School holidays, good friends and party preps

I had a conversation with my other half last night that went a bit like this:

Me: "Oh I am so ready for the kids to go to bed tonight."

Him: "How many have you had today?"

Me: " Just our two."

Him: "I was actually talking about bottles of wine."

The seaweed curtain we made yesterday for E's birthday party. I'll give you the instructions for it at a later date.

 Today is the last day of the school holidays here in New Zealand. Much as I love my children and really enjoy having all their friends over to play (seriously, I really do!); there is only so much picking up of toys; picking glitter-soaked glue off the upholstery and breaking up of fights over who gets to hold the very tolerant cat that a person can take. I'm sure you are nodding right now.

E making a fish for the school of fish we are planning on hanging from the ceiling.

If you are new to the parenting game, I highly recommend that you start making friends with other people with similar aged kids as soon as possible and set up an informal swapsies arrangement with them during the holidays so you can get a break from the inevitable bickering that breaks out when the kids spend too much time together. I am lucky enough to have a wonderful group of girlfriends with similar aged kids and our children have been all around the different houses all holidays. One of them took my oldest daughter all day and night when the youngest was sick earlier in the week. You don't have to ask with friends like that. They just know what you need and when you need it. Wonderful. 

The paper plate fish we made using the tutorial here

I am looking forward to the holidays being over and the kids being back in their routines (and me in mine) but I also don't want them to end because my baby is turning 5 and will be starting school. Her party is on Monday so we've been busy getting ready for the big day. The entire kitchen table is covered in fish shapes and glitter today whilst the kids finish off making the school of fish we are planning on hanging from the ceiling.


Maisy decided she was joining in the kids game of zoos.

There's a paper mache fish shaped pinata in the oven (it's been so damp here, it's just not drying so I decided to give it some help today!) and my house generally looks like a complete tip. My parents are arriving this afternoon from Australia and I haven't even thought what I'm going to cook for them for dinner or done the shopping for their favourite foods that I like to get in. I think I am going to dig out the trusty slow cooker, take the kids to the shops and playground and try not to panic! There's definately one thing I don't have to worry about and that's the cake. My amazing Mum has made a mermaid cake for E. Have a look at this!

 Isn't it beautiful and everything a little girl having a mermaid party could wish for? This big girl certianly loves it.

My only concern (that some of you may have picked up on already) is that she made it in Australia and is therefore bringing it over on the plane. Keep your fingers crossed that it arrives in one piece!!

Crafternoon Tea anyone?

I've got a lovely new range of tea towels which I'll be selling for the first time at Crafternoon Tea market tomorrow. They are $12 each or 3 for $30.

I've nearly finished some gorgeous Tape Measure Rose Brooches so I'm hoping to bring those along too.

See you there? Crafternoon Tea, 16th July 10am-2pm at the Trinity Methodist Church Hall. Corner of Sandringham and New North Roads, Kingsland, Auckland City.

If you want me to put any of these aside for you, let me know via email or facebook (the links are in the sidebar.)
Sarah x

Broccoli is NOT party food

I love the conversations my kids have when they think we aren't listening. We have been having lots of conversations recently about what we should serve at E's mermaid party. This is what we came up with last night.

The octopii are cheerios with 8 legs cut out of 3/4 of the sausage (The easiest way to do this is with a small sharp knife. Starting 3/4 of the way up, cut the sausage in half then quarters then score down the middle of each of the quarters with your sharp knife. Don't worry if you don't manage 8 tentacles on each octopus. Not many kids would take the time to count the legs on all their sausages!!Once they are cut out, stick them in the microwave in a little water for a couple of minutes and the tentacles will curl up as they heat.If you don't have a microwave you can use a pan of water. The starfish are carrots cut with a star cutter and the seaweed is green beans and broccoli. This is what caused the outrage because Broccoli is NOT party food. Don't worry, I wasn't planning on serving broccoli at the party but it was fun to suggest it to the kids!

Bubba and Babushka

Remember this Babushka?

 Here she is with her new owner (who is also sporting a Cotton Kiwi Babushka onesie). So cute!!

Don't you love that expression? Priceless! Thank you so much to Emma and Melanie for emailing me the photo. Love it.

Babushka for Baby

A lovely friend of mine, Melanie, commissioned me to make a Babushka doll for her friend's new baby girl.

 She's all ready for Melanie to pick up at tomorrow's Crafternoon Tea market.

I just have to hide her from a certain Miss E who has taken a liking to her. Luckily she has a birthday coming up so I will make her one then. The doll was made using an Ooshka Babushka pattern which I picked up in Australia at Christmas. There's a little boy's superhero version too which I adore.

Have a great weekend and I might see some of you in Kingsland tomorrow for Crafternoon Tea.

So late I know - Elsie Marley Kids Clothes week challenge day 4 & 5

I've finally got around to blogging about this little top I made as part of the Elsie Marley Kids Clothes week challenge. It's a size 3-4. I need your help. Do you think that it should have the bear peeping out of the pocket....

Or no bear?

Let me know what you think.

Kids Clothes Week Challenge - Day one

Here's today's finished piece for the Elsie Marley Kids Clothes week challenge. I love this dress. It's so adorable.

 I have just managed to squeeze E into it to show you what it looks like. It's a generous size 2 (E is 4 and the dress is pretty snug around her arms) but it would definitely be a great fit for most kids aged 2 and 3 and if you got it for a 2 year old, it would probably do 2 winters.

The little teacup pocket is made from pink wool felt and has a floral ribbon trim on the edge of it. The same trim is along the bottom of the dress.

The little mouse is a finger puppet!

The dress is partly lined with a teacup print fabric and there are hard wearing nappy snap buttons on the shoulders for easy dressing. I'll be popping this dress into my Felt shop as soon as I have played a game of Monopoly with the model!