Hannah Bananna

Things to do in Newcastle

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:17:00 +0000

I love School Holidays!

I love sleeping in and not rushing, not packing lunches before we have breakfast!

I love pyjama days, especially love pyjama days!

But sometimes/somedays you have to get them out the house or they go stir crazy, drive me crazy.

Yesterday we planned it we were going to the Newcastle Museum.

We drove to the train station at Fassifern and parked the car and found nice surprise no 1,

we only had to pay for 1 child,

return to Newcastle for 1 adult and 3 children, $9.90.

The novelty of a train ride did wear off quick!

Nice Surprise no 2!

The Museum is free!!

and if you catch the train like we did, get off at civic and its right there.

The kids loved the old tram and spent ages sitting in it,

surprising since they whinged after 5 minutes of being in a moving train!

We worked out that the last tram stopped running when Nanna was about 6 months old, but we're pretty sure Old Nan and Pa might have caught the tram to see a movie or two!

The Supernova is hands on science fun!

Kept the kids entertained for ages.

While I dont have photos you should know there is also an amazing display of artwork from primary school kids, using recyclable products!

The Museum its great, its fun, its free!

you should go.

And since your there, in town,

take the kids on the fairy,

to Stockton!

Enjoy your school holidays :)

Oh and make sure you remember which pocket of your bag you have the return train tickets in, police do patrol and check tickets. Our nice policeman was happy with my eftpos receipt!

Self Portrait

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 14:50:00 +0000

Ok So I totally sucked the first time I tried Fat Mum Slims photo a day challenge, but since its the beginning of the new (financial) year my resolution is to last longer this time!

So todays was a self portrait, ...a tough one since I usually hit delete every time I see a photo of me.

So Hello

This is me

Lee-Anne

Wife of one (thankgod, 1's enough), mother of 4, owner of Hannah Banannas Designs, waitress (its my night job), wanna be photographer ( finally started shooting in manual mode!), awesome enchilada maker, avid reader (dont hate me, but I thought 50 shades was one of the most poorly written books i've ever read, and I also thought Bella from Twilight was a whingey whiney twat!).

I also make pretty cool hats! :)

and have the most gorgeous children...

Nice to meet you!

This Post is for me!

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 13:44:00 +0000

Two yrs ago I started and I had no idea that there was this whole facebook handmade/ kids clothing thing going on.

Today I am so glad to finally have figured out what I want to be when I grow up

(lucky since I'm 40 in August)!

This dress is where I started,

the Tea Party Princess Dress!

How sweet were Jack and Hannah back than?

PS still lucky to love my job!

School Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:53:00 +0000

Why does it have to rain during school holidays?

I never want to see a Hannah Montana movie again, or High School Musical!

and just for the record...

when it comes to my computer I am not a good sharer!

So today after 3 days of rain, the sun came out! Allelujah?

But no, they were still arguing over who's turn it was to pick the movie, who was playing what on which computer!

Any way, I sent them outside, to play, "you'll end up with mushroom's growing under your arms!"

3 Kids went outside to play and did a rain dance, which is rather more inventive than 3 children staring forlornly at the back door!

The Rain dance worked and they were back!, Worked so well in fact, it even rained in Delft, Holland!

It was time for one of those conversations,

You know the ones,

"when I was your age..."

I would be out there playing in the rain! I would find the biggest puddles to jump in! I would be practising cartwheels on the trampoline!

and it was that easy, 2 of them went off to play in the rain!

Jack wouldn't

Jayden had told him the rain was God doing a wee!

Apparently in Jack's eyes, Jayden has more credibilty than me and he was NOT playing in wee, not even if it was wee'ly good fun :)

A little bit scared of the dark!

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:29:00 +0000

When I was little I was scared of

The Big Bad Wolf!

I remember lying in bed and thinking he was hiding under there, waiting for everyone else to go to sleep, waiting for me!

Hannah's scared of the dark!

We have been leaving a light on for her, but it keeps the boys awake.

So I made her a fairy light

Hannah's tucked up in bed, now, the fairies looking after her,

...and me!

Big School!

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:25:00 +0000

I cant believe Jack and Hannah have been at big school for nearly six weeks!

Thats Crazy!!

But they have settled in to school life beautifully!

Better than I have settled into "home alone Mum",

(think Bridget Jones belting out, All by Myself.. don wanna be All By Myself,)

OK, maybe not that bad, but it is sooo quiet!

Jack and Hannah's comfortable and easy adjustment to big school is because of their amazing and lovely teacher, Mrs Howard.

.. and she blogs! How Great is that?

The kids love it and cant wait to see themselves on Mrs Howards blog, I love seeing their smiling faces at school

but they really want to see how many dots they can get on their world map,

https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/blog/399940-limiesfbps/entry/our_first_day

You just have to click on the link!

Dots and comments would be so happily received :)

When they're Not Super Models

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 11:57:00 +0000

Jayden

Hannah

and Jack

are Extreme Biscuiters! (jaydens description!)

I hope your weekend was awesome!

Ours was just what the doctor ordered, Funtabulous Togetherness!

Skeeding next weekend, so long as someone remembers to pack the skis!

Valentines Day! Do you or Dont you???

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:39:00 +0000

We Dont, not really!

We're not the Baa Humbugs of Valentines Day, we acknowledge it but we dont lash out and buy flowers or chocolates!

12 Years ago on our first Valentines Day, Tim left early in the morning for work, just as he still does now. I slept in! (I still love a sleep in!). I worked a double shift 12 years ago and also today.

12 years ago I got home late to a find a nice warm bath waiting (actually it was luke warm, I was pretty late finishing) and I love you written in my favourite lipstick on the bathroom mirror!

I thought it was the best Valentines Gift ever! i'll never forget it!

Fast forward to today, similar in so many ways, Tim left early for work I had a double shift. The grand parents were organised for school pick up, Tea was the only unknown factor. So I decided I would duck down to the local IGA for a BBQ chook and some vegies, something easy for dinner.

Tim rings me everyday at 9.45am, morning tea break, to say hello, to find out things he needs to know...

to touch base with the person you love!

today while on the phone, on valentines day, as im waliking out of the local supermarket, instead of hearing, "I love you" He gets öh F&**&$###@" someones run into the car!

No note, no witnesses a $550.00 excess!

The car was his pride and joy and he's rather upset!

So I hope he finds this message when he wakes up and it at least makes him smile a little, makes his day a little brighter...

and at some point, I think, i need to talk to a fingerprint expert and find out who's grotty hands have been all over my bathroom mirror?

Buttons!

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:29:00 +0000

I love them!

I actually like them shiny and vintage, with stones in them. I like looking in op shops and antique shops for them!

But some outfits need regular buttons like these one!

Today I am loving this vintage inspired fabric and it looks great as a reversible apron skirt!

In case your wondering why Im going on about buttons, well Im still playing along with Fat Mum Slim's Daily Photo Challenge!

I skipped yesterdays photo, it was meant to be a photo of dinner, but I skipped Dinner as I was at work!

While talking about skipping things, summer has skipped us this year, so were gearing up for winter! Here's a look at some of what's coming with me to the Newcastle Handmade Market

If your a photographer or someone like me who likes to play around with photoshop

then you should check this out!

Sarah Gardner Photography

Free Textures or for $3.00 you get the set + a bonus 2 and funds go to charity!

They're beautiful textures, I played around with the photo above and also with this one of Hannah giving Jack a bit of what for! :)

Happy Hump day for tomorrow!

10am on Sunday is not a good time for me!

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:47:00 +0000

The theme for todays photo over at Fat Mum Slim was 10am!

Well I slept through that one!

I thought about changing the time on my clock and taking a photo of that. I took a photo of the kids jumping off the jetty at 11 and thought I could say I took it at 10.

But the truth is this

I had a great day today!

I slept in, till past 10!!! Got up and went shopping for a bbq chook, fresh bread and freddo frogs to take on a picnic, where the kids jumped off the jetty, went kneeboarding and tubing.

The sun was out, there was no rain!

It was a gorgeous day!

The freddo frogs were on ice, (the beer too)!

and the company was fun!

We Headed home sometime mid afternoon for drinks on the verandah, which overlooks same lake we had just picnic'ed on.

The day was gorgeous and the evening too,

perfect swinging weather, and a tyre swing in your backyard is a pretty awesome thing to have!

(note to self.. must not push kids on tyre swing after drinking wine, wonky means potentially crashing into tree!)

...and still playing with magic fairy incrediBubbles,

it was nearly dark, but golly gosh, I think we,ve nearly got it!

I hope you all had as nice a Sunday as we did :)

and as for todays 10am photo, it was never going to happen.

Sunday in our house,

loose the watch, turn off the alarm and have fun!

Will be back on board tomorrow! :))

A Stranger! I love her bubbles!!

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:55:00 +0000

Day 4 of the photo challenge at Fat Mum Slim's blog!

So todays photo is of a stranger

Her bubbles were IN crediBubbles! Awesome!

And for $7 you could buy the Magic Fairy bubble wand And Fairy Bubble Mix Recipe!

It was worth $7.00 just for the bubble mix recipe!

These lovely bubbles were available today at the first Olive Tree Market of the year!

Here's our try

We'll keep practising! But Jayden thought it was pretty cool that his bubble nearly ate Hannah!

Happy Sunday for tomorrow. The sun is meant to be shining here so we are boating! Kids will be skiing and tubing and I might even try and get back on the kneeboard!

However you decide to spend your day, have fun!

Hands! One of those Days!

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:38:00 +0000

Today is day 3 of the photo a day challenge over at the Fat Mum Slim blog.

The theme for today is hands,

Well today my Hands spent far too much time holding one of these...

and Not enough time doing this!

I did get there in the end, and I am almost ready for the Olive Tree Market tomorrow, at 11.30pm!

It will not rain, it will be sunny! I will be ready!!!

I love this purple floral fabric, its my fave! If anyone knows where I can get more or even what its called, I would love you forever! ;)

... and to finish a close up my clothing labels,

I made them myself!

See you back here tomorrow (I hope) same bat channel...

Mirth! what exactly is it!

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:25:00 +0000

I am following along with the February Photo Challenge over at Fat Mum Slim.

I am hoping this will get me back in the blogging routine, and you know I love photos!

Yesterdays photo was "my view"

This is my new work place and this is the view as I walk in the door!

My kids think I am so cool working here!

Day Two

the photo challenge is words

This book, these words, they make me shake with mirth!

mirth ~ gladness or gaiety as shown by or accompanied with laughter. — mirth·ful \-fəl\ adjective. — mirth·ful·ly \-fə-lē\ adverb. — mirth·ful·ness noun. — mirth·less

I love these books!

They live in my undies drawer next to the bed. I have read them sooo many times and she always makes me laugh! Doesnt matter if you're a Singleton or a smug married type, there's a little bit of Bridget we can all relate to!

My Hubby, Tim, loves the movie and we watch it together, when there's no cricket or footy on!

He doesn't like the book though, because I climb in to bed sometime around midnight, and go into states of absolute "mirth" reading it! and while I dont make a noise, my silent giggling, would possibly register somewhere similar to a small earthquake!

Tomorrows photo is hands, hmm!

might need a manicure!

Its been a While

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:52:00 +0000

So long I couldnt get in to my blog!

I had forgotten my user name, which email went with this blog and the password!

But here I am, January's nearly over, there's Easter Eggs in the stores, crazy! and I can now tick off one of my New Years Resolutions, to start blogging again.

Its been a good year so far camping with family and catching up with friends, Reaching 1000 likers on Facebook and nearly 200 madeit sales. My Husband, Tim, and I just celebrated our 10 year anniversary, and our twins are about to start their first year of school!

Wow! Life is a rollercoaster :) a crazy ride!

So with the twins now at school i'll be home, alone (if you dont count the 18 yr old who hasn't started Tafe yet, and who's bedroom and guitars are in the same garage as my sewing room?), and I am getting ready for the first Olive Tree Market for 2012 on the 4th February.

I love being at this market! It has a great atmosphere, so many amazing and talented sellers, and food mmm!

I kind of have a thing for red at the moment, I like it!!!

I will try and be back tomorrow with details for the 1000 liker on Facebook comp!

Win a personalised storybook!

Happy 2012 :)

"That" talk!

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:27:00 +0000

I have mentioned a few times on facebook the games, conversations i overhear/eavesdrop on as I sew, between Jack and Hannah,

they talk alot, setting the scene for their games, and yesterday I was almost choking, with laughter and something else as I listened,

They were planning to play Mum's and babies, but they were both babies,

Hannah, 'Right Jack!, pretend we were just born out of Mum's butt, were gonna need a bath!"

Jack giggled and made some baby noises,

Hannah, "i'm serious Jack, we came out of Mum's butt, we're covered in Pooh, and we need a bath? or something?"
Oh Dear, where do they get this?

A few months ago Hannah asked me how "you got a baby?"

While i was thinking through how much to say, or how little , to a 4 yr old,

I started with, "you need to be a grown up ladý",

Hannah was happy with that and so was I.....

My family still talk/laugh about my first sex education class at school,

Mum asked me did I have any questions, I pretty much understood it all,

except for one thing..

why did the teachers call it intercourse, when I knew for a fact that it was called rooting!

Sex Education via public/school toilet doors.

I might wait a little bit longer before having "that" talk, I did point out however that they were in my tummy and didnt come out of "my butt",

I will let you all know if next time they play Mum's and Babies, they're covered in belly button fluff!

Little Miss Curiosities dress was made by me and is available at http://www.madeit.com.au/detail.asp?id=364274

Photoshop before and after

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:17:00 +0000

I love photoshop

and I love these Fairy Hats!

http://www.madeit.com.au/detail.asp?id=364273

Who Said you never forget how to ride a Bike???

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:16:00 +0000

Ok, well maybe it's true, I didnt forget how!

But my Bum sure forgot, and my leg muscles too!

and if I can offer a little advice, if you haven't ridden a bike in 7 years, then 6.5kms around Dubbo Zoo isn't the best time to take up bike reading again.

One more piece of, what I think is really good advice, whether riding a bike, walking, driving... make sure the person with the map knows how to read it! ( when you feel like you're dying on a bike you dont want to be lost, TRUST ME!!!) P.s Vicki I still Love you!

Ok so technically, this photo is day two, and we travelled by car, but still the giraffes were a favourite on both days!

The Elephants were a little boring, apparently, until the kids found out that while Dad was washing the Rhinoceruses, Pop was wiping the Elephants' bums!

Hannah thought it was Gross, the boys thought it was very Cool!

Dad is also an accomplished Painter, a busy one too! As he painted all the Zebra's stripes!

It sure was a long way in the bike and very tiring according to Hannah

(who was in a caboose)!

Kind of knowing how the Tiger feels!

We were feeling a little tired too!

Jayden was definitely over it

Honestly though! We had a great day, make that 2, at Dubbo Zoo!

and if you mention McDonalds for Lunch, its an absolute reviver!

..and Happy Birthday Jaydo, I cant believe your 8!

I love you to infinty and beyond....

Jaydo's Theory of Evolution!

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 12:34:00 +0000

Jack loves sharks, pirates and dinosaurs!

Especially he loves T-rex's!

Today he wanted to know if they were real?

Jayden stepped in to answer

"Jack, Trex's WERE real, but there not anymore, because they're all dead! We call that being extinct! So I guess they're still real, but because they're dead and extinct they dont exist anymore. And Jack! Did you know? That when the dinosaurs were around there were no people, just monkeys and apes, and they somehow turned into people! And thats when the aborigines started living in Australia,

Monkeys and Apes had brown fur and thats why the aborigines have brown skin".

Jack,did you know, thats where we live, in Australia!

.. eventually there were white people too, I think that happened when they invented TV and we didn't go outside very much anymore!"

Gotta love a childs perspective of the world

For Trex and Dinosaur fans we have Dinosaur Train shorts and backpacks coming soon! Toot Toot!

Coming Soon!!

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 14:30:00 +0000

I am in the process of opening a big cartel store,

for the boys!

Lots of Super Hero pants and hats..

We've got Superman, Batman, Spiderman (should arrive soon)!

They are seriously cool and funky! and Heaps of Fun!

Just ask Jack?

Jacky Boy Designs, online shopping coming soon!

3600 fabrics drastically reduced!

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:43:00 +0000

This is the newest message from my New Favourite fabric source,
Be still my beating heart...
I dont get excited anymore about shoe catalogues, or the latest Portman's enews, I can shop Etsy, Madeit, Ebay, Facebook at home wearing my falling apart uggies and trackie daks
But a fabric sale, I love them, I haven't looked at the 3600 drastically reduced, because I kind of shopped last night and bought more of this

and this

I also bought a very pretty fairy print for the girls, for hats, like these

No More Looking, No more Shopping

the neighbours are starting to talk about the Postman...

Definitely!

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 13:44:00 +0000

For some reason its a hard word to spell!

I have tried so many versions over the last few months of facebooking and blogging, I also noticed a lot of others trying their own versions, too!

So I googled it, D.E.F.I.N.A.T.E.L.Y should have done it months ago, turns out there are pages, forums, discussions... so many of us apparently get it wrong!

I got it wrong!, its

D.E.F.I.N.I.T.E.L.Y

and I definitely have the cutest kids!

Talking Tablets

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:05:00 +0000

My father used to call my brother, Talking Tablets!

He also used to refer to people who talked alot of shit, as having verbal diarrhoea, which has provided many years of laughing since I told my best friend at seven, after a fight, that I didnt care if she was my friend or not because my Dad said she had Purple Diarrhoea!

But the point of this blogpost is this, I have my own Talking Tablets, we'll call her Talking Tablets2!

See I even have a photo of her talking!

While I am sewing I love listening to Jack and Hannah play, I love that they have each other and they both have such amazing imaginations! But today Jack wanted to play Wee so Hannah sat on the lounge with her pretend mobile phone and had a chat with her pretend friend for over half an hour!

They talked about clothes, Thankgod they didn't talk about boys, they had an argument, but Hannah didnt tell her she had purple diarrhoea!

So if she can talk to a pretend someone on a pretend phone, imagine the bills she could rack up on a real mobile talking to a real person.. or pretend?

Spotty Sun Hats now listed on Madeit

To All Fellow Mothers of Girls, Have Fun!

Photoshop, before and after

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:52:00 +0000

Why I Love Photoshop

Sunhats available in the madeit store

http://www.madeit.com.au/detail.asp?id=345215

Wine and Etsy, the perfect mix!

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:02:00 +0000

I work a couple of nights a week, at a Leagues Club here in Newcastle, waitressing.

Its not hard work, but it gets me out of the house and away from the sewing machine,

It allows me to social network for real and not just via Facebook.

But when I get home from work, everyones usually asleep. I cant sew, it upsets the neighbour, I cant watch Tv, it upsets the neighbour..

So i get on the computer, Facebook, yep usually miss all the sales,

But got lucky with one of Em and Femmes sales

But the point of this post, is after seeing whats going on in the handmade world of facebook, I usually end up back at Etsy, the supplies section!

A wine or two.. can be dangerous when shopping there!

But!

I did get this...

Vintage 1970's John Kaldor, 4.8 metres! Stoked!!!

Loving it as a maxi dress, someone wants it as a pantsuit and I am also seeing it as something else..

but you'll have to watch this space!

I have listed the maxi at madeit and etsy

I have had a wow of a time lately on Etsy so will probably have a bit to show you over the next coming weeks!

(We Have a new parcel postman in our area, after 3 days straight of drop offs at our house, he introduced himself and learnt Oscars name!)

Okey Dokey, Im off to bed!

No more wine and No more Etsy for tonight!

Crochet Hats and Swear Words

noreply@blogger.com (hannah bananna) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:17:00 +0000

My Lovely Mother In Law has been crocheting hats for me for the markets.

She used to crochet, once upon a time, but had forgotten how.

So she bought a book, but the hat pattern was for a ladies hat! There were a few phone calls and it was decided I would give her my hat pattern!

I use American Patterns, different terminology, sizing...

Apparently my very lovely mother in law, who wouldn't say shit for sixpence, said a whole lot more and stabbed the pattern with a crochet hook!

My business minded Father In Law has upped the Hat prices to $800.00 each! Plus postage!

She's definitely got it now, Ive got a basket full of them, even after selling a heap at the Olive Tree Market!

Apparently, she finds it relaxing :)

I am going to list some in the madeit store for $12.00, Including Postage.

The cold weather seems to be hanging around a little bit longer!