Ta ra!

 we put up the Christmas tree

AND

we put up the paddling pool for the first time this year.

THAT’S JUST NOT RIGHT!!!!!

We also had an accident that resulted in Little Miss Brown’s first black eye – ouch, I heard the collision from inside!!!!

I also came across a couple of blog posts that really resonated me:

Gina from clutterpunk wrote about Slumpsville

Leonie from Raglan Guld wrote about I lost my mind once …

Hope you all have a great weekend! x

Do you see where this is leading?

It was a farcical.  It was an unmitigated disaster. It was a COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME.

The day dawned bright, sunny and still which, after the wild windy weather we had last week, seemed like a good omen.

The setting up went well.  Even the fabric wrapped stones (???) I had quickly made up the night before to stop everything blowing of my stall looked OK – not great mind but OK.

I was ready.  The start of the market was 10am.  In fact there never was a ‘start’ to the market but there was definitely an end.

The end came when the regional motorcycle touring club starting rolling up and parking in the square.  Slowly, slowly I was engulfed.  By motorbikes decked out in their Christmas finest and lots and lots of bikers.  I should have been glad of people of any sort but they weren’t really the right demographic for pretty little dresses.  And their bikes gave off lots of petrol fumes.

I was the first one to leave.  I think I felt every emotion there was that day.  When I started packing up the major one was relief.  Relief not to be sitting there with no-one, and I repeat no-one, looking!  (Well that might be a bit of an exaggeration – I suppose about 15 people came through the square in 3 hours!)

Relief gave way to huge disappointment and then crying!  Yes, I cried over it.  Luckily no-one was at home so I had my little sob and then got on with things.

It wasn’t a totally wasted exercise because I learnt a lot.  I’m still processing things from the whole event and will probably put them in here soon to help clarfiy things for me.

But for now thanks.  Thank you to everyone for all the good wishes and the great comments on my clothes.  If you had all been able to be there it would have been a fantastic day.  The bubbly I had in the fridge didn’t get drunk on Saturday night, it just didn’t seem right.  However, it and its sister (I had to get two because they were on such a good special) did get drunk on Sunday night, along with some beer (me) and gin (other half).  OMG I haven’t got drunk since before I was pregnant with Little Miss Brown – that’s 6 years ago.  It was fun.  It really was fun.  Monday wasn’t quite so much fun! xx

I obviously realised that I would laugh about this all one day when I took this photo.  Can you see my stall?  It’s in between the two trees.  Can’t you see it?  Oh no there’s too many bloody bikes!

The result of being alone for a while creating

Wanganui River Trader Market

With Mum after delicious banana and chocolate pancakes

The dance teacher

Feeding Curly the lamb “He’s driving crazy!”

Just one of the many places we’ve found the alphabet recently

Being a clown at Cross Hills

Waitarere Beach

Teddy and bunny having a picnic

10am on a Monday all dolled up for a birthday party – Oh to be a 5 year old again!

Looking more 15 than 5

Sometimes I fall into the trap of thinking that I’m not doing enough with the girls.  This little exercise has reminded of how much we have done – and all in one month!

Winner of a Dress is Care over at Obsessively Stitching

Winner of a pair of Trousers is iwannabecreative

Winner of first Mystery Prize is Helen at Stitcharooney

Winner of second Mystery Prize is Elizabeth at elizaboothy

Ladies, make sure you get in touch soon so I can get making and get the things sent off!

And as for the market?  Well that’s a pretty long story and unfortunately not a good one which I will post about more tomorrow! xx

I’m also taking part, for the first time, in Sew, Mama, Sew!’s Giveaway – click here if you fancy entering my part of this huge giveaway.  Thanks. x

I had so much fun going from blog to blog on the last giveway and seeing what all you crafty people were up to that I’m  really looking forward to taking part in this one myself.  So here it is!  Welcome to you all – thank you so much for visiting and hopefully you’ll see something below that you like and so will enter my giveaway!  I am very happy to post anywhere in the world.

Now I am going to ask for something in return.  Nothing big, think of it as a favour maybe!  But because I am going to ask for something I’m going to have four winners drawn.  So, should I ask the favour first or should I tell what’s on offer first?!!

Favour first!  I’m preparing for my first handmade, craft market this weekend and as such have been busy making, making, making and I could really do with some feedback.  I’ve uploaded some photos to flickr and wondered if you’d be so kind as to pop on over and let me know what you think.  Do you like?  Do you not like?  Any fabrics you prefer?  etc, etc.  So you see it’s not that big but it does mean you have to click somewhere else too!  If you fancy playing along just CLICK HERE to see my flickr page. 

IN RETURN HERE’S WHAT I’LL OFFER YOU!!!!

Part One:

EITHER a DRESS OR a pair of TROUSERS similar in style to those shown, made to fit your child’s measuremements (age 12 months to 5 years) in colourways to be discussed.  All the material I use is vintage, recycled, upcycled and I have a fair stash so I’m sure between us we can find something you’ll like.  When entering please specify whether you’d prefer dress or trousers.

Part Two:

Everybody who enters the giveaway will also be put into the draw for a MYSTERY PRIZE, in fact there will be TWO.  It will be something do with sewing/fabric/buttons – you get the picture?

So there it is.  All comments will be very gratefully accepted and I hope the giveaways tempt to you to comment!  One entry for each comment, plus THREE more ENTRIES if you link to this giveaway on your blog.  Giveaway is open until 6 December 2009, after which the draw will take place.

Many, many thanks! xx

in return

Today I have been a sewing mama. 

I have not been a brusher of hair.  I have not been a brusher of teeth.  I have not been a maker or provider of food.  I have not, in short, been a mama!

Market mania has hit the house but fear not their Dad has finished up college for the year so they had a lovely day with him!

Some more photos have been uploaded to flickr of the finished items.  Unfortunately the day has been very, very wet and grey so apologies for the dark photos. x

So, the great.  Receiving some post, that I hadn’t collected from the letterbox on Saturday due to torrential rain, and finding that not only was it not waterlogged but it also contained something very beautiful, very handmade and very for me!

It was made by the lovely Kylie from 3 sheets and was a Pay It Forward gift.  Thank you Kylie I love it and will treasure it!  I first came across Kylie’s blog on the last Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway some time back so it seems apt to mention that this time I will be taking part too.  Click on the link on the sidebar to see what it’s all about and be sure to come back tomorrow, or the next day!, for the giveaway.

The bad, like I said wasn’t so bad, because when you wake up at 5.30am you get a lot done in the day!  It also means Little Miss Blue has a daytime sleep!

And the ugly, well you can see for self!  Yesterday I was into my sewing but having been a bit slack on the food front I decided I would make us all a lovely tea.  I’d seen a lovely recipe for spinach and ricotta gnocchi and decided that and some salads would be tasty and healthy.  This is what it looked like in the beautifully photographed recipe book from the library:

at this stage I was somewhat sceptical but kept my faith:

when it looked like this I thought it might all be OK:

now you know it’s going to end badly!  This was the result:

What can I say?  We ended up with some mutant spinach, ricotta, egg, parmesan stew!  Tea turned out to be beans on toast! x 

PS I think this could well qualify for a moment, as defined by Amy of A Common Place Life, after her initial post here, found courtesy of  Amy over at Seven Stitches – thanks to both Amys!

A post full of random ramblings on my journey so far to having a market stall.

- I have been remarkably relaxed about everything, until last night

- I realised that signing up for a market, having never sold anything and having no stock and the market date is just over two weeks away is really a bit silly!

- even more silly is having your husband start renovating the kitchen, when the kitchen table is the only cutting table I have

- my sewing room is soo messy that sometimes I put my scissors down and go to pick them up two minutes later and can’t find them

- do I really like making multiples of things?  Not sure of this yet.  It might be yes if things sell, it will definitely be no if I don’t

- which nicely leads on to “Will I actually sell anything?”

- I actually like all the things I’m making and could easily keep them for the girls

- haven’t even begun to think about tables, accessories, logisitics of the stall – making stock is keeping me busy

- maybe making a few things and have an online shop would work better when there’s two little ones around

- very pleased that I am actually cutting into fabric and enjoying it

plus myriad other thoughts as they occur!

6 days to go – finished items to date – just waiting to be tagged and priced

• 2 toddler dresses
• 2 little girl dresses with matching bag/sunhat
• 1 skirt and matching bag
• 2 pairs trousers
• 2 pairs pedal pushers
• 2 pairs shorts
• 4 reversible sunhats

Doesn’t sound that much does it?  Plenty of things in progress so need to get busy!

Finally organised an flickr account so if you want to see the things I’ve made so far click here.  Would love any feedback – cheers. x