New clothes

I finally got around to tracing some patterns from my Ottobre magazines. These are pants from issue 3/2006. I am not sure why I was putting off doing this. It was not hard to trace the pattern and the instructions were very clear. Now I know they fit I'd better make some for her sister.

Weekend News

A day of normal weekend stuff today.

• A bit of cleaning, a bit of gardening and mowing.
• Trying to weed as the girls tried to pull out the vegetable seedlings.
• Cooking cannelloni for dinner.
• Cleaning and reorganising the craft/spare room.
• A little bit of crafting - a very bright, very happening frog.

Lysbeth

Some photos of my new niece Lysbeth. She is so tiny and perfect in every way.

It's a girl!

My sister just rang and I am an Aunty and the girls have a little cousin! She was 5 weeks early so I don't think she has a name yet as I imagine this was a bit of a shock to them.
We just got back from their place yesterday after spending the night. This is what Jane looked like yesterday.
The girls tried to help in the garden.
Mum came to visit as well and cleaned the windows. I'm so excited - it is fantastic to have a new baby around!

Making 2D into 3D

I find making my drawings into 3D the hardest thing. For starters I can't draw. Everything looks the same. I have these great images in my head and it is frustrating not to be able to get them on paper. I always end up making a prototype and adjusting it and making another etc.
So here is what has been in my head this week. A lot of work needs to be done to make them match the picture in my head.
I decided after my wombat that I need to do some more Australian animals so at the front is the start of an echidna.

A little sheep for my sister's baby that is due in 5 weeks and another giraffe.

Summer Skirts

Some more nice weather down here inspired me to make some skirts for the girls. They are a bit big, but that means that they will fit all summer.
The poor little things had their 18 month immunisations this week and they were not happy. Amelia managed to get over it quite quickly and run up and down the hospital corridors while Grace sat in my lap and wouldn't get up as Amelia tried to cause havoc. I eventually got them out of there and went to the bakery to try and make ourselves feel better and in the chaos we only lost one shoe.
Meet Basil.

Morris the Wombat

Go check out the Madame Butterfly Gallery which is now updated daily with interesting reads. Have a look in the Creative Cabinet and there is an interview with me today.
Introducing Morris the Wombat who is available here.

Wombat

I have finally finished my wombat that has been a work in progress for weeks (months?). It was very boring in just one colour, so inspired by vintage soft toy books and the wonderful works here, here, here and here the gusset and the ears have some colour. The wool is a piece that Chris' Mum gave me - she has boxes full of old fabric that I have only quickly gone through, but I quickly spotted the wool (my second favourite textile after silk).

I was going to make the girls lots of summer clothes but the winter weather returned and I wasn't inspired so here are some more giraffes.

Tax and Frogs

We have just spent the morning in an office with the accountant and two small children doing our tax. Do I need to explain any more?
To end on a happier note here are two frogs who will be off to the UK to make a new home.

Creative Embroidery

I saw this book by Joan Nicholson on Vintage Pleasures recently. I found it very cheap on ebay and it was worth it. It has a section on how to do the stitches and wonderful pages of ideas like the two below.

Shir it up

The weather is warming up and I think the girls might need some dresses soon. Here is my first try at shirring and this little sample seemed to work so hopefully I will have dresses to show before Chris goes back to work.
The most amazing parcel came today from Cathy. I seemed to be pulling stuff out of the package for ages. Lovely dyed wool, Great stickers, ribbon and cards made from her original stamps, lovely paper and the cutest whale appliques for the girls. I know there a couple left in her shop. Thankyou so much If anyone lives near a Textile Traders I saw a bolt of Denyse Schmidt fabric in one today. I looked high and low for more, but there was just one solitary bolt.

Little Piggy and Bunny

This is what happens when you can't be bothered trying to sew the body together on a softie with already stuffed arms and legs shoved inside. I know I could leave a bit open and handsew it up afterwards, but it never looks quite right to me. So here they are lovely cuddly pig and bunny minus limbs.

On the farm

We did another trek around the countryside this week. A few days at Mum and Dad's farm and then we spent Thursday at my sister Jane's place. So no craft this week, but lots of cute pictures of the girls helping out and talking to the animals.
Chris has just taken the girls for a walk so I'm off sewing while I can, but first a couple of links.
I listened to the Material Mama podcast whilst driving. She has written a fantastic sewing manifesto. And here is a great list of things that are annoying when sewing.

Frogs, Ducks and Croup

Some good and some not so good this weekend. Amelia had croup last night and it freaked me out a bit. I have never seen a child with croup and she was quite distressed so Chris took her to the hospital and they stayed the night. Chris said she is fine this morning and Grace and I are hoping they are home soon.
They had a great day otherwise, they spent a fair bit of it playing with some new toys from the toy library.
Other good things - Rolf didn't eat all the ducklings and their mother in the back garden. Chris managed to spot them and he had Rolf while I helped them back through the fence. My hair is shorter and blonder. I managed to finish this frog which has been half made for months. There was a sewing incident and somehow I cut through the bottom bit of fabric so I found something that matched and some ribbon and here it is:

Some new patterns. I think I might be overestimating what I can manage to sew this school holidays, but I can always hope.

Simplicity 4171

Butterick 4802

Either Butterick 4849 or the Hotpatterns Hippy Chick Dress

A week without craft

No time for sewing this week. Lots of piles sitting of fabric waiting to be cut out, but I don't know where the week has gone. I just haven't been home, but it has been good busy. My sister Jane came to stay and my good friend Rose came for lunch with her gorgeous little boy Jeremy.
We had a playgroup dinner the other night and unbelievably no one bought dessert. So at least 2 of us are definitely bringing it next time just to be sure.
Yesterday outside Grace and I blew some bubbles. Amelia just wanted to sweep.

We live across the road from a little dam. At the moment there are a lot of ducklings and they wander around with their parents through the gardens and make Amelia and Grace very happy..

Margaret River

I can't believe the weekend is over already. Chris and I went to Margaret River while Mum and Dad looked after the girls. Not only that they did the washing, cleaned up the woodpile, gardened and mowed the lawns. Thankyou so much Mum and Dad!!!
We had a great time - went to a 21st at Wino's and had lunch at Voyager. Here is Chris standing outside there.

Although I missed the girls and I wouldn't want to go back 2 years in time it was like we had our old lives back for the weekend. It was so nice to wander around and actually sit down and drink a coffee with the papers and not have to stress about getting them down for a sleep or finding something for them to eat and not actually have a definite plan.
The girls are asleep - I think they had a pretty busy weekend so i am drinking some tea from T2 and listening to Dan Kelly.

I caved in last week and had to get some Echino fabric and some other Japanese fabric. It was definitely worth it - it is gorgeous. Ok my break is over the girls are up.

WIP Friday

Some works in progress for this week. A soon to be sheep and wombat. I think there will be a few more calico versions first. A sock this I have just ripped as there were a few horrible mistakes. Lastly some spinning I have been doing late at night listening to podcasts.

Winter Colds

Not much happening here this week. The girls have had colds and Amelia's turned into a chest infection so we spent one day at the doctors and the hospital. She didn't take kindly to us giving her antibiotics. I think it would have been easier to de-worm a feral cat the first day and yesterday I had to visit Chris at work to get his help. She seems to have calmed down a bit today which has made life easier and she is back to her old self.
I bought this print a while ago from Carla Sonheim for the girls' room. Somehow I couldn't work out where I put it, but after looking for a week I found it in a very obvious place.

Chris and I are off tomorrow for our first night away form the girls. Mum and Dad are looking after the girls and we are off to Margaret River. Woohoo!!

Winter Again

Winter has returned again. Lucky I made a huge pot of Pea and Ham Soup yesterday. The recipe came from Stephanie Alexander The Cook's Companion.
Here is what I have managed in the last week late at night. Lots of elephants and giraffes. Some for new babies and some for my etsy shop.

Left Brain Right Brain

You Are 40% Left Brained, 60% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

This surprised me a bit. I was always a Maths and Science person at school and tend to prefer being organised. I guess these things can change over time.