Sunday morning blogger

I started this blog at 6.30 am today thinking I would actually get it finished before the pitter patter of little feet demanded my attention, hence the title - good one, it's now after 8pm.   'All day blogger'?  'Sunday night blogger'? 'The frustrated blogger!'

Anyway, above is a gardening apron  which I was very proud of, it is sporting an enormous flower brooch and being modelled by Hubby Cuggles' golf clubs.  This was my gift to give at the Bloggette Party a couple of weeks ago.  (Yes only blogging it now, naughty Mummy).  I loved how it came together and was a bit sad to give it away... until Bec who received it wrote a blog about how much she loved it too.  Good on you Bec, you're very welcome.

Thank you Bubba Chenille for my blogette party gift!  A beautifully scented wardrobe sachet, a patchworked pin cushion and a cute little book to keep track of expenses - goodbye dog-eared envelope with receipts stuffed in!  Hello chic organisation. 

There has been lots of other things happening which I could have blogged in the last week or 2, no photos of course.  I think I'll make a New Year's resolution to be a better blogger, I need to schedule myself for a regular time to make it happen and I need to carry the camera with me everywhere.... and remember to use it of course.

I will just mention that I delivered my best work yet to the shop on Friday, 'Little Chef' Aprons and matching 'Little Chef' hats - Aprons are either crisp white with soft pink/white polka dot pocket or vice versa and the hats have the soft pink/white polka dot band with crisp white tops.  The aprons are lined in crisp white.  Of course aprons and chef hats are my thing but these are particularly good if I do say so.  One set sold as I was hanging them up!  I will take some pics on Tuesday while manning the shop.

Now, where is that Hubby Cuggles with my cuppsy!? 

An award? For me?!

Thank you Liesa for nominating me for this award!

This is what I'm required to do:


1. Copy picture and post on your blog.
2. Thank the person who gave it to you and link to their blog, thanks again Liesa from Handmade Heaven

3. Write 7 things about yourself we don't know, ok -
i) I can't cook but I can bake!
ii) I used to have a belly ring (pre baby!)
iii) I love storms
iv) I grew up at the beach and can waterski
v) I took my Dad skydiving when he turned 50
vi) I get myself a Xmas present every year (this year I'm getting new scissors from the Cuggles! fund.)
vii) Mum taught me to sew when I was about 7 or 8 and I topped the class at school for home ec (sewing, not cooking) in Grade 10.

4. Choose 7 other bloggers to pass the award to and (5) link to their blog.  Here they are:

1 Created By Kylie

2 Just this side of Chaos

3. Buttons by Lou Lou

4. Little Brown Doggie

5. Gemma Joy

6. Holi Goddess - Great time to check this one out as she just happens to be having a giveaway of gorgeous vintage bunting at the moment.

7. Sunny Street Designs

All good reading and lots of positive energy coming from this lot.

Please let me win!

How good would this be?!  Retro Mummy is giving away 12 Fat Quarters.  Think I'd wet myself if I won.

Energised!!!

If I do say so myself, these 'Little Chef' Hats are pretty damn cute.  Of course they will be available in Handmade Heaven with their matching aprons.  I am on a roll in the sewing room after indulging in that momentary meltdown last week.  I'm pretty excited about some new orders too, thank you to my 'Brisbane Sales Rep/Warehouse Manager'.  She is the best kind of employee as she doesn't get paid!  Thanks again Granny Cuggles!! 

I'm also working on a surprise gift to swap at the Blogette Party Monday (see the Handmade Heaven site).  Can't tell you what it is yet but I think I'm going to need one for myself as well.

In addition to all this creativity I will be at Handmade Heaven on Saturday and Sunday this week looking after Liesa's beautiful shop.  That means I'll be busy the next few days so better have my cuppsy and keep sewing.  

Asking for help

I have always been fiercely independent, however after the birth of our little girl in March 08 I quickly learned to accept help. Thank goodness I did because last Friday I really needed it.  This is a bit of a long blog post, but it does have a moral...
We’ve had a lot going on lately, some good, some not. Daddy Cuggles is well now, he was a week in hospital, home for a day and then off to a conference interstate. Toddler Cuggles and I went with him because as luck would have it, the conference was being held near my home town, a popular beach holiday spot. We had a lovely time, were home for a day and then had to have all my Cuggles creations ready for the Handmade Expo the next day. Thanks to the beautiful Kylie for manning my stall while I ran the shop. To make life interesting we have had a few other things happening as well which we are still dealing with.

So what happened last Friday?! It was the day before the Expo and I gratefully accepted an offer for Granny Cuggles (mum in law) to come and help with Toddler Cuggles.  I also roped in a girlfriend to come and cut out fabric hoping her toddler and mine would entertain each other. Instead, my normally happy and easy going toddler told her little friend ‘NO NO NO’ all morning and in between doing that would bash on the baby gate to the sewing room having massive tanties.  Oh and our house looked like it had been ransacked it was so disorganised.  By lunch time I lost it. My girlfriend had taken her littlie home, mine had complained loudly about sleep time and I stopped dead in my tracks and cried on Granny’s shoulder. It wasn’t about the tanties, it was the build up over the last couple of months of lots of different things and the Friday tanties broke the camel’s back. Granny took Toddler Cuggles home to her and Pa Cuggles place for sleep overs that night. Thank you Gran, I feel sane again.

The moral of the story is, it’s good to ask for help. I know lots of other mums who, like me,  like to delude themselves they are a super mum.  That's all very nice when things are going well but not very realistic 100% of the time.  Most importantly, never ever think you’re too busy for a cuppsy tea! 

Mailman has been! And more boardys.

When parcels like this arrive in the mail it is like winning the lotto for me.  A very dear lady, Great Aunty Cuggles (hubby's Aunt) sent these fabrics and patterns left over from when she was sewing for her little girl.  There is so much potential with all of this I can't wait to get into it! 

Meanwhile, I'm in the middle of making up heaps of boardys as I only have one pair left in the shop!  I'm ambitious but hope to get these together by this afternoon, then casings, elastic and hems tomorrow. 

Hmm, Toddler Cuggles is sleeping and I'm on track, so maybe time for a cuppsy while sewing!

Heavenly New Job

Being so excited about my new job at Handmade Heaven, starting yesterday, I had my little lunch and my big lunch packed and my bag all ready and waiting at the door on Friday night.  The only thing I didn't have was my piggy tails, might wear them next time!

I had a great day chatting to customers and handmadies and making sure everyone had the opportunity to enjoy the store and choose their goodies.  Some were buying gifts, but just as many were picking up special things for themselves.  It certainly is a busy little place, I'm going to enjoy my Saturdays and Tuesdays there.

I have to thank my very dear friend and her lovely husband for taking charge of Toddler Cuggles while I was at work and Daddy Cuggles was still in hospital.  When I opened emails tonight I was thrilled to find a photo story of the day.  There was singing, dancing, eating, reading, baby cuddling, gum boot stomping, and drawing.  She looked very entertained and happy! 

Cuppsy time now.

Value of a Decent Cuppa

My beautiful hubby (Daddy Cuggles) has been in hospital for a couple of days.  Today he was moved from Critical Care to the ordinary old ward, so I thought it time to take him some home made medicine.

Toddler Cuggles and I packed the teapot (peepot as she calls it!); a mug; a teaspoon; real leaf tea; and the sugar.  We thought he could bat his manlids at a nurse and get some milk.  We also took a freshly boiled thermos of hot water.  All these things were packaged in a very noice white bag with a black ribbon.

When we arrived for our morning visit and handed over the gift, his reaction was this -
"Gasp!!  A REAL CUPPY TEA?!!  I'm surprised he didn't shed a tear, such is the tradition of 'Cuppsy tea' appreciation in our house, handed down from his side of the family.  Here's how it goes:

Rule 1.  Never ever shall a teabag enter the house;
Rule 2.  You must warm the 'peepot' and cups with boiling water before then making the tea;
Rule 3. Make it strong; (4 scoops to 2 people, we use Bushells extra strong blue label)
Rule 4. Brew it for a good few minutes and stir it before pouring;
Rule 5. It's always the other person's turn to make it!

That being stated, it's cuppsy tea time for me.

Best Job in the World

Today was one of those days where I told myself "I was a really good Mum today".  Toddler Cuggles and I spent the afternoon in the back yard with a big tub of water and a bag of mangoes fresh from 'Mike's Cruck'.  Mike visits every Monday and we choose our fruit and veg from his truck...

So, wearing nothing but her gum boots, toddler cuggles splashed in the water, dunking her pieces of mango, spinning around and jumping.  I, wearing togs if you don't mind, was able to sprawl out on a towel in the sun while supervising.  Puppy Cuggles as always was nearly on top of me as she just can't stand being left out of a bit of fun.  A little bit later after Toddler cuggles wee'd on the back steps and I was cleaning her legs and bottom, she put my face in her little hands and kissed me on the nose.  Best job in the world!  Time for a cuppsy. : )

What a great day!

I've had the best day.  Cuggles! creations are selling quite well, I'm feeling productive, Toddler Cuggles has been entertained morning and afternoon with playdates and I got some great news about a friend this afternoon.

Been busy busy lately!  Here are my new boardies for little men which are in Handmade Heaven.  Sizes 1-2 and 2 - 3 so far.

I've also delived a batch of 'Ginger Cuggles'.  Packs of 4 are $2.50.  They're like ginger snaps but with that bit of extra 'cuggliness' about them.

Meanwhile amid the mad sewing and baking I had another briliant score at one of our fav op shops yesterday.  Toddler Cuggles now has a little table for drawing and doing playdough.  (Thanks Kylie for the cinnamon scented glitter playdough, also available at Handmade Heaven).  The table needs a good sand and a coat of white paint but is solid timber, well made, a great height for a little chair and was just ten bucks.  Bargain!

What a great day!  Just finished my cuppsy so off to bed.

Hangover!!

We went to a beautiful wedding on the weekend.  The bride was gorgeous, there were butterflies released, great entertainment and plenty of Moet.  Too much Moet for this little Mummy Cuggles who normally sticks to cuppsy tea in order to sew straight at night.  Have had a hangover since Sunday, is that really possible??  If you would like to see a photo, close your eyes.... imagine a thumping in your head... and a sweet little voice pleading 'Mummy.... mummy... bickie... mummy..... drink... mummy... 'shwings'... park.... mummy..... mummy.  You get the idea.  

Meanwhile, thanks to Created By Kylie Toddler Cuggles had a playdate with Little Guy this morning and I had a heavenly couple of hours to myself to sew.  It was very productive time thanks Kylie.

Golden Cinnamon Biscuits

This biscuit recipe is SO easy I sometimes make the dough while cooking dinner.

60g butter
1/3 cup golden syrup
2 tblspns brown sugar
2 tblspns caster sugar
1 1/4 cups SR flour
3 tspns ground cinamon

Preheat oven to hot - 220 - 230 degs

Combine butter, golden syrup and sugars in medium heavy-based saucepan, stir over low heat until butter is melted, cool 5 minutes.

Stir in flour and cinnamon.  Roll rounded tspns of mixture into balls, place about 2cm apart on lightly greased oven trays, flatten with a floured fork until 1cm thick.

Bake in hot oven about 10 mins or until browned.  Stand biscuits 5 minutes before lifting onto wire racks to cool. 

Makes 30 - This is from Womens Weekly, Biscuits, Brownies & Biscotti (2003).

** I usually make double quantity of these.  You can put 1 quantity in baking paper, roll into a log, wrap again with foil and freeze.  Then when you take it out of the freezer it's really easy to slice rounds about 1cm thick and put straight into the oven so you have a fresh batch at your whim in about 10 minutes.

Bums, Bickies & Bargains

BUMS!  Fat little bums wear nappies, and sometimes you don't want the nappy to be the couture.  My very good friend and 'bestest' customer asked me to please make some nappy cover thingys for her 9 week old boy.  So, out came the butcher's paper, pens and tape measure, a couple of calico drafts then a final and bigger draft in pink gingham for my 18 month old and I'm ready to go.  So far I've cut out, finished edges and joined seams on the real ones.  Now just to do the elastic and they're done.  Here's the fabric I'm using on the right.

Bickies!  I borrowed this book from a friend, it was new and in very good condition when we left her home with it.

Then....

the wonder girl Toddler Cuggles found the book, and found a pen while I was washing up breakfast dishes.  She made a few working notes of her own.

This is the back cover.

This is the index.

She didn't stop there.  This child scaled furniture with a stealthy silence, the quiet really should have triggered my 'mummy alarm' to reach the book and same for the pen.  After drawing on every surface of our furniture and walls some time ago we had banned pens and offered pencils only but thought even they were out of reach.  Anyway, we'll be replacing the book.  Oh, and here are the result of borrowing it int he first place - Ginger and Rum BICKIES, not Cookies. : ) 

They're ok, but a bit sweet for my liking.  With 499 others to choose from in the book there's sure to be something more my taste. 

Speaking of finding things to my taste, I absolutely SCORED with my opping today.  It was the Salvo's at Bundamba that made me so happy. We got a pair of gum boots for Toddler Cuggles for 50 cents; a little Ralph Lauren dress for $4; some patterns for $1 each, including a knitting pattern for you if you're reading Liesa, Merry Xmas; a children's clothes pattern book $2 an etchascetch in good enough condition $2 and the bargain of the day?  A black sexy dress which I plan on wearing to a wedding this Saturday for.....$3 because it's Wednesday.  Tomorrow it would have been $12, and a bargain even at that.  No label but who cares, it fits and it matches shoes and bags I already own with no special stick on bra requirements or any such trivia.  Sold.  Here's some of my loot:

Well I've had my cuppsy and bath so off to brush teeth now and to bed.  So many things to do tomorrow!  Starting with scrubbing those gumboots!

Wooden Spoon not Required?

We felt like some fresh bread (ok, damper) this morning.   So we mixed with our hands......

That must have been the secret trick because it came out beautifully, and tasted even better.  Happy Friday, time for another cuppsy. : )

Xmas Day skirt - Want to win?

I know it's still only October but I have been working on a Xmas Day outfit for Toddler Cuggles (can't justify referring to her as 'baby' anymore).  I'm pretty pleased with the result of this little skirt with tutu ruffle so thought I might make some more for the Handmade Heaven shop.  Do you know any little girls that would love twirling in this?  For your chance to win something from Leisa's beautiful store have a look at her post from 2nd October - you can name your preference for the prize it will be drawn tomorrow so you better hurry! 

Baby has sleepover = Productive weekend

What a wonderfully productive weekend I've had!  Baby Cuggles had a mini holiday at Granny and Pa Cuggles house and I sewed all weekend!  Daddy Cuggles and I even managed to have a conversation or two.  It was lovely to remind ourselves that we still have the same values and have things to talk about other than how many poos the little one did today.  So, while someone else was changing nappies these are the photos of what I was doing.  A few more kid's aprons, an owl for my Cuggles! Tree and a bucket hat for a little boy.  I'm in two minds about whether to sell the tree and owl.  It needs a few more leaves so I can procrastinate until I've finished.  Now, I think I'll tiptoe into the kitchen for a well deserved cuppsy.

 

Hot Toddie Recipe for a Cold or Flu

I thought that after a week or so of no blogging I'd share the family Hot Toddie recipe.  While I have been coughing and sneezing I have still managed to make more Cuggles creations, but just haven't gotten to the blog, as I was feeling pretty.... 'blog'.

Makes 1 super duper strength hot toddie:

Put these things into a coffee mug -

Juice of one Lemon (half if you're a woos)

A tablespoon of good honey

A shot or 2 of Bundaberg rum (half if you're a woos)

Fill the rest of the mug with boiling water.

When it cools a bit, sip slowly until its all gone.

*Obviously you can leave the rum out and cool it down more if you're making this for a littlie. 

I hope it might help you if you have a cold or flu, this is my husband's late grandfather's recipe.  'Pa's Hot Toddie recipe'.  It works a treat every time for me.  I usually bat my eyelids at my hubby and ask him to make me one while I have a shower before bed.  Then I can sip away with a good book before settling down to sleep with a soothed throat and warm tummy.

New Hat for Baby Cuggles and More Aprons

We had a lovely day playing in the garden today and pottering around getting the washing and other chores done.  Baby Cuggles even kept her new hat on, pictured left.  It is so much better than the store bought kind as it is shaped beautifully to fit little heads and the brim sits lower at the back for better sun protection.  I will be making more like this for both boys and girls which can be found in Handmade Heaven. 

I'm making a little rose embelishment in a bright colour for Baby Cuggles' hat because she loves 'fowers'.  Oh yes, that is Budha's head modelling.  Meanwhile..... 

I have been making more aprons, also available at Handmade Heaven. 

Here is an example of one of the chef style, child size aprons in navy blue.  These have easy velcro fastenings on the neck and waist straps.  The red truck pocket is big enough for all kinds of frogs, snails and puppy dog's tails.

         Here is a smock style, child size apron in pink.  This one has a large pocket, for sugar, spice and all things nice... and an essential mini whisk of course!

Well, I have a cuppsy tea waiting, some hat fabric to get started on and custard to wash out of my hair!  What a great end to a beautiful, playful messy day.

Mummy Cuggles XXX

Whistle While You Work

There's nothing like a change of scenery for new inspiration.  During a 'whistle stop' holiday at the In-Law's for a couple of days I have come home with more exciting fabric and a new smock-style of apron on the go, in Toddler and Child sizes.  Here's a preview of the brand new 'Whistle Apron' in red.  The noisy boys I know will love these aprons with gangster car pockets. 
These will be available for $19 in the Handmade Heaven Shop.
Now to get working on more of the same style in pink with girly pockets and navy with more cars.  Best keep sewing while Baby Cuggles is sleeping.  Wonder if I'll get time for a cuppsy?

The Cuggles Experience

Baby Cuggles started mimicking Mummy and Daddy Cuggles a few months ago.... must use big person's cutlery, must wear our shoes, must carry Mummy's handbag.  We then discovered that baking cakes with Mummy requires an Apron. After looking around the local stores I couldn't find anything for our mini baker, which was also affordable. So, I created the first Cuggles! Apron.  Girly and pretty with frills and an adjustable neck strap.  Not too long so as not to trip over or get caught up in it.  She looks so adorable in it with wooden spoon going and measuring cups clattering in every mixing bowl I own.

Chatting at playgroup about toddler wear, some of the other Mums explained that they were having an equally difficult time  finding fun and functional toddler wear for boys.  So, I decided to develop Cuggles! - toddler wear for girls and boys.

At this stage the aprons are available at Handmade Heaven, Ipswich and I will be at the New Earth Markets (Marburg, QLD) on Sundays! 

All new Cuggles! creations will be updated here.  Any how, it's now time for a cuppsy.  Oh yes, Baby Cuggles must also have a 'tea' (plain milk) from a proper tea cup!!