Something New



I really dislike the sorting and labelling of books and pencils at the start of the year, but tell me the pre-primary kid needs a cushion for nap time and I'm right on to it.

And The Winners Are...

Thanks everyone for your comments.
The winner of the ebook is Julie.
The winner of the hard copy is Waverlee.

Sewing for Girls

So  I thought I would do a quick search for a sewing pattern on Etsy and I was sucked into a big black hole. I'm not sure what I was originally looking for, but I found some fantastic patterns I hope to make the girls before the end of summer.

The One Shoulder Ruffled Dress by Brynnberlee Designs.

 The Summer Sailor Shorts by Brownie Goose

 

The Apron Wrap Dress by Aesthetic Nest.

Destash

The sewing room is a little out of control so I am having a little destash in my etsy shop and on ravelry.

Modern Quilts from the Blogging Universe part 2

I have a physical copy of the book to give away as well as the ebook!! Why did I not think of this yesterday - I'm going to blame the craziness of the summer holidays. So if you have already left a message you are able to win the ebook or the physical copy and if not leave a message now!

Modern Quilts from the Blogging Universe



Modern Quilt from the Blogging Universe is available now!

Today you have the chance, well 19 chances actually to win an ebook of it. All you have to do is leave a message here. There is only one rule, leave your email address so I can easily notify the winner. For more chances to win head to the Martingale blog and see all the other contributors - each one has an ebook copy to give away. To be drawn on the 29th January.

Edited to add: I am giving away a physical copy of the book as well! Why did I not think of this yesterday - I'm going to blame the craziness of the summer holidays. So if you have already left a message you are able to win the ebook or the physical copy and if not leave a message now!

 Here is my contribution. Made from a layer cake, some background fabric and a little extra for the border.

Holidays

Summer seems to be flying by. We spent a week in Albany and we didn't do much but swim, laze around, go to the park and eat. There may have been a small amount of shoe shopping. A pretty perfect summer really.

Now we are home with piles of washing to be done, wasp hives that need to be gotten rid of and fruit trees to net.

Thanks to Susie for the tip off about the great bowls and mugs in Woolworths. Love these patterns and colours.

Summer

It is the middle of summer, holiday time and it has been hot. Lots of lying around in the air conditioning, watching dvds, going to swimming lessons, a bit of cooking and a little craft planning.



Shirt and Shorts

I finished these shorts and shirt for Grace before Christmas, but with all the craziness and the heat I didn't get a chance to photograph them.

The top is the short sleeved version of the Simply Sweet Tunic.  I used some seersucker from Spotlight and it is perfect for the warm weather. The shorts pattern is from Blank Slate Patterns.

I used some denim for the shorts without any stretch which I think was a mistake. The shorts are pretty close fitting and I think using some fabric with stretch would suit them better and be a lot more comfortable. I have bought some more denim with stretch and will make another pair.
Clothes sewing time has been hard to find at the moment, there are swimming lessons everyday, deadlines looming and so much ripening in the garden which is inspiring me to cook and of course there is the hanging out with the girls and enjoying the summer.

Homespun

The latest Homespun is out and my quilt is on the cover! I have only had a chance to have a quick glance through it but noticed lots of familiar names have projects in it.

This quilt seems to have been a WIP for a long time. I originally made this pattern in completely different colours and then I wanted to remake it and write the pattern as I went. I chose some Flea Market Fancy - the original fabrics, that is how long ago I planned it. It did sit for quite some time until Catherine from Homespun asked me to write it up and I am so glad I did as it made me finish it and now I think it is one of my favourite quilts. I can't wait to get it back and to have it on the couch.

Butterick 5743

I have a couple more finishes for 2012. I managed to finish these just before we left for Albany for Christmas. The girls had already chosen the pattern and fabric so it wasn't a big surprise (they are getting a little fussy about what they will wear).

They chose Butterick 5743 and both chose some Prints Charming cotton from Spotlight which made really nice dresses. I attempted an invisible zip in both. I think I need to watch a couple of tutorials on youtube, I can't seem to get the bottom of the zip as neat as I'd like.

I made view B  and made a quick muslin of the top. The size 8 was huge on my girls so I took it in to about the equivalent of a 6 with more taken off the back than the front and I left the length of the bodice as an 8. This pattern takes quite a bit of fabric as the skirt is a circle. It falls really nicely and is perfect for spinning.



2013

Happy New Year! Hope 2013 is your best year yet.
My one regret from 2012 - not finding Olive a tiny matching outfit for last nights 80s party.

Nearly Christmas

Just one last present to finish and I will be ready for Christmas.

Enormous Hippos

I received the best email yesterday from Sarah who had used my hippo pattern to make enormous hippos for her son's kindergarten class. They sang "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas" for their holiday assembly and it is now living in their classroom. I love it! I think they are the best hippos I have ever seen. I really want to make an enormous hippo for the girls (ok they might be my excuse, I really want one for myself).

Sarah said she enlarged the pattern 300%. She said the only problem was that she had to tuck the neck a bit to make it fit. I had this problem when I was trying to make one out of  wool or corduroy once. If you find you have this problem at all the best way to fix it is to place the head inside the body and if one is bigger then the other just sew a couple of seams a little bigger and then try it again until they fit perfectly and then sew them together.
Thanks for sharing Sarah!

Christms Sewing

I think I am nearly at the end of the Christmas sewing.

It is the last day of school today and I made a few pouches to go in the teachers' presents.

 A few little hats for little cousins.

I just have to finish dresses for the girls and I think the Christmas presents are all done!

Kwik Sew 3776

I haven't had a tiny baby during summer before. The others were all winter babies. So I have been going through patterns looking for cute little summer clothes. You can't go wrong with little overalls.

I chose Kwik Sew 3776 as they are quite wide and can fit a cloth nappy in. I really should have followed the instructions exactly as I thought I knew what I was doing so of course I made mistakes and there was a lot of unpicking.

 I love this aqua fabric. It is by Sevenberry and I think I bought it at Calico and Ivy in Perth last year.

 Somehow I managed to put the snaps on the wrong way, but it isn't that obvious.

  I used cute little pink flower buttons from the seemingly never ending bag of mixed buttons I bought a few years ago at Spotlight.

 I made the 0-3 months size for Olive who is 3 months next week (already!!) as she is a little shorty. They are still a little big so they will fit for a while.

Love this pattern. I think now I know what mistakes not to make I might try some in Liberty.

Ice Packs

A few years ago my friend Emma made the girls little ice packs made of rice. They have saved us so much money in bandaids. Whenever they have a sore or bump themselves they go and grab one from the freezer. They are also great when it is hot and they want to cool down. I made a few this week to add to all their cousins' Christmas presents.

Christmas Stockings

Four stockings ready for Christmas. I used this tutorial and fabric by Aneela Hoey.

Stockings

Eeek! How did it get to be less than two weeks until Christmas? Time for some stocking making.

2 1/2" Square Ruler

Most of the rulers I own are basic square rulers. I own a few triangles, a really long rectangle (which I love) and a couple of others I rarely use. When I saw the Creative Grids 2 1/2" square ruler I knew I could use it a lot. I bought it a few months ago and finally got around to playing with it on the weekend.

 So simple to use. Just put two 2 1/2" strips right side together and cut.

 Take them to your machine and sew them together.

 You can snip off the other tip of the triangle if you want.

 And then press. I pressed my seams open. The second one has the tip trimmed, but I left it on the first one to show what it is like if you don't trim it.

If you love jelly rolls and 2 1/2" strips this ruler is a great investment.