Catching up!

We have had such a busy few months, and I honestly don't know where this year has gone!

Between the everyday stuff that keeps us so busy, we've had a beautiful family holiday to Fiji to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday...

...celebrated Ruby's third birthday...


























...and done a whole lot of Christmas crafting!












But I'm so happy to say I've also managed to squeeze in a fair bit of sewing.  I up-cycled a couple of my old tees into dresses for Ruby to take away, made some delicious nappy covers for my wee man, and my favourite little project was this snap wrap dress I made after seeing it at prudent baby.  Such a cinch to make, and I was so glad to use this fabric I'd had stashed away for a while - and Ruby loves it (always handy when she'll actually wear something I've slaved over!).

But most of all we've just been 'being' together.  My two are becoming pals, and Ruby is all of a sudden very protective of and enamoured with her baby brother!

I've been without a car for a couple of months, which has forced me to be home....and go slow....and walk a lot.  And realise how much I rush my children everywhere.  So, I'm making an effort (now that my new car is coming next week) to make sure I go slow, and enjoy - because these two are growing so quickly it's almost frightening.

And with every little milestone I pass with Levi I realise that (since we don't plan on adding to our family any further), this is the last time I'll be doing these things....and he's growing so quick!  The bassinet has gone to another friend's home for another baby, he out-grew being wrapped to sleep, and is already crawling and trying to sit up.













Ruby's due to start kinder next year, and I've volunteered to be 'sewing officer' on the committee of management, which is so exciting.  I can't wait to get into it and meet some new kids and mums for us to hang out with.  It's such a huge step for her to be away from me without it being with a relative - but I know she's going to love it!


But back to Christmas!  We're having a seriously low key one this year (the last few months have been so full on, we just want to relax).  I'm trying to make a couple of things for the kids for Christmas, so that'll keep me busy for a while.  And I've also decided to set myself a big challenge for 2012, which I'll write about more in my next post when I've nutted the details out in my head!  But it's definitely going to challenge me and my creativity, which I'm totally up for!

x

happiness is....

a baby brother asleep

dress ups

and 'just a taste' of the icing after baking with mummy

wishful thinking...

With a twelve week old babe to feed, I have a lot of time to stop and think at the moment.  And to read sewing and crafting blogs, and to buy patterns for beautiful kids clothes which I'm sure I'll get to make...one day!  But for now, this is mostly wishful thinking!

My crafting todo list is increasing, but I have managed to achieve a few little projects of late.

I covered some wire coat hangers which I've been meaning to do for ages since I spotted them on the beautiful "Life with Little Ones" blog...and I intend to do many more - they're so simple and so gorgeous.  One will display some of Ruby's latest craft and the other is a mobile for little man Levi...

But by far my favourite project was the Reversible Hooded Play Cape I've finally made for Ruby from the "Growing Up Sew Liberated" book!

Ruby adores it and there are so many more projects I can't wait to get my hands on in this book!  Of course the little monster has worn her cape daily since I made it, but upon request today simply would not pop it on for a quick photo - even a lolly bribe didn't do the trick!  So here it is sans-toddler, but you get the idea...

...I used really basic cotton fabrics (colours chosen by Ruby) as a starting point (not wanting to spend up on fancy-pants fabric knowing full well I mightn't have had time to attempt the project anyway!), and it came up beautifully. Such a great pattern, and so simple - definitely one to keep on hand for birthday presents.  What kid doesn't love a cape!

I'm hoping to have time to do a little hand embroidery and put her name on it, but maybe that's just more wishful thinking!

Other projects I've got my eye on are the Heidi and Finn "Sweet Reversible Wrap Dress" (which I have the pattern printed for and some beautiful vintage bed linen to make it with!), some more "Big Butt Baby Pants" from the very clever Rae for both Levi and for the new addition to a friends family, and basically everything from my latest book purchase "Carefree Clothes for Girls".

I'm also hanging out for August when "Sewing for Boys" is released!  I really didn't think there'd be a lot of great stuff to make for boys, but turns out there's a treasure-trove of funky patterns if you start looking.

Fingers crossed by this time next week I'll have crossed off something from this list.  But for now, I better get the washing on the line while the sun is out!