Recent Commissions

Recent makings for new bubs...



'C' Cushions all 'round, mini Gocco laundry bags (perfect for the nappy bag!), flannels, softie - Harold the Giraffe, pattern by Hop Skip Jump, and little card.

Life Changes

Such a long time between posts, how boring for anyone dropping by! Life has been full, changes are afoot, Ruby is thriving. I've tried numerous times to get to a post, but have been sidetracked one way or another, but I have been making. Making and thinking about making things... and thinking about our up-coming holiday to the States. We are so very excited (it's all Ruby can talk about ; ) Ha!)

What's been happening around here?

We had a visit to Adelaide from my brother-in-law and his family from Port Lincoln. We had a fantastic long weekend of lunches, dinners, ten pin bowling, poker, picnics and dam building, not to mention my mother-in-laws' birthday.




My 32nd Birthday was celebrated in style. My wonderful sister took Ruby for her first sleep over, leaving DB and I to dine here, and enjoy cocktails here. I was spoilt the exact right amount!



Our work lives have been going through a bit of an upheaval. DB and I have decided to sell our share of our business (of which I have been involved very minimally since Ruby was born). DB is ready for some new challenges, and for now I'm going to concentrate on the Little. It's been pretty stressful few weeks making the decision to move on, but I think it's the right thing for us at the moment. I'm going to miss working (even it it has been a little bit), and having the option to go back to my job whenever I wanted was nice. Now I'll officially be a stay-at-home Mum, and while I am really happy about that, I still have lingering weirdness about not having a 'paid' job. DB is fantastic, so supportive and happy for me to be at home with Ruby, or go back to work, or a bit of both and so on, I am so thankful for him.

Countdown is on now... three weeks until our overseas jaunt to the United States. We are planning a bit of a driving holiday, a slightly extended stay in NY and then some time down in Kentucky with DBs brother and family. It will be wonderful to see all of them again, and to meet Milly!

At this stage our loose plan is to fly into LA and drive over to NY, NY - checking out the sights along the way (our loose itinerary includes: Las Vegas, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Colorado Springs, Denver, through Kansas up to Chicago down through Indiana/Ohio to Philadelphia, on to Washington and then up to New York). Stay in NY for 4 or 5 days, then fly down to Kentucky for a 5 days or so, and then home. Very Exciting! If anyone has any must sees in, please let me know!

Melbourne Wedding Weekend

A great friend of mine got married last weekend. I went over to Melbourne for the nuptials and had an absolute ball (albeit a little teary for leaving Ruby and DB in Adelaide).

Inta has been a dear friend, we first met in 1995, during our first year studying Interior Design at Uni SA. Although she's spent a number of years overseas (where she met her lovely husband, Danny), whenever we see each other we are able to take up where we left off. Her sister Daina is a good one like that too. So what a treat, a wonderful weekend with two old favourites, and getting to know Danny, whom I'm sure will fall into that category as well!

I flew out of Adelaide on the Friday afternoon. I went straight to Inta's, Danny's and Daina's from the airport and Daina and I glammed up and went to the Melbourne Supper Club for pre-dinner drinks. Then it was on to Cutler & Co. for a sumptuous dinner. My menu: Artichoke Soup with Scallops, Flathead served with saurkraut, oyster mousse and bacon, followed by an ice cream sandwich. Oh my, how amazing! Everything was delicious and the company was great. The space is fabulous, I particularly liked the bathroom 'pods' at the end of the restaurant. Fabulous!

On Saturday morning there was a wedding breakfast at a Cafe in the Abbotsford Convent, called Handsome Steve's House of Refreshment. The setting was lovely, the weather perfect. Danny and I decorated the balcony a little, whilst Inta bought some food from the Slow Food Farmer's Market, to add to the croissants, coffee and sparkling wine at Handsome Steve's.




Unfortunately Danny's family who live in Brighton, England, were unable to attend the wedding. Danny set up a web cast so that his Mum could be involved which was lovely. After the breakfast I met up with some other fab friends, Sarah and Simon. We wandered around the city checking out Ghostpatrol & Miso's Open Studio, Craft Hatch at the City Library and Hello Sailor at the Carlton Hotel. It was great to spend some time with the two of them and our activities were very inspiring. They were also lovely enough to accomodate me Sat night.

Sunday morning I met up with Daina and Danny and we went down to the Heritage Gardens at the Convent to decorate and set up. We decorated the rotunda and organised the web link up to Danny's family. The ceremony was lovely, followed by drinks and croquembouche. Perfect.



The whole wedding weekend was a perfect reflection of Inta and Danny. Relaxed, intimate, unpretentious, fun and a little quirky.

I finished the weekend with brunch at Birdman Eating with Sarah, Simon, Marg & Jon, a quick walk up Gertrude St, Fitzroy and then on to the airport... where I missed my flight. Arrgh! Fortunately they were able to put me on the next one, so I only had to wait an hour or so before my flight home to my lovelies.

Make-A-Long

I finally bought the Wee Wonderful's patterns for the Olive & Archie Make-a-Long softies. I made two Olive's for my cousin's daughters, Chelsea and Maddalyn. My cousin lent us so many things when Ruby was born, that I wanted to give her girls a gift for being so generous.


They were very easy to make, but I must admit, that the second time around, I modified a couple of ways of doing things that worked better for me. Hillary points out that the sewing up around the bottom with the stuffed legs is a bit tricky, and I did use this method for the first doll, but I didn't quite catch the legs terribly well/neatly. The second doll I didn't stuff the legs, flipped them into the inside and then stuffed them when I'd turned out the body.

# 1 Attempt



# 2 Attempt


The only other alterations I made were adding some more embroidery to the eyes, leaving off the eyebrows and making the bow a little smaller.

I think they are just darling. Next up with this pattern is both an Olive and an Archie for Ruby, I'm hoping to get the whole kit and kaboodle made for her 1st birthday.

Amelia

Yesterday, Ruby and I visited a friend with a new baby called Amelia. She is the little sister of Lily, and was really very adorable. We had a lovely cuddle, cup of tea, afternoon bun and were able to give little Amelia a C cushion. This was the first patchwork one I've made, again using freezer paper for her name.


I've made the top side of a C cushion for Ruby now, just need to back and stuff it. If anyone is interested in the pattern, please let me know.

Name Pillows

I've made a few of these name pillows over the last few years. They've been perfect as gifts for new babies, toddlers and older children. A colleague of mine has bought four or five for various family and friends, including this new one for baby Tom:



I really like backing them with denim and loved using the frayed edge on this one with a new label. These labels I've made just using inkjet iron on paper, I need to come up with something else, gocco labels is what I'm thinking.

Craft Talk

Awesome - found via Ashley Anna Brown.



By Leslie and the LYs, Leslie is an American cewebrity and gem sweater collector.

Ruby's Fleur Playmat

I've finally finished Ruby's Fleur Playmat - my third go. I'm definitely getting faster! This time I chose a base print with purple, teal and green and picked out some bolder prints in those shades for the petals. Of course I had to use a polka dot as well, gotta love polka dots!



And here it is with all of Ruby's current toys, waiting for her to wake up from her nap this morning and take in the splendor of her new playmat!



What's next? Well, a new C cushion in matching fabric, with her name on it, me thinks!

Zucchini Cake

A woman who works in our business brought a zucchini cake into the office a few weeks ago. Although I didn't try it at the time, I was assured by DB and my mum that it was truly delicious and must be baked. Krystle was kind enough to give me the recipe, and everyone was right, it is truly delicious. Too delicious to keep to myself!


Zucchini/Courgette Cake

Ingredients

500g zucchini, grated
200ml vegetable oil
375g sugar
3 eggs, beaten
300g plain flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarb soda
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
180g walnuts or pecans, chopped

Method

1. Mix together zucchini, oil, sugar and eggs. 2. Sift dry ingredients and add to zucchini mixture. 3. Stir in nuts. 4. Spoon into a greased and lined loaf tin, I usually get 2 or 3 cakes. 5. Bake in oven at 180 deg Celsius for 45 minutes. 6. Enjoy!

Birthday Wishes...

There have been two birthdays and a birth 'round these parts since I posted last. On the 10th we celebrated Nan's Birthday (My Mum), and then on the 17th, darling DB's. Ruby celebrated by posing for these glamour shots:





On the 16th, my brother and sister-in-law, along with their littles, Isabella and Zach, welcomed a new daughter, Amelia (Milly) Jane in Kelwona, Canada. What a treasure! We are very excited, and can't wait to visit the whole family in November, when they've returned to their temporary home in Wilmore, Kentucky USA. Yay! More on our trip another time.


And of course, last, but not least, my darling baby girl turns 7 months today! Hurrah! What a little person she is! Changing so rapidly it's hard to keep up. Smiling lots and generally being a darling. Love you Ruby!

Winter Rose

Dear friends of ours welcomed their second little one into the world on the 28th of June. Today, Ruby and I were lucky to have a visit with Winter Rose and her family. What a little stunner! Congratulations to Al, David & Oliver!


I made Winter a Fleur Playmat, this time in orange tones. It came out nice and bright for a little one born in cold weather!

After my first attempt, and trouble with the wadding, I cut this one a little bigger, but this time it was a little too big. The only conclusion I can come to is that I mis-cut the first one, perhaps not reading the pattern properly. I will be making one for Ruby next, so will follow carefully this time!!

6 Months

Ruby was 6 months a couple of weeks ago. Whoa. Time flies. She's starting to sit up now, grabbing at just about anything and becoming a good little eater (not interested in meat though, but I won't go into that debacle).


She was very spoilt by her grandparents and Aunty, receiving some lovely '6 Month Birthday' presents.

From Nan, this lovely book, Ruby Makes a Friend:


From Aunty Lyss, a lovely hoodie and some blocks, which have become favourite at playtime.



And from Poppy and Meme, this lovely customised bowl and plate set.


All in all, a very spoilt little munchkin.

Baby Maya

A friend's daughter had a baby several weeks ago. Maya was born at 26 weeks and is still in the hospital. When she gets home, she has a 'C' cushion and little dog waiting for her.


I freezer paper stenciled Maya's name on her cushion. I haven't done any for awhile, and forgot how easy and effective it is. The 'C' Cushion is modeled on one I bought when I was doing infant massage and it has proved so versatile. It's great for general lolling about, has been excellent for helping Ruby to be happy lying on her tummy and now fits snugly around her back and helps her to sit up.


The little dog is from the book More Softies. The pattern sewed up pretty quickly, and Elsie the Little Dog has come out nicely.