Matching Pegs

As regular readers know, Friday is the day to dip into the past, but today I am going to show you a piece of design that is not my work, but is from our family photo archive.  A few people I know have just had, or are going to have babies.  This is the best piece of baby related gear that we purchased, hands down, so we now have three!  It is a fabulous piece of design.

This is our eldest daughter Amelia, at 5 1/2 months in January 2001, sitting in the Tripp Trapp highchair by Stokke, a firm from the Netherlands, (the second link takes you to the USA/Canadian site, as it is in English, but the first link shows the chair as it is sold here even though the text is Dutch.  There seems to be a different baby rail sold in the US, which is not as elegant).  Back when we purchased this, they were not sold in Australia, and I think it was my first ever Internet purchase, through a New Zealand importing firm.  A very dear friend had one that her in laws had purchased in Europe, and I thought it was worth tracking down.

As you can see, unlike other Highchairs, the Tripp Trapp adjusts from being suitable for a baby right through to an adult.  What you can’t see in this picture is that the baby rail at the front comes off, and the chair seat interchanges with one that does not have a strap.  For an adult, the larger footrest becomes the seat.  At almost 8, Amelia still benefits from that little bit of extra height to sit comfortably at the table.

Now here is what I was doing (with the kids) yesterday.

I was actually drawing Teddy bears, when Amelia got our her drawings of possible doll faces.  We were talking about proportion again, and how eyes are actually across the middle of a face, and not near the top.  Before I knew it, look who had appeared. Along with various stylized Michaela’s along the bottom, there is one of each of us, (I had to get out a photo to add Luke and I).

Here is a page of Teddies.

Here is another current project in the works, yet another scarf.

This one is quite narrow as it is to adorn a pretty little neck - Michaela’s.  It is made with Bamboozle yarn which is 70% Bamboo and 30% Cotton, so it is super soft and light.  As usual, it was the colour that caught my eye, yet another variegated yarn, in such beautiful fruity tones.  I also have some put aside for me :-).

Lastly this is Michaela’s handiwork.  Inspired by a large creation the bigger kids made, she presented this to me - her first castle - and asked me to take a picture.

Have great weekend everyone, more regular posting will resume again next week when term starts again.

Here is a scary creature from my sketchbook, which will hopefully become a library bag for our friend Corey before too long.

Unfortunately I have been so busy lately that I have not had much sewing time. Also, holding me up is the fact that bluey greys are a little absent from my fabric stash. I have a small range of greys, but none that say “Shark”to me. My stash also seems deficient in the very dark, murky red (inside of mouth) department. I think a trip to the fabric store is in order sometime soon, probably when I can accomplish it with only one child in tow.

I am also wondering if this composition needs a poor little fish, called “Shark Bait” perhaps?

Here is a look at some more Butterflies, also in preparation for a library bag.

Drawing is about all I can accomplish at the moment with three children at home.

Last week we had a day at home with a teachers strike, and now today it does not feel like the weekend, as Luke is at work slaving over a hot computer. Speaking of which, it is time to turn this one off, the youngest just woke up from her nap and the others have finished their colouring in.

Today we spent the day with my good friend Rebecca, and her 5 children. She is an extremely busy lady who is the brains behind this website dedicated to larger families.

Rebecca has asked me if I could create a library bag for each of her children. They all have their own favourite colour (which are all different), which Rebecca has encouraged because it helps her keep track of their different belongings. So I am armed with that information, and some details about their favourite things.

I arrived home and started sketching (in the small amount of time before I had to produce dinner) and here is a page of butterflies.

I have been wanting to draw out some Butterflies for a while. Michaela will be moving from a cot into a bed soon, and I plan to put some on the Doona cover that I am going to make. I have a sheet with a Lavender coloured gingham print which I am going to . They also happen to be Brooke’s favourite thing (Rebecca’s youngest daughter).

So I have made a little start. More sketching will be needed before I start on drawing out an actual design, for either the doona or a library bag, but I like this page of angular butterflies. I am going to explore this look, I am having fun!