A Long Weekend

We have just returned from a lovely weekend in Bowral at my aunt's new house. We had a very relaxing but windy time and came home one child short, as Charlotte decided to stay down for a few extra days. On Sunday we braved the wind and took Charlotte's kite to the park. We kept it on a short string as it was so windy. The park was at Bradman Oval so Jeff visited the museum and off course we had to get a picture with The Don.
The winners of my Pay It Forward comp (drawn by Lucy as Charlotte is away) were: Helen, Fiona and Karen. I promise something will be in the mail very soon but it probably will be a few weeks.

More bags

Guess what more bags! I have been busy making bags for the upcoming market stall and also for the pink ribbon morning tea at the school. I am also planning on making a few more pencil rolls especially for the school stall. Most of these will be up on Made It soon. We are going away for the weekend so don't forget to comment to go in the running for some prizes as part of Pay It Forward. Lurkers come out of the closet.

Flashback Friday

I've missed a couple lately but I am back today with some funky hairstyles. Not sure if this is the theme but I was following Helen.

The first one I was a flower girl for my cousin (not sure how old I am) and the second one was in Year 12 so I was 17. Looks like I'm a bit out of it actually. Don't forget to comment so you can go in the draw to win a handmade gift.

EB Bag Swap + fabric

I was so excited when I got home from work and had 2 parcels waiting for me. The first was my bag swap. It was from the very talented Sahra. It's a wonderfully made bag with a great little purse attached by a key fob inside (I have been wanting to try this so will have to have a close look). I can't wait to start using it! It was also filled with all those little things you need in your bag - wipes, tissues, panadol, bandaids etc.


My second parcel was some vintage fabric I got from Ebay. The greens are beautiful.

Apple Bag

This bag screams book, sandwich and a trip to the park. I made it yesterday and I love it. It has a vintage Holly Hobby applique on it and funky stiped lining. As soon as my computer is working properly it will be for sale here

Pay It Forward

I was checking out the blogs of my EB Sewing friends and noticed Karen is taking part in "Pay it Forward" and I thought what a great idea. Here's how it works...

I will send a handmade gift to 3 random people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this Pay It Forward exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week… LOL… but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

I think it sounds like a great idea to share the crafty love, so have decided to do the same.

So if you have been lurking on this blog and I know you are out there, then have a say and you might receive a crafty item.

Any comment on any post between now and Friday 28th September will be in the running. No doubt Charlotte will do the draw of the 3 lucky people.

I've Been Tagged

OK I've been tagged by Heids so here are the rules:

A. Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves.
B. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed.
C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog...

Eight random things (about me):

1. I worked with my partner Jeff for 10 years before we started going out.
2. I am scared of going up steep hills in the car because I think I'm going to start reversing.
3. I would love to live in New York
4. I've only been sewing for 12 months
5. I used to be a size 8 (those were the days)
6. My favourite book and movie is To Kill a Mockingbird
7. I love Disneyland and can't wait to take my girls there
8. I dream of winning millions and have already spent most of it!

It looks like everyone has been tagged so I won't tag anyone

Bags, bags and more bags.

I have been busy making bags for Made It so if you want to buy anything let me know or go to made It

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.