I have been playing with my design for the Bernina Fabric Design Contest and come up with this new layout (which I think is my favourite)
If you like it, you could re-pin it on pinterest! :o)
That would mean a vote my way!
I have another design (I think you can add up to ten) a completely differerent and more whimsical design depicting cat - different breeds, in cat-poses. But it needs some more work...hopefully sometime this week I will get it finished!
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You see this little picture below? The ones with ostriches and feathers? well I designed it for a competition. The Bernina fabric design competition.
and if you clicked through to Pinterest and re-pinned it for me...I would love you forever!
A re-pin is akin to a vote and votes make me grin.
So if you like it and want to make me grin...go vote!
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My computer died a couple of weeks ago. A quick, swift painful death that left me feeling like my right arm had been chopped off. The cause (which Mr B sussed out) was a rather vicious virus...a 'backdoor trojan' (oooer) that I have no idea how I got.
The battle of man vs computer lasted 5 days and involved Mr B rebuilding my PC (or something like that) there were a variety of expletives and huffing sounds that came from that end of the room during the task...but in the end he won. And now i'm back online.
You see Mr B often does these jobs, where things get fixed and I have no idea of the process. Its kinda like when people ask me what my husband does for a living and I mumble something about planes. I came across this diagram below recently and immediately text it to Jay as it pretty much sums up my thoughts on his job::
So the lack of computer...and photos...and emails that I could answer properly left me with only a few options - clean and sew.
So I did both.
Maddy's bedroom, that I worked so hard on a few years ago, got an update, to cater to her growing tween needs. She now has space for a desk and chair, so I am scouring Criaglist and flea markets for something suitable. She keeps asking for a 'Rock star' bedroom (although she can't tell me exactly what that entails) so I am also on the hunt for suitable decor for that.
Joshy's bedroom has never truly been 'done' It was painted when we moved into the house and decked out in Super Mario a couple of years ago. But he has now moved on and I need to spend some time figuring that out. I love the Pottery Barn Star Wars bedding set but we don't really have an odd $500 hanging around for a bedding set that will put me into cardiac arrest everytime he has a nosebleed (and both my kids are bleeders)
I do want to get him a Wampa Rug though, well because that is just the coolest darn Star Wars thing I have ever seen. I also think he will appreciate some remote controlled Lightsabers. He has requested some cool shelving so that he can display his Lego models too....and so the search goes on..
I am also mid-research and mid-plans of 3 impending birthdays...and one is a biggie! The man of the house will be turning 40 in just a few short weeks, followed swifty by my turning 35...then Maddy turning 9 and finally Josh a few weeks after that turning 7.
So there are parties aplenty to plan. One thing that has my miffed (again) this year is the clothes that are out there for girls Maddy's age. You see its kinda of a family tradition that Maddy gets a new outfit to wear on her Birthday. She is not a little girl anymore and she is not interested in big pouffee party dresses, but why does it seem to go from thet - straight into skimpy/tight outfits, and lets face it, most of them look completely flammable too!?
Where are the cute, age appropriate girls-wear? Little fashionable outfits that do not show every contour of a little girls body? That are comfortable and hardwearing but don't cost the earth? So may of the cute (and expensive) stuff - like Matilda Jane just doesn't cater to the over 8's. There is a niche in the market people...maybe this is my calling!
Although it has been a while since my girl has let me make anything for her!!
Valentine outfit from Feb 2010
Spring dress from May 2009
Matchy Mama-Maddy outfits for a special Mother-Daughter Tea March 2009
Easter 2008
Christmas 2007
The cogs are in motion now....
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Its been a crazy week...months of work to get ready for a 'Handmade Holiday' night at the church last night. So much work! I feel like I have be living and breathing holiday recipes, gift ideas and holiday decorating for the longest time.
Saying that I was nervous having to speak at the event would be an understatement. I had a full on breakdown 24 hours prior to getting up on stage and told Jason, through tears that I just couldn't do it. My fear of public speaking felt palpable at that stage.
But I knew that, no matter what happened - time would still pass - second by second, minute by minute and soon i'd be able to look back and say 'its over and I am proud of what we achieved.'
and I am.
So as this very nervous, sleep deprived Mama got up on stage last night - with sweating (but dead cold) palms and a wibbly voice - I prayed hard. I prayed that I could get perspective on this. Whilst the fear and situation seemed all consuming at that moment, I knew that in the great scheme of things it was ridiculous to be this stressed over something that was not life and death.
And second by second, minute by minute I got through it.
The pics are a few items that the Kids have been making over the last few weeks, that I spoke about at the event. I will show them in more detail soon, but today I want to switch off from 'Handmade Holidays' and focus on this neglected little family of mine. Who all deserve extra time and attention for their part in helping their Mama achieve her goal.
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We are hosting a costume party on Saturday for Maddy's class. I say 'we' because it is going to be here, but really Maddy and her best friend Lilly are hosting the party..
after trawling Pinterest, I caught a glimpse of this wreath and knew I wanted to give it a try, using the scraps of my halloween fabrics.
With the fabrics cut up into strips, the tying began....
and just like this lady, my JoAnns were out of the letters 'BOO' so 'EEK' it had to be!
I added a dollar store spider dangling down from it, just for extra creepiness...
One project down...100 more to go..!
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I am heading out for my penultimate tennis lesson this morning. I. Love. It.
I am not brilliant by any stretch of the imagination, but it is such fun - I can't believe it has taken me this long to try tennis.
The teacher reminds me of Agador Spartacus from the Birdcage. He speaks exactly like him and it makes me grin.
I finished up one viking set for my nephew yesterday::
I picked my favourite viking to use as an applique on the top::
I love sewing for babies...
Today (after tennis) we are playing hooky and pulling the kids out of school at lunch time to take them to the fair.
They are super excited and I'm surprised they managed to get any sleep last night!
I am intrigued by the new foods at the fair this year...chocolate covered corndogs and fried watermelon...may have to give the corndogs a try!
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I have been trying out a few 'pinterest shortcuts' recently, which have turned out to work amazingly::
...resulting in the perfect hard boiled egg...that is also easier to peel..who knew!!
Cooking bacon in the oven - no more watching the grill (or forgetting about the bacon whilst you are cooking the eggs and burning it)
Amazing crockpot chicken recipe we have recently tested (twice)
(I am the only one who feels like superwoman when dinner is in the crockpot by 8am??)
and whilst the dinner is cooking in the crockpot,
I shall be scouring back copies of Ottobre to find the perfect baby pants pattern to turn these rather wonderful vikings, into a pair of the cutest baby pants for my sweet nephew back homes (who is currently getting over a double ear infection...bless :o(
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Its underway and its a beast...
I spied this little beauty on Urban Outfitters last year and feel in love and then I saw the price...$199 for the duvet cover and $50 for the pillowcases...ouch.
But it was so pretty and perfect, until the reviews started coming in::
Thin, easily torn, arrived with holes in, not machine washable, easily wrinkled and looked old and worn after just a few washes...double ouch.
But it is was sooo pretty and I haven't seen anything in the last year that even comes close to how much I love this duvet (and Mr B has now accepted that the master bedroom will contain ruffles!)
So after spying a king sized white duvet cover on clearance in Target for around $20, I knew I needed to make my own. I also knew I needed to learn from the reviews on Urban Outfitters and I needed sturdier and more durable fabric.
I also noticed that they have not hemmed the ruffles (just serged them) so I knew I would need to not only serge top and bottom of each ruffle, but I needed to hem them properly also.
6 hours on and I now have 8 ruffles attatched. Gol-ly, its a long (and tedious) process, but I know it will be worth it.
what have I started....??
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On the go right now::
A new Amy Butler 'Weekender' bag. I finally admitted defeat last night that I was not going to get it finished before today (a self imposed deadline!) when I kept making stupid mistakes and getting frustrated...time to walk away from it and take a little break.
enjoying the process of creating is a huge part of why I do it and when the process itself is frustrating and stressful, I realise it is time to take a break. I may have another look at it today although I am still rather undecided on that yet!
Another project that I would like to get done and dusted this weekend is turning this plain white duvet cover::
Into this gorgeous ruffley duvet cover for the master bedroom::
and with a long weekend ahead (kiddies off school on Monday) I am thinking it may be do-able.
I got the most beautiful gift this week...a gorgeous hand-made purse. All leather and suede...
Made by this wonderful (and local to me) lady: Love Crazy Designs
The purse matches my cuff perfectly! I could literally make a list a mile long of all the jewellery I would love from her collections::
This necklace...in yellow...swoon
Triple bracelet - personalised with the kids names...how amazing and unique is that?
who doesn't need this reminder daily?
this would 'dress up' any outfit...and also be the perfect accessory for something more dressy...
sqeeeeeal!!!!! So awesome...got to stop looking!!
Beautiful and unique though huh?
Right, now where's that duvet cover.......
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I hosted Pinterest Night No. 2 on Friday for some girlfriends.
They had 2 instructions - bring a project to work on and bring mexican snacks! They did good!
The array of homemade dishes and dips was phenomenal!
I provided the vat of margarita (made very kindly by Mr B, whist I was panicking that the house still wasn't tidy and the marmite whirls still weren't made...!)
I found these napkins at Pier One and thought they would be very appropriate for a mexican-snack night..
The crafting and conversation went from 6-10.30pm with many a belly-laugh (and a margarita) had along the way
Each lady worked on something completely different, which was great to give us all ideas for future projects. E used a pattern from One Yard Wonders to whip up a bag for her Yoga mat. This was her first completed sewing project and I think she now has the bug! ;o)
Kate worked on a yarn-wrapped letter, which turned out beautiful! Despite her hubby later asking if the kids made it...men??!!!!!
It was such a fun night and I sooooo enjoy getting some Mama time crafting with friends. My wonderful hubby took the kiddies out to the movies, allowing me to fully appreciate time with my friends.
And what did I work on? Eating mainly...with a bit of chardonnay drinking and chatting thrown in there too!! Perfect!
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