My Day on Sesame Street - Friends & "likers"

On Sesame Street, everybody is friends with everyone else. There are best friends, like Elmo & Abby Cadabby, roommates like Ernie & Bert, and Oscar the Grouch has a pet friend named Slimey.

Julia (Miss 4) has a few good friends, and I expect she will make a lot more at pre-school this year. I asked her what a friend is, and she said "a friend is someone who you love and who you like, and you play with them, and visit them, and talk to them".

I have met so many friends on Facebook for which I am so grateful. Kate from Indigo Magenta was so nice in her recent FB post - "Finding like-minded, talented & supportive business mums on Facebook has been such a nice surprise" - I couldn't agree more, Kate.

I love to share with you all because that's what friends do, right? So to celebrate 1500 "likers" on my Facebook page, I have a special blogpost planned for next week - a handmade giveaway! I'd love you all to enter for a chance to win a package of gorgeous handmade items made by some of my favourite friends on FB. More details next week...

To finish, here is a fabulous quote that I think sums it all up nicely:
"A friend is absolutely the best thing to have in the whole world."
-- Sesame Street

My Day on Sesame Street
Deluxe Personalised Children's Book
$21.50 each with free shipping for delivery within Australia only.
Available now from Jelly Bean Books.

Ballerina Princess - My addiction to beautiful handmade clothes ♥

As this is now my fourth blogpost showcasing gorgeous handmade outfits made by highly talented Facebook ladies, I think it must be obvious that I have an addiction to which I'm afraid there may be no cure. In my defence, who could resist such beautiful fabrics, designs & workmanship?

This beautiful dress is by Tracey at Sugar an Spice. This is just one example of her ultimate design dress, featuring a pretty shirred top, flowing skirt and wonderful fabric combinations. I couldn't resist the gorgeous soft apricot and cream of this fabrics in this dress.

This pillowcase dress is by Kerry at MyOneBrownMouse. To me, Kerry's use of denim and contrasting fabrics is her feature style, although she makes so much more, including fabulous boyswear & gorgeous accessories, and all with such beautiful detail.

I adore the gorgeous, bright fabric in this dress, which is by Danielle at Two Little Munchkins. Danielle uses pretty fabrics and simple designs to make wonderful, affordable clothes for boys & girls.

Whilst this pretty, cotton halter dress technically isn't handmade, the stunning hand-dyed rainbow colours are by Robyn at Rainbows & Ringlets. Robyn uses such bright, vivid colours to make beautiful happy rainbows in a wide range of clothing items, from socks, singlets and tees to dresses, hats and headbands.

So whilst my handmade addiction can't be cured, at least it is something that I can share with you all. My own little princess Miss 4 has the most amazing wardrobe full of beautiful handmade outfits made by the most talented and amazing ladies on Facebook. Stick with me and you will probably get to see plenty more!

Ballerina Princess
Deluxe Personalised Children's Book
$21.50 each with free shipping for delivery within Australia only.
Available now from Jelly Bean Books.

Noahs Ark - Continuing action for flood relief

I continue to be amazed by the generosity of people everywhere during such a time of devastation and loss. It seems that the spirit of Noah's Ark continues as many hands are extended to help others.

Following my last post, I have been fortunate to have participated in many auctions, some as a donor, and some as a bidder. It is heartwarming to see the Facebook and blogging communities banding together to continue the fund raising to assist with the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal for the Queensland floods. There are also charity auctions with funds going to the Salvation Army and the RSPCA Queensland.

I have found a wonderful auction site called Possum Pouches. This amazing website is run by Robyn who operates regular charity auctions and her current charity of choice is Angel Flight - auctions are running concurrently with Flood Relief auctions for this month. Please take a look at the website and see how you can become involved in this fantastic community resource.

The Make It Perfect: QLD Flood Auctions Master List has now been published, so please take a look at all the blog auctions up and running - so many generous people including Toni who has put this all together.

To make a donation to the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal, please visit Donate to the flood relief appeal.

Please continue to share these links so that others can participate in the fund raising. You can also see many links to Facebook and blog auctions in my last blog post. If you would like to share a link to any other fund raising effort, please let me know by commenting below.

Noah's Ark
Deluxe Personalised Children's Book
$21.50 each with free shipping for delivery within Australia only.
Available now from Jelly Bean Books.

Noah's Ark - Raising funds for flood relief

Amidst the current devastating flood crisis in Queensland, the Noah's Ark in this story is all the wonderful generosity shown by so many people across Australia and the world. The Facebook and blogging communities have banded together to raise funds to assist with the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal for the Queensland floods.

Facebook: Premiers Disaster Relief Appeal

I'm sure that everyone I know on Facebook has donated to this cause in one way or another. I would like to commend AnK Bowtique on their recent wonderful auction, but most importantly all those that donated and bid on each item and made it a resounding success.

There are many more auctions on Facebook, some underway and some to start shortly - please take a look and place a bid on some beautiful handmade and generously donated items:

• flickwillfixit.com.au
• Handmade Kids & Rudy & The Dodo Flood Appeal
• Jewels by Lulu
• Awareness Angels
• The Oz Material Girls & TOMG's $1 Auctions 
• Itty Bitty Butts
• poppyseed markets
• Jellybean Childrens Markets
• Jazzy Kidz Auction
• Spreading Random Acts of Kindness
• Summerblossom Handmade Accessories
• That Vintage
• Wholesale Baby

An auction is being held at RSPCA Charity Auction on Facebook to raise funds for the Queensland RSPCA. Unfortunately animals do not receive government funding, so please spare a thought for our four legged and winged friends and bid at this auction if you can.

Another Facebook page helping kids with something special is Sponsor a T-Shirt for a Toowoomba Child. This is a page where a small donation can help in such a big way.

There are also auctions being held on Blogs, co-ordinated by Toni from Make it Perfect, which feature so many gorgeous handmade items:

• Irene's RE~VINTAGED
• Off The Peg
• Make It Perfect
• Felted Jumper Arms
• Becky et al
• Lal Lal Living
• posie patchwork
• Mrs Beckinsale
• cloth work
• Blue Mountains Girl
• Embellish Your Life
• Once upon a Quilt
• Designs by Fee
• Julia's Place
• Because I'm Me
• JoyPatch
• Stitchin' Skilly
• Recycled Fashion
• Jewells
• Mandamade
• Tea Time Quilt Patch
• Cathy's Sewing Room

Also in Blogland, some fabulous raffle style giveaways:

• Chunky Chooky
• posie patchwork
• Sew What Next
• Little Boozle

There are many more bloggers joining in this weekend, so please check with Make it Perfect for a list of blog auctions which I am hoping will be available soon.

To make a donation to the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal, please visit Donate to the flood relief appeal.

Please share these links so that others can participate in the fund raising. There are so many people and businesses who are donating in their own way, some by sharing part of their sales or profits, some by making their own personal donations. If you would like to share a link to any other fund raising effort, please let me know by commenting below.

Noah's Ark
Deluxe Personalised Children's Book
$21.50 each with free shipping for delivery within Australia only.
Available now from Jelly Bean Books.

Ballerina Princess - still more beautiful handmade clothes ♥

I have more gorgeous handmade outfits to show you which have all been made by the many talented ladies I have met on Facebook. How can I resist such beautiful clothes!

This beautiful flip skirt was made by Kate at Indigo Magenta. Kate's use of stunning fabrics and contrasting trim details is wonderful. Kate makes boys and girls outfits in all sizes and I think I have about five pieces in Julia's wardrobe already!

Another skirt, this one by Kylie at Possum & Sweetpea. Kylie uses very pretty fabrics and makes gorgeous shirred & pillowcase dresses as well. Her sister Kristy makes fabulous crayon rolls which are really popular.

This dress is sewn by Melissa at maggiej designs. Scott & Melissa design gorgeous kids clothes, soft toys & hair accessories and their fabrics are so bright & colourful.

Last dress, this one by Jo at Dalabri Designs. I love Jo's simple dress styles and gorgeous fabrics. She makes boys and girlswear in a wide range of styles and I'm quite sure that she can sew anything!

I have such a handmade addiction that I still have more to show you, and will get some more photos together soon.
      ♥♥♥            ♥♥♥            ♥♥♥            ♥♥♥            ♥♥♥
Meanwhile, to celebrate 1400 Facebook "likers" for Jelly Bean Books, it's time for a giveaway competition! In keeping with the Ballerina Princess theme, I have a copy of this beautiful personalised book to give away.

This is a 24 page 23cm x 15cm personalised children's book featuring your child's name, age, friends and more throughout the story. And what a gorgeous story - your little girl will attend a fancy dress ball, dance in a ballet and have tea with the King and Queen when she becomes royalty!

For a chance to win this fantastic personalised book, all you have to do is visit Indigo Magenta on Facebook and "like" Kate's page. Then tell me your favourite outfit from her photo albums. Please comment below this blog post and make sure you leave email contact details to be in the random draw on Sunday 16th January at 9.00pm (NSW). (You can email me your contact details if not included or attached to your comment). I will email the winner and also let you know on my FB page.

Ballerina Princess
Deluxe Personalised Children's Book
$21.50 each with free shipping for delivery within Australia only.
Available now from Jelly Bean Books.

Ballerina Princess - more beautiful handmade clothes ♥

Now that Christmas has been and gone and the new year has begun, it is time to showcase some more gorgeous handmade outfits made by the many talented ladies I have met on Facebook.

I managed to get some sunshine in Canberra to take photos of Julia (Miss Four) in her beautiful new dresses and skirts, including some special Christmas outfits.

This beautiful skirt was made by Tina at Georgie Girl. Whilst perhaps best known for her wonderful ruffled nappy covers, she also caters for bigger girls with beautiful skirts, tops and dresses. Her fabric combinations are bold and bright.

Another Christmas outfit, a gorgeous Christmas skirt and matching brooch by Bev at Butterfly Mama Creations. Bev uses such beautiful lace to finish her creations.

This Christmas dress is by Jayne at Lila's Grace. I love the style of this dress and the fabric combination is beautiful. This one was a last minute Christmas buy because I just couldn't resist!

The last for the day is from Belinda at Pink Giraffe Handmade Clothing. This one was a lucky find from Shelly at La di da Kids. Belinda's gorgeous vintage styling and unique fabrics are just fabulous.

I still have more to show you, and will post again soon. If you missed my last fashion blog post, please take a look here!

Ballerina Princess
Deluxe Personalised Children's Book
$21.50 each with free shipping for delivery within Australia only.
Available now from Jelly Bean Books.