HARVEST OF THE WEEK

jam session
from this...

to this...

to this!

This isnt the first time we've made jam here on hml (who could forget our sticky ode to Nathan Buckley a few years back) but it is the first time we've done it with fruit straight out of our very own backyard, and with the long distance guidance of melbourne's own Supreme High Priestess of Jam the lovely Penelope Durston. As you would have noted from yesterday's post, it's come up a treat, and lovely to think I actually managed to get something done with all those apricots before the bats finally finished them off. It was actually super easy and only took a couple of hours.
So, here's Last Minute Gift tip Number One - consider taking advantage of all that awesome stone fruit around at the moment and whip up a batch for your friends, family, work mates or significant scone eater etc...

BROADCAST OF THE WEEK

who listens to the radio?

Well it's Ramona's last RRR appearance this year this morning. She'll be talking up making last minute Christmas gifts, buying handmade and New Year craft resolutions with the gals on the grapevine. She isn't going empty handed either - beautiful apricot jam from Beck's Northcote crop and some lemon curd fresh from the hml kitchen last night! 102.7 streaming here...

PROJECT OF THE WEEK

it's beginning to feel alot like Christmas...

Some of you know that Ive been laying low with the most terrible summer cold. There is something soothing about doing a repetitive crafty task when you have a fever and a hacking cough. It did give me the day to think about all the small peeps I'm lucky to have in my life this year.My two lovely neighbours, Audrey and Georgia always say hello at the gate. Kye and Alani my niece and nephew all the way over in WA. Toma my Japanese mini sumo pal. The beautiful Silas and Sunday who are as gorgeous as their parents.

Of course there is Clancy all the way over in London where it is minus 2. The excellent Maxwell already walking and talking his way through all the hml staff meetings. Last but not least there are my own lovelies Hope and Thom - the best things I ever made!

Next year two more will be added to the list as close friends embark on their own crazy adventure in 2010. I've decided that making these  is my favourite holiday tradition.Bloody Marys for breakfast on Christmas morning comes a close second.

SIDE PROJECT OF THE WEEK

tagged

I've set aside a few hours today to make my annual kids Christmas decorations.There are 11 kids this year so it is quite an endeavour. I got a little side tracked this morning. It took me quite a few goes with the circle cutter to get the right size sticker for the baubles. I couldn't throw out the rejects so I thought I'd whip up some tags

I had to add glitter of course, which seems to coat the house from top to bottom. Luckily I already have a few presents to wrap. 9 days to go, can you believe it?

I'll show you the baubles tomorrow. Better get back to work!

RUMBLE REDUX

pop up shop

Well the Jumble is over for another year and what a wild rumpus it was! It's been a while since we had a joint project (the BOOK was momentous enough to keep us busy most of 09). So the invitation from Pene Durston of Cottage Industry fame to participate in her studio sale was too good to pass up.

It meant we had a whole day sans kids to just hang out with some great people (hi Dell, Irene, Leah!), eat some excellent Babka danishes and make grand plans for 2010. We also managed to pay off our Yeah Yeah Yeahs tix, buy some sushi and spend way too much in other corners of the studio. Beck basically got her work wardrobe sorted via the sales racks. I'm in big trouble for not stocking up on silk scarves for the cravat lovin intern (any left Pen?)

We were quite chuffed with how our table looked. Rather splendid thanks to Becks brilliant cardboard garlands and my posies of paper flowers. What a lovely way to finish what has been a crazy crazy year.
Thanks for the opportunity Miss Pen Pen, we hope you have us back for the next Rumble in the Jumble!