Happy Anniversary Mr Cuggle

It has been 4 years and 1 day since this stolen kiss between you and I Mr Cuggle.  I love you dearly.... even if you are pain in the neck sometimes!  Like when you agree to go to Melbourne for work on our anniversary.  You were forgiven the moment you kissed me sweetly on your way out at 5am yesterday, leaving me a love note like you always do.  Counting the hours til you get home this afternoon ya big boof.  

xxx

At my house: Making Toddler Headbands

Here's another 'midnight special .  After Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters I felt sudden inspiration.  I made this as a thank you for a client's little girl who is having a birthday soon.  It matches one of the personalised tops I made her last week.

Thanks again Lou for the 'At my House' game.  The pattern and tutorial for this headband can be found on Heather Bailey's Blog.  I used about 9.5cm of elastic including allowance for seams to fit a 2 year old.  I made the band width narrower than the pattern and the elastic under the knot is designed to be exposed but I think I can do something about covering it the next time I make one.  Overall, pretty happy with the outcome. : )

Donna Hay Banana & Coconut Pudding

This is a new favourite that we enjoyed by the fire.  Sounds romantic doesn't it? Well it wasn't, our beautiful Toddler Cuggle and our Puppy Cuggle were enjoying the warmth of the fire too.  It was a nice family moment. : ) 

This Donna Hay recipe adheres to my strict standards to be called a favourite - yummy, easy, fast and requires only 'normal' ingredients that are likely to be in the house.  The recipe is on the Donna Hay website but I notice they've attached the wrong picture. I know because it is in the Winter 2006 DH Magazine (issue 28) where I got my pudding recipe.  The website picture is actually of 'Winter Trifle with Spiced Custard'.  Might have to try that one next time.  Yum.

Customer Service - Do you care?

I like to give credit where credit is due, especially in customer service. 

This morning I was once again helped with my experiments and odd sewing questions by Vanessa at John Watts Sewing.  (I have no affiliation with this business other than being a happy customer).  Today I needed a clear 'thing' for my machine as I was finding it hard to see what I was doing with small pieces of applique. Vanessa doesn't even roll her eyes when I forget everyday words thanks to my baby brain. Things like 'you know, that thing under the needle that holds the fabric'. A foot maybe? Yes! 

Vanessa and her colleague found a second hand one for me as they are no longer manufactured for my old, but loved machine.  Vanessa has always offered practical solutions and explains things simply regardless of my question.  There's never any hard sell, just good advice in my experience.

If you're a local to Ipswich and haven't yet discovered John Watts Sewing, I can highly recommend you visit.  I always get a park right outside the front door too, they're opposite Booval Fair Shopping Centre on Brisbane Road outbound.

Happy sewing.  I'm off for a cuppsy before tackling dinner.

At my house: Personalised kids gear

I love a new project.  These personalised Tees and PJs started with a request from a Daycare Mum. 

This long sleeve, soft cotton top is a bit more interesting with a little lady's name appliqued onto it.  This will be delivered this week along with 2 others, hope the girls like them!

These flanelette PJs for a little man feel so 'cuggly' I'm tempted to make some for Hubby Cuggles... and then some for myself! 

Thanks again Lou, I always like playing along with 'At My House'.

At my house: Sewing Room Challenge

Sewing Room
Originally uploaded by yvestown

I'm at work today, which is like my second home but our house has been getting some ruthless treatment.  With a new baby due in August my nesting instincts have kicked in.

The challenge is my sewing room.  It is also the study/office, ironing room, folding room, storage room and sometimes guest bedroom.... AND we want the baby to have that room.  

The answer -

• I've stored some fabrics in the shed;
• Given books to Vinnies;   
• Moved plastic tubs of Hubby's paperwork to the shed. (Love you hubby - but you don't read my blog do you?);
• Refolded and sorted remaining fabric by colour and type.  The goal is to have all my sewing things fit into one cupboard, then it can stay in the corner, or be moved elsewhere.

I'll relegate myself back to the dining table to cut out and need to decide on where I will sew, the dining table or keep a desk in the baby's room.  Sigh, if only Hubby Cuggles would convert our garden shed to a sewing studio, paint it white, buy me new things and make it look like the one in this picture! 

I think its time to go next door for a cuppsy tea and a cupcake.  : )

Thanks Yvestown for the room inspiration and Lou for the 'At My House' Game.

I have 2 Mums

First there's the beautiful woman who gave birth to me and raised me.  She taught me how to sew, to have good manners, to value family and to always be honest.  I got my sociable nature from her, my brown eyes and warped sense of humour.  She forgave me for all the horrible things I yelled at her when I was a teenager and she drove me to Brisbane with my flatmate-to-be and her Mum when we left home at 18.  Our most important possessions were packed into a Ford Telstar with the 4 of us girls for the 5 hour drive to Brisbane.  She cried when they drove away, I was too excited and saved my tears for later.  Mum is still interstate and I have my own family now, but we see each other as much as possible and talk on the phone.  She is vibrant and generous and I'm proud when people tell me how much we are alike.  I love you very much Mum.

My second Mum is on loan from my husband, but I think I'll keep her.  She tried in vain for a long while to teach me to cook and reluctantly I started listening about the time our baby was born.  Between her and Donna Hay, I'm doing alright.  She's also taught me how to menu plan, to organise our paperwork (and how to bring a wilful man into line!).  She has done so much for us since the arrival of our daughter I can never thank her enough and I know my Mum is grateful too.  She is a strong woman who I admire and am lucky to have as a Mum in Law.  Love you too Gran.

Big kisses for my 2 beautiful Mothers.  XXX

...and then I got this

My precious girl did this at Daycare the other day.  Often the artwork goes on the fridge for a week or so and then goes in the bin.  Not this one.  The gorgeous carers at the centre my toddler goes to know what these things mean to a Mummy, even if the kids don't get it yet.

If I had any left over ill feeling from Tuesday it's gone now.  Family is what matters most.

Coincidence or Copying?

Yesterday I was extremely peed off.  I discovered that there is someone out there, doing something so similar to Cuggles, that I just couldn't believe it was a coincidence.

Today I reminded myself about my previous life as a corporate recruiter.  I took pride in being successful and professional, I didn't give a hoot what the competition were doing.  It was just irrelevant to me, even when I would hear about the tricks some of them got up to.  It never mattered because I knew that I would just continue to do the right thing and karma would sort things out.

I've decided that I'm going to keep that same positive attitude for Cuggles and I'm honestly going to give the person the benefit of doubt.

Here's cheers being original.