Cinderberry Stitches

4yrs times ten

And so on the last day of April it was the 4th anniversary of my 10th Birthday.

I decided to try and scoot under the radar sneak past so people didn't notice...by the end of the week I had gone out for lunch three times, dinner once and blew out the candles on three separate (amazing) cakes.

And among all that celebrating a new Bernina 800DL overlocker arrived in my sewing space, it's better than awesome - I love the new beast.

So much for scooting under the radar hey.

Oh, and there is still one more dinner to go with some fabulous friends - hip hip hooray.

Natalie x

 

6 months

Yep, this little guy is six months old today.

He is getting bigger, smiles at everything and is very ticklish.

He laughs a lot and sleeps well.

We love him more everyday (is that is even possible?)

The biggest laughs are saved for his Sister, she is pretty proud of that.

Her nickname for him is Booboo or sometimes Googoo.

He dribbles.

A lot.

But those smiles get sweeter everyday.

Yep, he's a keeper.

To the moon and back forever x

 

 

Creating something from nothing.

The best kind of sewing days are the ones that make little one's smile a little bigger - where the little one chooses from Mummy's fabric selection and wonders what Mummy is going to whip together while she watches.

Learning, dreaming, watching, making, creating something from nothing.

and then I tell her I am making a little something for her dolly, and she looks at me like this and giggles, with wonder in her eyes and a smile that could get her nearly anything (shhh... don't tell her that).

then she gets to help, learning, dreaming, watching, making, stuffing

and just like that, in a space of an hour you can show a four year old that something can always be made from nothing,

and that makes me smile.

Oh - have you noticed, I'm loving taking photos with my phone at the moment they are the images I would never normally take, it's within reach and captures the day just as it is with no frills and whistles.  They are not perfect images, sometimes blurry, low quality, taken one handed on the run, nothing like what I adore from my SLR  - but it's just everyday life with a bit of crazy thrown in for good measure and the best camera is the one that's in your hands.

Yes, I love that.

Till then,

Natalie x

12 weeks

Welcome 2013 - I wonder what grand things will happen this year?

I know, it's taken me fourteen days, but that's just how life rolls around here.  Reality is, it takes a lot longer for me to sit down and write to you than the quick 2 minute Facebook or Instagram (@cinderberries) update and let's face it - I have a 12 week old and work into the wee hours of the morning.....sometimes I struggle to put two words together.

Did I say 12 weeks?  Yes indeed I did, although I must say it feels like our little guy has been with us forever.  We love him beyond imagination and his big Sister thinks he's rather awesome too.

You can tell by her smile.

Hansome? yes

I found a trick to photograph one fast moving 4 year old....get her to lay down, it worked a treat - and I possibly said the word 'bum' just as I took this photo (a trick I learned from our photoshoot with Sara Taylor last year).  I am not ashamed, if it works roll with it - the laugh was priceless.

Mummy's can be silly too, in my book that is 150% okay.

This little guy couldn't be happier or more relaxed if he tried, and that just about makes my heart sing, and to think that this time last year we were wondering if our family would ever become that of four.

What a difference a year makes.

Quilt pattern - Owlish Cuddle Me Quilt

Fabrics - Sherbet Pips

 

Till then,

Natalie x

Yes it's true....

Coming to our home in 2012

Natalie x

 

Airing the laundry

I know, mundane hey....me airing the laundry.

It was such a beautiful day here yesterday I popped Isabelle's craft table and chairs out side and spent the afternoon in the sunshine.  Paint, shaving cream, playdoh for her.  Hanging out clothes and taking in the fresh air for me.  Even the dog got in on the act and has one green handprint on her back, Isabelle thought it was hilarious. It was.

I have found it hard to blog lately and find myself sitting at the computer wanting to say a billion things but not knowing where to start.  So I just sit and look at the computer, get sidetracked and move on to something else without saying a word.

It drives me crazy, so here I am showing you the washing.  Boring, but oh so pretty and normal with the blue sky and sunshine.

I have decided to blog more often, not always about what is happening in the studio and what is in my hoop because in reality some days when you work from home with another little soul at your feet you might not step into the studio until the sun goes down and the stars appear.

So I guess you might see what we get up to as Mother and Daughter or even just everyday 'mundane' things that I take for granted.  The crafting, the painting, the smiles, the tears. the moment I found Isabelle with a Crayola marker texta and one of my samples from Cotton Floss.

Washing on the line. 

Running bare foot on the grass.

My everyday.

I have decide to leave the camera out on the bench so I look at it everyday and snap away when I feel the urge - rather than think to myself 'wow now that would make a great blog post'.

The next few weeks are going to be crazy mad here.  Crazy, mad and fun.  The moment my fabric lands on my door step, I am guessing there will be tears.  Happy tears.  Then I can finally show you what I have been dreaming about for more than twelve months and you can cry with me, or laugh out loud if you so desire.

So until next time I will leave you with a preview of what will feature in Monday's post.

New pattern.

Two words.

Mush-roomie Flip

And just like that I wrote a post and managed more than 140 characters.

Just wait until you see the fabric that is sitting beside me, and the box of toadstool houses...most definately blogworthy and just like that - my writers block may have faded.

xoxo

Natalie

A 'mummy to do list'

So many things I should have been doing today like finishing of writing my two new patterns, taking some pattern cover images and beginning a new project that needs to be completed, wrapped up and posted by the end of the month.....but sometimes you just have to put work aside. 

It will still be there in the morning.

Instead we wrote a 'Mummy to-do list' I took my daughter to the park, sat in the cool winter sunshine, played in the sand and built sand castles, laughed, played hide & seek in the maze and made chocolate cake - just so she could sit on the kitchen bench, lick the beaters and make a mess, then we sat and watched Peppa Pig together.

The other 'to do list' will still be waiting for me tonight when Izzy is sleeping soundly and the house becomes quiet, actually I love late-late night stitching & I know she will never be this little again. 

I hope you have been enjoying following the Cotton Floss book tour, yesterday the tour stopped by at Pam Kitty Morning's - you know she is always full of fun and I only wished there were not so many miles between us.  If you are interested in winning a signed copy of Cotton Floss pop in and say hello to her, ok?

Today the tour stops at Sarah Fielke amazing blog, can you even believe Sarah has sat and stitched up a pair of Stella and Henry owls that she is giving away...go on, you know you need this pair sitting in your sewing space - How awesome would that be?

Here are the rest of the tour dates....hop on the wagon and visit them all!

Stop 1 -  Monica - Happy Zombie

Stop 2 -  Amanda - Amanda Brooke

Stop 3 -  Pam - Pam Kitty Morning

Today's stop! - Sarah - The Last Piece

Tomorrow! 16^th Krista - Poppyprint

17^th Bari - Bari J

18^th Shari - Doohickey Design Studio

19^th Paige - Paige Hill

 

Ok, that's all for tonight, must sit down and write tomorrow to-do list...

I wonder - what's on your list?

Till then,

Natalie xo

 

The great escape

Last months Shenanygans Shenizzygans.

There is nothing better than a great escape, except finding a toy you forgot you had.

I love these kind of days.

 

So to celebrate the release of Sail Away plus Girls & Dolls it is time for a giveaway - here are the two newest designs to be added to the collection, you can read more about them and view close up snap shots here and here.

Two lucky readers will have to chance to win both patterns.

To join in the fun just leave a comment on this blog post.  Two people will be picked at random on the 18th March  21st March 2011 so let's have a little fun and a giggle along the way.

I am looking forward to hearing what kind of days you love the most or who you would love to stitch the designs for.

Till then,

Natalie

 

PS: New to blogging and not sure how to comment to enter the draw? Just click the 'comment' link below this post to access (word verification is no longer required, yeah!)

Thank you - comments on this post are now closed, you will find the winners names here.

Inquisitive Izzy

Dear Mummy,

Thought I had better tell you,

Do not leave your favorite eraser lying around the house,

When your inquisitive 2 year old is awake.

Love from your daughter, Izzy. xoxoxoxoxo

 

Dear Izzy,

Thanks for your advice.

I will heed your warning *next time*

Love Mummy. xoxoxoxoxoxo

 

 

Till then,

Natalie xo

You better not pout

It's Christmas Eve.

Carols, last minute wrapping, eating candy canes and fruit cake, getting the apples ready for Rudolph, thinking about what toppings will go on my plum pudding tomorrow...you know, the 'important' things in life.

So while I am thinking about my Dad's brandy sauce,  I just wanted to pop past and wish you a Merry Christmas - enjoy your day where ever it may be.

Eat.Love.Play

It is time for me to take a little blog break while I spend some time with the Family.

Thank you so much for stopping by throughout the year, thank you for saying hello or for just being quiet while I do the talking, thank you for letting me know you enjoy reading my updates - it is easy to forget how big the internet reach is when I am typing away on my laptop in the middle of the night (or day).

Take care over the festive season and may the New Year be bigger and better that you ever imagined

Till then,

Natalie xo

PS...and if you miss me I am often found on the corner of here and here