Cupcakes for Clara

A pashmina...

I have this pink pashmina which I absolutely love. It is so soft that it's almost become my security blanket - I spray it with this gorgeous stuff which smells of Dylan's Candy Bar in New York (a marvelously brilliant and most wonderful place) and it makes me feel extremely happy. I've also got one in green but never wear it because really green just isn't my colour. So I thought... hmmm... whatever can I do with this? I know! I'll make the baby a comforter - a mini pashmina! Of course I had to add a little 'cupcakes for clara' touch, and so... voila...

Oh yes, and I made a little fattie rattle with a matching baby sparrow. I do hope that the baby likes them because making baby things is fun! Lots more things are to come! And just in case you're wondering... this is how I look now!

Making something special

At last I can give you an explanation for my prolonged periods of absence - I'm growing my very own fattie!

We are so thrilled and have been waiting until after the big scan to share the news. In only 19 more weeks Tom and me will no longer be a two but will turn into a three. And crikey, it seems like we may have a bit of a monkey on our hands. Our big scan took almost 40 mins because of all the somersaulting, leaping, and general wriggling that was being performed by the very healthy little one inside.

I promise that I will still pay lots of attention to Clara, Macy and making toys. Now that the endless morning sickness months seem to have subsided, I have much more energy to actually create things other than a baby!

But for now maybe a bowl of raspberries and a little rest will do just fine!

The Guardian

A belated but very happy Easter to you all. Of course, after another period of absence (explanation to follow soon), I am back! I can't help but think that if someone were to write a school report on me it would read 'could do better' and 'must spend more time concentrating in class'.

But enough nonsense, instead lets move to far more interesting things...

Did you happen to see the Guardian on Easter Saturday?

Cupcakes for Clara was published in it! In the new kids section called the Comic. A lovely feature on how to make finger puppets. And it was even on the cover...

I am excited beyond all belief! I mean the Guardian! And on Easter weekend too! I couldn't help but wonder how many little kids were making my finger puppets over Easter - it's amazing.

If you didn't see it, you can download the spread from the Guardian website here and then you can make your own little finger friends!

And here's what I'm doing at the moment... well, not right at this very moment because I'm typing right now, but maybe in a few moments, or a few moments after that, or a couple after that, but quite soon at least...

Little bird fatties! A robin and a newly designed sparrow.

The joy of printers

I'm still working on getting a few pop-up Mother's Day cards into the shop in time for actual Mother's Day but my printer is having a strop. I'll try again tomorrow - maybe I'll have forgiven it by then for wasting so many of my Sunday hours, although I can't be certain. Maybe if it makes me some cookies and gives me some 'I'm sorry' daffodils?

Here's a little sneaky peek at something new I'm working on for spring...

Can you guess what it's going to be?

Happy Sunshine Day!

The weather here is beautiful. Frosty in the mornings, sunshiney in the afternoons. Yesterday we actually spent two hours out in the garden - planting bulbs, de-weeding, sprinkling seeds, drinking tea, being visited by my lovely brother. Oh yes, it was splendid. I even had time to browse around the sewing shops.

And time to photograph the much-promised pages from Making Stuff for Kids featuring Cupcakes for Clara work...

You can purchase your copy here or in many many good bookshops. If anyone makes anything I'd love to see how it goes! Good luck!

P.S. Quite a few people have been asking where the lovely fabric is from that I posted about last time. It's from this cute cute etsy shop called Matatabi.

Got there in the end

Well now... Happy New Year!

Sorry it's been so long since we last spoke. If I may suggest, cast your minds back to this post in which I was hoping for the 30 hour day to have been developed by 2008. Not so. It didn't happen. Nothing. Not even one measly extra hour. And so I'm as busy as ever and behind in almost everything! (huge apologies to e-mailers who have yet to receive a reply from me - sorry!)

However, I did have the most wonderful Christmas and New Year celebrations - very family orientated with lots of silly game playing, film watching and yummy food eating. Oh yes, it really was much fun.

But, how are you all? I had visions of people wondering what might have happened to me, wondering whether to send a 'When Harry Met Sally' style e-mail...

Please let us know if you are okay, are you -
A) Fed up of your blog and feeling very sorry for yourself?
B) Actually desperate to make contact but cannot turn your computer on because you have both of your arms
in plaster?
C) Fed up of your blog but in desperate need of assistance because you're trapped under something heavy?
D) Trapped under something heavy, still loving your blog, but dressed up as a pig and so wish to avoid the embarrassment of someone coming to rescue you?

... but it's okay. Actually it's E) my camera has broken, and I feel my blog will be dull with no pictures to add, I've been working non-stop since the start of the year at my 'day job', and I've had flu - but not whilst trapped under something heavy.

And I forgot to tell you... I'm published! In an actual book, available to purchase in actual book stores. It's very exciting! I was asked way back last summer to contribute to a lovely book called Making Stuff for Kids by Victoria Woodcock, and of course I obliged. And so if you choose to purchase this fine book, you can learn how to make not one but three Cupcakes for Clara goodies. Cute little gift tags, an apron, and a little fattie soft bear.

You can make this little guy!

So hurry out and buy your copy!

Well, I'm off to look for a new digital camera - I'd quite like a sony, my old one lasted five years - does anyone have any suggestions? (And then I can show you more pictures from the book.)

Happy January, hope all the rain isn't making you too sad. If it is - curl up and read a book, watch a Fred and Ginger movie, have a hot cocoa, and stitch your own little fattie bear!

Oh yes, Oh yes!

Christmas is here...

In only three more sleeps! That's how things work in my family - in sleeps not days, it's far more exciting.

So, we've trimmed the tree, baked cupcakes, wrapped gifts, been to a wonderful Christmas concert, made eggnog, decorated our entire house, listened to almost all of our 30 or so Christmas CDs, watched a lot of holiday films, borrowed my little brother and sisters for an evening of fun, braved the huge business of the supermarket on the final weekend before the big day, and become so unbelievably giddy you really wouldn't think that we were grown-ups.

We love Christmas!

for tomorrow...

my dear Tom... Happy Birthday!

I love you my sweet boy x

Look who we found...

... hiding under Clara'a arm -

MOOSEY!

We're not sure where she came from, but we're guessing that Clara made her. Although Clara insists that Moosey is not a bit like her twin sister Macy, it could be argued that she is...

Moosey has even had her clothes patched up with the same fabric as Clara's own clothes, and now Clara doesn't seem to be without her - although not in front of Macy. Oh no, that would never do!

So it seems that maybe Clara does love Macy after all - she just doesn't want Macy to know that! And maybe she even loves me, because Clara has very kindly given Moosey to me to borrow for the weekend as a bit of good luck. This weekend I'm getting married! Oh my goodness, I am so giddy it is untrue. I have literally been jumping around the house for the past few days with excitement, and also (slightly shamefully) getting upset over cakes, and make up. It's amazing what emotions a wedding can bring out in a person.

And here's a little concern... on tuesday I went to buy a lipstick. I don't normally wear lipstick but thought I should get something to wear for the wedding. And so there I was very quietly and calmly browsing through the unknown territory of lipstick, doing fairly well until...

... a make up counter assistant came over and offered her advice. Well, to cut the story short, two days later I still have a hideous dark pink streak on my hand where she tested the 'perfect' lipstick. Oh it's brilliant, she said - will stay on for 12 hours. Just right for a wedding. Hmmph. I don't think so... it won't come off! I've tried everything! Ah well, at least she didn't test it on my lips!

So, I'm off... to get married here. And I'll be back in a week or so, no longer Miss Fairbrother but Mrs Clempson. Wish me luck! And have a little giggle at this by Molly Chicken.

Au revoir mes amis x x