Meet Donkey!!!

Hi there friends! This week has been full on and pretty tough. There seems to be bad news everywhere amongst my friends and work mates and my heart truly breaks for all that is going on to the beautiful people in my life. In these times I am reminded that we need to stop and "smell the roses" for want of a better word...Take the time to really tell our loved ones just how much we love them (hubs is really getting over me telling him I'm sure!! hehe) and pause to look around at the beauty of our lives everyday. Anyhow.....enough of my little soapbox. This week, everytime I look at the finished project I am going to show you, I smile. How could you not love this little guy??????????

This is the cute little donkey I had been slowly working on over the last few Wednesday nights at my sewing group...

Please focus on his cuteness and ignore the fact that I got too lazy to line up his nose!!!! Makes him more endearing I think!!

I love his wild black mane....

His oversized ears! I also love the cute fabric I chose for his ears and contrasts..

And to top it all off, he has a cute little tail!!!

Don't you just love him!!!! I do too. 

Have a good week all!

Ciao

Bella

xx

Introducing Polly!!

Before I show you what I wanted to today, I firstly wanted to mention that today is the 10th anniversary for 9/11. I have so much respect for those that lost their lives trying to save the lives of others and pause to remember those that are still grieving for family members lost today. My heart goes out to all that lost someone and still misses someone today.



It seems somehow "not right" to just move on and talk about my latest sewing project in light of the above picture doesn't it?? Suffice to say that I hope everyone found time to pause, even for a minute, and reflect on the courageous men and women who really gave everything on that sad day.

Something to make us all smile...

This is Polly. She's cute.

A smiley, happy face

Stripy stockings with a little love heart..

Waiting to be cuddled and loved by someone special...

Ok, now the facts. I got this design from Nest Studio and tweaked it a little (I don't think I have ever followed a pattern exactly as it says???) Anyway, I wanted something easy peasy that would make me smile and this delivered. This one was my "practice" and I currently have another two nearly finished, one in bright bold colours and another in beautiful pastels. I also made one of them half the size (perfect for toddler hands). 

I also think these cute dolls are good for our "big girls" as decoration in their rooms - especially if made with a vintage print...too cute for words. I want one in my room. I just know what hubs is going to say....

Next week I will hopefully have finished my way-too-cute donkey softie (seriously I am obsessed with donkeys. I have already done the research on keeping and breeding mini donkeys in preparation for when we get our land. Yep. I am serious about donkeys!!! Did you know that mini-donkeys make great family pets and they are especially good with the little people??? See, you learn something new when you read this blog!!)

Ok enough rambling. Have a great week everyone!

Ciao

Bella

xx

Cute Animal Rattles....

When hubs and I were in the city, we went to my all time favourite book shop - Kinokuniya. It is a Japanese book shop that has all the mainstream English books plus a whole area set aside for Japanese books. This is where I find the most beautiful crafting books - sewing, crochet, felting - you name it. I could browse for hours and usually find I have a pile of books I want but need to whittle down for purchase. This time around I purchased a few books and one was a book of cute crochet projects from Ana Paula Rimoli. She is so creative and has so many great ideas. She had a pattern for rattles, so I tweaked it a little, added my own ideas and came up with the cutest little animal rattles...

Starting off with a cute panda...

An inquisitive little bunny...

And this one...well he is a little confused. I originally started him as a bunny but gave him a tiger face..

The rattle is in the head and the ring is used for little fingers to hold..

I made the rings in subtle, matte colours

I also turned the bunny into a pretty girl bunny!

I used some rick rack I bought at the vintage textile fair which I thought was perfect!

Cute as can be waiting for some little people to play!

I hope you like them as much as I do!

Ciao

Bella

xx

Cotton Headbands

Hi friends! It has been a busy one this weekend! I have been away on my dear friend Ell's birthday weekend in the Southern Highlands which was so delightful! Although I have come home with infected wisdom teeth AGAIN...grrr I hate them! Anyway, a couple of weeks ago my sister saw a beautiful headband that she loved so I decided to make one for her. I used organic cotton, which feels soooo soft and embellished it with vintage lace and buttons plus a cute little flower.
I haven't seen my sis this week so I had to model this headband myself (which is not my favourite thing to do) so I decided to make it a bit fun! (BTW Cass if you are reading this, this is your headband!! I will give it to you when I see you next....)

This is how I feel about modelling my own stuff...

I actually used a bought pattern for this (shock horror!!) and I got it from this lovely lady..Elisa McLaughlin. She has some really great patterns. I bought her knit headband pattern and I know I will get ALOT of use out of this. It is starting to get a bit warm for a wool headband but I can see myself making lots of cotton ones for spring! 

That's all for me today, I will be back again soon with some (hopefully) finished projects to show you!

Have a good week

Ciao

Bella

xx

Finally!!!!!

When I very first really got into crochet I decided to make a blanket to go on our bed. I wanted to make it in blue tones as hubs isn't really a pink bedspread kind of guy (thankfully!). We have a variety of bedspreads and most of them have blue tones so I thought a blanket made of granny squares in blue tones edged with white would fit the bill. Problem was that I started but then got totally sidetracked by all the other smaller projects I wanted to do...I always find that with me - there are so many projects I want to try that I end up with a whole bunch of smaller ones left unfinished. Well, no more! Last night I knuckled down and finished my blanket as well as 2 other smaller projects I had. I organised my current orders and when they need to be shipped by and am now feeling very organised and efficient! I took a few quick pics this morning of my finished blanket to show you...it's funny that when I look at it now, I cringe at it's simple pattern and not-so-great-workmanship as I had only started to crochet when I began. I guess I can always look back on the blanket with fondness though as it was my first honest to goodness project I completed all by myself!
Here we go...

As you can see it's fairly simple but I like it. It doesn't have too many colours and it's not too busy!

I am glad I made the edging quite thick as when it is laid out flat the edging

makes it. 

So there you go. My very first crochet project! It has been laying around for over a year gathering dust so it was high time it was finished!!!

I am off to work now, the sun is shining and all is well!

Have a great day

Ciao

Bella

xx

Little Princess

It has been a very busy and full weekend! We have had a 1st birthday party and a 40th wedding anniversary, not to mention all the normal weekend activities that normally happen! This weekend we celebrated my neice Macie's 1st birthday! I can't believe she is 1. It feels like just yesterday she arrived into our worlds. She is the most gorgeous little one and I couldn't resist making her a little something to go with her present....

It is the "Princess and the Pea"...

She wears a cute little dress with a heart shaped pocket..

Perfect size for a 1 year old to hold and play with...

I couldn't resist giving her orange plaits...

Here are her little mattresses...

And a little blanket to tuck her into bed...

Complete with "closed eyes" for her sleeping time...

All wrapped up and ready to go into the gift box!

Ready for the party!!!

She did come with a pattern to make the "peas" but I wasn't happy with the finished product, so I will have to fiddle around with it and add it when I am done!

That's it for me today....hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Ciao

Bella

xx

Winter Ritual...

Hi friends! We had the best week this week of the most beautiful sunny weather...you might have even thought spring had arrived early. Not to be outdone, winter has once again reared it's ugly face...probably for a few more weeks yet. I am dying for the warm weather to arrive so I can pack away the heater and enjoy being outside a little more! I am craving warm summer nights outside and it actually being light till at least 730pm!
While winter was still here, hubs and I went and enjoyed a bonfire with the fam...here are some picks...

It was really relaxing, fun and chilled out. The kids LOVED it! What could be better for a kid! We topped off the night with a BBQ and fireworks. 

I have no completed project to show you this week as I have about 3 in the works!!! Life has been pretty hectic this week, not to mention I was struck down with some weird virus during the week. I am nearly back to normal but craving an afternoon nanna nap....which means my lounge is calling...

Have a great week, Ill be back next week to show you my latest project...

Ciao

Bella

xx