Archive for April, 2009

Kirsty’s home made home, what a treat!

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

ribbons Did anyone catch Kirsty’s home made home last week , I thought it was a real breath of fresh air, so lovely to see a show that recocognised real  talents rather than mass produced shinyness.

And I loved the little knitted house at the start, so cute! kirsty makes knitting look sexy, I don’t actually knit but if I did I’d be flounting it baby!

She is to craft what jamie is to home cooking, and she seems to have really hit on the nations need to get back to our traditions , making our own crafts is no longer something we do because we can’t afford to buy it . And buying things from a craftsman (or woman) is no longer for the wolly jumper brigade either, it just means your more discerning and have a need for a more unique style!

 I’m in the process of making some summer dresses for milly, mostly because I want to make her something different from the normal stuff you get in the shops. I got the patterns through the post yesterday and they were both exsiting and daunting all at once, I’ve only ever made my own patterns in the past and following the rules of a pattern someone else has created I sometimes find a bit tough, but once I get the hang of it  I will modify them to make them my own.

 I have so many cute ideas if they work out well I will be adding the line to icklebabe.

  Its great if people start to shop more with small british bussinesses and craftsman, ( not just because I am one either: )  I know that most people who create things for a living do it for the love of creating rather than what they get paid, to be honest I think most of us are just chuffed you like our work!

If you fancy getting inspired to create your own works of art or  just want to find something unique you should check out a website called etsy.com its full of great crafts people and stuff from hand made wedding invatations to vintage kitchen ware, there is even tutorials on there too. I can quite easily loose an hour or two browsing through all the great talents on offer and if you have your own craft you can sell it on the site as well. 

Any how, I’m off to start Milly’s first dress now, Wish me luck, and I’ll let you know how I get on. Oh, and don’t forget Kirsty’s on again tonite x x

Why buttons and babies don’t mix!

Saturday, April 18th, 2009
buttons lovely buttons

buttons lovely buttons

Spring is now here and little milly is already 8 weeks old,  so I thought it was time to start work on some new designs for the season. I’m thinking cute bunny rabbits, pretty posies, lots of fresh spring colours and some new lines, I want to learn how to make  those cute hair bows that are in right now,  I’m reserching  the boutique one and the bobby bow at the mo,  looks like a great excuse to get super girly with sparkly things  and ribbon,  I love all that, so I can’t wait! Only one little problem… in the form of a very small person called Milly.

So,  I’m like a kid at christmas,  I’ve got all my shiny new colourful buttons and ribbons  all out in front of me ready to go, and then Milly starts to cry. Fine I thought its just about feeding time,  so I sit down with her and she has her milk , burp, cuddle ect…  I put her down , look at my sewing machine and then she started to grizzle again.

  OO KAY…,  maybe a clean nappie… get the changing mat out and the wipes and the nappies and nappie change complete, rock  little miss trouble to sleep for a while before puting her very carefully  back in her chair, soon as her little bum hits the seat you’ve guessed it,  Milly is awake again,  how does she know!

So, between lovely Milly, picking up my son from school and teenage daughter drama’s my working week has become none exsistant! Not a button sewn or bow created, I seem to have been going around in the same circle like a duracel bunny without actually getting anything done. Does anyone else have this problem, I wonder?

It’s just surprised me how much I’ve missed having the time to make things. But I’m bursting with ideas so I think the break has done me good, hopefully over the weekend the other half can do a bit of baby cuddling so I can get creative, not for to long though… baby hugs are still unbeatable!….

So… Coming soon my new line of completely one off  boutique bows and hair clips for the baby who likes to stand (or rather crawl!) out from the crowd!, Haa Haa! ( I think I need to get out more!!!)

Be back soon, Helen xxx

Smiley face cures baby blues

Saturday, April 18th, 2009

 Smiley faceI got an unusual sight when I got home from the shops the other day, Milly was sitting in her bouncy chair enthralled by my other half and his incredible dancing feet.

No, he had’nt gone mad (at least no more than usual!), but in a last ditch attempt to entertain our very discerning 11 week old baby girl he had drawn smiley faces in black marker pen on both hands and feet and was putting on a great dancing show.

I have to say I have never seen her more fascinated, it was truly hillarious and just gave me another reason to love him, its better than anything I have come up with to entertain her!
Love, Helen icklebabe x

Ps,  for those of you waiting for my new designs they are in proress, I promise!
Trying to get anything much done with a little baby, a 9 year old (are we there yet?) boy and a slightly grumpy (do I really have to come?) teenager in the easter holidays is proving to be a very interesting prospect. But normal work will resume shortly!!! ( here’s hopeing!) xx