I stumbled across this image last night and thought it was so sweet. Another take on the very popular phase “keep calm and carry on”
Image via here
How cute.. Enjoy your day.
Keep calm and have a cupcake
August 31st, 2010Craft Project – Name Plaque for Aleksandar
August 24th, 2010I have just finished making a letters name plaque for Aleksandar. I have been working on this for some weeks and I am so excited I have finally finished it.
Here are some close ups:
I bought the letters from spotlight and the little jungle animals from Lincraft. I painted the letters bright colours and then stuck them onto a piece of craft wood that was bought and cut to size at bunnings. I then finished it off by sticking on the little animals.
I have positioned it just above Aleksandars cot.
Here are some work in progress shots.
ooh… I just love this new sign I made for Alek, it so bright and fun.
My latest project – A bean bag
August 22nd, 2010In winter our lounge room gets flooded with loads of warm winter sun and I just love relaxing in it. At the moment I don’t have anything I can actually sit on, apart from the floor and Aleksandar’s play mat. We have 2 sofas also but they are positioned so they don’t get all the sun. So I though I would have a go a trying to make a beanbag.
The first thing I did was some research on the internet of different shapes and sizes. Then using my skills I had learn’t in fashion school {more then 10 years ago} I went about making a pattern out of butchers paper, I wanted the bean bag to be round and a big enough size to sit comfortably in. The next thing was deciding on what material to use. I was thinking about using some bold bright cotton fabric with a funky pattern on it. But then decided to use offcuts of fabric I already had. Now I have loads, and when I mean loads, I literally mean loads of fabric offcuts from when I used to make handbags and sell them at Paddington markets in the city- Sydney. There is one type of fabric that has always been my favourite and its the damask. So I went to work on sewing the fabric together just like you would do for patchworking, in the shape of my pattern. After a whole day of sewing, ironing and filling I came up with this…
That’s my son Aleksandar who seems to be liking the new bean bag.
There are 8 panels in total which I alternated, from green to white. I am pretty happy with how it turned out, and glad I could put to use some of my offcuts. If you look closely at the photo you can see the different shapes that I used to make the beanbag. I was thinking of making a quilt next, using this same fabric. I also have it in a purple/lilac colour.
Here is a close up
Looking very comfortable..
Now, I am off to chill out in my new bean bag.
My Niece’s 2nd Birthday {Amelia}
August 19th, 2010It has been busy for us over the last weekend, on top of celebrating my husbands Teacher’s Premier Scholarship win, it was also my niece’s 2nd birthday party. My sister in law Hollie, did a great job and was very creative putting the whole thing together. It was a super fun party with lots of games including a colourful parachute. The kids just loved playing with the parachute and I think the adults enjoyed it equally as much!
Hollie decorated the place with loads of lovely photos of Amelia, and also some photos of the grandparents when they where little, which was a great idea. Hollie made an awesome caterpillar cake that was decorated with frosting and smarties, and she also made loads of adorable cupcakes.
Kids Party Invite by Illume Design, Photos from Hollie
The kids had so much fun! Wouldn’t you have loved to be a kid a this party?
Amelia’s birthday was on monday, she has grown into a funny, confident, determined, beautiful little kid, which always has the family laughing. It seems like only yesturday she was born. Happy Birthday to my cute little niece. mwah xo
Illume Design in Shop 4 Kids Magazine
August 17th, 2010I was so excited to find out that my website Illume Design has been featured in the latest issue of Shop 4 Kids magazine. This is such a wonderful magazine with loads of great things for kids and babies, so when I spotted my website in the latest issue it made my day.
Isn’t the cover just adorable?
NSW Teacher’s Premier Scholarship 2010 Award
August 15th, 2010On Saturday we were at the Government House in the Botanical Gardens Sydney for a reception celebrating the winners of the NSW Teacher’s Premier Scholarship Awards. My husband – Branimir Lazendic was awarded an Environmental Education scholarship worth $15,000 which involves him to take a five week study tour to Europe by 30 June 2011.
It was a lovely event that was hosted by NSW Premier- Kristina Keneally. The sun was shining as we listened to the jazz band play, ate delicious food, drank good wine and soaked up the great energy around us.
There was 3 scholarships of $15,000 awarded to teachers in primary or secondary schools or TAFE NSW Institutes for Environmental Education. (one being a teacher in non-metropolitan NSW).
My son Aleksandar and I were there excited and extremely proud of his fantastic achievement.
Kristina Keneally (NSW Premier) with Branimir
Branimir, Aleksandar and Kristina Keneally
(Aleksandar soaking up some spotlight!)
Stephen Gray (Principal of Newtown Performing Arts High School), Branimir & Aleksandar
Louise (thats me), Branimir and Mark Caddey (Sustainable Schools NSW – Department of Education and Training)
Government House- Botanical Gardens- Sydney
The Jazz Band that played during the event
This was such an exciting day for the Lazendic family, I am so proud of Branimir’s outstanding achievement. Congratulations to my husband, we wish you all the best as you embark on your exciting adventure to Europe….!
Choo choo train party
August 13th, 2010Are you thinking of having a train themed party for your little one? Here are some of my favourite train themed ideas:
Chocolate party favors by Illume Design
Party Favor Tags by Illume Design
Birthday Cake by Flutterbye Cakes
If you need a cake of any kind, pop on over and visit my friend Emma at Flutterbye Cakes. Emma makes the most adorable cakes for weddings, christenings, baby showers and parties. She also has a wonderful blog which you can visit here.
Enjoy your weekend. We are off to celebrate my niece’s 2nd birthday.
My cuteness
August 2nd, 2010We where on our way to an early dinner yesturday, when I found this great kids clothing store called gumboots up at bondi junction. I had to hold myself back from buying up the whole store. I brought Alek a light green hoodie, a dark green zip up jumper and a long sleeve t-shirt. Here he is modeling for me.
I have found a new hobby!
July 30th, 2010Baking cupcakes and yummy sweet stuff.
Lately I have been going through a bit of a cake making and decorating phase. I bought these silver cupcake cases, silver decorating jewels and piping bag the other week and was excitied to try them out.
I made these cupcakes for my friends birthday celebration which she had the other weekend. The cupcakes are just a simple chocolate cupcake recipe and the icing is butter icing, which I beat up and piped through my new piping bag. The bag actually split after I had decorated 5 cupcakes..grrrr ! so for the remaining cupcakes I had to use a spoon to smooth on the icing.
I also bought some letter cutters and number cutters which I cant wait to try out. I have a few birthday parties coming up soon. so stay tuned…
Hope you have a lovely weekend.
Illume Design Invites are now on Etsy
July 20th, 2010If you pop on over to Etsy you will now find Illume Design. I have my NEW fill-in invitation packs now available to purchase, I have only added a few designs to see how it goes. This Etsy shop is mainly for my international customers and will hopefully make shopping online a little easier for them. All my invites are still available on my main online shop at www.illumedesign.com.au What do you guys think? Is this good idea for international customers?
{On another note} My son Aleksandar got his 2nd little tooth yesturday.. yay…. which also happened to be my birthday!..yay..eerck.. I had a lovely dinner with my husband and little bub, we tried this great new Pizza Bar that has just opened up at Bondi Junction. It had beautiful views over looking the city and harbour bridge and the food was just yum.
