August 2011 archive

Pirate Birthday Party

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Mr 2 recently turned 3. Like a lot of kids he spent most of the last twelve months perusing my birthday cake books trying to select the cake that he wanted for his third birthday. He chose a sword cake and we had the following conversation countless times in the lead up to his party:
“I’m having a sword party!”
“You can’t have a sword party, you can have a sword cake. How about a pirate party? Pirate’s have swords.”
“… … …”
“Mummy can make you some really cool pirate things!”
“… I want a sword cake.”
“OK, let’s have a pirate party with a sword cake.”

Ah, clever Mummy I hear you say. Well, true to my word I planned a pirate party complete with a sword cake

pirate ninja-breadmen

pirate vests for the boys and gold skirts for the girls (I ran out of maroon fabric and got creative with some gold satin pillow cases that I have been wanting to upcycle) along with pirate hats and telescopes (which turned into swords within the first five minutes!).

We had planned a treasure hunt complete with pirate maps in the garden, but it rained all day, so instead we played a fishing game. We held up a sheet across a doorway and the kids had to go fishing asking, “Mr Fishy, Mr Fishy what do you have for me?”. Mr Fishy would give them a funny surprise (anything you can hook on a plastic fishing rod; think whisk, socks, baby toys) but they all ended up with their bag party favours. The kids LOVED this game and I highly recommend it. We also played the classic “Musical Statues” and I set out a load of craft supplies and pirate themed pictures which allowed the kids to have some quiet time when needed.

The party was a sucess and I really enjoyed making the kid’s outfits. The pirate vests were based on a size 5 t-shirt, with a gold sash attached at the waist (slightly gathered to give shape), gold buttons (I LURVE making my own buttons!) and a pirate skull and crossed swords appliqued on. The hats and telescopes were made from black cardboard with pirate skull and crossed swords glued on. Let me know if you want more details on the costumes, they were really quick and easy to make. My enthusiasm was only slightly dampened when the birthday boy refused to put his costume on because he was having a sword party, not a pirate party! Nothing like being outsmarted by a three year old!

Posted in Costumes, Kids, Party | Leave a comment

Hello!

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I have been thinking about and planning this blog for a while now. My other blog, Suburban Adventures, is about our family life in Noumea, New Caledonia. It started out simply as a open letter to friends back in 2009 and has morphed into something that is more public. I don’t get into the specifics about our family so much, and try to provide readers with more information on what life can be like in Noumea.

This blog, well, this blog is about my other passion. Creating with fabric. I LOVE coming up with an idea, drawing up the designs, putting it together and then knowing that someone (even if it is only me or my family) will use it. I’m hoping to start a business selling some of my creations. I’ve spent a long time thinking it through and have come to the realisation that we all need to start somewhere. So here I am!

So, I’ll stop boring you silly and will share a couple of photos with you.

This is my sewing machine (and yes, it uses very little bobbins!).

It belonged to my Nanny and I LOVE it. It could sew through slate. I have all of the original bits and pieces (including the manual and various feet), use it almost every day and have even tried to give it a bit of a home service. Every time I use it I think of my Nanny. I love that it has a history and look forward to teaching my kids to sew on it. I’m sure it will still be going strong in another 30 years!

Here are some of my fabrics. I’m a bit of a hoarder and have collected fabric everywhere I have lived and traveled. For me, fabric is art. I have always loved looking at fabric and touching it. I remember trips to the fabric store with my Mum as a little girl, touching the lovely soft fabrics and marveling at the rainbow of colours. For me, the best part of any museum or gallery has always been any costumes on display. The amazing detail and effort that has gone into these pieces of art which are then actually worn by someone. Not just hung on the wall for a select few to admire. I look forward to sharing my adventures in fabric with you. And to give you a little preview, here is the current project that I’m working on :) It is a gift, so I can’t show too much ;P