Library bag

For the last couple of months Alex has been attending fan Early Learning Centre one day a week. The centre is connected to a nearby school, and it just happens that the day he goes is library day... the little class all get taken on the big adventure of heading to the school's library and selecting a book to borrow for the week. So naturally, I've been meaning to make him a special library bag... and finally, over the last couple of weeks I've had some time to get designing and sewing!

Alex chose the dinosaur fabric from my stash and I picked out some coordinating fabrics (can you believe, nothing new was purchased for this project!), then played around until I was happy with a design. 

I'm really happy with the result. I used Pellon wadding to strengthen it, and it's lined with a blue spot fabric and I hand stitched his name on it so that it (hopefully) won't get lost... at least not too quickly! Alex seemed pretty pleased with his new library bag and it was lovely to hear him telling anyone who would listen that mummy made it for him :)

Hmmm, lots of projects of late for Alex... may need to work on something girly soon!!

Until next time xx

A big boy bed

I keep forgetting to share... Alex got his big boy bed last week!

He was so excited to see it all set up when he got home from childcare! His matching bedside was quickly filled up with his favourite cars... apparently I was being very silly suggesting he put his hats, belts, socks, etc in the drawers.

The bed arrived in quite a few boxes early in the morning and I set about pulling apart the cot then piecing together the new single bed... rather proud of myself for having completed it by myself.

Some new sheets and pillows, and the bed was ready. I dismantled the cot and gave it a good clean. So many memories associated with that cot... it's also a well travelled, having been in two houses in Canberra, before being taken overseas, then returning here to Tasmania! And now, with my baby boy growing up, it will go to another baby, that of a friend of mine due in November.

Until next time xx

More time!

One of my new year's resolutions was to get my career back on track, and over the last five and a bit months I've been lucky enough to have some great opportunities within the workplace, albeit fixed term opportunities. Finally, a few weeks back, a breakthrough... I was offered a permanent and ongoing position :) A week later, I got another offer for a position I applied for earlier in the year! Decisions, decisions... of the best type really, so I can't complain. I think I've made the best choice, and while the position doesn't start until early next year I am looking forward to the challenges it will bring.

Until then, I have some time up my sleeve. My latest contract finished last week, so for the next few months I'm a stay-at-home mum again... my house will get the spring clean it deserves, the garden a spruce up, the kids some quality time and maybe a driving holiday for a few weeks, and (hopefully) my sewing machine will get a work out. So many projects I'm looking forward to getting stuck into and possibly even finished... possibly!!

Alex has his 'big boy' single bed arriving soon, which has spurred me into action... I'd really love to have his quilt completed by Christmas (how many times have I said that before?!). While I was working I didn't have all that much energy to stitch but on occasion the needle and thread would come out of an evening and I made some headway with the stitcheries on this project. Now with the opportunity to work on the applique and get to my sewing machine I can share with you two more completed "A Boy's Story" blocks...

A couple of close ups of the stitcheries...

Only two blocks left to do now! Then I can join the blocks and start the quilting process... already trying to decide whether to hand or machine quilt this one?

So while it was a bit sad to finish up at my latest job I'm rather thankful for some time at home, some time to stitch, and some down time with the kids... including some cheeky "mummy-son" dates with this little man...

Until next time xx