Babies and Hoodies and Bunnies Oh My!

Two rabbits I've made recently, all stitched by hand, because that's how I roll...
This one is for sweet baby Nathaniel Joseph, born on Thursday, whose Mum is one of my dearest friends.

And this one is for little Archer, from the Squidygums family!

Kristin made some amazing hoodies for my two children, and as soon as I manage to get a decent picture of them wearing them, I'll share it because they are just gorgeous (the hoodies AND the children!).

Babies and hoodies and bunnies oh my!

So much more fun than drying dishes...

Instead, why not cut up your tea towel to make an iconic softie? This is a commission project that I'm proud to say I completed in a week. If you're not familiar with Kiwi birds, they are a flightless and somewhat strange looking but nonetheless very sweet native New Zealand bird. The brief was to create a kiwi from a New Zealand map, ensuring that the Whakatane was in a prominent place. You may remember the NZ Map train from a while ago?

Right-I'm off to finish my decorations for the great swap! Looking great so far everyone! I just lOVE those colourful birds. Mine are going to be less traditional, but very New Zealandy-I think the Kiwi above has reignited my love for Aotearoa xx

Today

Well, I said I would, and therefore I had to-finish this train! It's a commission project for a lady here in town. It's to send back to her family in Canada. It's made from a New Zealand Map tea towel. I built it up making one section at a time, and piecing them together, and finally adding the wheels and nameplate.


There's little old Whakatane...


With that ticked off the list-it was off to the beach for us. Fabulous.

Zac's first time at the beach. He was so funny when he stepped on the sand for the first time.

A beautiful sunset to finish off a beautiful day.

In Craft News...

In Craft News today at the Speckled Egg household, located in the beautiful Bay of Plenty in Aotearoa/New Zealand we have...

1 Temari Ball made for a lovely Mum of one of the children at my preschool.

And some hairties as well...

1 pirate made for the lovely Kristin, of squidgy widgy woo (how fabulous is that name?). We are doing a swap. I can't wait to share what she is making for me, stay tuned...

And last but not least, one pixie hat, made for a gorgeous little person I know who is turning 1 tomorrow. These are ridiculously easy to make. The tutorial is from here, but I first read about it when Janelle shared it here. Linky love!

Well that brings todays' edition of Craft News to an end. I hope everyone else is having a sunny, crafty and fabulous day too xx

A few softies

Three little things I've made recently...Pirate

Love Bird

Brown Rabbit

All now available in the shop (albeit with AWFUL photos. If anyone knows how to get their photos looking good while still complying to the specifications on Felt can you please let me know? I just keep getting the head cut off anything I try to upload-it's so frustrating and probably really simple to rectify but I'm stumped!) Happy crafting everyone! And Happy Friday too xx

Pow! Zap! Zap!

Ahem... I know Kyans' 1st bithday was all the way back on May 1st, but I just finished his special present from me. K-Man, Kyans' own personal superhero. K-Man has powers including but not limited to-Nocturnal Superenergy-the power to stay up all night and never get tired, and the ability to dazzle a whole room of people with a single flash of his Wondergrin...
At first he didn't want to have his photo taken and said he was busy, looking out for danger...
But I convinced him to turn around eventually.

Even superheroes need a bit of encouragement sometimes.

Shop Update

The only positive of the hideous stomach virus currently residing at our house is that I managed to do a wee shop update. I thought I'd better secure some sort of livelihood, as my actual employers are probably growing quite tired of me, my children and the constant array of bugs we bring home from preschool...

Bring on that holiday everyone's talking about huh?

Good News

Wow! THREE lots of good and exciting news in one day! First of all, I've been invited to be a stall holder at the Ecobubs market featured here.The organisers saw some of my products on Trade Me and got in contact. I'm really excited to be involved, it's my first ever market! Today I was emailed a list of the other stallholders' products and there is everything from natural beeswax crayons, wooden toys, organic merino clothing and eco-friendly nappies. If you happen to be in the Tauranga area please come along and say 'Hi'

A little purse to go into the shop

And a little Eskimo too.

My next exciting piece of news was that the lovely Kim from Heart in the Country has given me an award! Now, the novice blogger here had to send a quick email to find out what an award actually is and what to do with it, and there will be more about it in a future post when I pass it on. Fun!

Red love birds, commissioned for the shop.

And my third piece of good news was that I have won this giveaway! which is so exciting! I love reading Twenty Cent Mixture. A big, speckled, Thank-You to Louise for organising the Kiwi Christmas Ornament Swap, the great blog, the inspiration, and the gorgeous Tote Bag!

So, as you can see, it was a great day for firsts, and for good news! Hope you had some good news today as well.

Good Stuff...

A HUGE (as in-hanging off the end of the table huge)bolt of calico, given to me by a workmate, and some aprons already cut out and waiting for the sewing machine, which, in turn is waiting for the children to go to bed! I'm reminded of this post by the lovely Janelle.

Getting ready for Christmas. Here is Islas' stocking, made from cotton, corduroy and a piece of very vintage lace that belonged to my grandmother.

I'm very excited to be a part of this handmade ornament swap, and wanted to make a start as soon as possible! I had so many ideas, but decided on these felt angels with simple embroidered faces. See more of the swap here

A couple of eskimos for the shop. This one is made from one of my favourite fabrics, you can also see it used on my mixtape, and on the banner of my shop.

And another, this one from Kaffe Fasset fabric (I wanted to see what they'd look like with ears!)

And Islas' theory that this shell must have had a baby, because 'it has a hole in its' tummy, like Mama'. Although she noted that the doctor had neglected to stitch the hole up, so, not exactly like Mama.

(I considered explaining the effects of errosion etc, but the idea of a shell having a cesearean was just too sweet)

Retro Eskimo??

This little retro dude belonged to my Brother-in-law, circa 1981. Isn't he adorable with his little freckles and almond shaped eyes? Is he an eskimo? That's what Isla and I reckon...




Here is my version, take one...



And again (simplify, simplify, I'm always telling myself that, but rarely listening!)

Progress...

I made these Superman cupcakes for Isla to take to a birthday party tomorrow. I find great cupcake papers, cookie cutters and other inspiring party type stuff on Trade Me, for Isla's 2nd birthday, I made jungle cupcakes with these cupcake papers, green icing (awful, I know) and a snake lolly on top of each one.

While we baked, Isla and I chatted about what kind of a party she would like for her 3rd birthday. She wants to have a "Water Party" with sprinklers, a paddling pool, bubbles, water balloons and this cake . I think I'm just as excited as she is! Possibly the conversation was a bit premature as her birthday is not until February, but she recently grasped the idea of birthdays and what they mean. Perhaps because there seem to have been so many of them recently-what is it about September?

In crafty news, I've been working on monsters. Since Kyan was born, I've been trying to think of things to make for boys. It comes naturally for me to choose fabric with pink and yellow roses and to make fairy wings and ballet tutus. So I'm trying to extend my way of thinking when it comes to designing new things.

I made this fellow first, but he's not quite right... Something about the ears, and the pink scarf (why can I not resist pink?).

This is attempt number 2. Getting there, but a bit too octopus-ish.


At least I'm managing to create tangible things now. It's progress...

Surfie Wagon

I made this surfie van for a friends son. He is turning five, which to me seems to be one of the most significant birthdays a child/person has. My friend and I are currently deep in discussion/planning mode for a Monster Party. We found heaps of ideas here .



It's based on an old style Kombi Van, like these and comes complete with surfboard and his name on the numberplate. I hope he likes it!

Wise Owls

My daughter went through a phase of pointing owls out in books whenever she saw them and loudly saying "Tuwoooo! Tuwoooo!" It inspired me to make some out of vintage fabric, with felt and button eyes. This one is my favourite, so much so that I couldn't sell him, and he now belongs to my son.

Later, I was commissioned to make this family of owls in pinks and greens. I adore birds.