well, can I just say...

...if you haven't seen the movie Julie & Julia...your missing out big time - especially if your one of THOSE people (like me) who thinks blogging is um...AWESOME! Now I'm not one of those 'wish I was a movie critic' kind of people (far from it - I'm more of a 'series' girl), so as far as favorite movies go my repertoire includes: Harry Potter, English Patient and um...Harry Potter (don't tell anyone though!). But with this movie, starring Meryl Streep (so talented!) and Amy Adams (wish i was her!), I couldn't even sew and watch simultaneously - now that's saying something. This movie isn't a soppy, artificial chick flick...It's just a nice, real to life - yet warm fuzzies on the inside type of movie...and inspired me to start blogging! Please, please, please watch it...you won't be disappointed.

..meanwhile...

...the creative processes is a little on the slow side at the mo due to uni stuff often taking up my allocated sewing "slots" ...BUT I re-oiled my machine today (it was sounding a little sad) and I NOW have a couple of characters in the works, so please stay tuned.

So, while your all waiting here's some pictures of Charlotte...draining the pond (and what very serious work it is!)

Yet it's soo funny when daddy does it...

She's so sassy..

...this sexy lady was made for my beautiful sister-in-law Quanita (a.k.a Q...pictured below) for her birthday, which, true to form, i failed to complete on time (cursed uni work!). A computer whiz/Battlestar Galactica groupie (because you can't have one without the other)...these lovely ladies love to sew (and are damned good at it), won't pass up a good vampire novel and know how to put a smile on anyone's face. Oh, and did i mention...they like their steak BLOODY!

Please go check out Q's talented and beautiful sewing projects posted regularly at http://qspace.id.au/blog/...
                  

All work and no play makes me oh so sad...

...but I am taking an 'official' night off uni work...to watch Naruto (oh god the shame...but I love it...& entirely Tariq's doing!) drink coffee, inhale chocolate and immerse myself in some well deserved sewing (that i have restrained from doing for three WHOLE nights...so painful, but i made it through). Speaking of sewing, I have to brag, just a bit, about the amazing surprise I received Monday from my wonderful, wonderful parents....a sewing machine, overlocker and sewing cabinet to call my very own (I was previously using a sewing machine on loan from my mother in law...Thank you Charmaine)...all my christmas' have come at once (in March!?!) Thank you, thank you, thank you mum and dad...words cannot express my gratitude!

My third baby...

 
Plan to have my next little project finished and posted in the next two days...so please pop in for a browse xx

Someone special

....the sole purpose to my sewing venture was create a line of unique dolls for children (or their siblings) with 'special needs'. One of my first creations was this happy little lady...

 

                                                                                                                        
This somewhat 'abstract' representation was modeled after my sister Chantel (pictured above), who was born with Angelman Syndrome - an intellectual disability characterised primarily by speech impediment, an unstable jerky gait, and and outwardly a happy demeanour - please go to http://www.angelmansyndrome.org/whatis.html for more details.

I want to create dolls that represent the beautiful and unique qualities of those children who are not considered when the Barbie molds pump out their "perfect" fabricated forms...A friend for the child who was born with one less hand than all her friends, or the boy who needs braces to walk...A friend who looks beautiful and unique, just like them...

Bush tucker...

...is a hot picnic lunch out at Belair National Park on a warm sunny day.

Pa, pepper (dog) and "kooka-bub-bubs" (kookaburra?!?)...and running space forever and ever! YAY!

Breaking News!

A big, juicy CONGRATS to my mummy (Marcelle) for being chosen as one of the three state finalists for the Barnardos Australia's Mother of the Year Awards....Wooohooo.....and rightly so! Thanks to the '150 - explain a lifetime in that - word limit' and a toddler (who thinks "mummy's busy typing" is code for "lets watch yo gabba gabba") hanging off one arm, my nomination write up was definitely lacking any credible literacy skills (although seems to have done the job). Here it is, however, for those unaware of Marcelle's remarkable story and well deserved place in the finals...

 

Marcelle with daughter Chantel and Granddaughter Charlotte (July 2009)

"Aside from her daughter Rachel (24) who now cares for a family of her own and youngest son Ryan (18), Marcelle cares full-time for her two dependent disabled children Chantel (22) and Royce (19) whilst working part time as an exemplary primary school teacher. Chantel was diagnosed at age 3 with Angelman Syndrome, a rare neuro-genetic disorder. Royce developed complications in the womb, and was subsequently born with multiple conditions including cerebral palsy, spastic quadriplegia, lissencephaly, optic atrophy (blind), epilepsy and scoliosis. Not only is Marcelle constantly in and out of hospital due to complications with her sons health - where medical staff marvel at how well he has been cared for and the reality that he has exceeded his “medical” life expectancy - she devotes herself to being a exceptional teacher, volunteer and member for the Angelman Syndrome Association and an extraordinary carer and mother for her four children. Her love and commitment is boundless."

  

The state winner will be announced on Monday 11th April - can't wait!

Introducing...

'the lady in blue'... this doll was created as a gift for my grandma (Mona) for her 80..something (sorry Mona) Birthday which was way back in Jan! Being the somewhat perfectionist that I unwillingly am, I do believe I redid everything on this doll twice (except for the skirt buttons...they were redone into the double digits at the expense of my nerves)...thus the extreme 'overdue...ness'! The story follows...Mona Wills married Naish Quinn on the 28th June 1945, and ever the fashionista, ditched the puffy white dress for a sophisticated "duck egg blue" (to be specific!) fitted suit.

Such a handsome couple...reminds me of Rhett Butler and Miss Scarlett O'Hara (oh so romantic)

Did i ever mention...

...how much i worship hot cross buns! In keeping with my annual Easter OBSESSION, i have been consuming these little pillows from heaven, at the rate of possibly 1-2 bags a week (straight to the hips thank you very much), since their premature release at the beginning Feb. And just when I thought things couldn't get any better, lo and behold, I receive a bonus bag of CHOCOLATE buns with my Coles home delivery last night (see pictured below...just in case you can't grasp how magnificent it is from words alone). Every thing is going rach ;)

 Please stay tuned for some well overdue doll pics and updates tomorrow...

For those who need their Charlotte fix (yes mum…this is only directed at you)…

Perfect autumn day for icecream in the pool….yay!

                                                           

..(couldn't just pick one picture could I?!?)

The bunnies looove the microscopic morsels of grass I feed to them :) 

                                                   

...blogging.. ninja style (now you see me, now you don't....cough* for a couple of months *cough)

Considering it has been over a month since I started this blog and I only have one post to show for it….I have decided to make a  pact, with myself, that I will TRY to post every day (even if its utter nonsense)…the operative word being TRY. As the makeup of to my day to day life is now a sequence of routines, I plan to work my blog posting into my allotted “mummy/charlotte sleeping time”. So here we go…

First things first...I want to thank my favourite artisan doll maker Mariella of My Skipper for my special parcel in the post today… two exquisite little Frida dolls and a beautiful little sausage dog. I love them soo much. Looking forward to the days when charlotte and I will be hosting tea parties with these little pretties (assuming she won’t be into cars and soccer…scary thought). 

The other two gorgeous characters joined the fam over xmas (i'll admit it...i'm bit of a groupie)…such incredible creativity and craftsmanship.

Please make sure you check out Mariella’s store at www.etsy.com/shop/myskipper and her blog http://myskipper.typepad.com for frequent updates.

Thank you so much Mariella for your wonderful creations (looking forward to the Audrey dolls!). 

so i thought i would open my page with the pièce de résistance ... charlotte (11 mths) with her daddy on our wedding day (with many thanks to the extraordinary photographer brett - www.allpics.com.au).

 ...and look at her now, (@ 19 mths getting ready for ballet lesson) already practicing her relevés...if only we could all look that good in a leotard!