A delicious obsession

I can't help myself, I am addicted to gorgeous gelati coloured cotton. Bendigo Woollen Mills have a sale until 11th December ($9.50 for 200gms) Once I have finished obsessing over outfitting the babe, I will be crocheting some gorgeous motifs of course. Can you tell I have an obsessive disorder? The Knitted babe scored a new maxi dress, refashioned from one of the teen's offcasts (it no longer fitted her in the bust region....hmmm)

I also made a pair of hipster panties as she was rather horrified that I had shown her lace Grandma knickers!

A Rose by any other name...

Well here she is... the Knitted Babe in all her curly haired glory! She is made but as yet unnamed, as you see Miss C cannot decide upon the perfect name. This is where you all come in, my trusted blog readers. A challenge to name the knitted one. If you suggest the name that Miss C likes best you will win a little prize, sure to consist of fabric and chocolate. So put your thinking caps on ... and suggest away!

I will leave this open for a week or so depending on how many names there are to choose from. In the meantime I will be churning out a whole wardrobe of clothes for the little miss!

Birthday wishes

It is the ballerina's 12th birthday next week. She has asked for clothes for herself and clothes for her knitted babe. I have been having way too much fun with the latter!

For the love of lace

this sweet lace bow in the ballerina's hair got me seeing lace eveywhere I looked

The Snowblink Tank

Linen Bunny and Lace Pouch

The seamstress Print

even the knitted babe is loving the lace!

I have a vintage pattern that I am going to have a go at using to make a lace tank like the ones in Supre for $40, but oh so much nicer... I hope!

Vintage lace curtains here I come!

The knitted babe makes a re-appearance

Lulu Sky now has a tutu and jazz pants. More clothes are coming too. Don't you love the summer holidays? No routine, no school lunches and plenty of time for fun. My apologies to Mr M who returned to work today, and to the teen who has her first part time job at a shoe shop and do not have the same luxuries!

Introducing....

Lulu Sky

The ballerina (formely known as Miss C) has named the knitted babe, at last! She came up with the first name, but the other name was first suggested by Meagan of ecomilf. She came up with Lucinda Sky, which is pretty close! Anywho, a little prize will be on its way to you Meagan, let me know your details and your fave choccy! Thanks to everyone who contributed. Trust me when I say, every name was duly considered!

A hot day calls for a new mini dress of course!

Still unnamed...

There are a few names to choose from, but Miss C is as yet unconvinced. So I need you to keep those name suggestions rolling in.....the knitted babe is getting somewhat impatient. She is also unimpressed that I took a pic of her in her knickers. But as they are nice, lace patterned ones, and it is a hot day I told her to get over herself!
I have finished her ballet wrap and am working on the tutu. I am convinced that I won't be taking up garment knitting any time soon!

so go on, keep those names coming,remember there is a prize at stake

Recharging the batteries

Since we last spoke on the subject of feeling somewhat overwhelmed, I have taken some time to put myself back together. Mr M challenged me to a game of Squash which energised my mind and body. We went to my brother's house for a lovely refreshing swim and I played "biting spiders" with my niece and nephew in the pool. I shopped to restock the pantry. I read over my assessment tasks and started to think about how to answer them, and then began typing them up. I started knitting a hoodie for the knitted babe (Miss C is sure taking her time in choosing a name) I worked with the teen to sort her stuff and assess what is going back into her room.

A little break to help put things back in perspective!

Thanks for all your lovely comments and support - they warmed my heart.

A Fashion Show

relaxed knit hoodie

school uniform

lace top and cuffed shorts

apple print sun dress

lace top with belt and gathered skirt

......starring the one and only Lulu Sky.

All garments have been made by me over the last few days. The ballerina designed the lace top and shorts and "ordered" the school skirt. All of been made from offcuts and repurposed items, including a denim cushion I made about 20 years ago! The belt is a cat collar from reverse garbage. The ballerina had some fun posing the doll and walking the cat walk to tunes on her IPOD, with her toys watching on!

What ever am I going to do when the Knitted babe book is due back at the library next week. I have had it since, dare I admit it.... October. I have been returning, reborrowing, returning etc. I think I need to buy my own copy!

The 2009 Wrap-up

NEW YEARS EVE Pool Party

I have spent a wonderful day going back through my posts for the year just finished. I read the comments left and reflected upon what I have achieved and the choices I have made. I remebered the special give-aways I had been lucky enough to win and the swaps I had participated in. I love how blogging encourages thinking, sharing and creating in so many ways. Thankyou to all my readers, commenters and friends - you make the journey all the sweeter.
The rest of this post is a self-indulgent trip down memory lane. Feel free to come along if you really want to!
The idea is courtesy of Ms CurlyPops. You can document your own journey if you wish and put your link over here at Cam's place.

January
I sewed my first top and even wore it in public! I also made a poodle skirt out of satin for the ballerina and we enjoyed a lovely family sea/tree getaway. We sweltered through some very extreme weather, which hit the piggies pretty hard.

February
The bushfires raged ane sadly two of our piggies succumbed to the heat. I listed my first item on Ebay for the Handmade Helps Out cause. The ballerina turned 11 and celebrated with a Valentine's Day party. I made my first dress and wore it to A sound of Music Party.

March
Finally had a day of work after starting to enjoy being at home a bit too much. My beloved nana passed away aged 91, and I read a poem at her Funeral

April
I reminisced about my trip to the USA as a 19 year old student teacher, as we planned a family holiday to the US. I deliberated over cutting up a doiley, and then did it! I even mastered zippers! I hugged my bunny Chai for the last time. The great Koala debate was decided and we packed our bags.

May
We had an awesome holiday in the USA, and got to wake up in Vegas as well as an amazing trip to Honduras, where we got to meet our Sponsor child Iris. I did a Toy Society drop in San Pedro Sula too, the first in Honduras! We even dodged the Swine Flu bullet!

June
The entire Golden hands Library was given to me by my mum, a girls weekend was had and I crocheted a bag. I also bought my first pair of boots and wore them with glee!

July
I took a little trip to the country to visit my folks at their new place. I made a chevron scarf with oddments and made a vintage skirt and wore it to BABBA! Beloved Flash departed this world for Guinea Pig Heaven.

August
A photo a day thanks to Megan filled my time this month. I came to realise that I suffer from MPD (Multiple projects Disorder).I finished the month with a great day!

September
Crochet Motif Month was a hooking good time! I made a Minnie Mouse Costume hours before a party and the teen embarked on Outward Bound. The ballerina had dance exams and I worked on a crochet ripple blanket. I also had a tantrum at the Melbourne show.

October - what a month!
BLOGTOBERFEST and committment are the order of the day! I had a terrible shock when I realised I had the wrong green for my ripple blanket (rectified by Jazy), but was thrilled when the ballerina achieved honours! I went crochet mad and then just plain mad when my computer died! I also started school, fortunately with a new hard drive. A spooky party to celebrate the end of a spooky month!

November
The knitted babe became a pleasant distraction, and the teen's room had a make-over (after a washing machine mishap)I also had a mishap with the microwave an learned that one can not do everything all the time! I discovered more Bendigo Cottons and fell deeper in love and strugg.led with modem issues. Got hooked on twinkle stars and made a softie for Mirabel.

December
I have struggled with my wardrobe and delievered a great presentation to my class and turned 39. I then just barely survived Christmas, before celebrating the teens 15th Birthday, with an excellent Mexican meal. WOW what a year!