Fairy friends in the making

Inspired by this imaginative friend, I've got the ingredients ready to invite a little fairy into our home.

When I've mentioned this concept to friends and family, they've all asked the same question: "Why do this?"

Right now, seeing S make up her own stories, her face lights up. She's pulling ideas out of her head as fast as her words are streaming out of her mouth. She's got a great imagination. I want to capture it and allow her to feel like there is magic and wonder in our home. That a fairy would want to live among us and receive our artwork, our letters, our questions, our attention...perhaps our love.

I need to talk more to Nic about how much of a commitment it really is to keep the idea of a live-in fairy alive. But I can't wait to see my little girls excitement when she finds fairy dust outside the fairy door and a little letter left outside it. I can't wait to see where S will take us if I just give her the beginings of the idea.

I asked S if there were fairies - which she said there was. I asked her where she thought they might live. Under the mushrooms in our garden, she said. Luckily we do have a few mushrooms in our backyard, so I'm planning on writing the fairies a letter with S and leaving it beside a mushroom late one afternoon. The next morning S will find a fairy door on our wall with a letter addressed to her and her sister thanking them for inviting her/them to live with us.

I'm thinking their cousin the Tooth Fairy can stay when she has work to do in our house...still a few years off. So many things to do and concepts to play with.

Happy days.

Weekend bliss

Last weekend I enjoyed a much needed craft weekend away with the creative talent Leslie, my dear friend Jo and the lovely Emily - who I was meeting for the first time. Oh, and two babies, Emily's Annie and my Is. I am happy to say that both babies were so well behaved and fitted seamlessly into our activities.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to relax, craft, eat, craft, drink, craft, talk and sleep. The girls were super easy to be around, chat and laugh with. We shared ideas, admired eachothers creations and enjoyed candid conversations over dinner. They really were that easy and lovely to be around.

Amongst all the eating, drinking and talking I managed to complete two little projects that had been bugging me for ages. A doll quilt and pillow to go with the doll bed S got for Christmas. I also made a little softie for a friends baby. I'm so glad they're done! Now my mind is no longer cluttered with the nagging voice telling me to get them done.

So there was not much not to like on this weekend! Thanks lovely ladies for a wonderful time. Thanks also to Leslie for choosing the beachside location and to Jo for taking Is and I in her car...again x

Jumping on the bandwagon

I know this blog has been all about the kidlets of late, but don't think I'm not crafting away in the background. How else does a SAHM stay sane?

I've jumped on the crochet bandwagon. Many of us have taken inspiration from this blanket and have used these helpful instructions to create our own crocheted blanket. As I'm new to crocheting I used these instructions but found I didn't love the look. So as usual, I went and made some adjustments.

I'm using 8 ply cotton from the Bendigo Woollen Mills in colours Latte, Denim, New Ochre, Parchment & Light Teal. It's soft and luscious to work with. I'm loving it - portable, quick and satisfying to see a circle made in no time at all.

Now to start joining them...

A quilt for Hugo

Hugo was born 10 months ago and he's just received his cot quilt from me. Admittedly, I did give a card and gift on the day he was born...but I think we've all been waiting for the "real" gift. And now it's done. Much to my relief.

My friend dropped by sooner than expected after I finished the quilt, so I hadn't taken any pics of it. These pics are blurry and hurried - I took them before she left my house with it. No time to fuss and make them blog pretty (especially not while she's watching you with a baby on one hip and her toddler clawing at the front door to leave). But you get the drift...

Now to finish my own daughters quilt before our baby arrives. Only two weeks to go. Should be a cinch...?

Knitting Nannies

Our weekly knitting group is going great guns. 5 months in and usually every week there's at least a few that gather to click needles and chat. The Big Fella calls us the "Knitting Nannies" - an adaptation of the term "Knitting Nancy" which is a french knitting toy we used as kids. Apparently he's not up to speed on how super cool knitting is again, and thinks I'm getting all granny on him.

Anyhoo, I've been pregnant since we started our group so my attendance is optimistically hoped for each week...but as I get closer to my due date the tiredness is increasing (so tired I could cry if you even look at me, kind of tired), so I either attend with something mind numbingly simple to knit or opt out to spare these lovely ladies from an outburst of tears the kind of which they may see daily with their toddlers anyway (why put them through more?).

Having said that - I have completed my second project. I started it in February and finished it in August. A childs scarf took me 6 months, but it's done. Lined with cute spotted fabric (I'm addicted to paisley and spots at the moment), S has been wearing it for the past couple of months and it works a treat.

The satisfaction of seeing her running around outside in a beanie and scarf that I made brings me more pleasure than I ever would have expected.

Now, onto the next project...

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I just wanted to thank you for your kind and supportive comments on my last post. It means so much to me xxx

All stitched up

I am so happy to have finally completed this cot quilt for baby Talara. My fingertips are split and bloody from hand stitching the binding...perhaps a sign of the type of seamstress I am not.

I hope she likes it. The pink flannelette backing has been tested and deemed wonderful - by me. I almost fell asleep on it after laying down my head for just a minute. So comfy and cosy. Hopefully it will have the same affect on Talara and her mummy will be delighted!

{30 Days of Gratitude}

Gift

Thinking about a new little life born a few months ago, healthy and happy. Picking fabrics, coming up with a design, piecing together and quilting. A new cot quilt in the making for Talara Jane. Welcome to the world.
xxx

{30 Days of Gratitude}

Tutu love

Having a girly girl for a daughter is heaps of fun. Most days. Except when the weather or activity calls for tracksuit pants and warm jumpers. Then we need to negotiate the prettiness factor.

So I'd been looking around at kids dress ups. Something she can throw on over her jeans or long pants and still feel pretty at a moment's notice. With the added bonus being that there is no inconvenience to me. Pricey sums the majority of my dress up research. So it was off to get some fabric and some research on the internet (and discussions with one of the talented members of my knitting group - thanks Nicola!) and we are now a two tutu household.

I was delighted. S was somewhat nonplussed. She's worn one of them twice but won't even try the other one on. Hmmm. Take a deep breath.

I had visions of a little photo shoot with my happy toddler dancing around the room in each tutu. Apparently that is reserved for her fairy dress or her princess dress. Not a tutu.

So in order to show you my creations I had to get pictures of the tutus using her largest toy - whose sad puppy dog eyes don't look too wrapped to be roped into it either...Oh well. Into the dress up box they go for kids to use when they visit.

Stepping out of my comfort zone

Our weekly knitting group is going great guns (how old am I again? Knitting group at 32?).

One of our group members, Jo, is a long time friend and a creative inspiration to me. She has the courage to tackle things she doesn't necessarily know how to do in order to learn more. So she was the first to whip out the Double Pointed Needles (DPNs) which looked scary to me. She has taken on projects that require yarn to be put all over the place, back and forth and every which way...or so it seems.

So with Jo having tested the waters, I took the plunge and copied a pattern she had made earlier. A beanie. A cute one at that. And it worked! DPNs and all...

Keeping her warm

I'm what I would describe as a beginner sewer. Straight lines. A baby quilt here or there. Can't read a pattern. Don't know how to utilise my machine to the best of it's 50 stitch ability. Never done a button-hole. Getting the idea?

So I must have been in some kind of hormonal stupor last night when I rushed off to Spotlight for some cheap Polo Fleece and some tulle...

I know, they don't usually go together, but I'm having a bit of a problem at home. I have a girly 2 year old. She loves putting on dresses. The latest is that the dress must "spin" well. You know, when you twirl, there must be some good air and swish in the skirt. Hard to find in anything but summer dresses.

She also fights with me about putting a long sleeved top and leggings under her summer dresses...given it's cold now.

So I decided to replicate her current summer favourite. A "princess" dress she got as a hand me down from her cousin. It is light, airy with the best bit being the tulle overlay in the skirt that twirls and swishes beautifully.

Somehow I made this dress. No pattern. No idea. But it worked. She loves it. It's warm AND it twirls. Phew!

Now, onto making one in pink.

Getting all Granny

Whilst trawling through Flickr, I've been seeing some beautiful crochet projects on the go. Namely these ones. Gorgeous.

But alas, I can barely knit - let alone crochet - so I put my desire for a hexagon crochet rug to the back of my wish list. Given I needed to attain the skills.

Then I was introduced to the lovely Kirsty during my weekend at Sewjourn. She brought her crochet project with her. The delicious coffee, chocolatey granny squares are planned for a king size blanket. She's got guts! Kirsty was also kind (and patient) enough to show me the ropes of creating a granny square.

They're a bit wonky. Bit too loose. Not perfect enough for a blanket...and until I've mastered it I'm not moving onto circles. So in the mean time I'm practicing my squares and one of S's dolls may score a little blanket out of it. She's not as fussy as I am. Yet...

Gift for Ruby

For a long awaited, much anticipated baby girl. Ruby Rose. Welcome.

Easter basket

Easter crept up on me quickly this year. We had the Big Fella's family staying with us from Perth for a week during that time, so my plans revolved around preparing for their visit.

But it didn't manage to pass without me churning out a few quick treats. A felt basket and 3 dry felted balls. They were perfect for my 2 year old - and they weren't chocolate.

Felt basket was made following this tutorial.

Home-made Finger Paints

Mum's opinion - Definitely more fun to make than to clean up.

Daughter's opinion - There are no boring bits. It's all fun!

The Recipe:

3 tbs. sugar

1/2 cup cornflour

2 cups cold water

Food coloring

Mix sugar and cornflour in pan. Add water; stir.Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. Mixture will boil, then thicken. Cook about 5 mins. Remove from heat; cool.

Separate into 4-5 cups. Add food coloring a drop at a time. Add a drop of dish detergent in each cup to make clean-up a breeze.

Paint on paper, cardboard or posterboard.

The art of knitting

The last time I knitted would have been in high school where I learned to knit a scarf. I think it was about as attractive and useful as the windcheater I also made that year. Complete with cuffs 10cm long and a neckline that accidently turned into a skivvy. Nice.

So when I recently holidayed in Anglesea, I was drawn to all the knits on display in the shop windows and enquired as to the nearest wool store. "Oh you should visit Pear Tree Yarn in Torquay. They'll have anything you need". She wasn't wrong.

The owner of this store is kind, welcoming, child friendly, and a wealth of information. She also creates and dyes the yarn herself. I walked out of there with three skeins of 4 ply wool and size 3.5 bamboo needles. After a quick verbal tutorial on how to make "stripes" using 3 different colours, I was on my way.

It's slow going. I'm still learning my technique. Accomplished knitters find it painful to watch me concentrate and have the persistence and patience to knit such fine wool...so slowly. But I'm getting there. I'm getting better and I'm learning. Mission accomplished.

And my little girl will have a winter scarf to keep her kissable neck warm. See? Everyone wins!

A gift for Mia

I have a beautiful neice (one of 5 that I am lucky to have) who was born 2 weeks before my little girl. They are thick as thieves when they're together.

My S is infatuated with handbags...any bag really. She carries plastic shopping bags (from those naughty times I've ducked in for 2 things and come out with 10...in a plastic bag) and fills them with little goodies she finds around the house.

So I am assuming that Mia would like a little hand bag of her own to enjoy. That is when she's not indulging her Wiggles obsession. I thought I'd cater for both...


Happy 2nd birthday Mia!

Wrap yourself in gratitude

With Christmas fast approaching, I've been trying to find gifts for friends and family that I haven't already given. I have been inspired by Soule Mama's gratitude wrap which she generously posted a free pattern download of recently. Not only did I love the concept of sharing gratitude which Amanda describes so beautifully, but I loved the idea of giving a gift that would inspire the recipient to share their own thoughts of gratitude.




As a beginner sewer I was stretched a bit by sewing on the binding neatly. Not only being a recovering people pleaser - but also a recovering perfectionist - I decided any imperfections were part of the creative process and the recipients would be less critical of my work than I.

Also, in typical me fashion, I paid little attention to the pattern in terms of measurements and pockets (for some reason I feel like falling asleep when reading a pattern as it tends to suck the joy out of creating...), but still managed to make a couple that basically represented the pattern which I was happy to give away as gifts.

The few I've made have been well received and it felt good to give something a bit different to people. I'll be doing a few more for upcoming birthday gifts. Perhaps you want to try one too? The free pattern can be found here.

Revamping the cork board

In my humble opinion, the cork board can be a necessary kitchen accessory...but rarely is it pretty. That was until it was covered in fabric and given a new lease on life. There, now that's much better!