The simple things...

I found this lovely floral 'display' decorating the table the other day and was reminded that the simplest things can bring pleasure.

My girls had picked these from our front lawn.

Thos among you who could be classified as having a green thumb will know they are not any type of exotic bloom, but rather a weed.

But if you look at them through a child's eyes they are bright and pretty.

Hope you find something simple in your day that delights you.

Flora and fauna

I told you I'd be back with the finished Tee's - just took me a little longer than expected!

Here we have three daughters and one niece wearing their new Make It Perfect Basic Tees - now 'dressed up' with some Crafty Mama's iron-on velours.

These things are seriously great.

For a start they cost about $4 each (for the single designs, there are sets available), then Lisa sends them postage free in Australia, so the cost is minimal.

There are a bunch of different designs, sizes and colours - things for girls and boys.

They are super-easy to put on- you just apply a hot iron with no steam, let them cool, peel off the backing and iron again. 

Done. 

Too easy.

The smallest child chose the skrirrel (her words not mine!) - she loves it.

I thought the mushie and two little deer went well with stripes...

And the kids seem happy.
They were good comfortable tops to wear all day long at the zoo - so that is all that counts!

Go get yourself some.

PS - sorry for the vast array of cheesy/odd/awkward grins here today - it was the day of the strange smile I think. They were all a bit wacky!

A shirt for all seasons

Toni has been at it again and has developed a fabulously simple T-shirt pattern for kids big and small called, appropriately, Basic Tees. 

There are long and short sleeved versions as well as a long-over-short sleeved variation.

The girls shirts are slim fitted with a gathered cap on the sleeve and the boys are slightly wider with a straight sleeve.

The pattern includes some great tips for sewing with stretch so don't be afraid! Have a go.

I tested it out in a boys size 4 for my neighbour's son.

A simple freezer paper stencil of a cassette tape was the finishing touch for this one.
Made from lovely stretchy Stella - available at Crafty Mamas.

I did a girl's size 7 with the contrast hem - a very easy detail to add interest to the shirt using just two colours of fabric.
The pink spot for this is not very stretchy so I couldn't use it for the neck.
The contrast band added the extra 'kick' I wanted.

I also did a girls size 8 with stripey sleeves and a solid front - I plan to add some velour iron-ons to these last two so will show you once I have - they are the perfect finishing touch to shirts like these.

As you can see the combination options are endless.
Rachel did a single colour boy version and a girl's shirt with the short-over-long sleeves, so pop over and have a look.

Go and visit Crafty Mamas for all your stretch fabric such as Stella and Campan knits as well as an amazing variety of European knits from companies such as Lilofant, Hilco and Znok.

They are excellent quality and Lisa usually has some fantastic mix packs so you can get some of the cool and groovy prints to mix and match with solids and stripes.

While you are hopping around on the net visit Toni's blog to see some more great tops and also get yourself in the running to win a copy of the pattern. The competition closes Wed 17th August.

Ready to play?!!?

My crafty pal Wendy has been working hard with some friends to organise a market this coming Saturday.

The money raised by the market organisers is going to charities in Indonesia and India as well as to provide support for a number of local community programs.

This is only some of the great stuff on offer - there's also going to be fairy floss - YUM!!

There's a kite making competition too - click here for details.

So here's your chance - come along to the market and enjoy a great family-friendly day and at the same time you will be helping someone else out.

Win-win right!!??

See you there, I hope.

A party for the princess

We had a small gathering of friends for some afternoon tea to end the celebration of Miss G's birthday.

Simple to make and cute to look, at these tea cups always go down a treat.

I used a piping bag with nozzle to get 'professional' looking frosting on these mini cupcakes, then got some edible glitter and cachous to make them sparkle!

Mini cupcakes mean less waste for the kids that just eat off the icing!

Instead of another cake I made large cupcakes with more edible glitter and Princess motifs on top - a shoe, a dress, a tiara, heart, flower and butterfly.

There was also fairy bread cut into the shape of a butterfly; strawberry,watermelon and marshmallow skewers and mini hot dogs (which always get eaten in a flash!)

Madam 'holding court' over her guests!

She insisted on wearing the white dress again so it underwent some more emergency repairs with the addition of a sash and flower - and a clip to match to make it presentable!

With a helping hand from Dad the candles were blown out in a flash.

I wonder what she wished for??

All three over three!

To say time has flown since this small, happy person entered our lives is an understatement.

I guess we were so busy early on, with three kids under 2.5 yrs,  that the time skipped by.

A new leotard, made by Mama - "Just like my sisters' "

We've certainly not had terrible twos from you Miss G - I am hoping this doesn't mean we are in for a testing three-year-old year.

Her own unique way of showing three!

You adore your sisters and just want to be like them.

Apart from being tall, you are so grown-up in your speech and manner and behaviour we all often have to be reminded that you are still only small.

'Helping' make the birthday cake.

You are firm in your opinion, when your sisters tried to convince you to have a fairy or castle birthday cake you remained staunch, and a white rabbit was made.

From the old faithful Australian Women's Weekly Birthday cake book.

You are sweet and social and tell me often that I am 'boodiful'.
You are kind and thoughtful and share in way not many three year olds would.

When asked each night before dinner what you are thankful for, you often say "I thankful I having dinner wif all my family".

Rabbit girls and their cousins.

And to top it all off you, with your blonde curls and blue eyes really are as cute as a button.

The photo in the background on the left is Misses L and A the day they turned three!

Who could ask for more??

Not us!

Happy 3rd birthday lovely Miss G - we love you lots.

xx