Tutu cute!

So much can change between posts I'm afraid... I should, right now, be enjoying a spin on my new ALDI overlocker, but, alas, it was not to be.

Not only do I not have the spare $199 to buy it but negative reviews of the machine in question had me rethinking... even if I could afford it.

I went to my local sewing machine shop instead & enquired about layby, the lovely lady told me to hold off for the Mothers Day catalogue if I could so that is what I am going to do. I'm going to put $20 aside every week as if I had an overlocker on layby already & put that down as a deposit if there is some great machine on super duper special.

Other than that, I have made Punky a tutu... just because. You will note that poor Miss P has a black eye, the result of a nasty incident with a metal door mat... :(

I made the tutu with strips of netting knotted over some elastic, I like the look but not the fit (it's all stiff because of the knots & feels uncomfortable as they sit right on the waist.) so I am going to see what I can wrangle with a bit of tweaking & perhaps some sewing.... stay tuned! If I can work something out I just might share my very first tute.

Yesterday I attended a training day for a sustainability workshop I've volunteered for, it was interesting & fun & I really enjoyed it. We had a delicious lunch & got eco-freebies... woot!

We also tried a new playgroup this week, I don't know why I didn't like the last one we went to, but I didn't. This one was very different, it's a multicultural group with mostly refugee families, everyone was incredibly nice & Punky had a great time running around with the older kids.

I'M GETTING AN OVERLOCKER!!!

...and I'm just a teensy bit excited about it!

We got an ALDI supermarket brochure in the mailbox today & one of next week's specials is an overlocker... for $199!!! Oh yeah baby, you're coming home with me!

Now I don't want to start the projects I was considering until I have her... last night I spent what seemed like forever cutting out these;

...I was going to sew something up tonight... but now.... maybe I'll just make the flares... The overalls are size '1/2' & may be too small, am thinking I might just add another few centimetres all the way around, just in case.

Usually, I hate "people", but not today....!

No, because today, people have made my day. My week, hell, my month & perhaps my year.... some lovely person, unknown to moi, upgraded little ol' me to platinum membership on bellybelly.
I could not believe it when I saw it this morning, got teary & crazy happy all at once. When I first heard that there would be Random Acts of Kindness like this, I was 150% sure that I wouldn't be a recipient... I just knew there were so many more deserving BB members than I. I am still in shock, it really is amazing how an anonymous act of kindness can make such an impact on someone. I wish I knew who it was so that I could thank them, but at the same time, not knowing is a cool feeling too - wondering who it could be & why they picked you to bestow their kindness on...

Whoever it was, I hope they know how grateful I am & how happy & dare I say it, loved, they've made me feel. Every single BB girl I have come across is a beautiful person so I can honestly say that even without knowing who it was, they are one gorgeous lady.

xoxox

My own online stall....?

Since I started making things for Punky I have always had the idea that one day I might open an Etsy or Madeit store & see if anybody would actually like to buy something I've made (Imagine!).

I have yet to get around to it however, hardly suprising given my attention span & wont of starting new projects as often as I blink, however;

I may actually be getting my act together.

Yesterday I stumbled upon the Simple Living Flea Market, while stooging around ALS & I emailed the lovely owner straight away, something that surprised even me. I was compelled to contact her about a stall, everything about the site appealed to me, especially the phrase "...favouring the planet over profit..".

I hobbled together a logo for my stall this morning & am planning on breaking out the sewing machine a little later.... oooooooooh!

Also, it's The Boy's birthday today, have made him a cheesecake that I shall not be partaking in, but cheesecake is his favourite & it's pretty much all he's getting today - he got a subscription to Diggers club too but I could hardly wrap that.

Poor little Punk has a cold, she's being a trooper about it though, my little soldier!

I'm so EXCITED!!

Oh I am SO HAPPY to be able to say that Punky is back in cloth!!! Yeah baby!!

We've been having MAJOR nappy rash "ishoos", as in, it seemed almost the second I put a cloth nappy on her she would get a red butt... :( Rather than have her uncomfy, or worse, in pain, I had to resort to 'spossies but I didn't give up on finding a way around the problem... how could I? Cloth nappies are not only better for the environment but an entire stash can be bloody expensive, I couldn't have my gorgeous MCN precious' going to waste!!

I was at my wits end trying to figure out what was wrong... we hadn't changed washing powder & she'd been in the same nappies for ages without a problem.

Things I tried that DIDN'T work;

Fleece liners
Disposable liners
Washing with new detergent
Washing with no detergent
Washing with soap nuts
Applying cream with every change (bottom balm, bepanthen & various other lotions & potions...)

Finally a lovely lady on bellybelly recommended I try more natural liners as they had worked for her, almost immediately I rushed on over to Nappies Covered to get me some bamboo velour & raw silk action. The bamboo is for general use & the silk is for when there is irritation, it is apparently great for clearing up nappy rash.

So, I got the material on Friday & washed it, cut out the liners last night & today we're 2 nappies in without a hint of red!!!

It is so, so, so great to have Punky back in cloth!! Thank you, thank you, thank you, everyone that has suggested solutions to our horrid cloth issues & who extended their commiserations on having to buy 'spossies.....!

Also, congrats to the gorgeous Maz of Maz-a-licious MCN Covers for her successful stocking last night at WAHMNaps, she has generously pledged to donate 10% of her sales to the Bushfire appeal & raised over $130 almost immediately - yay Maz... YOU ROCK!

I wanted this lovely but unfortunately Punky is to giant for a petite little medium these days...

Undecided....

I have been thinking about doing away with this blog already. Would that be some sort of record I wonder? It just seems so insignificant & dare I say it, self indulgent, in light of the terrible tragedies that seem to just keep happening.

As of this evening I am undecided. I have enjoyed the brief time I have been blogging & know that if I stop I won't start again, ever.

It doesn't help that I've still made bugger all... plenty of ideas but still no motivation... unless...

In lu of Crafty Mamas which is down at the moment I stopped by Craftster today & saw the Feb challenge, "Craft your favourite song". I immediately had a couple of ideas & if I can get myself motivated it will be my first Craftster challenge.

So what have I been doing if not cutting, pinning, sewing? Shopping, actually. I've put a bicycle on lay by & yesterday bought a bike trailer from eBay for towing Miss Punk grandly around town like royalty. I'm madly looking forward to getting both of them, unfortunately though, I keep putting off going down the street now... I think to myself "...oh it would be so much easier with the bike...!" - Right, that's true, but I don't actually have it yet, do I?

Here is a picture of the cool contraption;

Nice, no?

...so tired...

*yawn* Just a super duper short post as I've not yet found a magic energy elixir - The fam & I just got back from a short sojourn to the coast, it was lovely but oh-so-tiring. I couldn't even tell you what time Punky ended up going to sleep last night *yawn again* but I do know it was laaaaaaate. Like maybe 1.30am late.

First there was the hysterical crying, she was truly inconsolable, then came a very brief nap, followed by over-tired hyperactivity.... oh it was joyous.

I had a full on bawl about the bushfire victims this morning, probably because I had very very little sleep. The personal stories are filtering through in the media now & they are just bringing the harsh reality home for me. The whole things is absolutely devastating.

I am sure everybody knows by now about the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal (Click here if you haven't & would like to donate) & have given generously, but people interested in handmade goodies can also check out http://handmadehelpsout.blogspot.com/ where lots of big hearted people are doing their handmade bit to help out.