It is my baby's birthday tomorrow....

My darling Phoenix.  My rainbow child.

How I love you, I cannot believe that you have grown so quickly.  How lucky I am to be able to spend as much time in these precious formative years as I  can with you, watching you learn.  Watching you grow.  Admiring you.  And loving you.

Just born, total bliss

He didn't really need it but spent the first 24hrs in NICU :(.  I spent every minute I could in there with him, I was devastated to not have him with me.

Home!!!  Home home home!

Lola was so hilarious - this is her 'baby chain'.  Geddit???

She started school less than two weeks after Phoenix was born, it was such a busy time!

Our first official outing in my beloved Rainbow dyed Pamir

Peekaboo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Our first backcarry at around 4wo

Giggling

I adore this photo so so so much.  He was such a delightful baby.  It was only a slight hint of how delightful he would become!

now that ^^^ one and the following one are both amazing, I adore them so!  They are such cuddlebunnies!

In his baby sized Beetlebum, about six months old.  I think.  LOL

I have teeeeeeeeeeeth! And yes, his Amber necklace is far too big.  It was Lolas.  Desperate times call for desperate measures!  Oh, and he is very nearly one year old!!!

And fast forward to now.   These two photos absolutely capture his joyous nature.  He has changed my life.

Happy 3rd Birthday to you Master Phoenix!!!  We love you!!!!!

A little Firefly is lighting up my day!

OK, there will be two blog posts today - because it is a big big ol' kinda day!  The news I have been hiding for so long now is that I am guest WAHMing on the awesome congo, Firefly Collective!  I have been so busy creating some really special items for our stocking.  Of course there will be many more hints, sneak peeks and general shenanigans to come!

Head over to the FB page and like it!  Head over to the website and start stalking!!  More news to come!

I am stoked, it is such a wonderful group of women.  Squeeeeeeeeeee!

The Beetlebums Ringsling!

I love me a good ring sling.  I think that they are the unsung hero of the baby wearing world. 

They are very easy to use, once the basic skill level is mastered.  Ring slings are commonly recommended from birth - they are completely wonderful for newborns and toddlers alike.  My friend Jillian at PAXbaby has some wonderful YouTube videos on how versatile a ring sling can be.

Some may know that last year I launched the Beetlebums Ringsling!  It has a unique shoulder which cups the wearers shoulder like a glove.

The always amazing Suse from Finely Woven is the only vendor to stock the Beetlebums Ring Sling.  I mean, I might occasionally stock the odd one or two in my store however Finely Woven is the place to go if you are looking for (what I think is) the very finest in ring slings.

An example or three of the latest batch I sent to Finely Woven

Finely Woven have a couple of Beetlebums Ring Slings left in stock.  I spy some hand dyed Colimacon and Cie ring slings there too!  They are truly spectacular - dyed by Sarah from Earthylala here in Australia.

Suse took the above photos - I particularly love the action shot with that special baby-uh-dolly.

The pictures following show how the combination of sewn pleats and gather in the Beetlebums Ring Sling shoulder that makes the slings wonderful to wear.

Finally!  Finally finally finally!  Do you like my new blog design?  I got to playing around with it, after a friend of mine at Belloborn Designs started up her blog.  I was playing around telling her what to needs doin' and thought, hmmmmmmmmmm lets have a go Ms Beetle!

It is late and stormy here in the land of Beetle.  Time for this woman to put my tired feet up.  Oh, come back tomorrow - I have the BEST news EVER to reveal!!!!!!!!!!!

a little crafty behaviour

I love to create, not only for Beetlebums, but for my home.

I have re-upholstered lounges, restored antique chairs and an Art Deco dining table along with making many soft furnishings to decorate my personal sanctuary.

Just this week I finished my very own quilt for my bed.  I made it using many and varied wrap scraps, and upcycled my grandmothers sheets - that I slept between as a young young child, mind you!

I have also been creating on ME!   I am a hairdresser by trade, and love playing with hair (of course!), so six months ago (two days ago!) was my dreadlings birthday.  I know dreadlocks are not to everyones taste, but hey - each to their own.  And yes, I wash them twice a week :D

^^ thats me!

and last but not least, I have a Natibaby Mea Beetlebums shouldered Ring Sling available for sale right now. I currently have it listed on my Facebook page.  If you are not on Facebook, please email me at melbeetlebums.com.au if you are interested.

Big loves and more to come!!  I might even share current photos of Possum Hollow tomorrow - once again, it is just one of those places I have to keep decorating!

Introducing..... Aava!

This is a very special full buckle baby carrier that I made as a semi-custom.  I used Natibaby Red/Grey Swallows.  I love how the wrap translates differently on both sides - the head rest is a really striking accent.

I hope her new family love her!!!

Happy 2013!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry blog, I have been bad.  I need to re-connect!  So, here we go!

2013 brings big changes for me, my family and Beetlebums.  This year I will be focusing on instock carriers - and sewing on particular days only.  As those in Facebook land know, I have Laura on board, who will continue to work on the admin front, leaving me plenty of time to do what I love most.  Creating individual, special baby carriers annnnnnnddddd....

NAPPIES!

Including WRAPPIES!

I had a bit of a break from making nappies.  There were personal reasons for this, the main one however being that I needed a change of pace.  So I focused on making baby carriers.  Anyway, now I am back in the seat and have minky and Procare flying around my sewing room like crazy!

You might also notice that I am gradually changing my logo.  What you see ^^ up there, is the new logo - designed for me by the awesome Suse from Finely Woven.  I just love it, don't you?!

Just a gentle reminder that I will not be making customs at all from this point on.  This doesn't mean that anything I make will be less special though!  Add to that the fact that there is no wait time, this is going to be a great year for you to get your hands on anything Beetlebums.

There is an AWESOME piece of goss that I am just busting at the bit to share - a new and wonderful opportunity for me and I am thrilled to be involved - keep an eye on the blog and on my Facebook page for updates!

There will be more Beetlebums/PAXbaby exclusive Girasol baby wraps - like Phoenix, which I designed in 2012.

how cute is Jillian!!?

Last of all, as Beetlebums morphs into whatever it will be, I am feeling a need to thank those who have constantly been by my side for the years I have been plugging away.  This includes friends, family and supporters!  

So in 2013 I will blog more.  MUCH more!  Hooray!

Happy New Year!