BubbaChic

Travel Sewing Kit

A friend of mine has recently taken up sewing, so I was eager to make her something sewing related for her birthday. I decided to make a travel sewing kit - something which could hold everything you need to do a little embroidery project when you are travelling.

I started with a needle holder (tutorial here)

I used linen and vintage fabrics inside the sewing kit - with enough pockets for all the things you need.

I added some embroidery designs from Wee Wonderfuls and Sublime Stitches along with some linen to embroider on.

I finished the front with a little tree embroidery I made back in December, when we were in the midst of the ice storm!

Felt Needle Holder Tutorial

I wanted to make a needle holder for a sewing kit for my friends birthday and came up with this really simple pattern.

I am a fan of any sewing project which takes just 15 minutes and which uses up cute scrap fabrics.

...and be something handy and functional.

Simply cut one rectangle of felt 8" x 4" for the outside and another two sized 5" x 2" which will be the inside needle holders. Sew a button hole on the right hand side of the larger rectangle.

Fold the two smaller rectangles of fabric in half and iron gently. Folder the larger piece as shown above. You can judge the placement of the fold, based on the where the buttonhole is placed - iron this also.

Sew the fabric onto the front - using a straight or zig zag stitch

Line up the centre creases of the inside of the holder and the two smaller rectangles of felt and sew down the middle.

Use a seam ripper to open up the button hole

With the flap folded under the front of the holder - use a fabric pen to mark the centre of the button placement - sew on button...

et voila! a cute addition to your sewing kit!

Playing Catch Up

Its been a busy week - what with 4th July festivities and ALOT of swimming and socialising to fit in - me and the kiddos have been worn out...

We had a lovely long weekend last weekend, filled with breakfasts out, swimming round friends houses, having BBQ's and eating red, white and blue cake, whilst watching a few (probably illegal?) fireworks being lit in our neigbourhood!!

The cake was lovingly made by Maddy's sweet friend who (along with her parents and wonderful brother) shared their 4th of July with us - to give us an insight into how we should really spend this holiday. We had a BBQ (with far too much meat!) whilst the kiddies played and we enjoyed some adult company and conversation for a whole evening - with bursts of having to mediate arguments on who could play with the barbie phone next.

It was wonderful - a whole evening with friends that didn't have to get cut short at 7pm to rush the kiddies home for bed - Jay and I wondered whether, dare we say it...it could...perhaps...be the starting point that our little family is growing and entering into a new era....??!

This weeks weather has been very reminicent of home - lots of showers, scattered thunderstorms - the only difference being - it is still into the 90's. We seem to have had rather a lot of storms not directly hitting us, but developing over the city ready to move east and cause havoc. When the kiddies and I left the house the other day, I looked into the sky to see this rather strange swirly cloud above us...(click on the picture for a bigger view)

When I later looked at the weather channel to see what was happening - it does appear that this in fact was a storm developing above us...crazy! I must admit that Oklahoma certainly does have some awesome sights to see where the weather is concerned.

So, what else has been going on??...Joshy is fully chattering away now - with his favourite conversation being about 'poopy train track...' he thinks he is the funniest little man on the planet when he says those three words...?

Maddy is doing good - and thoroughly enjoying the summer. Her swimming has really come on in the recent weeks and she is getting more and more confident each time she swims now.

Jay has been busy busy working away upstairs - trying to ignore the all too often shouts of the children arguing downstairs. I have been sewing - lots, but they are all gifts and all unfinished, so no pickies yet!

After such a busy week we are all looking to some down time this weekend - although Joshua informed us tonight that we need to go to the Zoo, then swimming, then to the ice cream shop on saturday - so it appears the children have got it all worked out.....

Gifts and a Giveaway!

Its always the last few finishing touches to an outfit which seem to take me the longest - and this dress is no exception. It has been sat, finished for about 10 days, except for button holes and buttons. So this morning when my wondeful boy woke me for the day at 5.45am, I figured I had enough time to sit and finish it....

I have made it for a very special and brave little Lady at our Church, who is currently undergoing chemo. A sweet lady called Brenda, who I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting face to face (only online) sent 16 hand made bows and three soft headbands for the bows to attatch to, to go with the outfits. I was overwhelmed with Brenda's kindness in reaching out to send me her beautiful bows, thank you Brenda, thank you.

I used the Fabernmix pattern - Cara for this dress, a favourite of mine as it is such an adaptable pattern. I added the little ruffle trim to give the dress a really girly look.

I also managed to pick up some rather cute little tank tops from Old Navy, and when I brought them home I realised that the colour was a perfect match to some wonderful Amy Butler fabric...so I made a little ruffle skirt and added an applique for a second outfit to give.

and here they are in all their glory - beautiful aren't they!!!!!!

and lastly - this week marks the first anniversary of my little blog, so I am putting the finishing touches to a garden inspired mini quilt....perfect for any nature table or sewing room....or anywhere you want to put it really. Just leave me a message and next sunday at midday (Central time) I will randomly pick a winner!

Its the little things....

Literally little...tiny things which make me smile.

I am finding great joy in making newborn clothes and gifts which may have worried Jay initially, but I think he now realises that I am not in fact, getting broody - we just have rather a lot of pregnant friends!!

So, wanting to be ahead of the game, I have started making these newborn sets, consisting of an uber soft and cozy knit fabric and hand made waldorf baby dolls - with au natural filling (and the battle wounds on my fingers to prove their making)

The pattern for the waldorf babies came from Dancing Rain Dolls - and you can buy the complete kits to make your own - I cannot recommend this website enough, the owner Amy is lovely and the customer service is phenomenal. The prices are wonderful and the patterns are, in my humble opinion, the best on the market. The previous Waldorf dolls I made for Mads and Joshy at Christmas, were the first I have made - and they were easy because of the clear step by step instructions that Amy provides.

I must admit I have had lots and lots of fun in making these dolls - the last dolls I made at Christmas were done under a very tight deadline and I didn't have time to actually enjoy the process....these, I really loved making and I can see me making some more on the horizon.

The clothing sets are made with some of my favourite fabrics, including the Kumquat fishies brand fabric overruns - which my boy has taken a shine to.

There are a few more in the sets in the making right now to complete the quota we need for imminent arrivals....

Little moments of happiness

Spread all through the day....

The first glimpse of sunrise, in a house where mama is up while the house is still quiet and calm..

The first cup of tea of the day, why does the first one always taste the best?

Inspiring eye candy on Flickr

5 hours of gift sewing whilst the babes are out having lots of fun

Home made granary bread and minted pea soup ala Mary's Bread Basket and Soup Kettle

Starting Christmas in July, with the piecing of a Christmas quilt using this layer cake pack

A day in the life....

Our day....    

6.37 Wake up.....

Go and retrieve Joshy from his crib....my boy takes a while to wake up and is not usually happily initially!

Maddy gets up soon after and watches TV as she finds her voice!

Both kiddies help Mama butter the toast..

and then chill out on the sofa and savour their efforts...

At 7am, Mama grabs a really quick shower...

A self portrait with our wonderful (renters) master bathroom wallpaper!! (man! it wakes you up, if nothing else!!!!)

Pop in to say hello to Jay who is hard at work (working from home today)

Come downstairs and give my (starving kiddies) a granola bar each - breakfast #2

Kiddies then want Cornflakes (aka breakfast #3)

It looks a bit strange and dark outside, so I check the weather to find thunderstorms threatened all day...bloomin' tornado alley! I have an early doctors appointment, so I head out...

with a quick pitstop at starbucks for a grande non-fat latte on the way!...mmmmmm

Head home after the doctors, and find....

Both kiddies in Daddies office, finding great amusement in Daddies shoes!!

Enlist the help of my little poppets to mix some bread

 

Give Daddy a kiss goodbye and head out...

9.15 time to hit the road....

Kiddies ready for play!

Even though the sky looks like severe weather is on the horizon

Arrive at Church when I drop the kiddies off at the playgroud to play with their class before the storm hits...

Whilst I go and check the resource room, where I volunteer with my sweet friend once a week to get the sunday school classes sorted with their lesson...find a mess!!

But shoot off because I have a 9.30am meeting (darn it, I'm late already!!!)

Meeting finished, I spend the next 2 hours with my sweet friend, until we are able to leave the resource room like this!

Time to go get my kiddies!

They both have had a ball and have zebra paintings to bring home...

as a treat, we stop at MacDonalds to get a Happy Meal and some lunch for Mummy and Daddy...

Kiddies chill out with their Happy Meal...

Whilst Mama checks on the bread...

and tucks into the grilled chicken salad and vanilla iced coffee!!

Time for Joshy's nap...

and find Maddy (who doesn't usually nap) crashed...put quilt over her and put Joshy to bed

Joshy is sound asleep soon...

Whilst the house is peaceful, I check the mailbox to find some lovely mail!

Handmade bows from a sweet sewing mama to give a little girl we know who is battling lukiemia, fabic from Kumquat and some moda fabric also...

Mama starts dinner whilst there is a quiet moment - meaballs and tomato sauce...the kiddies favourite

Whilst the meatballs are cooking - realise that playroom and sewing room is looking like a bomb went off...

That feels better!

Washing on and laundry folded...

Dishwasher loaded....

2.30, time for some internet time to check my emails....

Maybe not!! Joshy wakes up (in a very bad mood!!)

Gorgeous hubby arrives home from a meeting, grabs some lunch and heads up to the office...

With dinner done, we head out to get Joshua a well needed haircut

Maddy holds up her map in the car (like the map on Dora) which Mummy has made to explain to her exactly what we are doing today....

Joshy is very good having his haircut...

and we pile back into the car (with lollies from the hairdresser)

Back at home, both kiddies chill out and snack on carrots..

whilst mama cuts out a toddler dress as a gift...

until I hear a commotion in the lounge and realise said carrots are all over the floor!

We call Daddy down from the office for dinner...

and all eat dinner together...

After dinner Maddy gets changed into tinkerbell outfit and flutters around the lounge (doing all she can to annoy her brother en route)

Daddy chills out with his Fathers Day gift - Gordon Ramsays book....

Mama cleans up the kitchen, which looks like mount tomato sauce has expolded in it!

Daddy gives kiddies a bath...

When kiddies get out of bath, Daddy has a shower...

and Mama prepares the living room, closing curtains and trying to make it dark and low keay so babes will realise its night time (even though it doesn't get dark here until about 8.45)

Whilst Daddy is getting kiddies into their PJ's, Mama steals 10 minutes on the sewing machine

and manages to piece a dress...

Joshua soon voices his displeasure,

So Mama has some snuggle time with babes...

Bed time!!! Daddy puts a very tired Joshy to bed, whilst mama takes Maddy to bed...

After a story, Maddy pretends to be asleep for the camera!!

And Jay and Dee get some alone time!

Watching Bear Grylls and enjoying a glass of wine!

American Traditions

1. Root beer float [The only good use of ice cream],2. I'm not loving it., 3. mmmmmmm...., 4. luquid creamer, creamering a creamer creamation

When we first came over to the States 3 years ago, there were certain American foods and beverages, which we just thought of as...well, how do I put it?....wrong!

I used to cringe at the thought of iced coffee - drinking cold coffee was, in my opinion - the pits. My feelings were very similar in regards to root beer floats, flavoured creamers and breakfasts that mixed sausages, pancakes and maple syrup all on one plate...wrong, wrong, wrong!

Over the course of the last three years, I have seen the error of my ways - and wonder why on earth I waited so long before actually trying these delicasies!!

Our fridge now contains 3 varieties of coffee creamer, ranging from french vanilla to creme brulee! I am a sucker for dipping my sausages in the maple syrup at breakfast time. McDonalds Vanilla Iced Coffees are a real treat for me, and I will often even buy the XL variety (that looks very much like a bucket!) but the creme of the creme of the bunch is the newly discovered root beer float - wow!

I don't like the taste of root beer (Jay says it tastes like medicine!) but when you mix it with ice cream - its like heaven in a glass!!!!  I can't believe I have missed this taste sensation for the last 30 years....

When life gives you lemons...

...how do you remember to make lemonade?

1. when life gives you lemons, make the best lemonade ever, 2. Meyer lemon, 3. Lemons and Limes, 4. lemon on pink

This has been a post that I have been pondering for the last couple of months - but one I stop thinking about pretty quickly, because of the negativity that is attached to it. I try to keep this space up beat - real, but positive...somewhere that I come to at the end of the day and reflect on all the good things which touched us and this does not yet fit into that category, not just yet anyway.

Just over three months ago we found out that a sweet friend has lukiemia - she is also carrying her forth child. She is an amazing lady who I connected with when we first met - I think the fact that we are both foreigners living in America helped that initial bond! Her life is one of service - both to her family and to the Lord and I think I, like many others are still struggling to get my head around the *whys?* of this situation (that i perhaps will never understand anyway)

My friend is an amazing character - strong, yet feminine and with a servants heart. She continues to give all that she has in both spirit and energy to all of those that cross her path. Her positivity and warmth touch even the most hardened heart and she is an inspiration, a very real inspiration.

I think we all need a reminder sometimes, of the unimportant (and often material) things that we place so much importance on. The things which gets us down that we know, deep in our hearts, should not have that hold over us. There is a lot to be said for simplifying and enjoying the moments in time which are ours to enjoy right now - instead of searching for the next moment - the new job, the pay rise, the next accomplishment we can tick off our mental list - just living, enjoying and being thankful for the moments of now.

Today, I am taking my sweet friends lead - and the kiddies and I are going to enjoy time with good friends...as the reality of Maddy starting school in just a few weeks, has shown me even more that I need to seize these last few moments of having both my babes at home with me.

Our weekend...

Our weekend summed up:

Spending time in the company of sweet friends, who treated us to an American feast (and the kiddies to a new experience of rollerskates!)

New member of the family, thanks to my wonderful hubby, who truely spoils me....

Listening the most uplifting and wonderful song I have heard...ever!

Making sure our little friends are well fed and looked after - especially as they have the very important of job of looking after their egg. This is a photo of Daddy on guard duty in the window above our front door (mummy is sitting on the eggs in the nest they made on our porch light) Birdseed and bread is put on the window sill to ensure they are well fed!

Daddy

and Mummy!

...we also had a very heartwarming thing happen to us this weekend. Whilst finishing breakfast in our favourite local breakfast spot, we were informed by the waiteress that our bill had be paid by another customer - who wanted to remain anonymous.......ummmm, wow.....we are very blessed indeed.

6 Years ago this week...

We started a journey, which has opened my eyes to just how wonderful you are...

I love the precision which toys are put together for our children...

and the cuddles which the kiddies get - even when extreme fatigue is kicking in..

I love the way comfort is secondary when you are needed to squeeze on to a toddler ride (and the way you make me laugh so hard I nearly pee'd when it looked like rides were not going to take your weight!)

I love the time you take to do the little things which will make us happy...

and the way you share even your most prized foods (like coldstones)

I love your tolerance...

your generosity and warmth...

6 years ago this week, we started our journey as Husband and Wife - a journey which has already given me far more than I ever imagined. Happy Anniversary Hunny, I love you.

Mystery Solved!

Back in April, on a relaxing weekend away I was able to get a girly quilt top pieced which I promptly lost...yep, gone - looked everywhere in the house and at our church, where I had taken it to show my friend when it was all pieced.

That was about 2 months ago now - and up until today I still had no idea where on earth it had gone! Today, I got a phonecall from a lady who runs a 'sacred stitches' group at our church - saying she had some good news and some other news! The good news being that they have my quilt top!! hoorah! The other news that when they found it at the church they thought it was a donation to their group and it was promptly quilted by them and will be sent to Emergency Infant Services this week.

So, that solves the mystery! I am, of course, very happy for my quilt top to be going to a worthwhile cause and I will be dropping in the matching baby shoes I made to go with the quilt tomorrow!

...and because I don't need toooo much of a reason for breaking out the New Conceptions Baby Essentials pattern, I also made 2 newborn outfits to go to the Infant Emergency Services too.....

Traditional or comtemporary?

There is just so much great eye-candy where baby quilts are concerned:

1. Paletas Quilt - texture, 2. log cabin, 3. Quilt for Sasha's Baby, 4. Maggie's Quilt, 5. pink chocolate baby quilt, 6. Baby quilt for girls -- custom ordered, 7. Baby Quilt, 8. Baby Crib Quilt Freshcut Heather Bailey Fabrics, 9. baby quilt, 10. Baby quilt, 11. Monkey Quilt 2, 12. baby quilt top Jan 2007, 13. baby quilt, 14. My baby quilt, 15. Baby Quilt 001, 16. baby girl quilt

So now all I need to know Ms. Kirsty - is whether you are a contemporary or traditional kind of gal!!? I really need to start thinking about getting the fabric...!

x

Quilt Show!

Even though I lugged my camera around the whole quilt show with me, I have no pictures of any of the amazing quilts that were on display - probably because I was doing so much of this:

I got some gorgeous pieces of vintage fabric - and a new Moda Jelly Roll but bar far the best deal of the day, was all of the vintage quilting books and magazines, which came to the grand total of $8!! I am looking forward to reading through some of them tonight with a glass of vino, when the kiddies are in bed...

whew!

Its been a tiring couple of weeks here - what with swimming lessons everyday on top of normal commitments and routines - and with a nice sprinkling of severe weather thrown in

Yesterday marked the end of our swimming lessons, with Mads going out with a bang, or should that be a jump - off the diving board...Joshy was less than impressed with the thought of jumping off the diving board, so opted for a cuddle with his teacher at the end of the board instead.

I am hugely impressed with what they have learned during the last 2 weeks and I looking forward to taking them swimming with their new sense of enthusiasm for it.

The day drew to a close yesterday with the wail of tornado sirens once again. A severe thunderstorm passed over us at about 11.30pm and left us awake until about 1am - when Jay and Maddy managed to get some sleep, but me, wedge in between them, sadly did not rest very well at all. I transferred Maddy back to her own bed numerous times in the night after the storm had passed, only to be woken up 5 minutes later by a little tap tap tap on my shoulder and the words 'scoot over Mummy....'

I admitted defeat at 6am this morning, when I opted to get up and start the day and leave the rest of the house sleeping soundly - my eagerness to get up early may have something to do with a certain quilt show which me and a girlfriend are going to this morning....ohhhh I am excited! (what was the budget again hunny? ;o)

Tonight, there appears to be more storms on the horizon, oh joy. I realised last night, when the storm had passed over and I was squished back in bed, that my tummy actually started rumbling?? I drew the conclusion that the panic mode with high levels of adrenalin that I had been in for the past hour, had probably made me burn up my dinner - and I was in fact hungry!! I also drew the conclusion last night that the sound of tornado sirens is probably the most effective laxative you can get!!!!