Cedric Diggory from The Goblet of Fire!  Looks a tad different doesn't he?

From Sooz to Meme

From Suzy to Sooz to meme (get it?) -

Outside my window… it is pouring fresh rain and night.

I am thinking… About my January trip to Japan and visiting Takayama and Shirakawago with two metres of snow (anyone got some snow boots for me to borrow?)

I am thankful for… a weekend with Dad and NO reports to do or worry about for the time being.

From the kitchen… tonight was my version of Mum's spaghetti bolognaise.  It was delicious (now Dad has three more meals to reheat)

I am wearing… The denim skirt I made all by myself from Soozs pattern (thanks Sooz), white top, necklace my sister gave me (she chooses the coolest necklaces!) and socks.

I am creating… A wider knowledge of photography thanks to a course at the CAE.  I am learning a few little things I didn't already know.

I am going… to have lunch with Dad tomorrow at a local winery.  I am excited about this one!

I am reading… Emily Rodda's The Wizard of Rondo.  This is excellent and number two in a series.  I think they are aimed at 9 to 13 year olds but I like them.  Loose references to fairy tale characters throughout.  Great adventure stories if you liked Deltora Quest.

I am hoping… Mum enjoys her Christmas tour that begins tomorrow in Vienna.

I am hearing… Heavy rain on Mum and Dad's flat, tin roof.  One of my very favourite sounds.  Makes me want to go to bed.  I love it!

Around the house… Is the comfy feeling of HOME!

One of my favourite things… Is waking up and knowing I have slept like a log.  Also, looking over and over again at the ultrasound of my new niece/nephew!

A few plans for the rest of the week… Tupperware Party (I know, I know), finishing off lots of projects at work and tidying in anticipation of the holidays (3 weeks to go)

Sometimes I want coffee so bad!

Sometimes I want coffee so bad!
Originally uploaded by Really Turning Japanese

I really, really needed this when I was in Japan recently!

Photos for sale

3 little smiles

Here a a few things that have made me smile in the last two days...

1.  A prep child (5 years old) at school saying that when they are in grade two, they want to be in my grade and finishing by say that they love me.  So sweet and genuine!

2.  Buying petrol yesterday for 110.3 cents.  That is quite huge here as petrol has reached about 170 cents per liter recently.  110.3 is positively cheap!  My little obsession with checking the petrol price comes from my father.  He always looks around for a deal (makes me think of the Annabelle Principal - do you know what I mean?)

3.  The coolest thing that happened and made me laugh as well as smile; a wild wallaby visiting school.  In the middle of our staff meeting last night, one of the staff members from Aftercare came running into the room to ask for help.  They had shut all the kids safely in a room and there was a KANGAROO loose in the yard.  Now this is weird as we are basically inner city Melbourne.  The wildest of life we might see is a possum or a fox (and foxes are introduced).  As it turned our, it was a large black wallaby.  He was pretty spooked and eventually jumped our fence and headed for a VERY busy main road.  He made it safely across and set up residence in a jungle-like front yard.  The assistant principal from school, several staff members and some locals ensured that the wallaby stayed put until help arrived.  Hilarious.  Great interruption to our evening staff meeting.

Look at me, I have a WIP

I bought three 'sweat rags' when I was in Tokyo with Del two years ago.  I thought that I would cut them up and create something but hadn't until this weekend!  

"Sweat rag," I hear you ask?  The Japanese have all manner of cottons in varying sizes.  They are used to keep the sun off, as a kind of handkerchief, folded around goods or even folded up to create a bag.  I love them!

I decided to start and love the effect so far.  I cut each piece up into various sized strips.  These were randomly arranged and sewn together.  I am not sure what I am making but it is for me!  I guess it is a multi-purpose throw for my couch.  I am not sure what to do next.  Any hints?  How should I quilt it?  

So far, I have made up this design and followed no rules I know of.  What do you think?

Some of the relatives

Here's Grandpa (I think he should be called "Grey Grey" as he is so grey and it matches his name), Aunty Ellen (me) and the new Mum (Anna).

What do you REALLY need?

(Anna is the baby in this photo, soon to be new mum, and my mum is holding her, soon to be grandma)

Pitter patter.  Do you hear the sound of little feet?  In case you missed it, my sister is pregnant.  Very exciting.  Babe is due at the end of March and we're counting down.

We've recently shared several interesting conversations.  The most recent was about what 'baby' items you realistically need as a new mum!  She believes that the commercial world out there is out to convince you that you need every little item.  We were talking about nappy bags.  She thinks it is silly when the nappy bag is childlike or covered in some kiddy character.  Who is the bag for?  She is far more keen to use a large bag she already has or wait to see if and what she needs in a bag.

This leads me to ask you mums out there, what do you really need?  What can't you live without?  I am very interested to know and I'll pass the info on to Anna...

Want to see some recent photos of Japan?

Comment and let me know!

Can someone explain this?

TODAY	TOMORROW	THU	FRI	SAT	6-10 DAY
Mostly Cloudy	AM Clouds/PM Sun	Partly Cloudy	Showers	Cloudy	Extended Forecast
High: 15° Low: 11°	High: 17° Low: 8°	High: 22° Low: 8°	High: 21° Low: 11°	High: 26° Low: 11°

Look closely at Thursday...  22 is not bad for a spring day.  Warmish, especially if the sun is shining.  But, what is with the low of 8?  That is cold, cold, cold for this time of year.  Bring on the warm weather!

Insomnia?

No... not that drastic, but...

What happens on those nights when you go to bed tired (after a late coffee and two champagnes) and you just can't fall asleep?  I mean, you are seriously tired.  You need the sleep.  You've been unwell.  YOU JUST CAN'T SLEEP!  What happens?  Time passes and you know that you must have been asleep but you still feel wide awake.  You feel like you have been awake for hours.  You wind yourself up more and more and suddenly, it is morning!  You must have slept.  

Wordl... mmm, could be fun but why is cocaine there?

... and where is AJ?

My little friend (enemy) euproctis pseudoconspersa

Once there was a little mouse...

I wonder who he/she looks like?

I wonder what he/she will be like?

I can't wait to meet you... Until March!

(CONGRATULATIONS Anna and Tino - Love you both)

AJ has always had a thing for blue textas

Here he is at age 2.  This creative effort stretched past the canvas of his body and also covered the wall.  Definitely took a few days to wash off!  I love the wink in this photo.
Here is AJ at age 6 and a half (sound asleep).  He and Milla were so hyped up tonight, for no apparent reason!  They even surfed down their flight of stairs on an old bed mattress!  I was sure the night was going to end in tears.  I was quite surprised that both of them went to bed with no arguments.  They usually spend at least half an hour to settle... Not tonight.  They were quiet from the beginning - strange.

Their Dad, Sean, went up stairs to check on them at about 9.  On his descent, he remarked, questioning if they had gone to bed with 'blue' faces?  We grabbed the closest camera and headed upstairs!  We were literally rolling around on the floor.  We now understood why they were so quiet at bed time.  I wonder what it will be like getting ready for school tomorrow?

Of course, Milla didn't miss out!