Been busy

Clearly catchphrases and witty headlines aren't my thing. Pretty sad for an editor! I am rather excited at the moment, I just bought myself a new sewing machine!!! A Husqvarna/Viking Huskystar C20 which you can see at the bottom of this page if interested. It is a clearance model, but it looks like a really good machine. I can't wait for it to get here and replace the elcheapo we bought me. The little elcheapo has its uses, but not enough for what I want it for, and it's tension hates to cooperate. I will probably put it toward scrapbooking or something like that.

As you can see I've changed my Blogger template. I'm not too sure if I like it at all? The one I did like had a funky little graphic that just didn't work for me. I do like the boxes on the sidebar that keep all my history and tags etc contained neatly rather than sprawling way down the page. Lets see how long it stays this way. I got the blogger template from B Template.

On to the show and tells. I've really enjoyed playing with sewing of late. I bought some things I wanted like felt in Esperance the other week specifically to play with baby shoes. I have so many patterns saved from the net specifically for different baby shoes! I just never had the felt I needed to create them. The little cream ones with variegated cotton came first, then the cream ones with grossgrain ribbon (these are actually polar fleece, not felt) and lastly the fuschia ones which I am fiddling with embroidery on. Not really in love with any of these 3 pairs and the fuscia ones need another pair made as I put the button loops on the same strap on these ones and they are supposed to be opposites! *head-meet-desk* So, none of them are entirely perfect but I enjoy the process. That's the important bit!





I borrowed a book from the library called something like "sew vintage bags". I'm not sure it's by the sewing machine and I am simply too lay to go get it. It divided the bags up into eras they were fashionable. I chose this little wrist bag which was probably a bit more challenging than I had anticipated. I've only ever sewn one zip before (on the pencil case in my last post) and I don't find it too hard. I never would have expected glue sticks to become a staple in my sewing room!! I sewed the loop slightly wrong, it has twisted the wrong way but I guess that's one of those creator only noticed problems as no one else understands what I mean when I point it out. As I was being a good girl and following the pattern the lining is hand stitched in last. I don't like this idea one bit! My hand sewing is really poor and it's awkward to do. The bag also recommended having a rather large flower pin attached which I've not made. I used a fat quarter as the main fabric, and a royal blue one for the lining. I love the bright colours but they don't really match my clothes! I find unlooping the bag, then unzipping it, all a bit fiddly for every day use. To counteract that problem I spent ages looking online for a wrist bag pattern. I knew the basic shape but couldn't be bothered sketching it out!! I couldn't find one, lots to show and tell but no patterns. I ended up finding one on the Martha Stewart website when I was looking at something else!! Always the way. So using another fat quarter and a nurses dress from the thrift shop, I made the wristlet bag (reversible bag I think it's called on the Martha Stewart website). I decided to make a pocket on the inside just cos I could and wanted to play with making things my own, and bias binding. I've used this bag every day since I made it!! Having it looped over my wrist is so much easier to carry than any bag I've used. Again, the colours are intersting and don't really match my clothes, but I'm of the belief, WHO CARES! I like the colours and pattern :D

There was enough fabric remaining from the fat quarter of the above bag to make a little something, when I saw this lamb pattern online I knew it would be sweet. I didn't read the instructions before printing the pattern so I made a few errors along the way but overall I think it's cute! We gifted it to Jessica's school teacher yesterday and she was most impressed. The ribbon probably blends a bit too much, but I do like it. I really need to be bolder with colour. I don't know how to do that. I've tried this with scrapbooking etc and I still can't cope with mixing and matching colours/patterns.

So now I am all excited for the new machine to arrive and play with all the prety stitches and stuff. I've already purchased some extra feet for it, and some bobbins! I have no idea how long it will take to ship as I ordered it from the Lincraft website. There are a stack more I want to get! Xmas wishlist writing time I think!!

Those photos I promised

Decided it would probably be easier to add pics in a new post than to update the other one. So, here are pics of what I've been working on. Minus a couple, like the little purse I sewed from a recent "Handmade" magazine but can't find right now and the doll I was happily crocheting until I snapped the plastic crochet hook I was using and unsure where in my stash is another 5mm one. I've never broken a hook before and actually attempted to continue crocheting with the 1.5" stub but it hurt my fingers. Was possible though, I finished off some of the dolls dress with that stub!! Crazy I know. Yay for the life of a bored person. Anyway, the pics.....

A little doll dress I started. As you can see, it's far from finished! I used hemming tape for the hem. My sewing machine is really touchy about tension. I have to finish the neck and back, including the buttons or some other closure. Not sure if I will finish it. Just isn't working for me right now. I planned to do some applique or embroidery on the front, not to mention the matching bloomers. Maybe one day!

I used a pattern to make this little sun suit for Kristina. The pattern was actually for swimmers but hey.. It's a little too wide at the hips and wasn't quite tall enough for the baby bjorn doll. I fixed the height by hand sewing on the purple lace, which I then added to the legs as well for some continuity. I'm really pleased with it! I chose purple and green to work with some of the items I crocheted.

A little halter and some shorts. Of course, my own designs. One leg of the shorts seems a tad smaller, and take no notice of that little gape in the crotch.. It's just not there, ok?! *lol* I like the halter, though it seemed to drag on forever! Such a little doll too. This is why I am no good at wearables for people.. far too impatient. You can't really see the little flower but it has a yellowy-pearlesque button in the middle. Again, these are my own designs.


A little skirt (teamed up with the halter from above) and some shoes. The skirt is still waiting on a green belt and a top to match. I can't find either of those yarns at the moment, buried under a pile of books I think. The shoes were interesting to make. I wrote down what I did but not sure if it really "works" as a pattern. Might have to ask LeAnna to test it for me. All my own designs. You should expect no less ;)

I love, love, LOVE the little hat I made!! Just a basic round with fpdc and bpdc details. It just looks so cute!! Probably not the bext photo. The little ribbon flower worked better than I expected. The mittens look huge, these dolls have their hands in bizzare poses so to make it fit they had to be biggish. I just tied them with ribbons to match the hat, but sewed one end to the mittens so the ribbons wont fall out and get lost etc. The blanket is some polar fleece and a panel cut from this really cute Sunbonnet Sue type fabric I bought in Perth earlier in the year, for 50c a metre!! The place was relocating so they sold everything totally cheap rather than move it. How lucky to be there at the right time *happy dance* I got something like 24m of fabric, or maybe it was 48m, I don't recall... Anyway, the diagram had little yellow "stitches" around the girl, the dog, and the inside of the patchwork border, so I hand sewed on those lines around the doll. It's given it a nice, raised, quilted effect so I think I will do the same around the dog then perhaps machine sew the rest, possibly in a bold pink or something. Might add some ribbons. Who knows. It's only for the baby bjorn doll afterall!! Hope Kristina loves all this :)

I sewed this yesterday and I really quite like it!! It was intended as a pencil case for Shania as part of her xmas present. I'm not sure yet. Maybe a 10yr old will think school supplies is the suckiest present ever. I tried to make it have some width in the bottom and had no idea what I was doing. Of course, today, I find out how easy it should have been so I will likely fix it. The flower is 5 ribbons cut to about 2" and sewn with a few stitches once folded, then the button to cover all the mess. I couldn't get one length of ribbon to fold how I needed it to do it all in one piece. Random blue buttons just for some more depth. The pink ribbon was also used as a little tab/pull on the zipper. It just works. The pink really brightens the whole thing. If I did it again I think I'd use a wider ribbon for a bigger flower. Otherwise, I am happy!

A double scrapbook layout that just ISN'T working for me. I think that it's far too busy. But, seeing the photo, I might actually like it. The righthand photo is a collection of other pics I want to include, hence the huge frog tag which is destined to become a little album to stash all these pics. And to think, the eldest girl (left) is 13 this year!! Sharyn's (elder girl) photo is so much darker than Amanda's which is making it a little frustrating to make this layout work. I am a bit stumped by it for the moment so have walked away. Will return in a few days and see how I feel. Have already drawn out some scallops on a plain blue paper to use somewhere on this layout.

A vintage pattern for a dress I am crocheting for Jessica. I FINALLY got some Bendigo Woollen Mills cotton and I am loving it!! Perfect for wearables, so soft and slightly fluffy. Not at all tough and rough. The colour is "light teal". Jess likes it so far which is fabulous! This is front/back (both are identical) and maybe 1/3 of the length it needs to be. Fast to crochet just tedious as it's just repeating and counting (5dc, 1dc, 5dc, 1dc etc). I do like it a lot and will finish it up soon. It may be too warm for her to wear in summer.

A scarf for Kristina's younger brother Deegan. Still in the works. No pattern just random rows of knit and purl. I like that the thick/thin yarn is giving it a textrure it would otherwise be without. I originally bought this yarn to make Deegan a comfort blanket but his mum (Nichola) bought one before I had the chance. After I told her I had the yarn! I also used this yarn to make a hat for her new baby Nate. I gifted that before getting a pic as she was heading off to have him. I'll try get a pic of him in it when they come home. The book is from the library and probably overdue...

Back in March was our local race day (horses) and for whatever reason I was bit with the sewing bug the day before, sometime around 2pm. I sewed this in record time and Jessica loved it!! I used some cheap earrings on the ends of the ribbon tie for fun, bought a hair clip to go with it (would have made that too but was threading the ribbon just before walking out the door! She got blue fairy floss (cotton candy to my USA friends) on it. It probably wont hold up, the seams are finished and such. It was just so sweet! Has matching bloomers underneath from the print fabric. It was from a 1970's sewing pattern. I had to fold the neck and tack open as it was just too high for her. She looks so sweet and got a ton of compliments on the day.

I'm bored!!

Got sent this survey by email the other day. Decided to answer it for something to do. I took photos to add to my last post then realised I've been working on a few more things I want to take pics of so haven't updated it yet. I will, I promise!! Now for the survey..

1. What time did you get up this morning? 9.00am
2. Diamonds or pearls? Neither
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Over the Hedge (yes, it was THAT long ago)
4. What is your favourite TV show? I guess Amazing Race, or Grey's Anatomy
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Iced Coffee or Mocha
6. What is your middle name? Stefanie
7. What food do you dislike? Tinned- be it soup, veges, etc
8. What is your favourite CD at moment? don't have one
9. What kind of car do you drive? VX SS Commodore
10. Favourite sandwich? I'm not big on sandwiches.
11. What characteristic do you despise? belittling
12. Favourite item of clothing? PJ's!!!!
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? I can only choose one?!?! How unfair is that... Umm... If alone I'd say anywhere, with a friend I'd say a polynesian cruise, if it was with a partner probably Italy or somewhere European
14. Favourite brand of clothing? fat people don't have this luxury
15. Where would you retire to? My own 10+ acres somewhere
16. What was your most recent memorable birthday? My 21st, cos it was supposed to be in a park but we decided to move it to a hall at the last minute and it pelted with hail 10mins later!!
17. Favourite sport to watch? Figure Skating
18. Furtherest place you are sending this? this is the web...
19. Person you expect to send it back first? N/A
20. When is your birthday? April 5th
21. Are you a morning person or a night person? Neither
22. What is your shoe size? 10-11
23. Pets? Jessi's allergic so no pets in this household
24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? Nichola had a baby. Nothing exciting happens for me :)
25. What did you want to be when you were little? A Nurse
26. How are you today? Fine
27. What is your favourite candy? Minties
28. What is your favourite flower? Lillies and Orchids
29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? I have nothing to look fwd to
30. What is your full name? Michelle Stefanie *********
31. What are you listening to right now? TV, heater and a car driving by
32. What was the last thing you ate? Hazelnut chocolate
33. Do you wish on stars? YES!
34. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be? Turquoise
35. How is the weather right now? cloudy and cold
37. Favourite soft drink? Coke Zero
38. Favourite restaurant? Never really been to any
39. Real hair colour? Brown
40. What was your favourite toy as a child? A little plastic sink
41. Summer or winter? Spring
42. Hugs or kisses? Hugs
43. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate
44. Coffee or tea? Tea
45. Do you want your friends to email you back? My friends hate these things
46. When was the last time you cried? Last night
47. What is under your bed? The floor
48. What did you do last night? Brett kept me company
49. What are you afraid of ? Myself
50. Salty or sweet? sweet
51. How many keys on your key ring? 3
52. How many years at your current job? Don't have one
53. Favourite day of the week? Don't have one
54. How many towns have you lived in? 2
55. Do you make friends easily? No
56. How many people will you send this to? the whole entire internet *lol*
57. How many will respond? None

My poor abandoned blog

One would think I had forgotten all about my blog, when infact, I think of it with fondness on regular occassions. Dragging my butt in here to post, now that's another story!!


As has been typical of my recent blog posts, life has been a rollercoaster! Jessi has spent a week in Princess Margaret Hospital, Perth. I've had to accept my bf doesn't want more than to be my friend. My sister is pregnant but has placenta praevia. There's a fire bug in town which is worrying! What concerned me was that the majority of the fires have been within 3 blocks of my home.

On the plus side, Jessica is well now! The doctors and staff at PMH fixed her up in no time and I am so grateful to them. My friend Nichola had a baby boy yesterday and from the photos she's sent through mms he is so sweet! (ok, yes, I love babies so I'm probably bias). My mum gave me use of her VX Commodore (SS, V8, red)! I am so thankful to her. I sold my car for a few hundered bucks and used that to help buy Jessi's essentials like creams, as well as a little gift for us each. Mine was Peaches and Creme yarn from Perth (never seen it in Aus before, so yay!) and Jessi's been getting bits and pieces all over the place. She didn't need anything big.

I want to thank my friends at Anaphylaxis Talk. I've mentioned it before, but it's an Australian Forum/Message Board for people with allergies, eczema, asthma and anaphylaxia. They are so supportive and so loving of one another. During our stay in PMH we got txt's, visits and even a gift from the wonderful ladies at AT. I encourage anyone who needs a support group in Australia for the above mentioned ailments take a look at Anaphylaxis Talk. It doesn't come up in a google search which is sad and frustrating. I was given a link to AT from another message board and it was lucky as the message board I was on didn't come close to fulfilling my needs. AT is where I keep information relating to Latex Allergy including email responses from manufacturers etc. There is a link to Anaphylaxis Talk in the sidebar. The best bit, it is FREE!! Was hard finding a free site, but they are out there..

I have been making clothes for Nichola's 10yr old Kristina's doll. I've sewn a "swimsuit" but it looks like a little a summer sun suit (and totally cute), crocheted mittens and beanie, skirt, shorts, halter, sandals and am sewing a little blanket. I guess it needs a few more things, like a top that matches the skirt, and something warm to wear with the mittens and beanie, and was thinking of making a nappy with some polar fleece or something. Lets see if I can manage to update this later today with some pics :) I'm really pleased with the sun suit and haven't used any patterns for the crocheted items (of course).

Busy busy busy..?

Ok, so it appears I keep disappearing! Although I don't "do anything" life seems so hectic. Trying to juggle being me with having a bf (7mths now), adapting to new challenges with my daughter, applying for jobs etc. Not to mention fitting in enough craft to keep me sane!!!

To start, my pop came home in February. It was so wonderful to have him back, watch him laughing and smiling at the kids etc. I say was as we lost him in April. He was such a precious man to me being my great-grandfather, Jessica's great-great-grandfather. It was really hard on me when he passed away, I was in Perth getting Jessi Skin Patch Tested (SPT) at an allerists. I was in Perth when his wife, my great-grandma, died also. It was like a huge kick in the guts. When I got home all my great-aunts were here and an uncle or two. Grandma and pop had 10 kids, 9 of which are living, and they were all here for the funeral. Some of them travelling from the other side of the country.

I will always miss my pop. He was just shy of his 90th birthday when he passed so I wont be too sad for him. He had a long life, saw so much, and was never the same after losing his wife of 63yrs. Loved them both dearly.

So about that SPT... He tested something like 20 things, maybe more. Added a little drop of allergen on her skin then went over them with the head of a needle and ever so slightly broke the skin. We were sent back to the waiting room while he saw the next patient, then called back in. He pulled her arm up onto his desk and counted down, then counted on a list that obviously told him what he tested where. He says "This isn't good". Me, I'm feeling all nervous and stressed as it is, so I replied "thanks for the vote of confidence" looking at my sister with questioning eyes. I was grateful she was there with me when he said Jess is allergic to Latex (NRL). That was fine really, no balloons or rubber gloves. Then he started listing stuff and saying "and she'll probably need elastic removed from her skirts and things, especially her underwear.." which made me rather unsettled. I looked at him, knowing full well what anaphylaia is as Jessi has it to tree nuts and sesame, and asked him "so, this is bad then?" and his reply saw me crying right there in his office, trying so hard to keep my head held high.. "THIS IS THE WORST THING SHE COULD HAVE". I just slumped. Jessi was trying to kiss and hug me not really understanding what was going on. I think my sister just sat quietly, I don't recall her doing or saying anything. When we went back to the waiting room to pay for the appointment a lady we'd got talking to asked how it went, I managed to get out "apparently she's severely allergic to latex" and then started bawling again. The lady says "aww.. don't cry" and that just made it worse!!

On the way back to my sisters house I was in a bit of a daze. Right away I called nanna and had a good cry to her. She was saying to me "be strong for Jessi, don't let her see you upset" and that hurt. I really needed support and worrying that Jessi was seeing me cry wasn't big on my agenda right then. I rang Neil too (my bf) and he was more supportive but also just as gobsmacked as me. His main responses were "shit. oh shit. that's not good". Every 2 seconds I was going "can she even have...?" and just wondering what kind of myriad of things she would now have to be kept away from. All the allergist was able to give me was one brochure from America about latex (NRL), he told me to go home and look it up on the net. Which I did, and that only served to overwhelm me more!! I found and anaphylaxia suport group here in Aus and joined up. The ladies at Anaphylaxis Talk are so supportive of each other, and friendly and welcoming. It's nice to finally be able to talk to others who know what this is like. Most people really don't get it. At Anaphylaxis Talk I have compiled a comprehensive list of products containing NRL as I couldn't find one on the web. Just lots of little ones.

It turns out Pecan reacted really bad too, and cashew. But we already knew she was anaphylactic to tree nuts. I guess she is allergic to almost all of them, and from what I've been reading many people are only allergic to one or two. He didn't test sesame, just took my word for it. The letter he sent back to our doctor also said orange but as he didn't bring it up I'm not too worried about it. He said she reacted to peanut and asked us about it. We told him she eats it, not often but she does eat it, and he said to give it to her 2 times a week. He said taking it from her diet would probably be worse. He wrote a new form for a Medic Alert bracelelt on the spot. It's been a lot to take in but I am getting there.

Nanna bought me a sewing machine for my birthday so I've been playing with it some. While in Perth there was a fabric store relocating and having a closing down sale to do so (why they didn't relocate it I don't know) but I got 25m of fabric for $12.50, jusy 50c a metre!! I was so happy to get such a good bargain. I also went to op shops (thrift shops) and bought remnants and patterns and stuff. Not like I needed more patterns.. I just love them :)

Some slippers from various patterns and a mostly-complete teddy bear I've sewn

I've not really been crocheting or knitting. Done some scrapbooking though. I am wanting to learn bobbin lace, but I want a kit from the Fox Collection and don't have the money for it right now. There is just so much I want to do I don't think I will ever get to do it all!

Some of the scrapping I have done

Neil is talking about moving in with us so I will have to rearrange my house again. Thats an adjustment I want, though I am a little unsure how I will cope with it. I've had 3yrs on my own with just Jessica. Neil lives with his nanna and has never lived with a partner before. Going to be a big learning curve for us both!

I applied for a job a week ago, as a Library Officer in the school. I am pretty confident I will get an interview, fingers crossed I get the job too!

Who Knew!

Wow.. I had no idea it had been soooo long since I last blogged. There's been so much going on in my life that I guess the ole blog got a little left behind!

I've been tatting, scrapbooking, crocheting.. all the usual. I wont bore anyone with photos ofall I have done in the last 6mths. Jessi is about to turn 5, my great grandfather had a heart attack and a pacemaker put in right before xmas (he was sent home xmas day from hospital) and is finally coming home from Perth, I have a bf now, I've read a few books, changed the house around. Just so many things :)

I managed to take a simply stunning photo of Jessi on Dec 20th, so I will share. Everyone loves to look at cute kids! I cropped out the toilet block and everything when I scrapped it of course ;)


One book I read I want to tell you about. Had I read the blurb I'm not sure I would ever have bought it. It was in a discount book order thingy at the local supermarket for about $10. The pic on the cover of 3 little blonde girls appealed to me so I grabbed the order form and wrote my details (of course buy Jessi books too!). When I read the blurb some weeks later I said to my bf that I'm not sure I would like the book, but for some reason I was still drawn to reading it. And I did. And it had such an impact on me, to the point I researched the authors online and was tempted to email them about their story. I decided that was probably going a bit too far!! The book is called "Not Without My Sister" by Celeste, Kristina (Jones) and Juliana (Buhring). They were born into a cult or religious sect or whatever other "politically correct/incorrect" term you may have called the Children of God. Now known as The Family International this cult still operates. In researching the authors I read a blog by an Australian man who had been "flirty-fished" by a group of Family girls in Sydney just last year. The lives these little girls lived were horrific. Dragged all over the world and often being raised by people who weren't their parents or in a communal environment they suffered abuse of every kind. No child deserves this no matter the reasoning behind it. These ladies, Celeste, Kristina and Juliana are fighting for the rights of children like them all over the world. Kudos to you! If you ever have the chance to read this book, do. I couldn't put it down. My life seems so "normal" and "fair" after having read what these ladies lived through. I was mortified that these things really happen, and reading it in such a way saw me in tears and constantly commenting to my bf about how dumbfounded I was about it all. A real wake up call! I'm not in anyway religious by choice, and I don't hold anyones religion or beliefs against them, but I tell ya what, abusing children I cannot accept. Abusing anyone in any unjust way really. And if your "religion" tells you it's right.. I mean, where are the common sense and morals? So, with an open and unbiased mind I recommend this book. Be warned, it can be a little graphic. Juliana, Celeste and Kristina.. if you ever happen by my humble little blog I admire your strength and will power. May your work with RISE International help many and bring you peace.

I recently started compiling a http://www.myqh.com/ webpage. I had run across a couple when hunting for crochet patterns and they were just so well organised and helpful that I thought I might make my own. So far I've used their process for copying all your links from your browser and they all need sorting. But where as in the past I was saving just a homepage or index I am now going to go through and organise more clearly. Mainly with the tatting stuff I will be trying to add in every pattern I come across as a reference point for people. www.crochetpatterncentral .com and http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/ are already such comprehensive guides to those artforms and Rachel does such an amazing job of keeping them up to date I could never hope to equal her. Tatting will be my thing :) I do have the Tatting Index in my bookmarks and use it often, so I am really kinda taking inspiration from there. I have more tatting bookmarks than I do anything else so it will be great to think "hmm.. I want to tat a 3D rose" and know right where to look. If no one else ever uses my lists I certainly wont be offended!! But that said.. if you're interested take a look

http://www.myhq.com/public/m/i/michelles_angel/

It's a slow process as I have to add each thing just one at a time and pull up all those webpages in the process. That's kinda a good thing too cos it means no broken links. For now.. Not sure how well I will go in keeping it that way!! *lol* OOOOHH!!... I better remember to add my own dragonfly tatting pattern, huh?!! Foolish me.

Enough babbling from me, I have a myhq page to work on. Take care and I should be back. I hope. Maybe....

Toys galore

I was asked if I would like to test a pattern for KristieMN at Crochetville after commenting how Jessica is totally into her "babies" at the moment. Kristen had said she already had the testers she needed so I was really surprised to get a PM asking if I would like to test too. Of course I said yes! I just adore Kristie's patterns!!

Here is Hallie, a BackPack Baby pattern by KristieMN which I imagine will be available at her Etsy Store Kristie's Kreations just as soon as she has all her testers results. I haven't done the bear as I still can't find a smaller hook! Hallie is the name Jessica chose for her new doll.



Also completed 2 cute balls. So quick and easy. So much so that I even embroidered on them just for the sake of it! Basically just cat balls with bells inside crocheted over which means they jingle when shaken, rolled, throwed etc. I think I will be making these and stashing them to sell when markets come up etc. Only thing is that I need to get to a discount store to buy them. The larger balls at the local supermarket are 2 for $4 (almost) and the smaller ones $4 (almost) for 4! So quite pricey really!! The colours in these balls are the same as Hallie but as she was photgraphed inside in the evening her colours aren't shwing as bright. These are a truer representation of colours used. I will probably send one of these balls to my friends little girl Hayley for her 1st bday which is fast approaching. I made her a toy when she was little that she loves, will keep it up as a tradition *lol*

And last but not least, I am so proud to show you Barbie in a mermaid tail that is all my own work! This took me days!! I am really very pleased with it and owe so many thanks to Vicki for sending me the colour of cotton I wanted all the way from Washington state USA! I have wanted to make a mermaid since I was on that real Barbie kick for Jessica's bday this year and just didn't have what I felt I needed. So heaps of thanks and love to ya Vicki for rescuing me!

Right now I am working on a top for Jessi. I would have finished already but I made the first piece too small so have to make another. Not to worry. The small one will likely become a halter, also for Hayley's birthday :D Where there is a will there is a way! And I waste little!! I will show them off once complete. I don't like showing half objects. Spoils the surprise. Oh, these are all my own design too which makes it so much more rewarding.

I decided to start getting this house of mine organised yesterday. What a disaster, but also a lot achieved. I moved the fridge and I tell you what.. I wish I hadn't done that. I was trying not to puke while scrubbing the floor under it. So relocated the fridge and the pantry which allows me to then move the tv and couches etc. You see, so much in my house needs something done before something else can progress and that's a lot of the reason I just leave it be. Totally reorganising things creates a huge mess. Right now you can barely walk through my kitchen, simply because to move the other cupboard that was in there I need to move things in the living room to put it in there. Some of those things from the living room need to go into Jessi's toy room which isn't even in existance yet. Ahh.. the joys! *lol* anyways, I got some done. Will get to the rest soon I suppose. It needs doing and I need to stop procrastinating about it. That simple.