Thrifty and Toddler Tuesday!

I know that I said a few weeks ago that I was going to stay away from the opshops - but I just could not help myself. The other week when I was down in Albury I ventured into an oppy there and just look at the goodies that were bought out while I was there.

I picked up these two chenille sheets for $9 - what a bargain. I have been after some for a while (in the thought of making Miss A some winter pants and wanted some to add into a quilt top)
I just love the flower detail in the white one.

And last week Amelia and I organised craft for playgroup!

Here is a before and after shot of a card board angel! The kids had a ball doing it - and the parents were left with the glitter floor!

Christmas Sewing

Well it seems to be that I have been on a role this morning. It seems as though I am not getting anything done on my 'to do' Christmas list. I have Tim home on holidays at the moment - and am ordered to the bedroom for a Nanna Nap when Amelia goes down for her lunch time sleep.

Two things off of the list today are:

A Library bag and Pencil Case (with a zip!)I followed Jodie's instructions on her blog for the pencil case - some time in the new year I would like to try it in the vinyl!

And a little card cover for a book voucher (tutorial courtesy of Little Thing Blog)Tim's family do SS and I picked out his cousin (and all she wanted was a book voucher, so thought that I would add some handmade goodness to a plastic card!)

Also finished and ready to be filled on Christmas Eve is Amelia's Santa Sack. It is HUGE isn't it - Tim said that it was not big enough and then he requested that it have her name on it! So this is the end result - a very large Santa Sack for a 2 year old. I think that I will wrap up everything that she is going to get and pop it in there - But I do think that it will have to be downsized in the years to come!!!

Santa, the three stars and her name are all hand blanket stitched

Secret Santa's

Look at what the lovely postman delivered to me the other day. A package all the way from Marie in lovely QLD.
Thanks Marie for putting in the time to make us all a something a little special this year for Christmas. Amelia received a hat (it is so cute and reminds me of my brownie hats - and yellow really suits her!) Tim and I received eye covers each (to take to the hospital so we can get some shut eye!) A knitting roll, tissue holder and a bag for nappies (with a newborn nappy - man I have forgot just how small they are!) And a bib and shoes for bub in Michael Millers 'Rocket Rascals' , oh and two Enid Gilchrist Books.

And this is what all of those yoyo's became - A 4mtr garland as part of my gift to Natalie.

Featuring some of her favorite Christmas colours.And just a few other goodies, plus a little something for Natalie's two boys!

I also received some material in a fat quarter swap - but am yet to get a photo of that - so will pop a picture on when I take it!

Two little outfits for a little girl!

Well I have been a busy Mumma - I received a huge box of size 2 girls clothes from a friend for Amelia and therefore there was no need to sew any dresses for Amelia! (Much to my disappointment as you could imagine)

So armed with a few new patterns from the recent half price sale at Spotlight I decided to make a few little outfits to say a BIG THANKYOU!

Simplicity 3856 - Twirly skirt with embroidered top

Simplicity 4147 - Skirt with Yoyo embellished Top (this one reminds me of the Rara skirts my Mum made me in the 80's)

And what is going on with my machine? I have only got it serviced a few months ago - but this is the result when I want to zigzig - It is like it has a fit or something!

It's beginning to feel alot like Christmas...

So here is what the 25 matchboxes became! Little decorations for Amelia's Advent Tree. I think that next time year I will make little felt decorations to pop inside and they can also be added to the tree as the days go by.Inside the boxes are little messages - she will possibly understand it a little more next year - but I think that we will have fun all the same.

• Open 1st December Christmas Present from Grandma and Grandpa
  
• Put up Christmas Tree
• Attend Christmas Pagent
• Visit Santa and Get a photo taken (attempt anyway)
• Have a picnic in the park with Mum and Dad
• Watch Christmas DVD with Popcorn
• Paint toe nails in Christmas Colours
• Post Christmas Cards
• Draw a picture
• Do a collage with stickers
• Put out food to be collected for the Salvation Army's Christmas Food Appeal
• Cook Christmas Biscuits
• Visit Christmas Lights
• Make Plum Pudding
  
• Read a Christmas Story
• Attend Christmas Carols
• Select a card off of the Kmart Smith Family Christmas Tree
  
• Leave Milk and Biscuits out for Santa and Sprinkle Reindeer Food
• Merry Christmas

Some will occur on special days and others will be a random selection.
We are six days short - so if any of you have some ideas for us PLEASE let me know!

Work in Progress Wednesday!

A few of you have asked how the pregnancy is coming along. Well I am growing - yes growing is what occurs when one is pregnant - although I have not put on as much weight as I did with Amelia and I put that down to having Morning, Noon and Night sickness for twenty weeks this time around.Here is a photo of my bump as I see it at the moment. I have lost my feet - yes they are gone... Tim is currently still in our old location and will make the move up to be with us on Friday. And I am so looking forward to that. Just in time for Christmas and to get Miss A settled before this bump becomes a crying, feeding baby!
Will add some new pictures when there is someone else here to hold the camera for me!

Getting Festive...

I'm starting to get organised for Christmas. I've made a list (good start - right?) Only problem being that I seem to be adding more then what I am actually achieving at the moment! I'm looking forward to celebrating the festive season with Miss A this year. She is starting to get the idea of Christmas and she seems to think that she has Santa sussed out! (well, every time she see;s a photo or him on the TV she says "Santa...Santa..."I just hope that her enthusiasm lasts as long as getting a photo taken on his lap) Also looking forward to our Advent countdown and doing some baking, I would love to try my hand at a gingerbread house this year (oh the joys of Christmas and being pregnant) No doubt my list will be edited and re-edited several times before Christmas actually arrives. But right now I am happy that I have a tick beside

Bag for GrandmaPattern Details : Nellie's Sewing Bag

Fabric in black and white tones, including some vintage finds from Grandma's own stash and a piece of Michael Miller Buttons that I picked up as a remnant for $2
Modifications: Added a Log cabin panel in - as I wanted to try it and thought that this was a perfect project for it!

and soak fruit for plum pudding. And while speaking of creating, I just can't help myself but add my budding little resident artist. She is starting to enjoy creating (these were completed at playgroup today)