Sewing for Camp

The crazy Victorian weather and a girl heading off on her first school camp called for a few new clothes. 

First up is long jumper that reminds me of something from the 80's.  She tells me that it is comfortable and has worn it a few times since camp so it is a winner.  She loves the cowl neck and the drawstring.  I made her a size 7 and it will more than likely fit her come next winter.  I left off the pockets and had to adjust the sleeves and cuffs to fit.

The hyper colour tights with it finish off the outfit and make for an easy wear outfit.

This is the Perri Pullover.  This time I made it in a fleecy lined stretch and left off the pockets.  Again another favourite in the wardrobe.

 

Pattern Details
80's style Purple Jumper:  Burda 9482
                                          
Perri Pullover                 : CaliFaye

Tights                             : Go To Leggings

{Eight}

With the blink of an eye my little girl has turned eight. 
She is growing into a little young lady before our very eyes.

This year she requested a 'craft party' for her birthday.  I limited it to 5 friends (six pairs of seven and eight year old hands were enough for one Mum to manage)  They all did a great job.  Some did more then others.  Some did not move from the table and had to be encouraged to have something to eat whilst others came and went.  I think that I re threaded their needles 100 times each over the three hour period. 

I kept the party food simple and set up a buffet style table where the girls were able to help themselves to it during the party. 

Happy Birthday beautiful girl enjoy your year of being Eight.

Of hot glue and chickens...

Amelia participated in her first Easter Bonnet Parade at school today.

It was weeks in the planning stages.

She searched the Internet.  We went shopping and she chose what she needed and together we hot glue gunned it all together.

 

Joining in with these crafty souls

Floating though the weeks...

Where oh where has the past 6 weeks gone?  I did not mean to have that long of a blogging break.

The start of the school year has been crazy.  All have settled in well.  Amelia hit Year 2 running and ready to learn.  Baden is doing a second year of Kinder to give his confidence and language a little help before the formal learning years begin.  He has developed so much in the first 6 weeks at a new Kinder that we know that we have made the right decision.

Me, I am floating through the days in an attempt to keep on top of everything. I spend many hours driving and sitting around waiting for Kinder, Dancing and Swimming to finish (the story of every Mum I am certain)  I have been attempting to utilize this time away from the house and write shopping lists, knit and have even managed to read a book (with another on the the ipad ready to read)

I hope that you are all well. Is the weather cooling down where you are?  We have had a long hot, dry Summer this year and I am looking forward to Autumn finally getting its act together and working out that it is her turn.

 
Do you have any plans for this cooler weather? 

Joining in over here for the first time in months.

Term 4 : Day#8

We have returned to school for the final term this year. 

We enjoyed our Spring break and were nowhere near ready to send Amelia back to school. It was clear to all when I managed to not fill out her reader book or remember that she would need glasses for the day.  I hope your little one's first day back went smoother then ours (all I can say is we are lucky we live so close to school)

I did however send her off in a new vest.  The weather should be warming up by now.  We have however had another cool snap.  I for one am looking forward to Summer, I'm hoping that it makes an appearance before Santa arrives.

Pattern: Explorer Vest by Julie Gilliver
Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury in 8ply Junior Navy
Ravelled

There is plenty of growth room to see us through till next year and I will have another on the needles soon in preparation for the little man of the house who is growing up far too quickly and will head off to Prep next year.

I might see if I can manage a few sewing things this week.  It is Kids Clothes Week Challenge this week. I always have grand plans of joining in. Hopefully with a weekend away at Craft Retreat I might just have a chance to get a few things done.

A slumber party : #2

A low key birthday party was in order this year.  She decided on a sleep over, she did not want anything too over the top. (how I love this kid) 

I don't think I would have normally agreed to a sleep over at such a young age.  But I know both of her little friends parents and we live within a stones throw of both of their homes.

They made pizzas

and drank pink cordial (very grown up in a grown up style flute)

Enjoyed Banana Splits with homemade strawberry and chocolate syrup (more on that at a later stage)

They wore matching PJ's to bed made from a Holly Hobby Sheet set that I picked up many years ago on an op shop hunt.
 

They all past out after the necessary jump on the beds and a movie.

 Pancakes were the order for breakfast, they ate them as quickly as I made them.

 We just sent two little girls home and I have one tired little one left here and that is a sure sign of a successful slumber party.

 I believe that it is the little things and I'm certain that these three girls will remember there first sleep over for years to come.  Keeping it simple meant it was alot less stressful for this Mum too and even the little man enjoyed his night.  She did not have a cake last night as had also celebrated her birthday before school broke up for the term with these same little friends, but I will share those tomorrow as they are very special.

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.
Playing along with soule mama.

The Tooth Fairy Visited...

The little miss in the house has lost her first tooth. 

She was very excited and proud that she has lost her very first tooth. (most of her friends lost a headful each last year so she has been waiting patiently for the day to come)

It's a shame I didn't get those family photos done before the gummy grins.

Day One, Year One

Our little girl proudly went off to school yesterday.

She was so excited she almost skipped the entire way (mind you it is a short 8 house skip away) 

The highlight of the day was the 'trip' around the school and apparently the boys here are noisier then at her old school (what can I say but country boys) her delicate ears will get used to it.

Oh and I forgot to share this super cute photo of her.  She went into reading glasses just before Christmas for reading and writing. It took two optometrist appointments at different places for someone to actually check her eyes properly.  She has exactly the same eyes and pupils as her mother (poor love) and said "WOW" when she put them on for the first time (it had me in tears)  She chose the frames herself (my girl loves a little bling - but if it makes her wear them I didn't really care what they looked like)

Going Spotty

Amelia has been learning about the artist Yayoi Kusama during the past term as part of their art module.  She has been doing some secret painting, drawing and colouring at school which will all be revealed this week when the family are invited to attend the classes Art Exhibition.

Today we headed into GoMA to see the wonder that is Yayoi Kusama.  If you are in Brisbane or are planning a trip make sure you leave time to pop in. (it is open and free to the public until 11 March 2012)   I would recommend that you head in early.  The whole exhibit can be seen in an hour.  It is also not an exhibit that I would take my very active 3 year old too.  It is a pretty to look at but don't touch exhibit with only one room that is interactive.

I was told that I was not to take any photos of the exhibit (I did not delete the ones that I had taken so here is a little sneaky shot (shot from the hip and taking pot luck of what I got)

 The obliteration room, is a hand on interactive room.  We were handed a sheet of stickers on entry and told to go for our lives.  A completely white room the size of a house has already been covered with brightly coloured adhesive dots. Children can also access the online version with Kusama's World of Dots

 

The final room of the exhibit is set up to help GoMA celebrate turning 5, the Children's Art Centre invited Perth-based artist duo Pip & Pop (Tanya Schultz and Nicole Andrijevic)

This exhibit draws on children's fairy tales from all over the world.  It is created using sugar, Styrofoam, beads, lights and glitter.  It is another look but don't touch exhibit, with lots for the little girls to find (including Sullivan Family creatures and deers.

For more information pop onto the website www.qag.qld.gov.au/kusama
I would love to go back towards the end of the exhibit, as they are hoping the the dotty spotty white room will be covered in so many dots that the white will not be seen at all (if you go let me know, would love to see your photos.)

Happiness...{this moment}

 is a girl with cupcakes.

I fail with this no word, one photo thing.
The girl took in cupcakes this week to share with her friends at school.
I also nailed the icing - thanks heaps Lesley for your help and recipe.

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.-soulemama

The Party {And then she was SIX}

I thought I would start the first day of October off with a bang and a party and share with you a little party.

We had a little tea party with a few friends in celebration of Amelia turning six on Thursday.

The kids usually get something handmade as part of their birthday presents.  But due to lack of time and the late night knitting that occured here I just plain ran out of time.

Instead, every part of Amelia's little tea party was baked and prepared by me.  All on Thursday monring.  Thank heavens for my new machine in the kitchen (more on that later) or there would have been tears.

Decorations were in the form of chinese lantans made by the birthday girl and a few ballons.

Tea cups from the opshops were filled with a few lollies and taken home by the guests. The girls decorated their own cup cakes and a game of musical chairs, pass the parcel and dancing filled in the time.

Joining in with the month worth of celebrations and fun that is Blogtoberfest over at Tinniegirl.