EB Bag Swap

I have been taking part in the EB Bag Swap and since my partner Ingrid has receivedher parcel I can post a picture. It is not the best picture, sorry. In the questions Ingrid said she had a thing at thee moment for pink and brown but I had this lovely fabric just waiting to be made into a bag but it was in pink and olive so I thought that might be ok. I used a pattern I made up and have done a couple of bags in but I lengthened the straps this time. I put two pockets inside and closed it with a magnetic snap. I also made a nappy wallet which is handy for short outings. I also had a small change pad/rug I had made ages ago which I included as well. Whilst it doesn't really go with the bag they are handy to throw in the bottom of the pram or leave in the car.

Flashback Friday

Another Friday rolls around and I think Flashback Fridays are making the weeks go quicker. This week's photo is one of my brother (Ash) and I. Must have been around 1971 or early 1972 as he was a Nov '71 baby. P.S. I must have missed the info that said the theme was music, not that it mattered I wasn't very musical.

P.P.S. I can't believe I missed my blogiversary. I thought I started this blog in Sept/Oct last year so I just went back to check thinking it was nearly time for a competition but I actually started in July 2006 so I missed it by a long shot. So keep your eyes peeled there may be a competition coming up soon.

Salamander Bay

We had a lovely holiday at Salamander Bay staying here. We had a great time doing some walks, visiting the beach, Toboggin Hill and the Oakvale Farm where Charlotte had a great time feeding the baby animals and Lucy just loved looking at the animals.

Flashback Friday

OK I know it's not Friday, I'm not losing my mind YET! We are going away for a few days and won't be back until Sunday so I thought I better post this today. Now technically this photo is not pre-1985 it's at my 21st which was in 1987 but I just love the outfit I am wearing especially those white shoes, what was I thinking!

The Little Mermaid

It's book week at pre-school 'today and Charlotte decided she wanted to go as a mermaid so I made this mermaid's tail and a little top to go with it. Then this morning she decided she wanted to wear a fairy skirt as well and then I remembered a wig I had so I popped that on her as well (don't think it will last too long though).

Flashback Friday

I don't believe how quickly the weeks are rolling around. Another FF and this week's theme is group photos so here goes.

I seem to be focussing on high school. This is me in Year 12 (1983). I am the first one on the left (the shortie).

Off to see the Wizard

I finally had the courage to cut into the Wizard of Oz fabric I got from Japan. So far I have made a bag (which could be going to my cousin's daughter) and a placemat and coaster. I have enough left to make another bag, zippered pouch and possibly a cushion. Excuse the creases I haven't ironed them yet!

Charlotte's skirt

Here is Charlotte in the skirt I made last week.

I have been sewing

It seems like ages since I have posted a sewing-related post but I
have actually been sewing. The first picture is a skirt for Charlotte for pre-school photo day. The fabric is a Michael Miller sent to me be the lovely Helen . I am really happy with it, it is really full and twirly and the band at the bottom is a lovely small pink gingham (you can't really see it in the photo). I will get a photo of Charlotte on Tuesday when she wears it.


I have also been working on some things for some markets I am hoping to get to soon. Some little zippered pouches (excuse the creased fabric as I haven't ironed it yet) and some bibs but I am struggling with the snaps I got from SL. I am working on a new bag pattern which I hope I can reveal next week

Flashback Friday

Another Friday has rolled around and this week Flashback Friday is dress-up day. I used my best dress-up two weeks ago but I dug this one out which was from the same Year 12 muck-up day.

All the way from WA

A lovely package arrived today from Helen. She was very naughty and bought these in exchange for some freezer paper I sent her, but they are very welcome. I am pretty sure some will become bags.

Flashback Friday

Well another Friday has rolled around and this week's photo is definitely not as funny as last weeks.

Not the best photo (you know what the old black and white was like) this is my mum and I. I don't even know where we were, must have been on holiday somewhere.

OP Shop Swap

Oh my god! I just received my Op Shop Swap from the lovely Heidi. I think I need to move to the Northern Territory because I got a fantastic package from Heidi.

The first photo is everything bundled up. Heidi grouped everything into books, baking and sewing and tied each bundle up with ribbon.


This was the sewing bundle. A lovely golden hands book of soft toys (I already have my eye on a few things). A lovely paisley flannel, which I think will make some great pants next year and maybe even some cushions. The other fabric also feel a bit flannel-like and it was 2 pieces of pinks and purples with animals on it, I am in love with it!



Next on the list was the baking bundle with contained a lovely apron, a Marie Claire Sweets book, my favourite and a 1966 Recipe Book from the Adelaide Children's Hospital. Heidi very correctly said I would have been Lucy's age when this came out and she was right I was born in 1966.





Lastly was the reading bundle and Heidi scored some great Dr Seuss books which will go straight into my collection and I think Charlotte will love reading the "I'll teach my dog 100 words" tonight.

A Gift for Ashton

Now that Andrea has received the gift I sent for Ashton I can post a pic of it. It is a scalloped edge baby blanket and a bag for Ellyse. Both of these patterns are from Amy Karol's book Bend the Rules Sewing, I am in love with this book. The bag is a Michael Miller fabric with green dotty lining and back. The blanket is a cute flannelette with "I love mummy, I love daddy" written on it and is backed by a mint green chenille. It has warm and natural in the middle. Not the best picture but the only one I took unfortunately.

Flashback Friday

I got this concept from Kylie who got it from Three Buttons. So I decided to participate as my blog has become a bit more than just my sewing exploits.

So here is my flashback.......................... I was a biker chick. Well for a day anyway at our Year 12 High School muck-up day. This was a great tradition which has now died in most schools. The year was 1983 and we had parties all the night before, then our whole form got dressed up as bikers and terrorised all the younger girls at the train station and on the way to school. The teachers copped it at school too. It was a great day and a great way to end our school life.

Custom-made bag featuring YOUR child's artwork

I made this bag featuring a drawing done by Charlotte. These custom-made bags will be available here and here from next week. If you would like more information please email me.

Another non-sewing post, well almost......

Just a quick post to show you what I did today. The hat I am wearing was supposed to be for Lucy but was obviously too big so I whipped her up another one. They are from this book which I am in love with. I also made a bag from here too but I need to iron it before I can post a pic.




This photo is Charlotte in her new shin pads. She was supposed to go to a soccer camp in the holidays but she was sick. She has been itching to wear her shin pads so Jeff took her up to the park today for a kick.

My Little Waterbaby

My little girl is growing up. I can't believe how quikcly the year has gone and that Lucy is 8 months on Monday. So in preparation for summer we started swimming lessons today. Once again I am in the pool but at least it is lovely and warm. She went realy well and there were only tears near the end of the lesson as she was very tired. Here are some pictures taken by our own papparrazi Charlotte.

In The Mail

I purchased this book by Amy Karol last week from Amazon and it just arrived so I am very excited. I haven't had a chance to have good look yet but so far it looks great.

Sew Mama Sew Bag Month

This is my entry for the Sew Mama Sew Bag Competition in the shoulder bag category. I got this Sesame Street fabric from Ebay. It is a vintage sheet and as soon as I received it I loved it. The colours are really vibrant and I immediately thought of using some of it to make a bag. I wasn't sure of the style at the time but I was playing around with an idea for something else and then thought the shape would make a good bag so decided to give it a try. I lined the bag with a bright yellow polka dot fabric and put a pocket and a magnetic clip in it. This bag may find it's way onto my Wahmania store so stay tuned.

And the winner is..................

And the winner is..................

The draw has been done, by Charlotte of course, and the winner is The Humming Cat. A prize will be coming your way very shortly. Email or pm me your address.

An Elephant and A Century

I just finished this elephant for a teacher at Charlotte's pre-school. As she doesn't know what she is having I made one side with green polka dots and the other in a rainbow fabric. I used a ribbon loop as the tail and I finally found a very large bell at Lincraft which I put inside.

I have also just realised that this is my 100th post. Yes I've racked up a century, who would have thought it, certainly not me. So I've decided to run a little competition. Post a comment before Monday morning and everyone will go into the draw for a special package. So all you lurkers out there come in and say hello.

Weekender Bag

I decided to use this bowling bag pattern to make a weekender style bag. It is very rough and I didn't end up lining it at I found the instructions a little confusing for the lining so next time I will just do the lining as I normally line a bag. I used some fabric from Ikea which was only $4/metre, it is interfaced and I used a zipper I got from the op-shop craft sale. There is a small gap at each end of the zip because it wasn't long enough but for my first go I am happy with it and it will do for Lucy or Charlotte's things when we go away for a couple of days in a month's time.

Shopping bag

I whipped this bag up this morning and I am pretty happy with it. Because it was just a trial run I decided not to line it (and depending on the fabric I don't think it really needs it) but then forgot to turn the handles and top in luckily I remembered just in time. Next time the pocket could be a little smaller. I will
definitely be making some more.