Ellyse's PAPs Party

Well it is Ellyse's 2nd birthday on Sunday. Our Mothers' Group (PAPs as we call ourselves) met at one of the girl's houses today so I decided to take along a little cake for Ellyse - well many little cakes. I was happy with how they turned out. I made some girly girl ones and some little snakes in long grass for the boys. Funnily enough they didn't care what cake they had, so long as they had one!

I so wish I had videoed the singing of Happy Birthday, she has wanted me to sing it all week since my birthday. She just thought she was a star, her little face was glowing and her eyes were popping out of her head....just too cute. Will have to capture it on Sunday with her real cake!

Birthday week

It is birthday week in our house this week. It was my 31st yeasterday and then exactly 1 week later Ellyse will celebrate her 2nd birthday.

I made her invitation and cannot believe how she has changed in 12 months. My baby has gone and my gorgeous little girl is here! I can't wait to celebrate her birthday with her.

New fabric = winter pjs

My Aunty sent these fabrics home with Mum last week.

From left they are - that bumpy fabric like table cloth material, white with red spots, blue corduroy, the next 3 are all flannelette - perfect for some winter pjs for Ellyse. I am stoked with some free fabric, there is quite a lot of each print.

Now just to get the motivation to sew!

Ellyse's first train ride

Today for Mothers' Group we took the kids on a train ride to nowhere. We just caught the train for about 6 stops and turned around and came back into Cleveland where we had a coffee and some lunch.

The kids absolutely loved the train and loved running around at the Harbour.

Vintage patterns

Here are some shots of the vintage patterns I was given. I wa amazed at a book that the lady kept when she was a teenager, she had cut out fashions that she liked and glued them into a scrapbook.

Scrapbook

There are many more, but I thought that was enough to show you.

I am not too sure what I am going to do with them. I know Eleanor would be disappointed if I gave them away or sold them, but I don't think I will use them. I love the style but I don't think my body does!

On another note DH and I went to Ikea yesterday as I have been wanting to tidy up the toy room for ages. I knew just what I wanted and I am most pleased with the result. Or playroom is an open space near our dining and lounge so it is important (to me) that it is tidy. I love the little boxes at the bottom, they are for dressups, paints, stuffed toys and I haven't thought of the other yet, I am sue it will be filled with something. I want to make little labels so Ellyse will know where things are. There is no denying the teacher in me!

My new cabinet and today's sewing

Today I picked up my new sewing cabinet, a very generous gift from my mum's old next door neighbour. I am so excited to have my own little space to sew. I set it up straight away and got to work. I must admit it felt a bit different for awhile, the machine is now a lot further away from me than I am used to - but I think I can deal with that. I just put the overlocker there and stood when I needed to use it. It fits beautifully into the lowest draw space which is really a cupboard.

It is my closest firend's daughter's 1st birthday this week, as the second girl born she has so many toys to play with already so I decided to make her a little pinafore for winter. Not sure if you can tell but this is a printed corduroy. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. I have enough to make Ellyse a pinafore too, and a matching one for Lauren's big sister one too. It was a nice easy pattern.

I then put together another library bag for yet another 2nd birthday present. I have been making these for the kids at mothers' group for their birthdays. I love the way Max's has come out. I am going to change the design of these bags to include a handle rather than the drawstring. I think it will be easier for the kids to carry.

Kitchen Swap Questions

1. What colours are you kitchen?

Pink kitchen with beige walls - sounds yuck, but it actually blends in ok.

2. What is your favourite appliance?

I do love my rice cooker, our dishwasher isn't working, otherwise I am sure I wuols say that!

3. What do you love cooking most?

I love cook sweets and savoury. I am quite anal when it comes to meal planning, when I write my menu plan I like to try at least one thing new.

I also love baking and try to do this with Ellyse once a week - but only if we are going somewhere, otherwise there is only one person in this house that eats that food!

4. What item would you love the most from your swap partner?

A nice trendy table runner (does that count as kitchen), I need some more things that protect your bench and table - can't think of what they are called.

BUT

whatever my swap partner chooses to make for me I will LOVE!

Ellyse in her apron

Ellyse has been really wanting to get into the arts and crafts lately. It is so fun to watch her experiment and learn with colour, shape, brushes etc.

Today I cut out some butterfly shapes and we painted them, she thought it was just great. I got her to wear her apron that I made, she thinks she is very special when she wears it.

My little baby girl is growing up too quickly!