Loving Friday

It has been a few weeks since my last Loving Friday so I have a whole week of loving squeezed into one.

Tuesday night was Brown Owls and Kirsty and Pip did a great job, including getting lots of crafting packs for those affected by the Bushfires. It was also great to catch up with owly friends from last year and some new ones too. Looking forward to the year ahead.
(Notice the dog eyes up the top)

Wednesday I got this beautiful package from Sophie - almost too beautiful to open. One brooch is a gift so has to remain Sammy Squirrel Secret and I think "I heart fabric" pretty much sums me up in a sentence. It is so super cute, as is all the stuff she does and really reasonably priced, - you must go see. She also did a great job raising funds for the Red Cross too.

Yesterday I received my, umm I mean Caleb and Poppy's beautiful animals that I won on Amber's blog. Aren't they just divine, an elephant, cheetah and rhino. They even smell good - you don't get that with plastic toys let me tell you. You have to go visit Amber too, she has not only a super clever man and the worlds cutest chickens and great kids activities and lives in a beautiful part of the world, but she also has a life philosophy I strive for.

I think I had better even out the Ying - Yang of life so here is my un-lovin' list.

I am NOT loving germs, Caleb has been down with a really bad fever the last few days and REFUSES medicine, makes it so hard. He seems to have a bit more colour today so hopefully he is on the way up.

I am NOT loving the heat and wind forecast for today and hope that the fires don't end as bad as they fear.

My Creative Space

It is still all about the gathering foot this week, here are the finished pants in action on Poppy. I am super happy with these little numbers and going to make a matching applique top.

Since I am a gathering machine this is a dress with frill bottom that I am working on too. Only 2.5 weeks until Mathilda's Market so I am a flurry of activity (read panic).

More creative spaces at Kirsty's place.

Eye Spy ... Love

Apparently we have transformed into "LL (ladies love) Caleb J" (sorry to the vast majority whom the LL Cool J reference left you confused). Last week was Caleb's first full 5 days and he seems to be fitting in really well. The week-ends are pretty quiet though as tries to wind down after holding everything together during the week. He has a couple of little dudes that he runs around with - and a new lady every day. He has got one girl that runs to get his drink bottle if he needs it. Another sweet girl is getting his hat! I don't know where they are getting these ideas, but it is certainly not from around here. OK so it is not really love but so innocent and sweet all the same. There aren't words to express how proud I am of him and how well he is adapting to his new "big boy job". He does have lovely manners apparently, maybe that is it or it could be that he has the longest eye lashes in the history of man.

Anyway here is some LL Cool J for those that want a bit of old skool hip-hop (and who doesn't really). I am hoping Iris + Lily will be able to choose for next week.

My Creative Space

I discovered that my overlocker has a gathering foot, and I got a little bit excited. Needless to say ruffle legged girl pants, mid way through construction, are making there way into my winter collection.

More creative spaces as this Creative lady's house, go visit.

Cupcake-poooza

The fabulous Potty Mouth Mama has tagged me to do a photo meme. The rules are:
"Open the 6th picture folder on your computer, open the 6th photo and blog it. Write something about it. Then tag 6 more people to do the same." I seem to recall that hers had cupcakes too - a little spooky.

This is Poppy's first birthday last year, as you can see I went a little mad with the cupcakes. I made so many of those little suckers, unbelievable. I even made some into little hedgehogs and ladybirds. They tasted so good though, I have vanilla with raspberry mouse, almond and blueberry's with cream cheese and chocolate and banana with chocolate icing. This lady has the best recipes EVER. My little birthday girl looks so tiny compared to now, and it wasn't that long ago. She wasn't walking or talking - that now seem to be her 2 most favourite activities! You may be able to see cupcake crumbles all around those lips - that hasn't changed.

Anyone that wants to play PLEASE do and let me know.

Eye Spy ... My secret (Food) Shame

I think Jade's theme for this week is super cute, but I have to admit that my many and varied food loves are not so secret. I am not a big drinker, I don't smoke, drug aren't my thing but sugar and fat ohhhh they are my homies. Some of you may know already, thanks to the Mouth Mama, but yesterday was my Birthday so you know calories don't count on that day and I managed to squeeze in as much of my favourite stuff as possible, including eating the cake at midnight. Lamingtons, one of my all time loves.

Dinner was Thai takeaway (the joys of children) I have a serious addiction to entrees and end up never even ordering from the main menu. Golden bags/money bags I could live on them and yummy curry puffs with potatoes and snow peas.

Thanks to Just Add Salt for her suggestion, and her great bag that she donated to handmade help that sold super quick, it was really cute I am not surprised. Next week I think a great one may be Eye Spy ... Love. It could be your current person or thing or your dream.

My pirate pants for Handmade Help is still available for $35 including postage with 100% going to the Red Cross. You can choose size 1,2,3 or 4 just let me know, all you have to do is email me or leave a comment below and the first person I hear from will be the proud new owner. I am super proud, I think we may break the $1000 mark today and it hasn't even been running a week and that is not even mentioning all the great donations and other initiatives.

The pant-a-thon is continuing too, these are the latest girl pants that I have finished in pink cord with brown flower front pleats finished with a button. I likee a lot, hope you do too. I am hoping to update the shop by next week-end, if I get a chance, so if you have seen anything you like you can have the chance to snap it up before Mathilda's Market in March.

PS. THANKS SO MUCH TO EVERYONE THAT STOPPED BY TO WISH ME A HAPPY BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY. I was really touched, like really really appreciative.

Handmade Help - Bug and Pop style

So I have been stretched further than Lycra at the Playboy Mansion with all that's going on, so I decided a bit of frivolity was in order.

How my kids have been helping out - If Mum's a bit late with dinner, start without her. If you can feed the dog and yourself at the same time that is even more helpful, because you know puppies all need some toddler leftovers to grow.

Bring the outdoors in. Haven't got time to play outside, simply bring the sandpit into the lounge so everyone is a winner - if the vacuum is broken then this is extra helpful.

If you find a lonely looking cold at kinder be sure to bring it home and share it with the family - sharing is important you know.

I have still been doing work for Mathilda's Market as well, these are the latest girl pants I've finished. There a little cute - don't you think.

Lots of good stuff and interesting news over at Handmade Help too, it is never too late to help, donate money to Red cross, donate items for sale or bid and remember to give those love ones an extra big squeeze too.

My Creative Space

Most of my energies are over Here, not so creative for me personally but hugely inspiring.
More creative goodness at Kirsty's.

Handmade Help

I finally got around to listing one of my own items on Handmade Help. I have been so busy over there everything else has just been shelved, but I am missing you all. Help the cause and me feel loved. You can shoose size 1, 2, 3 or 4 once you have won to the first person that comments below who wants them.

Handmade Help

So I spoke to Pip, the crafter queen and her suggestion was to start its own blog of Handmade Help for all items in regards to the Victorian fires auctions.
I am always so impressed with the blogging communities generosity. especially since I am still relatively new. The outpouring of emotions over the horrid week-end Victorian fires is palpable everywhere you look. Death toll continuing to rise well into 3 figures, so many homes, and animals and dreams gone. I am hoping we can make a difference here.
The best way to co-ordinate all the people that are wanting to help is if everyone handles there own Ebay auction and sends on their goods and donations directly. Here I am hoping to post links to what everyone has up for auction with an end time and hopefully pictures so that everyone knows what goodies are on offer. I am also hoping that people will give me an end total as well so we can have a little running tally. Here is some guidance on how to make a listing, if you have any dramas please let me know.
It is nice to know that community is not just your next door neighbours, it is all of us.

Can It Make a Difference

So many people have been posting today about the horrible fires we have been having in Melbourne and the loss of life and animals and dreams. I was sitting on the couch with my babies having a cuddle and I realised how lucky I am. I was reading on Rummage that she thought an auction with all the fantastic blogging crafters and all proceeds going to support those in need. I think this is such a great idea, I hope she doesn't mind but I will try to put it into action. I am thinking if you are interested you could email me bdesign_cc at yahoo dot com dot au or leave a comment and I will collect as much as I can and start auctioning next week if I can and run it for as long as we can. I think that the red cross is the best place for it to go, but if you have a special request such as animals etc. I will divide it up. I think Ebay may be the best place, or I can just do it on the blog and people can bid from there - I am open to suggestions. Spread the word so we can see if we can get something moving.

EDIT - I HAVE GIVEN HANDMADE HELP IT'S OWN BLOG. PLEASE FIND OUT MORE INFO HERE.

Eye Spy ... Something Delicious and Sunday Stash

Handmaiden had picked the mouth watering topic this week. So something delicious, always makes me drool and hungry for more, look at these little cuties that I got the other day. I seem to be going though a forest creature love at the moment and these are all so sweet.

I am hoping that Just Needs Salt, who is doing some fabulous bag work, will be able to pick next weeks theme for us.

More stashy goodness at Tamara's.

I am enjoying the cool and hoping that it can make it's way across the Victorican state. I don't know how so many lives can be lost - just tragic.

My Creative Space

First off I really want to thank everyone for there lovely comments from last night Caleb post. Words can't express, but there could of been a few little tears - good ones though.

My poor creative space is more of a mess than a space this week.

I have some orange cord pants with my favourite skull fabric on the cuffs.

A couple of items that have been waiting very patiently to Australia Post for delivery.

That gorgeous pile of fabric in the middle is my luck giveaway from One Girl. That retro fabric on the top is my favourite. So excited when it arrived yesterday with lots of bright yellowy goodness.

More creative spaces at the always wonderful Kotooyo

The Sum of Parts

I am so proud that Caleb actually managed to enjoy the pool, regardless of the splashing and noise. If you think about it, it really is sensory overload.

Sit down and get comfy as I am getting ready for a rant. I always struggle as to whether I should talk about Caleb and his Asperger's Autism, not because of the way I feel, but because I don't want him to wear the label. He is the sum of his parts, and lots of those are fantastic. He suffers from Aspergers but he is not Aspergers. We work hard to give him as many tools to cope as we can so he interacts in a "normal" fashion. I was speaking to a new acquaintance today and in friendly banter she asked how the kinder was going. I am always open about Caleb and explaining how they had been open to supplying him with additional help, etc. Her reply, in whispered tone, was that her son had some developmental delays and while she FEARED he may have some autism spectrum traits she admitted she was living in denial as she didn't want to know. I am so proud of my boy and who he is in all his parts. That is why I discuss it here, I want people to know it is ok, I am sure there are so many worse things out there. Different is ok, we are all different in our own way, some are just better at hiding it than others.

The First Day and Sunday Stash

Caleb had his first morning at 4-year old kinder and he was pumped, couldn't wait to hang out - where he didn't have to be a big brother or not be too noisy or not run so fast. I worked from mild concern to kinda panicked, like every parent this week. By the time he came home he was exhausted and quietly watching TV trying to unwind. That is the thing with Asperger's Autism, Caleb looks like he copes like a champ, but inside he is constantly processing every piece of social interaction he can. We use lots of social stories so that he can understand what is coming and the rest is just hope, hope that people respond to him. So far so good.

This pile is all the sticker books that we did over the holidays.

I also have some great Sunday Stash to share, another great purchase from the ever fabulous Mayumi at Karaku. It is a little fabulous, is it not. See Tamara for more Fabricy goodness.

Eye Spy .. A Small Object

I think that the Crafty Librarian's theme for the week is super sweet, but I discovered our house is not the place for small, they tend to get lost, eaten or smothered. I have though loved checking out everyone elses little treasures.

Glen took the kids and puppy for a walk today and each bought me back a little flower, straight to my desk for them to watch over me.

The little nut was a present from Caleb on one trip to the park, I can never throw these things out, it too sits on my desk.

The note I have been carrying around for years in my purse, it was the first from Glen, he sent it wrapped in raisin toast that I ordered and it still has butter stains. He was working at a cafe that was my regular. He also gave me free gelato, not that I am that cheap to fall for such things, but we are talking tim tam and pistachio gelato here.

Next week, Handmaiden, the maker of gorgeous little things herself and one of the most committed bloggers. Her daily posts are always really great, I envy the every day writers.