Making a little money.

I love sewing. And as much as it would be great to make money from it, I have no grand designs right now. However in the last week I have received two 'jobs' that I am more than happy to be paid for!

Job number one: a special gift for a soon-to-be mum and her little bubs. She picked the colours and I worked away making a feeding cover and 5 spew rags. I think the little set turned out nicely.


::Hooter hider/feeding cover::


::spew rags::

Job number two: Creating a cot quilt for a friend in reds and whites. *yikes* Don't have much red in my stash, so I'm thinking op shops and perhaps a little trip to Amitie to pick out a special feature fabric!!!

Sewing weekend.

Our weekend in Warrigal ended up being fantastic. Let's not mention the fact that I forgot my machine foot (for the sewing machine and the overlocker). It made me cry. Or perhaps that was the sheer exhaustion of having two children. Either way I borrowed Ben's Granny's machine and got on my way to making a vintage dress and a top for Annie.

The dress is not quiet finished. Will be sure to share when it is. Here is the little top I made for Annie - very happy with how this turned out and loved the pattern for its simplicity. Might even make a few more if I find some cheap fabric.



We also went op shopping and I picked up a 60s business suit in a dusty blue (love it!) and these little items that just make me feel all Donna-Hay-like.



Thanks Leslie and Lisa for a great few days. Looking forward to the next. Perhaps I'll even get to that scrap quilt that has been ignored on two craft weekends to date. Oh to have more hours in the day...

One man's trash...

I received a bag of fabric from my friend Leslie the other day. She makes such beautiful things, with some of the most stunning fabrics, so when she said she had some scraps she didn't want anymore, I jumped at the chance. It's been awhile since I bought any fabric (just before Christmas in fact) so seeing some new prints surged some creativity.

I have had this doorstop in my hallway since we moved in months ago.



Maggie chewed it to pieces on one of the many days that her walk was overshadowed by two small children. I had been meaning to restore this since it happened as my mum had given it to us as a housewarming pressie.

Here she is in all her glory. Fabric kindly donated. Creativity itch finally scratched!

New Year New Views.

Man, is Christmas over already? Is January nearly done? Does my sweet little baby girl really turn 2 in only 3 days time? Time surely does fly.

With the holiday season I have fallen through the blogging (inter) net. But I'm back now and soooo looking forward to 2011. This is the year right? The year we start to realise some of the things we have wanted for ourselves. I can think of no better place to start than by being thankful for what I already have. Therein lies my riches. I have a wonderfully sweet, charming, funny and loving husband. Someone who has loved me even through my wild baby months where midnight rants where a common occurrence and the odd time he had to get down on the floor with me to stop the crying. He's been my rock. And I love him.



I am also thankful for my two beautiful children. But let me break that down somewhat. Miss Annie is a strong little individual who stands tall and hugs warmly. I am so proud of her. She has proved herself to be an amazing big sister over the past few months and as tough as it has been on her, she really is a little saving grace. I owe her a few special days out with just mumma. And Mr Tom. You are such a little cruiser. You put up with a lot. Thank you. I will let you smack Annie a few times when your older as payback before I tell you off. :)





I am also thankful for this house over our heads. I know I bitch and moan about it a bit...no aircon, no heating. The stumps out the back moved recently with all the rain we've been having and now we cant close the back door. It needs work right? But inside live three of the people I love the most in this world and they make all the cracks and all the imperfections just sweet to me. I know one day she'll be a Victorian beauty. Majestic and warm and open. But for now, I will just love her the way she is and enjoy the process a bit more.

I am also thankful that my family and Ben's family are healthy and happy people. We are so lucky. I think about Queensland and now Victoria and the challenges these people now face and I think 'come on em, lighten up my love'. We have it well. Very well indeed.

Is this the right post for new years resolutions? Perhaps, but I might leave that til later. For now though, some photos of those people I've mentioned. My lovely little family. Here's to 2011. Let's see it together.

Beautiful gifts from special friends.

I have been meaning to post these pictures but have just been so busy with Christmas and getting to know the little man. We received many lovely gifts from family and friends when Tom arrived in the world, but since this blog has a 'craft' slant, I just wanted to show you the ones that are handmade.

Here is a soft cushy block with a rattle inside made especially for my man-i-kins by our lovely friend Lisa. She is a whiz with all things linen and patchworky. This toy takes pride-of-place on his toy box.



This snuggly, cuddly blanket was made by Leslie. She has her own shop here and blog here. Wonderful handmade toys, blankets and more. Tom and I both appreciate the loveliness of this gift.



For all things projectile we have one-of-a-kind bibs made my Jo. Jo has a great blog and three delicious kids. We have been very spoilt indeed.

**Advent Calendar**

It's finished! Horray! So pleased with the final results on this one. It was the one project that I wanted to complete before the end of the year and I managed it. (And only three days late too!)



The frame I found at savers for $7. The Linen I bought online through Duckcloth (so lovely!). The small floral fabric on the inside of the pockets was kindly donated by a friend and the small pins were a fab find on etsy.



The stamped numbers were a steal at spotlight for only $15. I used some ink that I bought years ago at a crafting festival in Canada. All in all, quiet a cheap project.



In each little pocket there are chocolates or decorations for Annie to add to our tree. I plan on bringing this calendar out every year for our family to enjoy!

Thank you Lisa for the inspiration!

mother of two.

Ten weeks have gone by since the arrival of the little man. I can't even believe it has been that long. Time hurtles when you're dealing with late nights and spew. Thomas has added a lovely dimension to our family. He is reserved and shy. Delightfully happy and wonderfully easy going. His only issues to date have been cat napping in 45 minute stints and smiling too much during feeding.

Annie finds him quite amusing. She will deliberately hit him just to hear him cry. I caught her biting his eyebrow the other day. Now that was a mere 15 minutes I never want back! Lately though she is getting used to him. She wants to hold his hand and kiss his forehead. I encourage all of it (because there has been such a lack of love lately) but we have stopped letting her just do what she wants with him. It was getting to the point that I thought social services would knock on the door any day now. Miss A has taken some getting used to Mr T.

His parents have taken just as long. I have to say that I am gobsmacked at how challenging two kids can be. When Tom wasn't sleeping well I spent a good deal of my time on the floor sobbing my heart out. I felt helpless. Like I didn't know how to care for him. It was a very tough few weeks.

When I managed to come up for air I grabbed a copy of 'Save Our Sleep' by Tizzy Hall. I was so over tired and caught up with caring for Annie as well, that it has escaped me that he needed awake time. I know, how silly, right? With a little help from Tizzy I was able to put some kind of system in place that allowed me the right to say 'well, he cant be tired, he can't be hungry...' etc etc. It was the confidence that I so sorely needed.

In the last few weeks Tom has been much better. He still catnaps a lot, but I have stopped fighting it so hard. I get him up, smile at him a lot and keep him wrapped in his bouncer. He usually ends up falling asleep. I know he will eventually learn how to sleep longer, but I don't have the time or the patience to stand in his bedroom for 30 minutes trying to teach him myself. My other child just wont allow it :)

With all this commotion there has been little time for me. Time to sew. I have so many things that I would love to make, especially with Christmas on it's way, but I have to be realistic. There simply wont be time. I have decided that the one thing I would like to achieve will be an advent calendar. My friend Lisa made a beautiful one on a sewing weekend we attended together and I have thought of it ever since. I bought myself some pins to secure each day and am currently working out how this thing will look and work.



Keep your fingers crossed for me.