Crumpled Mummy

Birthdays and giveaways

2012-01-17T13:10:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my birthday. I turned 26. EEEEEP! I'm not sure why but I suddenly feel very old. I'm no longer mid twenties. I'm late twenties now. On my way to 30 0_0 Jeezus....

We didnt do much. We had curry for tea, Manshape bought me a mini cake and a box of chocs * sweeps chocolate crumbs off the laptop keyboard* Ahem.

Other than that, we've not really done anything exciting over at Crumpled HQ! The usual knitting and playing and DVDs I think.

While you're here, take a moment to head over to see Vicky over at Mess for Less who is running a giveaway. I must admit that even if I don't win myself I'll probably look into buying one anyway (Once I can scrape funds together :( ) I'm getting worn out with the nightly bedtime battles of late.

My yarn tail is almost finished (YEY!) And I must get some ears made before the weekend, as the game is on Sunday night!

Oh and here's a soaker I finished up last week :)

Oh well, I must get back to eating choc...I mean knitting. Yes... Knitting.... Honest.

Knitting and yarn tail update!

2012-01-07T06:10:00.000-08:00

Did some more work on my yarn tail last night! It's about half way done now. So proud!

Also, here's some things I've finished recently.

A haircut and a tail!

2012-01-05T11:45:00.000-08:00

Spur of the moment, I decided to have my hair cut today after picking up Sea Monkey from nursery. It needs washed and styled so no photos yet ;)

And, a tail? Yes! A fox tail. A yarn tail to be exact. If you YouTube "yarn tail" you'll find some videos on how they move. Much more realisticly than making one from fur and stuffing! I'm playing a LARP (Live Action Role Play) game of Changeling soon and I'm playing a changeling from the Beast kith, which basically means I'm part animal. My animal is a fox. So I'm making a tail and ears to go with my outfit. I'm a traveling dancer and potion seller. Think Esmerelda from Hunch Back of Notre-dame....

(Image from DA - Link )

But also a 'dealer'... And part fox....
Oooh Yeeeah!

Here's a WIP photo of the tail so far. This is about two evenings work (well, two half evenings really...)

Hope I manage to get it finished in time, EEEK!

Goodbye 2011, hello new blog layout.

2011-12-31T04:53:00.000-08:00

2011 has been a bit of a mixed bag for me. Some lows, some highs. I'm not frantically waiting for a new year to start, but at the same time I'm not sad to see this one finish. Feel a little "middle ground" about the whole thing to be honest.

I have however, as you may have noticed, been playing with my blog layout! While the little birdy was sweet, it wasn't very me. I'm a pink, yarny kinda gal. It's a WIP anyways, I'll be tweeking it as the days/weeks go along.

Went for some sales shopping the other day, and let Sea Monkey go on the carousel. Spent the whole turn trying to get a picture of her on it! In the end had to get her to sit down on the opposite side of her carriage, snap a picture and then pull her off lol.

I got myself a little bargain in the sales too. A lovely red heartshaped wreath that I'd wanted soooo badly when I first saw them, but couldn't afford. Found it reduced down to £4.50. Fab!

And I don't need to buy sweets for the Sea Monkey for at least 3 months I reckon!

I'm still beavering away with the granny stripe blanket so will post an update picture after New Year.

Happy New Year everyone!

Plum Pudding and Xmas shopping.

2011-12-23T04:01:00.000-08:00

I have finally started a granny stripe blanket. For some silly reason I decided to just jump right in and do a double bed size. I'm a bit stupid sometimes I think. But never mind!
So far it's taking me about 2 episodes of Octonaughts a row. Which is about 45 mins a stripe. Not bad considering there are 240 triples in every row (480 a stripe!!!)

I am loving it though and have already got my next ones planned :D

I got paid today so xmas shopping it was! Wrapped Sea Monkey's presents the other night and the pile was pathetic looking. Yeah, she has a new wooden kitchen (Half price! Bargain!) and that darned ChiccoBella doll, or whatever he's called (£2 from a caarboot sale because a few bits were missing, which the company then replaced for £3 postage! £5 for a doll worth about £40! Score) but the rest of it seemed to be all stocking filler types. Books, bracelets, a couple of DVDs. Have spent since then panicking about Xmas day. So today I managed to spoil her a little more. She's got a nice little stack of things to open now, including some wooden biscuits and a wooden baking set, a couple of Octonaughts books (Her latest 'thing') and... A kiddies knitting set! SQUEEE! So cute!
Manshape also got paid this week so bought her the Flynn and Rapunzel dolls from Disney store.
Also nabbed some Snowfairy from Lush (Tis the only shower gel I use, I stock up at xmas so it lasts all year lol!) and some yarn so it looks like Santa left things for mummy too :D

Need an on-time bed time tonight so I can get on with taking up the bottoms of her Xmas Eve PJs (CUTE!), making some magic reindeer food (Oats and glitter ;) ) and hopefully HOPEFULLY making her a little dolly baby carrier. Need to see if I still have the black polycotton and the black dino fabric left upstairs :S Need xmas eve reserved for wrapping last minute bits and building the kitchen. Not looking forward to it. My friend is the QUEEN of flatpacks and said she swore at it lots. EEP!

Anyway, I must away and get Sea Monkey ready for bed. I probably won't post again before Xmas now, so MERRY CHRISTMAS / HAPPY HOLIDAYS to my readers :)

Yarn squishing, Christmas knitting and photo walls!

2011-12-15T12:42:00.000-08:00

Today I managed to go to our LYS without Sea Monkey in tow and it was bliss! I took my time, looking at the different brands, the different colours and shades, squishing them to find the softest ones, "eeep!"-ing at the price of the reeeeally expensive ones and putting them down quickly! Manshape was laughing at me squishing every yarn I could touch and trying to force him to squish them too. I resorted to rubbing them against his face when he refused! Then I found the lovely Stylecraft DK section.

I bought some of the Aran version of this yarn after reading the lovely Lucy from attic24 using/loving it. And I must admit, for someone who HATES knitting with acrylic yarn (aka, a yarn snob!) I loved it. I have been eyeing up the multipack that Masons sell. Mmmmmm. I can just see it made up into lovely, rainbow, ripply goodness!

Anyways, I picked up three colours to make some Christmas presents with. I can't say what and for who because they might read with blog ;) But I will be sure to post photos of all Christmas crafting after the big day :)

So, the Sea Monkey is in bed, the dishes are done, downstairs hoovered, washing machine full and I'm having a late tea of some left over chilli before cracking on with some knitting :D

I leave you with a picture of a work in progress that I *can* show you.

My photo wall! (Please excuse the wonky plant vase and the toy basket overflowing into the room) I went to buy more of the wooden frames that are in the middle there today and, BOO, the shop have stopped stocking them and I can't find them on their website. Sigh. So back to the drawing board with that! May go back to my original idea of thrifting lots of random frames and spraying them all the same colour, so they match in a non-matching way. What do you guys think?

Mummy Day Book

2011-12-08T16:06:00.000-08:00

Outside my window... it's gale force winds and rain, and very cold :(

I am thinking… that I should be in bed and not online still.

From the kitchen… we had spag bol tonight and it was yum.

I am wearing… Nightie and fluffy boot-slippers

I am creating… Xmas presents ;)

I am reading… I don't really think I can count Malus Darkblade anymore seeing as I haven't touched it in months!

I am hearing… cars driving past in the wet and the wind rattling things outside!

One of my favorite things... The scrummy secret yarn swap I have taken part in :D (Picture will be at the bottom ;) )

A Few Plans For Next Week… at the moment, we don't have any plans besides some xmas related crafts.

Here is picture I am sharing… Well, two, haha!

Look at that! Some scrummy wool in my fave colours (Pink, black and silver) new snips and needles and a little felt pouch. A TIGER TAPE MEASURE! (I've been wanting one for ages! I actually "Squeee"d when I opened it) and some absolutely gorgeous crochet hooks with hand made little handles. Here's a better picture of the handles.

Aren't they stunning?! Thank you secret yarnmas fairy!! :D
For obvious reasons I can't post a photo of mine ;)

This week we have learnt:
*that Fly Lady isn't so hard to follow!
*that gale force winds make mummy want to let Sea Monkey stay home from nursery.
*that lots of late nights make mummy sleepy!

G'night folks!

Mummy day book

2011-11-26T09:12:00.001-08:00

Outside my window... it's horrid. Wet, gale force winds and cold :(

I am thinking… that bedtime can't come soon enough!

From the kitchen… I'll be making some nice warm porridge after bathtime in an attempt to make the Sea Monkey sleep tonight.

I am wearing… Fluffy slippers and my cosy dressing gown

I am creating… too many things at once *headless chicken impression*

I am reading… Malus Darkblade still, but the Manshape bought me an audio book on CD yesterday, Red And Black :D

I am hearing… the horrible wind howling down the chimney and rattling our letterbox!

One of my favorite things... tonight I think my favourite thing will be Sea Monkey's bedtime!

A Few Plans For Next Week… We're off to visit some friends next weekend and have a lovely meet up with LOTS of the cloth nappy tree mummies :D

Here is picture thought I am sharing…
My daemonettes! (Yes, I'm a Warhammer/GamesWorkshop'er. And yes, I'm female... lol) I don't get a lot of painting time, so these have taken quite a while to get done! There's 21 there, and another 18 in varying stages of pantedness.

This week we have learnt:
*That Mummy is grumpy with too many late nights.
*That Sea Monkey is grumpy with too many late nights.
*And that Mummy tries to knit/crochet too many things at once, ack!

Muffin Tin Monday

2011-11-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

I really need to start doing this everyweek and trying to slip new things into it.
This weeks MTM (Muffin Tin Meal) had the theme of circles!

Top row: Oat biscuits, cheese, cookie crisp cereal and chocolate buttons
Bottom row: Tomato sauce, ham, fruit bites (Sea Monkey thinks they're sweets when they're just dried fruit ;) )

And this is the aftermath...

Guess it went down well, huh!

I've spent AGES looking at lunch box ideas too. Oops. Best go wash the dishes, they won't wash themselves!!

Mummy day book

2011-11-20T06:02:00.000-08:00

Outside my window... it's sunny and dry, even if it's a bit chilly and breezy. Got a load of washing on the line and will hopefully get another load out before it gets too cold for things to dry.

I am thinking… of what to make for tea, and that I have lots of knitting to do tonight!

From the kitchen… after reading my last daybook, I'm thinking of doing dippy eggs for tea!

I am wearing… the nightdress I was wearing when I gave birth to sea monkey :$ It's huge and battered but my is it comfy :)

I am creating… I have an order to finish up tonight/tomorrow, and I'm working on a crochet ripple scarf for xmas.

I am reading… STILL reading Malus Darkblade. :$ I really need to get myself some audio books so I can 'read' while I knit!

I am hearing…the Sea Monkey playing on her Lion King VTech game.

One of my favorite things... my slippers. Between the birthday and the wedding, it's lovely to not have to leave the house for anything for a couple of days :D

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… Well, for next week, same old same old really! Toddlers, knitting, crocheting. Maybe some baking...

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

Nothing yet as can't find my cable.... LOL But it'll be a wedding pic once I get it working ;)

This week we have:
*Learnt that Sea Monkey likes jazz music!
*Learnt that Sea Monkey can behave sometimes.
*Learnt that I can handle hotter food than the Manshape.
*Learnt that it's lovely to slob out after a week of rushing about!

Birthday madness!

2011-11-13T11:51:00.000-08:00

Well, Sea Monkey turns 4 on Tuesday (4 years, seriously where has that gone?!) and so yesterday was her birthday party. 5 3-5 year olds running around my tiny 2 bed semi! Luckily it was a crisp, dry day so while it wasn't warm, the kids were able to have a good run around the garden, ride on Sea Monkey's new bike and a bounce on the trampoline. They ate their fill of party rings (Can't have a party without party rings!) and hotdogs and cupcakes and practically kept themselves occupied for 2 hours while the adults nattered. Quick round of pass the parcel and handing out of party bags and it was time for the off. Sea Monkey thoroughly enjoyed herself though. Here's some photos.

The theme was obviously Dinosaurs and Pink and Green. (Pink glitter and dino shaped sprinkles of the supcakes) I totally forget to get a picture of the party bags and their contents though. I was so proud of them. I managed to get them to cost about £2 each but not contain the usual rubbish you get in kids party bags. There was a small jigsaw, some stickers, a fake tattoo (all dino of course!) and a small plastic dinosaur. Along with a homemade dot-to-dot book, some mini felt tips, a large marshmallow and a mini packet of haribos. All in a cute paper lunch bag, with pink and green tissue and a cute little dino on the front :) Oh and the kids names on name tags, of course written in pink and green pen ;)

I only JUST managed to get her birthday shrug finished intime. I was just sewing the botton on at about midnight, bleary eyed while the Manshape was cleaning the dishes from cooking the cupcakes, bless him. But the shrug was perfect and Sea Monkey loved it too. It matches her dino skirt perfectly and while she normally moans about the wool tickling her on my handknits (Sniffle, sob!!) we actually had to wrestle this one off her. Result! :)

So now I'm looking forward to a nice relaxing night before the new week starts. My cousin gets married next week and I'm bridesmaid and Sea Monkey is a flower girl, so we have a horrid week of rehersals and stress. I can't wait for it to be over (In a good way obviously!) so we can relax again.

Anyway, I leave you with a photo of the Sea Monkey in her dinosaur birthday outfit.

Chai and reality

2011-11-04T14:44:00.000-07:00

We've had a couple of busy days here. Yesterday we went on a train journey to visit some friends for the day. We had some gorgeous lunch, a really good chatter and giggle with our friends, I got to baby wear my friend's little man, O, and the Manshape got to buy himself his xbox game. Apparently Sea Monkey is going to marry O when he grows up, because he's just a baby now. I hope he likes the older lady! More than 3 years older in fact!
Today Sea Monkey was back at nursery as she skipped a day to go on our day trip. So the Manshape took me for breakfast in one of the local pub-type-places, a browse around the new Toyshop that's opened for Xmas, and then we spent a couple of hours painting in Games Workshop before picking Sea Monkey up, who promptly reminded us about our promise of letting her help with the feeding the Manshape's pet lizard, Betty.
While we were out we also nipped into Asda and I discovered that they sell... Chai Tea Latte powder. As soon as I got Sea Monkey to bed I warmed myself some milk up and made myself a nice big mug of it. It was lip smackingly good. Better than *gulp* Starbucks, even! Luckily, I've found that the same company sell 1kg tubs, haha! If you're in the uk, check them out! Drink Me Chai

I also finished a project last night. I started it the night before as a little something to do on the train. A camera sock for my poor little camera, who had to have her lens shutter amputated. It wouldn't open properly, but otherwise the camera worked perfectly, so I yanked the shutter off with tweezers, but then of course, it needed a sock to stop it getting scratched in my bag ;)

I read a few blogs online from fellow crafty mamas and one that I follow is Crunchy Catholic Momma. She posted today about keeping it real and posted a photo of her living room at the time of her posting, to show that the crafty blogging mamas who post online don't have 100% perfect homes. I must admit to being one of those people who read the blogs and thought "Wow, I wish I had time in my day to manage this life!" and it makes me feel a bit better about the pile of dishes in my kitchen (in fairness, for the past two days we've been out of the house apart from a quick evening meal and then bed, then a quick breakfast this morning!) And no, I'm not brave enough to post a photo right now because it really is a mess at the moment!
Speaking of house work, I should go and do some before bed, now that my lovely chai tea latte is finished :( lol

Hurrah for magic invisible glitter and shiney red boots!

2011-11-01T16:14:00.000-07:00

You may or may not know, but about 2 years ago my happy-go-lucky, if-it's-on-the-plate-it-gets-eaten-including-sprouts daughter became a fussy eater. Instead of lovely veg and fruit, she would only eat pale colours. Chips, chicken nuggets, pasta, bread, non-lumpy yoghurts... About the only colours she would eat were tomato sauce and chocolate. She got a little better and a little worse over time. Some colours became edible, lumps and textures became a no-no. She will eat baby carrots (They MUST be baby carrots though) and brocoli (but only the tops, not the stalks. She nibbles the tops off). One big thing I've struggled with is mince. Minced beef. She downright refused it. Before this, she would have wolfed down a bowl of mummy's spag bol or chilli. but no more :(

On Monday we had some friends over. These friends have a 10 month old son, who is baby led weaned. He eats what we eat, with his own hands. Including mince. I made spag bol for us all, and as usual dawn had plain pasta with tomato sauce and cheese. But my friend managed to pursuade her to try some mince. How did she do this? Magic invisible glitter of course!!! An empty pot from her nappy bag and suddenly my fussy, food-phobic daughter was EATTING MINCE! After she finished some of my mince, she finished my friends! Then she ate.... a slice of apple! *faints*
Hopefully this magic glitter (aka, an empty pot sat on the kitchen worktop) will help with her food! I had debated buying REAL edible glitter, but I was worried if I put it on everything she'd end up pooping sparkles >_<

In other news.... I have new boots! I've been having a tough time with Sea Monkey lately. Not something I want to get into on a blog really, but temper tantrums have been rife in our house for a while now. The last couple of weeks she's been even worse. So when we got to toddler group today, my friend presented me with a big brown paper bag. From Schuh. I instantly realised what she'd bought me and refused to take them. By this point the other mums wanted to know what it was. A pair of bright red, patent leather Dr Martens. I didn't know if I wanted to kiss her or strangle her. They are my Xmas present, but she knew I needed cheering up, and also knew that if the weather man is right, and the snow is worse than last year this winter, then I WILL need them before xmas lol.

I totally heart them. They will take some wearing in (As all DMs do), but I'm already planning to knit some boot liners for them, and have decided that I need to knit a scrummy black slouchy tam with matching scarf and arm warmers and that I need a lovely bright red winter coat to go with 'The Fabulous Boots' <3

Mummy Day Book

2011-10-30T06:10:00.000-07:00

Outside my window... it's damp and cold. Perfect weather for eating dippy eggs, staying in your PJs all day and making cupcakes :)

I am thinking… of throttling the cat if he doesnt shh, and throttling the child if she doesnt stop telling me to "hurry up and type quick" complete with mined fast typing. ;)

From the kitchen… dippy eggs and cupcakes!

I am wearing… My Animal (of Muppets fame) PJ bottoms and a white vest.

I am creating… Sea monkey's birthday shrug to match her Dino Dudes skirt.

I am reading… STILL reading Malus Darkblade. :$

I am hearing… the cat begging at the front door to be let out...

One of my favorite things... is the scrummy wool I'm using for Sea monkey's shrug. Yummy hand dyed superwash.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… Next weeks plans are lots of knitting and sorting for madam's birthday. Also show shopping for my cousins wedding. Ugh. I hate shoe shopping (Unless it's for converse lol)

Here is picture thought I am sharing…is still blank, as I haven't bought a new camera yet :(

This week we have:
*Learnt that PJ days are fab.
*Learnt that Crumpled Mummy hates shoe shopping!
*Learnt that Sea Monkey also hates shoes shopping.
*Learnt that Sea Monkey loves peanut butter sandwhiches :)

Best go make her one before she eats the cat. While I'm at it, I better let him out too....

Mummy Day Book

2011-10-10T06:33:00.000-07:00

Outside my window... it's damp but sunny :)

I am thinking… about where to hid the wooden kitchen that's just arrived at the door and has curious eyes insepcting it LOL.

From the kitchen… think we're having toad in the hole for tea.

I am wearing… Black jogging bottoms, striped vest top, no socks :) Slummy day today!

I am creating… more knitting! Just finished some needle felting last night too.

I am reading… STILL reading Malus Darkblade. In fact, I don't think I've picked it up in a couple of weeks, oops.

I am hearing… Sea monkey playing on the cbeebies site on the old laptop.

One of my favorite things... is my brand new internet! No more mobile broadband dongles which flake in and out! Hurrah!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… Drs tomorrow, and hopefully we'll get to see Lion King this week at the cinema too :D

Here is picture thought I am sharing…is blank, as the shutter on my camera is broken and won't open ( *sob*

This week we have:
* learnt that while the Sea Monkey cannot read, she might actually be psychic.
* remembered that I luuuuurve a reliable internet connection.
* found that the old "No, this box is for next door" excuse when a kiddies present gets delivered actually DOES work!
* played on the cbeebies website way more than we should have :)

Mummy day book

2011-09-24T14:03:00.000-07:00

Shamelessly stolen from Joyful Chaos Homestead, which is a fab blog and I recomend a read :) I've decided that I don't blog enough, and I don't blog enough about the now. I write about my knitting and the Sea Monkey but it's just not enough... So here's my feble attempt at trying to start something which I will do once a week :)

Outside my window... Darkness, as it's 10pm at night now. But today has been a rather dry, crisp, Autumn day :)

I am thinking… About how to be a better mummy *blush* How to add more learning to our days, activities we can do together, that kind of thing.

From the kitchen… We had pizza and chips for tea tonight. And ashamedly they weren't homemade either, oops. We had been out at a birthday party so we were both tired from the forty minute bus trip each way because the damn trains were out.

I am wearing… Black cargos, lilacy/purple vest, pink socks.

I am creating… Almost finished the longies for Max. Got sooo much knitting to be doing. I really shouldn't be on here or stuck on Ravelry all night! Sea Monkey's pinwheel still needs another arm and I still haven't started a shawl for myself.

I am reading… STILL reading Malus Darkblade (Which if from the Black Library, the books from the folks over at Games Workshop) which I bought myself for Xmas just gone. Between Sea Monkey, the interwebs, LARP and knitting I just don't seem to get much reading time. I'm going to start buying some audio books to listen to while I knit, I think :D

I am hearing… The traffic going by on the main road and the cat trying to unstick himself from the curtains. I think my cat has velcro on his feet.

One of my favorite things... Today, I think my favourite thing will be my bed. Which is half occupied by a Sea Monkey at the moment. When I say half occupied, I mean she will be starfished in the middle and by the time the cat gets on the bottom I'll have about a foot of space on the edge.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… Seeing as is it is Saturday night and there is only one day left, I'll list a few plans for next week :) On Friday evening Sea Monkey is going to her first sleep over. It's a friend's birthday so another friend is taking her to sleep with her two kiddlets for the night. *sniffle* Hopefully we'll also manage to go to the knitting group on the Saturday, but it depends on times and Sea Monkey's mood! I also need to make some bread, some playdough and I've almost promised to make cakes or cookies.

Here is picture thought I am sharing… Erm, I haven't actually been able to get the photo on here because it's from my phone, but picture this in your mind. Soft play centre. A huge, plastic, bright red slide that even makes me gulp a little when I get to the top. And my 65 year old, yes that's Sixty Five year old, Grandma going down said slide. With a grin on her face. I was crying with laughter. Almost as funny as her getting 'stuck' in the ball pool. :')

This week we have:
*Learnt that dinosaurs are scarier at the cinema than they are on the television at home.
*Jumped in muddly puddles.
*Ran races around the soft play centre.
*Gone on a 'woodland walk' around the local Scout area.
*Collected acorns.
*Sang various Top Ten pop songs.
*Collected garden spiders *shudder*
*Fired Nerf guns at 'Zombies' and each other.
*Had our hair cut for the first time :')
*Been trying to talk Mummy into buying a turtle from the exotic pet shop on the way home!

Oops

2011-08-16T12:48:00.000-07:00

Wow, over a month since I last posted? We were without internet for a while so I didn't get to update anywhere really! Nothing much to update really. More knitting. That's about it! I'm not a very exciting person you know ;) I do however, have a new manshape. Sea Monkey adores him, which is great. It's still early days, but it's going great :)
At the moment I'm working on a pinwheel cardigan for the Sea Monkey.
I really want to make myself a shawl but can't decide on which pattern, if I should knit or crochet it, and which wool! Lol.

Off to scour Ravelry again lol.

Knitty McYarnypants

2011-06-03T02:35:00.000-07:00

Well I have been busy busy busy knit knit knitting away, mostly presents and projects for other people. Here's a few pictures:

Small shorties in Tiger Tiger colourway from To Knit To Woo. Made for Lisa's DS :D

XL Soakerless Skirtie, made for Sea Monkey originally, but she didn't suit the colour so had to sell it :(

For Angie's bump. Top row are Newborn, bottom row are Smalls. I have another pair of small shorties which are finished and a pair of small scrappies to do :)

3Mth romper, hat and Medium soaker.

There is a few more bits, but I can't show those ones ;) Hehe.

Boken Bones!

2011-05-06T10:18:00.000-07:00

I have realised that all I post about at the moment is illness. Sigh. Yesterday I stubbed my toe on the chair in the livingroom. At first it was fine. About 30 mins later I couldn't put weight on it and couldn't move it. After a trip to A&E I have a broken toe. It's all strapped up and I can't really walk much on it.

Have been chugging out the knitting though! Will have to post some updated photos, but if you check out my Ravelry link *points to the left* you'll see some of the soakers/longies I've been working on :)

Right, must shift. Bathtime and bedtime for the little Sea Monkey!

More ill!

2011-04-22T02:49:00.000-07:00

Well, we finally dragged ourselves out of the land of the lurgy, and slowly but surely crawled into the house of mucus instead! Sea Monkey now has a chest infection. Sigh. Lots of waking in the night with coughing. Lots of grumpy mummy and Sea Monkey. Two inhalers and a course of Anti Biotics. Hopefully she'll be better in a couple of days.

Finished one pair little shorties, now almost finished another little pair of Longies. I have 5 more balls of wool to knit into longies and soakers for another mummy friend and EVEN MORE wool coming from the The Nappy Garden co-op to knit for Sea Monkey and another mummy friend. Good job I like knitting! Hehe!

Oh, I also made myself a fancy dress costume the other week. Was a friends birthday and last minute I managed to get a babysitter so I could go. Cue me rumaging around the wardrobe for what I could go as. White shirt. Black underbust corset. Knee high goth boots. Big pile of red/black/grey/skull print cotton and some tule. Sounded like the perfect Pirate Wench costume to me! I had to make a skirt in cream jersey and then dye it black as the fabric shop was closed and all I had was cream lol, but it looked good :D The pile of scraps became a bustle. Felt kinda good to have the sewing machine out again, haven't used it in a while.

Right, while Child is out in the sun for a bit I'm gonna crack the knitting back out. :D

Land of lurgy

2011-04-07T03:28:00.000-07:00

Well, we are in the house of the ill at the moment. The land of lurgy. Sea Monkey has been poorly for 5 days now, me for 2, and it I am now sick (Haha!) of the smell of puke and poo. Sea Monkey is also going a bit stir crazy, as she usually does when ill. She had Croup and was hospitalised for days and put on steroids, but instead of laying around like the other sick children, she was terrorising the other kids in the playroom like some mini Darth Vader. My child never acts sick, even when she is terribly terribly poorly.

How do you like my new design by the way? Cute huh?

Anyway I've been knitting away like a mad thing lately, I still have 4 pairs of teeny longies to knit for friends, as well as a shrug to finish for Sea Monkey's BFF's birthday next week, and Sea Monkey's cardi. Also crocheting myself a shrug and started on a scarf for myself. This scarf is rather ace. It's rat shaped!! The pattern was in Finnish but I managed to translate it :) I might post a tutorial once it's finished.

I really need to learn to finish one thing before starting the next.....

AWOL/MIA

2011-03-25T03:00:00.000-07:00

I'm not MIA. I'm still here. Lots of personal problems went on over Xmas and New Year, but we're all sorted again now. Back to being a single mummy.

Seems I need to update the graphics on my blog. Hmmm.....

Will do a post soon with some WIP and Finished things

More dolly crafts

2010-12-13T15:30:00.000-08:00

Well, I dragged the sewing machine out yesterday for the first time since the move and now Dolly is the proud owner of....

A new pillow and blanket, with appliqué frog,
Some cloth wipes,
A bag that hangs on the buggy,
and three cloth nappies!,
(Sorry for the rubbish photo. My camera had died.)

Sea Monkey loves them all. Even the wonky bag which is REALLY annoying me... All of it was made with fabric scraps that I had in my stash. Wayhey!

Next on the list is some simple clothes for her. I have lots of jersey to use...

Nappy pattern shamelessly stolen from here

Crochet...?

2010-12-11T16:28:00.000-08:00

Well, after months of being able to do not much more than granny squares, I finally bit the bullet and tried to follow a pattern of something more shaped.

Sea Monkey has never been a one for dollies. She has them. By the toy box full! But she never often plays with them. For some reason, she has recently fallen back in love with "Wittle Giwl", who has now been remained "Dolly." Dolly has lots of clothes that were donated to us from my best friend's Mum, which were knitted by said best friend's Gran. What does this have to do with me crocheting? I'm getting to it. Bare with me.

The Dolly Formally Known As Wittle Giwl has enjoyed these fashions since she was bought. But the Sea Monkey recently took Dolly to Nursery. On her way home, Dolly was dropped in a muddy puddle and the end of the world was nigh! Dolly's little snow suit was muddy and ruined and now she was cold and wet. We promply ran the hot tap, stripped Dolly and washed her down. There. All better..... No. Now Sea Monkey wanted mummy to knit Dolly some clothes.... Sigh.

Then I remembered the little pattern I had seen on Ravlery, for a crochet dolly nappy. I hurriedly copied the pattern down, had a quick google for how to decrease in crochet and got to work.

This is the end result....

Not fantastic, I admit! My pattern seems to be ALOT thinner in the crotch than any others on Ravlery and I had to modify it a lot to fit our Dolly, but I'm proud. I was inspired!
Of course, what girl can wear a woolen nappy without a matching top/dress?! Didn't think so...

And so, without a pattern.... I created a dress for Dolly.

Sea Monkey loves it. Apparently Dolly loves it (She's wearing it in bed as we speak, complete with matching nappy!) and best of all.... I made it!
If Dolly is still in favor in a few more days (Normally, her doll fads only last a day or two...) then I think madam might get a few Dolly nappies in her Xmas stocking. Sewn and crochet.

Now I need to stop ~~procrastinating~~ reading informative craft blogs and go to bed. And I need get on with some Xmas gifts and then carry on with Sea Monkey's woolen blanket.... (And not just keep adding to my list of "To Do" !!!)

New house, woo hoo!

2010-12-07T05:49:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been absent, haven't I? We moved house on Halloween and have only just recently gotten the internet back up. Have done lots more knitting and crocheting. Need to get some photos done. Have updated my Finished Projects and WIP lists at the side there.

Sea Monkey turned 3yo 2 weeks ago and had a blast of a time with a Dino themed party. She's now fully potty trained, has given up her dummy and sleeps in a full sized bed. Oh and she has a boyfriend. Yes, a boyfriend! At 3! The girl's a fast mover.

Here's a picture of her dinosaur cake:

Really MUST get a move on with this felt food list. Only just over 2 weeks until xmas. EEEEEPPPPP!!!!!!

Cora's Clips

2010-09-07T14:25:00.000-07:00

As promised, here's a link!
(Clicky the picture to go there)

Kitchen troubles

2010-09-04T11:35:00.001-07:00

Well, after my last post about how I snagged the Sea Monkey a wooden kitchen for a bargain price, it all went tits up.
A WEEK after I bought it from Vertbaudet, they sent me an email to say "Sorry, it's out of stock". A week to decide it's out of stock? Disgusting customer service!
Anyways, after a huge panic, I managed to snag a lovely fold up table top kitchen from ebay for the brilliant price of £17 inc. postage! Fab!
Lesson from this: Vertbaudet SUCK!!!!! *Angry face*

And in other news, I am dipping my toes into the WAHM waters (That's Work At Home Mum) with Cora's Clips! Will post a link ASAP :)

Felt food!

2010-08-14T15:33:00.000-07:00

Very quick blog post tonight. Here's some felt food I've made :) It's all going in a basket for Sea Monkey for Xmas, along with the wooden kitchen I've snagged her. A £99 wooden kitchen, for £39.50, woo hoo!
Anyways, on to the pics!

Resolutions...

2010-08-07T15:06:00.000-07:00

Bit late in the year but I've finally picked some resolutions.
1) start going to bed ~~early~~ earlier than my ususal 1/2/3am, thus leading me to...
2) use the computer less. This will also help with...
3) become more organised, and...
4) be a better house wife!

Hmm, these were somewhat ruined by balancingeverything.com, which I have spent the last 2 or 3 hours perusing. I have however found this daily organising print out. Wonder if it'll help me at all... We'll see.

I suppose I haven't really broken #1 tonight. 11.15pm is still and early night for me really!

Craft wise, I'm knitting a soakerless skirtie for the Sea Monkey. Will get some pics up soon. She's pretty much potty trained now. Even some of our night nappies are dry. I've got all the bits cut out to sew a Twinkle Time nighttime pull up, as she keeps waking for the potty but we do still get some wet nappies so don't feel ready to try nappy free nights yet!
My baby is growing up. When was she allowed to become three? She's three in 3 months time. I swear I've been knocked out for most of that...

Little update...

2010-07-05T15:22:00.000-07:00

Here's my first, fully finished crochet project! It must get the Sea Monkey seal of approval, as she's taken it to bed with her. Moments after it was finished, just after taking the photo actually, she was sprawled on it, saying how soft it is. And how it's a star. Bless her.

Knitting, Dresses and Potty Training!

2010-07-04T04:37:00.000-07:00

Wow, 3 months since I last posted, huh? Ooops.

Well, the shorties I was working on in my last post are finished. And now sold on. Sea Monkey is potty trained! *sobs* I know, I know. It's terrible yet great at the same time. At least I still have Night Nappies to give me my fluff fix ROFLYSST.

Here's a piccy of the shorties anyway.

Cute. But too small for our Night Nappies and too big for non-fluffy bums. Sigh.

I can't believe how quickly she's taken to PT'ing. It seems like only the other week she just couldn't grasp the idea of weeing in a potty and not her 'Big girl pants'. She's been virtually PT'd for a few weeks now...if she was naked. Which obviously isn't practical for nursery or any other public situation.

So, Sea Monkey has spent the last week wearing nothing but dresses. Easy to lift out of the way, and also if she has an accident, as long as she's not sitting down, I don't have to change a whole outfit. Just whip the 'big girl pants' off, wash her down, and fresh undies on. Hurrah for less washing!

I must try some of her old pants back on her though. They might fit now she doesn't have a big cloth bum to fit in them too.

But yes. We live in a rainy, miserable, cold place, right up North near the lakes. And it's not long since winter for us. Which meant that Sea Monkey had a very limited supply of dresses and skirts. At least, a limited supply of ones which I'm willing to allow into nursery.

A lovely party frock + nursery paint = Not good.

So, how does a mummy with limited cash recify this? Reconstruction!

I have a pile of clothes that don't fit me, haven't fit me for ages, and probably will never fit me again. But, they have cute designs on or they're a nice fabric or colour and I just can't bare to part with them. I'm a horder, did I tell you?

So... three teeshirts became toddler dresses!

I've blathered on enough for this post, so I'll leave the explanations for my next post. I might even do a tutorial ;) We'll see...

I haven't got a photo of the My Little Pony one, as she's wearing it at the moment.

What's on my needles

2010-04-30T02:22:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't updated in so long. Here's what's on my needles and hook at the moment!

Some gorgeous shorties made with Lush Tush yarn in Blueberry Crush colourway. And my 'Man They Call Jayne' blanket. My first real crochet project! I think it's called an infinity granny square? Not sure. I'm not using a pattern, just making it up as I go.

The blanket was going to start life as a Jayne hat. Like so:

Any Firefly fans out there? ;)
Alas, the hat never came to be and when I wanted to learn to crochet I found this poor, unloved cheap acrylic in my stash and wondered what on earth I would ever wear that was those colours. Let's face it, they're pretty horrible. Especially when you're a red head!
So the Man They Call Jayne blanket was born!

Shortie Bloomers

2010-04-03T14:19:00.000-07:00

Just finished these tonight while watching a couple of recorded episodes of Vampire Diaries lol. I'm so proud! And Sea Monkey likes them too. She tried them on before she went to bed, before I'd done the i-cord.

Off-topic - My Vampire Wishlist!

2010-03-27T13:19:00.001-07:00

Here's some of my fave vamps! No particular order...

Let's start with the obvious. Edward Cullen.

Another that a lot of teens will have this one on their list. Stefan Salvatore, from Vampire Diaries.

From 'Vampires for grown ups' AKA True Blood, Bill Compton.

From Blade, Deacon Frost. Yuuuuuuuuuum!

Home-dyed wool!

2010-03-04T16:08:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post! Been meaning to post this all night and kept getting sidetracked!
I had a go at dying my own wool today for the first time, using a microwave, water, distilled vinegar and food colouring!
Although, I now have a rather fetchy shade of blue to my fingers, hehe

They've come out a bit blotchy, but I'm pleased with it for my first go!

Excuse the awful backyard wall. It's a rented house and I'll be damned if I'm painting the exterior walls for them, mid winter *rolls eyes*

Can't wait to see how they look when wound into balls, and when they're knitted!!! *Excited* This lot will be making the Sea Monkey a soaker or shorties and then making a pair of lightweight shorties for a friend's 6mo little boy for the summer

I have a new camera!

2010-02-25T13:25:00.000-08:00

Woop! I have my new camera! I love it. It's a Samsung, 10MP, ES15. Very nice.

Here's a progress pic of the dress so far. It's not very much. The wool is so bright and colourful!
As I said, I haven't gotten a lot done *Blush*
I also forgot to mention that it's the top that I had listed in my 'to do/make' list a couple of posts a go ;) (Bottom of the post)

I've also sewn Sea Monkey a new skirt! I need to get it out of the wash and on her again to get actions pics, the ones I have of her aren't great shots of the skirt. It's cute though. And it has Dinos ;)

Tushie Tuesday Giveaway!

2010-02-25T12:49:00.000-08:00

Want to win some lovely Cheeky wipes and a gorgeous Monkey Foot wetbag to keep them in?!
Head over to www.babiesnappies.co.uk!

I'm still here!!

2010-02-21T07:34:00.001-08:00

Honest! We're still alive :)
Bought some new wool today for a top or dress for the Sea Monkey, so will be starting that once I post this! I bought some Patons UK Fab DK wool. I wanted cotton but this stuff was so bright and colourful! (and machine washable ;) Always a bonus on a kiddie!) It's called 'Fruit Spray', isn't it yum?

Also bought myself a lovely knitting bag and a needle roll from the trusty old 'Clearance bin' at Dunelm Mill. Love that place. It's pink with strawberries on.

Oh and you shall have to suffer my terrible phone camera pictures no longer. I have a lovely new camera winging it's way to me as we speak... type... whatever.

Right, of to knit! Hehe

Skirtie finished and CSP

2010-01-21T16:28:00.001-08:00

Well, Sea Monkey's skirtie is now finished! Excuse the rubbish photos, they're taken with my phone's camera. I still haven't gotten myself a new camera yet. Maybe soon.

Here's a picture modeled by my rug...

And by the Sea Monkey

The pics are hosted by Photobucket so they might be huge, that place never resizes right for me *rolls eyes*
I'm really pleased with my skirtie. Its the first time I've knitted one and a big learning curve. I learnt how to M1F, M1B and YO to make eyelets. You can't tell from the picture but there's actually a pattern along the bottom of the skirt made from K, P and YO. Very cute. I also kinda made the pattern up myself. It's a mish-mash of different patterns because I couldn't find one I liked that was free...

I also made myself some CSP (Thats Cloth Sanitary Protection, or Pad I guess) These are just pantyliners, so there's no real absorbancy and no waterproofing.

They've washed lovely too, so thinking of cutting into my PUL to make some waterproof ones.

Haven't done much else really. Deffinatly not craft wise. I have so many things I want to make and just never get around to it. I have some lovely jersey cotton to use up and have no idea what to make with it...

I have a few things on my list of things to make though. Let's see how many I actually DO! Haha

Things I make this year!
* A knitted top for Sea Monkey
* A bag for me
* A bag for Sea Monkey so I dont end up carrying all her leaves and twigs on walks
* A quilt and pillow for Sea Monkey's new dolly travel cot
* A knitted dress for the Sea Monkey for summer
* Possibly this tunic dress on Ravelry too
* A drawing pad cover/pencil holder for Sea Monkey on the go
* A circular needle case for my Knit Pro interchangables
* Cushion covers (Not decided on knitted or sewn yet)
* Something made out of jeans! (I have about 4 or 5 pairs that no longer fit/are worn out)

Other things I want to do this year
* Decorate the house cheaply! (Mainly my bedroom and the livingroom but possibly kitchen and bathroom too)
* Learn to crochet
* Sort out the back yard and grow some veg with Sea Monkey

Hapy New Year!

2009-12-31T14:03:00.000-08:00

Another ooopsie! Again, just realised it's been a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time since my last post!

Here's the skirtie I'm working on atm for Sea Monkey...

Sorry can't seem to make that pic smaller, grrr.
It's in LLS Baby Boo Alpaca yarn. It's Sooooooo yummy. This isn't a VERY recent pic as I have about 2inches of the skirt done now too.

Nothing much more to report actually!

Happy new year everyone!

Ooopsie!

2009-11-02T02:39:00.001-08:00

I've just realised how long it's been since I posted here. Ooops. Anyways, the Sea Monkey's woolies that I was knitting when I last posted were finished. I made them into shorts because I wasn't happy with the waist band.

Sea Monkey also became the proud owner of these lovely woolies!

The gorgeous rainbow Scrappies are from the lovely Evelyn of Soaring Sheep (If you scroll down to the 15th Oct entry, you can see them on her blog too, hehe) And the cute dino stripes longies are pre-loved from a mummy on the lovely CNT!

Sea Monkey is also getting some simply GORGEOUS customised Sea Life longies for her birthday, so photos will be posted after then!

Apart from that, I haven't been doing much crafting really. I am knitting some more longies, but I've made them too short in the rise and leg in my haste to get them finished, so they'll probably be finished up and then sold if I can, to get the money back for the wool. Sigh. I do have some wool on order with Beth at LLS to do some more longies with though, so I'm going to join in with CNT's knit along when that arrives. I'm almost tempted to try a skirtie longies, but I don't know if I'll have enough wool. I'll mark off the skirt area and see what happens! (I guess I could always use any money from the sale of my too small longies to buy another skien from LLS, lol)

We went to a halloween party next door on Saturday. Sea Monkey made some new friends (Adult's, not kids. She was the only child there, and I think she was quite taken by the lad dressed as the priest lol!) and we didn't come home until 10.15pm!!! Her bedtime is normally 7.30! But a late night every now and again won't hurt her :)

It's the Sea Monkey's birthday in 2 weeks. I can't believe it's crept up on me this quickly! Where did the time go?!

Update and longies progress

2009-09-21T09:31:00.000-07:00

Sorry for lack of updates! Been sucked into the world of Cloth Nappy Tree. A few of us met up in Glasgow last weekend and it was lovely. The Sea Monkey got to run around the Glasgow Science Center with everyone else's little ones. Was funny seeing how big she was compared to the other girls the same age!

Also spent a day in hospital. Waiting blood tests back for that. Finger crossed they find out what's wrong.

I'm too much of a slow knitter. I need to speed up... Here's the Sea Monkey's longies so far...

They're going well though. And once I FINALLY finish them, they're going to be dip dyed by the lovely Beth at Luscious Little Somethings!

Must get back to knitting...

Ooops

2009-08-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

I've gone a little bit mad with buying nappies and craft things. Not only have I bought a set of snap pliers and snaps, and the wool that I'm knitting with at the moment, but I'm also waiting on: a Clwt Twt nappy, three more lots of wool, an XL QTbuns nappy, an AIO nappy, a pair of lined WAHM Trousers and a Lullaby nappy and a XL wrap from from Spain :S
So now I'm trying to sell loads of Sea Monkey's old clothes to get some funds, as I WAS going to order her a pair of custom longies from Dragonflair and now I can't afford it. Ooops.
I've also started my first 'in the round' knitting project! A pair of wool longies! If you don't know what longies are, they're basically woolen pants. As long as they're made from at least 80% pure wool, then treated with lanolin, you can use them as a waterproof cover over nappies! I'm making a set up for Dawn at the moment. Knitting in the round is a LOT easier than I thought it would be! I've only got the waist band done so far. Once I get a bit further I'll start taking progress photos :)
Also, my friends' little baby was born yesterday!! I can't wait to meet him :)

No more tomatoes!

2009-08-21T09:52:00.001-07:00

Well. The Sea Monkey has developed an allergy to something! We think it might be tomatoes.
This is what she looked like yesterday, the poor mite. Today she's even worse. It's not only all over her belly and back like this photos (this was her underarm) but it's now all over her legs down to her feet, all down her arms to her hands and also all over her face, neck and ears.

We couldn't get a Drs appointment, so I asked my Dr to ring me. This was at 10.14am (My phone said so). I gave up and went to the hospital with her at about 1.30/2pm ish because I still hadn't heard from my Dr and it was getting worse and worse, even after some anti-histamines. When Igot home and checked my phone I had a missed call from my Drs... at 5.34pm!!! I'd rang them at 10 in the morning! It took them almost 7 hours to ring me! And I was complaining of a huge rash all over a not even 2 year old child.

Safe to say, I went and joined a new Drs today. We have an app with the nurse on Wed, and the nurse will be able to refer Sea Monkey to the hospital for allergy tests. I'm going to take some more photos of her over the next few days in case the rash has gone by wednesday, then the nurse can see what she did look like and the extent of it! Her eye lids even look like they're all blotchy and puffy :(

Felt Food

2009-08-19T14:12:00.000-07:00

I've finally gotten around to taking photos of my felt food. I must admit I haven't made a lot :S I've been busy making nappies lol. Speaking of nappies, I just cut out the bits to make a couple tomorrow night. Too tired for sewing tonight, I'd end up making a maff if I tried lol.
Anyways, on to the food!

This is my one lone iced biscuit lol.

Some of my yummy pasta. As soon as the Sea Monkey saw them, she shouted "Pasta!" lol. Ravioli and pasta bows

The start of my salad items! Lol. Lettuce leaves and cucumber.

Although, my Nana said the cucumber looked like tea bags............. Yeah, I don't know either. We worry about her sometimes... lol

They're all hand stitched as my sewing machine was playing up lol. I'm quite proud of them :) I'm going to attempt a sandwich set (bread, lettuce, ham, cheese, peanut butter and jam) and a pizza set (base with tom sauce an cheese, peperoni slices and mushrooms as that's the only pizza topping Sea Monkey's eaten lol) Also going to try to do some fried eggs, chips, beans, peas and sausage. I don't know how the sausage is going to work out.
Once I've gotten a nice pile of cloth nappies made up, I'll be back to making felt food.
Unless I take the plunge and buy some 100% wool to try and make some wool covers for Sea Monkey's bum.

Actually, she's in bed at the moment in a cloth nappy for the first time since she was about 3 months old! A terry, boosted with a Mothercare Smart Nappy insert as I don't have any thick boosters (In fact I only own 3 boosters all together, and I only got them this morning lol!) with a fleece cover (the yellow one :) ) I've put a Pampers and a packet of wipes in her bedroom in case she wakes lol. I'm a wuss.

More Nappies

2009-08-16T02:31:00.000-07:00

Well, I think I officially have the cloth nappy making bug! I've made, the PUL cover in my last post, two fleece soakers (one in last post and a bright pink one), a pile of cloth wipes and two shaped nappies. For the nappies, I used RRP and Octombre, but after making them both, I prefer the Octombre. It comes out REALLY big, which is good for me, because of chunky child. I'm thinking I might make the Octombre one a pocket one though, as it's got a sewn in booster pad at the moment and I can imagine it's going to take AGES to dry out. We'll see...
Here's some pics!

This is my second soaker, made from bright pink fleece. It's really cute. But I zig zaged all the stitching on this one and the seems aren't as thin or flexable, so think I'm gonna make others as I made the flowered one (Last post)

This is the shaped nappy I made. it's the Octombre patter in the larger size, so I can see why people say it comes out big! It's a near perfect fit on DD though. Room in the legs and the tabs have good length on them, so I'm thinking of making a few of these now to add to the stash. I have some really cute flannel to use up :D

I also bought a swaddlebees cover, which fits!!! Hurrah! I was dancing about the living room and she was just looking at me like I was mad :)

In other news, not only have I beed asked by two people to make nappy covers for them AND have a huge gift set planned for my friends who's bub is due soon, but someone else has asked me to make some felt food for them! :) I am totally speechless. I really didn't think anyone would want to buy things that I've made!

Nappy covers!

2009-08-09T02:36:00.000-07:00

I think I'm addicted. I'll come online and waste 4 hours looking at cloth nappy sites ( My fave has to be Cloth Nappy Tree, link in the links bit on the side, I can spend hours on the forum alone). I've now made two covers. One PUL lined, one fleece pull up. She's wearing the fleece pull up at the moment. Here's some piccies...

The PUL lined wrap. It's pink PUL on the inside with a pink flannel with horses and roses on (Yes, I got the pattern of the fabric upside down :( It's my first wrap, be nice! lol)
It's a bit big on the waist (needs some more Velcro on it) and a bit low at the back (going to add a bit of a waist band!)
But for my first attempt, I'm REALLY pleased!
Also made the pattern up myself.

The fleece pull on soaker I made last night (I was up untill 1am!) It was pretty easy to make actually. But I made a huge mistake and sewed one of the leg cuffs on inside out :( and it took me AGES to snip the threads and take it off to re-sew it. It's worth it though. It's a perfect fit!
It's an XXXL version of Katrina's Sew Quick Soaker. Yes. My child is huge :( And yes, she really IS only 21 months. She's wearing a folded terry square under that, fastened with a nippa.

But I'm, really proud of my work so far :) I've bought some BRIGHT pink fleece yesterday so I'm going to make another pull up soaker. And I've printed out the RRP pattern to make a fitten nappy with all the flannel and terry I have laying around. Should be good! Will post pics of them when they're done :)

Wowee!

2009-08-07T01:51:00.000-07:00

Well, we're all back to full health!
Not only did I have swine flu (possibly), the Sea Monkey then came down with something, THEN got what we thought was chicken pox. Which disappeared after a couple of days (Which is why we don't think it was chicken pox!)

I've also started putting the Sea Monkey back into cloth nappies. Just during the day, as I'm too much of a wuss to try night time too. I like my 10-12 hours of uninterrupted time (I'd say sleep, but we all know I end up having about 5 hours a night...) I'm using a mixture of terry squares and Mothercare Smart Nappy at the moment, but I've been looking up how to make them myself. I've already made a PUL cover (As I can't find any big enough for the Monkey! I have a mutant child!), which isn't brilliant, but does the job for in the house. I wouldn't trust it under clothes I don't think, lol! I've also looked up how to make shapped nappies as trying to put a folded square on a runaway toddler is NOT fun! And also fleece soakers for when we're in the house. I figured they'd be nicer than wrapping her up in plastic all day.

Going to try my first shaped nappy and fleece soaker tonight once she's in bed.
I'll post photos of all on going and recently finished crafts tomorrow probably. (Don't hold me to that!)

Oink Oink

2009-07-21T02:56:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't updated for a little while. I've been diagnosed with suspected Swine Flu and have felt like rubbish for the past few days. I feel a bit better today, so fingers crossed. (I'm meant to be going to an outdoor LARP event on Friday night!) The Sea Monkey is fine however, full of beans and running about not understanding why Mummy looks like death warmed up.

I caved in last weekend and bought the Sea Monkey a plastic kitchen. I know, I know. But the more I thought about it, the more I thought that she was maybe a little too young for a big wooden affair. So I bought her a little £13 one from Argos. She loves it. So for her 3rd birthday, instead of her 2nd, I've decided to get her a big wooden one. It gives me longer to save up and means she can have the one she likes and not the one I can get because it's the cheapest. We were looking together at different ones and instead of all the bright pink ones, she picked a gorgeous shiny red, retro looking thing. So cute. I didn't want anything TOO girlie in case we have another baby and have a boy or something.

Seeing as I'm on house arrest, I thought I'd try and make the Sea Monkey a felt rag doll. It was going to be a prototype. If it works out, I'll make two matching ones, with a few matching little removable dresses and shoes. Then one will go to her friend that just moved away for Xmas and the other can be for the Sea Monkey. I get the feeling I might have to make a boy version for her other friend too... But yes, out of all the colours of felt I have, I have NO skin coloured felt! I have felt to make lettuce, oranges, apples, cucumber, bread, pasta, tomatoes and beef burgers, but NO skin coloured! So my Nana is going to pick some of the cheap acrylic stuff up from town so I can make my prototype. If it goes ok, I'll order myself a little stash of flesh coloured woolen felt and start on my xmas presents.

Wow, look at me! Summer has hardly even started and I'm thinking about Xmas presents! It must be the fever. It's turning me mad....

*Oink*

The first date!

2009-07-16T12:44:00.000-07:00

Well, we've been going out almost 6 months now, but me and the Bloke finally had our 'First Date' today :) Mum was watching the Sea Monkey so we could go clothes shopping for the Bloke, so we made an afternoon of it, had some lunch in the pub and met up with a few friends after we'd been shopping. Was a really nice afternoon. It's one of the only times we've been truly alone (apart from when we were with our friends lol) and it was lovely. Just walking around, not worrying about snacks, juice or nappies. No screaming child getting bored of sitting in her buggy.
We've agreed that we need to try and do it at least once a month from now on. Find a baby sitter and go for lunch or an evening meal somewhere. Just the two of us.

One of my friends moved away yesterday. She's moved to the other end of the country! Our girls were friends as her little girl is only a year older than the Sea Monkey. They'll be coming back to visit family every couple of months, but we've decided it would be nice for the girls to send letters to each other once a week or something. At first they'll just be coloured scribbles with us writing something about their week on them. But once they're older they'll be able to write themselves. And we can keep them all in a scrapbook too, with photos and little mini diaries of when they get to meet up and play, which will be a lovely keepsake for them to look back over when they're older. We're hoping the girls will really enjoy it too.

I bought the Sea Monkey some new books today. I had a little bit more money that I expected (Not a lot, but enough to buy her a treat seeing as I was away from her all afternoon!) so I went into the bookshop. They always have a little stand with "This months' books" on, normally on some kind of offer. This month they were on 3 for 2 and the theme was... the ocean! I promptly put my copy of "We're going on a bear hunt" back (If I'm honest, I was buying it more for my sake than hers!) and bought her three... Barry the Fish with Fingers, Gillbert the Great and Comotion in the Ocean!

Barry the Fish with Fingers is a really colourful and fun book. And I love how Barry's fingers look like Fish Fingers! It's not too long and the pages are colourful enough to keep the little ones occupied!

Gilbert the Great is a really cute story. Gilbert is a little baby shark and Raymond is his best friend, and one day, he looses Raymond! The pictures are beautiful and the story is quite sad!

Commotion in the Ocean is probably my favourite of the three books. It comes with a CD too, although we haven't listened to that yet! But the pages are REALLY colourful and bright and there's little poems about all the different types of sea creatures.

The Sea Monkey loved them all anyways! I'm glad I put Going on a Bear Hunt back now :) But I'm really going to need some kind of bookshelf soon! She's getting less board books and more picture books now, with paper pages, and they don't stack as well in her cupboard as the board books!

Angel Delight and pigtails!

2009-07-13T13:13:00.000-07:00

Today, the Sea Monkey had her first taste of Angel Delight. Banana flavour. She loved it! I thought she was going to end up wearing most of it, but it must have been tasty as she gobbled the lot up without spilling too much (And what she did spill she tried to eat up anyways). I should really have tried to get some photos of her, but the thought never occurred to me until she'd finished. Oh well.

I also managed to get pigtails in her hair for the first time! We did have a little bit of a fight, but once they were in she was fine. They fell out less than an hour later, but I'm thinking that if I start trying to put some in her hair everyday, or maybe every other day, she'll get used to it and let me do it when she's a bit older! Her hair is so fine and silky! I'm jealous.
Yeah, I know I'm bias, but she's gorgeous isn't she? That's her sitting on my knee on the floor, watching Bolt for the millionth time. I'm starting to wish our Cars DVD hadn't gotten scratched. I'd rather watch that none stop again than watch any more Bolt or Help I'm A Fish...

It's becoming quite scary that she's going to be 2 in November. She's already such a little character that I sometimes forget that she's still so young. But at the same time, I find myself thinking "Where on earth did the last two years go?!"

I know there's quite a big gap between my first post and this. If I'm honest, I totally forgot I'd made this blog *hides* Ooops. I'm determined to update more often though, so I can remember all the silly things my child does (And she is MY child, so there's A LOT of silly things...)

Hello

2009-05-07T14:53:00.000-07:00

I never know what to say on these first posts...
I guess I should say a bit about myself:
I'm a single, SAHM to a gorgeous 18 month old daughter. I love crafts and all things geeky. Crafts I do include sewing, scrapbooking, cardmaking, knitting, hand embroidery and baking. I do however hate housework.

Since my daughter was born, I was determined that she wouldn't have one of those silly plastic play kitchens when she got older. I wanted her to have a beautiful wooden one. Something that would survive her, any possible brothers or sisters, and still be able to be passed down to her children. I'd always said I wanted her to have wooden play food too.
Well, a couple of months ago I discovered felt food... MY GOSH is it cute!! I just have to make her some. Yes, she's 18 months old and yes she's teething so they'll end up in her mouth, but I can't resist. Ordered myself 25 9" squares of various colours of felt and can't wait for them to get here so I can start whipping some up! :)