everyone else is sleeping

... except me. So, instead of sulking about it (tempting~!) I thought I'd get around to posting something that I've actually created recently. I'm having an extended love affair with bamboo fabrics these days, and after the relative success of my winter bamboo dress (see... oh, I think August last year?) I really wanted to make one for summer that I could breastfeed in. So I hopped on over to http://www.bamboofabricstore.com.au/ and nabbed some bamboo/spandex jersey, and some 100% bamboo jersey. After tossing it all in the machine with a couple of packets of Rit "Sky Blue", I ended up with this colour:

(wee tree not included) So excited was I, that I immediately went and grabbed a t-shirt with a useful neckline, and taking scissors to fabric, and with my newly donated overlocker (SO EXCITED. OH MY GOODNESS. THANK YOU SHARON! SORRY ABOUT THE CAPITALS) I put this together in an afternoon!

Don't look too closely at it, you may be shocked at some of the corners I've cut. But I don't care! It's yet another relative success with no pattern to reference, and thanks to the overlocker it was a pleasure to sew! The little trees were added later with my very under-used silkscreen, and due to a happy accident, I left the edges uneven. I mean, they do match each other... uhm, well that is to say.... ah never mind. It seems to work. So now I'm psyched to make an ankle length version with long bell sleeves for winter. I'm thinking a warm colour, maybe rusty orange, or a rich red? What do you think? There are only certain shades a strawberry blonde can get away with.

And to finish, here's a photo of my wee poser, on the beach on wednesday. Yes, we're visiting the Gold Coast again to see all the family and friends. Loving it, but I wish I was having more SLEEP!

I love you so much, baby boy.

so thankful

My heart goes out to all those who have lost family and friends, as well as everything they own, in the fires in Victoria. The danger isn't over yet, as many of the blazes continue to rage on. To think that some of these fires may have been deliberately lit just sends me beyond mad.

We lost everything in a housefire when I was younger, and you never ever forget how that feels.

Anyone who hasn't heard the details, the current death toll is 131, expected to rise even further. http://ninemsn.com.au/ has more details, and those wishing to donate can go to http://www.redcross.org.au/ to make a one off contribution. Already people are rallying to support those affected - in our own town, someone has organised shipping containers to take over goods for others - clothes, household goods, dry/canned foods etc. I can't think if a better reason to simplify my life than to make someone elses better!



I look at this little face every day and I am thankful.

The Lunch Date Blouse GIVEAWAY!!!!

The Lunch Date Blouse GIVEAWAY!!!!

This woman is amazing. Who does this sort of thing anyway???? I can never enter any of her other give aways, cos I had a wee boy, but this time there's a mummy-sized outfit going! Yay!!!

Stille Nacht...

Things that have been keeping me busy (and happy) this week:

- Pulling out the Christmas decorations one by one whenever I have a minute to spare and putting them up

- Filling the house wth the smell of ginger, cinnamon, spices and candied peel when I bake

- Watching the rows of hazelnut stars march out of the oven

- Singing Christmas carols to the little boy, and dissolving into giggles with him when he tries to "sing" along with me

- Watching Tim with his little boy

- Watching the little boy... sleeping peacefully, full of milk, his sweet little lashes against his cheeks

- Seeing the grandparents enchanted by their first grandson

- Ordering beautiful wooden eco toys online for his first Christmas (not that he knows what it is yet, but he will next year!) and getting squealy-excited when they arrive

- Taking time to swallow my pride

little folk and... little folk

As those of you who are mums know well, these little people tend to take up a lot of your time. Not that it's not given joyfully - little Ewan is the sweetest baby you could wish for. he's so aware and alert, and the smiles he gives us stretch from ear to ear.

The other night when I was up nursing, in that semi half-awake dream state, I finally came up with something to make with these little wooden people I bought a while ago. I've been struggling to come up with something original, so hopefully it is!

The mushroom cap is made from sculpey, and it's painted with acrylic paints, sealed with a matte varnish. I made him in stages inbetween feeds yesterday, and finished him off today. I'm thinking of either selling these little guys at my etsy store (which is sadly neglected at the moment) and/or at the local markets. What do you think?

To all those who have found my blog recently - hi! I'll come visit all of yours (if I can) again real soon. And I'll try to reply to comments left in the actual comments. I wish Blogger had a better way, but that seems to be it.

Ewan Shaun MCGuire

Born October 2nd, 3:08pm

3895gm, 54 cm, Head 38.5cm (!!!!)

Worth every hour.

40 + 4

Now into the second half of my due "month", the "official" date was friday just gone, but we all know what babies think of due dates. :) Been out getting the garden sorted, Tim's finally helping out with getting the reticulation done - yay! That'll make it much easier for me to take care of the vege patch this summer. Much more waterwise as well.

Saw a vaguely similar bib somewhere in the wastes of the internet, didn't want to pay the $25 for it, so thought I'd try making something close myself. Two layers of flannel, bias binding etc (maybe next time I'll use a thinner one) and beads which I'm sure are a horrendous choking hazard.

Bring on baby!

baby, carry me home

I think I must have one of at least every kind of baby carrier now. I was inspired to finally try making a mei tai style carrier recently, which also gave me an excuse to use a little of my precious stash of Lecien's "My Folklore" fabric. I must remember that if I keep a fabric forever and don't use it because it's too "special", I'll defeat the whole purpose of having the fabric!

The pattern I used (or eyeballed) was the simple and useful http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/asian.html I don't know if it's obvious from the top photo, but I prefer the curved design to the straight. Luckily I have heaps of polarfleece scraps left over from making winter slings, so it was easy to find some to pad the straps out with. Very comfy from what I can tell, now I just need to borrow someone's baby to test it - or wait a couple weeks and use my own!

3 weeks

On the home stretch now. Considered full term at this point, so if I was to go into labour now, nobody would stress about it. Except maybe me! But no... no need for that. The image above is me at 20 weeks (and Ms. Bessy) in the first and probably last dress I made with no pattern. One of those character building experiences! Fabric is a bamboo stretch knit from www.fabricandart.com, in the yummiest pistachio green. Love it! Gonna have to replace the bias binding around the neckline with ribbing of some sort if I want to use this dress for feeding.

Finalyl used the stretch cotton sateen I got for a song earlier this year, and sewed myself a baby pouch! Have made them for everyone else, but... now it's done for me too! So, bring it on, baby! Was going to do some kind of block or screen print, but at the last minute, changed my mind and decided to applique some felt instead. Took me a whole viewing of "Matchmaker" and at least one M*A*S*H episode to finish, mostly because I did to mirror image bird-and-branch combos, so I could fully reverse the sling if I need to. I like to keep my options open!

Wandering Waif Collection GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Wandering Waif Collection GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

I don't care that it's too late to win this - OMG!!!! SO ADORABLE!!!!! GO GIVE THIS BEAUTIFUL LADY SOME LOVE!!!!!!! Seriously...

*runs away to browse this gorgeous blog some more*