There's a new snail on the block

The snail is back. This new design means less hand sewing yay! They also now stand more upright as I have given them a gusset.

This first one is for the niece of a girl at my brothers work. It has a nice lilac chenille on one side giving it a different texture and the shell part is stuffed with cellophane.

The second one is a green wavy fabric (Michael Miller I think) and a red dotty fabric. I think I am going to send this to Modern Parents Vintage Ways to see if they want to stock them

Happy Birthday to the Harbour Bridge

Not a sewing-related post but today we celebrated the 75th Birthday of the Sydney Harbour Bridge with many other Sydneysiders. We met up with some friends and made the long walk across the bridge together (12 in all). Charlotte was happy because she was with 2 of her friends, Emma & Darcy (although Darcy was asleep). Charlotte and Lucy were really good all day even with some transport problems on the way home. Luckily we had Ash with us as we were up and down stairs at Central.

Cushion

Here is the cushion I made for a friend who is doing up someone's bedroom and they needed a cushion exactly the same as they already had but in updated colours. I am happy with how it turned out. It is exactly the same size and I even put a zip in! My heart was in my mouth though when I turned it right side out and put the inserts in but all went well.

EB Kitchen Swap

Here are my answers for the Kitchen Swap

1. What colours are you kitchen - My kitchen is brand new and has white gloss cupboards and a dark grey granite benchtop. I have a big island in the middle which is usually covered with junk but which I cleaned off for the photos.

2. What is your favourite appliance - My favourite appliance is probably the dishwasher after never having one I love not having to do the dishes. I also love my mixmaster and my BIG oven (although I haven't quite mastered it yet)

3. What do you love cooking most - I love cooking sweet things, desserts, cakes, biscuits, muffins.

4. What item would you love the most from your swap partner - a new fridge LOL. I would be happy with anything, even though I hate surprises I also love them.

Here is my kitchen with its unusually clean island bench

Spotlight Sale

Well I was feeling a bit sick this afternoon but it's amazing how a trip to Spotlight can make you feel better. After 2 trips to the fabric counter this is what I bought.
The first fabric is a brown cord - I am going to use that with some fabric I got on Ebay recently.
The next one is actually a sage colour and I am going to use this for a bag lining
The next 2 are pink and red spots - can't tell what I am using those for.

The white with green dots is a new canvas fabric. I am going to use it for a bag I just fell in love with it. They had some other great patterns too so may get some more at another sale.
The blue gingham is to line a denim bag I am making my brother for when he goes swimming. He is currently using the yellow paisley one I made and all the girls from his working at laughing at him.
The green gingham also has a secret identity.


The white spotty material is a jersey type fabric which was reduced to $4 which I am going to use for some pj's for Charlotte and maybe Lucy.
The black is black for a bag lining.
The green small spots is for ?? I can't remember what it was for!

A New Bag

I have finally made a bag for myself. I am in love with this material (the pic doesn't really do it justice). It is lined in denim (I've decided denim is IT for winter) and it has 2 pockets inside. I am not usually a bag person but I love making them and now love having a bag, although not too keen on the big one I need to lug Lucy's stuff around but I am hoping this one will get plenty of use once I get back to work.

To market, to market (part 2)

Here is everything else:

Three bags (+one I made a while ago which is in a previous post)




Peg dolls and bags to go with them. I am selling them in sets of 3 in a bag.

To market, to market

I have finally finished everything I possibly can for the market tomorrow. In addition to what's here I am taking some summer dresses I made for Charlotte that she never wore, some snails (as samples), and a wand and sword (again as samples). This is what I have made as well: Library bags; baby blankets (for the pram or on nappy change tables); pot holders and coasters. (more on previous post)

For Helen

I received this lovely fabric from the lovely Helen and didn't know what I was going to do with it. Then on Wednesday I got told Charlotte needed a library bag for pre-school so I made this.

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!