Sorry if I have been a bit quiet over the last day or so but I have been busily getting ready for one of the key events of the Locket family year!

and it looks like we got it right doesn't it?
I think you could safely say that as far as Fred's birthday goes 2008 was definitely the Year of the Dinosaur! Okay, so maybe I get a bit obsessive when I am buying birthday presents (as I tend to do the shopping for most of the members of the family) and Fred now owns a large collection of Playmobil dinosaurs! So therefore I had dinosaurs on the brain when I was looking for other presents to buy and make.
The most exciting member of our new handmade dino family flew here in a yellow box all the way from Germany and the poor chap has had to wait for a couple of weeks until he could come out to play but here he is at last

Mr Nigel McDinosaur a fantastically super-sized version of
Jake, designed and made by the amazing
CharlieP - I am so in awe of her talent, creativity and humour - I mean look what came with Nigel

an introductory letter to Fred
his passport (of course!)
(unfortunately I didn't have any red card to print it out on but it looks authentic in brown too!)
complete with photo, details and the all important signature
And probably most importantly of all

Just in case of any little accidents!!!.
Charlie you are an ABSOLUTE STAR!!!!!! Thank you soooooo much - you can see how happy Fred is with his new friend!
And if that wasn't enough
Charlie goodness look what else she helped to create

Nigel's mini friend Spike - incredibly made by me after I bought
Charlie's pattern from her Etsy shop (
and a fab and well written pattern it is too)!!!!! Only for this one I used 4 ply mercerised cotton and a 2mm needle whereas Nigel has been supersized by Charlie and is made with double, double knit and a large hook.
And the final member of the Locket Dino family is Dilbert

Made from the fantastic
Melly and Me Dilbert pattern - I am really pleased with how he turned out in the end - especially as I was still finishing him at about 1am last night and had had a few hiccups along the way.
One of these "hiccups" involved cutting two body pieces out both facing the same way - so I made a "Flat Dilbert" and appliqued him to a pillow case. I also asked
Charlie if I could use her Woolysaurus "shape" for an applique which I put on a cheap shop bought T-shirt - so here is the full Locket Dino family!

(so you can see the size difference between Nigel and Spike!)
I'd also like to show you Fred's reaction to his present from Dorothy - we stuck
her story into a little brown Paperchase album to make it into a proper book and there is plenty of space for all the other adventures she has planned for Fred!

Look how pleased he was

and he loved his Dinosaur Top Trumps and story books from Daisy too!
This afternoon we went and had a birthday tea at Mr Locket's parents' house - Granny and Grandpa Biscuit

with this fantastic cake (Granny Biscuit makes Exceeeeeeeedingly Good Cakes!)

and Fred liked it so much he ate it off the plate!!!!

And if all that birthday goodness isn't exciting enough, look what arrived yesterday morning

a trio of parcels from Australia containing the most amazing mini quilts and goodies from
Jodie,
Rachel and
Annie - poor Mr Locket nearly died of shock as I squealed and squealed with excitment as I opened them - I don't think he will be taking another day off on holiday for some time, work is far safer!!!!
And if that wasn't brilliant enough a parcel arrived today for me from my lovely, lovely
Moogsmum friend containing more gorgeousness!
I will blog about all the goodness inside these parcels in the next post as I am sure you have all read quite enough! (and I meanly want to make you wait!!!!)
Have a great rest of the weekend, Lucy xxx