The lowdown ...

So where did last week go? Let's see.
There were the mini cupcakes to take to school. Spiders and butterflies. Amazing what you can do with a couple of Smarties and some shredded coconut!
There were the bracelets. 13 in total. 6 buttons per bracelet. I was sewing buttons in my sleep.Then there were the goodie bags with little tags that Beth signed. Here are all the bags, including the ones for the boys with marbles inside. And of course, every party girl needs a new appliqued top. This large square of gingham is hiding a major applique disaster. But nobody knows that, right? I am saving that story for another post. Along with the story of the pencil roll. Beth received pencil roll attempt number 4. Version numbers 1,2 and 3 went in the rubbish. The gorgeous boy with the cheesy smile is Beth's cousin, Dylan.Here is the hotel's birthday cake, where we had Beth's party. I nearly passed out when I saw all those lollies. Sugar, sugar and more sugar. Just what all the kids needed.On Sunday we had a family party at home. This was the cake I made for Beth. Courtesy of "Donna Hay Magazine" Kids Special from last year. Basically one large and two small tubs of vanilla ice cream. Covered in crushed "Marie" biscuits. Decorated with vanilla and cinnamon madelines and chocolate shells. Mermaids and other decorations courtesy of The Reject Shop.

And why did I do all of this?

No more reason needed.

Happy Birthday Miss 6 Today ...

My big baby girl is 6 today! Wow! Six!
Here she is with one of her birthday presents. Some action shots of "Swirly Tennis" as she calls it. It's another "Charlie and Lola" thing.
Wishing you much love and happiness on your birthday, my beautiful Beth.
Now, back to sewing those buttons on those bracelets. Two hours till the party. And counting.
Much to tell about the week that was. But I'll leave that for next week.

WIP and Strip...

I feel a little like Maisy Gibbons on Desperate Housewives with a title like that. Truth be known, that is all that has really been going on around here craft wise lately. Lots of WIP's needing lots of strips of fabric. And I really have to say it has been fun.

The picture above is of the strips I have been cutting to make the goodie bags for the big 6 year old birthday party. Thanks to Amy who was my Mag Swap partner for sending over a copy of MS Kids for the inspiration. They have a picture of some really sweet goodie bags just made up out of fabric scraps. So that is what I am doing. These ones are for the girls. Orange is the new Pink, by the way.
This shot is of the strips for the button bracelets, complete with some of the buttons laid out. The bracelets will then go inside the bags.

See the group flickr photos here

The pencil roll is also progressing. All the strips (more!) cut and hopefully today I may get to sew them together. Fingers crossed.

And just because I feel the need to share this with everyone, as you do, my other big WIP at the moment is toilet training Alice. I was going to hang out for Summer when these things are just easier to do. Less clothing, running around outside where accidents don't matter (as much) etc. But for some reason I flicked my "right, we are doing this NOW" switch on, and we started yesterday. So far, so good. Well, you know, as good as it gets. But definitely more promising than what Beth was, which is a whole other story for when you have the time and inclination to sit and listen to the toileting habits of my children. What? You have to go and look for loose change down the back of the couch? You can't stop and listen? Maybe some other time?

My favourite artist and author ...

OK, so I'm a little biased. Beth started school this year and has reached the stage where she is starting to write little stories. Her words are written just as they sound, with a few other assorted letters thrown in for good measure and parental confusion. She will come and show me her drawing and story and ask me to read what she has written. "Um, well, maybe you should read it to me because it is your story?" In other words, I may be able to guess a few of the words, but some of them, I have no idea. Even now, looing back at the pictures, I am struggling to read them, so I will fill in the gaps where I can.

The one above is my favourite drawing. It is called "Ginger Cat" and she has written "My sister loves cats. She is 2 and she is Alice. Cats are cul (cool). I love that cats face.

This one is of a butterfly, spelt "brtsis". I am just grateful I could pick that one up from the drawing. Apart from "I love you" at the top and "I love brtsis", I am struggling to remember the rest. This one is an echidna, spelt "echr". There is something about prickles "pecle". "No lit for me pes", is no light for me please. They have been doing Australian animals at school, so this is in reference to the echidna being nocturnal. "But I love they", means she loves them, in spite of their prickles. A very forgiving child really.
Lastly, we have a Turtle. And "they go in wat". Wat being water.

Anyone who has a child start school would understand my fascination with Beth's progression with her reading and writing skills. It's just amazing how quickly they acquire these skills. I am expecting her first novel, "brtsis are cul" next term, so will post some extracts then. Her agent is currently in negotiations with the publishers.

Thank you for letting me indulge in some pride for my first born.

WIP Friday

After my grand list of "things to do" as mentioned in my last post, I have actually made a start on one of the items. The pencil roll X 3. I figure it is just as easy to cut a heap of fabric into strips at once as it is to cut one strip of fabric. So I am making one for Beth, one for her friends birthday and one for another of her friends, as a thank you to his Mum for lending me some of her fabric scraps, including a swatch chart of Sanderson ticking. Now that was very nice. Hard to make these for boys though. It may be a little too on the floral side, but where possible, I am cutting a boy and a girl option. The pink gingham is the oilcloth I am going to try for the outer and part of the inner. Blue for the boys one, of course. I am a bit concerned about how it will roll, but will just bulldoze my way ahead. None of this mampy-pampy make a sample piece first. It's all or nothing.

And do you like that stripy grosgrain type ribbon? It is actually from a make-a-belt kit that cost me all of $1.42 because it was half price. I think it's about 1.5 metres long. I thought it would make a perfect tie for the roll, with it's coloured pencil stripes.

Pardon? What was that? Where did I buy it? Well, I was kind of doing more "research" for the TACK challenge and I stumbled upon it. OK, OK, I needed more cotton gingham and Spotlight is the only place I can find it. I know, I'm a hypocrite. But I'll live with that, now that I have my happy stripy ribbon. And I really was doing research.

Hopefully now I have sorted my Flickr issues. Never forget your password is all I can say. So check out all the Friday Craft WIP's here.

Enjoy your weekends!

Check (list), one, two...

Nearly half way through July and I need to stop and take check of what I am endeavoring to achieve by the end of this month. Surely if I document it, it will be easier to work through? Right?

I need to finish my swap with Julie. This is drawing on at an embarrassing rate. I was making something that my heart and soul was just not into, hence, I was far from happy with the end result. Worked out what it was that I really wanted to make and have set to it. One down, one to go. It has been a good exercise for me though. Don't make what everyone else is making, make what you want to make.

Beth's birthday is at the end of the month and I have decided to make her a pencil roll. I was really inspired by Pink Chalk Studio's version, which has been a bit of a challenge to find the 24 different coloured fabrics. Especially since I decided to go against the Derwents and with the Faber Castell's, which have a GOLD, as in metallic, coloured pencil. But two very lovely friends have come to the rescue and let me rummage through their stashes and I think I may have almost done it. I am also going to try and make the rest of the roll with oilcloth. Could be tricky, but will give it a go. I just thought it would be a bit more child friendly and wipe clean. As a result of my friends generosity, in return I have promised another pencil roll (for a boy who I am assured will be quite happy with some of the floral fabrics ?) and a dishcloth, no, make-up purse for the other. May even throw in the old tissue holders for good measure. It sure is the tissue holder season here in Melbourne. Why, I could use one myself, but that would mean I would have to make another one, wouldn't it?
And Beth's birthday also means party favours. So, I have 10 of the bracelets to make, 14 little party favour bags which of course, I will sew, 4 little boys marble bags (the general consensus seemed to be give the boys a bag of rocks, but I thought marbles were far more sparkly) and our own party CD. Have asked my husband 417 times to install the CD burner, of which I know nothing about, but looks like I will have to go for 418 +.

I think that's about all. Is that enough? Do you think I should take on some more? Oh, of course, how could I forget, my TACK project. Now there has been some talk amongst the other participants about some hideous creations, perhaps suitable for the smallest room in the house. I however, hereby decree that I will get through this challenge with some molecule of crafting dignity left in tact. My project will be functional, yet classy, noice, yet un-knew-shew-al. Completely at home in any abode in Fountain Lakes.

Now I haven't posted a song for a while. So here we go. My sister's and I have this game where we have to tell each other what song we would sing when we are on Australian Idol (notice not if, but when - tragic) on each theme night. So Julie, Sarah and Katie, this one is for you. I will be singing this on Super Groups night, assuming U2 are a super group, complete with my Mary J "Bling Bling" sunglasses. And who knows, perhaps even Shannon or Guy could come back to sing the Bono part with me. Rock on.

Over and (rock) out. Back to the sewing, I think I'm safer there.

WIP Friday

Today I thought WIP Friday was a great opportunity to showcase my latest challenge.
Yes, you may have heard the term bandied about here or here, by my fellow TACK challenged participants, Nic and Al.

In yesterday's post, I made brief mention of "Spotlight". Just the mere mention provokes many a comment, some good, some not so good. For those of you who aren't aware, Spotlight is a chain of stores that once upon a time, sold only fabric and haberdashery. Now I believe you can buy a green and purple spotted, three legged dog with the mange there. But just don't ask where you would find said dog. No staff member will be able to help you with that. And make sure you don't need to have some fabric cut to make said dog a cute little jacket because when you arrive at the cutting counter, you will pick up number 48 and they will be calling for number 3. And the 45 people ahead of you will all be carrying 8 bolts of fabric to be cut.

The challenge was to find three pieces of fabric that we felt best embodied the fabric on selection at Spotlight. This truly was a challenge, because where would you start? These were the pieces that I selected to send on to my TACK buddies.

Meow!

Now, in case you missed it TACK Challenge is tongue in cheek but I do need to tell everyone that I am a Spotlight VIP card holder. Because as much and all as I think Spotlight fabric leaves A LOT to be desired, there are things that you just have to buy there. And I am the first to own up and say I do this. But I never said it was an enjoyable experience.

Why do I love to hate Spotlight so much? Possibly because I remember the days in Melbourne when we did have quality large fabric stores, or emporiums even. I remember the days when Myer Melbourne had a fabric and haberdashery department. I remember the days when "Cleg's" was a much loved Melbourne institution. I have memories of going in to both with my mother. I was in there the other week and sure, they did have some lovely Liberty prints, but that was really about it. Just not what it used to be. And Lincraft, well, if you scrounge you can pick up a bargain or two, but if you think the service is poor in Spotlight .....

My work in progress is at the stage where I am playing with this "gorgeous" fabric, tossing around some ideas. We have to make something in a log cabin pattern. "Ahhh, pretty", I hear you say. Yes, oh yes, it will be. And just to tempt you a little more, I can reveal that my TACK Challenge WIP has a name! I can hear the gasps of horror, yet strange delight.

I tossed around many an idea. So much to play with. Australian animals, balloons, flames. I was contemplating something Mambo-esque with Jesus and the flames and the animals. Then it came to me. My piece will be called

"Bless my Soles"

Stay tuned for more TACK Challenge.

My Pretty Bracelets

Beth and I made these bracelets together on the sewing machine. I have Beth sitting on my knee at the moment. She has had a day off school with a mystery illness. Mystery being where it went at 9.30 this morning. She has titled this post and asked me to type the first line as she dictated.

Yes, we did kind of make these together over the school holidays. The idea came from a Molly Chicken tutorial. Instead of using beads, we just used buttons. One was for Beth, another for her pen pal and the other two for the twin daughter's of my Mag Swap partner Amy, in California. I personalised them a bit with the initial buttons which I found in, shock, horror, Spotlight. I must say that you can take something from Spotlight and if you use it in the right context (ie. mix it in with a lot of other good stuff) then they aren't so bad? Right Al and Nic?

I'm going to make another batch of them for party favours for Beth's party. Which means I will have to make another 10. Who doesn't love sewing on buttons? Anyone? Anyone? Do I see any hands?

Speaking of party favours, am stealing the Kiddley idea of making our own CD's as well. So the girls will get a bracelet and a CD and the boys will have a CD and a ..... ? Does anyone know of any little "thing" that you can craft for 6 year old boys? I'm out of my league with boys craft things.
Only pink, frills and pretty in our house. Except for my husband, of course.

Oh, and for those who were interested in the "They Might Be Giants" kids CD called "No!" that Amy sent us in the Mag Swap, check out their site - www.giantkid.net
Their new ABC CD looks fantastic.

My small rant about swaps ...

My magazine swap arrived. Thank you Amy. Love the magazines and the girls love the CD. Am I the last person on earth to know that "They Might Be Giants" released a kid's CD? Very cool.

There seems to be some discussions going on, in and around blog world at the moment regarding swaps. Auntie Cookie had a great post about swapping etiquette. I think the rule of thumb is do what you can do, when you can do it. Or that is my rule of thumb anyway. Otherwise, the swaps become like school homework. A chore that you are forced to do and really cannot enjoy. And I tend to get a bit passionate about my swaps.

My other rule of thumb is that I really like to post pictures of what I have received. Not to gloat, but to thank the person who has made or sent the swap. Fellow bloggers/lurkers go to so much trouble to wrap and parcel up these gifts. Not to mention the time taken to thoughtfully create something. And I am really grateful. There are no ulterior motives, or none that I am aware of. Sure, I get a buzz out of seeing something I have made on someone else's site. I would be lying if I said otherwise. As for it being my sole motive for swapping? No. I'm possibly to simple and naive. I love sending parcels. I love making things for other people and imagining them using them. I love wrapping things and I love finding gorgeous cards to write notes on.

I am currently on a mission to find some funky notecards that are "me". I am sending out Margaret Preston postcards at the moment, because she is just my favourite artist. And she is/was a woman and she is Australian. But they aren't really personal. Don't know really what I want, but I'm sure I will find/make it, eventually.

So, on that note, Julie at Handmaid, take a bow. All the way from Israel to Australia.
I could not in a million years do the things with paper that Julie does. We met via Whip-up's Whiplash challenges. She commented on my yarn flower and we have remained in blogging contact ever since. This gorgeous flower is her version of the yarn flower, so I guess it's the paper flower. Amazingly, she used no paint when making this flower, it's all coloured paper.

And how beautiful are these? All little girls should have one in their rooms!

Beth loves butterflies and her room is blue. Two facts Julie didn't know. Must be some kind of telepathic thing. And god knows, Alice needs an angel to watch over her. She insists on calling it a fairy and wants to play with it. Beth wanted to take her's to school for "show and tell". Although this shows the level of appreciation they have for their gifts, I stepped in and did the big mean Mummy thing. They are now safely hanging on their bedroom walls.

Thank you Julie. The time and effort you have taken with these gorgeous gifts is appreciated to no end.

Skirting around ...

These are the skirts that I made with Beth's "assistance" last Friday. They were very simple and easy. Amazing what a bit of trim and a pocket can do!This is a more detailed shot of the outside of the pocket.
And of the inside. I seem to be lining everything with red gingham at the moment.
This is the trim at the bottom of Beth's.
And at the bottom of Alice's - thanks Marianne for the cute pink cherry ribbon trim.

And there you have it. Two little girl's skirts. One straight rectangle, with a gathered longer piece attached. Easy peasy.

The swap/blog gods have smiled down upon me ...

Over the past week, I have been the very lucky recipient of some beautiful and amazingly generous mail. I have been waiting for some sunshine to take some photos that would do these gifts justice, but that Melbourne sun just isn't shining. I am on the verge of embarrassment that I have taken too long to acknowledge these wonderful little packages, so can wait for the sun no longer. So here they are.

Justine over at 62 Cherry and I did a swap. The girls and I received the sweetest little package in return. I am now the proud owner of my very own make-up purse. Beth has a gorgeous little cherry bag ("But how does that lady know I love cherries, Mum?) and Alice has a new cute-as-a-button singlet. Thanks Justine.I was the lucky recipient of this box of goodies (wonderfully packaged up) from Marianne at Applehead. Just because. How generous is that? My favourite thing - the barkcloth, with the wallpaper pieces a close second. Somewhere too in there was a block of Lindt's orange chocolate but it seems to have disappeared? I wonder where it could be? Oh, and a rocking CD for the girls from "Coco's Lunch", which is out in the car. The piece de resistance - an Applehead needle book. Thanks Marianne.

And do you believe this? Another "just because" package from Anastasia. She sent me a copy of Mary Engelbreit's "Home Companion", along with some other little bits and pieces for the girls to craft with and some fantastic gift tags. Thanks Anastasia.
Last but not least, my Magic Yarn Ball swap arrived today. From Julia in Lismore, NSW. I am not sure that Julia has a blog or a web site, if you do Julia, let me know. This was the biggest ball of yarn you have ever seen. And inside ...
Did I clean up or what? So many beautiful and thoughtful trinkets inside. There were some ceramic buttons that were really so sweet. A lovely coconut soap in the centre.
And how is this for vintage sewing treats. It's a bit hard to see those buttons on the card, but they have faces like the man in the moon on them. I'm sure there must be some story behind them. I adore them. And the ric-rac and trim! Oh! Julia did such a great job of picking things that I just adore. So thank you so much Julia, I had a "ball" unwinding the yarn and unwrapping (yes, they were all individually wrapped!) all the little gifts. The girls will be thrilled too.

This big old blogging world is certainly a good and happy one. Thank you to each of you for your kindness and for thinking not only of me, but my children also. Speaking of, better run and pick one up from school and stop playing with all my new toys!