white mouse creations

whose job?

2012-02-16T14:13:00.001+11:00

I finally had a chance to hang the Irish Linen towel that I bought at this fair. I thought the story was funny and I could picture it hanging in my house. I was initially looking to frame it, but didn’t want to spend a fortune. I’ve been looking for frames at op-shops, but unsuccessfully.

Then one night I couldn’t sleep and kept thinking about how I could hang it. The idea came and I couldn’t wait for the morning to come! Basically, I bought a dowel ($3.25) and cut 2 pieces to the size of the towel.

I nailed two small nails into the sides of one of the dowel pieces, for the string. I then sewed two strips of calico to the top and bottom of the towel as sort of slings for the dowel pieces. Finally, I tied the string between and two nails and hung the towel on the wall.

I’m quite happy with the result. I do, however, need to take it off now and give it a good wash and iron. :) (Just looking at the photos all together and realising how different light angles to the camera make the same wall look like its painted in 3 different colours!)

What have you been up to this week? To visit other lovely creative spaces go HERE!

envelope tees

2012-02-07T14:03:00.001+11:00

Over Christmas and my birthday I was lucky to get a number of craft / sewing books as gifts. One of them is “Growing Up Sew Liberated” by Meg McElwee. I now own both of her books and I have to say, they are both really good. So, over the weekend I got to make my first project: envelope tees.

The pattern and instructions were very good, and it was a quick project. I made the first shirt for Maria (as practice) and I quite liked it. I then made a second shirt, in a smaller size, for our new member of the family.

The shirts are made of knit fabric, so they are soft and comfy to wear for little tykes. Most people are afraid to work with knits and give up after a first attempt, or don’t try at all. It is sad because knits are actually quite easy to master with the right tools (ball point needles, quality polyester thread, zig-zag stitch). And the best part about knits is that generally they don’t fray, so seam finishing is a breeze!

I am addicted! I’m planning on making quite of few of them for Maria to wear. The only thing I will change on the pattern is adding extra length. I found them slightly too short. The pattern also has a long sleeve version, which will be great for cooler months.

another skirt

2012-02-02T13:02:00.001+11:00

So I made another skirt in the same pattern as this one. This post is slightly overdue, since I made the skirt more than a month ago.

I really like this skirt style and I saw an opportunity to use some of my precious Liberty fabric for the pockets and the hemline. The rest of the skirt is made of light-weight denim. This was a quick project and very rewarding. One more item to add to my ‘handmade’ wardrobe!

p.s. head over to our creative spaces to see some more handmade loveliness

maria’s ruffle shirt

2012-01-17T13:30:00.001+11:00

This is the ruffle shirt I made Maria to wear on her first birthday. When I first saw the shirt featured on MeSewCrazy (made by A Couple of Craft Addicts) I knew I had to make it. Such a cute shirt for a little girl. Lucky for me there was a tutorial to follow!

I am very happy with how it turned out. The fabrics I used were Kei Japan Flower Patch in Aqua and coordinating Robert Kaufman Kona Solids in Eggplant. I was also lucky to find some buttons in the matching colour. The tutorial was easy to follow, although I made a few adjustments. I reduced the width of the ruffles from 2” to 1.5”, and the back button panel from 4” to 3”. It was a bit difficult not knowing the seam allowances and just guessing, but it worked in the end. I think for my next shirt (there will be another one!) I will take Maria’s measurements and make a more accurate pattern.

happy first birthday

2012-01-16T12:38:00.001+11:00

Over the weekend we celebrated Maria’s first birthday. I can’t believe she is one already; it seems as if only yesterday we brought her home from the hospital.

It was a small party (family and a couple of our close friends) and we held it at Mount Annan Botanical Gardens (NSW). The place is lovely and the weather turned out perfect. I made simple decorations consisting of tissue paper pom-poms and paper chains.

I also had a garland of photos of Maria on her monthly birthday during the year. It was nice to see the development and changes in her every month.

As for the cake…. I wanted Maria to have her own small cake that she could enjoy all by herself, so I made a small vanilla sponge with vanilla icing. I piped the number 1 and the flowers in the theme colours.

For the guests I made cupcakes and printed Maria’s cheeky face as the decoration. I was inspired by the idea I saw on Pinterest and decided to make something similar.

It was a lovely celebration and although Maria won’t remember it, there will be lots of pictures to show her when she is older.

p.s. a separate post about Maria’s outfit shall follow!

in the post

2012-01-12T19:58:00.001+11:00

A few days ago my mailbox held a small parcel, and inside was this small white box…

and in the box were my new mini business cards!!! YAY!!!! They are small, simple and hold all the info I want. I love them!

I got them printed through a wonderful online print shop called MOO.

p.s. if you are thinking of having something printed through moo, let me know and I might be able to help you get a 10% discount off your first order!

a bag and a pouch

2011-12-27T17:23:00.001+11:00

Now that Christmas is over I can show you the gift I made for my mum-in-law.

Better Homes & Gardens had a pattern for a similar bag in one of the issues and my mum-in-law mentioned that I could make her a bag like that for Christmas. I was happy oblige.

The outer bag is made from Japanese quilting cotton and the lining is cotton from Spotlight. The bag features bamboo handles, a couple of pockets and a magnetic clasp.

I am very happy with how it turned out. The handles are a bit flimsy though and move around within the loops. I told my mum-in-law that if they become too much of a nuisance I will replace them with something else.

The above pouch is my first custom order though my Etsy store – very exciting! :)

merry christmas

2011-12-24T20:43:00.000+11:00

("The Annunciation" by Fra Angelico; image source)

"And I, I celebrate the day

That You were born to die

So I could one day pray for You to save my life"

("I celebrate the day" by Relient K)

a busy time of the year

2011-12-22T17:23:00.001+11:00

I can’t believe the last time I blogged was the 1st of December! This month has just flown by!!! The last few weeks I’ve been working hard on my Christmas presents, and they are still not all finished. I’ve been also kicking myself for deciding to make items that are time consuming and something I have never made before – GLOVES!

So, I made three pairs…. and it took a lot longer than I hoped. The third pair turned out the hardest (should be the easiest the third time around?), but I’m happy with the overall result. The recipients of the gloves live in the northern hemisphere and hopefully will find the gloves useful during the current winter. {Pattern – Vogue 7949}

I am also yet to start on a tote bag from the above fabrics. The Japanese black flowery cotton is the main fabric and the pale green with pink flowers is the lining. I am currently adjusting the pattern to a smaller size and hopefully will begin to sew tonight.

Finally, to top off my already busy to-do-list this wonderful distraction arrived in the mail: my new “The Colette Sewing Handbook” and 2 Colette dress patterns. I already read the first 2 chapters and its very hard to put the book down. I am looking forward to reading it through and putting the sewing techniques into practice (the book comes with 5 patterns to practice the lessons learned).

How has your month of December been? Are you ready for Christmas??

on the agenda today…

2011-12-01T10:32:00.001+11:00

Firstly, a huge THANK YOU to Heather Butler of MikiandHeather for including my grey sewing box into her lovely Etsy Treasury titled “I think I ought to GET ORGANISED!”. This is my first treasury ever and I am very honoured and excited!!!!

On another note, since today is the First of December, I have decided to take out my Christmas decorations and put up the tree. I am looking forward to seeing how Miss M reacts to it and whether she will get motivated to perfect her crawling ability.

What are you up to today? {More creativity happening over HERE}

grand opening

2011-11-29T14:45:00.001+11:00

My Etsy store is finally opened for business! YAY! I’ve been thinking about opening a store for a couple of years now, and I have finally done it. Here are a couple of the items I listed today:

Tissue Holders

“My Sewing Box'” gift boxes

Come and visit my new SHOP and tell me what you think! :)

the way we wear fair

2011-11-27T15:57:00.001+11:00

This morning, Katia and I made a trip to The Way We Wear Fair in Marrickville Town Hall. The fair is all about vintage clothing, accessories, footwear, etc. There was also a “Titanic costume exhibition of original 1910 – 1920 consumes”.

The dresses above and below were my favourite at the fair. Both of them (I think) are 1940s era and I just love this style. I am determined to make one for myself now (as soon as I find a pattern!). I would have loved to buy them, but for a cost of $200-$300, they were slightly above my price range…

I did buy something though…. This lovely vintage tote bag, and

a linen tea towel, made in Ireland, with some fun writing on it. I have some grand plans for it!

I am linking up with Flea Market Finds today, so head over there and browse other thrifty adventures. :)

jeanie pants

2011-11-24T14:32:00.001+11:00

Confession: I made these a few weeks ago, but only now got a chance to blog. So, here are my new Jeanie pants!

The pattern is #109 from Burda 07/2010 issue. I borrowed it from the library and now I wish I had a copy. Anyways, I had 2 meters of a lovely soft and thin knit fabric I bought for a skirt (fabric from the The Fabric Store in Sydney). But when I saw the Jeanie pants, I had to use the fabric for them instead. I am very happy I did (I do have some leftover and might squeeze a skirt from it after all).

Sewing with knit fabric is tricky, but not impossible. The pattern was quite easy and it didn’t take me long (1 day to cut and another to sew). I did modify the pattern slightly. In the original, the crotch sits much lower than mine, and it didn’t look nice. So I raised it and made it more curvy (like in normal trousers). I’m quite happy with the result. The waist band also has belt loops and I used a snap closure instead of a button.

The only thing I am not 100% happy about is that the waist band has about 3 layers on the front, which creates a bit of bulk. But it’s not that big a deal and I still love my new Jeanie pants! Very comfy! :)

{Find more creative spaces HERE}

christmas preparations

2011-11-10T13:25:00.001+11:00

This week I have been working on my Christmas decorations. I managed to make some bunting from a bunting panel I bought at Spotlight. There is also a tiny hamster (from Mollie Makes magazine) that is waiting to be stuffed.

The cross-stitched tree will be turned into a decoration as well.

Finally, the pile of felt is waiting to be used to make gorgeous little tree decorations from the Christmas issue of Better Homes & Gardens.

What are your preparations for Christmas? {More creative spaces are here}

friends swap–the one i sent

2011-11-04T17:05:00.001+11:00

This is part 2 of my 2011 Friends Swap adventure. My wrapping of the gifts was very simple: brown paper and letter stickers.

Gift for “F” was chocolates. These are my favourite and I hoped Helen would like them.

“R” – redwork embroidery. The dog is actually a drawing of a dog toy that Helen has in her craft room. I spotted the toy while browsing through Helen’s blog and the idea to embroider it just sprang in my mind. The wording is from one of my crafty magazines.

“I” – red ink stamp.

“E” – some colourful embroidery floss.

“N” – embroidered needle case.

“D” – Helen likes and makes dolls, so I thought I would add one to her growing collection. (While making the necklace, I tipped my organised container of seed beads and had to pick thousands of them off my carpet!)

“S” – a stamp I carved. I had to make sure it worked so I did a few practice stamps. I washed it as best I could but red ink is very hard to get off.

This swap was a great adventure and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you, Khristina, for organising it and Helen, for being my lovely partner.

friends swap–the one i received

2011-10-26T13:42:00.001+11:00

I recently participated in the FRIENDS swap, hosted by Khristina of Sew Prim Khris. The idea of the swap was to send 7 gifts to your swap partner, one gift for each letter of the word ‘friends’.

My swap partner was Helen of Helbel’s World of Craft. When the parcel arrived I opened the box and was excited to see my beautifully wrapped gifts plus two extra!

So, here are the beautiful things Helen sent me. “F” – hand embroidered friendship pillow

“R” – Rocklea Road chocolates

“I” – inspiration, consisting of a magazine, embroidery threads, ribbons, buttons and tea!

“E” – Earrings kit

“N” – notebook and pen

“D” – daisy fabric and dog button

“S” – stitchery kit

Helen also sent a couple of extra gifts. One was for my little girl, a lovely kids book.

The other gift was a magnet, for my growing magnet collection, and a drawstrings pouch with a pocket in the front.

Helen truly spoilt me with her gifts! I can’t wait to start using all the lovely things she sent. Thank you Helen!!!

a ball to play with

2011-10-20T18:14:00.001+11:00

In my creative space this week I made a ball for my little miss to play with.

I followed this tutorial and it was very easy to make (another tutorial here). I used scraps from my stash for this project. I was contemplating inserting a rattle or bell inside but then just decided to make the ball without one.

Miss M seems to like it.

{More creative spaces are @ our creative spaces blog}

sunshine in the mail swap - the one i received

2011-10-15T12:20:00.001+11:00

This post is part 2 of my Sunshine in the Mail swap adventure. My mystery sender was Sheree, the swap organiser.

The gifts were beautifully wrapped into a lovely soft scarf and accompanied by a lovely note. Sheree sent me two sets of beautifully made note cards, that she painted herself. The smaller set had Bible verses written on them, which was a nice addition.

I also received a gorgeous crochet flower broach with beading detail in the centre and a packet of Sweet Pea flower seeds (can’t wait to plant them!).

Thank you Sheree for my beautiful gifts and for organising the swap. It was great fun participating.

The recap of all the participants and the gifts can be found here.

a pink shirt

2011-10-13T10:35:00.001+11:00

The past few weeks have been very busy and I haven’t really had time for any creative adventures or blogging. I did, however, manage to sew a little shirt for one of my nieces.

The pattern came from one of the Russian sewing magazines (my mum sends me some occasionally) and it was relatively easy (the collar and sleeves gave me a bit of a headache though). I also embroidered a little bunny peeking out on the front of the shirt (as shown in the photo below – love that shot!)

Miss E seems to be pleased with her new shirt and she is the cutest model ever!

sunshine in the mail swap - the one i sent

2011-09-29T08:42:00.003+10:00

Recently I participated in the Sunshine in the Mail swap. We had to choose 3 out of 5 items on the list to send. The swap organiser Sheree also decided it would be fun to do a "secret swapper", where the person to whom you send the package is not the same one you receive your package from.

So my receiving swapper was Rita from At This Shore. I had a look at her blog to source out what she might like and in the end this is what I sent:

3D Parrots notecard - I made this card a while back and I decided it was time to part with it. The birds remind me of Spring (main theme for the swap) and it also fell into the Note Card / Stationary category.
Fairy Notebook - Rita is a painter / drawer and I thought a small notebook with blank pages will be handy for small sketches. I cross-stitched the fairy to make it pretty (pattern from this book)
Beaded Daffodil - I noticed on Rita's blog that she completed a "Which flower are you?" survey and her result was Daffodil. Also, apart from drawing Rita does beautiful beading and I thought she would (hopefully) like my attempt at beading the Daffodil.
Rainbow crayon - I've been wanting to attempt these for a while and decided to give it a go. It kinda worked, although next time I won't mix too many colours together. A crayon was a small addition to the notebook to do sketches with.

So, I wrapped up all the gifts and sent them on their way to Latvia. They arrived and Rita said some lovely things about my creations. I am very very happy she was pleased!!!

p.s. in my next post I will reveal the parcel I received from this lovely swap.

new from old

2011-09-14T13:07:00.000+10:00

About 5 years ago I bought this dress to attend a wedding. I liked it at the time and thought it looked nice (I think I was the only one). Since then, the dress hung in my closet and has never been worn again.

Last week I decided it was time to make a small alteration. So I cut it! About 30cm was taken off the hem.

The result? An awesome new dress that I wore to a Hens Night party on Saturday night.

I'm very happy I finally did something to it and now I can wear it again and again!

mcs: a new skirt

2011-09-01T12:26:00.001+10:00

This week in my creative space I made a skirt and used my new overlocker for the first time!!! This is a second item of clothing that I made for myself and I quite like it!

I was inspired to make the skirt after seeing the one Karyn of Make Something made using the Simplicity 2226 pattern. I flipped through my collection of Burda sewing magazines and found a very similar pattern to the Simplicity one. I figured, with a couple of adjustments I could make this type of skirt.

I think it worked. I will be making another version of this skirt, but with a few adjustments: wider waist band, slightly less gathering at the front and a bit shorter in length. I bought some Liberty of London fabric for the next version, so I can’t wait to start on it!

What have you been up to this week? {Find more lovely creativity over HERE}

wordless wednesday: a game of dice

2011-08-31T11:23:00.001+10:00

i have received an award!

2011-08-29T09:52:00.000+10:00

The other day I was awarded the Versatile Blogger Award by lovely Sheree from Seaweed & Raine. THANK YOU SHEREE! I am very honoured to have received it!

Since I have accepted the award, here is what I have to do:

Thank the person who gave the award and link back to them in the post;
Share 7 things about myself;
Pass the award along to 15 recently discovered blogs.

7 things about myself:

I am a follower of Jesus;
I am married to the best guy and I have a beautiful little girl;
My favourite colour is blue;
I did 7 years of piano lessons when I was young;
My favourite craft is sewing;
I love cats;
I would like to travel to Switzerland, Canada, Japan, France and New Zealand.

And the award goes to:

another needle case

2011-08-25T11:05:00.000+10:00

This week I made another needle case for a crafty friend.

The mushroom cross-stitch pattern is from a collection of Russian patterns I have at home (a folder full of random patterns).

The mushroom fabric for lining came from my crafty friend (the same one the case is for). I didn't have anything that would match my embroidery, so I kindly asked to borrow a small piece. I think she suspected something, but didn't say anything.

{Check out more lovely spaces @ ourcreativespaces}

mcs - painting...

2011-08-18T09:14:00.002+10:00

This week I have been painting, sanding, more painting... The project is nearly done. Only one more coat of paint, glue everything in place, engrave the plaque, and hang on the wall! Can't wait!

What are you up to this week? {More creativity over here}

wordless wednesday: pretty in pink

2011-08-17T08:45:00.002+10:00

completed!

2011-08-14T17:48:00.001+10:00

My embroidered hands are completed, framed and {not yet} gracing a wall in my house (haven’t found the most appropriate place yet).

Credits:

Idea inspired by {this} and {this}
Hand models: hubby, myself and Miss M
Mediums used: 100% linen cloth and white embroidery thread
Numbers cross-stitch pattern: Marie Claire Idees, Issue 74
Frame: IKEA Ribba {32x42 cm}

mcs–stitching

2011-08-11T20:46:00.002+10:00

Today I have been stitching. This little project is for my home and it incorporates my family. It is quick and I’m nearly finished. Can’t wait to have it done and hanging on my wall.

What have you been creating? {More lovely creations are @ our creative spaces}
{edited to add: this idea is not my original, I got my inspiration from here and here}

my block for the partnership quilts

2011-08-09T13:46:00.001+10:00

So this is my contribution for the Partnership Quilts (hanging on the fridge with the aid of my magnetic pegs).

The theme for 2012 was “Squares & Triangles”, so I used the disappearing nine patch pattern for the block and added a few triangles in there. The scraps from the quilt I’m making for Miss M were just perfect for the project.

I did most of the block by hand, which explains the wonky and not perfectly aligned pieces. I also had to redo the border, as the original ended up being too thin and making the whole block too small for submission (had to adhere to the size requirements).

I’m quite happy with the result and the block is now on its way to Japan to be put into a quilt. If you would like to see other contributions, have a look at this Flickr group.

mcs–all about buttons

2011-08-04T14:57:00.001+10:00

In my creative space this week I am organising my buttons. I have decided that a tall jar of buttons is not helpful when looking for a button of a specific colour. So I sorted them into a storage box. Now I can see what colours I have and how many of each. Makes me happy!

How do you like to store your buttons? For more creative spaces this week head over to Our Creative Spaces blog.

a needle case

2011-07-30T18:26:00.001+10:00

The other day I had a friend come over for a full day of crafty activities. She brought a couple of project books and in one of them there was a pattern for a perfect needle case. I have been in need of one for a while now, but was not quite happy with the standard book-like cases. So when I saw this particular pattern I knew I had to make it!

The main reason I loved this case was that it closes in on the sides. I guess I just like the needles to be as enclosed as possible.

The embroidery pattern is from the "Made In France" book and the needle case pattern is from the "Sew Pretty Homestyle" book.

snail mail swap

2011-07-21T16:51:00.000+10:00

Seaweed & Raine is organising “Sunshine in the Mail” Snail Mail Swap. If you would like to participate head over here and read all about it.

mcs–fluffy

2011-07-14T08:40:00.001+10:00

This week in my creative space I am knitting once again.

I started on my “lacy scarf” kit that I got from Bendigo Woollen Mills stall at the craft show. The pattern is very easy, but the yarn is a bit tricky to work with. On one hand, the small fluffy loops always get caught onto the needles. On the other hand, however, the fluffiness of the yarn means the knitting doesn’t have to be perfect. Once its finished, the scarf will be soft, snugly and warm and I’m looking forward to wearing it!

Other creative spaces are found here.

wordless wednesday–a wheelbarrow of colour

2011-07-13T11:45:00.001+10:00

[Join Wordless Wednesday here]

jumper for miss m

2011-07-11T13:02:00.001+10:00

I finally finished knitting this cosy jumper for my little girl. I used the pattern from this fabulous magazine and I am very happy with the result. The pattern was quite easy and it taught me a few techniques. One of the things I learnt is that substituting recommended yarn for something else doesn’t always work (even if you do a tension swatch). I ended up using 6 50g balls instead of 3. The jumper turned out to be quite think so maybe I’m just a super tight knitter!

The only thing I’m not happy about is the neck area. The opening is very tight and its already difficult to put on / take off. I might alter it for a better fit. (Note: I omitted the pom-poms from the hood and added a crochet flower on the front instead)

classic desk phone

2011-07-07T22:11:00.001+10:00

[image]

How awesome is this classic desk phone? It takes me back to my childhood where I would sit next to a phone like that and talk for hours with my friend. Oh, I just would LOVE to have this in my house!!!!

I discovered the item while flipping through the June 2009 issue of Real Living and jumped online to search for it. In Australia its available from Outliving (there may be other stockists I’m not aware of). The shop is also full of super cool items for the home, so go and have a look yourself!

the beautiful wedding

2011-07-04T17:17:00.001+10:00

bow clutch for a wedding

2011-07-02T16:42:00.001+10:00

This Sunday I am attending a wedding. This wedding is special for two reasons:

my best friend is marrying my brother-in-law, thus becoming my sister, and
I am a Maid of Honour for the first time!!!

We’ve got everything ready for the big day, but I decided that I was missing a clutch bag to keep small things in (tissues, lip gloss, etc). So I made one.

I didn’t have the right fabrics for the project, the ones that can hold structure of the bag well. I just used whatever I could find in my stash and cheated with inserting some cardboard for stiffness.

I lined it with some Japanese silk I had in my stash. I think it turned out ok, although it won’t last long. The white material is so soft that it might actually rip under the pressure of the magnetic clip and the cardboard will probably bend too.

It will do for the day, however. I will only have it during reception and it will probably sit on the floor. Maybe sometime in the future I will make another one, with the same design but better internal structure.

mcs: magnetic pegs and how to make them

2011-06-30T08:52:00.001+10:00

I’ve wanted to make some magnetic pegs for my fridge for a while now. So this week I decided to just do it and ended up making 21.

I also thought that writing a tutorial for this simple and fun project might be a good idea. So if you would like to make some magnetic pegs for yourself, here is how you do it.

Supplies:

Wooden pegs
Fabric scraps
Glue
Iron
Ruler
Craft scissors
Rotary cutter or fabric scissors
Magnet strips (utilise those free mailbox magnets)

Step 1: Measure the length and width of your pegs (for example, the one’s I used were 72mm long and 9mm wide). Measure and cut out magnet strips 2mm smaller than your pegs (in my case, the magnetic strips were 70mm long and 7 mm wide).

Step 2: Glue the magnet strips to one of the peg sides. Ensure to glue the non-magnetic side of the strips to the pegs.

Step 3: Iron the fabric scraps you wish to use. Glue the other side of the pegs to the wrong side of your fabric scraps. Leave to dry.

Step 4: Using the rotary cutter or fabric scissors cut away the excess fabric as close as possible to the peg. Dilute a few drops of craft or PVA glue in a few drops of water. Using a paintbrush, apply the solution over the glued fabric, ensuring you cover the edges well. Once dry, this will prevent the fabric from fraying.

Step 5: Let the pegs dry out completely. Now stick them to the fridge or your magnet board and enjoy your handiwork!!!

I am off to make myself a cup of tea and browse through the spaces!

NewLook 6807: Pattern C in Roses

2011-06-28T15:53:00.001+10:00

I made a new top for myself! I had the pattern and the lovely roses fabric in my stash for a while, but the inspiration to make it came a few days before the craft show. I just had to wear it on that day and lucky for me, I finished it on time.

The pattern and instructions were very easy to follow, although I made a few adjustments. Firstly, I tried to make the neck to sit a bit higher, as the one on the pattern is a bit low for me. Second, the size I cut out ended up being very loose and long, so I had to take in the side and back seams. I also took in a bit extra at the shoulder seams. For my next top I am definitely cutting out the next size down.

I love the way it turned out. Jersey fabric drapes nicely and doesn’t need ironing. The flowing style of the top is just what I need to conceal my still present post baby belly. I am definitely making another one of these, maybe in a short sleeve version. :)

(picture from here)

craft & quilt show

2011-06-26T14:35:00.001+10:00

I didn’t expect to go to the show this year. It’s a bit tricky with a 5 month old. I won a ticket, however, and my hubby was happy to look after Miss M for the day, so I was able to go!

I had a lovely time! I went with my new friend Katia, got to meet Toni from Make it Perfect and bought a couple of goodies (the best one being an A1 double sided cutting mat for very cheap)!

I can’t wait to get started on my Gabriella bear from Brentwood Bears (I’ve been wanting to make one for a couple of years now) and the scarf kit from Bendigo Woollen Mills. The beautiful owl fabric by Saffron Craig is yet to be allocated to a project. For now it can just sit there and make me happy.

What did you get up to on your weekend?

partnership quilts

2011-06-17T13:29:00.000+10:00

Have you heard about Partnership Quilts? I haven't until a few days ago.

The blocks are submitted by people all over the world, then pieced together into quilts and displayed at the annual Tokyo Quilt Festival. At the end of the festival the quilts will be sold to help the earthquake victims.

Everyone is welcome to participate and I definitely will. If you would like to participate as well, head over to Pink Penguin and read all about it. I'm very excited and can't wait to get started on my block.

mcs–cutting out

2011-06-16T12:37:00.001+10:00

In my creative space this week I am busy cutting out 5 inch squares. I have been inspired to make a quilt and it will be my first one! All I have to do it cut out 80 squares and the rest is easy (I hope).

This week I have also discovered a love for my rotary cutter and a cutting mat. I always used to mark the lines on fabric and cut with scissors. But that is in the past now! So much quicker, straighter and easier with a rotary cutter. I just wish I used it for my past projects.

For more creative spaces visit Our Creative Spaces page. My favourite this week is here.

five months already!

2011-06-14T20:30:00.001+10:00

royal kitchen tea

2011-06-09T16:56:00.001+10:00

Last weekend I had the honour of being a member of the team to organise a kitchen tea for a very good friend of mine. The theme was “royal kitchen tea” and everyone had to wear a tiara. We had some lovely food, fun games and lots of presents for the bride to open.

As a gift from me, I made the bride a double sided apron. I used Sew Liberated “Emmeline Apron” pattern. I love the way it turned out and I will be making one for myself soon. :)

mcs–all about knitting

2011-04-07T16:29:00.001+10:00

My creative space this week is all about knitting.

This fabulous mag (pictured) is full of lovely patterns for kids and I just couldn’t resist starting something for my little Ukralian (hint: have a look at the top right-hand corner). The pattern is simple and once I finish the garment it will be my first knitted piece of clothing ever (so far I completed a back piece).

For more spaces visit Kirsty’s place. My favourite from this week is HERE.

p.s. if you are wondering about the little notebook in the picture (bottom left-hand corner), it is used to record the number of rows completed and the part of the garment that is being worked on. I learnt the trick from someone in the blogland. No more forgetting where I stopped and having to count how many rows I have completed.

mcs – upcycled t-shirts

2011-03-17T20:21:00.001+11:00

I am welcoming myself back into blogging and project making after my prolonged break since my little Maria arrived. She has been keeping me busy!

In my creative space this week I would like to show you a rag rug I made out of my hubby’s old t-shirts. I always wanted to make something like that, so I googled a tutorial, cut up 7 shirts, bought a 12mm crochet hook and got into it.

It was a very quick project and I’m very happy with the result. The rug is about the size of a door/bath mat and I may potentially use it as such.

The best thing about this project is that it takes old unwanted t-shirts and makes them into a usable item. If you would like to make one yourself you might find these tutorials useful:

*http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2008/02/rag-rug-tutorial.html

*http://vintagechica.typepad.com/the_life_and_times_of_thi/2006/10/rag_rug_tutoria.html

*http://www.craftstylish.com/item/39345/how-to-crochet-a-rug-out-of-t-shirts

Find some more creative spaces this week HERE.

she is here

2011-01-27T16:38:00.001+11:00

My little Ukralian turned out to be a girl. She was fashionably 10 days overdue. She keeps me pretty busy these days and I don’t have a lot of time for much else. :)

Thank you to everyone who voted in my poll. 52% of the votes were for a girl and they turned out to be right!

door stop

2011-01-12T21:07:00.001+11:00

I have been in need of a door stop for a while, but never got around to making one. Until now.

I’ve seen a few door stops like that around and decided to just make one up without a pattern. It’s a simple cube construction with a handle on top. I inserted a zipper on one of the sides for easy stuffing (and emptying if I want to wash it). For the stuffing I used some old split peas I had in the pantry and polyfill.

Here are some links to free tutorials if you would like to make a door stop for yourself:

on baby beanie and the due date

2011-01-04T15:31:00.001+11:00

Well, today is my official due date and I’m still waiting. Ukralian seems to be content in my belly and doesn’t want to come out.

To kill the waiting time I decided to make a beanie with some of the left over merino wool from another project (will be revealed in due course). Since I don’t have my baby to try it on yet, Mr. Owl had to model it for me:

I used this tutorial to make the hat. The only difference in the end result is that my beanie is not as dense because the yarn didn’t match the hook used. I also only had limited amount of yarn I wanted to use, so it had to do. I’m happy with the result though and I hope it will fit the bub.

01.01.11

2011-01-01T22:48:00.003+11:00

How cool is today’s date? When I found out I was pregnant and due on the 4th of January I thought that having a baby on the 1st would be cool. Well, I’m still big and Ukralian did not wish to have today’s date as his/her birthday.

I wonder when the action will begin. I hope soon. :)

p.s. there are still a couple of days left to vote in my poll if you haven't done so yet! :)

happy new year

2010-12-31T22:00:00.000+11:00

[9 pm fireworks at Wollongong]

gift card cosy

2010-12-24T12:44:00.001+11:00

A gift card is a lovely gift. You can spend it on anything you want! Sometimes, however, the gift card doesn’t look as nice as an actual gift. So, inspired by this tutorial, I made a cosy for a gift card this Christmas:

It was very simple and quick to stitch up, but it makes all the difference, don’t you think?

P.S. The actual gift card is cool as well as it has the photos of the gift givers :)

present wrapping

2010-12-21T14:56:00.001+11:00

This year my Christmas present wrapping is very simple: brown paper from Woolworths, red & white fancy twine from Bunnings and lovely tags from kikki.K.

I am very happy with the result. How did you wrap your presents?

christmas earrings

2010-12-16T18:01:00.001+11:00

I made these cute earrings the other day. The beads and all the findings came in a little kit with one of the Better Homes & Gardens issues. All I had to do was put the components together.

My mum-in-law likes wearing Christmassy earrings this time of the year so I’ll be giving them to her. I hope she likes them.

a parcel…

2010-12-10T22:29:00.001+11:00

Today Mr. Postman brought a parcel to my door. It was beautifully wrapped

and this is what was inside: embellished moleskin journal, cute flannelette baby fabric and March 2010 issue of Marie Claire Idees magazine!

This lovely Christmas / Baby gift came from very talented Katia of Plushka. She even bookmarked some particular pages in the magazine for me.

How cool is that wall with various colour doilies? This mag is packed with awesome ideas and projects. The only downside is that it is published in French, which unfortunately I don’t understand. Oh well, I still love it and I’m sure I will be able to figure out some of the projects anyway.

Thank you Katia for such a lovely gift.

my baby shower

2010-12-06T14:58:00.000+11:00

A week (and a bit) ago I was the guest of honour at my baby shower. It was a lovely day with great looking and tasting food, lovely company, fun games and lots of beautiful presents. I was thoroughly spoiled.

Although all the presents I got were just wonderful and I am very grateful for each one, I want to show you just a couple of extra special ones:

A sensory floor throw made by lovely Gret

A super soft and cuddly little owl

Beautifully packaged basket of goodies for mum & bub

Cute pair of bath puppets handmade by a lovely friend

A box of advice and encouragement from the guests

A modern and stylish baby book from a lovely work colleague

Thank you girls for organising this special day. I had a great time!

my creative space - tiny pants

2010-12-02T10:12:00.000+11:00

I have now officially commenced sewing for my little Ukralian. This week I made two pairs of tiny pants. I used Baby Pants pattern by Made by Rae.

I am very happy with the result and thinking of making a couple more pairs. The only difficult task is selecting unisex material [one of the disadvantages in not knowing what gender baby you are having]. :)

While sewing the first pair I discovered a new skill. Have you ever managed to sew the pin into your garment? I have now!!!

For more creative spaces visit Kirsty's place.

p.s. Have you voted in my "boy or girl" poll? :)

grab 'n' go diaper clutch

2010-11-26T20:39:00.000+11:00

Hello. I have been away from my blog for a while... I am back and I'm hoping to visit here often. :)

Today I would like to share my recent giveaway win - "Grab 'n' Go Diaper Clutch" by Sew Fun. I think this is my second giveaway win ever!!! (You can read about the first one here.)

I haven't made my clutch and change mat yet, but I will soon. I'm glad I was so lucky to win it as it is very appropriate for this season in my life. :)

In other news, I am now officially unemployed. (Although, I believe stay-at-home mums should definitely receive a wage for all the hard work.) Hopefully I will have some time between now and when the bub arrives to catch up on some sewing, crafting and blogging.

Thank you for stopping by. :)

blogtoberfest 2010 - day 27 - 10 weeks left

2010-10-27T16:54:00.000+11:00

Only 10 weeks left before I meet the resident of my belly!!!

Can't wait! :)

p.s. have you voted in my "boy or girl" poll yet? please do and let me know you have :)

blogtoberfest 2010 - day 24 - trip to canberra

2010-10-24T21:46:00.000+11:00

Yesterday, hubby and I took a little trip to Canberra to visit lovely Ros from Grace Designs and her family (yes, we are related :) )

Ros took me to Shop Handmade and I got to see all of the lovely creations by the talented designers.

We had a lovely day catching up and it was a nice drive as well. :)

blogtoberfest 2010 - day 22 - a little about me

2010-10-22T21:27:00.000+11:00

Today I'm joining Cath and other fellow bloggers in a meme feature. Mine goes like this:

4 things that I always carry
* phone
* tissues (in my very own tissue holder)
* wallet
* strawberry lip smacker

4 things that are in my bedroom
* queen bed
* handmade wooden jewelery box (made in Ukraine)
* books
* mirror

4 things that I would like to do but haven't done yet
* Sydney Harbour Bridge climb (as seen in the above picture)
* professional photo shoot session
* travel to Switzerland, France & Canada
* test sewing patterns for designers

4 things that you don't know about me
* I would like to have four children
* I can raise either of my eyebrows by itself
* I am a perfectionist (often to my own detriment)
* I love all sorts of gifts

4 things I often wonder
* what heaven is going to be like
* if I will be a good mum
* what I will achieve during my life
* if I will ever get the time to make all the projects I have on my project list

Well, this is it. Would you like to do your own? Go over here and sign up. :)

blogtoberfest 2010 - day 20 - my audience

2010-10-20T12:46:00.000+11:00

I was reading the latest posts by RollinginFabric the other day and discovered that Blogger now offers Stats. I got very excited. I went to my Stats page to check it out.

Apparently, my blog has been visited by people from the following countries over the last month:

How cool is that? Have you seen your Blogger Stat's page? What countries have you had visitors from?
...........
Dear visitors from anywhere but Australia: please say hello and where you come from. I would love to hear from you! :)

blogtoberfest 2010 - day 17 - lovely day

2010-10-17T20:00:00.001+11:00

Sunday was a lovely, warm and sunny spring day in Sydney. We went to the beach.

What did you get up to on the weekend?

blogtoberfest 2010 - day 15 - wondering

2010-10-15T16:05:00.000+11:00

How many things could I make from only 1 meter of this beautiful IKEA fabric?

The answer to this question will be revealed soon. Stay tuned. :)

blogtoberfest 2010 - day 14 - kikki.k again

2010-10-14T22:25:00.000+11:00

My obsession with kikki.K continues. Today I went to the store and bought this:

I am starting my Christmas preparations early and this handy planner will be a great help. Head over here and have a look at what's inside this lovely red book. Can't wait to use it!!! :)

p.s. my blogtoberfest blogging every day is not really working... i will try to improve :D

blogtoberfest 2010 - day 11 - boy or girl?

2010-10-11T13:36:00.000+11:00

My hubby and I decided we wanted a surprise and did not find out the gender of our baby. Our friends and family all have their own prediction, and some are fairly certain one way or the other. :)

[image]

While browsing through the Baby Center website I came across a Baby Gender Predictor tool that predicts possible gender of the baby based on scientific studies. Well, it sounded interesting enough so I answered the questions. And, the result:

It's too close to say! Based on your answers, the research gives you equal chances of having a boy or a girl.

The answer made me laugh. :) So what do you think? Am I having a boy or a girl? I've added a poll on the side bar, so cast your vote! :)

blogtoberfest 2010 - day 9 - giveaway by plushka

2010-10-09T16:27:00.000+11:00

Plushka is giving away a bundle of 10 fat quarters (from her personal stash) and handmade bunting to one lucky reader to celebrate "100+" followers! How cool is that?

For your chance to be in the draw, head over to Plushka's blog and leave a comment. I hope I win! :)

blogtoberfest 2010 - day 7 - my creative space

2010-10-07T10:47:00.001+11:00

I bought this lovely floral jersey fabric about a month ago, and the pattern - probably another month prior.

I am hoping to start top "C" this week. Hopefully, I'll be able to.

More lovely spaces at Kirsty's.

blogtoberfest 2010 - day 6 - ukralian

2010-10-06T21:34:00.000+11:00

This is my little baby!

Can't wait to meet him / her! Only 13 weeks left...

blogtoberfest 2010 - day 5 - keepcup

2010-10-05T22:28:00.000+11:00

I love coffee. I drink it every day. I never realised though that the paper cups I bought coffee in could take up to 50 years to bio-degrade. Most paper cups can not even be recycled due to the plastic lining on the inside.

What is the solution? KeepCup of course. KeepCup is a reusable coffee cup that fits standard coffee cup sizes. I bought a small size in this colour:

I love it! It is environmentally friendly, stylish, lightweight, great quality, cleans well and doesn't stain, doesn't burn your hand, and is just great!

For those who drink coffee and are concerned about our ever increasing landfill I would recommend to get one of these. As a bonus, the shipping cost for 2 is the same as for one, so why not get one for yourself and gift another one to a friend?

If you would like to read more or buy one go to the KeepCup website. There are three sizes and lots of colour combinations to choose from. Plus, it is Australian designed and manufactured! :)

blogtoberfest 2010 - day 4 - happy birthday

2010-10-04T23:34:00.003+11:00

Today is my mum's birthday. This is her when she was 20. She looks so beautiful here and its one of my favourite pictures.

And this is me with my mum when I was 20 (at my wedding). I like to think I look at bit like her. :)

Happy Birthday Mum! I love you!

blogtoberfest 2010 - day 3 - new books

2010-10-03T16:32:00.000+11:00

My library has recently expanded with three new craft books.

The first one is "Handmade Beginnings" by Anna Maria Horner. This book has 24 sewing projects to welcome a new addition to the family.

The second is "Little Birds: 26 handmade projects to sew, stitch, quilt and love" by a team of designers.

And the third is "Amigurumi Two: crocheted toys for me and you and baby too" by Ana Paula Rimoli.

I love all three books. There are numerous projects I would like to make from each of them, and I can't wait to get started.

I am also contemplating on having a regular blog feature of reviewing the books I have in my crafty library. Do you think its a good idea? Would you like to read a detailed review? What specifically would you like a review to cover?

blogtoberfest 2010 - day 2 - henrietta

2010-10-02T23:20:00.000+10:00

This is Henrietta and her family.

She was a gift to a special little girl on her 2nd birthday.

Henrietta even participated in the candle blowing. She is loved in her new home. :)

{Pattern by Melly & Me}

blogtoberfest 2010 - day 1 - farewell

2010-10-01T09:15:00.000+10:00

Today begins my Blogtoberfest 2010 challenge and ironically the tittle of my post is "farewell". :)

Last weekend we took our church youthgroup on our annual camp and that was my last time as a leader after 4 years of being there. I have decided to step down to get some rest and prepare for the baby (it is coming soon!).

I was sent off with lovely wishes on a Thank You card (that most of the kids signed) and these beautiful gifts from Kikki.K:

[++]

I'm going to miss Friday nights, but new opportunities will open up. :)

blogtoberfest 2010

2010-09-30T14:19:00.000+10:00

I've decided to sign up for something crazy! Considering I hardly ever blog, I've signed up to blog every day for the whole month of October!!!

If you would like to join me and many others on this adventure, head over to {tinniegirl} and read all about Blogtoberfest 2010.

I hope I can do it! :)

amelia...

2010-09-16T21:05:00.000+10:00

What a beautiful name! This year two little girls were named Amelia and I made something for each one.

For Amelia Grace I made a Kokeshi Doll from a Melly & Me pattern.

And this Funky Friends Factory bunny went to Amelia Jade.

I had fun making the toys and I hope they like playing with them. :)

DIY - father's day card

2010-09-06T22:13:00.000+10:00

On Sunday, we (Australians) celebrated Father's Day. My hubby and I needed a card so we made one in three easy steps:

Step 1: bought a DIY card from kikki.K

Step 2: applied creativity

Step 3: presented to the honorary guest

He said he liked it. We had fun making it!!! :)

my creative space

2010-08-26T10:27:00.000+10:00

This particular creative project has been going on for 21 weeks now and it has another 19 weeks to go. It is my first one of this kind and so far it has been coming along nicely.

Can you guess what I'm making?

Head over to Kirsty's for more creative spaces.

organising

2010-07-31T17:36:00.000+10:00

My embroidery thread box has undergone a makeover. From this

to this!

I love the result. I never knew I had so many shades of pink, red and blue. Can't wait to add more colours to my lovely organised box. :D

my creative space

2010-07-29T10:39:00.000+10:00

I made this basket for Grandma’s walker.

It even has a small pocket to keep the keys in.

She said she liked it. :)

For more spaces head over to Kirsty’s.

an amazing find

2010-07-19T12:48:00.000+10:00

On the weekend I made a trip to my local Salvation Army op-shop and I found these white hand embroidered linen napkins that were made in Ukraine in 1978!!!!

I haven't taken the tags off and I haven't washed them because I just want to preserve the "uniqueness". I don't know yet how I will use them (if ever), but for now they can just stay as they are.

I also got a few other "treasures" that day.

Note: the red linen material (in the bottom right picture) stained my other fabrics while in the wash and I had to soak and rewash them. I was not happy, but thankfully the stains came off. :)

he gave me...

2010-07-13T12:35:00.000+10:00

Just because I had a hard day at work and he wanted to cheer me up. My husband is the best in the world!!!

go eels!

2010-07-06T13:38:00.000+10:00

Prior to 2009 rugby league season I did not like football. It all changed, however, when I joined NRL tipping comp at work. I had to watch the games to see how well I tipped and by the end of the season I was hooked.

I liked the game so much that I decided to choose a favourite team and follow it. I went with Parramatta Eels as its the team of my hubby's family. :) Plus, the first live game I went to was Eels vs. Warriors (which Eels won, of course) and they made it to Grand Final last season!!!

So now I am officially supporting the team because I have a scarf! My gorgeous niece kindly agreed to model it for me. Now I can't wait to go to a live game and wear it.

my creative space

2010-06-17T12:44:00.000+10:00

Today and this week my creative space has been about a pattern, flannelette and jersey knit fabrics, and a sewing machine. What do you think I am making and whom for?

More creative spaces at Kirsty's!

jewellery pouch

2010-04-18T22:19:00.001+10:00

This is another item from my project list – a jewellery pouch.

I came up with the pattern through pulling a few bits together – the box pouch plus a ring holder and a pocket on the inside.

It didn’t turn out too bad, although it is a little bit too big and there are a few bits I forgot to add. I’m still undecided though if I like the box form for a pouch like that. What do you think?

happy birthday

2010-04-17T16:32:00.001+10:00

Today is my hubby’s birthday!

To start off the day I made him a nice baked breakfast. I found this recipe and thought it sounded tasty and easy to make. The birthday boy liked it!

After breakfast we went for a drive to Wollongong to have some coffee & cake. We went to Diggies and the place was great, with good food and lovely staff.

We also took some pictures.

Tonight, the birthday boy is playing basketball and we’re looking forward to his team (hopefully) winning. :) And tomorrow we are having lunch with the family.

Happy Birthday handsome, I love you lots!

my creative space

2010-04-14T21:10:00.002+10:00

Hello! I’m BACK! I’m sorry for staying quiet for so long… I promise to be good now and come here more often. :)

My creative space this week is about forming black & white stripy fabric by looping a continuous black & white yarn….

That’s right! Knitting!

Head over to Kirsty’s for more creative spaces.

kitten for miss c

2010-03-22T21:04:00.001+11:00

I made this crochet kitten for my niece’s first birthday. I think she liked it! :)

The pattern is by AmyGaines.

wishlist: magnetic board

2010-03-03T11:08:00.001+11:00

My craft room needs an organiser / inspiration board. Rather than going for the boring cork, I want a magnetic board like this:

There is a tutorial to make a board like that on Cratfzine, but I wouldn't mind just getting an already made one from IKEA in white.

In addition, a magnetic board needs to have magnets! Firstly, I would love these wooden peg magnets from Kikki, they are just so nice:

I would also like the Crosses (in red) and the Hooks (in silver) Kikki magnets:

And lastly, these cute round ones from IKEA will complete the list:

I can just picture my completed white magnetic board with the above magnets on it and all the inspiring bits and pieces! It would be so lovely to have it in my craft room!!!

Do you have an inspiration / organiser board in your craft room?

wrist pincushion

2010-03-02T07:00:00.001+11:00

About a month back I was playing around with embroidery and thinking of some wrist pincushion designs. There were three designs that I came up with, but the round one is my favourite. This pincushion went to Caroline from Maika Creations to test it out. She suggested I try an alternative to an elastic band and I very much appreciate her feedback.

Once I am happy with a different wrist band I will show you the other two designs. For now though, what do you think of the round wrist pincushion with a tiny embroidery in the middle? Would it sell, perhaps?

basket

2010-03-01T17:14:00.001+11:00

I made this basket using the tutorial from Pink Penguin and I am very happy with the result. The size of it is perfect to sit next to my sewing machine and collect all the threads and fabric pieces while I am crafting away.

This has to be the prettiest “rubbish bin” in my house. :)

selvages

2010-02-28T13:53:00.001+11:00

Last week I entered into a selvage giveaway by Nikki from You Sew Girl and I won! There were so many people interested that Nikki decided to divide the stash and pick multiple winners rather than one.

I can’t wait to use my share. In my entry I said I would use it to make a woven wall art, a wrist pincushion or a small zipper purse. So, watch this space to see what I come up with. :)

albert monkey

2010-02-21T13:34:00.001+11:00

Ever since I got my “softies” books I wanted to make this monkey. Finally, I was able to make it for one of my friends who recently had a baby boy.

Albert is on his way. I hope they like him. :)

my creative space

2010-02-18T19:47:00.001+11:00

My creative space this week is blue & yellow stripe crochet. This is one of the projects in progress from the list.

Can you guess which one?

backpacks for the little ones

2010-02-17T20:41:00.001+11:00

I made these backpacks as Christmas presents for my two little nieces.

I was inspired by one of the Japanese designs that I once saw and wanted to have a go.

The elephant was for Miss E and the fishing cat for Miss C.

carry me

2010-02-10T07:00:00.001+11:00

This is the title of my new sewing book. I came across it while surfing the net and I liked the cover bag so much that I decided to buy the book. I also read some reviews about it and most of the people were happy with it.

I am very glad I bought it. The bag designs are modern and stylish, and the instructions are great. The best parts about this book are the Japanese author (hence the stylish bags) and the English translation (hence great instructions).

The book has 10 hand bags and 10 “to-go-with-the-bag” things, like coin purses, etc.

I can’t wait to make a bag from this book. I would recommend this book for all stylish-bag lovers!

P.S. I bought the book from the BetterWorldBooks website, which raises funds for Global Literacy and saves the books from landfills, in addition to great prices. Worth checking it out!

the quilt project

2010-02-09T12:48:00.005+11:00

(image)

This magnificent quilt is going to be displayed in the Powerhouse Discovery Centre, Castle Hill NSW this Saturday, 13th of February from 10-2 pm.

If you live in Sydney, come and have a look. I'm going! :D

handmade gifts

2010-01-15T21:50:00.001+11:00

I made these tissue holders for friends and family this Christmas.

I embroidered them on the train on my way to and from work and then stayed up until 1 am one night to sew it all together. I used the embroidery designs from my favourite Frenchy book.

They are small and fiddly, and take longer to make than I would ideally prefer. I still like to make them though and I hope they will be useful to their recipients (I know she likes hers) :).