Hopscotch Dress

I tried the Hopscotch Dress pattern from Oliver & S this morning. It is an excellent pattern. The pieces fit perfectly together, the instructions are really clear and it is very quick to make. I used some spotty stretch fabric I found in Spotlight and made a size 6. Grace is modelling, but it has been claimed by Amelia as Grace wants a red one.

Another great thing - I tried it on Eva and apart from the length it fits perfectly so I don't have to trace it in another size. I can see myself making lots of these as dresses, tops and for pj tops and nighties.

Blogger's Quilt Festival October 2010

It is time for another Bloggers' Quilt Festival! I made this quilt about 18 months ago. I started by making one simple block and then I pulled out lots of fabrics with aqua, red and green in them. I tried to use lots of different fabrics with different shades of the three colours. I wanted to use the same size rectangles in the border so the first border is just rectangles and the second one is flying geese for something a bit different. This is probably still my favourite quilt that I have made and has been on my bed all of winter.

Love Heart Pillow

Amelia came home early from school yesterday with a 'sore brain' which apparently would feel better of she sewed. How can you argue with that? Her first stitching project - a love heart pillow.

Elephants

I have been out taking photos of elephants with my little 'helper'.

I am gradually adding them to the shop.

Turkish Bread

I have finally had some success making Turkish Bread. This recipe very easy to follow and the bread looked great and was very yummy.

Another Jump Rope Dress for my niece who turns 4 tomorrow. It was a lot quicker and easier to make the second time around which is a bit lucky as the twins have chosen fabric for me to make one for them. The bought the main fabric at Spotight a few years ago when it was on clearance for about $5 a metre and I thought 3 metres might be enough. I really should have bought the rest of the bolt.

On the Needles

There has been very slow progress on this Ishbel.
A new sock - Dotty using Madelinetosh Sock in Cherry.
Technically I haven't cast on yet, but I did wind the yarn into balls so it counts as in progress. A Whisper cardigan.

Regina Spektor and Broccoli

We did a few long car trips over the holidays and all of a sudden they are not so horrible as they once were thanks to the girls love of music and singing. They helped me make some playlists for the ipod and have very definite views on what is good sing along music and what isn't.
I know it is hard to believe, but 3 small children who are as tone deaf as their mother and who have no idea of the real words singing along in a high pitched way to Regina Spektor is much more pleasant in the car then fighting and whinging.



Broccoli would have to be one of my faourite vegetables. My sister made this for us a few weeks ago and we seem to be eating a lot of it.

Broccoli Salad

Broccoli (raw) - cut up into quite small pieces
Spring onions - diced
Celery - diced
Snow peas - cut up into quite small pieces
any other crunchy green vegies you like
Bacon - finely chopped and then fried.

Dressing - good mayonnaise, a little white wine vinegar and a little sugar. Mix and then mix into the salad.

Platypii

More platypii finished. They all be found in my shop here.

Softies for Mirabel

Pip from Meet Me at Mike's is organising the 4th annual Softies for Mirabel. All the information is here. It is such a wonderful idea. I finished this little doll today and it will soon be on its way to Pip.

Quilt blocks, soap and bread

This pile of fabric is slowly becoming these quilt block. 15 more to go.
More soap including some cinnamon and honey - smells delicious.

I am trying to get back in the habit of baking our bread using the Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a day method. I am also thinking of making a sourdough starter. Does anyone do this, have you got any advice?

Sunday

I looked at the calendar and realised just how close it is to Christmas, which means there are presents to be made and markets to be sewn for.
Here is one of my little helpers holding up a finished quilt top.
Now I am off to play with this lovely lot of fabric.

My Crafty Dad

My Dad is a little bit crafty too.

I love this fork - I think he is going to put it at a fork in the road, just near their front gate.

Hexagon Shoes

Hexagon Shoes - so very comfortable.

A Trip to the Beach

It is hard to believe sitting here in the cold today that we spent the weekend in the sun and at the beach at Guilderton. We had a great time with lots of Chris' family and the children loved running around with their cousins.
I am definitely not complaining about the cold or the rain. We have had such a dry year and driving through the country to my parents last week was so sad. The crops looked terrible.
My fruit trees look a little happier today and the rainwater tank has more water in and I am crossing my fingers there is a bit more rain today and that places that really need it get some too.
I managed to finish a pair of socks over the weekend. I knit the entire first sock during Stitches and Craft earlier this year and it has taken me months to finish the second one. Knit using some of my BFL sock yarn. The rest of the details on ravelry.

Half Metre Skirt

The school holidays are at an end, which also means an end to my hour or two a day of sewing quietly while the girls garden with Chris.
Yesterday I whipped up a skirt for Amelia. It is pretty much the same as my easy skirt tutorial. The only difference is the band is the smaller piece on this skirt and the shorter piece on the other skirt is the gathered part on the bottom. This skirt used a half metre of fabric which is about 20 inches. You could make a slightly shorter skirt with half a yard. This skirt fits my 5 1/2 year olds.
Fold the fabric in half. Cut a piece 20 inches across by 13 inches tall (when you fold it out it will be 40 inches wide). The cut a piece about 16 inches wide by 5.5 inches tall (so when you fold it out it will be 32 inches wide). You don't have to be exact with your measurements as the skirt is gathered and you cut the elastic to the size you want.

Now follow all the instructions in the tutorial here.

McCalls 5430

A new skirt using Mcalls pattern 5430. I really like this pattern, but it took me more than than an hour it said it would take. I probably should have read through the instructions first before just sewing away and then wondering how the band was spposed to work.
I used some Amy Butler that was not as drapey as the fabric used on the pattern cover, but I still like it. I didn't put the pockets on which I think would have looked a bit odd with the big print. I think pockets would work better with a fabric with a smaller pattern.
I'd definitely recommend the pattern and am sure I will make a few more this summer.

Making and Doing

Yesterday was a day of making and doing. All those jobs that I had put off and kept meaning to do were done. It is only when you do them that you realise they are actually quick, quite easy and fun and then you wonder why you put them off for so long.
White Oil as the roses are covered with aphids.
Chai Mix from Pea Soup.
Lemon Curd from a recipe in The Real Food Companion by Matthew Evans. My sister bought it for me - she found it for a good price here. This is a great book, wonderful recipes and fantastic information. If you loved Gourmet Farmer you will love this book.
Soap - made using this recipe and vanilla. I am thinking of making some honey and cinnamon soap next. Do you make soap? Do you have a favourite recipe?

A Hopscotch skirt. I cut the size 6 which is the right length for the girls, but too big everywhere else. I didn't make any buttonholes, just sewed the buttons on through both pieces. Grace chose 5 different buttons and the contrast pocket fabric. I think next time I might use the pockets from the Jump Rope Dress - I think it would be very cute on this skirt.

Spring in the Garden

Some pictures of the garden for Mum as promised.

Quilt Blocks

Amy's block from Around the Block.
Playing around with Dream On charm pack and jelly roll.

A trip to Bunbury

Amelia, Grace and I went on a trip to Bunbury yesterday. We left Eva at home with Chris. Gosh it is amazing how nice shopping is without an obnoxious 2 year old and with 2 pleasant 5 year olds.
We went to the Spotlight sale, but either everything good was gone or they are waiting on summer stock. Then we popped into the Patchwork Shop and found some great bargains. These four bolt ends - about 10 or 11 metres for under $50 and as soon as I walked in the owner handed me the necklace I lost in Bunbury about 2 months ago. I realised it was gone after a day of doing jobs and being in and out of the car and never thought I'd see it again.
I seem to have a 'small problem' with sewing pattern organisation. Chris will be laughing at that, he seems to think I have many problems organising my sewing room. I found these A5 expanding files yesterday in Big W and am crossing my fingers that this might solve the problem.

There are flowers and blossoms everywhere in the garden at the moment, but one of my favourite things are the new leaves on the gingko tree.

Dresses and Spiderweb

I joined the Around the Block block swap to challenge myself and try new things. Amy wants spiderweb blocks so I thought I should test it on some scraps first. Made using this tutorial.
Three dresses for the girls using this pattern again. I used some French General fabric for Eva. I love the red they use in their fabrics.

I used some fabric from Spotlight for the these dresses. seriously quick to make when you set up a production line.