This Is...

Cebu Mangoes

Originally uploaded by Farl

Can I say mangoes? I love mangoes. It's mango season here. Nothing like standing over the sink with mango juice running down your chin, your arms, and that sweetness. Ah the sweetness - that first taste of mango for the season. It's addictive. It hits you. That mango love. Ah for a mango, I'd do almost anything. Just don't mix it with anything savoury - eeek - no no no, mangoes served as they are, perfect for me.

I ate one a day in the latter stages of my pregnancy with the Doctor. You'd think he'd be a fool for mangoes too - but at the moment, he's more of a strawberry kind of guy. But Tiny. Well she's a sucker for mangoes. She loves grabbing at that slippery piece of sweetness. Shoving it in her mouth - uh oh - missed, try again. Oh man, she loves the mangoes, just like her mango-lovin' mama.

This week's theme was chosen by the very clever Beth at cloth and fodder. Thanks to Angela at three buttons for hosting this is.

This Is.. Show Off Time

I've struggled with this week's theme from Katie. I can't come up with a plum thing. I could have stockpiled all my garbage bin treasure, but - as if I could have waited that long!

I don't have any amazing talents. Unless making a mess counts? I don't have any awe-inspiring collections. I'm not related to anyone famous. And I certainly don't have world record breaking anythings.

So what am I going to show off..? Good question my friends. Good question.

For now I'm still brainstorming..!

Anyway, consuming thoughts at the moment are with the stencil-along I signed up for so enthusiastically with Hoppo Bumpo. I've still not started - but that's not for lack of trying. I tried to purchase the enigmatic freezer paper locally, and you can't blame a girl for trying because - I just wanted to start then and there.. But here's the conversation that ensued (and please keep in mind, I know the woman who owns the shop):

Me: "Do you stock freezer paper?"

Shopgirl: "No. What do you want it for?"

Me: "I want to do some stencilling."

SG: "Oh well we don't have freezer paper, but you can just use baking paper."

Me: Silence. Dead stony silence. "Really?" Madly thinking - hmm, I've been reading all the blogs and no one has mentioned baking paper and really it would make sense to use it if you could - but you know, I just don't think that baking paper is going to fuse with the fabric... Hmmm. "Hmm, ok."

SG: "Or else we have some plastic stuff you can use."

Me: Re-thinking this phone call. Really - why did I bother? I should just get organised and buy it online and hurry the heck up. Then wondering how I can get out of this diplomatically. Decide that I will just play along. I know baking paper is not the key! "Ok, that's great, I'll try the baking paper (not in a million years)."

Seriously peeps, if you don't know about something - don't pretend you do. I am totally clueless about stencils, but have been madly reading blogs trying to get the lowdown. At least I am honest, can you imagine the debacle I would find myself in using baking paper. HA!

On the research front, I've found this cool website choc full of free stencils.. Is this cheating? Am I meant to be designing my own? Because if I design my own, things are going to get ugly. Real ugly. I mean even uglier than if I used baking paper.

Who wouldn't want this on a t-shirt? Or this woman who seems intent on letting everyone smell her armpits? Can someone tell me what's happened to this man's *ahem* appendage?

Anyway, the freezer paper is winging its way to me. I may be able to redeem myself yet. But let's not hold our breath.