Tree Fall

This patchwork croc was made at 2am on the 23rd of December. Along with a couple of other toys, a new blouse for my niece and a new skirt for Bella. Unfortunately the list of what wasn't made is far longer. But isn't that always the way?
I made one of these crocodiles last year when a friend told me that her daughter wanted a blue dinosaur and a large crocodile for Christmas. I didn't come up with the blue dinosaur, but was able to manage the crocodile.
This one was made especially for a certain little chap that I know called Freddie ( believe me, he's a looker. Lily's definitely got her eye on him), using some of my favourite prints - including two that I haven't cut in to at all since buying them in New York last year. Now that's friendship!

He's two foot long and has apparently already tried to roll young Freddie, who was of course having none of it. My favourite part are his feet, which are all knobbly and reptile like and I'm told, perfect for chewing on.
I'm relieved to say that not all of my gift making was of the 2am variety. Some of them were actually finished with time to spare.
Including this cushion, made especially for my niece to cuddle up to.

The front is made from a super soft Paul Smith cotton, with the chenille cat added and then quilted, to make it extra cuddly. And because 'cuddley' was the main request here, I backed it in chenille too. It's then been bound using a purple Liberty print (the only purple print that I truly like). The text was my first attempt at freehand machine embroidery and I'm pretty pleased with it (not due to any talent on my part, it was just a lot easier than I expected).
My next big thing is to try and start the birthday sewing now. It's only 5 weeks until Bella's 4th birthday and her new found love of the Princess and the Pea story means that I intend to finally make her her own set. I also want to make her lots of new dresses (we're having struggles over her wanting to wear summer dresses all the time at the moment) and some new bedding.
And then of course, in only 7 weeks it's Lily's 1st birthday! Which is shocking beyond belief, but also very exciting.  Obviously I want to make her a birthday quilt, and some new clothes, but I'd also like to try and design a couple of new toys for her.
So, like I said, I need to get started on all of that right now....

 

I don't know whether to be proud or embarrassed to tell you that Bella's response to finding the huge pile of presents under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning was, "Oh. My. God!"
I am proud to tell you though that my mother is so cool that she bought Bella a Princess Leia costume from Ebay (mom's first ever Ebay purchase) because my wonderful girl has become obsessed with Star Wars! An obsession that I whole heartedly understand and support.

The last week has gone by so quickly that (like the rest of the world, I'm sure) I have no idea what day it is today. Amanda was convinced that Christmas day was on Friday, which is better than me, because I was convinced that it was on Saturday. And even more confusingly, I now can't shake the idea that today is Sunday. Oh and that New Years Eve is on Thursday!
However, ignoring the confusing timescales, we've had quite a lovely and busy Christmas this year.
I held our annual Christmas party last Sunday, which is always good fun. Nothing special, just 8 other families, all with similar aged children and (more importantly) all within walking distance -  so lots of soup, chicken and wine for all involved.
I have these parties 3 or 4 times a year, always incorporating a holiday if possible  and always the same formula. I used to be a huge over achiever (whilst still managing to under achieve in the main areas of my life - go figure) and get massively stressed about any thing like this, spending far too much money and trying to make everything as perfect as possible. And of course never succeeding, so never actually enjoying the parties. But after becoming a mother, my expectations of both myself and everyone else dropped substantially and at some point I realised that simple really is best.

So these days I stick to the same plan every time - I make two or three homemade soups, roast a chicken (for sandwiches) cut up more french bread than you can shake a stick at and buy a couple of bottles of wine. I have a truly tiny home, so I don't waste time trying to work out seating plans etc, I just lay the kitchen table buffet style and put out as many chairs as I can fit in the kitchen, then I leave it up to everybody to fight over them! The children are left to roam free (the studio door is shut tight) and happily run riot. I've yet to find a mess that can't be cleaned up, so I don't worry about any of it.
The one thing I do always try and do though is make a little something for the kids to take home, but even that has become more and more simplified over time. Meaning that this year they all got a basic linen stocking with their initial on. I had hoped to make little individual tree decorations to go in each one, but that wasn't to be, so I just stuffed them with chocolate coins and a mini cracker instead. Which I'm sure they actually preferred to some boring old handmade decoration!

Nabbed from here.

Things you've already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven't done and don't want to - leave in plain font

1. started your own blog
2. slept under the stars 
3. played in a band
4. visited hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower
6. given more than you can afford to charity
7. been to disneyland/world
8. climbed a mountain
9. held a praying mantis
10. sang a solo
11. bungee jumped
12. visited paris
13. watched a lightning storm at sea
14. taught yourself an art from scratch
15. adopted a child
16. had food poisoning
17. walked to the top of the statue of liberty
18. grown your own vegetables
19. seen the mona lisa in france
20. slept on an overnight train
21. had a pillow fight
22. hitch hiked
23. taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. built a snow fort
25. held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping
27. run a marathon
28. ridden a gondola in venice
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise or sunset
31. hit a home run
32. been on a cruise
33. seen niagara falls in person
34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. seen an amish community
36. taught yourself a new language
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. seen the leaning tower of pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing 
40. seen michelangelo's david in person
41. sung karaoke
42. seen old faithful geyser erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. visited africa
45. walked on a beach by moonlight
46. been transported in an ambulance
47. had your portrait painted
48. gone deep sea fishing
49. seen the sistene chapel in person
50. been to the top of the eiffel tower in paris
51. gone scuba diving or snorkelling
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theatre 
55. been in a movie
56. visited the great wall of china
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited russia
60. served at a soup kitchen
61. sold girl scout cookies.
62. gone whale watching
63. gotten flowers for no reason
64. donated blood
65. gone sky diving
66. visited a nazi concentration camp
67. bounced a cheque
68. flown in a helicopter
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70. visited the lincoln memorial
71. eaten caviar
72. pieced a quilt
73. stood in times square
74. toured the everglades
75. been fired from a job
76. seen the changing of the guard in london
77. broken a bone
78. been on a speeding motorcycle
79. seen the grand canyon in person 
80. published a book
81. visited the vatican
82. bought a brand new car
83. walked in jerusalem
84. had your picture in the newspaper
85. read the entire bible
86. visited the white house
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. had chickenpox
89. saved someone’s life
90. sat on a jury
91. met someone famous
92. joined a book club
93. lost a loved one
94. had a baby 
95. seen the alamo in person. 
96. swum in the great salt lake. 
97. been involved in a law suit
98. owned a cell phone
99. been stung by a bee

And thank you to those that have asked if I'm ok. I'm absolutely fine. And in all honesty, loving the fact that today I've sewn, made homemade soup and been able to fit in to my size 8 (US4) jeans, less than a year after having Lily. Good times!

 

The kitchen is finally decorated. Christmas is on the way. I am soooo not ready. Unlike Bella. Who has been ready for about 348 days. And who has just informed me that she wants a second bike for Christmas. Not a bike. Another bike.  Huh?
So, not the dolls house that's sitting upstairs? Really?
Right then.

Change

Almost back.

After many changes in my life recently,  I've made the decision to return solely and wholly to the thing that has consistently made me happy over the last three years and that I wish I had never left.

Hello Treefall!

One of my favourite Christmas Elves ever....

Real words soon - this week is looking a lot more manageable and I'm hoping to truly have some catch up time!

 

One of the cool perks to being me, is that I get to share great things like these shoes with my girls! Are they, or are they not the coolest baby shoes you've ever seen?
My only complaint is that apparently they don't come in my size. What's that all about?

I don't think you can get these online, but you can get the fabric here.

I finally got some decorations up last night. Much to Bella's relief. Because we are, she reliably informs me, the very last people on the planet to do so!

There's still lots more Christmasfying  to do, but at least the basics are done. Although Bella is very distressed that there are no gifts under the tree. This is not, as you might suspect, due to a lack of gifts, but actually due to the fact that we have the nosiest most curious 9 month old in the world living with us  and there's only so many times a day we can say 'Lily, no!' before our heads drop off. So no gifts under the tree until Christmas eve I'm afraid.