a story

No creative space for me this week. Busy busy busy though.

Just a quick note letting you know that my home birth story is featured over here. Thanks so much Jenny for letting me share my story :) Jenny has a fabulous crafty mummy blog. And is a champion supporter of natural birth. 

And yes. I really did brush my teeth in the birthing pool while in labour..

And yes I really had her that quick. And yes I am lucky. And yes you can call me names if you like xox

Updating WW and give away news

So it's been well over 2 months since I joined Weight Watchers. How are things going you ask? Well thank you! Those of you that follow my tweets will know the details as I tweet on Saturday after my weight in. So far I have lost 8.2kg!! And I've lost a total of 41.5cm from my body, including 10cm from my tummy!!

I did struggle after the wedding, once we got home. I spent so much time planning what was going to happen when we were away that I forgot to plan for when we got home. And being tired, cranky, with Easter thrown in there I did have a wee little gain. That's life! Planning and tracking is the key! And some days it is frustrating to measure everything and track everything. But there is a reason I am this weight. So I will do it the best I can each day.

Now. Give away news! Danimezza is having a massive give away on her blog to celebrate 4 years of blogging!! And you know what? You could win one of my wrap!! Along with loads of other madeit goodies. So pop on over, sign up to follow her blog (which you can always unfollow) and win stuff!! Oh and don't forget to comment lol!

And you know what else? My madeit shop is now open! After having almost 2 months off. And hopefully by the end of the week, I'll be able to share with you some cool new stuff! xox

Loads of happy mail!

Hi guys! Hope you are enjoying your long weekend!

We didn't make it to a service for Anzac Day, house full of sickies, but took the time at home to remember why it is we are the lucky country. Hope you manage to do the same.

Today, while on my death bed with a man cold * cough cough* I thought I'd share what has arrived in my post in the last few weeks :)

This arrived the day we left for Victoria

A give away win from Amy at badskirt! Amy has a super cute online shop and has just released her Moxie the Dog pattern! And also has loads of new fabrics that she pick up on her trip to Japan last week. Lucky duck!

Next, another give away win!

Aren't they cute!! From Loopi for you. Super sweet, and she's tweets too :)

Now I swear I'm not a give away hog! But here is another give away win...

So excited to win this! Beautiful winter scarf, perfect for Melbourne, and some gorgeous fabric! All from Kate from One Flew Over. Did you know Kate has only been blogging for a year?!? And in case you hadn't heard, Kate is member of the creative team putting together Fat Quarterly, a super modern and awesome eZine!! And it's available TOMORROW!! Wee bit excited lol!

There was also stuff that I paid for...

 

From Retro Mummy of course! I've also loaded pictures on flickr of my favourites in here. Can't wait to be able to actually fit into the patterns in Cotton Friend!! Will up date WW later in the week :)

And finally....

My Sew It Together Name Tag!!

Just lovely! Simple with some sparkle just like me :) Thanks so much Sophie!! And Sophie also has a shop, Barefoot Babies, with gorgeous clothing for kids! Check it out! 

Now, back to moaning and coughing, and hopefully some more playing later in the day xox

my creative space

More spaces over at Kootoyoo

Mothers day wish list

Hello! How are you? Me, crappy, nothing major, just life etc.

So to cheer myself up, some window shopping! Here's my mothers day wish list, and yes I am serious hubby, from madeit.com.au of course :)

That Vintage

Kitty Robot 

Buttons by Lou Lou

Brilliant Trees Collective

Miss Isa

The Rabbit and The Duck

Pocket Carnival

Loopi

I will be back later in the week with my happy face on, hopefully! xox

something you should know

Note- I rambled a bit, so it you don't have time, just pop down the bottom and watch the clip. Please, it really is important, thanks :)

Home birth is about to become illegal in Australia. I can't even describe how mad that makes me! The thought of a family missing out on that experience seriously makes me weep.

You guys know me, I've been rambling on in this space for over a year now. You know I'm not some weirdo. I'm not a hairy hippie :P We are just a family that made an educated choice to have our last baby at home. The single greatest moment in my life! The most empowering, emotional, loving thing I could do for me, my body and my baby. Seriously.

I had been holding off on talking about this here, it is a happy crafty space (most of the time), but most of you are women and this is something that effects woman and their families. Even if you would never have a baby at home! I also really thought that it would all be over and that the government would amend the legislation and everyone could do back to having their babies the way they choose without fear of having the right and choice taken away. But I was wrong. I gave our government too much credit.

My understanding is this, and please let me know if I am mistaken, as of July 1 this year it will become illegal for independent midwives to practice midwifery with out insurance. Problem being that there is no insurance TO take out. Right now midwives work with families at their own risk with no insurance. Because they love what they do and families and midwives take that risk.

Why is this important? So few of us have our babies at home, why should the general population care about us? 

My body, my baby, my choice!

No one should ever EVER be force to have their baby somewhere they don't feel empowered, supported and safe. For some it is where their OB's and private hospitals. Some women birth centres, some women hospitals. It's their bodies, their babies, their choice. Just as I would never have a baby under the care of an OB others would never have their baby at home. We all have the power to inform ourselves and make education choices. No one has the right to take away that!

So please PLEASE watch this. And then talk about it! Send letters, post a link, tell the mums in play group, even just tell the lady at the checkout that you know some crazy lady in the NT that had her baby at home. People need to know this IS important. It's not about how you personally have your baby. It's about letting all women have the choice!

Thanks so much. I'll shut up now.

Oh and thanks Amy for sharing the link xox

Edit - If you would like to do something to help the there here are some links on things you can do :)
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/australianhomebirth/
http://www.maternitycoalition.org.au/home/modules/campaigns/index.php?id=1
http://www.homebirthaustralia.org/keep-private-midwifery-alive

http://savehomebirth.com.au/news/

http://www.health-freedom.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=403:homebirth-illegal-nicola-roxons-amendment-nov-5th&catid=22:government&Itemid=11

 

Nicola Roxon, Minister for Health
nicola@nicolaroxonmp.com

 

Thanks Choo for the extra links and email address :)

And don't forget facebook, twitter and other social networking sites. There are plenty of groups and people out there and just talking about it or posting links helps people be more aware of what is going on!
Now I really will shut up lol! xox

my creative space

Slightly obsessed with paper piecing at the moment. Working on more for the sample swap.

Not too sure what they will go on yet, just loving making them :)

More spaces at Kirsty's xox

Another online time waster

In case you hadn't heard, there is a new online community, mysewingcircle.com

Bit like Ravelry I guess.

Anyway, I'm there, hanging out, because I SOOO need another online distraction. BiancaJae is my user name in case you can't get enough of me here or there or here too xox

the end of holidays

The Bianca Jae Makes Stuff Family!

Kids are back at school tomorrow. Hubby is back at work today. It seriously feels like the start of a new year not term. Hubby has been home for 2 months. And now he is not home for 12 days. It is going to be a very very hard 12 days. There has already been more tears than ever before and well, it really sucks.

So bare with me as we find our feet, get back into routine and find our rhythm xox

my creative space

This week, with school holidays and all, I have been spending a lot of time on flickr looking at inspiration for the swap, the far far away quilt, mini quilts and.....sewing tattoo's. 

I do like a tattoo.

I currently only have one but would love another! And to have a bit of sewing in there would be awesome.

Flickr

Flickr

Flickr

Flickr

Flickr

Flickr

Flickr

Flickr

Flickr

Flickr

Flickr

I'm thinking....if I'm brave enough, of having a group of sewing things and then having thread coming out to 'stitch' out the kids names. I love the needle in the skin. And colour! And birds! So much inspiration! Not a fan of the massive tatts but I appreciate the work and art involved.

Time will tell....

More spaces over here xox

Name Tag Swap

Are you going to Sew It Together? I am!! WOOHOO!! Just in case you hadn't worked it out ;)

Gypsy so kindly organised a secret name tag swap. And here is the one I made. Without the name.

What do you think? I love it! Was a little fiddly to make but so much fun!!

Paper pieced using a pattern out of a 1960's Handicraft's CWA book. And assembled using Dear Fii's flower brooch pattern. So there's felt on the back so hopefully it will keep it's shape.

If you are going, and I so hope you are, Cass at Snailblazer is hosting another swap. A sample swap. I'm thinking I might make something similar...or not. So hurry over and sign up! Load's of fun already and Melbourne is still over a month away!! xox

Wedding Quilt no. 2 and on time!

Hey you! How is your Easter long long weekend treating you? Me, totally blew my points for like the next month, but today is a new day and I will stay on track! More on that another day.

Today I want to show you the other wedding quilt I finished while I was away...

Fabric used - fat pack of "Love" by Amy Butler purchased from The Fat Quarter Shop

And my favorite white quilters muslin ;)

Pattern - I used Crazy Mom Quilts flea market fancy tutorial after seeing Corrie's. The quilt was going to be too big so I took one of the pieced strips and added it on the back. Very pleased with it!

I had heaps of scraps left over so I made a scrappy binding! Little tip, iron your seams open! I ironed mine to one side and the seams in the binding are too balky. Not that they will notice. If I had time I would have unpicked and redone them. At least now I know! And so do you ;)

Again the quilting was done by Wendy, a Horsham local, and member of Horsham Patchwork Quilters Inc. And again I used 100% Australian made cotton batting from Retro Mummy.
Quilted with love hearts on the 'Love' fabric for a love wedding quilt!! How cool is that?!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! I'm off to tidy then sew....I hope! xox

Happy Easter!

Image from flickr

 

Wishing you and your family a happy and safe Easter

Hope Easter Bilby finds you xox