Little Squires.

Reluctant(ish, I detect a smile under that duck-like expression) models showing off costumes I have been making for Archie's birthday party. Please note that Archie is draped in Jonno's costume. Not a great photo as it was so dark this morning but I loved their dishevelled morning faces.
Hugo is just checking out the packet of carrot seed, desperate to plant them even though the sun hadn't quite risen.

A hat that is only knitted late at night when the sewing machine stops.

Archie's rock pool.

It's all about the boys at the moment. Usually I find myself a good slice of time most days to think about what it is I am making and where I want to be heading - but, not at the moment. All of my energy has been going into birthday parties and any spare thoughts have been tied up with our imminent road trip around the South Island. The upside to all of this though is that I still haven't cleaned up properly from Hugo's crafting party - this means the boys have been having a ball with all of the left over materials. It is amazing to see what they create when they have free flow access to good and glittery crafting stuff.

The only thing is..... I just want time for me to play with good and glittery crafting stuff too.

By the way, I am starting to lose a little bit of weight. 3.5kilograms in three weeks. Yiippee!!!

The Next Big Thing.

A quiet Sunday... getting ready for the next birthday. If anyone has any good ideas for a medieval party for seven year olds and particularly about quests and challenges I would LOVE to hear them. Better get back to the invitations so I can have a huge afternoon nap. XXOOXXOOXX.

Super Duper Whizz Bang Crafting Party Photos!!!

Well, I never thought I would get to the end of the day, let alone put a post up. But it is over and it was fantastic. Craft parties are good. I want one just for me now. Above is one of the completed mobiles. I am not sure if it was made by the mother or the child....

This mobile was made by my nephew - didn't he do a great job.
Bunting mania.

Threading a mobile together.

A finished boat.

Hugo's birthday cake.

Salt dough magnets drying on the outside fridge.

Hugo's decorated cup ready for soil and a seed.

Party Bags!!!

The prettiest paper cups in the world.

Parents taking home lots and lots of handmade goodies.

A little bit more bunting.

A left over play dough creation.

Peace and quiet.

What a day. I have a million more photos but here is just a little selection. If you are tuning in, this was Hugo's first proper birthday party and he chose my favourite them, a crafting party. I just reread my commentary and it was pretty dry but I am very tired and have run out of funny and interesting. Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. I am going to put my feet up now. xxooxxooxx.

Birthday Preparations.

I had to start the photos with a bit of kick. These shoes belong to my niece and are as soft as butter. I wish they were mine. Time to give them back to her though as she has been barefoot at the bus stop two mornings in a row.
This is what I spent last night doing. Making frames from cupcakes cases for mobiles. The plan is that the childers will thread on pompoms, paper cranes, buttons and anything else that catches their eye... dried rabbit poo perhaps, a few insects maybe?

Bunting ready to be festooned around the trees.

And little cupcakes with melted marshmallows on top

I hope four year olds will enjoy being served food from our best silver. I had better make sure Archie doesn't commandeer it for a shield.

Well, lots more to do. Wish me luck...

The Birthday Boy!!!

You have to forgive a birthday boy.

But I just never thought this little baby boy would be capable of anything like that...

Or like this.
Today Hugo turned 4!!!

We iced these cupcakes in the morning together.

His ones were definitely the best.

An emu flew across the sea from Australia bringing hugs and birthday wishes.

Crocheted especially for Hugo by my mum. Don't you think she deserves her own blog!!!

Only a few words as all of this birthday celebrating has left me a little tuckered out. Bring on the T.V. and big blue couch snuggling.

Glimpses.

Sometimes it's okay to realise you have run out of wrapping paper at the last minute. To then find a new use for the baskets and baskets of scrap fabric gobbling space upstairs.
Sometimes it's okay to realise that no matter how hard we try, we can't always take their pain away or carry their burdens.

Sometimes it's okay to turn licking a chocolatey spatula into an orchestra of song and dance.

And sometimes it's okay to realise that peace can be found in material objects.

Bunting and Crocheted Bunny Necklaces.

I spent the other day cutting fabric with pinking shears until my right hand resembled a claw.

Just because of this beautiful book - click on the photo for details.
With two birthday parties coming up (one being the crafting party and the other medieval themed), I feel reams of bunting is a glorious necessity. The boys agree and have been so excited watching the bunting fall away from the sewing machine metre by metre. I cut the triangles according to directions from the 'Homemade' book, 22cm wide by 22cm deep and the joined them with biased binding. So easy!!!

Here is a little bit of Heather Ross. I love her designs so much. Especially the unicorn pattern which I have bought to cover the cushions on a chair. - I'll show you another day.

Here are some prizes I have been crocheting (and I will include a tutorial for the miffy-esque bunny necklaces another day). I haven't been able to even start on the mouse tutorial this week - I have been trapped in a sweaty forest of scratchy, sticky, events and horrible colds so my thinker just has not been thinkering along those lines.

A final photo from the 'Homemade' book. Pin the egg to the chook. Definitely something that will be played at Hugo's party. That way they can decorate their own egg as a craft project. I had better find an old sheet over the weekend and start painting.

Today however, I am on bed rest with that nasty cold I referred to earlier. The sun is streaming through the french doors and the house is quiet. A very good day to recover.xxxoooxxx.