...collaboration...

 ..she was sitting there this morning as I had breakfast next to her and I realised she was totally surrounded by homemade things from lots of fabulous women in our lives...

(clockwise from top)

Quilt over back of couch - Nanna/ Aunty Glen

Nappy bag and change mat - mama

Animal wrap - friend Sarah

Crochet hat - friend/ Aunty Jade (flower by mama)

Sleeping sac - mama

Flax ball - Nanny Love Lee

Shawl - Nanny Love Lee

Crochet cushion - mama (with help from Nanny)

... how cool is that!!...

...aw, just look at her - isn't she the sweetest thing...xox

...sleeping sac...

 ...this project has been on my to-do list for this winter since pregnancy ... but when lil ice-block was waking during the night again for a hot milk warm-up it got bumped right up that list... still took me a while as I've gone back to work part-time... guess it's obvious, but being full time mum of two, part-time worker, full time housewife does not leave much time or energy for creativity... kinda why I got lazy with the quilting on the front... I started doing a hit n miss kinda thing from the shoulder (totally in love with that idea at the mo)... but then figured this would look really fun too...

...the strips were already cut (during pregnancy) with a cot quilt in mind... which hasn't been started as I can't decide on which quilt style/ pattern to use... but doing this was interesting reconnaissance mission for that project to work with the main colours I'd planned and other bits from the stash.... a stash I need to use up as much as possible as we're moving home to NZ soon - YAY!!

...pattern for the sac is from anna maria horner's book... although as per usual I cannot just Follow. A. Pattern... and made this one MUCH longer...to hopefully last out her first winter...maybe she'll get a quilt to match sometime during that time too...she's already learning that when she goes in the sac it's sleepy time... bliss...

...baby shoes...

 ..I do know it's March... but I'm finally thinking about posting shots of Xmas presents... only I find that I was SO late in finishing them that I didn't photograph them before wrapping them... and didn't get a chance after gifting either - except for these sweet little shoes that I made for my baby girl... and now she's grown out of them!! lol...

...also I can't find the reference for the book I got the pattern out of now either - months later!! It was a library book on handmade shoes that intended that these were made out of soft leather for much larger bub... but I made out of felt (cheap Spotlight bargain bin acrylic felt) just to see what they're like... and plan to make a larger pair in next few weeks in nicer wool felt...

...after that I might get adventurous and try crocheting her some booties?! ... we'll see...

...back to school...

 ...I remember learning to sew zips in... pencil cases were project #1... this year my boy asked for blue... his current favourite colour... and as you can see most his school supplies are blue too...

...I love covered books... usually use recycled wrapping paper, but this year one of the larger books we used an old poster that had a small rip... he was very excited about that one...

...harem pants...

....these pants (for my two 2year old nieces for Christmas - mama's don't spoil the surprise) are made from a rectangle of fabric (plus waistband bits)... really good use of fabric and easy to cut out!!! My mum bought some back from her Europe trip and we had a play around with how they were made a little while back... I'm really excited how these turned out...hopefully will add photos of the girls IN them in a month or so?!?

...bonnet...

...walking to school with her in the sling gets the sun in her eyes.... no longer!... recipe from here...VERY easy...even with my usual not-following-instructions way of doing things... ;)

...and working on matching/ co-ordinating dress and bloomers... maybe even shoes... I LOVE this print from Spotlight... even though not my usual colours... I'm having to expand my horizons since she's such a different colouring from me and my boy...

...oven cloths/ mitts...

...I've decided I actually do like quilting random little things like these... although I'm still too scared to try a real size quilt... or anything actually all-that-structured in fact....anyway...my mum volunteered me to make oven cloths for our family farm Christmas this year... I was procrastinating over it something terrible because felt like didn't have the right stuff in the stash to do it... then the man of the house asked me to cut off couple pairs of his jeans for shorts... and VOILA!!! - suddenly I have the perfect fabric precut perfect size!! I also recycled op shop jerseys for the heat protecting insides... with inspiration for the woven detail from my cousin and her wedding invites nearly 8 years ago!!! (Wow cuz!).... and can you tell how much fun I had with the patterns on the machine.... :)

...wardrobe wednesday - something I made...

Top - Garage again

(belly at 40 weeks - i.e. due date TODAY!)

Skirt - Me

Shoes - crocs

Jewels - upcycled by me...

...struggled a bit since most stuff I've made either doesn't fit me or you've seen in the last few weeks...
so you got a skirt that is now 3 yrs old... fabric brought in Samoa...pattern inspired by my cousin's skirt from Aotea Square markets (blue fabric is actually just a square)... was given the black pearls as a 5 strand for a grad present - 2 strands fell off immediately so I created the bracelet and earrings from those...

...really hoped to be wearing my baby made (partly) by me... no go yet... hopefully next Wednesday I'll be wearing her...

...pants for cousins...

...pants for my brothers' two year olds... harem pants (pattern from pants my mum brought back from turkey - made from rectangle of material... pretty tricky!!) made from thrifted duvet cover for my niece... and black shorts for my nephew that needs shorts to get on and off for toilet training - made from my old cuffed capri pants...

...coasters...

...another way overdue birthday present... this time for friend's birthday in August... she got them finally today!!!... had fun playing with scraps in the colourways to match her awesome couch and coffee table area which is where I have spent a lot of hours particularly during this pregnancy... had fun trying few more SMALL quilting bits and pieces also... slowly building my confidence with this quilting thing... inspiration from Pip's book... although once again - I can't/ won't/ don't follow patterns exactly... still think crazies are my thing... in quilting sense (not so much otherwise :P)

...and this project also prodded me to do this.... to save my sanity...

...now my ribbons and strings box is closeable again with all the other loose bits I'm hoarding... just...

...baby kimono...

... an old project... and oldie but a goodie (I hope).... this was the first thing I made for lil sister... made MONTHS ago... just after we found out what flavour bubba we were having... made in the midst of ongoing nausea, headaches, vomiting, tears, tiredness (and working 6 days per week) in an effort to get me excited about the pregnancy and her arrival in general... made from pair of my PJs that after 6yrs hard service finally gave out in the butt!!... this was also the first thing packed in her hospital bag... I hope it's a goodie... I hope it fits... I hope this bubba really is a girl so I can put her in it!!!.... still it's already done it's job in one way...

...oh and I always want to remember her dad's reaction when he saw what I was up to.... "It's so little...."

...wardrobe wednesday - floral...

Fake flowers - hibiscus and hair clip I made from lei 

Sunnies - Von Zipper (wonder how long they'll last after bub arrives)

JK maternity tops

Adidas shorts

Gola shoes - hand-me-downs from my sister (Aunty Shoes/ Sus :P) - SO struggling with doing laces!

 ...ok so the challenge this week was something floral... and I know I don't have to post what I wear on Wednesday, but since my due date is a Wednesday (next week!) I have been posting belly and clothes from Wednesdays as a countdown too... but....today was the boy's school's Walk-tober celebration... so I made the effort for school pick - up... (drop off is invaribly in PJs so SO not walking like that)... enjoyed walking in the sunshine and felt good for making the effort.... although took longer than used to...had sore back after....and didn't induce labour for a 20/10/2010 baby like my brother and sister wanted...lol... so this is what I wore walking....took Claire's suggestion and wore flowers in my hair (token effort)... and took my new sling bag which has trees and flowers on it....

.... and this is what I'm wearing now.... obviously floral... but not really in the true spirit of Wardrobe Wednesday... but I just finished it last night and wanted to post it anyway... the 7 year old says I look like I'm from China!!..... he took the photos again....artificial light this evening is not very flattering... but at least I don't look as grumpy as last week....

...for other Wardrobers try here (where it started?), here, here or here... better make more effort for next Wednesday since theme was my suggestion.... wonder if I'll be wearing my baby by then!?!

...birthday bag...

... my wonderful friend Kiri gave me a kitset bag for my birthday...printed on organic cotton/hemp/linen by Ink&Spindle and pattern by Suzy here in Melbourne... being of course incapable of following a pattern - I decided the plain linen lining needed to be shown off so with few other choice pieces from the stash has become fully reversible double pocketed sling bag.... maybe nappy bag...

...crazy button buttercup bag...

...so this is one of the presents that has now been received and I can safely blog about it without spoiling the surprise... made from FREE pattern... using some crazy quilting I did like nearly two years ago and never found a good purpose for the two fat quarter size pieces I managed to finish... happy birthday (very belated) gorgeous Gemma...

...wardrobe wednesday...

...horrid, horrid facial expression sorry...

Black singlet from Garage (Warehouse 'brand')

Multicolour knit skirt/ dress made by me this week

White shoes from Kmart (only just squeezing my fat feet into)

can't remember what bling I had on sorry...

... oh and the bump at 38 weeks...

...well if you want more fashionable/ happier inspiration for your wardrobe - try here.... kudos to the boy for photography again... maybe I was grumping at him not to chop my head off...sorry kid...

...obi...

...actually most of what I've made in the last week has been presents - birthday, wedding, XMAS!!!... so don't feel I can spoil by posting photos just yet.... however I wanted to try this Japanese style obi from this book that I was given for my birthday (thanks lovely Gemma) ... years ago an Indian lady told me her mother was coming to stay with her after the birth of her baby to wrap her belly for 40 days and 40 nights after the delivery...apparently helps with return to form (easier than sit-ups?!?).... decided I'd like to try it...so Japanese obi to help me try out an Indian tradition?!?!...was also great chance to try some of the quilting techniques I've been reading about in various library books/ online... am super happy with how it turned out and hoping it'll make a showing at Wardrobe Wednesday soon (after delivery)...

...overnaps...

...well....hope they fit?!?... this is the prettier of the two I've finished using this "pattern".... those who know me well will know it's pretty much impossible for me to follow a pattern exactly, so the first one was - interesting?!?!... this is the second attempt which I tried to follow the pattern a bit more closely... lol... the disposable is newborn size and our fold for clothies seems like should fit too.... I'm not making any more now until I do have a baby to fit the pattern to...

...baby head support...

...I was a bit bored... and wanted one of these... so my old trackie daks have started a new life.... decorated while talking to my brother in Afghanistan... with love obviously...