Tragedy

There is little that can be said about the tragedy that has engulfed Japan.

Now that the news cycles on the story are slowing down I think it's vital we not forget people are, and will for a long time to come, be coping with amazing sadness and hardship.

If you can spare a few dollars and want to enter a raffle with your donation then pop over to Jodie's place and win one of her fabulous toys, or Tan's and go in the running for a gorgeous dress.

There is a link of other fund raising efforts on the link to Jodie's blog above, or click on this logo and it should get you there too.

The cost of one cup of coffee will get you an entry in either of their raffles.
Don't you think that's a sacrifice worth making??

Party prep

Still not many words to be found here.

So some more pics for you...

Button hair ties for all the girls...

Mermaid and fish cupcake toppers and 'sails' for sausage roll boats in progress

Flowers and streamers blowing in the wind in the 'mermaid cave'

Fish and beachballs to complete the watery theme

Tables set with craft supplies to decorate a fish on your arrival.

Party bags for guests ready to go

Jerry the jellyfish made with thanks to the guy who lives here and my father-in-law

Saty tuned - there's more to come!

Beautiful mermaids

Two gorgeous girls turned five last week.

Yesterday we had a party for 27 of their closest friends!

Today I worked.

Now I am too tired to write anything, so I will leave you with a couple of pictures.

I'll do a (pic heavy) post-party post in a few days.

When I have recovered...



Mermaid outfits whipped up on the morning of the party - oops!

 



Miss L - alternately the sweetest and cheekiest child ever born. Love her to bits.

 

Miss A - using what she told us on the morning of her birthday was her new '5 year old' smile!

So grown up, caring and thoughtful for her age. Adorable.

Hungry???

Feast on this sandwich then - it's sure to satisfy even the biggest hunger!

Seriously - how cool is this?

I love play food and have ventured into making the girls a few felt items in the past but I've made nothing as lovely as this creation from Kylie at Mealy and I.

Look at the detail - crusty multi-grain bread, tomato, wavy crinkly lettuce, onion rings, Swiss cheese, stras (polony or devon depending on where you live!), pickles and even beetroot.

I was lucky enough to win this too - thanks Kylie, I am feeling a little humbled by my excellent wins, there are some very clever crafty ladies out there.

Flowery fun

I was supposed to have this finished before Christmas to go with the pettiskirts - but you know how that goes, Christmas madness and all.

On Saturday night we had an engagement party to go to so I whipped out all the pieces of satin I had previously cut and curled the edges of and put this together with the hot glue gun in (literally) ten minutes - maybe less.

I asked Miss L if she thought it should have one flower or two - she went with two of course, she's a girl who believes more is more, and who can fault her.

It looks seriously adorable with her pettiskirt and amazing blue eyes the colour of the small flower - really.

Whip one up for yourself - it's Ashleys great idea.

How. Lucky. Am. I.

If you thought these toys by Jodie were gorgeous to look at (and they are!) - you should feel them!

Not only are they made of the most divine wool felt - they are weighted in such a way that they just feel right in your hand.

She really is one very clever lady.

These two lovelies have now taken pride of place in my sewing room - and are not to be' kid-handled' by the small folk who live here.

Something they understand so well that they refer to them as "Mummy's toys"!

In case you were wondering how I came upon them, I was the lucky winner of the Queensland Flood Relief raffle on Jodie's blog last month.

She's a fancy-shmancy pattern designer now with the folk at Creative Abundance recognising her patterns need to be sent out far and wide.

Go get yourself some.

Leavin' on a jet plane

The guy who lives here has been doing lots of this of late, so things on the crafting and blogging fronts have been a bit slow.

Preparing for each new day and keeping on top of things when on my own tends to eat into crafting time.

There's been lots of preparation happening for a certain mermaid party next weekend so stay tuned for lots of photos.

I'm still around, just a little tied up!