{Scrap Bag Swap 2013} Received

You may have seen the link in my sidebar, or perhaps you noticed my Scrappy Owl Guest Tutorial over at Make. Life. Beautiful … but just in case you haven’t I’m going to spell it out for you: I participated in the Scrap Bag Swap again this year.

Today I received my beautiful scrap bag and fabric scraps from the lovely Clare of Green Valley Crafts and I truly was blown away!

This photo does not do the lovely bag justice. It is beautifully constructed and lined with a gorgeous kind of white floral broderie anglaise type fabric. In other news, I’m not at all sure why I decided to get my feet in the shot. (Perhaps I am secretly proud of my jandal tan lines?)

The contents are also super exciting (at least for a fabric lover like me) – I have picked out a few of my favourites to share with you (which I found hard as the whole thing was a bit of a treasure trove!)

Some gorgeous boyish fabric which Noah has already decided are for “Mummy to make something for meeee!” Perhaps some little shorts or some feature pockets…? We’ll see.

Some gorgeous vintage florals – need I say more?

Something for the new baby ...? After all it fits into my unisex colour scheme and goes with my hot air balloon mobile. I’m thinking fabric stretched into an embroidery hoop or stretched across a canvas? What do you think?

Isabelle has decided that these are her favourites – and I have to say that girl has great taste. I’m thinking little denim/ cord dresses with feature pockets and/or fabric covered buttons…?

You can see that this swap has done absolutely nothing to deplete my (always growing) ‘to make’ list. I can’t help it, I see fabric and I get inspired, I envisage new projects … please tell me I’m not the only one!

Noah in a ‘fabric coma’

It was hard to get photos as the kids kept running off with handfuls of fabric scraps – it was mildly annoying but also so amusing that they appear to love fabric almost as much as me, and that they are so enthusiastic about their Mummy making them stuff.

I have yet to make and send away my scrap bag, and although I’ve got a few days before the deadline, I better getting cracking.

In case you’re interested here is the bag and scraps I received in last years swap and I also thought I’d share a few things I made out of last times scraps:

• Some shorts for Noah
• A patchwork pillowcase, and
• A 10 minute project

Anyway, I better go – Project Runway is on!

Jenny x

A belated stills collection

I had intended posting these on Sunday but got caught up. The majority of these photos (5-11) were taken on Saturday when Noah and I went paddling with Mum, Tony and my lovely Sister Holly. (As seen here.)  Holly was visiting from Wellington for the weekend and is was so special to have her stay and to spend time with her. She is such fun and my kids just love her to pieces! We also stayed up too late and watched silly videos of cats on youtube, my favourites being fat cat stuck in pot and dramatic cat. Yes, we are weird.

Those of you that are extremely observant will notice that this is not in fact a 'Wardrobe Wednesday/ Maternity Style' post. There will be no such post from me this week, partly because I have been too lazy to take photos and partly because my mostly toilet trained son managed to wee on the outfit I was intending to feature, before said photos were taken (TMI?). Anyway, please be assured that normal programming is likely to resume next week and the now 31 week bump is getting ginormous!

1. Rhubarb and peach crumble. oh my!

2. A summery bump

3. A little project I’m working on

4. Crepes with lemon and sugar. (The best)

5. A cool little dude

6. Awesome footwear

7. Noah and Auntie ‘Howie’ (Holly)

8. Planking

9. Noah getting towed (he insisted on having his own boat)

9. A seat with a view

10. Holly on the paddle board with Tony and Mum in the distance

11. The best afghans in town (snacks after paddling.)

Belatedly joining in over here.

Jenny x

For more of my stills collections (snippets of weeks gone by) see here

… And if you haven’t already entered my Little Old Nags Giveaway – get there now! You’ve gotta be in to win (and remember it’s open internationally!)

Little Old Nags–Handcrafted Hobby Horses {A Giveaway!}

As I announced in my Little Old Nags review yesterday I will be giving away a $40 Little Old Nags voucher! Yay!

What would you use your voucher for if you won? A standard nag,  a once upon a time costume, a little cowpokes costume or something else?

Wanna know how you can enter?

• Check out this album of currently available nag designs (on the LON Facebook page) and comment back here on the blog with your favourite design. (Please include your email address in the comment if it’s not linked in your profile.)
• You can earn a second entry by getting a friend to enter.  (Your friend will need to mention that you sent them in their comment.)
• Extra entries can also be gained by blogging, tweeting and sharing the giveaway on Pinterest. (Separate comments for each.)

That’s a total of 5 possible entries per person!

Other details:

• This giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY*.
• I will leave it open for 2 weeks ending 12 March 2013, 8pm (NZ time)
• At the close of the giveaway the winner will be drawn randomly via random.org
• If the winner fails to respond/ claim the prize after one week a new winner will be drawn.

To stay up to date with all new nag designs, specials and other competitions etc, make sure you ‘like’ Little Old Nags on Facebook.

Good luck all!

And thanks again to the wonderful Sarah of Little Old Nags for this wonderful opportunity!

Jen x

* (Standard shipping within NZ is $10 –  you will need to inquire via Sarah on the LON Facebook page regarding the cost of international shipping.)

Little Old Nags – Handcrafted Hobby Horses {A Review}

I consider my self a reasonably crafty person and I’ll try to make most things – but every now and then I’ll see something that is way beyond my skill level and I can do nothing but marvel at this other person’s amazing talents.

This is how I felt when I first discovered Little Old Nags, these gorgeous handcrafted hobby horses made by the extremely talented, Sarah Quinlan.

Every Little Old Nags Handcrafted Hobby Horse is lovingly handmade to order in the Waikato, New Zealand. No two Nags are the same, each having its own look and personality. A Little Old Nag is a gift to be treasured, a special toy for the dress-up box, for make believe play, or simply as a beautiful addition to decorate a child’s room, waiting patiently for it’s rider to say “come ride with me”.

Isabelle received a super sweet nag for Christmas as part of a dress up box I put together for the kids – she loves it so much (it currently answers to the name “Horsey”). I tried to get some good photos of her playing with it the other day, but that nag is a bit of a bolter!

Can you tell how much my little girl loves this amazing hobby horse?

I love a lot of things about these horses but 3 things stick out particularly in my mind:

1) The superb quality and craftsmanship.

While Isabelle may look like a delicate little girl, she is a typical toddler that can be tough on her toys. I am glad to say that this nag withstands her (ummm) ‘enthusiasm’ and the professional finish is amazing.

2)  The encouragement of imaginary play and creativity in your child.

As you can see in the pics above, Isabelle decided that ‘horsey’ needed some grass to eat! She also makes clicking noises with her tongue when riding it. I love to see her playing like this as I know imaginary play/ make believe really helps develop the creative and innovative part of the brain.

3) The gorgeous colour combinations and uniqueness of each design.

After all isn’t it nice for your child to have something handmade and unique?

Speaking of unique designs here are a few of my favourites from the Little Old Nags Facebook page …

 

lilac cord/ purple floral  // 'Once Upon a Time' unicorn and cape 

Donkeys!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little Cow pokes costumes // A Zebra!

Other important details:

Regular sized horses stand approx 1m high and are suitable for any age although a child will need to be walking confidently to ride.  Mini nags are also available are approx 60cm - they are suitable until approx 2.5years.

At the time of writing this post, regular (standard) nags are priced at $70 (unless otherwise stated), and minis are $60.

Manes are made of pure wool, sticks are untreated pine, a rubber cap is placed on the end of ever stick to protect floors.

See here for the currently available nag designs (or if you don’t have facebook, then you can check out Little Old Nag's on felt or Little Kiwis Nest.)

So which one’s your favourite?

Make sure you pop back here tomorrow because I’m very excited to bring you an AMAZING LITTLE OLD NAG GIVEAWAY, thanks to the very generous Sarah!

You could win a $40 LON voucher!!! Ummm wow!

Check in tomorrow to see how!

Thanks so much Sarah for letting me share some LON loveliness with my readers!

Jen x

*These have been tested on small toddlers - however due to the presence of some small parts (eyes). The disclaimer must be added that they may not be suitable for children under the age of 3years.

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A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Isabelle: My little bunny. Occasionally has a morning shower with Mummy. When I ask if it’s too hot, she replies: “I yike it too hot.”

Noah: Thoroughly enjoying a nectarine and a spot of R&R after a morning paddling with Nana, Tony, Auntie Holly and Mum.

It turns out that it was so ‘tire-ating’ getting his kayak pulled by the Canadian canoe that this little guy kept drifting off to sleep while out on the water. 

I’ve decided this warrants another picture.

… and maybe a close up…

Joining in over here

X

P.S. I have heaps of more paddling photos to share in my stills collection tomorrow. So if sleeping, kayaking pre-schoolers are your thing then make sure you pop back tomorrow.

I’ve been interviewed…

I’ve discovered that one of the best things about blogging is the friendships that you can make through it. Aussie blogger and sewing extraordinaire, Ros from Sew Delicious is one of those such friends.

And now she's just interviewed me as part of her ‘Needle and Thread – interview series.’ I really do feel honoured.

Make sure you pop on over and check the interview out, or at the very least check out Ros's lovely blog (if you’re not already a reader of it.) She really is talented, and has heaps of awesome sewing tutorials – so you will be thanking me for it later.

Thanks so much Ros for having me!

x

Hot air balloon mobile–finished!

Remember that hot air balloon mobile I was making? 

Well it’s all finished!

Can you tell I’m pretty happy with it?

Tony (my Mum’s partner) helped me made the wooden bit at the top. (Well, pretty much he did it, but I, wanting to use a power tool did drill the 4 corner holes, so that counts for something, right?)

I mentioned in my last post on this, but if you want to make your own the go check out this awesome tutorial from 'Craftiness is not optional'.

I don’t know what you’re like, but when I’m pregnant and start collecting little bit and bobs for the new baby, I like to pull them out and admire them every now and then – and just imagine those big baby eyes looking up at the mobile or that chubby body wearing those Nana-knitted singlets etc…. (please tell me I’m not alone?)

… Anyway this was what I did yesterday on completion of the mobile. I also wanted to see how my 'Touch the sky' print from Sweet William looked with the co-ordinating mobile. (At least this was how I managed to justify this overly cheesy and staged photoshoot in my mind!)

And those other baby bits and bobs …

Well, so far I’ve got a couple of things including a lovely collection of Nana knits … and … The lovely people at  Kiwi Mummy Blogs have sent me this AMAZING Motorola Digital Wireless Video Baby Monitor to review. So watch this space!

And of course I have the slow burn project - the hexagon quilt … I have to confess I haven’t made any progress since my last update… it’s not that I’m getting sick of it or anything, I just keep getting distracted by new projects.

The to-do list if definitely not getting any shorter! Do you have the problem of a constantly growing to-do list, like me?

Joining in with my creative space and Show and Tell.

Jenny x

See also: my inspiration post for unisex nursery ideas

Wardrobe Wednesday: 30 Weeks

I guess I’m kinda on the home stretch now, with 10 weeks to go.

Although, after a first child that was 2 weeks overdue and the a second that arrived right on time, I’ve learnt that babies are unpredictable – they come in their own time. Besides; despite the fact that the last 30 weeks seem to have flown by, it’s likely that the next 10, as I approach maximum hugeness, will seem to go on forever! Not to complain though, despite it becoming harder to pick things off the floor, I’ve been feeling good and handling the heat a lot better now.

This is what I wore to church on Sunday. The lovely dress (the brand is ‘Tattoo’) is one of the many maternity items given to me by my sweet friend Kate, the pearls were gift from my Mum and the shoes were an op shop purchase from a while back. Can you see from the pics that the dress and shoes match with their polka dots? As seems to be a theme with the majority of my maternity wardrobe, again this dress does not appear to be specially designed maternity wear, but the ruching in the last picture (which sits just under bust, over bump) makes it perfect to accommodate a growing belly.

x

See here for more of my maternity style posts.

Joining in with Wardrobe Wednesday (at it’s new home) and WiWW