I love receiving emails from you and I read them, think about my answer and sometimes forget to write back! Ooooooops, you might not know this but I feel really bad when I don’t reply to your blog comments and emails. So here are some answers to your questions from the last few weeks……
What car do you drive and recommend for 4 children?
Well this one was embarrassing as I drive an old kia carnival and remind my husband on a regular basis I need a new car! It just doesn’t reflect my style! And very important ladies to use the word need, not want, N-E-E-D. Having twins meant buying a bigger car and a bigger house at the same time so we put everything into getting a big house and paid cash for the car.
Thankfully, next March we are upgrading as she’s about to clock up 100,000 k’s! But I’ve got to say (and touch wood) the old kia serves us well. Roomy, reliable, corridor for the kids to get to the back row and we can fit the whole family and market stock in! And hello, when someone treads on a cookie on the carpet or leaves chip bits everywhere I really don’t care. There are loads of 7+ seaters out there and the final decision rests with retro daddy (ok, that’s what he thinks!) and we’ve changed our mind a zillion times so who knows what I’ll be driving!
What quilt pattern do you recommend for a beginner
You can’t beat charm squares in my opinion. One pack of charm squares, lay them out in a nice pattern, sew into columns then join them together, sandwich and using a walking foot stitch either side of the seam. Buy some pre-made binding or make your own and you have a lap or pram quilt. I found this great tutorial during the week. Also check out the Moda bakeshop, you can search on charm squares or jelly rolls or a particular designer and all of the projects come up. Best of all……..they are free!
How do you upload photos to your blog?
Most of the time I use flickr, I load them up a few at a time. To place on my blog click on the photo and there are 2 drop down boxes above the image. Click on the right one which says share, then select grab html and I copy and paste it over to my blog.
How did you make your blog header wide?
So go into flickr and click on the photo. Click on the left tab above the photo and click on edit in picnik. Now you want to crop and dragging out the box making a rectangle over what you want as your header. Then you click on create on the menu just above the photo and text. Scroll down till you get the text you want. Then save your work. Now click on the new photo and select the left tab, click on all sizes and save original to your computer or you could use the link from the share tab. Now save to your header in your template and I select replace title and description as I’m doing it. I also clicked on shrink to fit. Still with me? Ok now preview and admire! You are so clever and tech savvy now! Ha!
What sewing patterns do you recommend for christmas fabric?
Keep it simple! Online you will find templates and patterns for christmas stockings or how about a bunting, table runner, simple tablecloth, simple apron, tree skirt, placemats or just wrap up a christmas pudding in a pretty fat quarter. Too simple. This year I’ll be making some simple santa sacks for each of my little ones – just a large drawstring bag and hopefully some little shortie pj’s that they can wear on christmas eve! the internet is a great place for free patterns and tutorials and go through your craft magazines and books for some more inspiration. All you need to do you is use festive fabric!
How is your mum going?
She is amazing. Her strength and bravery keep us all going and she has never once complained. To meet her you would never know what she has been through and is living with. This year has been the toughest year in her fight with cancer. She has the best specialists in sydney and has received cutting edge treatment with the gamma knife earlier this year. I hope that they make this available to everyone who needs it as it isn’t yet covered by medicare/health funds and costs as much as a new family car. My Dad is doing an amazing job looking after her and takes her to all of her appointments and they still keep their sense of humour throughout it all!
Where did you get the pattern for your knitted Christmas stockings?
There are a few patterns on ravelry but I got my pattern from an old Patons book I picked up at Spotlight which has patterns for easter, christmas etc. I need to have a good look in my sewing room for it but have a good look on ravelry too!
Can you make me one of your dresses before Christmas?
I’ll be loading up on the weekend a range of dresses for sale but at this stage won’t be able to take custom orders as I’m just not getting sewing time with this baby girl permanently attached to me! If we’ve already spoken about it you’re one of the 5 that I’ve agreed to…………
Are you coming down to Canberra for markets?
At this stage sadly, no. I rely on retro daddy for helping me and it’s just too hard lugging everything and everyone for the weekend, finding (and paying for) a 2 bed apartment, entertaining everyone away from home plus having a new baby. I love doing handmade but will stick to Sydney markets for the time being. Markets will always be there when I’m ready.
Got a question, just ask! I’m a talker and a sharer!
Thanks for taking the time to answer all those questions. I just tried to copy and paste the html code of one of my photos in flickr to my blog but got lost as to where to put it(the html code) on the post page. I used to do it this way until flickr changed the look of their pages and also blogger has changed their new post page. Sorry just confused as to how you do it.
Catherine
just put the code where you want to in your post and I centre it. so leave a space and paste it in there, when you go to preview it shows you the photo!
hope that makes sense
corrie:)
Corrie, hi. You are so busy and probably just missed my comment about the little shirred dress that your little girl was wearing at the piano in your family book, but I wondered if you are able to share the pattern with us or not? amanda
I’d totally agree with charm squares being great for a beginner. That way there’s no fussing with cutting and you can just get stuck into sewing!
Great answers, Corrie!
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer those questions Corrie.
We too had to upgrade our car when we had our fourth. We went for an 8-‘s series Land cruiser. We wanted a 100 series, but we just couldn’t afford that much. We managed to get this one in excellent knick for really cheap as petrol prices were high at the time. It’s now valued at about $6K more than we paid for!
100,000 k’s? Your car is still new. Our Tarago stopped last April and wouldn’t start again – 438,000 kms. Fabulous car for our family (which is now all grown up). Made your white rocky road last night with the good turkish delight etc – brought it to work for morning tea – delicious. Thank you for the recipe.
Hi Corrie,
Thank you o so much for answering the upload picture to blog question. But, as @Catherine said; I too, lost in the process. My sentiment is mutual with @catherine. Will you be able to re-answer the question,pretty please. (I do realized how busy you are with a baby “strapped” on to you and all) But, I sincerely thank you in advance.xxxxxooooo
OOOOpss, pardon me Corrie, I did not notice your answer to @Catherine. So sorry. I shall try it all over again. Cheers!
Oh I like when bloggers answer questions. I wanted to say that 1) I like your new profile pic. CUTE! 2) I made your white christmas on Monday. I did the simple version but added the coconut on top. YUM! 3) I liked that post you did on 4 Dec. ‘things you didn’t know about me’ or something. I’m going to do that too one of these days. and 4) Your market stall look fab!
xoMODELmumma
Hi Corrie,
I have a question for you..
Any chance of a retro mummy book in 2011 or 2012 ?
Would love to see you produce one ! Not that you have any spare time !
Kind regards kelly X
Thanks Corrie for taking the time to answer those questions! I know I asked some of them so I really appreciate you doing that! In your quilting question you mentioned getting some fat quarters and making columns. Can you clarify that for me!!(absolute beginner here!) Your white choc rocky road has all but disappeared now so I’m going to make your dark choc one next
You have been chosen for the “Cherry on Top” Blog award, check it out over here
http://emmajaneforever.blogspot.com/2010/12/cherry-on-top.html
Congratulations
I haven’t come across you before but we have matching families (sort of) – four kids including twins anyway. A lovely post to get to know you. We drive the VW Caravelle (now sold as a Multivan) and it is fab. Lots of bootspace. I look forward to getting to ‘know’ you better.
Thanks for the answers. I was wondering how you started your business? How do you get access to so much nice fabric!?
It’s wonderful to read about you and you give me inspiration to get my new sewing machine out..see I still haven’t got to that yet!!! It’s now a new years res!!!
If you have a moment could you vote for me here I’d really appreciate it xx
http://www.babble.com/babble-50/mommy-bloggers/nominate-a-blogger/
Hi, we have something in common…. both our mums unfortunately suffered cancer….only sadly, my mum’s journey ended in August 2008. If you want some insight, I started a blog soon after. Its definately been a challenge since but its amazing how you build yourself up again after falling down! http://www.fivebythesea-larli.blogspot.com X
One day I will sit down and try to understand that blog header thingy, thanks for how helpful I know it will be when my brain is finally ready to get it!
Love you, Corrie. Love the new header too! And may I recommend the Volvo when you go the car upgrade? I always thought ‘oh my god, anything but a Volvo!” but I just love it. I think it’s the best 7 seater on the market. Merry merries. x
For our four kids we have two cars as we always seem to be going in different directions, and when we go on holidays we hire a prado. My husband would like a volvo 7 seater but with Ayden getting his licence next year, I don’t think its worth it