::200::

I've just written my 200th post on my new blog. It's also my official housewarming party on Typepad... I do prefer it over there ;)














This blog is from now on closed. Head on over to Typepad if you want to be included in the give-away!

Happy happy joy joy

Lots of excitement going on in our lives, such as winning cars and stuff...
















Read it all here!

I am...

... still over at Typepad, you know ;)















Please, join me there!

Rounding off

I'm slowly rounding off this blog here and will continue blogging on Typepad.
Would you all be so kind to update your links & bloglines? Thank you so very much... I wouldn't want to leave anyone behind ;))















I'm thinking of holding a housewarming party at my new place, but first I must go to England and have lots of fun :))

---> I'm happy to be home again!

Invitation

Hello everyone,

you're all invited to visit me at my new blog space!!















When you're there, you can read all about the skirts I made today.
So please, follow me :)

Need help picking out my birthday present!

People, I need you for advice!
My lovely hubby (or hush puppy as my colleague said yesterday) wants to give me a Typepad-account for my birthday. I've been wanting to make the switch for quite some time and now he's made the decision for me... isn't he the sweetest?!

So just now I've been checking out the website and what I really want to know is whether Basic will be good enough, or do I really need to get Plus?
What do you have and are you happy with it?
Is Typepad the best choice anyway?

Please, share your experiences with me! I'm so excited at the prospect of switching that I really want to do it NOW!















This photo does it no justice at all, but the sunrise was amazing this morning. A huge bright red ball of fire.

Big girl, small shoes

Amber has achieved something that took many months (years?), tears and a whole lot of courage.
For that she deserved a reward...




















Tiny shoes that are impossible to walk on!
She was like Cinderella's step-sister trying to wriggle into these, but you should see how happy she looks when she has them on :))

Now what was the big project that we finally managed to tackle? She now sleeps without a nappy (diaper for you Americans) and that's a BIG deal!
It's been a long road for her, but apparently the time was right now. It's been more of a mental struggle than a physical one; she was just scared to go to sleep without a nappy.















However, on Monday morning -after another dry night- she earned her final sticker and that was that.




















We're so proud of you, little big girl!!




















Simon fell out of the tree... does he care? No way!




















And how do you like my new sunglasses? These were the only remotely normal ones that I could find!! Michel now calls me Queen Bee Bling Bling. Well, this will be the summer of the bee then :)

Hanging out with the bunnies

Look at the latest batch of freshly graduated students from Easter Bunny College.
Don't they look eager?! They just can't wait to collect their basket of eggs and start hiding!




















Actually, this is only half the group that I'm working on, but I'm taking so long to finish them that I just didn't want to wait any more. Sometimes you just have to be realistic, Easter may be over before I've finished the rest of them (hope not).















Hmmm, I wonder whether I'll be able to change my banner... it will give my blog a nice seasonal touch ;)













I also want to give a big thank you to Kirsten. A couple of days ago a cute little package arrived, in it were this beautiful brooch (currently proudly displayed on my bag):















And this wonderful rocket patch:




















It was immediately confiscated by Simon and I think I'm going to use it on a bag for him.
Thanks again, Kirsten!

Mama made a brand new pair of trousers

I am ashamed to say that in all 2,5 years of Simon's life I've have NEVER made him a piece of clothing... bad, bad Mummy!! Even though my sewing machine has been working overtime, I produced nothing wearable for him (nor for Amber...I can't remember what the last thing was I made for her).
However, the time was right now! Probably spurred on by the first signs of spring, I made a pair of trousers for him of fabric that I bought last year. Of course when they were finished I wanted to see how they fit (and yes, take a photo of it too!). Simon didn't think it was such a good idea.




















After lots of begging and pleading he felt it was a very BAD idea...




















Eventually this is the best photo I got:




















He couldn't wait to take the damn trousers off!




















Don't you look so pleased, young man! You ARE going to wear them, even if it means I have to glue them to your bottom!!




















(I'm making a skirt for Amber right now... thank heavens for my dear daughter who'll wear anything as long as there is a hint of pink on it)

When little boy's dreams come true

Simon was in awe!

Egg flowers

May I present to you... egg flowers!















The other day when I was digging through my scrapbasket, just itching to make more tissueholders, I suddenly had an idea for a new scrappy project. Eggwarmers...hurray! Don't you love it when a new idea just pops into your head?















It all went so smooth too. Sorting fabrics, cutting, sewing and the result was as I had hoped.















I made the coordinating eggholders from wool felt. Later I realised that these can also be used to hold napkins... multi-purpose holders, wow :)















They are super easy to make. All you need is two pieces of fabric and a bit of elastic for the eggwarmers, and a piece of wool felt and fabric for the eggholder. Don't you think they will brighten up the Easter breakfast table?















I just came across this, which is also a wonderful way to use up your scraps.

I can't help myself...

I felt a bit at a loss a few days back, so I made another batch of tissueholders... they're just too wonderful to make!

I did however started a totally different scrap-project too, more on that soon.















And I'm glad to say that this WIP is finally in its last stages. If that could be finished, photographed and blogged about this weekend, then I would be a very happy girl indeed.















Wishing you all a very relaxing and crafty weekend!

They deserve a frame

New thrifted frame + favourite trimmings =

Over the years I've built up quite a collection of trimmings. Last week I bought some more and then my mother gave me a few too (yes, I know :))). I just love to look at them. They're so pretty! Then last Thursday I found a very decent frame in the thriftstore (an excellent new one we went to) and after a lick of paint I just knew that my trimmings would look great in it.




















So now it's right here next to me in my craftroom and I keep gazing up to it (a lot). Such a source of inspiration... don't you think your trimmings deserve a frame too?!

I *heart* England!

And that's why I've just booked our flight to London!

I'm so excited that it's definite now after lots of thinking and planning... and I'm so looking forward to it :))

I don't know what I like best of everything:

• spending time with my sister (and my youngest sister might join us too)
• going away with Michel
• stay out late, go on long walks, do lots of shopping --> do everything you can't do with kids around
• embrace EVERYthing English

Oh and do you know what more? I might even meet up with a very lovely fellow blogger! Anyone else wants to meet up somewhere in the vicinity of London/Oxford between 4 and 8 April?! It'll be fun!















These hearts were designed and cut out by Amber. She also did a bit of sewing until she grew tired of it.

Old and expensive

Bit of a dubious title ;)




















Today we went here.
Michel heard about this place that sells old building materials that are saved from demolition.
It was quite a magical place. Old treasures stacked up everywhere. You simply didn't know where to look first. Very expensive stuff though (I held on to Simon tightly!).

Staircases.




















Lots of beautiful tiles.




















Amazing doors.




















The main reason why we went there was to look for a dining table that they make from different kinds of wood. We loved the tables: simple, old, solid. Prices varied from € 700-€1400. Something to think about.















Here I am on the road:















And we haven't booked yet, but we're definitely going to England in April :))

Small projects

I've been working on lots of small projects lately. Although I have a continuing lack of time for myself, my inspiration and creative urge are still very much present. Hence the small projects!

First my My Little Window project. This was my prototype, I want to work on this more.




















Then a birthday present for my youngest sister. A little bag for the bikini we got her.















Look at that bikini!















I wanted to keep it for myself, but I knew it would look (much) better on her!

Then my first attempt at textile stencilling...not perfect yet ;)




















And some aprons for the washingup liquid...




















Finally, my current -a bit more elaborate- WIP.