I come from a land Downunder! - Olivia!!

Those of you that participate in Australias babywearing forum, Baby Carriers Downunder, will remember the wrap we all designed not so long ago....

Esther from Keonislings kindly put her hand up to organise the mammoth task of having the Downunder wrap woven - it is made by Girasol, all the way from Poland! I bought two, thinking I would chop one up and convert it, and keep the other as a wrap. Well, my little Phoenix isnt into wrapping any more, sadly. Oh well....

Just encouraged me to make Olivia -

Hood up

and hood down...

I made this for Kieran, can you believe that in all the years Ive been making carriers - both as a business and as a DIYer, I have NEVER made him one? Sheesh, what a bad bad girl!

Now I have just got to catch him wearing our littlest creation, in my latest creation!!!

Little Birdy

Hey folks! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Its been a wild ride this year, to say the least!

I finished a special carrier for a special cause today. It was auctioned and all of the proceeds are going to a dear family in need. Thankyou everyone for donating too, it is the very least we could do. I just love our community, it has given me faith in our 'village' culture!

Without further ado, I introduce to you Little Birdy.

Here she is with her hood up. I love this print so much, and it co-ordinates perfectly with the Teal denim.

100% hand driven appliqué - satin stitched on and then I followed the satin stitch with a triple straight stitch to make it POP!

Annnnnnd,,,,,.... PRINTED STRAPS! This print is a home decorating weight, so perfect to use on the straps! I only used the print for the top of the strap, I love the support the denim gives and didn't want to lose any of that goodness.

It felt so good making her, I loved the whole process. I hope Little Birdy loves her new home, and I hope her new family love her!!

Finally, Kobis SV Carrier!

Miss Kobi's Solarveil panel Beetlebum Baby Carrier! I thought that this was the very last of the Trees, but alas, I think there may be enough for another carrier, I love it so much. It is so fun!

Her carrier is made on Bamboo Denim.

She is coming over this afternoon to pick it up, I hope she loves her!!!

A present for the teacher!

Miss L's teacher is expecting a little boy bundle in the new year!!

the back :)

A Newborn Beetlebum, made especially for her, to thank her for the wonderful year that Lola has had in her class.

We wish her the very best on her journey into motherhood for the 2nd time!

Right, off to get organized for this crazy last day of school, then it is Summer Holidays for us!! YAY!

Purple Nightbird

Here is Purple Nightbird - a half buckle Beetlebum Baby Carrier in what has got to be one of my most popular prints! This carrier also has the cinching mechanism to allow legs out for smaller babies, sooner.

I appliquéd a bird on the left shoulder strap, and both straps feature the hand driven decorative stitching that is standard for Beetlebum Half Buckle Baby Carriers.

I cant wait for the mama to get this one, it was a joy to make and she is dead set - one of the most chilled mamas I've worked with (thank you for that!)

Right, off to pack this baby and send her flying home :)

Big Butt Baby Pants!

I stumbled upon this pattern whilst stalking Rae on her wonderful blog. Wowee, why HADN'T I SEEN THIS BEFORE?! Like, hellllllllllo Mel.

These pants are seriously adorable. Easy as to make and Im sure that they are stupid comfy!

Just check out the P-man, loitering at the playgym! Look at his Echino Ni-Co Big Butt Baby Pants!

See? He really loves them!! I tried to match the car seamlessly on the patch - it kinda worked..

Now this was way too cute to not add. Im sick of hearing that he 'will be a heartbreaker'... He is already dammit!

And here is the posterior! Kobi and I are going to be having a 'Pants Day' soon - we love to sew together at the dining table, the last time it was (wait for it) nappies.... Shocking hey?

You can sew from the pattern too!! Go on, you know you want to. These pants are insanely gorgeous and sew easy to make. You noticed that didn't you?... Just imagine the possibilities. Endless daydreaming ahead for me.

*pinch* No you aren't dreaming.

Bringing the blog up to speed!

Ok I apologize to anyone on my Facebook Page - you would have seen these, but those who dont do Facebook havent! So dont go beating me up!!!

Now that Im seemingly back in the swing of things, I should be posting more often. I was really slack with Blogtoberfest (sorry) and have been really slack with sharing what I have been up to (double sorry). I guess I just a no good slacker good for nuthin' poo bum lazybones.

Im still working on catching up - and Ive had a few pressing projects to either complete or even just start. You know the ones - the ones for your friends. Your friends who just wait. And wait. Geez I love them so much. Anywaaaaay. No more. They are getting some attention! Stat!

Righteo. Its nearly midnight. Im going to bed. See, three blog posts in one day... might be a record for me....

Owl Candy

ahhhh, how fun is this print!!

I panelled the owls with bold, bright candy coloured canvas to show off the colours. I made Owl Candy!!

This is a full buckle baby carrier with a detachable hood.

The mama who has been awaiting Owl Candy has been so patient, I hope she is worth the wait!!!!

Nightbird

a half buckle baby carrier - with the stunning Saffron Craig print on jet black canvas.

I hope she is well loved by her new family!

Gossamer Dreams - Celebration!

An Ultimate Set - lots and lots of goodies in this one!!! It is inspired by Diversity, and I know that I, for one, love to celebrate the diversity that we all take for granted.

This set will be available tomorrow night, at Gossamer Dreams! Hope to see you there!

I am a bad bad bad, repeat, BAD girl...

So it has been maybe .. four days since my last post? Maybe longer?

Ive let the team down :(. I am a bad bad girl.

Sorry tinniegirl. Ive really let Blogtober down.... well.

I have to make amends somehow!

Offer an explanation, an excuse.

However I really dont have one. Except that I am lazy and ignorant and unable to meet demands.

So there!

And now that Ive said that, here are my latest offerings

Yepo, I made 'em. With my own body. Shhhh - ok, had *some* help - I dont usually like to outsource.... Sometimes I just cant say no..!

You know how it is ;)

Last night, yesterday and last week - Day 16

Big Nan

and little Phoenix

meet for the very first time *squee*

Big Nan is his great grandmother :)

Lil P smashing some biscuits, just generally being adorable in his cute apple suit.

She IS ALIIIIIVE! Olive going through the paces. Still some work to do, but Im thrilled and bonded completely with her.

And 'Blue Jeans' for Ms S. This is a Half Buckle, bamboo denim, simple Beetlebum. I love its simplicity, makes me yearn for simpler things in my life.

See you tomorrow!

Its just a pesky little bobbin, right?

Yeah, a pesky little lonesome bobbin ... that came with Olive ...

How the heck am I supposed to sew with one bobbin? I just do not know! There is never one thread for a single project here, and Im far too 'Aries' to go winding a freaking bobbin each time I change my mind (which is OFTEN!).

So I've been on a search, trying to track down some authentic, 1954ish made bobbins, to fit my beauty. I really dont want to taint her with anything modern if I can help it. The only modern-ness I am will to put near her is the thread choose and the crafting I do!

Anyway, I have found a grand total of ZERO bobbins so far. Well, I did find one yesterday on E*ay and well, its gone now :(. Im about to search much more deeply, and am hoping that I can at least scrape up two or three (ideally ten) more... I feel this might take some time.

I havent actually started a project on Olive as yet - Im still gently unfreezing her. So that means, go slow!

Hmmmm.... slow, I don't do well at all.

Day 13 - Self Portrait

Look! Its me!

I thought I would follow suit with the Blogtober 'Self Portrait' day ... Im not especially into myself hahaha

And her name is Olive

Hmmm, what could be in this box?

Oh wow, they are delightful books - I wonder what they are for?

Oh! They are for my new (to me) Necchi Supernova Automatica!!

Ever since I bought 'Weekend Sewing' two years ago, I have lusted after Necchi sewing machines.

I started looking for one and of course, time went by and I don't know why... I gave up. Until two weeks ago, when my heart literally skipped a beat - this glorious machine was there, waiting for me to bid on her! Of course, I was going to win her come hell or high water - and I did. For a whole $46. Plus $65 shipping! Anyway, she is here now.

And her name is Olive.

And she is perfect, she purrs, she is fast, strong and capable. Exactly what I need!

For those rev heads out there - here is what is under her hood ;). All metal and now clean as a whistle. Ive oiled her up, and will be settling down now with a cuppa and her 56 year old manual. Its hard to believe that she was made in 1954! She is just like new.

Yes, it is love

Last night - Owly (Day 12)

Introducing - Owly

A full buckle 15" hooded style Beetlebum Baby Carrier.

Owly is off to his new home today, I hope his new family loves him!!

Day 11 - a bit of a weighty issue...

Oh dear, some shenanigans took place here tonight... It is International Babywearing Week and I thought well.. I would not only wear babies but kids. ..

27kg of kid...

my 5.5 year old daughter.....

in a baby sized Beetlebum

To lengthen the body of the carrier I wore it lower on my hips. When I wear Taj or Phoenix (the littler babies), I wear the waistband higher up on my waist - when I do this it creates a deeper seat and shortens the body somewhat.

And then . Well. .. ......

This happened.

Whats with Lola there? I mean, what the hey?

Currently on the machine! Day 10

The first two are two of the New Customer semi custom slots, there is another that I need to photograph. The last carrier is an instock - should be finished tonight or tomorrow!

I make stuff... so my kid does too...

This one picture deserves its own post.

Miss L and her Granny made this - Granny is an amazing artist by the way..! Not only that, Granny has this uncanny ability of just knowing what door needs to be unlocked to reach the inner core. I am so thankful for this!

I feel much intent and insight into this picture, and I love that Granny encouraged her to make this. Forever I will cherish it.

Just you know, making stuff...

Ive got some girly nappies ready for the weekend. My camera is playing up.. so pictures to come :)

There are mainly pockets - Im doing different pocket openings too, so some have the sham opening (what you are used to with your current Beetlebums :)), and the letterbox opening. Listings will always say what style they are. I really needed to change it up a little, Ive been making these pockets for close on five years now!!

As you know, the Gossamer Dreams stocking is coming up fast! I have plans and will be working on a couple of things this weekend, including a freaky, monster carrier ;). Or two.... :P

Anyway, must sign off for today - Im going to chill out on the lounge - all the babies are asleep! Its a miracle!!

OH NO!!! What day is it again?

What an impressive challenge!

Today I am feeling overwhelmed, excited and right now ... sleepy.

I am going to take this challenge far more seriously tomorrow. Serious.

Anypoo, my freaky computer desk... So messy!

ETA - Poo on a ladybug, its 12:07am :(. I messed up...

Desperate times for Babywearing in the US - Day 5

Oh boy, has the CPSC gone crazy or what? After the Inf*(^%& disaster (you can google it, I dont want to link to that company on my blog) they have decided that baby carriers are dangerous and they need to be wiped out. I really cannot understand, nor can I believe what I am reading - it just seems so wrong to me.

Now of course 99.9% of baby carriers are safe, they are built with utmost care and most manufacturers have high safety standards. There are methods that are commonly used to make safe carriers. There has been ONE really bad apple, and that bad apple has the potential to destroy an entire industry in the US.

I hope at the end of all this the Industry can hold that bad apple responsible.

For what it is worth, there have been no documented deaths related to baby carriers in Australia. Yet, devastatingly, there have been numerous related to strollers and prams. The same cant be said about the former in the US - unfortunately there have been deaths related to carriers and however upsetting it may be, there have been many many more related to strollers and prams. Yet those deaths only lead to higher safety standards for the prams that were involved. I dont understand why the same isnt being done for the Baby Carrier Industry. Now, Im not picking on prams nor am I looking for a debate, the fact is, that one usually replaces the other, so if you are wearing your baby - you arent needing a pram and vice versa. Its a fair comparison. A horrible yet fair comparison :(.

There is much information the The BabyWearer about this, you can try this link here. There is a Baby Carrier Industry Alliance, which is working REALLY hard to get US folks to contact their Senators, to get our side heard. The Baby Carrier Industry Alliance needs people to join, and they need donations - they need to build up funds to ensure that they can fight for OUR rights to choose to baby wear.

But it isnt happening in Australia is it? So why do I care? I care because my industry is global. Alot of what we do happens online, and as a direct result, I am affected by this craziness. I have friends who make carriers in the US, and many of us covet certain brands of US made carriers.

What is most dazzling about this whole thing is that the CPSC is not sharing their findings and bullying small carrier makers into submission. One big player has closed its doors because of this.

If you are in the U.S PLEASE join the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance - join The BabyWearer - be heard! More importantly, be informed! Don't just sit by and think that the powers that be (the CPSC) are going to 'Do right'. They are behaving irrationally and have broken many of their OWN guidelines! Don't let the CPSC do to baby wearing what our Government did to homebirth! STAND UP PEOPLE! WAKE UP PEOPLE! SAY 'NO MORE'!

Its just so infuriating!

Hmmmm.... day 4 with nothing to report

Well, I attempted to take some pictures of some nappies for todays post but my camera would not comply! So not much to say really...,, sorry!

Day 3! Do you BohoMama?

Well, do you BohoMama??

I wrote the free tutorial for this bag a couple of years ago, and have since tweaked it somewhat. I didnt have any rings on hand when I made this one though - so I just knotted the straps together. Not *as* adjustable as the ringed version, but if I did a slipknot then yeah, I reckon it would be fine! Im going to update the BohoMama blog soon, to include the lining and the inner pockets.

And just because I can - my stunning youngest one. He is such a treasure, I get lost in his eyes!

My very own Mr T - dirty face and all. He is such a mischievous little pixie! I love his effervescent energy, and his adorable affectionate nature! My children have proven to me that our Attached ways are perfect for us.

And now for the eldest of my three, my pioneering Miss L. She is so amazing, perceptive and just ... real! I cant believe how much I love her, and you know what? She is sewing now too!

My lil P, snoozing away on my back - he looks so dreamy

Miss L and Mr P sharing the joy!

Happy Happy! Joy Joy!