Seashell cupcakes for my birthday...

I drooled over the seashell cupcakes I found at Sweetopia. I made my version of them to share with friends for my (cough, cough) 40th birthday morning tea. Instead of making the chocolates I cut the Guylian ones in half to use as decoration. The cupcake recipe is vanilla. The sand is simply brown sugar. I was delighted with the effect.

i heart my home...

I heart my home. Over the last 13 years I've put my heart & soul into the interior & garden. Problem is baby no. 3 has really made this home more squishy so we will need to move in the next year or so :(

I'm sure I'll love my next home just as much but part of me will always be in this home

- our first home.

Nice people, nice things and nice plants!

I bought the Hugs 'n Kisses Nice People, Nice Things quilt pattern last year and have been hunting for the right fabrics ever since. As soon as I saw the name of this bundle, Nicey Jane by Heather Bailey from Fresh Fabrics at the Hobart Quilt & Craft Fair I knew I'd found the perfect fabrics. Luckily for me I had a craft weekend away (baby in tow) so was able to make a start on tracing the pattern when baby allowed. Another quilt in progress....I'm losing count!

For something different in my cottage garden I use euphorbias. I've got quite a collection. I love the featheriness of their foliage and the "punch" the flowers bring to a Wintry garden. This black one my latest. My garden is going through its gothic phase with black plants. I've forgotten its name so will have to hunt for the label.

Christmas stitching in July

My husband and I were on team Green when expecting baby number 3 this year. I have cross stitched Shepherd's Bush Christmas stockings for my other two children so aimed to do one for my third baby in time for his/her's first Christmas December 2010. I took a punt last year and started stitching a "girly" one called Elisabeth. What was a woman to do with a girly one when she has just had a baby boy? Stitch it for herself of course. Here is a photo of the unironed stitchery (the photo is skewed as holding a baby makes taking a photo hard) awaiting charms and to be sewn into a stocking. So now I'm going to be the proud owner of my own Christmas stocking. I have to get busy now and stitch Tom's one which is titled "Reed" in time for Christmas.

Thre weeks ago I had to farewell our beloved cat, Lily. She was 13years and her body gave up on her. She was our first baby and my constant companion. I miss you puss!

Owl and Bird Quilt

Baby Tom arrived home on April 27th! He's a lovely baby who has been blessed with the sleep gene. His big sister and brother adore him and are amazing helpers!

My special craft group friends handmade Tom the most gorgeous quilt I have ever seen. The fabrics they chose were bought from The Quilted Crow and were a perfect choice for Tom's nursery. The owls and birds are so quaint and colourful. The quilt is so me!

Look what I've created

I've been quiet lately but I've had a reason. Here is what I made. Little "Tom Thumb" was born at 29 weeks weighing 3 lb 2 oz. Tom was delivered in rather a hurry so it gave us all a bit of a shock. He is a strong little baby and has done remarkably well. We hope he can come home to be with his new family soon.