1 More Sleep...

Happy Christmas, see you next year!

Here's the card we made this year, I say 'we' I mean Big D made it! It's a cut out Angel, with Little P's smiling face!

Op Shop Tuesday

Some vintage cards, these are great cause they fold out, so you can write a long letter, how old fashioned! AND a Poole marrow plate, I LOVE Poole Pottery, it has such a lush look and feel to it, I knew before I flipped this over what is was, and was so excited when I saw the little Dolphin on the base! A small haul, but satisfied.

I'm not feeling very 'Christamssy' yet - the trees up, presents are all pretty much done, just my own child to go, always the way - but I'm not too worried about the department stores selling out of everything, she wants a talking Lola doll which we saw in a small shop in Balmain. I'm feeling pleased with myself this year, no plastic 'made in China' stuff at all, it's liberating not to be on that particular band wagon. Nice to know that no humans have been harmed during the making of our Christmas!

Doesn't get any better....

1st a party at Gymnastics...

followed by a party at Daycare

A very decadent day for my Little P! Fairy skirt is made with a vintage tulle (from Big D's Nan)that has a really fine hot pink polka dot through out, lined with silk satin in a lavender colour, kind of matches the hedonistic atmosphere.

I must say too that I'm overwhelmed by all the good wishes from previous post - makes me all warm and fuzzy to know there's much positive energy out there!

IVF Ramble ..

As previously mentioned, Little P was conceived via IVF - it was a long haul - but we got there in the end! She turned 4 on Wednesday, I miss her baby days already!! Big D and I decided to try for one more at the beginning of this year, we had one frozen embryo from when we made P, so we had that transferred in January. It was the most bizarre experience, the embryo took, and then I miscarried, quite early on - then a follow up blood test revealed that the HCG hormone was present and growing at the rate of a pregnancy - a lost twin perhaps? Ultra sound showed nothing, HCG rose and rose, must be ectopic? Ultra sound still showing NOTHING, in the end I had to have a drug which is given to cancer patients, it kills off any dividing cells in the body - and still no sight of any embryo growing (ANYWHERE). It was thought that the unsighted ectopic was dangerous to me. Any way, we dusted ourselves off and decided to try a stimulated cycle again - to no avail. I said that would be it - but here we are again, eggs have been 'picked-up' one has fertilised and will be transferred on Monday - fingers crossed this one will work.

Photo is of Little P when she was one, you can just see her in her pram laughing!

um, excuse me while I play around with my blog template, something happened to my header and for some reason it shrunk, so then I started playing around with it, and I'm fickle and can't land on anything I really like. Does anyone know how to get rid of borders around photos?

Op Shop Tuesday

Vintage lovelies for the tree - bought at the oppy for $4 - I really like the santa in the acorn, 'scuse the dark photo - bit of a murky day in Sydney today - although finding this lot put some bling in my step. Now if only I could find a box of 'shiny brites' - that would really make my day!

I also found this sheet, love the colours: yellow, green and grey - it has minimal fading, so will be great for little bags that I'm supposed to making as we speak!

bargain baubles and things

We made these this afternoon, did a few different shapes and sizes, using buttons, wooden beads,( bought at the oppy ages ago) and florist wire. Miss P threaded them herlself, we just had to make the loop at the beginning and end. I love interesting and eccentric Christmas trees, and decorations, I will put anything on the tree, no minimalism around here. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else in crafty blogworld is up to this Christmas - I'm hoping it's not all too tasteful or colour co-ordinated!

Op Shop Tuesday

Just in case your feeling inspired, in an early 70's kind of way, to make a gay poncho, or a cheerful garden apron, here's how - so go on Sally, make it yourself!

Feeling Clogish!

These arrived in the post today, handmade to order in Sweden, if you like them, have a lookee here www.clogsonline.com . They cost about the same (with shipping) as those really ugly rubber crocks, that in my opinion, should only be worn whilst carrying a watering can.

Kermit, Miss Buttons etc

Little P made this cubby house for Kermit and her baby doll on the back deck (the doll is under the bean bag, you can just see her bald head) The kermit came from Big D's Nan, and he's made from the most revolting feeling kind of fabric, he's a harsh softie!!

I love the little things she makes when no one is guiding her play, they are fascinating little things! This morning walking up to Daycare I had to grab her and pull her off the road as there was a car coming, when we got to the other side she said to me "Mummy don't pull me like that, I'm not a tractor you know"- made me laugh!

I finally had some time to try out Angela's Miss Buttons. I really enjoyed making this, such a genius little pattern, with easy to follow instructions. I'm thinking I might have to buy this pattern for my bigger Niece who is nearly 12, she should be able to make this on her own, though I don't think she's ever been any where near a sewing machine!

Pressies..

These are for a little girl, who when she wakes in the morning will be 5!

The panel skirt looks a bit dark, but just the lighting in here today, (I love pink and brown) (I really am crap with a camera!) now without sounding like a poncy designer, I just feel I should say that the panel skirt and halter dress are my own designs, drafted with my own fair hands, I would be deeply honoured if they inspire you, but please don't copy them in order to sell them.

Now that's out of the way... have a great Saturday night - I love Saturday nights, they seem to be the longest nights of the week, it's 'flicker' night, I just get lost in all the glorious photos that people take, and the amazing things people make. Might go and browse through Etsy and Madeit for some handmade gifts in preparedness for Mr Christmas! Big D is going to be Santa at Little P's Daycare party this year, what a blast!

An Instrument of Torture...

...in the shape of an overlocker has come into my life, thanks to Big D's Nan, it's old, but it works (thanks to Big D) just not sure how I feel about it. It's quick, and seams look 'finished' but then again are we just used to seeing our seams overlocked? The fact that it comes with tweezers for threading doesn't fill me with joy!!

Finally made something that is leaving the house! This is a halter dress for my Niece who is turning 5 on Sunday, not a lot of 'hanger appeal' the old halter dress, but rather stunning on. I had 2 days break and feel like my mojo might be rising - will see what happens over the weekend. Thanks to all of you for advice and tips on mojo's lost and found - an interesting concept for a book I think - I'd buy it!!

On another note, I took Little P to an open day at her pre-school on Thursday, it was fraught! She was tired, it was hot, and when it came time to leave, she lost it, running and yelling 'nooooooooo I don't want to go, I want to stay and do pasting' - she was doing that yell and run thing so her words were all bouncy, and her nose was all snotty - and I was trying my best to stay calm, she was so loud though that I couldn't really 'use my words'!! The only words I really wanted to use were "fucking hell, why today?" Any way we made it out of the front gates, and home in one piece, and we did look lovely if that counts for anything?!!

Help - I've Lost my Mojo!!!

I know that I'm amongst friends when I say that my mojo has up and left, and I'm a feeling a bit blue about it, I know you understand - I've been trying for 3 days to make stuff and it's all just turning out like crap - what can be done? I'm starting to freak out, perhaps all the stuff I made so easily were all just flukes (that's what I suspected all along)!! It came too easily, and now it's left too easily, will it come back?? Panick attacks just thinking about it - at least when the motor goes on my machine, I can replace it - but seriously what if it never comes back? I'll have to take up soccer, or something equally awful like housework!

My 5 year old niece calls her mojo her 'rock' "I just don't have my rock right now".... I like that. it's a bummer that my rock leaves me now, cause there's a hundred and one things I'd like to make at the moment, stuff for Christmas. Parker calls Santa "Mr Christmas" I like that.

Any way, I'm slightly cheered by New Idea 1982, what a shame that KMart no longer stock patterns and fabric, it's not a shame, however, that John Farnham no longer does ads for pertoleum jelly in a dressing gown!

A Softie for Christmas

Nude
....with clothes on

.... in the naughty corner

This softie is going to the Mirabel Foundation via Meet Me at Mikes

FB Friday - My Stylish Mum

My favourite photo of my Mum, this photo was taken through the windscreen of our old Humba, in Zimbabwe around 1973. I love the storm clouds behind her, pregnant with rain. Mum was always fossicking on the side of the road for interesting things to take home, this is here returning to the car, triumphant with found object!

I Saw A UFO, & Nobody Believed Me

Another Nowra-cloth

I've decided to embellish, randomly and ad-hockly, the quilt for Little P, and thus rendering it a UFO, destined to float around the house to be picked up, embellished by hand, and put down again, and therein begins the vicious cycle.

A finished custom order, for a new born - I like to call it 'pini with bloomers'.

Flashback Friday - Favourite and Best Toy

This is me with my big sister, Leah, in South Africa taken in 1970. I am holding my little horn-blowy-thing that I took EVERYWHERE with me for AGES - even in the surf as you can see! I can't remember what eventually happened to this toy, but that's okay cause I'm able to leave the house without it these days!

Leah has her goggles on and is studying the bottom of the rockpool, this is funny because she later went on to do 1st class honours in Bio-chemistry, so she always had and enquiring mind. I didn't go on to win any ARIAS for playing trumpet needles to say, but hey, I still love light purple, one-piece, cozzies and going to the beach!

Secret Dog's Business

This is one of the linen finds from Nowra hanging on the line, trying to get some rust stains out of it. So many op shops in Nowra, I bought a couple more, but wanted to post this picture because I managed to capture Kabuki, our red cattle dog, rolling in something in the corner - probably a bit more of Kabuki than you really needed to see!

Secret Children's Business

I found about 8 of these images when I was downloading some photos today, I had no idea Little P even had the camera, not sure what this show is, but it's on the ABC, she managed to capture the logo - gifted AND talented!

Useful Stuff

I made this sewing machine cover with a 60's screen printed place mat that I found at the Oppy, there was only one of them, but I had to have it - after the classic 'what are you going to do with that?' convo, I finally worked it out - so here is what I've done with it. the print is signed 'Coq Dor' so no guesses what I'm going to call my sewing machine cover!

Back to Life, Back to reality

Had a great time down south, Culburra beach house was a dream, and just to keep it that way, this is the ONLY photo of the whole trip. Big D accidentally wiped all the pics whilst trying to free up some space on the camera, then the battery went on the camera, fated not to have a pictorial memory of our trip!

Flashback Friday - Handmade

This is my Sister, Gran and Mum (you can just see my legs and my favourite green playsuit behind my Mum) all looking rather resplendent in our handmade (by Gran) outfits, I just love my Mum's pink, puffed sleeve chiffon number, and my sister's pant suit!

Taken in Zimbabwe somewhere circa 1971- not sure where, will have to check with Mum, no doubt we were heading back to the car to continue on our road trip somewhere.

Swapping Stuff

I just fell in love with Jade's pincushions as soon as I saw them, and now I've got one - and as you can see, I've put some pins in already, I was tempted to colour code the pins - had to resist that urge! We had a little impromptu swap and I made her little one a dress for summer! Jade, I hope it fits her soon, they look pretty good with T's underneath if it doesn't fit till Autumn, and thanks for the extra goodies, I'm in the process of collecting trim, for Little P's quilt, I'm going to sew on all sorts of trim/dollies fabric etc, in a very ad-hoc, random sort of way - so that was timely!

Parker and I went visiting this morning, we went to a friends house for morning tea and a play, I was so inspired by her gorgeous, organised home that I came home and immediately started throwing away all the tatty bits of plastic that have bred in our house, if it's crap and or broken then over the next couple of weeks it's going in the bin - never to be seen from again! I'm in total defenestration mode, going to be ruthless!! I'm not sure how it all got here, and when it started to take over, Big D must be in hell, not only does Parker's stuff take over the floor and bench space, mine does too, I've got way too much fabric migrating into the dining room at the moment, the thing is though, I think if I can't see it, then I'll forget to use it! Ridiculous I know.

Making Stuff

This coming Monday, we are going for a little break here:

http://www.gidgetgoestoculburra.com.au/

And so, I've been busy making things for the trip. A couple of beach bags, one for Little P and one for Mum (first and last matchy, matchy). And a button down skirt made from previously mentioned vintage brushed cotton, we are in the process of trying to take a good full body shot of me in my hand made skirt, proving difficult tonight, or I'm just a diva, I've deleted a few already. So I'll post that when and if it happens!

More Alphabet fun

Just in case you aren't sick of me yet, here's something that might tip the scales, I've been tagged again, and again by that talented minx, Ingrid! Here’s how it works:1. Players must list one fact, word, or tidbit that is somehow relevant to their life for each letter of their first or middle name.2. When you are tagged you need to write your own post containing your first or middle name game facts, word, or tidbit.3. At the end of your post choose one person for each letter of your name to tag.4. Don’t forget to leave a comment telling them that they have been tagged, and to read your blog. C = Has to be CRAFT. It nourishes me on a daily basis, keeps me feeling and looking eccentric, just the way I like it! (Wish I had another C, for COLLECTING) L = LOST - just like 'Emily' A = AFRICA - my birthplace, and a place I love I = INTUITION - I love and hate having acute intuition, sometimes, I'd rather not feel the way I do about situations/people etc. MOST of the time it's a blessing, and I should listen to it - always. R = RUDE - yup, I've got a very smutty sense of humour. E = ECCENTRIC - (refer to C,L,A,I and R). I'm tagging: Jade, Cathy and Fiona

A is For...

Some crafty animal blocks to make, B for Beaver? Don't think we have those in Australia (although it does resemble a platypus) it's printed in Australia, with designs from an American Artist. I like the Cockatoo a lot.
A rather drunk looking Koala

A guilty looking vulture

And my favourite - Mystery Animal?? This won't cut it with Parker, she will HAVE to know what it's called, and if it has no name we'll have to give it one.

White, Plastic, Italian, 60's!

What's in the bowl?

Guzzah, a melamine picnic set!!

I found this at the Op Shop today (the 2nd hand Universe has been very kind to me lately). It's atomic 60's at it's best, so sturdy and well made. I will be imaging the good times this has seen every time we use it!

I also found the brushed cotton this is sitting on, and I've told Big D that I'm on a fabric diet, so will have to slip this into the stash without showing it off to him first. Such is the life of an addict.

Flashback Friday - Nana Love

Ethel and Fred, out for a walk - my Gran preferred to be known as Jenny - must have seemed a bit more modern at the time.

I love these mocked up photos, there is a few of my Gran around this time, I think you can still do this in shopping centres!

Gran on one of her visits to Zimbabwe, check out the size of those bulls in the background on the right! We don't seem to mind, there's bananas to be eaten!

Neighbours....Everybody Needs Good Neighbours

I just want to get something off my chest re. my neighbour's neighbour's 9 year old boy. Our neighbours to the left have 2 girls aged 4 and 9, and their neighbours to the left have 3 boys, 2 teenagers and a 9 year old called Max. (No chance they will read this, I'm friendly but very private!) Max is (or was) very close to left side neighbour's 9 year old girl, they've grown up together, but the girl has outgrown him, nonetheless, he is ALWAYS over there, playing with the littlest girl. It bothers me, because I don't want this kid playing with my Little P - I think 9 year old boys should play with, well other 9 year old boys. And here, in brief is why I think this. About a year ago he was playing with the little girl (so him aged 8, her aged 3) and he was yelling at her that she was a "stupid lesbian" she was asking him what that was, he explained, in a 8 year old boy way (that's when I first thought, note to self, Parker isn't going to play next door - when he is there). A couple of months ago, I was indulging in a little Nana Nap - and Max is playing next door, out the front of their house with littlest girl, as per. I can hear them clearly and out of the blue I hear the wheelie bin slam shut and the little girl screaming, and Max laughing his head off, I think, oh great he's put her in the bin, and he had! Then he lets her out, and consoles her, and promises if she gets back in the bin he won't close the lid, she gets back in - and bang, he shuts the lid, this is really starting to piss me off, she's so little, so I say out loud, "right that's it, I have to say something" just as I am at my front door, the little girl's Dad appears and says, "Max, don't put her in the bin please". I go back to the comfort of my bed, cross, but at least he's stopped putting her in the bloody wheelie bin. THEN the other night, neighbours to the left are having a Footy Grand Final Party, and I can hear Max playing down the side bit of our houses (shared bit down the side) with the little girl, he's yelling at her "Stop lying, it's NOT YOUR Birthday" she insists that it is, and he gets really irate, and smacks her, I don't know where he smacked, I only hear this, cause it's dark, and then he says "I'm sorry it had to come to this, but it is NOT your birthday" (what an odd thing to say). Now the little girl cried, but I don't think she 'dobbed' on him. Not sure if I should say anything to the neighbours to my left, I know that I'd want to know, but don't want to be "Nosy Beryl" as big D is prone to saying when he takes the piss out of me! There, I've shared, it's nice having a public place in which to vent/brood/sulk/showoff and or otherwise off load!

Chic Not Shabby (as they say on e-bay)!

I couldn't wait to use some of the vintage fabric I found yesterday, this skirt is for a little girl who is 1 and a bit, hope it fits, I haven't made her anything for about 6 months and they grow so fast, and easy alternation if not. I trimmed it with vintage yellow gingham, and didn't iron it before I took the photo - but you get the idea.