It's Just Charming!

Juicy Couture, the design house that made track suits chic, carries all sorts of unique and colorful charms that speak to lifestyles, hobbies and frankly a love of fashion and passion for Juicy. But it wasn’t difficult for us to pick out our favorite. Their little pink sewing machine ($58) is a must-have trinket that no sewing enthusiast can resist. It’s sweetly detailed with a rhinestone-encrusted hand wheel, a spool of thread and even a miniature plug. Can you say, Christmas gift? Visit a Juicy Couture Boutique near you, or log on to www.juicycouture.com and click on “Charms.” ~Amelia Johanson, Associate Editor

The White Issue: A Teaser Preview

You'll need to put Issue #134 on your must-have list! The January/February 2011 edition of Sew Beautiful, is our celebration all things wonderfully WHITE. Newsstand sale date is 1/4/11, and subscriber copies should start mailing out within the next few weeks. Keep your eyes out for this amazing issue - it will be worth the wait.

Off to Bali

Hi everyone, I am so excited I am off to Bali very early in the morning with my middle daughter Lauren.  It's been go, go, go in my studio getting my collection ready for Mathilda's Market on Sunday at Lane Cove.  It's going to be a great success.  Lot's of wonderful unique and gorgeous things to buy for Christmas. Check!  My daughters' Peta and Alexandra will be there to help you select some fabulous fashion buys from Rowantree Designs  for Christmas.

Must have Nautical Looks

Belle Nautical

Hey Skip Nautical Tee

Not forgetting the boys 

Great little man shirts, big on detail

Apologies and a Christmas giveaway!

Hello friends, and please accept our apology for the an extended hiatus on the SB blog! We have such a small full-time staff that in the wake of our super-busy schedules getting Christmas and January issues out on time, we've let the blog fall by the wayside. We do fully intend to revive it as soon as we can dedicate some time to developing some new content for you! And submissions for future posts are ALWAYS saved, so feel free to send them to blog@sewbeautifulmag.com.

In the meantime, we just posted a new Christmas embroidery giveaway contest on our Facebook page that we hope you'll enter! We're giving away TWO packages, each of which includes: a copy of our Retro Christmas Stitchin' machine embroidery CD; a copy of our new Craft E-Pad; a Sewline Mechanical Fabric Pencil; a blank floursack towel with red trim; a blank linen towel with dotted trim; and a package of John James Sharps, size 8. Retail value is over $50! To enter, visit our Facebook page immediately, as this giveaway ends tomorrow, Friday, December 3rd at 12:00 p.m. CST.

Thanks for your continued support, it means the world to us!

Blog - Mathildas Market - Beautiful Kids Stuff

Blog - Mathildas Market - Beautiful Kids Stuff

kitty n' kitsch: excess baggage

kitty n' kitsch: excess baggage

Sunshine, friends, delicious food and the beautiful baby shower

Today I feel so proud of my wonderful family.  As a mother I feel empowered to make wonderful things happen for my daughters, and as a first time Nana to be, excited to host my beautiful daughter Peta, her baby shower.
I need to step back a few days...
Continuing massive excavation of back garden and renovating of the inground pool. Check.
Brother In Law, Chris, arriving from Boston on Tuesday morning. Clean the house. Make up the guest room Check.
Work. Check
Wednesday, samples for new range of Rowantree Baby Designs. Check
Plant the white petunias. Check
Wednesday night. Sailing. Check
Thursday. Progress of front garden.  Panic. Lot's to do. Lots of mulching, lawn a disaster.
Friday....100 sq metres of turf arrives. Oh my!
My husband Patrick realises it would be a huge mistake to go to work, somebody has to lay the turf, somebody plus brother.  Thankfully Chris being a brother obliges...with only hours to spare before he is due to fly out to New Zealand, and much hard kiwi yakka, the turf is layed, watered and looking lush and green.  Chris has a quick power nap and Patrick gets him to the airport just in the nick of time.  Thank you Chris.  I know it wasn't on the brochure.  Next time Patrick and I are in Boston, maybe you could get Patrick to paint the house or something.
Friday night Patrick and I enjoyed a glass of wine admiring our lovely garden.

Our two happy poodles Louis and Hugo, enjoyed it too!

Excitedly I woke on Saturday morning, welcomed by a most beautiful sunny sky.  It's going to be a fantastic baby shower.  The canopy was the first to arrive supplied by a very reliable company Instant Canopy who always deliver a very clean canopy, which I think sets the tone for the event.  Ding dong, and talented Justin from Tasty Chef Catering drops in with the most delicious finger sandwiches, tempting smelling baby beef, peppered pies complimented by chicken and dill sausage rolls.  I love Justin's food, he is very passionate about your event and works very well to create the perfect menu for you and your guests.

Patrick climbs our magnificent magnolia tree to weave the bunting through the branches while I get busy decorating the garden and arranging the tables and chairs.

Could not resist a touch of retro

Some plants need potting

A crazy pot of succulents sit beside the front door

The baby blue watering can perched on little retro gardening seats

Time is ticking by and I am having so much fun.  Keeping an eye on the time as I am expecting my gorgeous daughter Lauren who is arriving from Brisbane to pop her happy head over the gate any moment. Hoping she will lend Peta a hand to ice the cup cakes.  Alexandra arrives with a glorious bunch of flowers for the hall table.  White hydranges and my fave pink peonies from Maria's Fresh Flowers.  Maria is a very talented and creative florist.  I use Maria for all my special floral arrangements.

The canopy, the orange tree and the drinks

It's all go in the house and Patrick is looking nervous.  He decides it high time to take the poodles, a six pack of beer and head off to the boat for some man and dog time.  The girls and I add the last touches to our outfits and we are ready and waiting for the guests to arrive.

Mathilda arrives wearing my Rowantree Design  Lara pop over dress. Isn't she tooo to cute!

We were so excited to greet Auntie Sue from  Ralston

And of course our vivacious friend Jane

Cooling bottles of San Pelegrini flavoured mineral water await the thirsty guests!

Nautical themed cup cakes

Ashley loves the cakes...Hmmm

 Refreshing fruit jellies

"Try these delicious lemon tarts, Mum and Lara"

Zara and Isla admiring my little touch of retro

Casey,  Isla and Mason

Lara enjoying cake

Maria and Zara

Sam and Isla

Belinda and her very pretty Zara

And now for the presents!

Thanks Auntie Sue for the Golliwog puppet 

....and the beanie

Wow! the very yummy mummy baby bag! Thank you Marie and Fiona

This looks fun, Isla lends a hand

Bookends from Grandma to be

The Flat Bear

Still going and Alexandra should apply to be a game show hostess

A handsome cardigan  

My happy baby sister Alexandra

My media tycoon sister, Lauren, teaching Lara bad mobile habits.

The cake

Cutting the cake together

Happy, tired and a recap

A fabulous day and a few people to thank for making this a baby shower to remember.

Josh from Infinity Landscapes for the turf.

Patrick and Chris for laying the turf.

Justin for the scrumptious catering.

Hugh for your tireless efforts in helping me get everything just right around the house for the day.

My beautiful and best friend Sim who is always around to help me..sneek off to Fiore Gardens Designs to pick up some plants, help me bake 100 cupcakes, bringing the most outstanding prosciutto and rock melon, being my best friend. 

Lara's big sister Ashley, for being a great hostess

My three gorgeous and beautiful daughters for making me so proud.