Long Weekends Are For....

Well I know this long weekend should be for cleaning out a very messy garage, sorting through Moo's room or maybe at a stretch organising the pantry. But no this weekend is for sewing for the BrisStyle Indie Mother & Child Market that is on the 8th of May. The timing is perfect for the Market as it is being held the day before Mother's Day, which makes Mother's Day shopping easy peasy. I'm sure there will be plenty of goodies there that will please the most difficult to buy for Mum (or even the fussy Mother in Law).

This Market has been a lovely incentive to expand my range. Not only will I have lots of purses I have also been working on a range of baby blankets. They are all made will 100% linen, hand screen printed textiles and backed with a beautiful soft hemp and organic cotton fleece.

The kitchen chair piled with the weekends projects.

The above blanket has the most beautiful light steel grey/blue linen. It is a lovely change from the pastel blues for boys.

I love, love, love how this blanket came together. I so wish I had a blanket like this for my girls when they were little. The soft pink in the screen print, the natural linen and the cream of the fleece go so beautifully together. The floral design has made quite a contemporary modern baby's blanket.

Lovely Break

Why is it that holidays always have to go so fast? The girls and I have just gotten back from the most lovely week down the coast at Burleigh Heads. So much fun to be had. Walking, swimming, more swimming, markets, parks, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, loads of fish and chips and many, many ice creams.

Cait and Moo exploring the rock pools. Hours of fun.

Some members of the family, namely Cait chose to be adventurous holiday activities climbing up on the high ropes course with the birds at Currumbin. It was such a pity that I didn't wear closed in shoes to join in the joy of being harnessed in meters above the ground.

I on the other hand was content to join in this lot in lots of laziness.

Look, we even got a sneak look at her babe.

On another pretty interesting handmade note, Burleigh had quite a few lovely shops selling handmade wears. What a treat. The girls are so funny to take shopping now and can pick handmade a mile off and make sure everyone in the shop knew that they had seen things for sale on etsy or that they were handmade. My favorite shops were Raggedy Anne and Love From Lucy.

Nine

Sewing has taken a little of a back seat this week as it was Miss Tayla's Ninth Birthday.  It always seems that the girls don't just have a Birth"day" but a whole entire Birth"week".  Which I don't mind as I get to share in lots of yummy cake.  

Miss Tayla's birthday is always a little bit special as she was born at 28 weeks.  My gosh look at my big girl now.  From the little baby who fit into my hand to the incredible strong, lively happy girl she is now.  She has grown from a baby who struggled to breath on her own, to walk, to eat, to talk to a wonderful girl who I have to ask to talk a little less at times, who climbs trees, who out runs me and eats me out of house and home.  Not to say it has been an easy journey by any means but that some of the hardest journeys are the ones to be treasured the most.  Happy Birthday lovely girl!  

Oh and she did love all the BrisStyle goodies I had brought for her over the past few months too.  

Clever

"There is something you always must remember, you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think." 

(Winnie the Pooh)

I had to gently remind my eldest of this just recently.  Making this little purse this week made me think of Cait.  We all need to be told how clever we really are now and then.  Have a lovely weekend!  

Making

A new fretwork bag from Thea & Sami's most wonderful fabric.  I adore this print so much.  The last bag I made with this fabric was given to a very dear friend for her 40th birthday.  Thea was so generous with her time when I ordered several metres of this fabric the other week.  It was printed super quick at a  time when she was busy moving studios.  Just beautiful!  

Little no sew envelopes from this pattern.  So much fun.  

Yummy bread rolls.  The recipe can be found here.  This recipe turns out so well.  I cooked some up yesterday for lunch when I had five children to feed.  It was the first time there was silence all day.  Warm, sweet straight out of the oven goodness.  I had mine with butter and strawberry jam.  Sorry no pics of the finished product as no one would wait long enough.  

I have also signed up to SoopSee.  I really like the idea of having my etsy shop, blog and bits and pieces together.  This is the link to Little Mary Moo's Place.  Shall see how it goes.  

Hand Written

With all the electronic communication that we use now it makes the few hand written notes I receive just that little bit more special.  A few weeks ago after a ten hour shift I came home on a very cold night to an extremely lovely hand written note from an etsy customer.  What a lovely surprise!  She was thanking me for a purse that she had brought.  I was so chuffed that someone would take the time and effort to send me a thank you note.  I get such pleasure from selling my wares on etsy and this was just so unexpected and so special.  

Above is another hand written note I received the other week from my youngest.  Out of the three girls, Moo is the one that loves to sew the most.  I was in my room one morning when I received the above note (please excuse the seven year old spelling attempts).  Moo had been sewing a bag and had gone just a little crooked on the seam.  Miss perfectionist was not happy at all.  There taped to this note was the little bag itself.  So I introduced Moo to the pleasures of the seam ripper along with the need to mutter bugger, damn, crap while unpicking.  This note makes me smile every time I see it, so it is now being used as my bookmark.  

Birds of a Feather

Now where did those two weeks of school holidays go!  I managed to do a little bit of sewing with the girls.  We used the bird pattern from Spool.  It can be found here.  I know this pattern has done the full rounds of the blogs but I couldn't resist giving it a whirl.  I have never made a softie before so it was nice to step out of my comfort zone.  The flickr group has a much better representation of the birds than I have.  My birds just hang out on the rail on the blinds above my sewing table but some very talented sewers have made the most amazing set ups to show their birds off.  

There is one bird for each of us at the moment.  Apparently I am the yellow apple one.  You can see this is the one that is a bit saggy, droopy and a little tired looking.  Now I wonder why I got assigned to this one.  Thanks girls.  On a little side note the birds have been stuffed with appropriate stuffing this time unlike previous sewing adventures at Little Mary Moo's Place.  Have a lovely weekend.   

What to Do

(Image from here)

So poor old Brisbane was very, very wet yesterday.  In celebration of the torrential rain I brought this little pendent from Rain Cloud Studio.  Super cute.  My delemar today is whether work or school will be going ahead.  I got a wee bit of a panicked phone call at 11.30 yesterday from the girl's school that it was going under and they were evacuating.  So much excitement to be had.  The tuckshop ladies even made sure the kids got their tuckshop orders before they evacuated, how sweet is that.  As I was leaving the Principal was saying that school may not be on tomorrow.  Littlest Moo is adamant that there is no school on (hm wishful thinking maybe).  So do we get ready for school and work and chance it or stay in bed for the day?  It has stopped raining now so I'm kind of thinking it will all be on.  

Busy Busy

(photo from here)

I've been keeping myself busy making some little bits and pieces for this most wonderful shop.  Tangled Yarns is a new shop in Newstead that stocks the most amazing range of yarns and so much other goodness that goes with handmade.  To walk in here, you feel like you are walking into another world - one where handmade rules!  The shop is so bright and airy and there is so much wonderful colour and texture that it is very hard to walk back out the door and go home, definitely not a shop you can just pop in and out of.  So now I am so very lucky to have some purses and pencil cases from Little Mary Moo's Place stocked in Tangled Yarns.  Hooray!  

Off to the Stitches and Craft show today, can't believe that I've been able to make it as it is the last day of the show.  More Hooray!  There are so many BrisStyle girls that have been busy at the show and from the sounds of it they all have been a huge success but that comes as no surprise.  I just hope that they have some of their handmade goods left for me to buy.

The other thing that has been keeping me hugely busy is my eldest Little Moo who has had gymnastics competitions the last two weekends.  I have lived in a fog of glitter spray.  I apologise in advance for the brag (not usually my style) but on such a very exciting note - she qualified for State Championships!  She trains so hard and puts in so much effort it is nice to see it pay off and for there to be some icing on the cake.  These girls are so brave.  They get out there and do these amazing routines with judges watching every little thing and then they are given a score for it.  I was also very impressed with the fantastic sportsmanship buy all the girls that were in her team.  They all cheered each other on and were there with a shoulder to lean on when things weren't going so great.  I have no photos of my own as my hand shakes to much - there is always a little part of me that wants to yell out "young lady you get down from there before you hurt yourself!"  but luckily for everyone I don't.  But there are photos here and here of her in action.  

The Bug Has Bitten

Well my esty store crafting has been brought to a little bit of a hault due to having to share the sewing machine.  Little Moo has been totally bitten by the sewing bug.  This was Little Moo at 7 am on this morning - Sunday and all fed and showered, teeth and hair done (this can be a wee bit of a battle) all so she could get back to the machine.  So I think I have finally found my bribe.  

Little Moo is into making pillows at the moment.  For some reason this has also co insided with the decrease in the amount of toilet paper available in our house.  Apparently toilet paper makes great stuffing because one can't wait for their Mum to make a trip to the shops to purchase some more appropriate means of stuffing a pillow.  

I did however manage to edge my way onto the machine and make this little purse above.  I've never used Pippijoe's Orchard fabric for a purse before just the bags.  I have to say that I am quite please with how it has come together as a purse.  

I Heart Saturdays

Saturdays are for curling up on the floor when you are so tired from the week and having a lovely nap with the sun streaming in through the window.  Poor Little Moo was too tired to even make it to her bed this afternoon.  (excuse the blurry image but you never want to wake a sleeping child)

I also have had lots and lots of fun playing with the wonderful Birch fabric by Lara Cameron.  It has been so lovely to see the success of Lara and the girls at Ink and Spindle.  We really are so lucky in Australia to have such talented textile designers.  

I love the deep red in the screen print and how it co-ordinates with the black/gray denim.  It has been at least six weeks since I have sewn a bag and this was such a lovely way to get back into it.  I'm still trying to find a place that I like to take my photos in my new house.  I have to say that I am struggling with this some what and I am not altogether happy with the light.  I'm sure I'll work it out in time.  But for now this bag has taken up home in my etsy shop.

My sister's 40th Birthday is just around the corner.  I was really struggling with something to get her that she didn't have and that she might use and enjoy.  I ordered her some of these lovely Moo Postcards last week.  They have her address on the back for when she sends them out.  I love all these prints and I hope she is happy with them.  There is nothing more exciting then opening the mail box to see something just for you (that isn't a bill!).  These prints are so sweet and I'm sure she will go on to make her friends and family very happy when she sends them off.   

Super Girl

Back in January I blogged about my dilemmas photographing my eldest on the trampoline in this post.  Maybe choosing an easier subject would be a solution but I do really enjoying watching Cait and it is a challenge to photograph her doing something she loves so much.  This clever BrisStyle girl gave me the idea of hopping up on the trampoline with her but to be honest I haven't been quite brave enough to (working on the whole brave thing).  But this is the latest photo that was the best of the last session.  

The lovely Cait is super in more than her ability to fly.  I know I'm biased being her Mum and all but she really is a great kid.  I took the littlest Moo out for a few hours this morning  while Cait stayed at home with my Mum and  I came home to this note: 

"Dear Mum,

I have cleaned all three rooms, washed the dishes, cleaned the fridge, kitchen, art corner, pantry, tea area, fish and skool bag area, both bathrooms, your room"

God Bless her cotton socks.  All without being asked and everything.  How very spoilt am I.  

Back on Board

So the best thing about moving has to be the plethora of large boxes to play in doesn't it!  The park around the corner has a huge grassy hill that the girls have been begging to slide down on the flattened boxes.  Well that sure is one good way to reuse and recycle.   

All moved, done and dusted.  I still have about 10 boxes left to organise and a very messy garage but I am nearly sorted.  Most importantly the fabric stash has been given a brand new home.  I can't wait to sit and sew and look after my neglected etsy shop again.  I really miss it now.  

Looking for something fun to do?  Head on over the fab BrisStyle blog for a wonderful giveaway.  

Grateful Day 5

I'm grateful that my girls can see materials as one thing and make them into another. Some of you who do know my little etsy shop know I have a love for Pippijoe's Orchard fabric. When I cut this fabric, I try to use every bit I possibly can. I hate throwing away even the smallest bit. The artwork on this fabric is so unique and engaging it seems such a shame for any of it to go to waste. Recently I did have to cut these small strips to fit the pattern square on a bag. Well they were pounced on by Little Moo. I think she has been just waiting to get her hands on some. So with much excitement with her treasured gift she busily set about creating wrist bands with the left overs and good old Velcro. Sweet. Apparently they even have special powers or so says Little Moo. I wonder if that includes getting children to brush their teeth and eat their vegetables?

Go Outside and Play

I have to confess that we are probably one of the few families that don't own a huge television and a fang dangle gaming console. Not that these are something I don't believe in but they just are something that doesn't figure into our lives. We did however get a new, bigger trampoline for Christmas. It saves my sanity. Yesterday when the cool change came through, I took my camera downstairs and this is the result:

Miss Cait never stops long enough to get a full frame capture (or maybe that's my lack of photography skills)

Little Moo's sticking her tongue to the side is a very important element in her jumps.

A very windswept Miss Tayla.

Handmade Fanatic

I think I've created a monster. Above is picture of my youngest who is becoming a wee bit of a handmade snob. While going through her Christmas presents she picked up a headband my Mum (know as Mama to the girls) gave her. She turned around a said "oh good, I think this is a handmade headband Mama gave me". Ha, too funny. This is the same child that at the end of the school year took a bag to school that she had hand sewn and took several orders from the other year ones. Nothing like a little enterprise.

The three girls all think its a bit of a great joke Made by Miffy's flyer that she gave us that said "Mall is a four letter word". The two little girls don't quite understand by my eldest gets a real kick out of it. It's great to see the next generation on handmade makers and consumers.

School Holiday Craft

(Photo from etsy listing)

Well school holidays are rapidly coming to an end. At Little Mary Moo's Place we are slowly coming to the end of fab, fun and limited mess producing craft to keep us occupied on hot and humid days. Well look what I found today in fellow BrisSytlers Trishalan Designs etsy shop. Looks like super fun for the 7 and up. I can't wait to have a go and I even might share with the girls if I'm forced to (with only minor stamping of the feet and tears).

Trish is amazingly talented and an extremely generous and nice person to boot. If you are looking for some crafting inspiration you should check out her website here.

Help!

Tomorrow the girls and I are going to Wet and Wild on the Gold Coast. Now to be truthful, I don't mind a little bit of water slide action. The weather is suppose to be hot and fine. I'm sure I'll find myself a nice tyre tube to float around in and soak up some sun.

There is just one bit of a problem. My eldest, Cait who is ten wants me to got on the new Kamikaze ride with her. I am desperately trying to come up with excuses why this is a very bad idea. Yes, I am a true sooky la la when it comes to rides that have "extreme" written in front of them. Just the name of the ride makes me want to wet my pants sitting in my lounge room. Its alright for Cait for she's a gymnast and has the whole body flying through the air, crazy stunt, fear thing all capered. I on the other hand definitely do not. Fear is not something I really need to experience in my life at the present moment.

I have also brought myself a bikini for the first time for this trip. I'm in my 30's and have never owned one. I quite don't know why after three children and the profile of an ironing board I though this would be a great idea. I also brought myself a nice pair of board shorts and a swimming top to go over them. More sooky la la action there too, I know.

We should have lots of fun and hopefully all come home in one piece.

Beautiful Children's Clothing on Etsy

I am quite amazed going through etsy of all the beautiful and unique children's clothing that is made locally in South East Queensland. I'm always on the look out for something new for the girls, that doesn't make them look like every other child around. All the clothes below are beautifully made, individual, and have more than a little bit of something special.

Pretty Sundress, Garden Party by HotFudge

Vintage Chenille Little Girls Skirt by Bubbachenille

African-Inspired Girls Patchwork Wrap Skirt by ogekko

Red Delicious - Apple Baby Booties by Pedrosprout

Blue Gingham Baby Doll Top by BlossomChild

Butter Wouldn't Melt in Her Mouth Sundress by madebymiffy

Fab Fuchsia Jitterbug Twirl Skirt by TikiBoo

The Sophia Tie Top by mimoo

Little bit of this & that

Not much has been happening on the crafting front at Little Mary Moo's Place. Maybe I'll be able to squeeze in a few hours this afternoon. The little moos are watching Mary Poppins, a firm favourite in our house. I wish Mary Poppins would come and live at my house or even Nanny McFee. I am interviewing my first nanny next week to look after the girls on the afternoons I work. I have to say I am very nervous and quite don't know what to expect. Just a little bit of magic would be nice, hmmm we will have to wait and see.

I got this pattern for a skirt for the little moos from Kelani Fabric this week. I can't wait to try it out. I think I shall try it first with a simple fabric to see if I like it. I'm sure I will though and by

the look of it I think it will be used over and over again.