Away

Im off to Bali tomorrow for my good friend Kristens wedding. Thats her in the hilarious picture from the Hen's day last weekend. Looking forward to a weekend of lots of the above, lying poolside in the sun and good laughs.

Liberty Love

Its no secret that i absolutly love silks and beautiful fabrics, my wardrobe is full of them, so the liberty line of fabrics are right up my ally. Unfortunatly i dont have many of them due to there price tag!! But on Friday I suddenly wanted to make a high waisted skirt like the anthropologie one in my previous post to wear to my good friends Hens day the following morning. I quickly raced to Calico & Ivy, who i think are one of the largest stockist of Liberty fabric, and got 70cm of my favorite print. Unfortunatly a trip to the ER on Friday night for a small problem meant i didnt start the skirt till 7am and i had it finished by 11 in time to make K cupcakes for the hen and get dressed and out the door.

I cant read patterns, im just terrible at it. When i made the Oliver & S dress, i had to keep asking my husband questions on what the picture meant and how that related to the instructions. But from a picture i usually have no trouble working out how to make it. This skirt was relativly simple and i LOVE it, it got so many comments throughout the day, i will definatly be making another one.

I bought 70cm of the fabric thinking that would be enough, but it wasnt. Luckily i had 30cm of this print already in my stash which was the perfect amount for the sash/bow around the top. It is fully lined with a poly/silk lining in red and has a pocket on each side and an invisible side zip. I think you could do without the pockets and it would probably look better.

I wrote instructions out, but got muddled, and didnt want to give you wrong directions. If anyone is interested let me know, and ill try to do up some better instructions. Mabey the next one i make ill do a tutorial as i go, cause this really is a super cute summer skirt and with its high waist is very fashionable and easy to wear.

Here it is on my very anorexic manequin.

And on myself.

An inside pic of the lining.

Fiddly fingers

I have been cutting, a whole lotta 2.5" squares. Inspired from Allison at Cluck Cluck Sew. She did the most fabulous 'icecream quilt', which was perfectly named for her vibrant colourful quilt!!

Most of the squares were cut with scraps, with a few extras of Denise Schmidt thrown in, cause i love it so much!!

I bought Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross a few weeks ago, and i must say i just love it. It must be one of the best books ive ever bought, the patterns are wearable and straight forward. I made the Summer blouse, but simply altered the length of the sleeves to short sleeve and then folded them up. I made it in a size M, but it ended up huge so i unpicked the sides and cut about 3" off it. Now it fits perfect. I would have liked it to be a bit longer, but its ok for my upcoming Bali holiday. I have some lovely lightweight fabric i hoarded for $2 pm from Spotlight last year that im going to make a longer version of as a dress. Overall very easy to follow and alter, and it took me an hour.


I bought this delicious wool the other day, yes too add to my craft obsession, ive added knitting, thanks to a youtube clip, so that i could learn the basics. I think ill make a scarf with this, although it would make a lovely beanie for Mason.

I quickly popped into Textile Traders yesterday, and as usual i was delighted to find amongst all the usual fabrics a bunch of 'designer' ones. I almost squealed with delight when I saw the Heather Ross print for $6-pm on clearance.

And lastly ive been a little naughty with the credit card lately. A good friend ever so nicely offered to fullfill my American shopping obsession, and is going to ship things to me in AU!! I went a little mental, Mothers Day is this weekend though, so hopefully I can use that as my excuse!!

I absolutly have an obsession with Anthropology. If i could deck my whole house out in their products i would be delightfully happy!!! (also rather broke!) Ive been eyeing off these frames for a while and finally gave in. They will go in my sewing room as a mural on the wall.

I have a bird factuation atm, and am buying all things birdie.

This is a patchwork frame. Isnt it beautiful? All stitched detail.

I had these in my cart for a few weeks, but when i went to purchase them they were sold out in a M:( Devastated. Ive tralled through Ebay, but there are none around. Oh how i want them!



And this little dress i thought was simple and gorgeous. Im going to make it, with some red and pink cherry blossom liberty fabric. I think it looks pretty easy to make.

I also bought some sheets from Pottery Barn Kids. I love there stuff. i bought the Penelope line, and also the alphabet line. The alpha ones ill cut up to put in a full size quilt for Mason's future bed, and the penelope ive been wanting since it came out, but it sold out and they have only recently restocked. I know i have no reason for it atm, with two little boys, but i just love it, and ill cut it up for a bird quilt for myself. (these birds are frequenting a lot arent they!)

I bought the first season of this from Amazon just after i had Byron. I ordered a whole lot of tv shows that looked good, but that never aired in Australia. October Road i thought was wonderful, and i was left hanging at the end of the first season... is it his kid???? By chance i pulled it out the other day, and rewatched it, then googled to see if a season two was made, and lo and behold season two got released that very day!!! So i cant wait to get this and find out what happens.

Were still having a warm 28 degrees here in WA, so ive been taking the kids in the pool after the gym. I must look a sight with two littlies hanging off me. Byron is getting more confident and with a floaty can swim the length of the pool. Mason however is a worm and just wriggles out of your grasp so easily, so hes been doing a few face plants lately. There great though, aside from the two year old 'selective' hearing whenever Mum calls, i really love watching them interact and play together.

This may be my favorite quilt ever!

Park City Girl is hosting an online Quilt festival!!! There are so many beautiful quilts to look at (and wonderful new blogs to get addicted to!) There are also loads of prizes, so click the link and go and have a browse. Mabey go and make a coffee first as you may not be leaving the computer for a while!

So i finished sewing down the binding last night, and im pleased to say that im very happy with the finished product! Phew, after how long these blocks took to make, i was praying that once it was finished i still liked it. It looks great on our bed, i think ill just make two european cushions to match. Excuse the poor light, my antient Hills Hoist line has finally been pulled down ready for my new studio to be added on!! So no more hanging quilts on the line for photos.

The blocks are all 24 x 24 cm in Amy Buter Midwest Modern fabric in the blue/green colour way. Its King size about 200 x 220 cm.

The back is strip pieced (because it was so huge and I only had 2 yards of the Amy Butler fabric left) and then i coincedently had 6 of the blocks left so i did a strip of the blocks as well too tie it in.

Anzac day public holiday today here so not a lot going on. Hopefully some sewing, and i may try to take the boys for a quick photo session this afternoon. This was the result of one the other day. How did i manage to get such uncooperative children when it came to photos??




I had a wonderful image in my mind, of cute brotherly love with the wagon, but instead they both were so unimpressed we went home after twenty minutes. LOL children are so unpredictable!

My favorite time of the year

I really think it is. Its not too hot that you are uncomfortable, the nights are cool so that you can actually get some sleep and arent having to throw the doona off during the night, and there is that blissfully warm golden light that shines through, and those beautiful autumn leaves falling. I love it!

Went up to the hills today to a lovely park that had an abundance of different things for the kids. Byron had a blast sliding down the lovely muddy hills and playing in any direction i wasnt. So im exhausted, and off to bed.

Look at those eyes....

Arent they amazing?! I fell in love with newsboy hats when i saw a baby wearing them in the GAP campaign. I had to get my hands on them, and a friend from my EB mothers group was kind enough to buy the boys each one while she was in the US. I wish GAP would hurry up and ship to AU!! Here is Mason in his, ill take both the boys for a autumn photo shoot this week.

Todays agenda

Today has been one of those blissful Sunday's. The way you would like them all to be. Well aside from the 6am baby wake up. I sorted through Bryon and Mason's clothes to put away what doesnt fit and get out all the winter stuff. I cant quite believe that time is going so quickly. As i got out Byron's size one stuff, i felt like i had only packed it away last week. I cant believe Mason is already wearing size 1!! Another boofa like his brother!

The boys played so nicely together in Byron's room which was lovely. For a whole 2 hours while i sorted and then vacummed and cleaned. This is exactly the thoughts i had in my mind when i decided to have them close together. The hope that they would play together and be good mates. Im sure they will be, with a few spats over which car is being played with. There have already been a few incidents where they are playing tug of war with toys.

I have this to quilt this afternoon while the boys are having their afternoon nap. I seem to finally have them both down at the same time to allow myself some sewing time! Its for our bed, and i love it so far!! Hope i dont stuff up the quilting!! Its massive, a king size 220 x 190 cm in Amy Butler fabric. 30 24 x 24 pieced squares in different patterns. The back is strip pieced. I think it would look fantastic in a diagonal quilting, but im going to free motion it as i suck at sandwhiching quilts, and i can see its a bit bumpy in some spots, and i hate it when it gathers when i line quilt it. Hopefully i can show you the finished product in a few days.

And lastly for the day, ive got Gareth to agree to come to the dog beach this afternoon to take Dexter for a walk while the boys have a play and a swim. How lucky we are to still be having 30 degrees in mid April!!

What Ive been sewing lately

Baby quilt for a good friend who had her second baby girl in January. Shes from my EB mothers group. Loved using the Sandi Henderson fabric, this is cot size and was my first attempt at free motion quilting - im hooked!!!

Size 4-5 dress

Dress using some new lightweight japanese cotton. From the Oliver & S bubble dress pattern. Really simple and easy to make, and looks great! This is a 12-18 months.

Quilt for our king bed. Its king size. Inspired from this. Very easy to make, just time consuming and its a very heavy quilt, but i like it like that. I LOVE the finished product. Now to sneak it onto the bed without Gareth commenting on how girly it is. I think i should be entitled to it being the only female out of 4 males??!!

Usual pieced back. I love a pieced back it think it ties it in really well.

An eye spy quilt for a dear friends son. It was his Christmas/ 2nd birthday present. Single bed size.

Byron's new bedding. I gave in on the animal theme, hes just not into them, so did his fav, transport. I love this fabric that i used for the sheets, and then incorporated it into a single bed size quilt.

Front

Back

Flight horror

Thought I'd tell you about my joyful flight to the Uk last month.

Gareth gets trained in Amsterdam for certain jobs, and Ive always wanted to fly over and meet him so that we could visit his family that live in the UK but there has always been something that has stopped me from going. This time when he went though, there was no way i was even going to consider it, as I would be flying over on my own with both boys, and if that wasn't off putting enough, it was still freezing when we were due to go, and I envisaged how wonderful it would be trying to keep Byron inside over there. But on the Tuesday before Gareth was due to come home I suddenly decided to go. The next days were frantic organising flights, emergency passports and packing, not to mention finishing my major assignment that was due while we were away. We left on the Sunday flying out while it was 38 degrees.

I was prepared, well at least i thought i was prepared for a horror flight. I'd packed every distraction possible for the flight, an abundance of snacks, really small ones that take ages to eat, loads of toys and books and the portable dvd player. Byron was overtired from not having his day sleep when we got to the airport so was throwing himself on the ground even while i was just trying to check in. I had way too much stuff, the two boys. nappy bag, Byron's backpack, plastic bag with everything that didnt fit in those bags, the pram and the prams transport bag. So i decided to gate check the pram, so that i could use it to get through customs. (gate checking the pram is a brilliant perk that the airlines dont really mention. You can leave it at the gate and its waiting for you as you get off the plane at each stop. It also doesnt get counted as part of your weight luggage!!) Because i was gate checking the pram i had to have it upstairs an hour before take off, which only gave me 15 mins to get through all the checkpoints. I was a b it panicky, so we get to customs and i realise that the lady who checked us in, hasnt given me our passports back. OMFG!! So we race across the airport, downstairs and grab them, then back up to the massive line in customs.


5 minutes left. F#CK!!!


Luckily a customs man must have seen the panic in my eyes, and ushered me through ahead of everyone, so we race through onto the baggage checkpoint. I have to get Byron out of the pram, Mason out of the sling and unpack the countless amounts of food and liquid products i have in my bags. Finally where through, repack everything and up to the terminal where im greeted by a grumpy middle aged woman who clearly has never had children. She tells me im late for the pram check in, and that ' i must hurry to get it packed down so it can go through'. No worries. I hadn't thought this through. How on earth am i going to get the pram packed down (not a simple umbrella strolla) whilst carrying Mason and containing Byron? I ask if the lady can help me and she says 'no i cant hold your children or pack your pram down'. Right. Can i turn around now and go home? Luckily chivalry is not dead and a lovely old man comes up to me and tells me to direct him on how to pack the pram away. In the meantime the mean woman is having a right old time repeatedly telling me to contain my child and stop him swinging on the rope!

Calm for 5 minutes as Byron watches the planes take off and im thankful to see an abundance of other parents with tots waiting for the same flight. The calling comes for people with children, and i try to rustle Byron over to the entrance. Not a hope, hes happy watching the planes. I bribe, beg and plead, but nothing works. So i drag. Not a particularly nice sight, but what could i do? Everyone is staring as i try to hoist Byron up to my left hip while Mason is on my right. I can just imagine what they are thinking 'please dont be seated near me', but hey, thats what i would have been thinking 4 years ago. Bare in mind that Byron weighs 17 kg and Mason at that point was 9kg. Plus the 3 bags of luggage in my hand, i looked light a right pack horse. Byron is kicking and screaming and putting on a lovely 2 year old display while i try not to drop one of them and head to board the plane. Again a lovely lady comes up to me, grabs all my bags and tells me not to worry, shes done this many a time, with all 6 of her kids.

Once on the flight im petrified and im just praying that the phenergan ive just given Byron has its intended affect and sends him off to dreamland for the rest of the flight to Singapore or at least some of it. Nope, seems like the altitude has had an opposite effect and he's as high as a kite. Well that will teach me for trying to calm my child with medicine! He doesnt sleep a wink of the flight, and i spend the next 4 hours trying to restrain him to our seats. We land at Singapore only for me to realise that i have to change terminals to get to our next flight. I cant believe it. At Singapore this means taking a sky train and walking a few km's. At 11pm with an asleep Mason and a zombie eyed Byron, plus the pram and all the bags. But we do it, and get the train, and thankfully in the new terminal there is an indoor playground that keeps Byron entertained for the next 2 hours.

We board for Manchester at midnight, and Byron's eyes thankfully drop. Unfortunately i have someone else right next to him, so i cant lay him down, and so he only sleeps for 4 hours. We have turbulence off and on for the first 5 hours, which means constantly picking Mason up and moving him too and from the bassinet. And right when im stuck with Mason asleep on my lap i get wonderful cramps and my joyful period arrives, first time since being pregnant with Mason. Oh the timing!!

The next 12 hours passed, and i found myself doing just what a friend said, every hour that goes by is an hour closer to landing. I clock watched. We land, get off the flight, go through all the checkpoints, its 5am in the morning their time, we've been awake for 39 hours and its been 39 painful hours. We then wait 2 hours for Gareths flight to arrive from Amsterdam and were off.

There were a few hiccups along the way. We had a hire car with sat nav, as we had no idea where we were going, but the sat nav wasnt available when we got there, so we had to rely on directions. We didn't follow them very well, missed the turn off and set about driving for an extra 2 hours till we could work out how to get on the other side of the M16.

It was a great week, and im so glad that we went. We met Gareths Grandma, Aunty's & Uncles and cousins, and got to see so many wonderful things (including snow!!) and of course i had a blast shopping. It was tiring, but its given us the confidence to go on more holidays with the kids (next time though i think we'll pick Club Med for the great kids club, so that it is actually a 'holiday') two days after i got home from the UK i flew to Sydney for a weekend with the girls and i didnt even bat an eyelid when there were no bassinets and i was seated next to a businessman on a full flight. I was completely prepared and it sailed by!

Easter fun

I must say i have loved Easter this year. Usually i find it such a bore, no shops open and nothing to do. This year, amongst the madness i have revelled in it. It has been blissfully nice to just 'do nothing'. We have recently started our renovations to our house, and so Gareth has been working on it daily while he is off work. So this weekend while he moved the cubby house to its new location, the boys and i sat outside and literally just 'veged'. Well on Friday morning we had to, as i couldnt really move aside from getting up to be sick, i had a completly self induced hang over from a night out with the girls that involved way to many cocktails, numerous taxi rides, lots of dancing and laughs and a rather late entrance home.

It was my father in laws birthday on Friday so just after lunch we went down to the river, and some friends brought their boat that we mored in front of where we were sitting, and we had a lovely picnic. The kids went back and forth from the boat to land, and the older kids did some biscuiting. I took loads of photos, as usual, but this day was extra important, as time is precious with my father in law. In January he was diagnosed with Mesothelioma so he hasnt been well. We all of course hope for a miracle, but in the meantime we are just trying to make the most of the days.