It's been a long time.

Is anybody out there? *tap tap* Is this thing on? Hello?

Oh HI! It's me, Emma! I'm back and I do apologise for the silence. What have I been doing?

Well, planning a wedding. I get married in 3 weeks, you guys. THREE WEEKS!! That's pretty soon. 

Also, mucking around in the kitchen.

Clockwise from top left: Raspberry and vanilla buttercake with cream cheese icing (a version of this); corn fritters with avocado, bacon and coriander; raspberry scones; and spinach, bean and chorizo soup.

And a bit of fancy dress, of course! This was for a friend's 30th Safari themed party.

So what's happening with NeverEver? Why did I abandon it for so long? Why so quiet? To be honest, I felt a bit over it. I was starting to not enjoy making all my handmade cuties on demand. I like to make things at my own pace sometimes, you know? And I found that I was feeling resentful every time a sale came through, instead of jumping off my chair with joy as I did when I first started making sales. I needed a little break, to step away from Etsy, and I am glad I did.

But now (and it does seem a strange time to feel this, in the middle of crazy wedding stuff and just before Christmas), I do feel like I would like to jump back in again - with a bit of a twist. I am going to sell mainly one-off pieces out of gorgeous fabrics from my stash. Classic denim and my bib range will stay, but everything else will be an as-I-feel-like-it production line. I have a huge exciting cupboard overflowing with bits and pieces, and I can't wait to use them.

Pinata

You guessed right!

DIY costume

Jon is turning 30. We are having a fun party to celebrate, and it is fancy dress - the theme is "something from Mexico". Of course, this is the perfect opportunity to make something fun to wear. So what do you think that I am coming as?

...Three guesses!

The 21st Annual Academy Awards

So, this weekend I attended my cousin's 21st birthday. It was a mask party, and it was fun. It got me thinking of my own 21st party (all those years ago!) and what a great night it was.

The theme was the Academy Awards: you had to come dressed as a movie character or actor. The response was AMAZING. Some of my friends I didn't even recognise. I thought I would share some of the characters with you... can you guess which one is me?

L to R: Daphne (Scooby Doo), Hermione (Harry Potter), a Flapper, Cleopatra, Sabine (Moulin Rouge).

L to R: Tony Montana (Scarface), Alex (A Clockwork Orange), King Kong (and girl)!

HINT: I am not the Barbie doll. Tee hee!

A Bear Request

I was asked by my friend to make a costume for her 1 year old's birthday party. Her grandfather is turning 60 on the same day, and their names start with C and P. So, a C and P fancy dress party - therefore, here is a Care Bear for the guest of honour to wear (and I don't mean Grandpa).

If you want to see more photos, there are some here.

Yarrr

I've been a-makin' pirate booty this week. Yo ho ho and a bottle of (Captain Morgan's Spiced) rum.

Busy Bee

It is true that the more things you have to do, the more efficiently you work. Or at least it is for me. If I have 1 thing to do, I will procrastinate, mooch around, push it away from my head until the last minute. If I have 10 things to do, I become an auto-pilot organisational freak, planning everything so it works with smooth un-stressful harmony.

Needless to say I have been very busy this week. I have been working with an Australian website that is selling my items, Bubbee; I have been frantically sewing Sleeping Beauty costumes for a ballet school; I have been at work at my day job constructing some gorgeous 17th century frocks; and of course keeping up with my Etsy orders, all the while throwing in a weekend in Tasmania!

Gourmet cooking is a little more infrequent at the moment but I plan to resurrect it tomorrow night, making a lovely-sounding salmon and proscuitto dinner with lentils, spinach and yogurt. If it is any good I'll let you know the recipe. :)