Don't look now!

They're all another year older!

In the time that has past between recent infrequent posts all 4 of the little people have managed to click over yet another year. So the home of Don't Look Now has been a buzz with the usual birthday frivolities!

The rather georgous, all be it unimpressed, Miss Megan turned 11!

 
Megan sadly has grown out of my big birthday party productions ...

... but she still managed to drag her celebration out over an entire weekend spending her birthday with her friends at an indoor Go Cart centre ... 

Mini Sumo wrestling, bowling & ...

 
Laser Force!

 ...following it up with movies, a sleep over & roller scating!  

The twins turned 8 in July!!!! Where has the time gone???? It's literally a blur! 

    
After having a ball with Megan and her friends Ben was keen to share his birthday with his friends on the Go Cart Track together with a little Lazer Force of course!  

all of this was just a little too much for our Jessica! Why don't my girls smile for the camera anymore???

Jessica chose a Sewing theme for her party It turned out to be a rather terrific & intimate affair with her two absolute Best Friends in the Whole Wide World!!!!

They made themselves some pyjama pants ...

... a rather cute wall hanging and a felt broach.

They had a wonderful time. Jessica is lucky to have such lovely friends! 

Joshua turned 6  the Tuesday before last and had a rather disgustingly fun Science Party  ...

 ... but you are going to have to come back for the photos because I have some more sewing to do tonight before I go to bed.

But before I go ... you will find this little pencil roll Colour My World featured in this months Homespun Magazine ...

There are a ton of other terrific projects in this months edition so it's well worth taking a peek.

Thank you all for being so patient with me and my spasmodic posts! It is lovely to see so many of you all still stopping by. Thank you also to all of you who have emailed me checking to make sure we were all OK. Thank you guys it really means a lot to me! I am still avoiding Flickr for the time being though because there is only 19 days left until we head off to the Houston so things are a little manic to say the least!!!!

Enjoy your week!

Kellie x

Has anyone seen the keys .....

This is a something I say nearly everyday ... often more than once! If I am to be truthful here, it's only one of many "have you seen" phrases that I utter each day ....

have you seen my scissors .... have you seen the cat ...have you seen Megan ....

A few months ago I made myself a lanyard for my keys ... a very stylish Kaffe Fasset lanyard too I might add which has helped me enormously when it comes to keeping track of my keys ... so I thought this might also be a pretty cool Mother's Day stall gift! Please feel fee to make these for non-profit events such as stalls and for your personal use only. 

Key Ring Lanyard

You will need ...

• 4" of fabric

• Lanyard clip - I got mine when I was in Houston last year from the Bohin stand. I also picked up some garish kids lanyards from our local newsagent for next to nothing and just selvaged the clips. Alternatively you could just use a key ring. 

1. Download pattern and print it out - make sure that when you print out the pattern that there is no scaling and it is printed to it's original size (there is a box marked scaling when the print window pops up that you will need to check before you print). Make a copy of the pattern by tracing it onto a lightweight interfacing joining the two halves along the dotted line. Make sure you identify the fold line on the fusible.

2. Place the pattern on your fabric lining up the edge noted as fold with the folded edge of the fabric. Cut two.

3. With right sides together sew a 1/4" seam along both long edges.

4. Attach a large safety pin to the corner of one end of the tube of fabric. Thread the safety pin back through the entire length of the tube turning the fabric right side out - refer below. 

 

 

5. Press carefully ensuring that the seams become the fold lines.

6. Place the strip of fabric around your neck make sure that the fabric sits flat behind your neck and doesn't twist. Position one end over the top of the other and pin in place.

7. Turn under one end and insert the other end inside the folded end. Blind stitch in place.

 

8. Secure the clip in place by sewing the two halves of the lanyard together on the inside using a blind stitch. 

and that's that ... nothing to it really and surely I wont loose my keys now they are hanging from my neck! Now all I need is a new car ... mmm now that would be a nice Mother's Day present!

I had the pleasure of Sharon's company in my sewing room on Friday and I watched over her first attempts at machine quilting / free motion stitching ...

... not bad for just a couple of hours and lots of Joshua interruptions. Sharon also gave me my Pay it Forward gift 6 beautiful fabric coasters.

Thank you so much Sharon they will be well used!

So now it's my turn ... I will make the first 3 people who put their hand up in their comment to this post a hand made gift. I will have 365 days to get this to you ... and it will probably take that long too mind you!! If you would like to play along you must have a blog and agree to do the same for three other people.

Sharon also gave me these beautiful ear rings which I absolutely love!

I must say that if you are looking for a Mother's Day treat for yourself or your mummy or just for someone special ... Sharon's place place is the place to go!!! This is what I will be wishing for next Sunday!!

... isn't it just beautiful!

Have fun see you later in the week!

Kellie 

PS. Pretty soon there will be a few more places that you will be able find me and my patterns but more about that next post!