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.

Dinos galore

I am so happy with Isaac's dino bag.

It is made from some Michael Miller Dino Mates cotton and a 'boyish' stripey cotton knit I had in my box already that I bought at Spotlight. They matched perfectly and I just added some orange satin ribbon and the drawstring bag was complete. Perfect for keeping toy dinos in and off the floor.

On Saturday when cleaning and sorting the girls book cases, I found some Dilly the Dinosaur activity books, that Mum gave me when Olivia was little, so now they are winging their way across the ocean to Isaac who loves dinos, along with the drawstring bag. 

It is so cute isn't it? and the good news, there is enough material left for another dino bag. Maybe when Noah is bigger he may want one too. We shall see.

It has been too long

It has been too long since last I posted, and  I am sorry about that, but also can I say I am not sorry too, because I had the best time with mum and dad and my sister here. With my sewing things all put away in cupboards and boxes I had very little inkling to sew. Here are a few pics of the rest of our summer.

However, now that everyone has gone and I have recovered from the melancholy that saying goodbye to family for a time always brings to me I am ready and raring in fact to create some things. 

School and pre-school have started back with tears from both of my darling girls. One just flat out did not want to go, the other just wary and trepidatious about the move to Year 3 and will she be able to handle the work and the new stage in school.

With the return of routine, for them and for me, it means that I can get a wriggle on with some of the things that I want to achieve this year. So lists are being made and plans put in motion. 

I have a custom order for some nappy pants in varying sizes from 3-6 months upto 18mths and a very belated 2 yr old's present of a drawstring bag for his dinos and I think I am going to throw in a car caddy too because I am so late. I hope he loves them once they are done. With these in the pipeline please bear with me and I will get them finished as soon as possible to share with you.

Merry Christmas and what will New Year bring?

Christmas has already flown by and the count down to New Year is on. What will the new year bring? what does 2012 have instore? Wouldn't it be wonderful to know before hand?

I have had a month off from blogging and so you are all getting caught up tonight. I hope that is ok. This is post number 3 this evening.

My parents are still here and I have loved having them here the last 3 weeks or so and last night my little sister who is now nearly 20 flew into Sydney too. She is here for nearly 3 weeks and we are all hoping, praying and wishing for some better weather. Bring on the sun. More fun is to be had and just being together and bonding together.

I hope that Father Christmas was good to you and the New Year is fantastic.

Teacher Present

One piece of sewing that I did manage to do before Christmas was a present for Olivia's school teacher Mrs. Weaver.

On Pinterest I saw a pin for free bag patterns so I had a look and decided that they would not be too tricky and that indeed I would be able to manage one. You can find the pattern here and the pin here on my To Make board.

Like the original pattern I decided that a chambray type piece of cotton would be great and then I saw some wonderful striped cotton drill weight fabric at Ikea which I really loved. What do you think?

I would alter this pattern some what if I were to make it again, I would lengthen the straps and thin out the handles a little too. However, it is a really easy, quick pattern to make and did make a wonderful teachers present with a little chocolate inside too.

Olivia loved giving it to a wonderful teacher whom she has had in both Kindergarten and Year 2. We hope you like it Mrs. Weaver.



P.S You can find me linking here at the wonderful Sew Much Ado.

Christmas Concerts and Presentation Days

The last week or so of school was really busy for us.

Oh I think I should preface the remainder of this post with this, I am going to boast about my children and how incredible I think they are, so be warned ok :).

With that warning firmly behind us that last week or so has been filled with school and pre-school Christmas Concerts, Choir recitals, Jazz end of year shows, and Olivia's baptism. With all of this happening my usual preparations for Christmas have been seriously disrupted and basically I have done none, I finally managed to get my Christmas Cards sent out and the presents that have to go to the UK but that is it. Final Christmas shopping was done in the 3-4 days before Christmas and I have really not liked it at all. I promise to be better next year.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the last few weeks to catch up and let me tell you I feel just a little proud of my beautiful girls, there were many times that just a little tear or two was wiped from my eyes. There has been some wonderful fun times and the build up to Christmas has been lovely.

Balmoral Beach with Grandma & Grandpa

Olivia at St. Mary's Cathedral

St. Mary's Cathedral Christmas lights

St. Mary's Cathedral

Christmas Tree and full moon @ St. Mary's Cathedral lights

Olivia (far left of children) receiving a trophy at Presentation Day

Sophie at Zoe's birthday party with the tiara mosaic she made

Olivia (2nd from left) receiving a Principle's Merit Award

Olivia and her Merit certificate

Sophie's Pre-School Christmas concert singing her heart out

Sophie and 1 of her teachers - Miss Janelle - we will miss you next year Miss Janelle

Temple lights - taken by Olivia

Giveaway link

A friend of mine called Courtney has her own blog and little MadeIt shop and very kindly offered to do a free giveaway in Australia and around the world. There are some wonderful things to win very easily, you should totally go check it out. 

The link to Courtney's fabulous giveaway is this http://welfarewisdom.blogspot.com/2011/11/aussie-handmade-goodie-bag-giveaway.html

As I had some of the things from the craft fair that didn't sell I thought that I would add a couple of bibs to her bags. If you are here from that giveaway hello :) and welcome to my little blog about things that I make and my year so far. 

I am looking to start selling some of the things that I make, and am happy to make some custom designs for wraps/blankets, and will add names as I did for my nephew Noah earlier in the year (see below pictures), or bibs, taggy balls, or even a gorgeous elephant which work really well in flannelette, cotton or even cord. If you are interested please leave me a comment with your email address and we can sort it out. On the giveaway page Courtney mentioned that the bibs are normally $12 each. The pair that are in the giveaways were actually $12 for the pair not individually.

Just as a little reminder here are a few lovely things that I have made this year. It is quite exciting really to just sit back and see some of the things that i have made so far this year and 2011 hasn't finished yet. 

Teacher presents and a new Christmas tablecloth are still on the to do list as well as a mountain of mending, so more to do yet, plus Mum and Dad arrive in 2 sleeps. So excited. Fingers crossed that the rain stays away and we have a lovely warm dry summer - doesn't have to be boiling just consistently dry. 

This Week

I am a little disapointed as to how little of mine did sell at the fair this last weekend, however, I am told that not a lot of the baby stuff did sell at all. It is a Christmas fair predominately, I guess, but I was hoping that a few people may see something that they would love for a granddaughter or son or niece or nephew. Oh well, lessons learned for next time.

This weekend we did some jobs around the house and what started out to be just a wipe down of a ceiling turned into a monster job. The lights in the kitchen have made black marks on the ceiling and I thought just a wash with some sugar soap or something like that would clean it all off. Oh how wrong I was, all it did was make a streaky mess on the ceiling that just wasn't going away. So we decided to paint the ceiling. Todd decided he wanted it done before mum and dad arrive on Thursday so yesterday was the nominated day to fix it all up.

Paint was bought, drop sheets put down and brushes and roller at the ready. 

I thought that I was reasonably good painter, with a great little cutting in tool and a roller and I can knock over a wall in just a few minutes with a good finish too. I very naively thought that doing the ceiling would be much the same. Oh how I was wrong. Trying not to get ridges on the ceiling and covering it all without patches was hard work, and I am not saying that it is a good job either by any stretch of the imagination but I was determined to finish it with 2 coats and we finally did. We finally finished at about 5pm. I knew it wasn't going to be a 2 hour job like Todd thought, but that long!

This is a reminder to myself to never offer to pain ceilings again. 

I have a long list of things that still need to be done before mum and dad come on Thursday. They are staying for 2 months and I can not wait to see them. The girls are so excited too. I'm not so sure about Todd as he looses his sofa to other people and well just not having his own space. We shall see how we go.

So the next few days will be filled with food shopping, cleaning my oven, washing, ironing, turning the spare room from a sewing room to a bedroom, cleaning the main bathroom and the usual everyday stuff that I have to do anyway. What can I say except BUSY!