BubbaChic

The cold front

The snow descended upon Oklahoma today and coincided with our own cold front hitting the house - yep, me and the kiddies came down with colds this afternoon - no fun :o(

Prior to the snots hitting us full force, the kiddies ventured outside for some fun in the snow - for all of ten minutes (they are just too much like me! looks good from the inside, but when you are out in the cold...different story!!)

So, we did the only sensible thing - wrapped up warm, lit a real fire and enjoyed the snow from the inside!

The House on Heart Hill

I seem to have precious little time to do anything other than *keep up* today, so an hour to myself this evening (whilst the kiddies slept) produced the beginnings of this mini-quilt that I am just really enjoying...

I am looking forward to working in the details tomorrow -

Its unclear what will be going on here tomorrow - we are all waiting for the morning to see the impact of the snow we are expecting - a day at home, in the warm watching the snow fall outside sounds dreamy right now though! Just what the doctored ordered...especially when you have an off-colour toddler (molars coming in) and a very stroppy little drama queen who looks like she could do with a day of relaxing and chilling...

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Today was definitely hibernation weather - the wind was howling loud and making us feel very comfortable about staying indoors - especially after a short trip to the park, where Grandma took shelter and Joshy and I soon discovered that it was no fun to play outside when the wind chill was bone chilling...

So my idea of getting Joshy to run around and get some energy out before Maddy came home from pre-school - was sadly halted - and we ended up with 2 very hyper children for an afternoon indoors. After a day at pre-school Maddy seems to get fueled with a new determination to tease her brother - who is just so happy to see her home (it warms my heart) and if an argument or similar doesn't ensue, then its because Joshua has made the decision to join Team Mischief and their attention is often turned on Mummy (and Grandma)

So tonight I was more than ready to slink off to an evening with some girlfriends, whilst the two little mischief makers of the house were still running rampant. And it was kinda nice to return to a warm, calm, silent house, with my two little angels safely tucked up in bed, refueling themselves for a new day.

Our days are not often textbook, usually full of lessons (for me) and generally end with a tired Mummy - but I wouldn't have it ANY other way!

Giveaway!

Inspired by this lovely Mama, whose blog I enjoy endlessly - I have officially signed up for the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival, by the wonderful Shannon from Rocks in my dryer (have I mentioned that she is an Okie Mama like me!)

So, my little giveaway will be a mini quilt, which would be perfect for hanging on the wall in your sewing room, or using to tuck small dollies or teddies into bed at night - or anything, in fact that you want to do with it...here are some mini quilts that I am working on right now for a swap to give you a glimpse of what the it will look like....perhaps....

The quilt will have lots of hand sewing details and I always sew bindings on by hand also - so they are little works of love!

To enter - leave me a comment and the winner will be decided on Feb 3rd by a random number generator. How exciting! EEEEEKKKKKKK!

Making Memories..

Inspired by this talented and thoughtful Mama, I made this chair cover for Maddy's pre-school class this weekend.

Maddy's class already have some cute traditions for the kiddies, to make them feel special on their birthdays - including making them a crown to wear at snack time/lunch time and I thought this chair cover (complete with chalkboard fabric on the back to write their name) would make the occassion extra special.

Maddy and Josh have both given their approval to the chair cover and Maddy is eager for her teachers to see.

This week is going to be a busy one - with an upcomming fundraiser auction which I have been sewing for (I will list the details as soon as it goes live) finishing off various birthday projects and working on some mini quilts for a swap which I am excited about!

And now...off to bed!

Move over David Bailey

So here are the facts - Maddy is currently sharing a room with Grandma - Maddy seems to be very happy sharing a room with Grandma, because she gets lots of new Grandma-stuff to wade through when she she has been put to bed for the night (and is meant to be sleeping!)

We know Maddy has an appreciation for cameras and taking photos and also a real interest in it - combine this with an unwaivering confidence that she can work any camera - and you can see why cameras have to be tucked away in our house - to be brought out only when Maddy has supervision with using them.

You can imagine how much it made us all chuckle when Grandma found the following set of photos on her camera (which was left in Maddy's sight in the bedroom one night)

Photo 1: Line all toys up on pillow and get a shot::

Shot 2: Zoom in on said toys

Shot 3: Artistic flower shot

Shot 4: Making sure nobody is left out::

Shot 5: Set up various props of interest::

Shot 6: and of course - the self portrait::

I love our little lady so much - her brightness, enthusiasm and warmth makes this world a better place *insert proud sigh here*

Random Acts of Kindness

Recently, a friend mentioned how inspired she was with her Step Mum - on a visit to her house, her Mum got flustered and asked her to bring 2 drinks outside with her right now and she proceeded to go outside and present the trashmen (dustmen) with breakfast and a drink - something she did as an act of kindness for them every week.

I found this story hugely inspiring - that something so *normal* that we do everyday can be turned into a touching act of kindness when done for someone who really wasn't expecting it. Spreading some peace and love at a time when they may least expect it - that just warms my heart.

So, convicted, we did some baking this afternoon - the guys helped in a way only they can! Yes Joshy is still in his jammies in this photo and yes Maddy is in her swimming costume...

The pumpkin muffins were baked and glazed and beautified in our cute Martha Stewart cake boxes:

And left in the mailbox with a note of thanks for our mailman - who arrived just 2 minutes after this photo was taken and whilst the muffins were still warm...

I know this is something we will be doing more of in the future...

After baking (and with warm hearts) the guys hit the garden - I love this photo of both of them decked out in all their cold-weather gear - and they both insited upon the sunglasses!

Plans for tomorrow include hibernation (another cold day ahead) along with some sewing and lots of chilling!

Work in Progress

The weekend was played out at a slow and relaxing pace which gave me the opportunity to do some of the things that I have been putting off - like tidying my sewing room. Over the past few months (since the last blitz) the chaos had gradually crept back in - I no longer had anywhere to cut out any fabrics because it was covered in, well stuff, just lots of stuff waiting to be organised and put away.

So I tackled the mamouth task and the process is very cleansing. It has even inspired me to do a wall hanging for my area with some of my favourite Joel Dewberry fabrics that it seems fitting to immortalise in a wall hanging...The project is underway and completely inspired by this wonderful book - Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts

I also managed to start a Dinosaur applique as part of a project. for a special little man..

And here are a few shots of my work in progress, newly cleared but not yet finished sewing room...

Vintage dress inspiration...

The circular wall...

Craft book goodness...

Beautiful (and very Maddy-looking) print by Belle and Boo - a special Christmas gift from Mum and Dad

Inspiration

Looking for inspiration for the upcoming string of birthdays about to decend on the house...

1. dinosaur smiling, 2. :: Q-lia Stamps ::, 3. Kimono style top for a Waldorf doll, 4. free as a bird - mini quilt, 5. Robot jacket, 6. Follow your heart - linen dresses, 7. Dinosaur Quilt, 8. Ryder's Birthday Cake, 9. Ninjin Oni (Carrot Monster) 2, 10. Starfish Lollies -- unwrapped, 11. Oh Baby Girl Jewelry Box, 12. Fairytopia Doll Cake, 13. the end of the garden, 14. Some of Renee's extra clothes, 15. Autumn wallhanging, 16. Aqua & Pink Crinoline Hazel Atlas., 17. Jordyn's 2nd Birthday, 18. House 1

Letting Go..

Since moving to the States and away from the security of very close friends and family (close to our hearts and geographically close) we went through a period where we knew very few people and being out without the kiddies in tow, was just not an option. I am hideously paranoid about who watches the kids and as a result of that, we just got into the habit of not venturing out without them or Jay and I very rarely got a babysitter and went out for a meal in the evenings when they were tucked up in bed.

Grandma's visit has made us realise how important this time is - not only for strengthening our marriage but giving us both the refresher we need to come back to the kids with a new attitude and a new energy. Today was a wonderful example: after spending the morning running errands with Joshy and Grandma (whilst Mads was in pre-school) I was able to head out alone...yep, thats right - ALONE! whilst my sweet babe had his nap and was safely doted on by Grandma.

I got in the car - with a sense of motivation that I had a whole 2 hours 15 minutes to myself before needing to pick up Mads - and set about tackling all of those little things that need doing, but I just hadn't managed to fit in yet.

Honestly - it was like a breath of fresh air - I darted from one end of town to the next, simply because I could! I was Ms. Lightening - able to jump in and out of the car without tethering in children, or passing out snacks and beverages to pacify. I played my music - loud, and enjoyed singing along at full force. I enjoyed mooching through shops that I would usually have to dart through in order to keep the peace and maintain tantrum-free order.

Then I picked up my gal from pre-school and I am still feeling mentally refreshed and buzzing! On arriving home - a special day was made into an extra special day with the arrival of these beauties:

This little set has been bought for the living room wall - a living room wall that is so white and so bare, it just looks ugly (one of the pitfalls of not knowing how long you are really going to be living in a house for) With our interest and closeness to our little feathered friends - there was something that just made these beautiful prints just right for our lounge (especially with the addition of our new cushions!)

The prints were from Bird Nerd an etsy shop I could look at for hours - there are so many wonderful prints to choose from, each with its uniqueness and edge...and if there are any issues with what gift to buy me for my 30'th soon, know that anything from this little etsy store will make me smile ;o)

 

Bird Watching

Since moving to our house in March and having a dining table that overlooks the garden - we have much more of an appreciation for the wonderful nature which Oklahoma can boast - and which, to some degree, we have missed out on up until this point.

We often enjoy a variety of performances put on by squirrels during our meals - their territorial nature and fierce protection of their food sources, makes for interesting viewing. We also get to enjoy our wonderful little feathered friends - the hummingbirds in the summer and the dawn of winter has brought some new favourite birds into our lives. The Cardinals are wonderful - beautiful bright red, they stand out immediately in contrast to the now faded colours in our garden - we are all delighted when they make an appearance.

Today, whilst enjoying a lazy day at home - we noticed that the squirrels seemed to be acting very strangely - so we all huddled around the kitchen table to watch the drama unfold. One squirrel in particular was going ballistic - he was incredibly jumpy and kept darting around *his* tree giving his attention to anything which moved near him. The reason for his nerves soon became apparent...a Cooper's Hawk landing on the fence feet away from him and was loudly screeching at what I can only imagine was a mother bird. He sussed out the garden and swooped down whilst all the other birds and squirrel darted away - at light speed.

All this was soaked in by 2 very excited little people who were loving the new *big bird* and once he had departed from our garden, we quickly googled our new friend to learn about his eating habits and favourite meals (squirrels features quite highly!)

So, feeling inspired this evening, I finally finished our new cushion covers for the lounge::

 

An ode to our cardinals::

And some cute sparrow embroideries::

The embroideries came from my favourite embroidery resource - Emblibrary I am thinking I will probably need to do another 2 cushion covers, so I will have to get the squirrel and chipmunk embroideries from the same line.

But also, how can you resist this one or this one too? 

Success!

Guess who loved her new outfit?......

Joshua also got a new outfit today - he has just outgrown his little camo combats that he looks adorable in, so a trip to Target sorted that out and I also found the most fitting t-shirt in the world for him...

Mr. Mischief - seriously, it says it all!

Playing Catchup

The past few days have proved to be more interesting then expected - Maddy became unwell and was completely out of sorts for the entire weekend. My usually vibrant and cheeky little lady - was floppy, uncommunicative and had no energy at all.

Joshua, of course, had little idea of why his usually hyperactive sister was sleeping on the couch for most of the day - and would often try and entice her away from the couch with the usual teasing tactics that would result in her chasing him - Maddy, however was not interested.

I am pleased to report that the Princess of the house is now fully recovered and back to her usual antics - Joshua, who has for the few days been lulled into a false sense of security - got Maddy'ed today - full force (and then some) and was cajoled, yanked around, teased and generally the full focus of her attention again, stopping only briefly to tell Grandma and Mummy a variety of stories that are mulling around her head - which can involve anything from chickens chasing her and Daddy to a complete review of her life story, beginning in Mummy's tummy....I have got to start writing these stories down - they are hilarious.

Crafting has been a bit slow, for the reasons above but I did start a few projects this weekend:

Birthday outfit for the Turtle-mad man of the house (little man that is)

Cushion covers for the lounge, embracing our beautiful little feathered friends who we have all become hugely enamoured with - The Cardinals

Outfit for Maddy using super scrummy and soft organic interlock I totally have stepped outside my comfort zone with this one and mixed prints, solid and striped interlocks and produced something a little more Euro'esque than I usually do...the jury is still out on whether it is a hit - Maddy, I mean Princess Maddy ('Mummy, don't call me Maddy call me Princess Maddy') has not yet seen it and I am not sure whether she will embrace the difference or not....watch this space...

Inspiration

1. boy quilt finished!, 2. Full Moon Baby Jumpsuit, 3. pink cupcake, 4. Green Vintage Dolls Dress, 5. Birds on a wire Necklace, 6. Cat and Bird Felt Art, 7. a closer look, 8. fresh_traditions_quilt, 9. Made during the weekend, 10. Spherey Family Portrait, 11. Untitled, 12. Sacha's Dolls, 13. engage landing configuration, 14. Felt Bird Pouch, 15. Quilt - Watching a Flower Bloom

Let the fun begin..

The past few days have been an eye-opener to me - my baby boy, my newborn, my sweet Joshua has official reached a milestone - the milestone of mischief. With a brand new sense of adventure and sense of impishness, he is testing every boundary there is - all with a cheeky smile planted on his face!

Maddy has embraced this new era and Joshua has become pretty much the best thing since sliced bread - I have caught her looking at him in amazement over the past few days - with a renewed respect.

It has also provoked some more mothering instincts in her with him - and more often than not now, Joshua's highchair is wheeled over next to her place at the table, so that she can feed him his food, butter his bread and generally fuss over him. It is also required that Joshua needs to now accompany Maddy each time she visits the toilet - where he is told to sit on the potty (next to the loo) where he remains until she has finished...they have become quite a double act!

As you can imagine - with such a formidable team now at work within the house - there is never a dull moment! and whilst I am still taking in all the changes and still slightly bemused by the rapid growth of my children and their personalities, I know what we are living today will be the contents of the funny family-stories we tell to them in the future.

Remembering to Breathe..

Some days, you get the shake up that you need to see the world differently. Those days are needed in this house - where commitments for others and being busy seem to come so naturally. I hate to think of the number of times I have overlooked something beautiful or special because of the distractions which easily take my focus from these things.

Its easy to overlook these special moments in the bigger picture of things - because the moment of today, now, makes it unfavorable. This sunrise was a perfect example: Joshua's habit of waking up decidedly early has meant that both Jay and I (on alternate days) are getting up early with Josh and starting the day a little sooner than planned or expected.

But then you get the reality of all those moments you would have missed - sharing the sunrise with a little guy who looks with awe at the *lights* Spending that quiet and precious time with him - before the onslaught of the day begins. Going through the morning rituals of opening curtains, making tea and relaxing together - which usually don't happen on busy mornings.

When I look back at this time of early wakings, it will be moments like today that will stick with me - and I can only imagine they will become more special as time progresses and my babes grow bigger.

Small but perfectly formed

Tomorrow is pajama day for Mads at pre-school which she is excited about. The only issue that I have with that - is the fact that our little lady has very strong ideas on what she wants to wear everyday - and I know tomorrow will be no exception.

I also am very aware that Maddy usually opts to sleep in her old play clothes (which have generally been rescued from the garage as soon as she realises they have been packed away - Dad, does this trait sound at all familiar?!) And, of course, this is no problem at home - where she can wear whatever she likes, whenever she likes...however, whilst at pre-school, I do like her to wear something that::

a) Fits her

b) Is unstained

c) Is proportional to the temperature

So, more often than not - Maddy and I negotiate in the mornings - she chooses something wildly inappropriate to wear (think voile summer dress with sandals when its almost freezing temperatures) and we start the arbitration process.

Fast forward to tomorrow and you will start to see why I spent an hour this evening making mermaid PJ's for her doll....yeah, because I am hoping that she will favor her own well fitting, warm and unstained mermaid PJ's....watch this space...

I have also started sewing some more dresses for Maddy's doll to make her up a little selection of clothes for Mads birthday next month. Here is the cute Heather Ross Tadpole fabric::

Joshy's doll also got a new pair of cords tonight and here he is modeling the sweater that Grandma lovingly knitted him from this amazing pattern

On a more serious note - we had some research to carry out tonight under strict test conditions - whether Jay could tell the difference between English Cadbury's and American Cadbury's. I busied myself in carefully preparing the samples - ensuring that they were similar sized and nothing obvious that would give anything away.

Jay took his role within the research seriously and quickly evaluated that A was American and B was British....ummmm, yeah....maybe I should have thought of how obvious my lettering choices were....?

The Plan for 2008:

So, here they are, not necessarily my resolutions for the year - but the *start as you mean to go on* frame of mind that I hope may last well beyond next week....

This year I would like to:

Start taking care of myself - eat better, e....ex.....exer....can't. quite. get. it. out....EXERCISE - there, said it, damn nasty word....should really start trying to be a little more active *sigh*

Saviour every moment of play time with the kiddies...can't quite believe our first born will may be starting school this year  (the homeschooling option is looking more attractive by the day!)

Crafting and baking with the kiddies - although the cleanup operations are sometimes a little overwhelming - the joy that my guys get out of being creative warms my heart

Get my own creative juices flowing - whilst also trying to be a little less ambitious. The number of projects that I haven't started because they have spiraled out of control in my own head whilst still in the thinking stage, is, well, ludicrous.

Stop going with the flow and start creating what inspires me. Sometimes I find myself making what I think I ought to be doing - as oppose to what I want to be doing...gotta stop that.

Make at least one new meal for my family each week...

Think thats about it for now - no doubt I will think of more.

and to wrap up 2007 completely, here are a few more photos, which I can share now that my computer is working again (Thanks Hunny x)

Never one to save the wrapping paper - especially when you get a glimpse of what is inside! Here is my new addition - she has settled in well and is enjoying life surrounded by her peers.

Showing my appreciation....

Chatting to loved ones across the pond back home...

Chillin'

More chillin'

Playing...

Eating...

Finding new best friends!

Being together...

A slice of 2007 in Pictures...

Ones done, ones begun....

We are bringing in the new year in good style - with major irritating computer issues. So, whilst I have lots to share and lots of photos ready to go, the computers are not co-operating!

So, I will just leave you with this - Happy New Year, may 2008 be filled with all that you desire and hope for and with stacks of happiness and love.

x