Poppy skirt

Quite timely for Remembrance Day on 11 November, but actually quite unintentional, was my strong desire to craft a skirt for Romily from this fabulous Botanical Pop fabric (and contrast fabric).
I didn't follow a pattern, but used ideas from this twirly skirt and an OliverandS skirt. I love how it turned out and so did Romily who wore it today. Finding a lady selling Remembrance Day red poppies at the local shops was the icing on the cake, with Rom wearing one in her hair all afternoon!

And here's a photo of Tristan, who's worked out that if he kicks the playgym it makes music and the lights flash - he loves it!And one of Rom entertaining Tristan while licking the bowl after we made a batch of yummy banana coconut chocolate muffins!

Waiting for the big reveal!

How exciting! I finished the EB Doll Quilt Swap II quilt and sent it off in the mail today. At the same time, I collected my parcel from the post office and it's from Sandi!

We have all agreed to wait until 7 November to open them, so I have to wait a whole week until I can see what's inside.

I hope my receiver likes what I made. I had a lot of fun making it. Here's another sneaky peak - this is the backing, one of the FQs I received for my birthday. Thanks Bec!

Edited to correct the big reveal date - it's 7 November, not 4 November! D'oh! Three more days to wait!!!

Sneak peak - I had my arm twisted...

Only kidding about the arm twisting part. I realised if I changed the colours and cropped heavily I could give a tiny sneak peak of the mini quilt I'm making for the EB Doll Quilt Swap II. I'm part-way through sewing down the back of the binding. The label is on :)

2 months old

I can't believe my little man is already 2 months old! This photo was taken earlier this week - very quickly snapped, as he was not a happy camper for a couple of days - he had his 2-month jabs on Tuesday. He screamed during and after and was inconsolable later that day. Very heartbreaking and thank goodness for breastfeeding and Panadol.

And here he is with his gorgeous big sis.And one with me - taken by Romily the budding photographer!My EB Doll Quilt Swap II quilt is nearly quilted. I'll get the binding and label done over the weekend and it will be ready to post on Monday. No sneak peaks - it would be a dead giveaway!

Easy peasy onesies

A little bit of sewing is happening here. I 've started the mini quilt for the EB Doll Quilt Swap II, but need to find some more time to finish it off. Has to be posted by 31 Oct, so I have a little bit of time left.

I did finish some easy onesies for my gorgeous boy. A good friend gave us two big bags of hand-me-downs for Tristan, including some plain white onesies - just begging for some colour! (Sorry about the bad photos/colour variations. I only really get the chance to craft/photograph at night!)The only photo where Tristan's hair is not impersonating a rooster - he's just had a bath :)Sorry about the bad photos/colour variations. I only really get the chance to craft/photograph at night!

My kids

Just some photos of Romily and Tristan. They are both growing so quickly!

A finish! Marina's Midwest Modern Quilt

I finished sewing on the label of the quilt I made for Romily's old playgroup leader at 9am this morning and we presented it to Marina at 9.30am! Nothing like a deadline to get me moving. She said she was all teary when she opened it because she loved it and the gesture behind it. Isn't it wonderful to have someone who's not a quilter appreciate all the work that goes into it. She said she loved the fabrics and I made my first photo label (after loudly cursing the manufacturers of the printable fabric sheets when the backing would not peel off and I had to scrape it off under water) with a picture of Romily in the play ground at her last playgroup session. Marina was stoked. It was well worth staying up till 1am to get it finished!(For some reason Blogger is uploading this photo on its side...)

I'm quite happy with the quilt, although my machine quilting leaves a lot to be desired. I am truly hopeless at basting and it got a bit bunchy in the middle. Thankfully only fellow quilters scrutinise such things! I am going to have to get better at basting. I think more practice is in order. The finished quilt measures 41" x 44" and was made mostly from Amy Butler Midwest Modern fabrics.

Romily had a great morning at playschool - no tears, no dramas. What a relief! We thought she would be okay, but you never can be sure. Tristan and I had a nice time cruising around at the local shopping centre. I had a lovely, uninterrupted hot chocolate and an apple slice. I am enjoying having a portable, mostly undemanding baby while I can!

For my mum

This post is for my mum, who was horrified that I'd posted a photo of her sans make-up and without her hair done for all the world to see! I told her that all the world would see a happy grandma with her two gorgeous grandkids (still in the pyjamas), but she still wasn't thrilled...muahahaha!

Anyhoo, as I mentioned in said post, the only crafting going on around here over the past two weeks was Grandma's. Here's what she was working on while she was here. This is an embroidery sampler she's made, which will become a groovy cushion. I think it's fabulous. A close-up is below.Although saying Grandma was the only crafty one wasn't strictly true. Romily is still loving chopping bits of paper up and sticking them randomly in her drawing books...as you can see!
And to make amends, here are some photos of Grandma (this time with hair done and make-up on - better Mum?!!)
And with Huppa and Romily just before Grandma and Huppa made the 8-hour journey back to Melbourne.
Thanks again mum for all your help during your much-appreciated visit. It helped a lot. I was also very happy that you got some extended one-on-one time with your newest grandson.

Here are a few gratuitous pictures of Tristan - including a bone fide smile :)
(Romily thinks he looks like a super hero with arms akimbo like in this photo!)

And, yes, the essay was done in time, although I don't think it'll be an award winner. Carl did read it and I was pleased to learn it did hang together okay!

So, now onto Marina's quilt, which I have to finish by Sunday night. On, on!

October is Pink Ribbon month

Those of you who have been reading this blog for some time know that I support breast cancer research - having a strong family history of breast cancer on both sides (both grandmothers who did not survive and an aunt on each side who both have survived), I was shocked to learn how little the government provides for research into treatment and prevention for this insidious disease.

So, every year, when Pink Ribbon Day (now part of Breast Cancer Month) rolls around, I do my little bit. We don't have a lot of spare cash these days, so my little bit is quite small. But I can raise awareness through this post and encourage you to donate or buy something from the Pink Ribbon Shop.

The picture shows what I've ordered. Too bad they don't make kids stuff. I would have probably ordered more!

All well here. Mum and Dad left yesterday and I was sad to see them go. I wish we lived closer...

My essay is due Tuesday at 9am, so I'd better get my head down and tail up and GET IT DONE! Then onto some more fun stuff :)