Here is Emily's Children at Play quilt top finished!  I loved putting it together and am now up to basting the layers and then machine quilting.  It's good to maintain the momemtum with making a quilt, which I have done with this one.  Most of my quilts get put away for weeks, sometimes months (and once years) at a time.  I've realised with keeping on going with one, it actually doesn't take as long as you think to complete.  I'll have this one ready before Emily is ready for it.  She is still in her little cradle and using this quilt.

I am linking up here today.

So here is Emily Button.  She was lots of fun to make, although I had to keep her hidden from Isabella as her distinctive pink hair would surely have given her away!

Isabella is in love with these two 'Emily Button' books.  She loves reading them and has requested them every night for the past two weeks.  She knows most of the stories by heart and I have not seen her as excited about any other stories.  These two books were given to her by her Aunty, Uncle and cousins in the UK as a Christmas gift.  They lay quietly on the book shelf for a while, but once they were discovered, we have not heard the end of Emily Button!  Luckily Stefan and I like the books too - they are really sweet.

Her sidekicks, Bobble and Mousey the Mouse help her along the way.

Since my crafty mojo has been creeping back, I am starting to think of birthday gifts for Isabella (late July), and thought how much she would love a handmade Emily Button, Bobble and Mousey.  So, as much for my enjoyment as for hers, I have decided to embark on 'The Emily Button Project' where I will make all three characters as true to the stories as I can. 

Emily - I plan on using Fiona Dalton's Poppy doll pattern as a guide for Emily, although she will be shorter and her head will be longer.  I have sure had some mileage out of that awesome pattern.  I have some beautiful cream wool flannel which I will use for her body and face.  I will have to get my hands on some good quality pink wool felt for her hair and will make the two outfits that appear in the book (equipped with little bits and pieces for her pockets of course!).  I will mostly use scraps from my scrap box for her outfits but might have to buy a few bits and pieces.

Bobble - His face and body are knitted in two shades of pink.  I have wool that will suit and will have to knit the body and face.  I will make up the pattern for him and use scraps from my scrap box for his limbs, tail and ears.

Mousey - This guy will be the quickest and easiest.  I will use button/hinge joints for his arms and legs so he can sit and (hopefully) stand.  Fabrics from scrap box.

These books are sold through the Marks & Spencer chain, and unfortunately you can only order them through their site.  Through my little internet search the other night, I found there are two other books which I will see if Isabella's Nan can find and send to us for her birthday - let's hope she still loves the books then!

For my creative eye candy, check out Our Creative Spaces.

I had a lovely couple of hours to myself today while Emily slept and Stefan took the girls to Bunnings.  I promptly made myself a latte, buttered a freshly made date scone and pulled out my sewing machine.  I got four of these squares finished to complete the twelve to make up Emily's quilt.  I plan on joining the blocks with white sashing and blue pinwheel posts for the intersections.  I have gained a bit of momentum with this quilt now and hope to have it finished in the next couple of weeks - everything moves pretty slowly at the moment with three little girls on the go!

The fabrics for this quilt are from the Children at Play range by Sarah Jane.  I can't wait to see her new line which is due to be released in the next week or so.  Her fabrics are so sweet.

I'm enjoying putting my feet up now after a nice mother's day - enjoying a Baileys and some Lindt chocolates thanks to my girls (Stefan had something to do with it too), and snuggling up next to this little sweetheart.  Happy Mother's Day!

I had lots of fun making pom poms over easter and have only just now got around to posting photos of the pom pom bunting I made for Emily's room.  I was surprised by the variety of colours I had in my knitting stash.  The beauty of pom poms is that you can make them out of your little left over bits of wool.