Ensley Halter Dress by Noodles and Milk

Sabrina from Noodles and Milk is one of my favourite pattern designers. I have already created her stunning Annabeth Skirt which was featured HERE and also the gorgeous little reindeer applique tutorial HERE.

The last few days I have been working on the Ensley Halter Dress. It is just as well, as it only goes to a size 5 and Missy Jaida is already heading into size 6 these days!

With summer upon us, this gorgeous little dress will be a sweet summer party frock for sure in this household! Thanks to Amy Butler for one of our favourite fabric combinations too!

Dress Front - Halter Neck Design


Dress Back - Elastic


Some pretty embellishments


One very happy little girl!

Twas the Night Before Christmas ...

Twas the Night Before Christmas ....

The 3 B's were dressed in their finest for dinner at Grandma's House ...



Miss Reindeer made a special appearance ...
Applique Design courtesy of Noodles & Milk tutorial



The Christmas Candles were alive and glowing ...



Junior Santa was preparing for a night of giving ...



Merry Christmas to all, and to all Good Night xox

A *LOVE* of Mermaids - Meet Mirabella xox

I'm sure that many, if not most, of you would have seen the fabulous children's movie - "The Little Mermaid." Ariel is a beautiful young maiden of the sea, half human, half fish, living in a wonderful kingdom in the deep deep blue and of course dreaming of the perfect "Prince" that would sweep her off her feet!

The mermaid has always been a creature of mystery, fantasy and unlimited beauty. Its elegance and splendour has been known to enchant people since a very long time.

With inspiration, here is "Mirabella the Mermaid" a new piece to my collective sewing. She will be ever changing and sure to be a sweet addition to any little Mermaid Lover's Wardrobe.

Sunday Words of Gratitude

Holidays are essentially drawing to a close now with "reality" returning to our home tomorrow as another schooling term starts {early morning departures, late evening returns, a busy structured lifestyle upon us again}.

This week, I have been grateful just for the little things ~ to see the smiles and cheeky glints returning to the eyes of the 3 B's ... They work so hard during each term and were so so so SO TIRED at the end of Term 2.

But this week, their little (really big) personalities have returned, their smiles have widened and that sparkle has returned to their eyes!

I am grateful for the leisurely days we've been able to have, no expectations, no timelines, just a slow, relaxed pace of life.

I am grateful for the time we've been able to spend together without that lingering thought (that there is something I really should be doing in terms of school work).

I am grateful just to have been able to spend some quality time at home with my children, just them and me.

Sounds so simple, but sometimes the simplest of things are those that bring the most gratitude.

Sing You Home ...

In all honesty I've only read a handful of Jodi Picoult's novels - Change of Heart, Vanishing Acts, My Sister's Keeper and Plain Truth, all of which I enjoyed immensely and couldn't put down from cover to cover. I hold a great admiration for the way Picoult tackles quite sensitive and confronting issues head on but with a great deal of respect and sensitivity. Her research is thorough and her poise captivating.

Sometimes a book just catches your eye when you are least expecting it. I've been on school holidays and I went into my local bookstore with the ultimate purpose of finding something enjoyable to read and something that would just me a little downtime and change of pace from the hectic world I've been living in of late.

That's when "Sing you Home" caught my eye and was then in my hands and I was standing there lost in the first few pages! If a book can spark my interest within those first few pages, then I know its a keeper and worth the read {for me anyway}.

Sing you Home has all those familiar Picoult story lines ... There is the medical dilemma between a man and woman trying passionately to have a baby via IVF, then there is the trauma of a relationship breakdown when sometimes what you envisage just doesn't eventuate. The ethical dilemma of same sex relationships, the discovery of evangelical religion and ultimately a bitter and passionate legal advocacy over frozen embyro's (a woman, her partner, an ex-husband, his christian community fighting for custody).

When I am enjoying something I read, I am there within the pages, standing alongside the characters, sharing their journey, feeling the emotions and that's what I felt while reading this novel!

Not that I had a chance this time, but there are accompanying soundtracks you can download for the end of each chapter to feel where the character was at each time in the story of their life.

If you haven't already, add it to your reading library! You'll be glad you did!

Happy Reading!

Bellinzona Grange Country Retreat - Hepburn Springs

Don't you love a romantic country escape?

We've just returned from a few beautiful days staying at the Grange Bellizona in Hepburn springs. It is a grand Edwardian style accommodation filled with rich and authentic history! It was destroyed in the fires in 2003 and was rebuilt with authentic style to reopen some years later.

I had booked a 2 night package through wotif which included a deluxe spa room and fully cooked breakfast each morning and I certainly wasn't disappointed with our beautiful room, full corner spa and the service each morning {both chef's are to be commended for their energy and enthusiasm and the small details that your service / meal comes with).

Yes, we didn't bring the children on this occasion! Some adult pampering and relaxing time!

View of the Bellinzona from the back gardens.


One of the many lounge areas to sit, read, relax and chat.



An indoor pool, sauna and hot tub! Divine!

For a dining experience to match your stay, just down the road was a lively little place full of atmosphere, wooden fire and delicious food! After enjoying our first meal, we certainly had no reservations returning the next night again for more! Some of the delight we savoured (and would recommend) were the rustic bruschetta, garlic sourdough, sicilian pasta, creamy fettucine carbonara, greek lamb pizza, creamy chicken & bacon risotto, italian doughnuts with ice-cream, rum & raisin, licorice ice-cream and the meringue with berries and ice-cream! What a feast over two nights!

And now I have a new wine love to top that off as well - Plunkett Shiraz Dulce, a sweet vibrant wine with slight fizz, for easy drinking, enjoy chilled! NICE!

Rubens ~ Hepburn Springs!

Of course no holiday is complete without taking the time to meander amongst the endless opportunities of boutiques and specialty shops in Daylesford! I particularly enjoyed the Paradise Book Store home in an old style Georgian Bank and full of rich literary delights, the girls from the Cutting Studio were wonderful and pampered my hair while I visited and of course you can't go past the Chocolate Mill (for the serious chocoholic)

We also were fortunate enough to enjoy one of the short walks from Parks Victoria down to "The Blowhole." It was also evident still the power of the raging torrents from torrential rainfall and floods to the damaging effects on many areas of the walking tracks too.

Quote - Parks Victoria - "This artificial diversion tunnel on Sailors Creek was built by gold miners, probably in the early 1870's. A hole through the spur was cut to redirect the water flow from the original creek line. The soil in the dry creek bed was then sluiced for gold. It is an impressive sight when the creek is in full flow."

I did stop off and have a look at the Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa complex and would love to visit another time around!

Quite a lot packed into 2 nights away, but completely worth it :)

My *LOVE* of Minnie Mouse

My *LOVE* of Minnie Mouse evolved from being baked that incredible Minnie Mouse cake from the Woman's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book.

I'm wondering how many of you also had this fabulous cake for one of your childhood birthdays?

A while back I received some gorgeous Michael Miller red and white polka dot fabric. I was quite surprised to see how large the spots were and of course at the time they weren't quite what I thought I'd be received, but I do remember thinking, WOW this would make a great Minnie Mouse Number! So as you do, you make that mental note to yourself and hope that one day you do indeed find some time to create what you envisage in your mind!

Of course,I didn't end up using those particular polka dots for Minnie Mouse, one day a Lady Bug caught my eye instead! {as they do}

But I did recently get the chance to finally try some Minnie Designs!

And Miss Minnie Designs too!

I think I'm *SMITTEN* once more with Minnie, one of my childhood loves that continues to bring joy to my life xox

Sunday Words of Gratitude

You know those weeks you have, they fly by before your eyes, days just rolling into one another. The world flying by fast and furious. You hear the clock ticking, second, minute, hour. Sun rises, your driving to work and before you know it, the sun sets as you embark home. Life like a torrid raging current, rushing along, so much to be done before the week is out! Its' the last week of term you know, there are parent / teacher interviews, final planning for the coming new term, meeting your student teacher that you will mentor upon your return, tying everything together before you will allow yourself two weeks of solace, recover and relaxation. If you don't pull courage from the bottom of your soul to keep afloat during these hectic times in your life, you could be so easily lost, swirling below and sinking before you know it!

I really embraced this past week the dawn of a new day with each sunrise. I stood still, I took a moment of silence, breathe in 2 .. 3, release 2 .. 3 Then refreshed I would start my day with a positive outlook.

This past week, I seem to have especially experienced an affinity with the closing of each day as well. As I set off from work each evening, I would look in my rear view mirror to see glorious hues fill a western sky behind me.

I'm not sure how you feel, but to me sunrises are quite refreshing and energising, whereas sunsets soothe the soul and bring a great sense of calm. Its' a reassuring sign that your day is done, a time now to leave everything of the current day behind you, to lay to rest your worries, fears, concerns and just enjoy a few moments solitude as you move forward to the closing of your current day.

You know that tomorrow is again a new day with new challenges that you will face with lifted spirits.

I am now on holidays on for two weeks and am enjoying the first few days of just doing things for myself {and trying to literally ignore my school bag in the walk in robe {for now ...}.

Happy Holidays,

Sunday Words of Gratitude

I've always been one to sit down and reflect upon my days, and since joining a supportive group of crafty like minded girls, Sunday has become the day to reflect upon the week gone by and what I have been grateful for ...

Its' been a very busy few weeks for me with the end of Victorian School Term 2 only days away.
I've been immersed in assessment and report writing and I certainly am *GRATEFUL* that after many weeks of dedication, following a strict home routine (whereby I would write a report every night once I had tucked the 3 B's soundly in to their beds for peaceful slumber) and having the unconditional support of Daddy B, that for now, this busy phase of my life is over for the first half of the year! {Although I am entering parent/teacher conferences each day after school this week.}

I am *GRATEFUL* for those days when I literally am dragging my feet through the front door, dropping my work bag and wishing I could just plonk myself (literally) into the nearest chair for a few minutes peace and solitude trying not to even contemplate that I should be in the kitchen cooking my family a meal, I find a hand written note and a hearty homemade casserole from my mother already waiting for me {*LOVE*}

I am *GRATEFUL* to be blessed with the most AMAZING Friend *T* who is always there on the other end of her mobile phone, that warm voice at the end of the day, as I am driving home from work, just to have some contact with the "outside world."

I have been thinking the last few weeks as I walk towards my room well before 8am each morning {I work in a small rural country school} about that tranquility you feel that warms the heart and soothes the soul when you take the time to stand still for one moment, to look out and see the golden glow of a morning sun rising slowly, making her way upwards and onwards over country paddocks (quite often now covered in a low lying mist). Note, below is an example, I have been meaning to take my own photo, so that is on the "to do" list! But the essence of beauty is portrayed as below, this is very similar to what I see each morning just before I enter my own classroom for the day.

This is a moment I am *GRATEFUL* for on a frequent basis and I think here is the dawn of a new day. Today, I have a gift of opportunity to all those around me, to learn, to achieve something new, to smile and laugh and enjoy what I have, even simply to just make someone happy from doing the simplest of things.

Next time you see a sunrise, be *GRATEFUL* Let your sunrise soothe your soul and lift your spirit!

Celebrating 3,000 Fans with a Give Away!!

I am so incredibly blessed to have reached another milestone over at Handmade By 3 Little B's.


To mark this memorable occasion and to say a BIG THANK YOU to you all for your ongoing love and support, I am offering "1 FREE CUSTOM MADE SWEET AS CAN BE DRESS" to one of our lucky fans!

All you need to do it leave your comment below and I will choose a random winner on Wednesday night 8:30pm AEST!

GOOD LUCK!!

Noodles and Milk - Annabeth Skirt

I just adore the sewing patterns from Noodles & Milk and have had the Annabeth for a while waiting to try. I also drew my inspiration for the fabric combination from the fabric used for the cover of the pattern, but used sunspots in turquoise from the delectable Miss AB as my contrast to the Amy Butler, Love, Paradise Garden in Periwinkle.

Miss Jaida had a 6 year old birthday party a few weeks back and well who could ask for a more perfect party skirt to frolic and twirl in!

1. Choose your fabric combination

2. Cut out your waist band, main skirt and hem band



3. Put the first 2 parts of your skirt together



4. Gather and pin that ruffled hemband (158cm worth)

5. Admire that full twirl factor



6. Its' pretty beautiful



7. One happy 5 year old tries out her new skirt



8. Verdict - I LOVE IT MUM!