Handmade vs Barbie .....

My smallest Miss (Miss 3) turned 4 on the weekend (aah how time flies ...). Now that I've finished the enormous pile of aprons, I managed to squeeze out some handmade goodies for her birthday.

I have to admit that I think I have issues with instructions .... reading one thing and for no apparent reason doing something completely different - is that a "Poh moment" ?

The book cover pattern I found at Kirsty's. It's straight forward & fabulous, but I still managed to botch it up at step 2 - cutting it out - so had to tweek it a tad and swear a little.

I managed to cut out the Teapot from Jodie's (RicRac) lovely pattern but, again, managed to read one thing and have my head and hands do another, so had to tweek that a little too and swear a little more. Despite finishing it at 1.30am (hence no teacups!) it is still holding up after a couple of days of tea making.

Miss 2 insisted that a(nother!) Barbie also be included in the birthday mix. After some introductions to the rest of the plastic, physically challenged (how can boobs that size stand on feet that small? and who really has a waist like that ?) Barbie clan it was nice to note that the handmade goodies have been given equal billing.

Time for another "pretend" cuppa (all the joy without the bloating sensation that is consecutive cups of tea) ...

They're Done!!!!!

At last they are finished.

The big order for 50 aprons is all sewn up and ready to be delivered on Monday (yes, it's a school holiday adventure) to the wonderful Kate at Cobbloaf Cafe in Camperdown, VIC.

If you're down that way pop in for coffee & cake (and check out the staff in their new aprons and their new shop reno).

Now that they are done, I ....

• have a new appreciation for how big the number 50 really is (I really underestimated this!)
• now know that making, by hand, 50 of the same thing is mind numbing
• still have an amazing ability to procrastinate - hence the mad panic at the end
• know that my 3 year old is excellent at "helping" with pins
• have forgotten what the park looks like
• have let my 3 year old watch too many dvd's over the last couple of weeks so that I could finish the little monsters
• need to find the laundry .... it's in there somewhere
• have a very patient and wonderful family that have tripped over the sewing machine, ironing board and metres of drying fabric that have taken over our kitchen/living area - thanks guys, I love you!
• have discovered the world of joy that is a rotary cutter. How did I not know about these ?
• am grateful to Kate for ordering them!
• am happy to have my life back and the sweat shop closed.

Being a very good business woman (insert tongue in cheek here...) I could invest my earnings back into my little business .......... or I could buy a real, grown-up mixmaster that I've been saving for - for years! (and let the struggling 15yr old, hand held kenwood retire with dignity).

Decisions, decisions .... mixmaster in cherry red or pistachio green ? .....

Hope you all have a lovely weekend and great school holidays!

Jenny

A few little presents

Inspired by Andi's handmade gifts here at PatchAndi, these ones were made by me for a lovely mummy and her little helper.

Happy Birthday Girls!

My Creative Space ....

Is looking a lot like a sweat shop.
Big order for lots of aprons but I've left it to the last minute so now bordering on complete panic ... so what I am doing blogging ? mmmm procrastinating perhaps.

Also thought I would show what I picked up from the lovely Louise (Lululollylegs) on Tuesday at Amitie. She is amazingly clever!! I won a prize on her blog earlier this year. Was worth the wait. Louise, I LOVE it!!!! Thankyou!!

Hope you're all having a GREAT day. Check out more creative spaces at Kirsty's.

Cheers

Jenny

Immortalised In Chocolate!

Check it out - Ohjoh in chocolate! How sweet (excuse the pun) and they were delicious! The guys at the Wise Foundation who organise the Mulgrave Farmers Market celebrated their market's first birthday today. All stall holders received a fabulous lunch afterwards and these great cupcakes to celebrate. How nice they are! Thanks guys!!!

It was a busy and successful market too and the rain held off - thankfully.

Here's Pam (from Greensacks) and I about to devour them.

Now I need a nanna nap (and I look like it too - 5.30am is an early start on a Sunday) ... ah well, a girl can dream can't she.

Hope you've all had a great weekend!
Jenny

The Great Apron Swap 2010 - DONE!!

It's now in the hands of Australia Post as it wings it's way to the UK.

Full pics later on when it gets to its new home.

Hope she likes it ....

I would have put the button on my blog but still getting my head around this techno thingy. Here's a link to Sarah at Red Gingham who organised it - thanks Sarah!

Should be....

Should be sewing

Should be washing

Should be cleaning

Should be eating fruit

Should be collecting kids from kinder!

Instead, I'm reading blogs and scoffing too many of these little delights that came home from Mr Man's trip to Sydney yesterday. Dangerously good.

A great quilt update

It's been a while so thought I might show you where I'm at.

Sooooo many tiny stitches .... although probably not tiny by real quilter's standards - more of large and clumsy type of stitching.

The Roald Dahl/Quentin Blake row has a few less pics than originally intended (I bit off more than I could chew so dropped it down a few). You will need to use your imagination but my no. 1 son loves them (phew!).

The decapitated pheasant is politely waiting for it's head. Should arrive sometime soon.

The back is a mish mash of stitches - we like to use the term "abstract art".

And its very wrinkly - lucky we like that look ...um ... that was the effect I was kind of aiming for ....

SO, if I keep trucking along it may even make it to his bed before the end of winter...maybe...

Hope you're all well and happily creating !

Jenny

My Creative Space....

Is not mine at all! Today I cruised around the...

and had a fabulous time checking out everbody's creative spaces.

Dragged my sister (who's a non-crafter, but I'm working on her) and my 3 yr old along for the ride. She was a bit over it by the time we hit the second level but I managed to bribe her through it with an ice-cream at the end (what ever works I say!) - ie the 3 yr old, although I think the sister was close to over it by the end too.

But I LOVED it.

Here's my stash of goodies

Met so many LOVELY people. Even my sister commented how nice craft people are. We decided that was because we're all doing something we love which makes us happy!

The credit card copped a hammering (oops) but as a woman at the bookshop stand said "They're all just Mother's Day gifts for ourselves". Mmmm works for me, so I bought the beautiful Prints Charming book. LOVE IT!

Couldn't go past Kelani without making a purchase. Yes it's a disease/addiction. But I tried to be good and only bought 3 pieces.

Met the hilarious Jodie from RicRac. Yes, she's as funny and entertaining as she is on her blog. Had a lot of fun laughing with Jodie whilst my 3 yr old tried to remove the sandwhich decorations from some other wall (oops) and then tried to escape up the escalators. Jodie, I LOVE the teapot pattern. It's now on the to do list! THANKS!

Met Teegs from Ink and Spindle and shared her excitement about their fairtrade fabrics. Their stuff is beautiful and hopefully this year I'll get to a screen printing class if all goes well.

Also chatted to the lovely Nikki from You Sew Girl (fabulous bags) and fell in love with this fabric panel from Yardage Design.

Saw too many other amazing things, fabrics etc to go on about.

Yep, I've had a lovely day and the best thing is that I bought a 2 day ticket so I can sneak back in at some point and do it all again.

(Hmmm that green wool was divine , I wonder if Mum would knit me a(nother) scarf.......)

Check out lots of other fabulous creative spaces at Kirsty's.

Cheers

Jenny

(Oh, and that exhausted panting in the background is just my credit card....don't worry about it, I'm sure it will recover)

Check out my bags!

Mmm sounds almost naughty doesn't it ? ....

Just market day today (Mulgrave Farmers Market) and it was freezing! Lucky the coffee ladies were on hand with a piping hot chocolate at a very early hour this morning.

Next door was Lisa from Pink Heart Designs and I couldn't help myself. Who doesn't love a good bag ? So these two have come home to live at our house.

Lisa doesn't have a web life yet for her label but may one day and when she does I'll pop it on here in case you're interested.

Needless to say any money I made today I spent on bags. Ah well ...

Hope you've all had a great weekend.

Jenny