help me mummies

Over here, at the little house in the middle of the forest,  all is not so well. You see the parents of the little creature referred to as Busy are having strong feelings around the routine they have found themselves in. I knew this was  bound to happen sooner or later. She was a great sleeper from day one and she was breastfed to sleep for the first 2 years- which I don't regret at all and would do again- and then we just started laying with her. She still has a day sleep- god knows come 1p.m ish - we all need a moment to oursleves- and it is my most precious of sewing time. But when she sleeps during the day it can take up to an hour to get her to sleep at night- at about 815-830 we do the usual , quiet time before bed, then stories in bed and lay with her until she falls asleep- this last bit has become very wearing.

She sleeps on a double bed on the floor so its quite comfy- therein lies the problem, (Chef and I take it in turns to do the bed routine) and whoever does it falls asleep and then the spouse comes and wakes them and then the woken spouse is all cranky ( I am far more of a cranky pants than Chef in this situation) and they end up going straight to bed and then we don't spend any time alone together talking as adults- or gigleing in bed like we use to...and I miss it.... I will not do anything that invloves her screaming herself to sleep or anyone feeling upset or horrible or  feeling awful about it - but surely there is a gentle way of getting her to go to sleep by herself without us having to lay there. I am happy to stay with her for a little while but an hour? Or am I being unreasonable???

Points to consider: ( jeez- do I sound like I am asking you to write an essay?)

• She will go to sleep at daycare in about 5 minutes by herself and has been doing so for 2 YEARS! It takes an hour regardless of how huge the day is - no matter how worn out she is it still takes ages.
• if we drop the day sleep we have an afternoon of hell and she usually still won't go to sleep unitl 830 anyway- but we are actually trying it this afternoon- to see how we go...

• and of course she crashes in the car easily to but wakes up as soon as you try to move her...

Help!!!??? what do you do? how did you teach your little one to go to sleep in a safe and gentle way ?

My Creative Space

My Creative Space is all about the actual sewing stuff- which I have neglected of late as have been spending to much time on the promoting side. So yesterday I got inot to it and had a very productive day. I have had  quite a few wholesale orders lately- YAAAAY, plus some exciting news happening in March - I will keep you in suspense...its all about the rattles ...better get them done... I seriously could cover my whole house in that heart fabric I love it so much!

For more creative spaces pop over to Kirsty's place

Am I addicted?

Addiction can be diagnosed in this way:  ( according to the definitive guide- the Diagnostic Stastitical Manual - volume 4 a.k.a DSMIV which is basically the book with every psychiatric illness listed and the criteria for diagnosis- its intesting stuff and  am I sounding like a big nerd? )
Three or more of the following:

•  Tolerance ( you cannot get addicted the first time you have it- yur body needs to build up a physiological dependence)
• Withdrawal ( feeling crapola if you don't have it)
• large amounts over a long period
• unsuccessful efforts to cut down
• time spent in obtaining the substance replaces other activities 
• continued use despite adverse consequences.

OR in more laymans terms:

• Thinking about it all the time
• Dreaming about it.
• Wondering about it.
• Doing it when you should be doing other things.
• Staying up late on school nights to do it.
• Saying just one more.

If you know who these two blokes are you may be addicted to:

yep, I am talking about The Wire.
Some friends lent us the box set of the whole series.

One of the best series I have ever seen - in terms of reeling you in and making you want more....
I know its on SBS or ABC at the moment but if I had to wait a week between episodes I would not be coping.  

SOLD!

Liesl, from hoppobumpo was quick of the mark and snapped up the little dog for Haiti within hours of him going live! The money has been sent to Care Australia and will hopefully help someone out. Thanks so much Liesl- big round of applause for Liesl! Woot woot!!!

It seems , from my big cartel visits there are a lot of lurkers out there...  I really would love it if you said hello...I ( am told) I am really very nice and won't bite , I promise.... you can have some cake?

Launch!!

Kate just gave me a great idea, in fact it was Leonie who planted the seed. You see I am about to launch my new shop, over here at bigcartel. I wanted to have my own shop where I am  not in competion directly with anyone else. Just me, out on  my own. Makes me feel more independent. No rules, no relisting fees, no signing up to websites....

What I wanted to ask of you, my lovely bloggy friends, is to have a look and give me a critique of it SO FAR, that is the easy bit... but then there is this ... you see I have this doggy, like the mummy and daddy dogs I made Busy for her birthday... and he is made from the most divine pink and orange fabric but the stitching is a little wonky in one place but apart from that he is great ... so what I was thinking of is selling him on my new big cartel shop as a sample and - this is where the idea from Kate and Leonie came from- I will give 100% of his asking price to Care Australia. This way you are helping me out by allowing me to go through the big cartel selling something experience- and donating to charity- plus you get a dog!!! Free Postage too!

This is him:

Get him quick- hopefully he sells really quick!

and the hugest thankyou in the world to Leonie for helping me set up my big cartel shop here is a link to Leonies shop.

and PLEASE spread the word!!!

They have arrived. In all their spangled glory.

Not so long ago I wrote about Busy entering what we refer to as the Age of Nylon - where all things fairy, glittery, pink and sparkely, rule supreme. You cannot imagine the lengths I have gone to to minimise the pink in our lives but it has been futile. Despite my efforts- or perhaps because of them... pink is the new colour of choice...anyway its no surprise- and I knew this was coming- that the other day she borrowed a toy from day care for the night. A My Little Pony. The love she showed for this creature was astounding. A friend of ours was over and he asked what he should get her for her birthday I hesitated and said  " have a guess" - motioning head towards said Pony.

It was at this point that I decided - stop fighting it. Let her have it. She doesn't get excited about the beautiful vintage toys and dolls I find in their beautiful (in her eyes drab) neutral outfits and lovely muted tones... so let her go crazy for this- why deprive her? Its not my birthday let her have what she really wants. I can teach her all my feminist ideals about beauty and women and all that other stuff as she gets older- she will get it - I did. I loved all that stuff and here I am as strong feminist independant woman and its fine. She has so many great role models around her.

Another like minded  friend said to me  "I thought I would just go into the toy section and find the vilest most pink sparkely, tastless peice of plastic that we would both hate and buy that for her??"

"Perfect!!" was my amused reply.

Obviously I will draw the line somewhere ( like there will be no My little pony lunchboxes, tshirts etc - no merchandising- just the toy) but the horse and carriage with fairy ponies (???????!!!!!!!!) arrived from Chefs parents, Busy was so excited- then our friend got her the other three- see the orange one - apparently " this one looks like mummy (!!!???!!!) because it has forward hair" ( a fringe). So at the moment we are enjoying it- brushing their hair and what not.

She still plays with her cars and trucks but for now, in the words of some great seattle musos, who were way cooler than Nirvana, I am going to Let It Slide.

Addition: I sent Kerry some pictures of Busy with her fairy door and now she is the fairy door model!!!

Have you got yours yet?

We survived.

Well we made it. Busy is now 3. Phew! We haven't broken her.

I tried to make the Birthday a little bit handmade  but she was really wanting pink and fairies so we compromised:

I made her this dolly and a big log like we have on our bed which she always plays with :

 and a family of dogs, because at the moment everything is categorised into mummy, daddy and baby

... and she got a wooden balance bike - you know the ones without pedals- from Grandma-

We have been telling her for a while that when she turns 3 she will be able to see where fairies live:

 Beautiful fairy door via etsy from nothinbutwood-  I cannot recommend  it more- so beautifully made. She cannot open the door because only fairies can open it. ( one of those presents which chef asked who is this really for? )

We had a party yesterday- was great- tiring and stinking hot- we hired a jumping castle from the local toy library - it was a huge hit: ( note my compromise on the pink theme- tablecloth is pink as were  serviattes for the cake)

I made Birthday bunting - not as colourful as Nikkis- but will be used by the whole family for all our birthdays from now on- ( plus I wanted some neutrals in there somewhere!!!)

lovely linen from Amber over here

the fairies all took home little fairy bags with wands, sparklers, bubbles, a necklace and a bangle

BUT my most proudest of moments was the completion of the cake- which I made. Well actually maybe "make" isn't the right word- I "designed and assembled" the cake, Chef made me make the icing myself - I know shocking but true-  ( who knew- well my mum did  and thankgod she was up here to pass on this hot tip- you can buy plain sponge cakes at supermarkets- see you probably all new this... but I didn't) Anyway so here is one Owl cake:

Not bad for a second attempt. (In year 6 at school I came first in a cake decorating contest- I remember  because I think its the only time I have ever won anything! ) Clearly I was able to bring back those skills from yesteryear.

It was a great day and Busy and the fairies had a ball.

 And thankyou to everyone who sent birthday wishes to her. xx