I'm "Sew" Excited

I just finished a bag and I am sew (get it!) excited. It turned out exactly as I wanted it to. I used the magnetic bags clips and also the tubing in the handles. Now to make some more before the market next week.

Happy Valetine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. Thank you to my secret EB Valentine who sent this wonderful package. it contains some vintage-style quilting squares (which I think will make some great snails), some heart buttons and a fabric marking pen.

Here is the outfit I made Charlotte to wear to pre-school today. Jeff thinks it's overkill and that the shorts look like pj's but he's in Melbourne so really has no say.

Stuff for the shop

Just so you don't think I haven't been sewing I made these 2 things recently and have listed them in the shop.

I love the fabric of this bag. It is pretty large and would make a good bag for those with a baby as it hangs easily over the pram or across your body sling-style. It would also be good for the beach. I have now become addicted to bags and am planning on making some more.

I also made a nappy wallet in the same material. Much more basic than Marie's but it works well.

The next thing is this "stubby holder" which I have called a 'rapper'. I made one for Charlotte a while ago as I was sick of putting her drink bottle in my bag and having the condensation leave waterr everywhere. This absorbs that and also keeps it cold. I made a smaller one which I use to keep the water in Lucy's bottle warm when we are out.

Thrift Finds

This is what I picked up yesterday will op-shoping. The floral on is a lovely big sheet which I hope to make some shift tops/dresses for winter. The blue striped one is like the old penguin shirt material, don't really know what I am going to do with that. The third on is a piece of lilac gingham, which I am sure I will find a use for.

Door stop

The door stop wasn't very successful. I have this phobia of attracting rats if you use rice or somthing similar to stuff it with so I stuffed the head and the shell with normal stuffing and used stones in the lower body. I'm not sure how successful it will be!

PJ's

I made Charlotte some PJ pants and a nightie today from some sheets I picked up at Vinnie's. It was the first time bias binding has worked (not the best colour but all I had on hand).

Gifts

This is the lovely gift Charlotte received on Friday from Andrea. Charlotte was not in a photo taking mood as you can see from her lovely "smile".

Also I thought I would post this picture of Lucy wearing the singlet she got from Belinda.












And lastly a photo of the girls together (we actually don't have too many of those)

Party Bags

Charlotte's party is now over and she had a great time. I made the party bags and also a fairy wand for the girls and a sword for the only boy. The kids seemed to like them and so did the parents as they were soft (obviously). I am going to list them in the blog shop so I would be interested in any price suggestions.

A Lovely Gift

I arrived home yesterday from the tennis and there was a package waiting for me. Inside was the most beautiful quilt for Lucy made by the very talented Helen one of my EB Sewing Buddies. Thank you soooo much Helen it is beautiful and Lucy already loves it. Here are some pictures and I laid Lucy on it so you can see how much she has grown.

Bag

Well I finally finished the bag I started a few days ago. I am not really into big nappy bags and the bag I was using was a bit small for nappies and bottles for Lucy and drinks and snacks for Charlotte so I made this one. I am pretty happy with how it turned out but would probably make a few small adjustments next time. The fabric is a lovely pink and grey I got from one of my EB sewing buddies Belinda. I am also thinking about listing similar bags in my blog shop, which by the way I have finally gotten organised, check out the link. I love making bags but everytime I do one Jeff says "don't you already have a bag", what he doesn't realise is a girl can ver have too many bags or too many pairs of shoes.

Valentines Swap Questions

1. Kids…. Ages….Measurements….
DD1 - 4 - Size 5 _- Height 102cm
DD2 - 7 weeks - Size 000

2. Fav. colours
I like pink, greens, blue

3. What is garish about valentines?
We don't celebrate valentines so I guess you could say I think it is all garish. I hate the cost of flowers on this one day and I always tell DP I'd rather get flowers every other day (not that I do) than have him spend heaps just because it's valentines day.

4. What do you LOVE about valentines?
Nothing really which may make you wonder why I am doing this but I do think it is romantic just hate the commercialisation and cost.

5. What fabric, haberdashery item, sewing essential melts your heart?
I seem to tend towards florals but I love retro/vintage fabric. I also love ribbons and while I don't love it yet I want one of those pens for markings that wash off and I am sure I would love that!

My Secret Santa has landed

Well I just got home and there was a lovely parcel waiting for me from my EB Sewing Secret Santa, the lovely Belinda. There were 2 pieces of fabric (a nice spotty one and a christmas one), 3 different ribbons and a t-shirt for Charlotte appliqued with the goldfish fabric. Thanks again Belinda.

EB Secret Santa

After only posting my package on Saturday it has been received by Leah in Victoria (well done Australia Post). Now it has been recieved I can post some photos of what I sent. I am really pleased Leah was happy with the parcel expecilly as she has been a one-woman show lately with her hubby away. I hope my gift made her smile.

I made each of the kids a "reindeer" snail with the one for Poppy-mae with terry towelling body and a crinkly shell. The only one I haven't got a picture of is the one for Darcy but I think Leah will post a pic of that. The snails were all made from the Michael Miller christmas fabric I got recently.

For Leah herself I made a pot holder and also sent her some fabric. In her ss quiz she mentioned she loved broderie angelis (wrong spelling I know) so I got her some of that which was really soft and also sent her a piece of zoo fabric.

For Leah's husband Steve I made a stubby holder (also from the Michael Miller fabric). Hopefully it will keep his beer cool over the festive season.

PS - excuse the photos I was trying out some new locations to make the items look a bit more interesting.

Paloma Bird skirt

Here is the skirt I made out of the paloma bird fabric.

Also a photo of Lucy in the little dress made by Ingrid. The pants were still a little too big but the dress looked great.

Some Lovely Gifts

We had a lovely visit today from Ingrid, Belinda and Julie from EB. It was great to meet up and put some faces to the names of the people I chat with.

We also got some lovely gifts. This beautiful cat was made by Ingrid for Charlotte. Charlotte loves it and had named it Rainbow.



This set was also made by Ingrid for Lucy and it is a dress and bloomers and a wee rabbit. Funnily Ingrid used the same material I had used to make a rug for Lucy and I love it.


















This singlet is was a gift from Belinda. It is appliqued with a great goldfish fabric which I really love.

Novy's Outfit

Here are pictures of Lucy "wearing"the outfit made by the lovely Novy. She's not too happy in the photo as she had just had a bath, which she doesn't really like yet.

Purchases

These are the fabrics I got from Ebay. A white and black of the paloma bird print, a zoo print and one with women on it. Notsure what i am doing with it yet but I might make Charlotte a skirt from the white bird one with shirring at the waistband and a plain fabric ruffle at the bottom.




The Hula Girls I am going to make Charlotte a drink bottle holder and use some to applique onto the front of a denim bag for her as well. The cowboy I am going to possbily use as side pockets on a pair of denim shorts to give to friend's little boy.

These are the michael Miller fabrics I picked up today at SL. The middle one is a fat 1/4 but the other 2 were on a roll and I just got 250cm of each as they were $18.95/m. I am using them for some christmas stuff. More on that later.

A Lovely Gift

This is the beautiful gift we received today from Novy one of my EB Sewing Buddies. I can't wait until Lucy grows a bit more for her to be able to wear it.

These are 2 of my recent Ebay purchases.

When things just go right

I have just had the best sewing day. I made Charlotte a pair of 3/4 pants from a pink cameo material and I am so pleased with how they turnd out. I used Ingrid's Easy Pants pattern but put two cargo style pockets on either side and I just lvoe how they turned out. I am definitely going to make some more to sell in the shop and I think they are a style which will also work really well for boys. I am waiting on some material from Ebay which I think will suit a boys pair fantastically. PS - Not the best modelling today and excuse the singlet top. Mind you I cant get her to take them off now.

Xmas Fat Quarters

Pics of the Michael Miller fat quarters from Spotlight

Advent Calendar

This is the advent calendar we got last year, which I forgotten all about. It's not as nice as Helen's but it will do the job. I don't think it as that much maybe $30 max.

Dress for Charlotte

This is the dress I made for Charlotte last night. I had the material for ages and finally cut it out a few weeks ago so thought I would finally put it together. The pattern is from one of those books from Spotlight (Sew Girls Clothes or something). The instructions were a bit funny so I just put it together how I thought it should go and it only took about 2 hours all up. I am pretty happy with it although it is a little short so I might put a frill on the bottom. I am going to put some binding on the sleeves and probably neckline as they seem a bit flimsy.

The Dress and My Big Girl

Well the weddings are over and even though it was quite cold in Sydney ysterday I still wore the dress I made. I really love the material and even thought I look huge I think it turned out ok and I am really hoping I can eventually adjust it so I can wear it post-baby. The inevitable photo of Jeff and my bellies had to be taken so I have included that as well because you can see the dress a bit better.

This is a photo of Charlotte with her new haircut and her big girl make-up on. I think she might be a clown when she grows up!