Another year another concert

Ruby just finished her fourth consecutive dance concert it falls once a year on the second Sunday of December and of course tonight was as beautiful and lovely as all the previous years. They work hard all year to put on a good show and a good show it was. I thought I would post a few photos one from each year of her dancing to see how she has grown (can't find one from the first year on my computer). When I get the professional shot done from this year the Candy Man I will post that as well but for tonight I have posted on of mine with her and Sage. Sage will start her dancing in the new year and by the way she was mesmerized by the 2 hour show tonight and the way she danced in my lap she is ready and will have Ruby to show her the ropes.

Ruby's Party

We had Ruby's party this last Saturday. She has been 6 for a month now but, we were waiting for her best friend, Georgia to get back from her trip to the States to have the party. It was great fun the kids all enjoyed themselves! And for someone who is not so great at pulling off parties I think it went well. You may notice the writing on the cake is spelt yppah yadhtrib its not mistake it is happy birthday backwards, we had a backwards themed party and we did all things backwards, most of the kids dressed backwards and we had the cake first but under the table and then the pizzas and we played backwards games, I got the idea from my sister, and the kids loved the novel idea!

Halloween

We had a couple of Halloween parties this week to attend so thought I would post a few pictures of the kids in costume. Ruby was a zombie bride at her kindy friend Aiisha's Halloween party. She won best girl costume so was very happy with that! It was a great party put together by Aissha's very talented mum who does the most Amazing kids parties. I am going to get her to do Sage's third birthday this coming January!

The other pictures were taken Saturday night at a Halloween party we were all invited too. In the group shot you can see Ruby a witch and Sage a mermaid being held by me a fairy, you can barely see me but it was the only photo taken because Dave had a mishap with the camera and the rest of the shots were blurry. Jake is in the photo too but, all you can see is his arm which is a shame because he was a pirate and he looked so cool! Dave was a wizard and his wig actually scared some people poor guy. He is not in the photo either as he took the picture. I love the shot of Sage on her own she is all brightness and light in an otherwise dark photo. The photo was taken when we took the kids out to trick or treat at a the house of a friend of the party host. You would think we would get individual shots but, we didn't it was a hectic day as we had Ruby's birthday party as well that day and thankfully took many pictures then but, were all camered out by the evening. Anyway the party was fun although we made it an early night as I had the Byron markets the following day.

Where's Jake

Ok so, I thought with this post I would go through some older photos and I found some from our trip in April to the Sunshine Coast. These are not the most recent of Jake but, they remind me of the wonderful trip we had with Nanny, as we do every year at this time. The photos are not great quality but, they capture the kids all together and very happy. Can't wait to see where the wind will blow us next year.

I need another Baby!!!!

I titled this post saying I need another baby because I do, I really, really do, just look how cute Sage looks wearing the pink ruffle nappy cover! But, she is getting to big for this stuff I had to squeeze her in! Why wasn't I making clothes when my babies were babies?!

Ruby's choice

Here are some photos Ruby wanted me to post. She wanted me to take photos of her last month she called it her modelling photos. Sage needed to get in on all the fun as well so here are a few cute shots of both girls.

The girls

I got Ruby and Sage to model some orders I had done for some other little girls. The top on Ruby was made out of vintage silky scarfs the my friend gave to me to make a halter top for her daughter. At first I was scared to sew with this material I thought it would shred or my temperamental sewing machine might eat it. Temperamental sewing machine? "mmm" perhaps it is time for an upgrade. Sage is wearing a dress I made for lovely Sophia. I need to take it in a bit for Sophia and since it looks so lovely on Sage, I may just keep this one and make Sophia a new one. I love this Amy Butler material and will get more of it it will make nice nappy pouches and bibs too. Diane, is keen to do another market this weekend in Lismore so I said yes as I may not be able to do Bangalow next week as I have the modelling thing with Ruby on that day plus there is the 8km Byron Bay lighthouse run/walk that morning that Tammy asked if I wanted to do with her. E, would want me to do that, in fact she said she could do it in 4 seconds, probably could. Well bye for now.

This is what keeps me up at night!

This post will be short and sweet its more about the photos. Here are some recently completed items which will be on offer for the next market but, already I have some orders for 5 of the items in different sizes. I wanted to take some photos of a 6 month old baby wearing some of the smaller sizes but, her mom was not at our mothers group today so next time. I also need a better camera and photographer, a few people have offered to take some photos so will have to take them up on that. Anyway I have about 12 photos to post enjoy.

Motivation

Somebody please find me some motivation and better time management skills. Why is that I am always up so late trying to get my sewing done? There has to be a better way especially since I told Dave I was going to start up my fitness again and I was going to run for 40 minutes before he went to work, well you know what he did?, he laughed! As though he did not believe me, but, really how can I get up at 7am when I am sewing at 1:30am?! Although to be honest it is one of those things that has to be seen to be believed, that being me getting up early but, it will happen. I even bought an ipod and once I load it up with some good music I'll be off and running. My sister, the marathon runner, gets here in 95 days and I know she will be looking hot! Well I am off to the library with Sage so will end it here and post a picture of a cute dress I just finished for a customer.

Isn't she cute"?

I made this outfit the other day for the market and may just need to keep it, Sage looks very cute in it. Sadly one of my fabric orders has not arrived yet and I was looking forward to this particular order so I could make a few dresses for the Byron markets. Next time I guess, anyway I have a fair bit of stuff already made. I will still sew tonight and a little tomorrow but, really just want to get organized tomorrow, get everything tagged and ready. We have been invited to a barbecue so may go to that but, I have set myself some strict restrictions NO WINE well maybe just one, but, I have to be in Byron by 6am and you all know I am not a morning person!

Happy Birthday Ruby

These eyes are hauntingly beautiful!

Strawberry Delight

Finally I have found something Sage loves which has colour. Normally she eats only beige things, just beige any shade of beige, wheetbix, crackers, bread, and if I can include chocolate here, you get the picture. But, look she is eating something red, and its good for her. So slowly but, surely she is opening up her taste buds, oh and the other day I saw from the corner of my eye she was eating something green, it was her broccoli and I nearly slid off my chair!

Loving the Japanese fabric!!!

I just completed this cute outfit for the Byron markets. It turned out well and the pants were not as hard to make as I imagined. The top, of course, is reversible so I photographed it with the capri pants with both ways showing front and back. Aren't the pockets cute on the pants?! I will next attempt nappy covers since we are coming into summer.

I am also posting pics of Sage in another of the reversible tops that I made last night which I love the owls!

I am over the moon with this fabric I got from Japan will definitely order more from there. Still waiting on a big American order hope it gets here today as I am only 4 sleeps away from the markets and I can not sew tomorrow as it is Ruby's birthday, turning 6 yeah! I have arranged for Jake to go to a friends and Sage will be in day care so Ruby and I will go out for lunch and have a girly day maybe get our nails done and I will buy her a new outfit. Her party will be early November when Georgia gets back from the States.

The top picture is more of the yummy fabric from Japan.

A week of Sewing

So this week I will be sewing A LOT! I am coming up with new ideas but, will also stick to the basics since they sell well, those being the pinafore tops. I have made a few more capri style pants and will post a pic of those tomorrow I just have to put the elastic in. In the meantime here is a picture of Sage in a top and skirt I just made for the markets. Also I will make a few taggies here is one I did which has the juicy fruit fabric on one side and a very soft pale pink fabric on the other a perfect sunggly for a baby girl. Well back to work.

Groovy little capri pants

I made these cute capri style pants last night and am pleased with how they turned out. They are a size 1 and I can make them from newborn to size 4. I just love how different they are I think with a white tank top with a flower from the fabric sewn on would make a cute summer outfit. I also made another bib, for a boy can't leave those cute baby boys out.

What is that in your nose?

Whose nose? Oh mine, yes that is my new piercing and you know what it hurt, no IT HURT but, hey I love it.  Oh and Fraser, I know you will be reading this, so thank you a million times thank you I love it!!!

New patchwork Bibs

I have taken a few photos of some new bibs I created last night. I love how they turned out. I still need to attach the snaps, 2 so it will be adjustable or velcro. I can't seem to decide whether to go with the snaps or velcro. Snaps make it harder for babies to pull off but, not all babies pull off their bibs which would make velcro and easy option. The bibs are backed with soft yummy chenille and sandwiched between that and the cotton front layer is a thin piece of cotton batting. This allows the bibs to keep your baby or toddler's clothes dry because if any one has a child like mine where drooling is as common as well, making a mess then these bibs are perfect. They are so cute too and now you wont have to feel like you are covering up your child's outfit because these bibs are designed to make the outfit with their lovely prints.

School Fair

Saturday we took the kids to the Alstonville Public School's fair. The kids had a great time on the rides and playing games. Although for Sage the biggest hit was the Fairy Floss, I hate the stuff but, what is a fair without allowing a few indulgences. It was actually funny watching Sage expend all the sugar energy by rolling down the hill about 10 times laughing more each time. I took a few pictures of the girls with their faces painted, and before anyone asks I looked for Jake for ages to get a photo of him and you think with his mop of hair it would be easy, no wait, maybe not since that particular hair style seems to be the common look amongst many 10 year old boys at present. Next time Jake you'll have to smile pretty. Today we went to Bangalow market so I could have a look around and I think my stuff will do well here. In fact, it was so busy today that I'd wished I had gotten a spot today. Next month I hope to do Byron and Bangalow markets. After the market we went to Byron for the taste of Byron festival and watched a modelling show, which of course Ruby loved, and then we ate some yummy food. This week I will be sewing LOTS and LOTS only 2 weeks to Byron markets.

What is this?

Friday night we heard Lucy barking her little heart out knowing all too well that usually means she is after some poor helpless creature we rushed outside to see what was upsetting her and we found this??? An echidna with no head, no he had a head he was just burrowing in the dirt and sticking out his quills as protection and it worked a charm because Lucy was going no where near that. He was really cute especially when he felt safe enough to come out and start waddling around the backyard and then out of the backyard back to safety.

Ruby Owl - hand crafted baby and toddler wear

I have been thinking about blogging for awhile now and decided that this is the best way for me to keep in contact with my family and friends both in Canada and here in Australia. As most of you know I am an avid knitter but, was becoming uninspired and so one day in January I bought a sewing machine which was a rather scary investment since I had never sewn, not even a button on a shirt. So it was a of a bit a daunting experience, further complicated by trying to understand the instructions which were badly translated from another language. However, I was not going to give up, not after spending all that money, and am happy to say and a little surprised that it has all turned out rosy! I persevered and by doing so have come up with a line of babies and toddler wear that people like, I mean actually LIKE. I loved what I was making but, the real test was putting it out there and thankfully I have had great feedback and success at my local markets so thank you to whatever voice in my head possessed me to buy the sewing machine on that hot January day because I am once again INSPIRED and that's a good thing. Oh, and I do still knit.