My closest friends

It has been a tradition with one of my closest friends that we send one another a small gift for Christmas. Usually encompassing a magnet of some sort. This year I couldnt find one that said what I want it to, so I took my trusty camera outside and went looking for a nice shot. I took a few but only one really suited my purpose.

I have two very close friends, however they are close relationship and thoughts wise moreso than distance. Both are at opposite points of the country to me really. Oh well. With that in mind I thought it quite apt that for this years magnet present it be not only sent to my original friend but also to my other close friend so that she too knew what I was thinking and feeling...



I have no doubt that they will both like them.

Taggy Cube (with rattle)

What you'll need:

Tailor's chalk or pencil
Scissors
Pinking Shears
12 x Ribbon
6 x fabric (prewashed and ironed)
Pins (preferably with pearled/beaded end)
Ruler
Set Square
25mm Bell
hobby fill
needle & thread

Optional - Rotary cutter and mat (not pictured)

Using prewashed and ironed fabric cut 6 squares 5" x 5". This is quickly and easily done using a rotary cutter however a pair of sharp scissors will do the job as well. Use the set square to make sure that your squares are exactly that, square!

Then from the ribbon cut 4" lengths. You can use the same ribbon more that once, if that is your personal preference. The aim is to have a variety of colours and textures for baby to play with. You don't want them to be too long though as then baby's fingers may get entangled.

On the back of each square mark another square approximately 3/4" inside. This is the line that you will be sewing on. A slightly larger seam allowance due to it being a child's toy, an extra insurance against fraying edges.

If you like you can layout your blocks to see the desired end pattern. (Obviously I didn't take my own ironing advice). You may also like to lay down the individual ribbons, one on each side seam, to decide where each will go, or, you can fly by the seat of your pants and make it up as you go!

Fold in half a length of ribbon, wrong sides together, pin this in the center of the edge to be sewn, lining up the raw edge of the ribbon to the raw edge of the fabric. With right sides together, pin two squares aligning corners and lines.

So that when the fabric is turned to face right side up, it has a small ribbon poking out.

When sewing, reinforce the beginning and ending of the row, also back stitching over the ribbon for strength. Make sure that you begin and end where the sides intersect.


Continue going in the same way until all sides are together to form a cross. Then pin together the sides, right side together still. Continue until all sides are together, forming a box. On the final side sew until the ribbon and stop, leaving an opening for filling.

Once all edges are sewn, use the pinking shears on the exposed edges. Turn in right way.

Once turned, half fill the cube, then add the little bell. Depending on the size of the opening you may need an extra pair of hands to squeeze it through. The continue to fill until desired firmness is reached. Ensuring bell remains in centre.

Voila! One taggy cube with rattle! Fun and easy to make!

Please note that toy should be used with adult supervision.

Just hanging about

It's not very often that I get out and about for the sole purpose of taking some photos of my little one. However, just the other day, I finally got to take some. I was aiming for a nice shot of the two of us, but I just looked fat and frumpy. Not the look I was after. I did however get a few nice shots of little one on his own.

This is just one of the photos I took. Obviously I have played around with the original shot, just because I can. I used the free program GIMP to manupulate the photos.

The original photo, cropped to size

Changed to black and white.

That old style feel, my favourite of the three.

Little one was very cooperative and even wanted to climb back into the tree once we were finished lol! It was a lot of fun and it was great to see him enjoy doing a very much boy past time. Although I dont think I will be very happy when he starts climbing trees without mummy around lol!

Christening Card

After finally coming to the decision to allow my son to attend his estranged cousins christening, it posed the new question of gifting. The actual gift was not really a problem. I managed to find a very lovely children's bible from the online bookstore The Book Depository. I love their store, very competitive prices with no charge for freight. Granted I'm still waiting a week on for my book, but I'm in no rush, the Christening is not until January 2011.

Of course, with every gift is the card. Previous to this, I have been to a few other christenings and the cards for such occasions are very limited in stores and just don't seem to encompass the middle ground. They are either very child/novelty or religious, there is no even middle. So this time, I made our own.

The inspiration for this card was a little from Sarah Klass, Jak Heath and Lotus Art Studio. All found from google images.

The base of the card is a simple mottled cream card stock. The cross sits up on its background and then the background stands out from the card. Along with the written section. Overall, it turned out better than expected, especially with a toddler being carried back to bed every five minutes!!

Rocking Horse

This is my very first attempt at Filet Crochet. I've never followed a chart in regards to crochet or knitting for that matter ever before. Overall the finish isn't too bad, keeping in mind that I had no idea what yarn to use nor what needles etc, so I just fudged it.

The pattern that I used was by Sandi Marshall, a free chart hosted by About.com. Her result was very square, whereas mine is slightly more rectangular. Either way it wasn't a bad result at all!



It took about three days, on and off again. The above is the unblocked result. It took an hour to block it all out as I only had so many pins and a smaller ironing board lol!

I used Baby Bella Evelyn yarn with a slightly bigger hook then they recommended. I did that because I had full intention of adding granny squares and the like to make a boarder for it, which were all done with the same tension. However once I put them next to it, it will turn out to be too bulky and heavy looking, so I'm going to just make a lace border until I achieve the size I want.

All blocked out

It does currently have its ends hanging out in places. Ill sew them in when I do the finishing edges. I found the yarn to be extremely frustrating (possibly why it only cost $1 for a 50gm ball). Each ball that I have used has had knots (yes knots!) joining the ends of the yarn together. Resulting in the loss of at least a few inches of yarn while I cut out the knot and then reattach during stitching. I'm not sure if it is a sign of the quality of the yarn, where it is manufactured or both? I know I have never come across this, especially to this degree, before though.

Sewing Jinx & Healing Hearts

Healing Hearts is a campaign running at the moment for quilters to put blocks together to send to New Zealand for the 29 families that tragically lost their loved ones in the mine disaster there.

I only found this earlier in the week from a fellow blogging friend. Ive got my blocks in the mail today and saw they have enough blocks now.

Such a great cause, I hope that Shirley is able to pool enough resources together to finish.

In other news, I am jinxed with sewing machines! I borrowed mums to put my blocks together and now her machine makes a funny noise... or it did, then it went clang and viola no more noise... probably not a healthy sign though. I think I shall step away from the machines for a while lol.