Whoops!

I was so excited to try out this shirred dress that I did not read the instructions properly. So I ended up with two: one for Zoe (3 months old) and one for teddy (3.5 years old) They are so easy to make, I will be making many more I am sure.

Of course, now Abbey wants one out of the same fabric. The same fabric she declared the day before I made these, that she did not like. Three year olds are so fickle!

Get them addicted young!

I recently fell in love. With GJ's Discount Fabric, when I visited it for the first time.

My friend Paige and I spent well over an hour browsing all the different fabrics, it was so hard to choose only a few. To make the visit more exciting for Abbey, I told her she could choose a fabric and I would make her a dress. She chose the pink patterned fabric, and I got the blue one for Zoe.

Look at her in the photo above, cuddling the fabric, she was so excited. She has called it her "rainbow fabric", and I am to make her a "rainbow dress" with it.


Abbey also loves taking photos with my SLR camera, and most of her photos have to have teddy in them - she took this one below, and of course, teddy had to be in it. Too cute, and not bad for a 3 year old.

Ooo, win lovely stuff!

The lovely Missy Krissy is having a give-away of some of her beautiful new creations, I can't decide which one I like the most, today the pendant is my favourite.

I am SO entering as I was one very lucky kitten, and won a lovely pair of her ear-rings back in October. Thanks Kris!

Is it possible to have too many lady bugs?

I don't think so.

Family history through a brooch

This is my Granny. She always wears a brooch. And I mean, always. I honesty can't remember any time I have seen her without one. She has so many, I guess I have been taking them for granted (for way too long)

Today, I decided to ask her about the brooch she was wearing. I am so pleased that I did, I still giggle every time I think of this conversation:
Me: Grandma, please tell me about your brooch.
Granny: One of my boyfriends gave it to me. Can't remember which one.
Me: Dissolved in giggles, could hardly hear the rest of her story, had to ask her to repeat it.

The story is that one of her boyfriends gave it to her during the Second World War. There are two boyfriends it could have been from, both of them serving in the Australian Army in New Guinea (in the 1940's) She could remember both of their names, one of them was a chef in the Officers Army. She told me the other one courted her and waited for her for 12 years - but she married my dear Grandpa (who passed away 5 years ago)

The brooch is made out of shell, and is exquisite. The photographs do not do it justice at all. I had to use my little compact camera, not my SLR.

Next time I see Grandma, I will ask her about the brooch she is wearing that day. And I can't wait!

Cloth nappies and wipes, I love you

I am still talking about what was happening before Zoe was born. So, 8 or 9 weeks ago I was sewing up these lady bug cloth nappy wipes. I was rather excited when I found the lady bug fleece, and had to stop myself from buying dozens of metres of it!

I love my cloth nappy wipes. They are so soft. I use them instead of disposable wipes at nappy change time, with a spray bottle of water (you can also buy already made up, natural solutions, like floral water) Then I just wash them with my cloth nappies. They dry so quickly. They save me money. They are better for the environment. And no chemicals on Zoe's newborn baby bottom too.

This was my nappy change table, all set up at the end of August, and waiting for Zoe to arrive.

It was also before I got some more of my favourite cloth nappies, itti bitti d'lish's. Look at all the different colours. There are even more colours to choose from at itti bitti. For many years I have been a self confessed pink hater. But pink as a colour is starting to grow on me - lucky that, as we now have two little girls.

6 weeks ago today.....

I had a baby. I can't believe how fast these 6 weeks have gone. In that time I have only managed one posting. I have lots to talk about, and lots of things to show, even managed 20 minutes of sewing (in the whole 6 weeks!) Otherwise I have been a tad busy with our gorgeous baby, Zoe. Not to mention Abbey keeps me busy too. How do all you other bloggers do it - find the time to fit it all in?

Chris and I have been joking that we now have the A-Z of little girls (as we have Abbey and Zoe)

Lets go back 7 weeks then - I was busy sewing these bibs.

I had some Dora material left over from the pencil case I made. So the Dora bib is for Abbey, but as she is 3.5 years old, it does not get worn very often.

And here is Zoe. Fast asleep.

Introducing....

Last week we had our baby. After a rather quick (6 hours) but intense labour our newest family member arrived. I am pleased to introduce little Zoe Mai to the world. Not that she was that little, weighing 3.72kg (8.2lbs) Considering I am very short and petite, I have no idea where or how she fitted inside me. The midwives had no idea also.

Abbey is loving being the big sister (so far!) and I hope this continues. Zoe is only 4 hours old in the photo above, wearing a hat I made for her, and all wrapped up in lady bugs (of course)


How clever is my lovely friend Paige? She made this divine card for Zoe, and she also made us a mega yummy lasagna that we were eating for much of the week. Paige also made some beautiful bibs, but I forgot to take a photo of these. Thank you so much Paige!

This last photo is Zoe 10 days old. Either smiling at us, or she has wind? Who knows, it is a very cheeky smile, and the beginning of a dimple in her left cheek (like her daddy)

I am itching to get back to sewing, I am in the middle of a few projects, but I am finding it a little hard to find any spare time at the moment :)

This week I have been making....

Lots of baby bibs. These three are finished, and all for baby Patrick. Baby Patrick is little brother of Miss Darcy. They will match the applique baby singlet I made for him in July, if it still fits him - he has been busy growing.

I need to finish the others, and take some photos. I have had lots of fun making them, feels so good to be sewing again.

Look what my mum made

I think my mum is very clever, I am a little biased I guess, as she is my mum and I love her.

She knitted this gorgeous scarf for her Uncle (my Grandma's brother) as he has been sick much of this cold Melbourne winter. Grandma would have knitted him a scarf, but her arthritis is too painful for her to knit any more. It is a terrible shame, as Granny was a prolific knitter in her time.

Maybe one day, with more practice on my part, I will be able to knit other than in a straight line - I hope so!

Today is special

Today I am 37 weeks pregnant. The baby is now classed as "full term". Yay to that I say.

I am so grateful to have made it this far, as our dear daughter, Abbey, was born at 35 weeks and 3 days. It was a bit of a shock at the time, we were not ready, no hospital bag had been packed, I hadn't even finished work! She was in a hurry to meet us, being born early, and her birth was rather quick for a first timer (just under 6 hours)

The doctors said she was a good size for a 35 week premmie, weighing 2.585kg at birth. But she was still tiny. Size 00000 baby clothes were too big on her in the first few weeks. She had to stay in hospital in the Special Care Nursery for 15 days, 12 of those after I was discharged.

I am pleased to say Abbey is a completely normal 3 year old, and has suffered no ill effects for being born early.

So who knows when this next baby will arrive? Here is a 30 week scan image of our new baby, smiling at us, as he/she only knows when he/she will be born.

This time I am ready.

I made this today.

I am well chuffed I made this today. I actually finished a project, in one day.

Feels like it took me 5 hours to make one small zippered pouch/pencil case, but I had lots of distractions and managed to fit in a few house chores along the way too. One small step at a time.

Abbey chose the fabric if you hadn't already guessed.

Thank you to Amy Karol's book Bend-the-Rules Sewing for instructions on how to complete this project.

Look what Abbey made me today, a lady bug! I love it.

Fairy Dress

Last week I made this Fairy dress for Miss Darcy's 4th birthday. Abbey already has one, in a smaller size, that I made for her 3rd birthday back in April. Miss Darcy is a regular play mate of Abbey, and they have both enjoyed wearing this Fairy dress.

The pattern is McCalls M4887. It is very easy to make, just fiddly cutting out and sewing with this material. I was very grateful for the overlocker also, made sewing this so much easier.

Another one of my unfinished sewing projects is a purple Fairy dress like this for me. I really should do some thing about that soon.......

What is going on?

This week, I am craving all these. Some how, Chris is also now craving the fruit fizzers and sours squirms. I have not had many cravings this pregnancy, except for red meat (and lots of it)

These are amazing

Have you ever tried a new food, and you end up thinking about it all the time? You want to make it all the time? You can't get enough of it? You tell everyone you know all about how yummy this food is.

Well, this happened to me recently.

I had a catch up lunch recently with the lovely Raenette and some friends who we used to work with many years ago. Raenette kindly offered to make lunch for us, which I was rather excited about - she always cooks such yummy food. This day was no exception.

She made these amazing Goat's Cheese and Asparagus Tarts. I could not stop eating them, they were so delicious.

Raenette has kindly shared the recipe with me, and even allowed me to post it here. I have been making them every opportunity I get to entertain. They are yummy hot or cold, but really best right out of the oven. Nice and easy party finger food, and I can imagine talking them along to picnic's when the weather improves in Melbourne.

These tarts are really some thing special, and I hope you enjoy them (even half) as much as me

Goat’s Cheese & Asparagus Tarts

Makes 24. Preparation 20 mins. Cooking 20 mins. This recipe can be made a day ahead; reheat in a moderate oven for about 5 minutes before serving.

3 sheets ready-rolled shortcrust pastry
10g butter
150g asparagus, chopped finely
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme leaves
150g goat’s cheese (hard or soft)
2 eggs, beaten lightly
2/3 cup (160ml) cream
Salt & freshly ground pepper

1. Preheat oven to moderately hot (200C/180F fan-forced). Grease 24 holes of patty pan trays (2 tbsp, 40ml capacity).

2. Cut 24 rounds from pastry with a 7cm cutter. Place rounds into patty pan holes.

3. Heat the butter in a small frying pan. Add the asparagus, garlic and 2 teaspoons of the chopped thyme; cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until the asparagus is soft. Allow to cool down for a few minutes.

4. Combine eggs and cream, season with salt and pepper, then stir in the chopped/crumbled goat's cheese and asparagus mixture. Combine well. Divide among the pastry cases.

5. Sprinkle the tops with the remaining thyme leaves.

6. Bake, uncovered, in a moderately hot oven for about 15 minutes or until browned lightly.

Suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave.

I would love one of these.

I have been spending lots of time reading other blogs, and found this amazing creation by Missie Krissie. How clever is she? Check it out, and enter her competition to win one. They really are special, what an amazing way to store and display your jewellery.
I wish I could make stuff like this.

I can't live without......

Yoga!

Every Wednesday Paige and I go to yoga class taken by the amazing Jane.

Last Wednesday I was uncomfortable. At the time I was 34 weeks pregnant and a little over it on that day. For most of this pregnancy I have loved it, it really has been a dream pregnancy. I have had so much energy, and not much to complain about - I am very grateful I have been keeping so well. I also want to enjoy every moment of being pregnant this time, as this will probably be our last baby.

But, back to last Wednesday. I was uncomfortable. I could not catch my breath, I felt so tight in my chest and the baby belly. I was not able to bend down and pick anything up off the floor, I could hardly walk with out waddling. My back was aching. I was cranky. I was tired. I wanted my body back.

I was feeling so awful, I was ready to stay at home and miss yoga. But I made myself go. It is "my time", a very rare time of the week devoted to me. It is also a special time for Chris and Miss Three to spend together.

I am so glad that I went to class. Of course, there are many poses I can't do at the moment, but there is still so much I can do at yoga, many other poses I can do with modifications to accommodate the baby bump.

After class, I felt incredible, the best I had felt all week! I could breath again. I felt energised and so calm and happy. Most of all, I felt like a belt had been let loose from around the baby bump, I was so much more comfortable and at ease.

So, this reaffirmed (again) how I can't live without yoga in my life.

These are a few photos that were taken when I was pregnant with Abbey in 2006, just before she was born, and just before Jane started classes at her beautiful new yoga studio.

Namaste.

I made this

I made this, before I started my craft blog. A stuffed monkey for my nephews birthday. I had never made anything like this before, and was nicely surprised at how easy it really was to make.

I got the pattern from the lovely, and very helpful, Pauline at Funky Friends Factory.

Here is a photo of the monkey, flat, before he was stuffed, and before I put on his face.

Now Abbey wants one.....and of course, it has to be in pink, her favourite colour.

Gingerbread

Last week Abbey and I made gingerbread biscuits. She had so much fun, and kept insisting "I do it myself" at every step.

They were very yummy, and only lasted a few days in our house, although we were very generous and gave many away to friends and family.

I love gingerbread. But not really crunchy gingerbread, I like it a little soft.

This is the best recipe I have ever found. By adjusting the cooking time, you can make soft or harder gingerbread to suit every ones tastes. This recipe makes about 40-50 biscuits, depending on the size of the cookie cutter used.

100g butter

200g (1 cup, firmly packed) brown sugar

250mls (1 cup) treacle or golden syrup

2 eggs, lightly whisked

600g (4 cups) plain flour (I used 2 cups wholemeal plain flour/2 cups plain flour)

150g (1 cup) self-raising flour

1 tbs ground ginger

1 tbs ground cinnamon

1.5 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1. Place the butter, sugar and treacle/golden syrup in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Set aside for 10 minutes to cool slightly.

2. Combine the butter mixture and eggs in a large bowl. Sift the combined flours, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and bicarbonate of soda over the butter and egg mixture. Stir until well combined.

Turn onto a lightly floured surface (or a large sheet of baking paper) and gently knead until smooth. Shape into a ball, cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 1 hour to rest.

3. Pre-heat oven to 180C and line your tray/s with non-stick baking paper.

4. Divide the dough into 2 even portions, roll out one portion on a lightly floured surface (or a large sheet of baking paper) until approximately 5mm thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out your shapes. Decorate with small chocolate buttons at this point, or with icing after they have been cooked and cooled down.

5. Bake for 5 minutes or until golden. Allow to cool on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

Enjoy!

Applique

Last week I added the blue dinosaur applique to a baby singlet for dear friend Nell's baby Patrick.

Abbey liked it so much, she wanted one too. I let her choose which dinosaur she wanted, and was lucky to find a brand new, spare white t-shirt, in her size, in my sewing cupboard (hoarding can be a good thing!)

Now what can I make next?

Christmas Shopping.

Don't think I am mad, but I have been busy Christmas shopping this month. There are a few reasons for this. Chris's family all live in the UK, so if we want to send pressies sea mail, and save money on the postage, mail has to be sent before September. The other reason is we are expecting our second child in September. I don't fancy having to complete Christmas shopping later in the year with a newborn and Abbey. So, thanks goodness for Internet shopping!

My favourite website at the moment, for original, locally made gifts, is:
http://madeit.com.au/
I have found some amazing presents on this website. I can't show all my goodies, as most of them are pressies, and some gift receivers will easily know which ones I have chosen for them.

I absolutely love the gorgeous creations by Lou of Buttons by Lou Lou.
The cup cake fridge magnets are a pressie, but I can't say who for. How cute are they?

The lady bug head band is mine (all mine!)


I found some gorgeous pencil cases from Odds & Blobs

Jessica from Odds & Blobs custom made me some gorgeous notepads too, all to be pressies for certain special people.

18 months in the making.

Yay, it has only taken me 18 months to finally finish Abbey's bedroom curtains. I am so chuffed. I hope to get on with some "fun" sewing now the "practical" sewing is finished.

Sewing the curtain backing, I used clothes pegs instead of pins. I did not want to put any holes in the curtain backing material.

Material from Clegs sale last week.

I picked up a few remnants from the Clegs sale last week. I want to make a skirt for me with this black, red and silver bonded lace material. I got two pieces of this material, so could also make Abbey a skirt too, still not sure if it is "too old" for her or not. I will have to have a think about it.

Abbey is obsessed with pink - it is certainly her favourite colour, so I could not resist the pink shantung - not sure what I will make out of it yet. I love denim skirts, so the denim remnant will probably make a lovely skirt for some one. I just like the look of the check material, no inspiration on what to make with this yet. I also got some small pieces of purple and red fleece, I am sure I will make some more baby hats with this material.

I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to change the broken needle on the overlocker. I am well impressed that Janome overlockers and sewing machines all use the same needles, this makes it much easier. The overlocker is still not 100% - I have threaded the machine twice, and it is still skipping stitches. I will have another try today to get it working properly - I still have Abbey's bedroom curtains to finish. As I have been away from sewing for so many years, it is like I am re-learning everything all over again. All adds to the fun!

One little set back.

I was all set to have a few hours of sewing ahead of me on the Queen’s Birthday holiday, but within 5 minutes of sewing, I had (somehow) managed to snap one of the overlocker needles. I dashed out to the local spotlight store, but they had no Janome overlocker needles, because they don’t sell Janome machines. I was very disappointed, as I was in such a mood to sew. I was finally sewing the hems to Abbey’s bedrooms curtains – a project, I am embarrassed to say, I started 18 months ago. I will toddle off later today to the local sewing centre and pick up some new overlocker needles.
I was still in a creative mood, so I found another, older, project to work on. When I was pregnant with Abbey, in early 2006, my mum and I knitted some purple and turquoise squares, to make a baby blanket. All the knitted squares were finished before Abbey was born, but I never managed to sew them together to make the blanket. I guess it did not help that Abbey was born one month early.
I am still a knitting novice, and can only knit in a straight line. I hope to learn to knit better, one day soon, and I am fascinated with crochet too.
Here are some photos of the knitted squares, and the soon to be completed blanket.