Living Green

Saturday 26 March 2011



Here at Homespun Field HQ we are trying to do our little bit to help stop climate change and the biggest thing we have done so far is install solar panels. We went for a system that we calculated would cover our average daily use, I was quite insistent that if we were going to outlay an awfully large amount of money then I didn't want to install a system that would only cover part of our usage and therefore still get power bills. At the same time we started looking at ways to reduce our usage because obviously the weather isn't the same every day and we wanted to make sure we made enough to cover our usage even on those cold, wet, winter days when we were producing very little.

We were more successful than we expected and as a result we use far less power than we produce! This was further helped by our later decision to then install solar hot water too (they are the smaller panels on the  right).

Just a little over a year later we are so incredibly glad we started down this path, and a little bit proud each time we look up at the panels. We may not have the smallest carbon footprint around (and probably never will have, look at the roof tiles, they're black!!!), but we are doing a bit to help. Our bills have reduced by a heap and the NSW solar bonus scheme means we even get a bit back each quarter, which goes to paying back the large outlay we had to make to get the solar panels installed.

So if you have not installed solar panels, or are thinking about doing so, we highly recommend it!

Delicious Delivery

Wednesday 23 March 2011


A delicious delivery on Monday from The Fat Quarter Shop! A small selection of Rosalie Quinlan's Sweet Broderie collection. If you haven't already seen Leanne Beasley's lovely new magazine Vignette, she featured a table runner and serviettes in this fabric range in the first edition of the magazine (more on the magazine another day). This inspired me to make a set for my cousin as she recently celebrated a big birthday. Unfortunately the fabric has taken almost 4 weeks to get here so I am a little late with the pressie!

I'll post photos of the finished product as soon as I can.

Knit Beret

Saturday 19 March 2011


This is my latest finished knitting project (and it's not very often things get to the finished stage!). I bought a kit  from By Lynette at last week's Sydney craft fair and will be starting the matching fingerless gloves very soon. The pattern is Nicole. Very cute don't you think?

Thanks also to Miss 12 for modelling it!

Blogging along

Monday 14 March 2011

I love, love, love reading blogs but I have always been a bit of a lurker, too shy to leave comments but loving the blogs anyway. There are some incredibly beautiful blogs out there but was always worried that if I started a blog it wouldn't be as pretty as some of the others out there, and so far this is so true. But I'm getting there. And please don't think I am one of those that are more concerned with what other people think than my own opinion, I'm not, I really am doing this blog for myself, but I do want it to look nice.

It's just that there is so much to learn about blogging, much more than I realised. The photo part is one that is coming slowly for me. I take photos regularly, but not regularly enough for blogging and this is something I am working on, constantly reminding myself to take photos. I have done so much in the past week that I am excited about, but I never remember to capture the moment. Perhaps by blogging regularly it will stay at the front of my mind? Who knows...

For now though, here is a photo of our newish kitten, Romeo.

Charm Square Tote

Saturday 5 March 2011




I am a fan of charm squares but don't do much with them, mostly they just sit looking pretty amongst all my other fabric. I have made a lap quilt with them before but didn't really know what else to do with them. But last weekend I made this tote and although it is much bigger than I imagined, I am delighted with the results. It is simply 4 x 4 squares for both front and back with 4 x 1 for the sides and bottom. The handle is also a little long but it is nice and roomy and came in handy at the girls netball training earlier this week holding all the towels, water bottles and skipping rope. For anyone interested I found the pattern here: Buttonberry Tote Bag . Happy sewing!

Menu Planning

Thursday 3 March 2011



Do you? Or don't you? I have tried both and I must admit, 'doing' it is soooo much easier than not. The every afternoon stress of deciding what's for dinner is gone and I'll admit, I tend to stress and feel horridly guilty when 4 pm rolls around and I haven't got dinner sorted. And no matter what I have achieved that day, I never fail to feel as if I have wasted the day when I have no idea what will be served that night. So for now menu planning is here to stay. I might even post the menus in the coming weeks...

The photo above is last week's first pasta making attempt. I bought a pasta machine after much pondering and deliberating and voila! It was super easy and delicious to boot!