You look like gold to me...

I had been wanting to buy some Koigu Premium Merino for ages, and was lucky enough to get some 40% off online at Purl Soho!  In exactly the colour I wanted, despite there being only two colours left by the time I found out about the sale.  Intended for this little girl's dress found at the Purl Bee.  No urgency to make it as it won't fit Strawberry until next year, maybe not even then.  Which is great, as I cannot actually crochet yet!  The yarn does seem every bit as beautiful as the descriptions I had read, and the colour is a gorgeous orangey-red.  Just delicious!

One year old

We had our little party for Strawberry's first birthday on the weekend, which was great.  Lots of girlie looking treats, flowers and paper dolls on the walls, and more little kids than we have ever had before at a party!  Most of whom loved running wild in the backyard.

The cake was inspired by the classic Australian Women's Weekly one, but decorated in a girlie way.  I had to use musk sticks as I just love them and wanted an excuse to eat them!  Just the classic butter cake with buttercream icing (Women's Weekly recipes of course).  I think it's really worth making the cake from scratch rather than a packet mix- it just tastes much better and is still easy.

Can't believe our little girl is one- she still looks like a baby to me- yet she thinks she's a grown-up and says 'bye-bye baby' to older kids!



And no, I didn't end up making her dress- too much deliberating over fabric and pattern choices and too little time in the end.  So thank you Esprit DFO for a lovely party frock for our little doll.  And thank you to the birthday girl herself- what a joy you are for us!

Well loved

Happy Valentine's Day!

My lovely husband gave me a waffle iron (no, he doesn't usually get me kitchen appliances but he knew I wanted one) and so we all enjoyed heart-shaped waffles for breakfast.  I'm yet to perfect the recipe and technique but still pretty good stuff!

I have spent some of today going through my old toys (pretty much dolls) to see if there is anything suitable for Strawberry.  Several of the most special ones are now spotty with rust.  I'm torn between whether to keep them or not.   Especially as I've kept them this long!

Hannah here is the only example left of a doll I made as a child.  I was given this book from Mum when I was in primary school, and loved it.  It was about a little girl making dolls and quilts in the 1800s on the Kansas prairie.  I also did a doll quilt kit from the same range (still have another one not yet made up) and a Christmas cross-stitch.  All very much in keeping with the whole country look popular at the time - I remember tea-dyeing stuff!  So maybe the rusty look would be considered okay?

This is the remainder of her little wardrobe.  The doll and clothes were all hand sewn- pretty apparent if you look close enough.  I love the drawstring on the pantaloons, just the sewing thread!

Last of all are these- Strawberry Shortcake and her cat made from a panel by Mum, a pegasus toy given to me at birth and two Holly Hobbies.  All rusty!  Maybe this will be the last evidence I have of them or maybe I won't be able to let go.  I am tempted to cut up Holly on the left's non-rusty dress for that great 70s patchwork print! 

Plodding, and party plans!

This week I am still feeling a little off and so really am just plodding along, struggling to do anything much outside of work, and feeling like I am falling behind with basic things I have to do- like dropping off dry-cleaning and mending.  That said, my husband has been great, the kids remain charming, and I should be feeling a bit brighter soon!

We have hit our run of February birthdays, which will now include Strawberry turning 1!  So I have been starting to plan her little party.  These invitations by Suzy Ultman I picked up a while back at the GOMA shop, not sure if they'd be used anytime soon, but it turns out Strawberry loves dolls already, so they seemed appropriate.  I doubt anyone loves them as much as I do though!   Such a cute design with gorgeous envelopes and stickers.  Now to plan a cake and party dress!