A special something for a special someone

My littlest person turned 3 on Easter weekend. With my committment to handmake gifts this year, I knew the gifts I made for my own family had to be super-special.

So I put it out to the facebook community and got some great ideas. In the end I decided on a baby carrier- she really loves dolls and soft toys at the moment.

My very creative friend at Stitch'd lent me a pattern and I found a super-cool set of fabrics at Spotlight.

I had to unpick and restitch a few things that I wasn't happy with and when I make it again I will add some card/plastic in the base and some kind of stiffener in the sides so it holds its shape better.

It is the first gift I have made with such love and effort for any of my girls, so I was a little nervous, but I think she's happy with it :)

Love Gubby xo

No place for a sandwich...

I own a large number of Tupperware containers, including quite a collection of those cool, colourful sandwich keepers. I like being able to send my kids to school/kinder with no throw-away wrappers of any kind.

When it came time to choose a new lunch box for school this year, my 7 year old chose a very groovy one with lots of little compartments. Perfect, I think to myself, no wrapping required, everything has a home. But apparently the perfectly-sandwiched-sized compartment is for the little drink bottle to live, once its been filled with water and frozen overnight (can't deny the benefits as a lunchbox cooling device in the warmer months ;)

So the sandwich has to go in the large compartment in the bottom, where it slides around and the ham and bread say their final farewells before slipping in different directions. Of course, this compartment is too big for a sandwich, but not large enough for a sandwich keeper, so we have been using ziplock bags or gladwrap.

Until my very dangerous trip to GJ's Discount Fabrics!!

I had had a vague idea in my head about making sandwich pockets from oilcloth, but had not had time/money/opportunity in correct quantities at the same time. But Mum and I saw the most beautiful oilcloths- pricey, but beautiful and she offered to purchase some for me even though the price tag said $46 per metre!

These are the pieces cut up, but you can see why I fell in love with it!!

I know that sounds mad, but I only need 30 cm, which made it around $14 and I was able to get enough for 4 sandwich bags, so I figure that's around $3.50 for a bag that will get used every day, and then it doesn't sound so bad (plus, my mum paid for it, so I just have to shower her in love and gratitude and that I can afford :)

Front, back and gusset pieces. No template, just made it up by measuring the bread we use

A perfect fit!

Now she can eat lunch and be inspired at the same time!

I used stick on velcro to seal and although it clings to the oily side perfectly, once the cotton side gets wet the velcro just peels off. So I have added sew-on velcro on the flap side and left the sticky velcro on the oilcloth.

The inside of the pocket can just be wiped clean and left to dry between uses and can take a thorough washing if needed- just hang upside down on the dishrack and allow to dry thoroughly between uses!

Your environmentally friendly crafter,
Gubby xo

How to do it all! (and other modern-day myths)

I love craft.
I do a lot of craft.
I probably do a lot more craft than a mother of 3 should.

People often ask me where I find the time. How do I maintain a home for 5, cook healthy meals, clean, do washing/dishes, post regularly to facebook and do so much craft?

The short answer is: I DON'T!!

I craft because I choose to. I prioritise my time and it always seems to find its way somewhere near the top of the list.

I can't remember the last time I cleaned the shower;
and I could just quickly spray those small weeds that will eventually grow into annoying tree-like shrubs that I will have to dig out of the ground;
and I could grow/pick/prepare/cook fresh vegetables for my kids instead of cooking frozen vegies from the supermarket.

Somehow those things never move higher on the to-do list than:
sew a new baby doll carrier for Penny's birthday;
make an Easter garland to decorate my home;
sew a cute little apron for a good friend who lives interstate;
handmake a card just to let a friend know I love her.

Supermum doesn't exist. There is no-one who really has it all together. Don't get down on yourself when you see others doing things you feel you 'should' be doing.

Remember that creative Mumma who produces sewn/baked/paper goods at a rapid rate is currently squelching along her sticky kitchen floor to make a cup of tea to accompany her creative endeavours :)

(PS This was me recently writing my blog. Decided I could let them lol all over me and then I could check off 'spending time with the kids' as well as 'updating my blog' ;)

Yours, in squalor,
Gubby xo