Vintage inspired games...

I've been meaning to write up this post for a while now.  A few months ago Elijah was lucky enough to win a photo competition through Sugar Free - an online kids store with fab brands such as Minti, Fred Bare and Diesel.  I thought since it was Elijah's photo chosen as one of the final four, then he would get to choose his prize from the $50 credit we were kindly given. 

Throw the wooden dice

Move your little wooden car

Take a turn each (in this case he was playing by himself)

You can buy this retro car race game here - it is recommended for ages 4+ but if your child is anything like mine then they will understand the game alot earlier.  Want quality clothes at sale prices?  I noticed there are quite a few items on special right now.  Maybe you're after New Zealand Made products?  Look at these!

Woollen goodness...

I can't knit - and I'm ok admitting that BUT I can thrift.  When I found an orange woollen blanket at the Salvation Army I wondered if I really needed it.  I walked away from it then walked past again - yup I 'needed' it.  I had plans for this one before I had even found it.  I was actually looking for darker colours but this orange one is so vibrant - perfectly suited to the cold weather we're having.

I bought a few packs of doilies and tablecloths from the Salvation Army - this was in one of them.  I think it may have been a jam cover at some stage - remember those?

This is one I did a sneak peek of in my last post - the silhouette is one I've had cut out for months but didn't know what to do with it

Oh yes - he has to try out every new cushion that passes through this house

This coin purse didn't turn out how I wanted - I think the appliqué was just too small to play nicely so this now belongs to Elijah.

Right, it's a beautiful Winter's day out and I promised Elijah I'd take him to the park.  Shame that we have to go look at vacuum cleaners as well - we're in dire need of a new one!

Sneak Peek of my Week so far...

I spent my weekend cleaning out the spare room - it's now completely empty because anything I put in there grows mould within a couple of weeks.  It makes me quite sad especially because I had stored some framed photos of Elijah in there so had to clean them up also.  We are looking for another house because my current landlord is not fixing things that need to be fixed - she is a really nice person but not such a great landlord.

So my crafting time has suffered the last week or so.  We decided it was time to go back to the Salvation Army op shop - it feels like I haven't been in ages but I think it's only been two weeks.  I'm so glad we did because I came home with alot.  

Photo 1 - a gorgeous tablecloth - this was actually in with Mum's purchases but she gave it to me.  I love it!

Photo 2 - I had actually been looking for a darkish coloured woollen blanket to make cushions with but I absolutely love this orange one

Photo 3 - a mixed bag of craft goodies and a whole lot of buttons

Photo 4 - cushion finally made (well I have to stitch up the side but otherwise it's good to go) with appliqué (I have had this silhouette of Elijah cut out for months waiting for the perfect project)

I also caught up with high school friends yesterday.  I love it how friends from over a decade ago seem exactly the same as they were back then - it makes conversation easy.  Between the four of us we have six kiddies ranging in age from 4 months - 7 years so it was good to share experiences.    

Giveaway update

I have a favourite so far (but I'm not going to tell) but keep sending in those name suggestions.  Post giveaway I will be writing up a list of all the names I've been given.  Haven't sent your suggestions in yet?  Go here

A present a week...

We gave it a miss last week due to some more rearranging of the furniture and cleaning of mould - I can't wait to actually move out of this house!  But we did manage to get some presents made.  Well technically it is more from Elijah than from me.  This one is for Granny

Inspired by a project I saw online - I can't seem to find it now so if you come across something like this can you let me know the link please.  Originally made with scrapbooking paper, I decided to use vintage fabrics.  The trunk is made by tracing around your child's arm and hand - cute huh?

Now, this is a present 'for' me from Elijah - he painted it at kindy.  It might just look like a mess but he actually spent a bit of time on it - was cute watching him.  I used Mod Podge to stick it onto canvas then podged over the top to seal.  You can't really tell but that mustard colour is actually gold and has a nice shimmer to it.

Childhood is... (includes linky)

Learning to care for sick birds and learning that sometimes they do die

This has to be one of my favourite snaps - and that's Dad's hand by the way

Elijah was so careful but the bird was just too sick

When he died Elijah asked Dad to put a plaster on him - very cute but the poor bird is still lying in the garden waiting for the fairies to whisk him away.  Elijah had thought that a plaster would make him feel better.  Thoughtful.

Want to link up and share your story about what childhood means to you?  Each week I put up a linky tool for you to link up.  It can be anything really - a single photo, a poem, a short story even or just a memory.

I feel incredibly lucky today...

This morning we received our Vintage Baby Swap package from Rhiannon.  Boy is she one talented lady!  Elijah was having a bit of an off day yesterday - he fell asleep on the floor at 4pm whilst drawing.  He was so grizzly and ended up sleeping on the couch until 8pm.  He had a sandwich and some apple then was bright eyed and bushy tailed until 10pm - of course, I was the one with the headache and wanted to sleep early.  He slept until 9am this morning which is about the same time the courier arrived with our parcel.

What did Rhiannon send us?  I can see alot of thought went into this package because as you all know Elijah isn't a baby - he is three years old.  So doesn't really fit the description of a baby.  But he is chuffed with what arrived:

The best magnetic fishing set - he enjoyed the one at playgroup but this one is a hundred times better.  I can see this one being one of those toys you keep in the family.

A colourful crocheted ball - the perfect size for practising catch

Two very cool cars - of course these haven't left his side all morning

A lovely selection of books which Elijah is now sitting on the Ottoman reading nicely - it's quite a site really because I asked him to put socks and a sweatshirt on - he is instead wearing a cap backwards!

A sweet mushroom softie - this is just too cute and will be kept in my room ;)

And it all came wrapped in some lovely vintage fabric - I thought I could make cushions but I think I'm going to go with a table runner instead

So a huge thank you Rhiannon - you are super clever and I hope you start to sell your fishing sets!

Blog identity crisis (again!) plus a giveaway...

It seems that when I'm reading blogs they all tend to have a theme.  There are parenting blogs, craft blogs, quilting blogs, baking blogs, and the list goes on.  I have no idea where my blog fits - it's almost like a puzzle all mixed up in it's box just waiting to be assembled.  

I started this blog as Mummy Diaries back in 2008.  This year I changed it to Reclaiming Me, life had become so involved in raising my little boy that I had forgotten who I was.  No, well that's not entirely true.  I knew who I was but I knew I wasn't looking after myself as well as I could.  I needed to take time for myself and that's when I went back to sewing.  Sewing was my 'time out' and looking back I've made quite a few things.

Now I feel like I need a change from Reclaiming Me.  I temporarily renamed this blog Humble Stitches but the more I see it, the more I dislike it.  It certainly doesn't reflect me.  So for now it remains unnamed. 

So here's what I'm going to ask of you.  I will be giving away two fabric packs - one vintage and one new.  But you're going to have to work for it!  I need a name for my blog so I thought I would pick my favourite two names to receive their choice of pack. (ie my favourite will get first pick and my second favourite will get what the first doesn't pick).  I'm going to leave this open for two weeks so you have time to think of something really great.

Four fat quarters all approx 50x55cm

or 

5 pieces of vintage goodness

Sizes as follows (from top to bottom)

54cm x 56cm

40cm x 21cm (x2)

35cm x 64cm

56cm x 66cm

So leave your entry below and state whether you want to go vintage or new.  If your email is not linked to your profile, don't forget to leave that also.  You can enter more than once if you think of more names, just remember I will be picking my favourites not drawing random names :)  Good Luck 

Entries close 4th August 2010 and winners decided by 6th August at the latest

PS- Don't forget if you want me to do a write up about your blog or a blog you love, leave a link here.  I can't wait to write about Dottie Angel - she has such a pretty blog!

A few changes ahead...

I feel like I've succeeded in my mission to reclaim time for myself so I've been contemplating a blog name change.  A few posts ago I toyed with a couple of names but they weren't right.  My blog will now be known as Humble Stitches - a temporary fix until I think of something better.  Somehow my blog has evolved into more crafting than anything else but I will still do the odd post on baking, gardening and whatnot.

It's hard to believe I'm almost at the 200 post mark - it seems not that long ago I was celebrating my 100th!  Blogging has given me so much.  I've learnt a lot - about everything really.  Whenever I'm unsure of something I usually Google it - 9 times out of ten it will pop up in someone's blog.   Blogs seem so much more 'real' than websites and hold a huge amount of useful information.

I have so many favourites now that sometimes it can be hard to keep up.  Quite often I have to clear my Reader because it's reached 1000+ posts.

Link Love - I've seen a few blogs offer this.  According to Blogossary it means

posting a link to sites or blogs, usually unsolicited, that you enjoy, admire, or find useful.

 So link up any blogs or sites you feel deserve some Link Love and I will write up a post for each over the coming weeks.

Come on - share the love (and I don't mind if you link to your own - nobody will know)

School holidays are over...

and we are so glad!  I miss my kindy friends and my teachers.  I have had a good holiday spending time with Mum and Dad, and having breaks away with Granny and Aunty Nicki so Mum could get some sewing done.

Mum made me a Cars quilt which is really snuggly.

We had some nice weather (when it wasn't raining!)

And this last photo is from Easter holidays and will be my entry in the KidsClick competition this week

Elijah, Aged 3

Don't I look so big?  I used the timer on my Aunty's camera so I could get in front (because I like taking my own photo)

I want to add some more photos but the blog isn't letting me :(

I had a good holiday but I can't wait to go to kindy today

Pretty vases from old jars... (with instructions)

I've been itching to use the bottle of Mod Podge I bought a while ago.  I had saved a couple of empty jars that I thought may come in handy one day and months ago I bought a couple of packets of Deeko serviettes in their Vintage Romance Designs range.

You won't believe how simple these are to make - less than five minutes each!

This design has to be my favourite - it's so fresh!

But I also like this design - it didn't come up as well as I envisaged but will still come in handy.

Want to make your own?

You will need:

-a clean jar with all traces of label removed

-a paintbrush or sponge

-Mod Podge Gloss

-your favourite paper serviette

-scissors

Separate the top layer of your serviette - we only want to use this part.  Roughly measure the circumference and height of your jar - no need to be too fussy.  Snip out the best part of your serviette and set aside.  Using a sponge or brush, brush a thin layer of Podge all around the jar (excluding the bottom - you don't want it sticking to anything else).  Carefully position your tissue and work your way around the jar patting it down - if you try and smooth it down using strokes the tissue may come apart.  Patting will also give it a bit of texture.  Use the sponge/brush to add another layer of Podge on top of your tissue making sure any loose or dry parts are patted down.  Place in a well ventilated area to dry - Mod Podge doesn't smell that pleasant!

If you decide to make one, I'd love to see it!  Leave a link in the comments section if you like.

An after thought:  these would look great with tealight candles in and if I had baby food jars I think they'd do the trick too.  I have half a dozen huge jars that I might tackle while Elijah is at kindy - I'm thinking they would make nice Xmas pressies.

Childhood is... (includes linky)

I'm a bit late in the day posting this one.  I've spent the whole day in the kitchen.  I wish I could say I was whipping up some amazing treats but truth is I came across more mould - in my kitchen of all places!  So I took everything out of the cupboards, scrubbed and decluttered at the same time.  At the end of the day I feel good about it - it's just a shame I wasted a whole Sunday!

Anyway, on the weekends I let Elijah stay up late to watch a movie.  He never lasts long and always falls asleep on the couch.  I remember sleeping on the couch growing up - I always slept better there.  I guess it's because there is less room to move therefore more cosy.

If you'd like to share what childhood means to you, link up below.

Kiwiana Baby Bunting...

I entered a giveaway a couple of weeks ago over at MaeheGirl I didn't win BUT Cadi insisted on sending a little something to everyone who guessed the name for her new baby (she is due August).  There were quite a few of us who guessed right - Nuriel.  I emailed Cadi and suggested to cut her postage costs she didn't have to send me anything.  But she insisted!  So I said I would only give her my address if she sent me hers in return.  At that stage I had no idea what I would send but I knew I wanted it to be NZ-related and for the new baby as much as Mum.

So this morning I sat down and made a mini bunting

I went with the black, red, white theme for these reasons

It's fairly small but I hope Cadi likes it

It will be winging it's way to the States sometime next week when I send my Pay It Forward gifts

I took the opportunity...

to finish my items for my Pay it Forward round.  I really hope my ladies like what they get from me.  Here is a sneaky peek before I head off to bed.

Quite possibly the quickest...

I'm completely finished!  And actually this is the first quilt I'm 99% happy with.  I made a few mistakes but I'm sure Elijah won't notice.  The best thing is that I started this yesterday afternoon so it was completed in less than a day.

Sorry, haven't pictured the whole bed because I stripped it to wash the bedding.  His bed is a king single although I'm thinking of downgrading him to a plain old single

I've backed it with checked flannelette and used a spare duvet inner as wadding - my sewing machine now hates me (I'm assuming because it blew it's light last night)

His name ended up being off centre which I find annoying but he won't be able to tell (I hope)

So what you need to know:

• I have a Brother BM2600 that Mum bought me for Xmas two years ago - so a very basic machine which happens to be half price at Spotlight for you NZ ladies looking to get into sewing
• I don't own a walking foot which apparently feeds the fabric more evenly
• I went to buy a quilting attachment but the ladies at Spotlight had no idea what I was talking about - they sell the machines!  Was I being unreasonable to expect them to have some sort of knowledge about sewing especially because that counter was situated near the quilting department???
• I like to recycle where I can hence using the duvet inner rather than spending more money on batting
• You can't really see in the photo but I have made an attempt to quilt by sewing straight lines down the seams. There are a couple of rogue lines which I'm tempted to unpick just because they look odd - once again I'm sure Elijah won't notice

I promised...

A while ago now I promised Elijah that I would make him a cars quilt.  I've taken the easy way out for this one and made wide strips, but it does have his name!

So while it's not the best it could have been, I am going to try and finish it before he comes home on Saturday.  Yes, you heard right - he's at Granny's again!  Actually it's my sister who keeps wanting him to stay over so how can I say no knowing how much uninterrupted crafting time it will give me!

This is a single size (I should be making king single but single is much easier!) and the letters came as part of a panel from Spotlight.  I had intended to cut the letters myself out of the red checkers but then I found the letter panel and thought that would save me alot of time.

In keeping with the vintage theme...

I've been racking my brain for ideas for the Vintage Baby Swap.  I wanted to include something handmade as well as something thrifted.  For some reason I thought some children's bean bags would be fun.  I remember the one term that Elijah went to Jumping Beans that all the kids loved their little bean bags.

Here's my version

They are filled with either rice or wheat so can double as heat/cool packs

About the size of an adult hand making them easy for kids to throw and catch

Now Elijah will demonstrate a game for 1-2 year olds (maybe even younger)

Use the bag to pat parts of your body - like you head...

and your knee...

and your toes!

You can find plenty more ideas for bean bag games just by googling it

P{l}ay it forward...

The first blog I happened to read this morning was Rhiannon's Remarquable Junque - ok I was snooping to see what I could send in the Vintage Baby Swap!.  She had come across a pay it forward post on a blog on the other side of the world.  So I am going to take her up on her offer.  

So, would you like to receive something from me?  I could send all manner of things as I like to try my hand at anything at least once.

So here's the deal:

~I will make a handmade gift for the first 3 interested people who comment on this post.

~I have 365 days to do it in…

~What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise!

The catch is that you must participate as well:

~you must have a blog.

~after you leave your comment here, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going! Just cut and paste this one if you like, which I did!

Sounds fun doesn’t it? Sign up below

Not long till Xmas...

Well that's not quite true but I tell you, the second half of the year goes twice as fast as the first.  When the shops put out their Xmas decorations in September (or is it earlier?) we tend to think we have loads of time to prepare.  Next thing you know it's 23rd December and you're starting to stress about what to get who!

Need an incentive to get started early?  If you're planning on making your own presents this year, I have just the thing for you.  The lovely Deb is encouraging us to make a present a week until Xmas.  So what's the incentive?  The weeks you post about a gift you've made for someone for Xmas, you will go in the draw to win a half metre of fabric!

I find Sunday's are the best time for me to sew especially when Dad takes Elijah out for the afternoon for some boy's time.  So this I literally whipped up in two hours!

Excuse the photography - it's night time 

I made this snuggle rug for my niece Ella and when she's done using it as a snuggly (if she even likes it) then it can double as a doll's blanket.  The top I made from old pj fabric kindly given to me by Cat, the middle layer is polar fleece (not my favourite thing to use but it was soft!) and the backing plain white flannelette.  And it passed the snuggly test that Elijah subjected it too - he knows a thing or two about softness and now won't sleep unless his blankie (aka mimoo) is covering his pillow! 

ETA:  the photo makes it look alot bigger than it actually is - actual size is about 40x60cm.  I'll try and get some better photos today now that the sun is out :) 

Flea Market Finds...

I've had a pretty good week op shop-wise.  I haven't spent alot but I have been finding what I've been wanting.

 Early NZ made cups - the circle one is English though (Biltons)

A funky glass water jug - beats my plastic one any day

I just love this book!

 Look at the detail!

I'm also taking the opportunity to prepare for the Vintage Baby Swap - I have a few ideas in mind but once I know who my swap partner will be I will make definite plans

Eight buck rag bag...

I've always been curious as to what our local Salvation Army throws into their rag bags.  I often see peeps of interesting fabrics through their jumbled up mess.  So when I was out thrifting with Leesh from Life is a Highway, I thought I may as well buy one.  I knew she thought I was slightly mad.  What on earth would I do with a good 10kg of rags???

My favourite piece out of the bag

A pile of sheets - no stains or rips!

Massive amounts of pillowcases - check out those 90s numbers (I think there is a reason they have never been used!)

Another tablecloth - not in great condition but I have something planned for this

Clearly an unwanted gift :( perfect condition

And a bunch of napkins

Of course half the bag wasn't as great so I'll be taking it back so they can resell but I'm chuffed with what I ended up with.  Clearly worth the tiny sum of $8!