Browsing Category

Make It Perfect

Make It Perfect

.I finished in the nick of time!.

Literally…I was packing up my sewing stuff at 11:57pm on 30th November!  And I am glad it is done – definitley won’t be cutting and sewing 25 little stockings any time soon.  If that wasn’t enough, I had this bright (not!) idea of using a freezer paper stencil to paint the numbers on each stocking.  Oh, seriously, what was I thinking?  It was all going well until I realised that it was going to take me longer to cut each number out with a craft knife than it took me to sew all of the stockings!!  I persevered though, Elissa from Kelani Fabric called me when I was in the middle of it and not feeling very impressed with my bright idea and reminded me that it was worth it because maybe this advent would end up being a family heirloom in time, passed on through the family.  They better look after it and use it EVERY…SINGLE…YEAR!!!

Sorry about the dodgy photos – really difficult to photograph with light streaming in through the windows behind…I’m sure you get the gist of it though.  I should have taken photos before hanging, but we ended up putting nails right through the hanging strip so it is too much effort to take down now!

The children were VERY excited when they woke up in the morning and found a lolly pop and activity in #1.  We have a “no treat before breakfast” rule and they are so good at eating their breakfast straight away and really fast!

So, if you are wondering what activities we have in store this year…instead of filling up the stockings all at once, I pop a treat and activity in before I go to bed each night.  I have a master list of activities to choose from and decide what we are going to do the next day each night.  Here is the master list:

  • Paint toenails in Christmas colours
  • Make Christmas cards for friends
  • Write a letter to Santa
  • Bake treats for teachers
  • Make Christmas ornaments
  • Make gingerbread men
  • Make gingerbread houses
  • Put a present under the Kmart Giving Tree
  • Picnic for dinner at the beach/park
  • Family disco
  • Games night
  • Watch a Christmas movie with popcorn
  • Go out for dinner
  • Have Cold Rock for dessert
  • Play backyard cricket/footy
  • Have a bubble bath
  • Go strawberry picking
  • Go out for a milkshake
  • Go to the pool
  • Make rocky road
  • See Christmas lights
  • Play at the beach
  • Read Christmas stories under the tree
  • Make reindeer food
  • Go to the Playgroup Christmas party

If you haven’t got a fancy advent calendar, don’t let that stop you from doing something similar with your kids – mine love the activities each day and I love the excitement that it adds to Christmas.
If you have any other activity ideas, I’d love to hear them!

December 2, 2010
Make It Perfect

.December Cool Shops! Mee a Bee.

Hello December!!!  It is really starting to feel like Christmas around here and we are all starting to get excited 🙂  I’m also very excited to have another round of Cool Shops! on board this month.
First up, let me introduce you to Mee a Bee…
 
Mee a Bee is run by Jacqui, a New Zealander living in Japan long-term with her husband and two children.  Jacqui designs and sews the most adorable messenger bags, tote bags, book and library bags for children.  That’s right…they are child-size and the cutest thing ever!
One of the great advantages of being based in Japan is the charming fabric that Jacqui has access too (yes, I am jeslous!).  Mee a Bee uses the highest quality linens, linen & cotton blends and cotton canvas…all from Japan.  
I knew I would be in big trouble if I didn’t choose the Pink Ballerina Messenger Bag for Lil!  And she was over the moon when it arrived and I told her the package was for her!  She was even more excited when she spotted ballerinas and popped it straight over her chest and filled it to the brim with little toys!
Seriously, these bags are the cutest thing ever!  The size is just perfect for little kids – big enough to store a few treasures in, but not too big to carry.  Lil’s bag has already accompanied her to church, the shops, playgroup – she just loves it!
I was very impressed with the workmanship of the bag, it is impeccable and definitley does not look as though it was handmade.
 
Mee a Bee has lots of lovely girly bag designs to choose from…
Raspberry Ballet Messenger Bag:

Red Stripe Ballet Messenger Bag:

Woodland Deer Friends Messenger Bag:

And being a Mum of two boys, Jacqui has made sure the boys are not forgotten about here!!
London Bus Messenger Bag:

Blue Robots Messenger Bag:

Robot Attack Messenger Bag:

I’m sure you can think of a little person or two who would love a Mee a Bee messenger bag!  I know we could do with a few more around here!!

Mee a Bee is giving my blog readers 10% off your order until the 31st December 2010!  Enter the code “SAVE10” at the checkout if you are ordering on the main website.  If you are ordering on Etsy, you will have to contact Jacqui for a refund.  Thankyou Jacqui!!!

Important MEE A BEE links:
November 30, 2010
Make It Perfect

.Citrus pOp Holiday Sale!

If you are a crafty blog reader, I’m sure you have visited U-Create once or twice.  To help you get your Christmas shopping done quickly and easily while picking up a bargain, U-Create have put together a spectacular Holiday Boutique – comprising of 50 different online stores offering exclusive discounts.

Citrus pOp is a part of the boutique and has a special offer just for you!
CITRUS POP HOLIDAY SALE…Buy any TWO items, receive a FREE pair of Mini Earrings!
Perfect opportunity to grab a special pressie for your family and friends 🙂
I’ve got RINGS in store now too – they are super cool!
Sleeping Princess Ring (Etsy/Made It)Raspberry Cream Ring (Etsy/Made It)
Budding Rose Ring (Etsy/Made It)
 Porcelain Earrings (Etsy/Made It)
 Rain Splash Necklace (Etsy/Made It)
 Clear View Necklace (Etsy/Made It)
 Oceanside Hairpins (Etsy/Made It)
November 29, 2010
Make It Perfect

.Cutting it close.

I have always wanted to make a lovely advent calendar for Christmas.  With a whole year to think about it, do you think I could have started it in July and been organised for this year?!!

Not to worry, I have just over 24 hours until the 1st Decmeber and have finished all of my cutting, ready to start sewing in a couple of minutes when Tommy goes down for a (hopefully) long nap!

I did make an advent calendar last year out of scrapbook paper.  It was cute, but not what I want to use forever.  

Okay, no time to waste!  I’m off to sew and plan our family activities for the 2010 Family Christmas Countdown!!  Will share my advent calendar and list of activities when I am done (hopefully before 1st December!!)

November 29, 2010
Make It Perfect

.Winners are Grinners!!

Lots of winners to announce today!  First of all, winners of a copy of my new patterns (all have been notified via emai):

And a big thankyou for all of your new Versatile Wrap fabric suggestions – woah!  So many awesome ideas…I think I want to make another 10 skirts just to try out my favourite combos!!  I think this is a great resource to refer to if you are having trouble deciding what fabric to make your skirt up in.  I have decided which fabric I am going to be using, but want to keep it a secret until the new cover is released (just because secrets are fun!)  But I have drawn a winner of a copy of the newly revamped pattern:

Congratulations and thankyou to all!
November 28, 2010