Hi ya. This post contains two parts, one very pleasant and the other not so. In fact, decidedly unpleasant.

(Flower the chicken. Photo by Amelia Binns aged eight and four months)

Part One: A chicken called Flower
My little girl had a self-proclaimed cough and a sore hip today (her sickness demonstration this morning included forced coughs and a limp that disappeared straight after). Since she is never sick (touch wood) I let her take the day off school. And since I am already home anyway (part two) I decided that we should have some bonding time. Maybe even make something since it is over a month since I have designed or made anything.
After a little chat, we decided to make a soft toy together. Made me laugh a little. I can remember about four years ago, reading Loobylu religiously and watching other bloggers with their obsession for softies – and really I didn’t get it. I couldn’t understand why anyone would make something so impractical. Now that makes me laugh. How can a toy that gives someone so much joy be impractical? Joy is the most practical emotion I know.

First Millie drew a picture of a chicken and coloured it in on a huge sheet of paper. I was determined that Millie do most of this so that she really feels it is her own. I then got her to colour in the picture in the colours she wanted to use.
After this I had Millie trace each separate part of the chicken onto a piece of tracing paper and cut them out. Then I had her choose which fabrics she wanted to use. This was definitely the toughest negotiation phase.
I cut out the pieces leaving a seam allowance. Then Mills and I sewed the chicken together. Millie did all the hand sewing herself and ironing and helped stuff the softy. She is so pleased with her effort and she said to me “Mummy, can you please put it on your site, I think other people will want to make one”. I think she is right.

Part Two: The Runs
I have been sick for a long time now. I haven’t wanted to talk about it until now because I keep hoping to wake up and have it gone. It has been brewing for a long time but it has now kept me off work for nearly three and a half weeks. I am now on unpaid leave from work which I find so stressful.
What have I got? Well let me tell ya, I would love to know and am getting really upset about not knowing. The symptoms are pretty ick- chronic diarrhoea and cramps. Oh and vomiting, and a rash. I know. Yuck. Tomorrow is D-Day. Going back to hospital for a lot more tests. A friend asked me today “How are you feeling?”, and I answered “Yeah, fine, except that my body seems to hate me eating”. Tonight I have to drink four litres of this gross liquid and I feel so sick. This stuff is disgusting and is making me gag with every sip. 500mls down, 3.5 Litres to go. But more than this I am sick of being sick. And scared.
But glad to spend some time with my gorgeous little girl who made a chicken and called it Flower.
Mia
xxx

PS I asked Millie why her chicken looks a little bit sad and she said, “Because her mummy is sick and she’s waiting for her to come home”. How sweet!

PPS Thanks to all who have tried to comment and it is still not working. All I can say is that it will be working soon! And thanks for the emails letting me know. You are all very sweet!

Hi, Welcome to One Hour Craft, owned and run by Mia Binns. We hope you love our crafty stories, free tutorials, tales of our new business, links to our lovely buys, craft challenges and swaps. Come back soon!

Mia

xxx

 (Sneak Peak Photo of our Silhouette Tees, available soon in our Etsy Store!)

Hi all,

What a day! Highlights for me were gardening, walking the dog and creating endlessly in my head… dreaming of silhouettes (more on that later), retro wallpaper, funky singlets / tanks and much more.

The highlight of my day was NOT when my toddler said, “Hey mummy, look at this!”. And before I knew it he had gently placed a piece of green snot in my hand! Aagh. It is definately different spending every waking hour with 2 little ones…

We are thrilled to have sold one of our comfy thong (g-string) patterns on etsy. Take a look at it on our one hour craft etsy store. We will add a large pattern due to demand.

Above is a sneak peak at a tee I have just finished to put in the store! It is part of the silhouette range. I am loving the soft cotton and simple but effective design. Grey tees with a similar design in various different bright colours will be available.

Will chat again soon. Em

PS Until now I have been a silent partner on one hour craft – this is my first real post on the blog! Yay. I have been behind the scenes creating & making, and encouraging the fabulous Mia. Well done Mia to date!

And finally, hello, to all you crafty babes,

Do you love wearing a thong but hate how uncomfortable they are? Well we at onehourcraft.com have come up with the perfect solution: A pattern to make a comfy thong. With no elastic on the back and perfectly shaped to fit your lovely bottom, you will want to make hundreds of these babies!

All you need to do to buy this pattern is go to One Hour Craft Etsy store, pay your $2.99 (please note this is all you will pay as there is no posting or processing fee involved) and we will email you both the PDF pattern and the clear and easy-to-follow instructions for The Comfy Thong. When you receive the pattern, simply print it out and get started making your pair.

Thanks so much to our friend Rachel for help on the graphic design side of things (more on the very talented and drop-dead gorgeous Rachel in the next few days). Em and I have been working really hard to get our shop up and running.   And there is loads more to come….

In the next few weeks we will be listing a load of other things we have been making, including some very funky t-shirts and more separates patterns! We are so excited to finally have our business up and running.

Seriously ladies, could anything be better than being able to design and make things with your twin sister? Nuh no way.

So, please come and buy from us! We will keep you posted on our latest items listed. And please join hands with us in a boisterous and rather silly circle dance, dreaming of the day to come when our passion will also provide an income!

And. Finally. We are back. You will hear from us a LOT again in 2008. Thanks for visiting and we hope you enjoy making your comfy thong. We will start up a flickr group to post your panties in a few weeks….

Please note that this pattern is only a small to medium fit.

Kiss Kiss

Mia and Em

PS Some extra ideas for making these panties:

• Use any cotton material for the front piece instead of t-shirt material, scraps are great.  Also ask your mum for lace scraps, rick rack etc.
•  Using a stretch needle on your machine makes sewing stretch fabric a lot easier.
• These make great presents.  We have already shared the love and have a lot of our friends who have already ‘tried out’ the panties.
• These panties require an average sewing ability.  If you are a beginner, team together with a mate who can help you.
• Why not have a panty sewing party?  Get together the girrrrls and their machines.
• If you have a bra and would like matching knickers, take it to the fabric store with you and match it up.  I have found on average these knickers cost about a tenth of the price of buying them in a department store.

Come and visit the  NEW OneHourCraft Store. We will be continually updating!

Hi!  We have not forgotten you!  How could we possibly?  We have been working up a storm and took a long blogiday (blogging holiday- like my new word?). 

We are extremely happy that loads of you have been talking about us with V-Day coming up and our two tutorials for string panties and those pretty garlands we made.  Thanks.

And we have new material coming – and I must say it is a very exciting new direction that we are heading in.  Em and I have been busy working on a little something… (more about that later).  I wonder if all twins work together as well as we do.  I always feel happy with the designs I create with Em and we have that lovely, creative synergy thing happening when we get together.

Our little secret will be out by early next week  (wink, wink). 

 Kiss Kiss

Mia and Em