Just in time...

At 11.58pm on Christmas eve, just before Santa made his stop at my place, I finished the last stitches on Alex's christmas present... well, almost. I may have cheated and drawn on the mouth... but I promise I will get around to stitching it! Introducing Finnigan the Frog, pattern my Melly & Me:

He was quite fun to make, from picking the fabrics to learning how to attach limbs with a dolls needle (wowsers - had never seen one of those before, they are huge!)

I just LOVE the little frog buttons I managed to find for the arm attachment. So cute, and exactly the right colour.

Alex seemed pretty happy with Finnigan on Christmas morning (not that this picture overly shows it), and Finnigan has become the latest favourite sleeping companion - certainly makes me smile!

Both the kids were spoiled for Christmas, here's Sofia looking somewhat puzzled with her loot :)

It's been a year of ups and downs for me, and I can't say that I'm sad to leave 2013 behind. I'm really hoping for a good 2014, and I think I'm ready to tackle some new adventures... and maybe finish some stitching projects in between the fun and games! 

I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas and all the very best for the new year :)

Until next time... in 2014 xx

A quick Secret Santa gift

I needed a Secret Santa gift, so I figured why not whip something up? So yesterday, while the kids napped, I grabbled a couple of fat quarters, my rotary cutter and ruler and started cutting...

Then to the sewing machine I went, and after not too long I had made a little zipper pouch/pencil case. I've seen some lovely pouches popping up in blogland and was tempted to look up an online tutorial to make something a bit more fancy, but as I wasn't sure how long I had before one or both children woke up, I just made it up as I went. While in not 100% happy with the stitching around the zipper, I think it turned out quite well and think I may have to make myself one of these! I particularly love the contrast between the outer fabric and the lining :)

In other stitching news... I've finished the stitching for my 'Merry' bunting, and I've been working away whenever I've had the chance on Alex's christmas pressie. Hopefully these two cheeky munchkins give me a chance to finish one or both of these projects in the next few days... when I have, I'll be back to share pics!

Until next time x

My first softie!

I've been wanting to have a go at making a softie for ages, eyeing off cute patterns for a good couple of years now. I decided this might be the perfect idea for special gifts for the kids for Christmas this year. For Sofia, I chose to do Lola the Ladybug by Melly & Me... what do you think?

Lola is available as either a regular pattern or as a panel. As it was my first attempt at a softie, I thought the panel would be the better option so I ordered one directly from Melly & Me. It definitely made life easy as you just cut out the pieces as you go (no tracing!), all the markings are pre-printed, and I found the instructions really easy to follow.

I decided to hand sew the tummy patch rather than machine sew it as the instructions suggested. I did this so that I could use a nice bright cotton and get that hand-sewn blanket stitch look.

As a finishing touch, a crocheted flower is recommended. I am yet to learn the art of crochet but a lovely friend from craft group whipped up a gorgeous flower for me to add to Lola... the colours are perfect!

As I was sewing either on days that Alex is at childcare or while both kids sleep, it took me a few days to complete, but I'm really happy with the final product. Lola had a bit of an explore in the garden this afternoon...

Talking about my garden... I'm discovering some gorgeous flowers planted by a previous owner, and enjoying bringing some inside. Aren't these just lovely?!

Now to get cracking Alex's present: pattern has been selected, fabric purchased, now to just get some time to start sewing... all within the next 18 sleeps before Christmas! Wish me luck.

Until next time x

Some scrapbooking - Sofia's album

This week I got inspired to start Sofia's scrapbook (even though I'm yet to even get to Alex's 6 month page... oh well, something else to add to the 'to-do'/unfinished projects list!). To begin with, the title page:

I did Alex's page very similar (and had a similar photo of him) - I just wanted to keep it fairly plain. I think my favourite part of scrapbooking is adding the embellishments at the end... simple little flower brads finishing off this page nicely.

It seems I'm not the only one who likes embellishments. Alex had a great time playing with my container of brads. He was pulling them out, lining them up, grouping them, putting them back in... I remember doing something similar myself as a child but with mum's buttons!

While I had all my supplies out I also did Sofia's "Just arrived" page. It was nice to revisit photos of when she was born, and the memory of when I first met my baby girl. She was soooo tiny!

I think one of the great things about scrapbooking is being able to preserve some special momentos... I have kept both the kids' newborn bracelets from the hospital. 

Can't believe my baby girl is already 3 1/2 months! 

Until next time x

Only a few weeks til Christmas...

Can you believe it's just over a month until Christmas?! I love getting into the spirit of things at this time of year, and so, all other stitching projects have been sat to the side and the Christmas projects pulled out. Remember my 'Merry' bunting I started last year? This Rosalie Quinlan design will eventually be a bunting showcasing each of the letters in 'Merry'. I only managed to complete 'M' and 'E' and part of the first 'R' before Christmas 2012, and then it got put away - I'm not great at continuing Christmas projects when it's not the festive season. 

But it's out again this year and I've nearly finished the second 'R'! It's a cute reindeer :)

Just the 'Y' to go and then I can assemble it. With only 4 1/2 weeks to go until Christmas do you think I can do it? I'll try! Would be great to get it done - that way next year I can start Rosalie Quinlan's 'Christmas' bunting to match :)

Also on the to-do list are a couple of plush toys for the kids as Chrissy gifts. For Sofia I'm planning on making Melly & Me's 'Little Lola' - I have the panel so stay tuned! I think I'll also choose a Melly & Me softie for Alex... but yet to decide which one. 

Last but not least... a mummy brag moment. I've recently had professional pics taken of Sofia as I had some done of Alex at a similar age. Michael O'Keefe Photography here in Hobart, Tasmania, did a great job, here's just one of the gorgeous photos... 

Until next time xx

A warm house

Yesterday the sun finally came out after a couple of weeks of us having returned to winter. And I couldn't ask for more perfect timing for lovely warm weather as I had a small get-together to warm up my new house :) It was just a low-key housewarming, with family and close friends stopping by to have a cuppa, soak in some sun in my backyard, check out my home and of course cuddle the kids...

Alex was so excited having so many people over, and had a great time playing with a friend's little one-year-old, showing his cars to my cousin, and reading books with another friend of mine (now apparently his friend)...

Sofia was eager not to miss out on the fun, and after a brief nap was rather content soaking up the limelight and having cuddles, particularly from grandparents...

Such a great afternoon!

Until next time x

Perseverance and restraint

Of late I've been practising some serious restraint - I've been itching to start a new project and even have the fabrics picked out, but am trying to persevere with some of my many unfinished items. While I really should be working on the stitcheries for Alex's quilt, it's been cross-stitch that's captured my attention recently.

As with my quilting, I have various cross-stitches on the go at once. One such project is 'Tempting Tango' by Vervaco... one that I'm really hoping to actually finish one day and hang on the wall! It shouldn't be too difficult - it has a pre-printed background (first cross-stitch I've worked on that has this) and no backstitch. Over the last couple of weeks I went from having the gents hat completed...

To having two faces :)

Hopefully I'll have upper bodes before too long!

And remember my Seaside Cottages? This has been plodding along also, and has gone from this...

to this... almost 2 houses complete!

I'm so lucky - both my little ones go to bed at a reasonable time, leaving me to a few hours of stitching before calling it a night. It's so great to have a bit of 'me' time. Here they both are having a play together this morning (Alex is convinced he can get Sofia to play with him and his cars soon - here he is trying to put one in her hand)!

Until next time x

Couch companion

Can you believe it - I actually finished the stitching for the Leanne Beasley couch companion I blogged about earlier in the month!! Time to cut it out and choose fabrics...

I went with "Sonnet Collection" by April Cornell for Moda as my 'main' fabric, accompanied by a selection of William Morris fabrics. I had actually earmarked the fabric before starting this project, making sure that my cotton choices for the stitching matched :) Time to get to the machine...

I thought the pincushion part of the couch companion would be tricky to sew, but as you don't need to stuff it very much, it was easier than expected. The companion came together really quickly, with only the hand stitching of the binding slowing me down. At last another finish for 2013, another tick off the 'UFO' (unfinished objects) list!! What do you think?

The perfect companion for my new couch :)

Now onto other UFOs...

Until next time x

New adventures and a new seat

My life's journey has been more of a roller coaster ride over the last 12 months, taking some very life-changing turns. Of course there was the move to Bali, and then the pregnancy followed by welcoming my gorgeous little Sofia. Also, a few months ago I moved back to Australia - back to my hometown in Tasmania. Coming 'home' has been hard at times, but I'm also finding excitement in the new adventures ahead of me. Currently I'm settling into our new house, and having lots of fun making a house a home. 

The house has a great yard - someone has done a good job with the landscaping, and here's hoping I don't kill too many of the lovely plants with my not-so-green fingers. Alex has already been testing out the concreted area immediately as you step out the house, by riding his bike up and down the area. I'm also hoping to enjoy the backyard, so today my stitching got put to the side and I got busy creating something else... putting together a 'jack and jill' style seat. 

I had a keen little helper...

And after not too long, it was all set up!!

And the view from the seat...

Now that the weather is warming up and the wind calming down (the wind has been crazy of late), I'm looking forward to spending some time sitting outside, cup of coffee handy, doing some stitching while the kids (well, Alex for now - but Sofia will soon catch up!) play and enjoying the garden.

Until next time x

Yet another project!

After being away in Canberra and only working on the one project really for 3 weeks I needed a change... yes, my attention span on the one project is rather limited!! So when I got back I decided to pull out yet another unfinished project I occasionally work on. Leanne Beasley's couch companion:

I really liked the colours in the stitchery that Leanne Beasley used in the original so mainly stuck to the same, just chose what looked similar from my existing collection of DMC threads, and matched the fabric I plan to use. The main difference is that my 'button' flowers are two shades of orange rather than light pink, and my tulips are a deep red rather than dark pink.

I stitched the pincushion component that goes on the inside about a year ago:

And am now slowly but surely am working on the outside flap...

Still about five tulips to stitch and then I need to commence on the brown flowers... and then to stitch it all up. I'll see how I go finishing this before the end of the year, although knowing me it may very well get put back in the UFO pile. Fingers crossed I keep up the enthusiasm for it though, would love to share another finish on this blog soon!

Until next time x

Cuddles in Canberra

I currently have my two little lovelies sleeping (at the same time!!) so I thought I might quickly jump online and share what we've been up to.

The wedding of some friends was enough of an excuse to come to Canberra for a couple of weeks. It's been great to catch up with so many friends, introduce Sofia and even do a bit of stitching. We've had lots of play dates with all my mummy friends, so Alex had lots of cuddles (here with little Raf from our Mothers Group)...

Sofia definitely had her share of cuddles (here with the gorgeous Elena)...

And Alex continues to love cuddling Sofia...

I managed to get to the stitching group I used to attend when living in Canberra. It was lovely seeing all the ladies and their current projects in progress. And despite needing to take both the children with me, I amazingly got a few stitches done myself! Work on Alex's quilt continues, but will share more of that at a later stage :)

In a couple of days our little holiday will come to an end and we'll start our journey back to Tasmania where we'll be based for the meantime. At the end of the month we'll be moving into a new house, so it should be a busy few weeks - I'll try and keep you updated on my new adventures to come...

Until next time xx