Time to Celebrate!

February is the month that I celebrate WeePantz' Birthday. 2 years ago this month, I set off on what I didn't know at the time would be one of the most difficult, but rewarding ventures I have ever done in my life. 

I have learned many things in the last 2 years. 

I have learned how to be more accurate when I am sewing. 

I have learned a lot about cloth nappies!

I have learned to manage money better.

I have learned to sell myself and my product.

I have learned to believe that I can achieve what I set out on.

I have learned to multi task with great skill.

I have learned many ways to distract my kids while I am busy.

I have also learned to defeat many of my vices

and I have beaten depression.

This, for me is definitely cause for celebration! so I've decided to have the usual birthday special over on my website.

So for the month of February if you use the code "BIRTHDAYBASH" in the checkout you will receive 20% off purchases over $50.

Out with the Old....

... and in with the new...

Apparently there was a very very secret squirrel mission going on around here for my birthday. I had mentioned to a friend that I had intercepted some calls and eavesdropped so I knew there was something coming and thought it was for my sewing room...

BOY WAS I WRONG!!! On Saturday afternoon, my lovely boyfriend called me into the other room and there stood a new oven. I was completely shocked! And also taken by surprise as I was expecting something else, I don't know what I was expecting, but a new oven, I wasn't expecting that at all!!

My old oven still cooks stuff, but it needs a new element in the grill and a new thermostat as that has never worked and I am constantly burning things in it. A new oven was on the bottom of my needed things list as I knew we couldn't afford it, so I was just making do. 

I can't even begin to express how grateful and spoiled I feel to have a new oven. I LOVE to bake so I will most likely do a lot more of that from now on! 

Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou to my lovely family for getting this for me, I am a very lucky lady.

As for the old oven... not sure what to do with that... I'd love to donate it or give it away, all it needs is a new thermostat and a new grill element. Not sure where to even start looking to do such a thing, might look into it :)

Don't forget about the auctions either... Links in the far right side bar :)

Tomorrow....

Tomorrow is the day (well tomorrow afternoon or night) I will be putting up the auction for the flood appeal. So I am working very hard at creating some super gorgeous sets that will be auctioned off...

A bit of a sneak peek here. I am working on 2 designer nappy sets. One for girls, one for boys.

I am also gazing today at the flowers that turned up on my doorstep yesterday evening from my mum, my sisters and their partners and kids as a belated birthday gift. Apparently the florist ran a day late on getting them to me.

Just beautiful.

My Creative Space

Today I am continuing on with orders from stockists as well as some from friends. And I am also preparing some nappies with matching accessories for the auction. 

I am busy creating time for myself to actually get work done during the school holidays. I feel like every time I go into the sewing room I cant really supervise the kids properly as they are in a completely different room with doors and walls between us. 

So yesterday I just simply decided to move the work to the kids. I set up on the kitchen table and cut some fabric then carted out my sewing machine and got more work done than I would have otherwise. AND the kids were entertained because they had all of their toys, and mummy. So it is definitely the plan for the rest of the holidays. As much as I am creating more work for myself to have to set up and pack up my machines every day, my work time has become more productive which makes it all worth it.

Cutting PUL for Aqua Basics Nappies

I've been nursing a sore finger too.. I busted open the skin on my knuckle when I was cutting through 4 layers of bamboo fabric at once. Perhaps I need an electric cutter, but then I'd probably cut my arm off or something most likely as I am a but of a clutz. Thankfully no blood got on the fabric, in fact it didn't bleed at all....

Today is also my birthday :) The kids have made me some pictures and my Mother In Law sent me a little package which made me feel very special. 

The day has only just begun, but I will most likely spend it working as I said before, lots of work to do and creating to happen! Hopefully I will also enjoy a yummy dinner tonight, that is not cooked by me :-p

Hope you are having a great day and those of you in QLD are safe and dry. 

The First of Blogtober...

Today is the first of October and marks the first day of Blogtoberfest, a month long festival of blogging. This year will be my first year taking part after reading all of the posts last year, and I am very excited! 

If you would like to join in, head over to tinniegirl's blog by clicking the Blogtoberfest icon in the top right hand corner of my blog.

The First of October is also a very special day in our house because it is also Oliver's birthday!

I can't believe that 2 years and 6 days ago, that this is what I looked like...

Yes, I was 37 weeks pregnant in this photo, I had to strap my belly daily so that I could stand. I later found out that I was actually 41 weeks pregnant in this photo and there had been a miscalculation of dates. 

I can't believe that 2 years ago we brought this tiny little person home to our house and welcomed him into our lives.

That this gorgeous, tiny, little person would become someone that miss Ruth would love, protect and play with constantly...

That he would teach me about being strong because he is...

That I would fall in love every single day with his crazyness and his beautiful blue eyes and the way he gives cuddles.

And that I would have my whole world turned upside down, and be better for it!

Happy Birthday Oliver, you are a gorgeous little man, and I love you very very much :)

And Happy Blogtoberfest to everyone! 

Wordless Weekend (better late than never right??)

the real amount of candles might have burned the house down :p

Finally!!!

Something Non-Nappy Related! Nappies (cute little balls of fluff that they are) have taken over my sewing room lately. There are random bits of nappy everywhere, I really need more storage so it doesn't look like a bomb has hit that room!!

Anyway, I have been this week doing some other sewing. Having a week off from WeePantz so that I can get some other sewing done. I have half finished a pair of jeans, well its more like 2/3 finished but yes im angry at them. And have been invited to a few parties (well DD has been invited,, im just her hanger on). I thought (as every sew-a-holic does) that I would make the presents.

My friend's little girl is turning 4 and she is apparently cooking mad. So I made her this apron.

front

back

I used See & Sew Pattern #4585 for the basic shape but didn't really follow the instructions as I (as usual) had an image in my head of what I wanted to make and the pattern was just giving me a leg up so I didn't have to draft. Yep! Completely LAZY!!

So I used the basic shape from the pattern left the front pocket off (little kids don't need a pocket on their apron, it gets filled with so many useless bits of crap, oh hang on that happens to grown up aprons too :-p) I used some very thin batting in the middle and then backed it with the sage cotton lawn. 

Also, instead of using D rings for the neck strap I used velcro. I was tempted to use snaps, but the snap press was packed away at the time, so I reached for the closest possible fastening equipment that wasn't a zip.

And then for the final touch...

...I embroidered her name.

For the embroidery stitching I used Kirsty's version of stem stitch which I DID find so easy to do thanks Kirsty!! 

I am really pleased with how this turned out. I have no "oh dear that didn't work out the way I imagined it" moments and it came together really easily. I really hope she (and her mummy) likes it!

Now off to make a batman/generic super hero costume! I have made the black cape and had one go at making a batman mask (complete disaster!). This is for a little boy that DD goes to school with. Who is having a party on the same day. AHH to be 4 and the most popular girl in prep... 

In a few weeks we are attending a dress up party so that will be fun for mummy, might have to start that costume now!! haha!!  Also got to start to make things for DD's 5th birthday party in a few weeks... so much fun... so much work and most of all... SO MUCH SEWING!! good thing Id rather be doing nothing else... :-)

Until next time readers... might be sooner than we think, perhaps I will successfully make a beautiful batman mask and want to show it off, or my jeans will start behaving themselves!!

Amy :-)

SURPRISE PRESENTS!!

Yesterday I was told to stay at home so that I would be here when my two birthday gifts arrived (in 2 separate packages). I sat by the front door all day... yes... literally, so no work got actually done yesterday, except cutting out one pair of little explorer pants for Olly. LOL!!

Anyway, so to my surprise the first gift arrived, I had  been told to be very careful when opening this one as it is delecate, so it arrived, and I opened it.... inside was this....

Clock made my my sister Carmel. Photos are of me, my partner and my kids. This will take pride of place on the wall above my sewing machines :-) what a talented sister I have.

I then waited once again (and very impatiently) for the second package. It actually looked like it wasnt going to arrive. I was about to leave my post next to the door and I saw a little Toll van drive into my driveway. I got incredibly excited, ran outside and almost mauled the driver!!

I was really really hopeing it was going to be an embroidery machine... wishful thinking I know, but a girl can dream!!! right?? Anyway, so I opened up the package and RIPPED out the invoice sitting in the top of the box and sure enough my mother had purchased me a new LAPTOP!! replacement for my old one which carked it a few months back!! fantastic new piece of equipment!! and means I can have my own special computer for my business which is great, I can keep all the **lovely things my partner downloads** off it!!!

Lots of squealing and phonecalls followed the arrival and consequent opening of the laptop and I now have it set up with some of my files on it. I just have to transfer a few from the desktop and Im set!!

a picture of my lovely new acer computer. has a built in webcam and lots of lovely HD features. Im just happy to have my own computer again!!

I feel soooo spoiled!!!!!

Amy xo

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

Well what a lovely morning! I awoke to a lovely man (that would be my partner) saying happy birthday, Im off to work. And shortly followed by Olly giggling through the baby monitor and Ruth going in to play with him. So a few extra moments peace. what a lovely present!!

I recieved some fabric from my lovely mother in law which I will use to make some little explorer overalls for Olly! :-) I will photograph it later and add the photos to ths post :-)

creamy/brownish linnen; "birdie" by my sister and me designs for moda; "farmers market" by sandi henderson; "xox" by holly johnson (I think...)

Fabrics are unironed straight from the wash, sorry bout that....

Have a happy day readers!!

Amy xo

Oliver Turned 1!!

Can you all believe my little bubba has had his first birthday? Hmm so the party was HUGE I was cooking from 6am onwards, and collapsed into a slightly drunken heap at 8pm on the couch while everyone else cleaned up :P

I made a guitar cake for the boy which worked a treat and the oven survived not burning it before dying three days later! So glad that happened after the party!!



It was a lovely party and I have posted a few pics to show how much he enjoyed the cake, I didnt get to make him an outfit like I had intended cos I was so busy planning the massive meal everyone was getting!! :P But I am super proud of the cake, I did very well!!