Stuff I love

Rainbow stripes and a combi. Really, what more could you ask for. I have bought this tapestry kit and am happily stitching away through the Tour de France. It's by Granny Knits.

Maybe this one will be next! From Clothkits.

This jacket reproduced from the original 70s Clothkits designs. I'm sure I remember this from my Mum's catalogues when I was little. This is underway for Arj. I'm hoping I'll get it done before the end of winter! Available here. So cute, it even has a tractor and three farm animal prints to make into softies that fit in the pockets.

Checking out fabric both vintage and new on True Up.

The new fabric line from American Jane. Love it. I always love American Jane fabrics. I really seem to be drawn to the clear bright mainly primary colours. Available here.

These Auntie Cookie papercut fabrics. A bargain!

Lino Forest and Find, Make, Do blogs.

Mesmerised

My very good friend Katey has just published her first (maybe of many!) book. It's a beautifully designed book of striking black and white designs for babies from birth to 6 months. I can vouch for my two babies loving black and white pictures - I just wish Katey's book had been available for them. It really is gorgeous. Check it out here. From now on anyone I know who has a baby will be getting one!

Surrounded

Lovely fabrics from Danielle Stewart. For my new project. There'll be a giveaway very soon. Just need to make a few samples and finalise packaging. Exciting!

Bathroom inspiration?

corian-missoni-exhibition-9, originally uploaded by becky barreto.

Love this! I'm trawling the net looking for bathroom inspiration and wondering about a bright stripey shower using tiles. This is Corian and Missoni and way, way, way beyond our means. I've got some graph paper, photos of tile samples and some textas and I'm going to work on some stripes of my own. Fun! What do you reckon? Any ideas?

Sweet Tooth

**

Both my kids have definitely inherited my sweet tooth. Their Dad is much more restrained when it comes to fattening sugary things. Arj was in his element with the cakes at his birthday party. He was spotted determinedly licking his plate after demolishing a lump of birthday cake.

**AAARGH. Not again. I must be doing something wrong but I swear I already rotated this photo! I give up.

Brooches

Brooches (for grownups!) available at Made It. Handprinted fabric by Showpony all the way from Scotland.

New belts

A few new belts are now available on Etsy and Made It. Cute!

One

So, he's one. I'll follow the usual convention and say "Wow, I just can't believe how fast this year has gone." Totally true.

Arj is the happiest little boy you could imagine (apart from some occasions between about 2 and 4 in the morning and certain days when he crawls around behind me complaining.) He loves dancing and banging things. He loves a good wrestle and is completely adoring of his big sister. He makes me laugh even when my mood is pretty low and needless to say he provides me with a lot of cleaning, tidying, washing (note huge pile of laundry in photo background) and cuddles.

Mmmm, sausages!

Is there anything better than sausages cooked on the fire followed by a gentle walk in the bush? I love it. Three toasted marshmallow hyped girls enjoying a walk to Liffey Falls.

Thirty six

John's Birthday Cake, originally uploaded by mono1980.

Wow, this year has gone so quickly.

Rainy, grey, misty day - not the best for a birthday. It's a good excuse for hot chocolate though. Perhaps I'll make a little trip to Cocoa Bean. Woke up to flowers. Thank you lovely husband.

More plans

On my project list are a couple of beanbags for the kids. I'll probably use this tutorial and Denyse Schmidt decorating weight fabrics maybe with some denim or plain cotton canvas to break it up a bit. Denyse Schmidt's designs would have to be my all time favourite fabrics. I've used quite a few in my kid's clothing in the past and whenever I see any around I'm hard pressed not to buy it.

Food explosion

I'd forgotten just how messy mealtimes can be. Lucky I have Cinderella living with me.

Turn your head sideways now

Why, oh why does my internet connection dropout almost every single time I click upload photos in blogger. It drives me crazy so we're having sideways photos tonight. I swear I would blog more often if photo uploading wasn't quite so frustrating.

So what's news?

The kids are growing up so, so fast. Arj is 11 months now and I'm starting to think about birthday cakes. I love making cakes! Chloe has a thing about lighthouses so we went to visit one last week (and the fabric shop on the way!) and Arj has been getting in touch with his feminine side. And, oh, how cute he looks.

I'll be having a birthday very soon too. I'm hoping to have a celebration this year as last years got cancelled as my heavily pregnant self was sick.

I've been sewing but for ourselves and presents mainly. Still no work to speak of. The kids and I have been tag teaming with various illnesses. Not much sleep, a couple of late night trips to emergency (all fine now) and many trips to the GP. Fairly large amounts of cash have been handed over to pharmacists and tissue manufacturers. I'm hoping for a break now.

I've been dieting and exercising and am feeling so, so, so much better (apart from the colds) that I just can't stop telling everyone. Yay for online Weightwatchers. I never thought I'd join something like that but it has been so worthwhile. My clothes from before Arj fit now and it feels like I have a whole new wardrobe. I'm full of energy too and have been going for long walks and even the odd run.

I've been doing a lot of fabric buying in the (maybe deluded) hope that I'll get some work done soon.

We're getting weekly veggie boxes from Hilbarn and loving them.

This, if you know me, is pretty amazing news - I cook the dinner EVERY night (almost). Sam mustn't know what to do with himself now. This weird transformation coincided with the Hilbarn boxes, my diet and the realisation that cooking the dinner is something I can do myself without feeling guilty about not doing a jigsaw/colouring in/ sticking/ drawing etc, etc. Does anyone else have a child who doesn't want to do anything by themselves? It makes me feel terribly guilty as I feel like I say no all the time.

I seem to spend a vast proportion of my life folding washing. Ironing only when absolutely unavoidable.

I'm off to fold some now. Whoopee.

PS. I met a couple of very, very beautiful boys.

One for the project list

What a very cool idea this is. I won't be bothering with the bag but a couple of dolls and a bunch of outfits - what fun! A great excuse to buy yet more fabric.

We're having a great summer. I hope you are too. We've spent a lot of time in the pool, made a lot of trips to the beach and the shack. Been to the NW coast, W coast and E coast and off to the Freycinet peninsula this weekend coming for a quick camping trip. Still not getting nearly enough sleep and not getting to do any work. I'm a bit frustrated cos the ideas are coming thick and fast, I just seem to be in this sort of semi-paralysed state where I can't seem to start anything. I think it's because I know I'll be interupted just as I get going - or is that just an excuse?

Maybe some summer photos soon.

Everytime I blog I feel inspired to keep it up and do it more regularly then I stop again!

P.S. The Maisy quilt was a huge hit!

Secret Maisy Business

A work in progress. I've been having fun with this and doing my first attempt at machine quilting. I only have the binding to go now and I think I'll get it done in time for Christmas. I'm hoping this will replace the quilt I carried on the back of my bike to the airport in Nice as Chloe's tv watching quilt of choice. Then, perhaps, I could use mine.

Just an aside. Does anyone else have glitter all over their house, themselves, their kids and even trailed into the garden?

3

Wow, a three year old in the house. She had the best time at her party. It wasn't very warm but everyone swam anyway and Chloe was so, so happy. All day, not a single low moment. Amazing - even after all the sugar.

I had such fun making the cake. Loosely based on the Rainbow fish and Sam and Chloe made a fish pinata (with creative direction from me - poor Sam).

Now on to Christmas. Having a birthday so close to Christmas means presents and excitement galore. The birthday spread out to about a week. I feel sad for Chloe that she'll have to wait so long for her next one.

Cuties

Chloe is 3 in a week. I can't quite believe it. Arj is 5 months now. I find that even harder to believe. Thought it must be time for a photo!

Yawning but smiling

Man, I'm tired ... but happy. Had a great three days at Niche Market. I really enjoyed getting back into sewing (although there's no way I could keep up the pace) and the buzz of the market. There were loads of lovely stalls and sellers and I neglected to take photos of their stalls again. I'll point you to some blogs as things come up - I'm sure someone has taken lovely shots.

Lots of friends visited, new friends were made and I've had the most social three days. Just great!

I'm hoping to photograph and list some of the things I have in stock still this week but no promises. I have to catch up on some of the very neglected housework.

Provence

For Georgia - just to get you a little more excited!

OK, so it's over a year since our holiday to France but I always meant to post a few more photos. I've been thinking a lot about travel lately with Mrs Smith's exciting trip and my brother and his lovely girlfriend heading off to the UK and South America in a couple of weeks. My other brother is in NZ holidaying just now and no doubt my folks will get another trip in the pipeline soon. I'm getting very, very envious so am reliving past trips and pulling out old photos.

Gearing up...

.. for Niche. It's going to be a great market with a huge list of exciting stalls.