One of those days

Today was one of those days when I just wanted to scream. At one stage one of the girls had stripped their bed and jumped up and down yelled that she was on a trampoline, while the other one tried to climb up a bookshelf and yelled that she needed a ladder as she had to get taller.
Thank goodness Chris came and got them after school.
I've spent the last hour cutting out wombats and having trying to turn the wombat pattern into a pig with no luck. I have been trying to do this for ages and I think my attempts are getting worse. Pigs just don't seem to work for me. So I thought I'd try a hippo, we didn't see any at the zoo last week - they don't have any in Perth, but they do have rhinos which the girls loved seeing up close. I think I made a good hippo face, I've just got to see what it is like on a wombat body.

I haven't bought anything practical for the new baby yet, but i couldn't resist these little bloomers on sale at Minifashionista for next summer. They did make me smile today.

Coconut Bread

I have a playgroup meeting tonight - it's always a bit more enjoyable if you have something nice to eat and drink and as I can't drink I needed something nice to eat. So the girls and I made Coconut Bread. Honestly today I would have preferred to quickly make it myself - so much quicker and far less mess, but the girls always want to 'help'.

They wanted to help with these little thank you cards too. I saw this idea on the Craft blog a while ago and it's a really nice way to use up little scraps.

3 Little Dolls

I've finished the dolls and the finished the last of the red and blue flowery fabrics - 2 of my favourites. I think they are Yuwa fabrics and I can't seem to find anymore of them. These will be off to Minifashionista shortly.
Does anyone know of a place to get blank linen tea towels or cotton/linen tea towels. I feel the need to embroider or applique something pretty for the kitchen because I don't seem to have enough things on my to do list.

Sewing Dolls

I think I am fully recovered from the trip to Perth now and ready for the week. I spent yesterday trying to finish some dolls that are going to Minifashionista and then hopefully I will nearly have all the things finished that have to be finished and I can spend the next few weeks sewing what I want, or lying around on the couch, whatever sounds better that day..

A Trip to Perth

I spent the last few days in Perth. A trip away always sounds so great, you plan all the things you want to do and then it kind of gets hijacked by everything you should do. Luckily we still managed to do some of the fun things. It helped that Mum came with me - much easier with help (isn't that an understatement). A few highlights:

A dress fitting for my bridesmaids dress for my friend Ali's wedding when I'll be 39 weeks pregnant - yes you read that correctly - 39 weeks. I think it is going to be ok the dressmaker is fantastic and promised I won't look huge, although I'm not sure how this will be possible.

We met Chris Mum and sister and our gorgeous niece Madison at the zoo and the girls got to see all the big animals they always talk about. Here are the girls in a still moment at the penguins.

A visit to the Fremantle Arts Centre - I hadn't been down there for a couple of years and had forgotten the great things you can find in the shop there. I am very excited as you can now find a few of my toys there including this wombat.

The big exciting thing for me this week was getting to 32 weeks. I didn't quite make it to 32 weeks with the girls - so it's always been a big psychological milestone for me.

Tote Bag

I thought I'd have a go at a tote bag and cut into some a fantastic vintage tablecloth for the 2 panels. I think these panels might work well as part of little dresses. Add that to the list of 352 things I plan to do before this baby comes.

I am trying to make the list smaller - I cast on the Babies who lunch Cardigan from the Sublime book using some Sublime yarn made of merino, silk and cashmere. So smooshy and perfect for a newborn baby.

Cakes

We made Chocolate Cake yesterday, a big one and a couple of heart shape ones as a Valentine's Day present for Chris. The girls (especially Grace) were very excited as they got to put 'green honey' on top. Grace started asking for green honey on her toast ages ago and it took us a long time to realise she meant hundreds and thousands. She has never had it on toast for breakfast, but still asks everyday in the hope we might change our minds.

We also made some Zucchini Bread - so yummy and a great way to use up some zucchini.

Corina asked me how I manage to sew with the girls and if they touch everything in my sewing room. I get asked this a lot especially from people that don't sew. I think it's definitely a case of the more they are in here when I sew the easier it is. I used to have a barrier on the door and they were always trying to get in here. Now the door is wide open and everything is left out. The scissors and pins are out of reach (I know they could get them if they tried) and they just gradually learnt what they could and couldn't touch. Yes it did take a while and they made a mess more than a few times - untangling reels of cotton and balls of wool are not my favourite pastimes, but it was worth it now.

Today's Sewing

I am working my way through the piles on my desk. I've nearly finished a few of these.

Next is some cutting out. Not my favourite part at the best of times, but getting even trickier as my stomach keeps expanding. Lucky I have two little helpers that can pick things up for me when I drop them.

Fish

I've had and idea for a fish in my head for over a year, but it has always seemed a bit hard. Maybe it's because I have thought about it for so long that it actually wasn't.

Thanks for all your toilet training encouragement. I wish I had some hints for you. I few people said to be consistent and I think that is so true. As well as being patient. Something I am not good at, but I am trying and I am trying to encourge them. Also bribery. I know it is probably not the best thing, but they will do anything for dates ot tiny teddies.

Circles

For those that were wondering, the pockets and circles are part of a bag. It's finally finished.

While I was on a roll with the circles I thought I'd try a butterfly. Mmm, it's got a few good points, but still needs some work.
I needed to make something bright - toilet training 2 children was starting to take it's toll yesterday. We've had a better morning, so hopefully we are making some progress.

Experimenting

I am nearly 30 weeks and I am feeling the heat this week. Luckily the girls are playing quite well together inside and I have been able to play around with a few ideas in my head. Circles - I love bright circles on black - they seem to pop up again and again in my sewing.
You can never have enough bias binding - I think I have found a new favourite way of doing a pocket.

New Bag

It has been a bag making day today. I needed a new bag I could wear across my body that won't fall off as I try and catch a child or two in the shops. So I just modified my standard bag pattern to make this.
I used some of this fantastic red fabric I got when I was in Melbourne last year and some denim. The inside has a pocket and magnetic snap just like my other bags.
I love it so much I made another one that will go into my shop with this one.

You Make My Day

The wondeful Sue nominated me for the Make My Day Award - thanks Sue!

The Purpose of this Award is as follows:
Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get this award several times.

So here are my nominations - I started searching through my bloglines (which is out of control) and stopped when I had 10. So thankyou to everyone whose blog I read and all the happiness and inspiration you provide.

1. Sue of Knitter Sue - I'm sending the award straight back.

2. Fiona of Dragonfly Crafts

3. Susan of fiveandtwo

4. Jade of My Art Is My Outlet

5. Jhoanna of One Red Robin

6. Sooz of Soozs

7. Ainslie of Blossom

8. Rachael of All It Took Was One Stitch

9. Melissa of Tiny Happy

10. Megan of Scent of Water