Colour Me Happy

Wednesday was New Beginnings Eve. An evening where we celebrate all the girls that are turning 12 during the year and invite them, welcome them and inform them all about the Young Womens program and how excited we are to have them swell our numbers. Go here to find out more about church and what Young Womens is.

I put quite a bit of thought and effort into little things this year and then only took a photo of what I put in the gift bags and not one photo of the room! I am gutted, but anyway I can tell you about it at least. 

My incredibly talented friend Gell @ Design Sponge created invitations for me for the evening and thank you cards - which reminds me, I need to deliver those, and created an amazing design for me for the mutual theme this year. I had it blown up and printed onto card at the local Quick Copy shop and it looks fantastic. Seriously, go here and here to her facebook page and etsy store. Design Sponge is amazing.

So the theme for the evening I called Colour Me Happy, because the rainbow of colours that are the young womens values fill our lives with 'colour' as we live the values. Living the gospel in this way brings joy and happiness to our lives. Hence Colour Me Happy. After I sat down from doing my little introduction I realised I didn't even verbalise this thought, doh :(  The room was decorated with our Yw things that we put on our table each Sunday, the framed year theme, our chuppa chup flower which the girls get to take a lolly when they complete something PP, the completed ribbon bookmark, I got hanging lanterns in the yw value colours and hung them in clumps from the ceiling with fishing line, bright yellow gerberer flowers. It was cute. Each of the girls coming up got a gift bag with YW goodies in. I think they looked sweet and I would have been really happy with them if I was 11 nearly 12.

All the girls had a task to do, such as introducing the theme and mutual theme for the year, explaining what personal progress is, what the values are and how completing the personal progress has helped them in their lives. Also we gave the girls food assignments to bring a plate of food in a colour. It was a rainbow of colour. White coconut marshmallow pops, orange doritos and dips, rainbow cup cakes etc 

Everyone did a fantastic job, and the new girls that will be joining us soon all seemed to have a fun evening, well I hope they did anyway.

School for little ones

Well the day came. February 6th 2013 and little Sophie started full time 'big school' as we have been calling it.

She was excited, nervous, shy and outgoing all rolled into one if that is at all possible and mummy (me) well I was happy, sad, excited for her, and unsure as to what my future looked like all rolled into one too. What a mixture of emotions :) 

Sophie got all dressed into her uniform and we dropped Liv on time came home and took some pictures and then back to school and the Kindergarten intake (Sophie's year) were to all get to school for 9.30am  and go to the big hall. There the teachers came to the front of the hall and the children in their class names were called and the kids went and stood with the teacher. Sophie got Mrs Reynolds, the teacher that she did the Best Start testing with a week ago and I was happy. She seems really nice and has a firm but lovely reputation which I think will suit Sophie down to the ground. 

So here are a couple of photos, sisters together and Sophie ready for big school. 

The kids, teachers and parents then all went to the relevant classrooms where drink bottles were put on desks, along with fruit break snacks and morning tea food. Hats put into hat bags on the back of chairs and little ones sitting in their seats with their name tags on and saying bye to Mums, Dads, Grandmas and Grandpas. She looked at me with such a don't leave me mummy look and her eyes started to well up and my heart broke a little for her. She was scared and didn't want mummy to leave. I held it together and told her I would see her later, come here to her class to pick her up and not to worry, it would just be like pre-school, lots of fun. I left her crying with the teachers aid holding her hand and walked out. 

I love big sunglasses that hide so much.

I was sad, it is the end of an era as a stay at home mummy. I am not a cleaning fanatic and don't like it and am not going to spend my days cleaning the house, however much my husband would like me to, but I havn't worked out of the home in nearly a decade, actually finding someone who will hire me and give me a part time job is another problem. I did cry a little, as I am sad that that phase of my life has ended but it is onwards that I go. New challenges and more things to do.

As one friend said to me, "well there is more time for sewing now". What a true statement. After a week or so of not much happening I have started and I am loving it. Of course I will share with you what I have been working on. Stay tuned.

Holidays are over

What can I say, well over due but at last picture is added and posting again.


It is a sad day in this household as the summer holidays - yes it is January but we live in Australia so Dec/Jan are when our long summer holiday are held are officially over. We love the lazy mornings, trips to the beach, pyjama days hanging out at home, swimming in the pool, hanging out with cousins and sleepovers, so we are all a little sad to have the routine back. I know that once we get going it will be fine.

Olivia started back to school today and after being exceptionally nervous and quite emotional about the prospect of going she left today seemingly quite excited and ready to see her friends, show them her knee and the damage that she did to it and start the new year. She looked so smart in her new shoes and new school skirt as the tiny size 8 that she had been squeezing herself into was no where near being done up. We bought an age 12 as it would allow for some growing room, but it is still just on her knees, she is growing so tall, but she is happiest about the fact that it isn't tight around her tummy. 

The school has all the kids go back to their classrooms from last year for these next couple of days until all classes are sorted and settled. On Friday afternoon she will find out who her Year 4 teacher is and what classroom she will have. We will see what Friday brings.

Sophie and I have one more week together as Kindergarten starts next Wednesday when the big kids all head off to the swimming carnival for the day. The end of an era for me.

Les Miserables

Really all I want to say is go and see this film. I was transfixed for the 3 hours that it runs. I laughed, I cried and I jumped (as in I was shocked) and I left filled with beautiful music and touching, heartwrenching acting. Truely wonderful.

Here is a snippit.

There has been lots of talk about the film, but I thought I would share my thoughts. 

Hugh Jackman is faultless, if I had to pick a part of the film I really loved of him was near the end when he realises that Cosette and Marius really do love one another and that he is old and won't be around forever and it is time to let Cosette go to Marius. The emotion in his face and singing whilst at the barracades, loved it, and of course his soliloquy, Am I a man. 

Anne Hathaways' Fantine is heart wrenching, I dare anyone to watch her have her head shaved and listen to her sing I dreamed a dream as she really has reached rock bottom in her life and not be moved. Outstanding. 

Russell Crowe as Javert is stone cold as the character requires. Javert has my favourite song called Stars to sing and even though in the stage show the person playing Javert usually has a lower toned voice than Russell I still loved it and sang along (very quietly).  

Eddie Redmayne and Amanda Seyfried as Marius and Cosette were lovely, but Samantha Banks as Eponine, wow. Her version of I loved him, incredible. I had goose bumps on my arms and tears streaming.

If you see it let me know what you thought.

Starting afresh

2013 is here with a vengance.

New Year was warm, full of laughter and fireworks, spent at Waverton with wonderful friends. 

Yesterday was my birthday. 39 years old. Wow it seems like yesterday I was 19 at University, away from home for the first time and loving life so very much, then at 22 travelling to the other side of the world and finding so much joy in Australia. Then for the last 9 years being a full time mummy and loving my girls so very very much.

As for what has been happening here to me, to us, in the last few months of last year and trying to catch up here on my blog I think the best thing to do is just move on. I can't possibly catch up and can't possibly start the year afresh if I am looking backwards - so I won't. So I hope that you my readers (if there are any of you left out there) can forgive me, forget and happily move forward with me into 2013. 

Here we go...

Having said all that I will share with you the 2 things that I did make before Christmas as gifts for Sophie's pre-school teachers, Miss Sarah and Miss Janelle. Sophie 'graduated' from pre-school and so I wanted something other than chocolates and sweets that these amazing ladies who have loved, cared for and taught Sophie so very well could enjoy. Reversible tote bags were the way to go.

Looking at my rather large stash of fabric I saw some black denim and a fantastic Prints Charming cotton that I bought at Spotlight from their range, and a plan blue cotton and a heavier cotton drill fabric from Ikea that looks almost like little brick shapes in blues/beiges/pale yellows. These four fabrics would indeed make 2 great teacher bags that are fully reversible and can be popped into the washing machine if needs be. Miss Sarah got the black bag and Miss Janelle the blue. They were so happy with them and gave me such huge hugs. I really do hope that they love them.

Using the amazing Dana @ Made tutorial I set out to make 2 fully reversible boxed corner totes. Dana's pattern is for colour blocked bags which are so cute but not for the fabrics that I had on hand so I just went with solid fabric choices. 

I do like to critique the things I make so that next time I can be better so, try cutting the fabric the right way around Samantha!

Ok that is the last looking back to last year. Now this year.

Skyfall has been seen this week, I do so love James Bond films especially Daniel Craig and the Aston Martin DB5 swoon swoon, and oh my goodness the man looks a-maz-ing in a suit.

Tonight Les Miserables! Hugh Jackman!! yes he does deserve 2 exclamation marks and out with some friends for the evening. Fun, fun. Maybe being 39 isn't so bad after all.

Lack of material

A lack of material is not something that I usually deal with as my little stash keeps getting bigger and bigger and even if I make something there is always a reasonable amount of left overs to put away.

Last year Olivia had a dress that she loved that Todd had bought for her in the US. She lived in it and was so upset when we found a hole in the skirt and it could not be mended. At the time to console her I promised that I would make her one the same or at least as close to the holey one as I could. We went out together and bought some material, 1.5m infact and was pretty sure that this would be plenty.

I finally found a pattern that I like that goes up to a size 12 and is perfect! It is the brand new released pattern by oliver + s called Fairy Tale Dress and can be found here along with all the other AWESOME patterns by oliver + s. Can you tell I love their patterns? hehe. They are easy to follow, I always learn new skills, look so finished and not like 'homemade' clothes if you know what I mean. I love, love, love them.

Anyway, I bought the pdf pattern of the Fairy Tale Dress and printed the pattern out and cut and stuck it all together and pulled out the material this morning hoping to cut it out this evening when the girls were in bed. I shuffled the pieces around and no matter how I moved them they were not going to fit. If I wanted to make a dress for Sophie then it would be fine but not for Olivia. The size 10 / 12 pattern is just not going to fit on this material. For the first time I do not have enough material. 

A trip to Spotlight is therefore in need of happening so that with fingers and toes crossed they still have the same material and I can buy another metre and all will be well.

A few extra photos Part 2

Olivia attended her first school overnight excursion. A band camp.

This year at school she has been learning the flute and taking part in the Beginner Band. She loves band and thinks it is fun but lessons and practising not so much. Anyway, I dropped her off early Saturday morning at a place called Merroo at Kurrajong in the Blue Mountains, and we were to come back at lunchtime on Sunday to pick her up and listen to a small concert of what the bands had been practicing. We dropped her bag and sleeping bag in her cabin and she was with all her friends in the same cabin and then headed back to the big hall where we had to say goodbye. I made her let me take a photo and it is SO Olivia, trying so hard to be happy but you can tell she is a bit scared and not sure about everything that is going on. 

The following photos show what Sophie thought of the concert, Olivia playing in her band uniform,  and finally the happiest girl, who had a fantastic time. I just love the difference between the first and last photo. It is Olivia to a tee.

You did a great job my beautiful girl.

This has turned out to be an all Olivia post so far but I am just going to add a quick pic or 2 of her heading off to her school disco. Such a cutee, the black cardi was just until she got there.

A Bunnings Warehouse has opened close to our home on Victoria Avenue and on the Opening Saturday there was quite the fun outing - sausages in a roll, face painting, fairy floss etc and Sophie was adamant that she wanted her face painted. Todd took the girls and here are their faces, a butterfly and a dog. I love Sophie in ecstacy whilst having the painting done.

A few extra photos part 1

With the passing of time and not being able to catch up on everything I thought that I would share a few photos that I took of things that happened to my little family. So be prepared for some photo heavy posts.

This is the biggest cupcake I have ever seen and was it was Olivia's choice as a treat.  

Liv's eyes were definately bigger than her tummy as she managed to eat the top of this rocky road cupcake and that was it. She felt special getting such a treat even if most of it went in the bin.

The following two pictures were Sophie as she was caught for the first time on the bench top trying to get to the chocolate stash. She had climbed up herself without me knowing. 

On a lovely bright May morning Sophie and I headed to Rouse Hill town centre for something. In the town centre area they have these fountains and Sophie thought that it would be super fun to try walking through them and not getting wet. However as I have said many times before she can not help herself where water is concerned and had to touch. She had a ball and in the end travelled home in just her hoodie and damp trousers as her tshirt and vest were rather wet.

 

It is Melanie's birthday in May and it was decided some years ago that we don't give each other adults birthday presents in order to save some cash and lets face it we all get what we want and need most of the time anyway. I was over at Mel's house and she showed me some fabric that she had bought at Ikea and had the thought that she would turn it into a table runner for her white dining table. When the table is extended it is super long and bought table cloths and runners just are too short. I offered to hem it all and sew it for her birthday. Aren't I a nice sister in law? :) 

I just cut the fabric and then joined the 2 lengths together to make it longer, then hemmed the whole thing with about a half inch double folded hem and stitched as straightly as I could all the way around. Easy, a little time consuming when doing the folding but worth it in the end. Melanie loves it and it looks great on her table. I believe that the material was a cotton drill from Ikea.

Zoom Zoom

In the many months that I didn't post on here I did manage to complete a couple of little projects and so I thought I would share one more that I am quite pleased with.

Earlier in the year I mentioned a little chugga carrier that I made for the lushous Noah for his birthday you can see the post here, and all the time that I was making that I knew that I had to make one for gorgeous Isaac too even though it wasn't his birthday. Lucky boy :)

I used the same pattern from Homemade by Jill which can be found here that I had used for Noahs one, but of course there was a car on the front and not a train and there was one more pocket as they were smaller to fit Lightening McQueen and his friends in.

I used the same black denim on the exterior as I had used previously on Noah's, the inside was a cool chequered flag cotton drill and the road was a very soft grey felt with a yellow felt cut into pieces as the road markings. I sewed a centre stitch down the middle of the carrier to help it fold better and used black velcro and belting to do it all up. Red cotton check was the material used for the car and I just appliqued it by using a zigzag stitch all around the edge.

Kathryn, Issac's mummy said that he loves it and wants to take the caddy with him everywhere. I'm so glad.

Pepper and Baby

It was my niece Lilia's birthday last month (I know, I am hanging my head in shame) and when I asked Jemma what Lilia may like, turning 5 is a big deal, the answer was, a rag doll ! 

A rag doll!, I have never made one of those and I was pretty sure that I did not have a pattern of any sorts that would be suitable. I was right, no rag doll patterns but I did have a pattern for one gorgeous little dolly called Pepper and her baby. 

Perhaps 5 years ago a lady called Lorraine gave me a copy of this pattern after we had been to the Craft and Quilt fair with her daughter in law Elise. I had seen the pattern there and fell for it immediately. I was put off it as it looked really difficult and it called for lots of applique and embroidery stitches, both of which I couldn't do. So after accepting the pattern eagerly Pepper was put to the bottom of the pile, the too hard pile.

I set to it that I would make Pepper for Lilia and perhaps make some adjustments now that I feel rather more confident with things. The applique happened on the hair but rather than hand stitching the entire face, hands and the cheeks on I used my machine, but the embroidery stitches did not. I did the best I could. After putting it off and putting it off I choose the materials from my stash and the request had been for pinks and purples as the main colours. I had to get some flesh coloured felt and matching thread but apart from that everything was on hand. 

With all that said, here is Pepper. The pictures show her from body completed but flat, then finished and then with her baby in tow.

The fabrics used for her skirt on the far left and 2nd from the right are from Prints Charming, all other pinks were from Spotlight. The yellow seersucker for her head was a gift from my mum and her back is a cerise pink flannelette that was also from Spotlight. All of baby was from Spotlight. She was backed with a matching soft blue flannelette also from Spotlight.

I am feeling rather pleased with myself and quite proud of Pepper. Even the ladder stitch that I used to stitch her and baby up was pretty good too. She is now wrapped up and winging her way via Australia Post to Lilia in England for a very belated birthday present. I hope she will 1. forgive me and 2. Love Pepper and baby lots and lots. 

What do you think?

A strange awakening

This morning we were awakened by a sentence from Olivia that we have never heard before and one that I hope I don't hear again any time soon, it was just so strange.

She said, "Mummy, Daddy, there is a sock in the toilet and I just went and now I don't know whether to flush or not." Hmm.

Naturally the responce from the barely conscious parents was, "What?! what are you talking about? a sock in the toilet?" But yes, indeed, there was a white school sock in the toilet bowl and the toilet needed to be flushed.

Todd's comment was, "Well I will leave that one up to you as I have to go to work." Cheers, thanks buddy.

The not so white school sock has been rescued from the toilet thanks to the handle of a wooden spoon, the toilet has been flushed and just for good measure the bathroom cleaned. I still have no idea as to how the sock got there and all inhabitants of this home are pleading ignorance, but for now, job done and thank goodness Olivia didn't flush the toilet and block the system. 

Where to start?

It has been months since I last posted and so much has happened that I can not even begin to catch up on everything.

I know I have said sorry before about the lack of posts and then no more have materialised so I won't apologise again and just hope that the amount of posts that will spring up here in the coming days will show that I have indeed gotten my mojo back and am excited to share what I have been doing and making. Mum even sent me an email asking when some more posts were happening. I didn't realise that this little blog of mine could be missed.

I thought a few pictures may help to fill some of the time lapse and bring me back up to date. Enjoy.

Sophie swimming in her new wetsuit at Terrigal. Yes it was that cold.

Sasha - Nathan & Kirsty's new Staffy/Malamute cross

Olivia at the park

Sophie at the park

Sophie at her pre-school Easter Party

Pre-school Easter cake

Clever cupcakes

Sophie and friends meeting the Easter bunny

Do you Shazam?

Do you Shazam? Do you know what it is? If you don't then I will fill you in. It is the most awesome app, that when you tap it, it 'listens' to the music that is playing and will then tell you the title of the song and the artist singing it. How totally cool is that? ! Yep, very, I know.

As you may or may not be aware I am involved in the youth program in my church, which is a program that is for girls and boys aged 12-17 where they have their own Sunday school lessons, separate lessons for the girls and boys and separate and joint activities. Naturally the kids want to dance and so such activities are put on and last weekend it was the turn of Baulkham Hills (my area) to 'host' a dance. This means being in charge of decorations, a theme if you want one, food and advertising the event. I am really sad to say that I didn't get any pictures of the whole thing but the kids did a great job. Wednesday eve we spent a couple of hours putting up decorations including a spiders web of streamers across the hall to give a feeling of a lower ceiling, top hats strung up, paper hats on fishing wire across the room, painting pictures of different types of hats, balloons and the food and drink in the hall area. There was lots of dancing, more kids than normal there, groans when it was time to end, and even this old leader got up and had a groove when Arrested Development and Montell Jordan were played. 1992-1995 tunes were just brilliant.

What has all this got to do with Shazam you ask. Well, Friday night was the dance and being 'old' and not having a working radio in my car, there were loads of songs that were played that I didn't know what they were and who they were by. I Shazamed a lot through out the evening downloaded the songs off itunes and now I have a new playlist! Totally awesome.    

So download Shazaam, for free, you get about 5 tags a month for free and get yourself a new playlist. Brilliant.

15

On the 22nd March 1997 two people were married first at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints in Norwich, Norfolk, England,

After a brief reception at Dunston Hall,they zoomed down the motorway with close loved ones to the temple, where they were married for time and eternity.

They looked like this on that cold, bright March morning in England.

Now, 15 yrs on they look more like this, even though this picture is a little old now.

Plus there have been 2 of the most incredible additions to this little family and they look like this now.

Today, after 15 years of marriage I wanted to make it known how lucky I am to love and be loved back. 

And finally Away

Tuesday was the designated day when finally all post to my sisters and parents would be sent. So 3 big parcels were put together and addressed and taken to the Post Office. Thank goodness Mum and Dad and Robyn were here at Christmas so I didn't have to post. I had forgotten how expensive it is. Sheesh.

Mum and Dad got back the 2 t-shirts that Dad left here all ironed, temple cards and birthday and Mothers Day cards.

Jemma and Jay got a little parcel with Noah's birthday present and card in. I know it is late but gosh I hope he loves his train caddy.

Kathryn and Adam got a parcel with Dilly the Dinosaur activity books in and a Martian Shapes book, plus Issac's dinosaur drawstring bag and my very lovely blue and white elephant which Kathryn is giving to her friend as a baby gift.

Everyone I hope you love the stuff in your parcels and they make you smile even a little.

I love you all.

Chugga Chugga Choo Choo

It is lovely Noah's first birthday and I had decided to make him something for his big day. I heard via the grapevine, ok, Mum, that he was getting some Chuggington trains for his birthday and so an idea started to form. 

Have you seem this awesome car caddy tutorial at homemade by jill? 

I totally love it and have had it bookmarked for soooo long waiting to make it. So with Noah's big day approaching I thought why not? I headed off to Spotlight with my list in hand (oh I have to add a child free trip, it wouldn't have been fun with little ones wanting to leave whilst I was choosing fabric) and wandered around gathering my supplies. 

I had it in my mind that I would use the basis of the tutorial but tweak it and make a train caddy. Less pockets, but bigger ones, train tracks instead of a road and of course a chugging train on the front and not a car, and amazingly the picture in my mind came to fruition.

The pictures show the finished specimen.

As you can see I chose a black denim, and grey cotton drill for the main inside colour. The tracks are the softest wool blend felt (not cheap but feels so nice) and the actual tracks are a black satinish piping I think. I found it on a huge reel in the trims section when looking for the white piping for the edging. When I saw it I immediately thought tracks and then I cut it to size and hand sewed the pieces on. The tracks are a little wonky but I hope Noah won't mind. 

On the front I found a simple picture of a train from a children's colouring page and cut it out in felt. I used Wonder Under to attach the felt to the denim but it did not work! No sticking at all. So I appliqued around the wheels and steam clouds which actually gave it really nice texture and then just hand sewed a couple of stiches on corners to hold the body of the train down. 

I also found black belting and velcro as I wanted it to just blend into the denim and I think I achieved that in the end.

I am happy with it and learned new things along the way, which is always a bonus I think, but find it so frustrating along the way when I have to go back and unpick, which more than often is down to me and my rush to finish and perhaps not understanding the instructions properly.

What did I learn? Well I had never used piping before on the edges of something, and when the tutorial suggests that you attach the velcro before the end of everything LISTEN. Hand stitching through that and denim was a killer. As per the tutorial I did attempt to paint on the denim using acrylic paint and stensils but they bled terribly and looked dreadful so whilst it was still wet I managed to wash the paint off and had to leave if for a day or so to dry. Then using felt cut out the numbers and hot glued them on. Phew it turned out ok. 

So is another car caddy on the drawing board? Totally! Watch out Issac a home for Lightening McQueen will be on his way to you very shortly.

Not forgotten

I haven't forgotten you my little blog in fact I think about you a lot but it almost feels like I have fallen out of the habit of writing on you. 

Perhaps I have and so a new resolve to fill you in on my little world, or some of it at least.

A 'custom order' was placed for some nappy pants in varying sizes and colours so I got down to business and made them, and guess what? I forgot to take any photos and I have to say they did look super. My favourite ones were the little 3-6 month size in yellow seersucker, just gorgeous.

I was feeling a little out ok understatement, a lot, out of control with regards to my eating habits and so I decided to challenge myself and see if I could go without chocolate for 40 days, it just so happens lent is on now so... So far I am at day 23 and all is well. There has only been 1 day when I was really wrestling with myself as to wanting some but I feel good and in control. Sadly no weight has been lost, so I am already considering my next options for a 'do without' period and see how I feel. Sugar/desserts/cakes etc are high on the list as is bread. Hmmm decisions decisions.

I will let you know what I do and how I go.

Olivia has been ill a bit lately first with head cold/ flu symptoms and right now is on a course of antibiotics for a strep throat infection. Todd has been giving her drinks of juice/cordial/squash what ever you call it, with a vitamin C powder supplement in it, unbeknown to her, with the hope that she can feel better and her little body can fight off these germs a bit more. She has never eaten much fruit and I do worry about her getting sick because of it. So fingers crossed this works in the short term.

Last night was our ward New Beginnings Evening. We decided to have it in the garden at the Presidents home, under a gazebo and crossed our fingers and toes that the weather would hold as it has been so horrendous lately. It was lovely. We decorated with fairy lights, bunting made in the colours of the values and little lanterns that hang from fishing wire with a tea light candle in them and when it gets dark they look like they are floating. It was really pretty, and then just a few nibbles for supper and gorgeous girls to spend the time with. A lovely evening.