This time next week

Do you know where you are going to be this time next week?? I have a fair idea, in Customs at Brisbane International Airport, with Donnie, Happy, Auntie Daph and Auntie Nance (CT's honorary aunties) and probably one very overtired teary CT. Yeap I am off to Australia for about a month. I am going to visit my quack about my skin... I do not want a repeat of May-June last year. But Holy Crap, my head is spinning over what I have to achieve (crafty wise/playgroup wise/cleaning wise/packing wise) by 10pm next Thursday....

More Bragging and A Plug

It's only fair that I start this post with a plug for this fantastic lady, Ah-Fat (as she is known in blogland). I met this lovely lady through Active Toddlers Singapore (If you live in Singapore and lurk here, I cannot stress how fab this group is. Go check it out. :D), we've even been fabric foraging together,and she has good taste in fabric. I bought the piece of fabric after some gentle persuasion.

Ah-Fat has even loaned me this book, (it's under Jen's cool mutt book for CT). You should go to her blog and check out the doll she has made her little girl, who is such a sweetie. Ah-Fat is having a giveaway for Children's Day/Hari Raya (don't forget to leave a comment before next Wednesday) and is having an Etsy sale. Very cute or what??

Now for a brag. I am so bloody proud of this messenger bag. See the gusset?? Went in like a charm, so swearing or unpicking at all. This also has a zipper pocket, for your treasures. Initially, I was just going to have a little bag without a flap but I felt it would look classier as a messenger bag, especially since it had a zippered pocket. Must say that next time when I make one of these bags, I am going to have a rethink about the way the flap goes on. Like the denim bias? Stabbed myself a few times stitching it down. The G&T has me in a happy zone, so couldn't be arsed swearing. I decided the handle needed some of that trim too (a Textile Centre find, if you are in Singers and want to know how I procured some too). Not so happy about the button hole. Screwed that up a few times (took 2 hours to do, but the day I was making this I was having a 'happy day', so I decided to have a G&T instead of a swear. And it was the same G&T that kept me happy and giggly as I stabbed myself while sewing on the binding.) I hope it is loved at it's new home. Not saying where it is going or what it went with. That's for the new owner to find out when it rocks on into their letterbox, stoop or private mailbox.... But then again CT would think that you have no taste.

Doggie Bags

When I saw that stretch knit fur remnant at Spotlight way back in June, I knew what I was going to do with it. It was begging to become a doggie bag for CT (aka Mrs Baggly II). Guilty as charged for fararkling (disagree with this definition because an individual not just a group can farnarkle). If it wasn't for one of CT's little friend's birthdays, it probably would be on the must do list.

Basically what I did was look for a picture I could use as a template and made it up as I went along. I knew I wanted a zip closure, a zippered pocket and handles. I pinned the outer fabrics (fur and denim) and the lining fabrics to the template and cut out slowly and carefully. As CT gets older, I figured that she would enjoy a zippered pocket to hide treasures (such as half finished biscuits for 'ron) and the handles came from a long abandoned G&T induced disaster. After the zippered pockets were done, I sewed a zip from ear to ear, carefully pinned the handles in sewed the lining (deliberately used a wider seam allowance) and outer like any other zippered pouch. To give the handles more durability I sewed them a few times. Turned it right side out, top stitched the outer layer (that's why I used a wider seam allowance for the lining, so it would fit), stuffed the lining in a voila.

Poorly Miss CT sat and watched proceedings (though she did ask to stroke the puppies a few times). She road tested the bag before I had a chance to top stitch it (did that after bed time). It has become the going out bag. When we say 'odekake' (going out), there is a mad scramble for her bag and an evil sodding toddler hat. Mission accomplished I would say.

Evil Sodding Toddler Hat

Bansai!! Camera found, albeit in a strange place, but I can start skiting!!
The above hat looks innocent enough but, don't be deceived, it's not a very forgiving pattern (Though CT would tell you that they were fab...). It's from ???? My pattern tracing was not 100% perfect but I was very careful. I know that I was not so careful with the cutting out. Most commercial patterns have leeway in cutting and sewing together. Not these patterns.... So with a few extra mms of fabric, a raging fever and lead foot sewing (seams are mainly straight but might vary a smidge), it took 5 attempts to get the crown and brim to fit. I unpicked and resewed 4 times.

This one twice... even after I retraced the pattern pieces and re cut everything. (Sodding thing....)

You may wonder why I persisted. CT needs new hats especially since we we lost this wonderful one back in June. Plus there is secret squirelling involved. The 3rd completed hat a) has not been photographed (mainly because a camera went MIA, thanks CT) and b) I am pretty sure that a pickie of said hat would spoil a surprise (I know that the recipient's mummy lurks, but which mummy?? he he he....) Nothing like some secret squirrelling to motivate one, eh?? When it comes to kiddy clothes, I like to use tried and true patterns. So when first was a disaster, I stubbornness made me make another one (no sodding pattern was going to get the better of me). A case of third time lucky. There are another 4 in various stages of production (feel slightly like a mini factory...) but until they arrive at their homes, they are squirrels people. Those 4 would give me away, they would. Oh well back to creating. Cheers. :D

Touch Wood

Last Wednesday, I phoned a friend, on a whim, as I do, and spoke about the impending 'joy' of going to Jurong Bird Park with a slight head ache that was caused by enjoying a little too much of the bounty one received recently. Um idjot me should have touched wood and shouldn't have courted Lady Karma. The bird park was awesome, we had fun, screeching birds were not noticed at all because of all the fun.

Methinks Lady Karma, decided that I needed to learn a lesson because CT and I came down with a fever which came with a charming sleep depriving cough. Mildly annoying for oneself but it is heart breaking while it is your little one bravely coughing up her lung and not whinging (though mummy has fussed). Seeing that CT had a nasty bug this time last year,am I right in assuming that this is going to an annual event?? Despite that there has been a lot of creating, both the swap kind, CT & co kind and even something for the home, CT has been content to sit and observe proceedings (the rice box and loo have missed her). I'd love to skite. Um seeing that this fever has decided to go party on in a new host and I feel human again, do you think I can find the camera?? Shame I can't call it up, like the phones...

You're so crafty

This is something that is said to me quite often by mums in the circles I travel in here. But, huh?? Not really, inspired by what I read and see on the Internet definitely, especially what I see in terms of kiddy craft. A half hour trip on the MRT can be interesting. Although, I enjoy playing cat and mouse with CT, there is a time and place and the train isn't one (though the kid in me thinks it should be). I went to the Crafty Crow last week because I am looking for travel distractions. I really liked Chasing Cheerios toddler bags. So I am slowly putting a few together.

Today I decided to make a sandpaper activity. This is not an original idea, though I can't for the life of me remember where I read about this activity. Basically you need a piece of sandpaper and pieces of wool/string of various lengths. Then let them explore the medium and apply the wool as the spirit moves them.

As I am going to be shoving this in and out of a backpack/handbag often, I wanted to make it sturdy. I mean how long is a piece of sandpaper just is going to last?? Not long. So I got a cheap Ikea frame, cut out a piece of sandpaper the same size as the backing cardboard and popped it in. Then gave it a test run.

Fine sandpaper, fail!! Not enough friction for the wool to adhere, and to think I choose the sandpaper for the colour (well I let CT because it's for her and I want her to feel she has some ownership, even if she is nearly 18 months). OOOPS! Not to worry, I found some steel wool pads under the sink and they work better but will be dropping into a hardware store soon. Hopefully this will keep CT entertained on the train tomorrow, on the way to Jurong Bird Park. :D Exciting but about 1 1/2 hours by public transport...

Sheesh, writing a post after a 2 generous G&Ts (which I EARNED today) is a challenge...

CT would like to give her 5 Sing cents worth and let you know that, mummy should be more understanding about her favourite pastime at the moment as per above.

Making Monday: Glitter Shapes

I mentioned in a previous post that I have organised toddler craft sessions at my place through Active Toddler Singapore. The name for the sessions is not original, it's borrowed from Elsie Marley. I needed a needed a catchy name for the sessions... At the moment, my philosophy behind these sessions, is exposure, exploration and socialisation. It is the process and not the product that is important and if playing with the glue stick, train spotting, playing with toys, hanging with the other little people, is more important so be it.

Enough of the blurb: this week, we made glitter shapes. Maybe, a few of you might like to join us, virtually. Any feedback would be much appreciated.

Last night I did the preparation. You'll need some construction paper, shapes to trace around, scissors and a husband who doesn't mind cutting out while he is watching King Kong. (Thanks S). Why the Christmas shapes? It is going to take me 3 1/2 months to get organised. Also my favourite Christmas decorations that Donnie has are the ones made by Rob and I while we were in Kindy.

Supplies you will need. Those lovingly cut out shapes (once again thanks S), glue sticks, glitter glue (optional), glitter, vinyl tablecloth (optional but I find the static on the vinyl stops a lot of that glitter getting on the floor) and a shoe box (not pictured). I highly recommend using a shoe box for this activity as it contains the glitter, you can control how much goes on the preglued shape and there isn't as much excess glitter.

Next is CT's favourite part, she gets to play with the glue stick. I plonked a shape in front of her, as she tends to go in a zone with glue sticks.

The aim is to get glue on the shape, today this was our preferred method of transfer. What ever floats your boat, CT.

Once the shape has some glue on it (the younger they are the sooner they seem to lose interest in the sticking bit), show them the shoe box, the glitter, choose a colour together (ha), fight over who is going to pour the glitter in (optional but likely with this dubious duo)

and then pop the shape in,

let them have a good shake (lid on is better but I wanted the photo, you don't really want glitter all over the place),

and shake the excess glitter off (if you are allowed) and you should end up with something like this:

Here are a few more that took a few hours to make (with great company).

Next time I do this activity, I am going to make sure the outside of the box is contacted, glitter can escape from cracks and crevices. Not that I had much of a mess, but man this glitter is worse than sand...