The Babies Room

I know I said I wasn't going to blog for a bit - but before I take my break, I thought I would quickly share the babies new room with you all. As we are not finding out whether we are having a boy or a girl I have had to go neutral for now, and then once bubs arrives, I have my eye on a whole bunch of prints for the main wall.

 First off is a cloud mobile made from some fabric I bought over a year ago with no particular project in mind, and a branch that i found washed up on the beach at Copa when I was away on a girls weekend last year. The plan is to hang it from a eye hook in the ceiling, but as that requires husbands assistance it is taking a little time!

My inspiration for this mobile came from Jolie Momes Factory blog.

Next up is the family photo wall above the cot

And lastly an ABC gardland to fill the main wall until I decide on some prints

(This garland will be available to buy in my etsy store as a DIY kit in the next month or so - keep an eye out).

So there you have it - if you want to see what the room looked like when it was my son's first room - you can check out my post on it here. I also have a pinterest board dedicated to my fav kids room ideas - I have so many ideas and things i want to try.

My One New Years Resolution for 2012

2012 Resolution Notebook by iloveitall on etsy

First post of 2012 - best make it a resolutions one. I am not a huge one for resolutions- not sure why - just never really got into it. But last year I did make some (see the post here) - and I would say I did pretty well at getting through them. As expected the "exercise once a week" never got off the ground (unless running after after a one year old some counts - surely it does), but I would say I did achieve the "spend more time outside as a family".

So what's up for 2012 - well I am not going to make a list this year (as much as i love ticking things off lists) - but I will make one:

To be the best mum I can be to my son and our soon (very very soon) to join us second child. And above all - to be honest about it.

What do I mean be honest about it? Recently I had a very close friend comment that I make pregnancy look easy and I appear to breeze through it. Yes i have been very lucky in that my pregnancy has had no complications and having small babies also helps particularly in the last few months. That is not to say it has been easy though - most days I would come home so exhausted from work, I was hanging for my 5pm nap whenever possible, I had some serious moments of irrational bitchiness to my husband, tears for no reason more often than I care to remember, short patience with the world and did I mention I have been exhausted for the last 9 months. So why did i hide this side of my pregnancy from my closest friends. I honestly don't know. So - hence 2012 is going to be a year about being honest in my role as a mother. When someone asks how I am, I am not going to breeze over it and say - good thanks, how are you.

So that's my resolution. Any you care to share?

PS - i will be awol for the next couple of weeks - due to baby stuff (as in having it and surviving the first few weeks), but promise to be back soon! In the meantime I will be hanging out on facebook - so make sure to stop by for any baby annoucements and to say hello.

My Creative Space - Beanbags & Magnets

I have gone a little hand made crazy this Christmas and I must admit I am really looking forward to giving these presents to my little man come Christmas morning.

First of the rank are these bean bags which I first started in November (see my blog post here) and I finally finished them last week.

I used this tutorial by Chez Beeper Bebe but also ended up putting the rice in a plastic bag before i sewed them in - just in case they ended up in the bath (not sure how but you never know) or need a bit of a touch clean.

Next on the list was some Toy Story Magnets - my son is such a fan of Toy Story so I know he will enjoy these.

The inspiration also came from a Chez Beeper Bebe tutorial and were super easy to make. All I did was find some images on line (the disney site is great for this), resized them, printed them on my home computer, attached them to adhesive magnets i picked up from Riot Art Store and gave them a coat of modge podge. Too easy!

Next on the list is a game of magnetic fish - but I have still to make the fishing pole and hook - so will wait until I have finished before i post about these.

What handmade goodies have you whipped up this Christmas? I would love to hear about them.

Wordless Wednesday - It's the time of year for silly photos

 This last one is courtesy of my graphic design brother - what do you think - is there a market for doctored santa photos?
Joining in with Wordless Wednesday with Faith Hope and a Whole Lotta Love and My Little Drummer Boys

Food Post - Festive Watermelon

For those that know me (and I hope a lot of you are getting to know me) you will know I am not a bit cooking inclined - but every now and then something catches my eye and I think - i could do that, and I may even want to do that. So when i saw this image on Pinterest I thought it would make a great summer Christmas dessert.

Image via Wit & Whistle

I tried this out during the week with the idea of using the star shape watermelon on the fruit skewers at my son's birthday party this weekend- worked a treat - but I would recommend using a half / whole watermelon and not a quarter as you would end up with less wastage.

Stocking Stuffer Facebook Sale - Final one for the Year

Due to a certain second child making an appearance in early January - I am shutting down my Another Donkey Design stores (both Made It and Etsy) from the 13th December 2011 until some time in the new year. As a thank you to all you lovely followers and purchasers, I am having one final facebook sale to clear out my remaining stocks and one lucky purchaser will get their pack of Magnet Pegs for FREE. These Peg it Ups have been super popular in the last few weeks because they make great (and inexpensive) stocking stuffers, teachers presents or office workers presents

Here's the nitty-gritty on how the auction will work:

1. Auction starts TONIGHT (Thursday 8th December 2011) at 8pm on my another donkey design facebook page and ends 8pm Sunday 11th December 2011.
2. Only 8 packs of Magnet Pegs ($5.50 each + $2.20 P&H) are available - and you can choose from any of the designs in the photo below (1-9). Please note in the comments section: sold, how many packs you want and which designs below the photo in facebook.
3. Once all 8 packs have been sold - I will randomly select one purchaser to receive one pack for free. This will only apply if all 8 packs are sold out
4. Payment can be made by Paypal or direct deposit and all purchaser will be posted from Sydney by Wednesday 14th December 2011 (or once payment clear), with tons of time to reach you by Christmas (australia only).

Magnet Peg It Ups - Perfect for attaching bills, invittations, permission slips, receipes (i could go on but i am sure you get the idea) to your fridge or magnetic pin board.

This pack contains:• 4 x pegs – one side covered in washi japanese tape • 2 very strong magnets are attached to each peg.

These magnets are so super strong, they can easily hold up to 15 sheets of paper and WILL NOT SLIDE DOWN YOUR FRIDE OR FALL OFF! If you don't believe me - try them and if you are not happy with them I will refund your money on return of product.

5.  I have also included my lifestyle and office pegs in the sale - only $5.75 + $2.20 P&H.

Lifestyle and Office Peg It Ups - Help you be more organised at home and in the office. Each pack contains:
• 7 x natural timber coloured pegs with “lifestyle and office” sayings on one side:• Pegs Measure approx 6.9cm x 0.9cm x 1.3cm • Comes all beautifully packaged together in a clear cellophane bag all beautifully packaged together in a clear cellophane bag

And while I have you - There are only 5 more packs of my Chalkboard Gift Tags available in my Made It store here

Chalkboard Gift Tags – suitable for any occasion as you get to decide on the message or picture. Use them for presents, wine tags, wedding decorations or even to organise your kitchen and home storage.

Each tag has a chalkboard finish on both sides, measures 60 x 118mm  and comes with beautiful red and white bakers twine. Simple write your message, and if you want to change it, wipe it with a lightly wet cloth and you have a blank tag again!

This pack of 4 comes beautifully packaged in a clear cello wrapper with a piece of chalk to get you started

Thanks again for making it a successful year for Another Donkey Design and I look forward to re-opening in early 2012 with lots of new lovely goodies.

My Creative Space - Xmas Wrapping

This week I have been busy finishing off my Christmas presents for my girlfriends (sorry no pics to show you in case any little donkeys are reading this blog!) and wrapping them.

This is the first year I have ever done handmade presents, and whilst they are by no means perfect - there is definately a sence of satisfaction in knowing they are one of a kind and the effort that went into them. Handmade all the way!!!

For more creative spaces - head over to Our Creative Spaces