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. : )