Hoop Art

So the latest trend around the crafty world I have noticed is 'Hoop Art'

I love the look and love how versatile it can be whether for a child or adult. It looks relatively easy to do, some can be very intricate and detailed, but luckily I like the simple easy looking ones :) And they are also quite cheap to do too which i love. Embroidery hoops can cost as low as $2 from spotlight and I was even thinking of checking out the op shops and second hand stores for more vintage looking ones.
And this is definitely a great project to use up all your scraps. Fabric, ribbon, thread, lace.. anything goes!!

I have lots of inspiration pics to share and lots of ideas in my head that I want to do. I cant wait to start one!!

I love the bright colours of the bunting. Easy to stitch and only need tiny little scraps of fabric. Ive been thinking of cutting up a new sheet I got for Miss Jaime, i only use the fitted sheet, so with the spare one I'm thinking of making her some real bunting for her room and maybe a matching throw pillow so I'm definitely a bit obsessed with bunting lately too :)

I love the lace doily in this one and the one in the pic above. I'm def going to have to ask my nan if she has any I can use :)

These bigger ones look great on the wall and look like they are being used as notice boards or inspiration boards which I love! Something different to the old cork board.

Using maps as decoration around them home is another new trend I'm loving. I would def pick a meaningful place to use in the hoop like where we honeymooned or got married.. awww cute :)

The next 3 pics are just some layouts that I think look great. Love the colours in this one and if the fabric stands out enough, that's all you need.

Above the bed head is a great space to put them.. I actually found another great DIY project today that Ive fallen in love with so am really excited about doing that once we have moved house and will explain everything about it in another blog post :) Its good people that's all i will tell you tehehe

This last one i love because its a great way to use up vertical otherwise wasted space. Love the layout.


I'm really excited about starting some and have lots of ideas in my head. If this little bubba turns out to be a little lady i would love to make a few to have above her cot. Her name stitched with birth date and a few colourful pretty things too, like um bunting!! I will probably do a bunting one in its very own hoop though, I love it that much!

Oh and also another idea I want to do is some Christmas ones! Just to get out at Christmas time, I thought it would be a different way to decorate the house for my favourite time of year :)

Well its block o'clock time ladies and gentlemen!! I am outta here.. Will def post once I have started my hoop art to show you what I'm up to.

xxx

Back in the game

Yep, I have the crochet bug back again!

This preggo lady has been really busy making soft, warm, and cosy beanies for the little people.

I find it really relaxing especially with my huge belly I cant do too much so sitting on the couch with a cuppa and some wool in this chilly weather is making me very happy :)

I have had lots of requests from friends and family needing new beanies for their little ones lately so thought i would make some and post on our blue sky baby facebook page where we sold them last winter.. We had taken a long long break from our little handmade business but it feels good to be back online and already our gorgeous customers are returning for more of our beanies and head wraps which feels really nice, and encourages me to keep making.

                                                                   buddy bear beanie

With a baby on the way very soon, we are keeping it a lot simpler this time. standard pricing for beanies will be $15 including postage with maybe a few bigger and more fancy ones will be $18 and our head wraps will all be $10 each including postage.

Go to our page and have a look if u like http://www.facebook.com/blueskybabydesigns

I bought this gorgeous textured wool yesterday and I'm obsessed with it, its just beautiful. This is my favourite at the moment and also have the same wool in cream..

I'm thinking this would look beautiful in a newborn photography shoot, I can def see my little bubba wearing this if I have a little girl.

We can also take requests for colours and sizes so feel free to leave a comment :)

back to the wool for me now!! enjoy your weekend everyone, I'm really looking forward to my birthday cheesecake tonight yipeee!! (what? I'm pregnant!! lol) 

xxx

** now playing

So this is my current 'Singing while I'm washing the dishes' play list...


Neyo - closer
Heart - Alone
Whitney - I didn't know my own strength
Jordin Sparks - Battlefield
Jen Hudson - And I am telling you
Glee - Don't stop believing
Mariah & Luther - Endless love
Black Velvet
Glee - Alone (I told you guys I'm obsessed with this song!)
Mr Buble - Hold on


Music definitely helps me forget how much I hate doing dishes, and the kids love hearing me sing at the top of my lungs.. nope, that's a lie, they really don't. I often hear them turn the tv up as loud as they can.. hehe.. They do usually join in and dance around the dining room and spin around being silly :)

So whats on your current play list??

xx

To cut or not to cut...

So I'm getting my hair done next week and I'm so very excited!
My long hair is just hanging, the ends are dead, I'm not looking after it at all and I lazily chuck it up in a ponytail every single day. BORING!

So do I cut it???

Me thinks so...    A few Ideas...

I'm really not obsessed with Rihanna, truly!! I just really like her hair :)

I so wish I was brave enough to cut my hair as short as this last one. Love it! Maybe if I lose some baby weight after baby comes I might do it.. or if someone talks me into it ;)   We will see!!!

Will take a few selfys after my appointment next week with the lovely Aunti Kaff (what my babies call my boss lol) to show you what I end up doing.. YAY!!

Who am I??

So who the hell is this alicia-jane person that's writing this blog I hear you ask??

Well my friends, alicia jane is me.. My dearest Dad came up with the name Alicia, and my middle name is named after my Mummy's best friend Jane.

I thought I would tell you a few random things about me so you have a bit of an idea of who I am. I'm probably going to reveal a bunch of embarrassing stuff so it will be worth sticking around for a laugh ;)

Ok lets go...

1. I'm about to turn 28 years old next Friday, the first day of winter.. (that's pretty boring, sorry)

2. Growing up I wanted to be a face painter and a mum. (Just sticking to the mum thing for now, but who knows what i could be doing next ;))

3. I love music and am currently obsessed with the song 'Alone' by Heart.. my poor kids ears must bleed after I belt that one out!! LOVE it!! Now if only i knew all the right words..

4. I have been hairdressing since I was 19 years old! I actually didn't do an apprenticeship but paid a lot of money to study full time for 1 year at Clip Joint Hairdressing academy in the city. I got a job at Hair House Warehouse Marion as a 4th year and got signed off two months after that.
The thing I love most about hairdressing is the talking (obviously) and making people pretty. I love being creative, being social, and meeting new people all at the same time. I cant decide if cutting or colouring is my fave I completely love doing both!! Oh, but I definitely ain't a fan of cutting kids hair.. those buggers just don't sit still!! Cant wait to get back into doing clients at home when I have this baby into a good sleeping pattern :) Fingers crossed guys.. seriously. Please.

5. One of my dreams is to be able to take my babies to Disney World one day! When the last baby is old enough to remember it and the oldest isn't too old for it (I don't actually think that could happen though, It is the happiest place on earth after all)

6. I have a daily routine of checking online - twitter, ninemsn news page, people (celeb gossip.. I'm a little obsessed with famous people, ask me anything I'm very up to date), currently realestate.com.au cause we are looking for a new house in the beautiful Adelaide Hills, I also have about 10 different blogs that I check each day (alot of them have inspired me to start my very own) and of course when I still don't want to get off the computer I browse my love, Pinterest!! LOVE it!! I just pin pin pin, love the inspiration I get from seeing all of those beautiful images, but I do really have to remember to go back and look at what I have pinned and actually do a few of those tutorials I seem to love.

7. Ok this is a big one, I seriously have kept this a pretty big secret in my life but I'm feeling like it was long enough ago now so that I can just look back at it and laugh.. I did tell my husband (we were getting married I thought I had to!! The guilt was KILLING me!!)  but he was sworn to secrecy.. a few times he has tried to bring it up in front of other people to tease me about it, but he sees my eyes start to tear up straight away and thankfully changes his mind about sharing it..

I. auditioned. for. Australian. Idol.....  Yes, yes I did.

It was the second year, just after my Guy Sebastian (who i think, has the voice of an angel) won the first season and my high school bestie, who shall remain nameless in case she decides to sue me, was an amazing singer but wouldn't try out unless I went with her.. So i did what any best friend would do.. I went along just to humour her. I had never in my life sung in front of anyone seriously before. I LOVE to sing, And I sing alllllll the time! I just don't think I'm very good at it, actually my close friends and family told me repeatedly I'm not the best at it, but I was brave and had a go.. we waited in line for 11 eleven hours (I'm not joking) and sung in front of 4 random people that weren't the famous judges on the tv show, for 30 seconds each and then were told no sorry, you are not what we are looking for.. Great thanks!! It was the best day ever.. NOT!

It does feel kinda good to let this out actually. Blog therapy is working a treat already!! :)

For those interested I sang the Tina Arena version of 'show me heaven' hehehe I really did.

8. I'm obsessed with The Block at the moment! I love love love Sophie and Dale and their style. I'm secretly hoping my hubby will become interested in distressing old furniture and Ive even been trying to talk him into wanting an electric sander for Christmas! Of course he wants a PlayStation game instead.

9. I'm not a morning person. I'm also not a night owl. I really like my sleep and if I don't get enough, I'm really grumpy. Lets hope this baby sleeps well early on :)

10. I love Baths. I sometimes put candles around it to relax and my baby girl calls it my 'romance bath.' Too cute!

Ok I'm going to stop at 10 for now, this post is pretty long I hope your still reading!!

See ya round :)

So here I go...

Its Blog Time!!


We have less than 3 weeks until we meet our new little baby Bartlett, my belly is huge and we are all more than ready to hold this little one in our arms. Finding it hard to keep the other two's lips off my belly, forever wanting to kiss 'Baby Abby'
I think we are going to have a hard time getting Noah to call the baby by its real name, he's pretty set on Baby Abby whatever the sex will be :)

No more salon work or doing hair at home, I'm enjoying the rest but surprised by how much I'm actually missing doing hair! I need the scissors in my hand..
Cant wait to set up a new client base when we move, I need to get back in action :)

Since Ive had no appointments or shifts at the salon or even a best friend to catch up with (since she moved miles and miles away from me sniff...sniff..) Ive had plenty of time to get the baby stuff ready, Ive been sewing (YAY) and doing some yummy baking! I found the best apple cake recipe on line, it was delicious!! So thought I'd share it...

http://thecookieshopinenglish.wordpress.com/2009/08/06/best-apple-cake-of-the-whole-wide-world/

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups vegetable oil (I use canola oil)
• 3 cups plain flour
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 3 to 4 Granny Smith apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (3 cups)
• 1 cup chopped assorted nuts, such as pecans and walnuts (optional)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 12-cup Bundt pan with cooking spray; set aside (I don’t have a bunt pan, so I use a large angel food cake pan, or even a 25cm round pan. If I have left over batter, I make some muffins).
2. Working over a large sheet of parchment paper, sift together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt; gather sifted ingredients into centre of sheet; set aside. (I sift everything in a large bowl)
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine vegetable oil, sugar, and eggs; mix on high speed until lemon yellow.
4. Fold reserved parchment in half lengthwise; with mixer on medium speed, gradually shake in dry ingredients until just incorporated.
5. Add apples and, if desired, nuts, to batter; mix to combine. Add vanilla, mixing until incorporated.
6. Pour batter into prepared pan, and bake until a cake tester inserted in the centre comes out clean, 75 to 90 minutes.
7. Remove from oven, and cool slightly on a wire rack.
8. Invert cake onto rack; turn cake right-side up to cool completely on rack

Writing this out has actually got me in the mood for some more baking! Kids have been at me and at me about making choc chip cookies so think that's what I will do once the dishes have been done.. fun times!

Might share some pics of our cookies next :)

Have a great day!! xx