Handmade News

I've been featured over at Handmade News today. A big thanks to Sara for asking me to be part of this great website, although I might have to kill her for her choice of photo. Pop over and check it out.

They recently featured one of my favourite bloggers.

Here's a pic of my latest new toy, it's only an Ipod Touch not an Iphone but I am loving it when I can prise it from the kids hands.

Sew it Together Name Tag

I've finished my name tag for Gypsy's Sew It Together Name Tag Swap. I had two ideas in my head but this was the one that seemed to be calling me.

I used some aqua barkcloth I've had in my drawer for ages for the front and back. I picked up this doily at the op shop, cut it to size and embroidered the name on. After reading Cam's suggestions to make the tag stiff I interfaced both pieces of barkcloth but then I realised they would be to stiff to turn right side out. So I had to blanket stitch around the edges. I figured it's not going to be washed so a little fraying will look ok.

I'm such a worrier that my partner won't like it so I might still go with my other idea. Maybe I'll see if they comment!

Apologies to my swap partner as my embroidery skills are not top notch.

A New Bag

I've had this idea for a new bag in my head for ages. I just drew it straight on to some interfacing and then cut the fabric out.
I used Wildwood with interfacing on the outside and it is lined with a dark grey wool flannel, which is also interfaced giving the bag a nice structure.

I'm happy with how it turned out but it isn't exactly how I envisaged it so I am going to sell it as a sample so if you are interested pop over here

Sample Swap

Hi fellow Sew It Together friends

Some of you may remember (and/or participated in) the 10 item swap I organised last year and I thought maybe I could organise something similar for Sew It Together.

How it works:

• Nominate to participate

• Once I have numbers I will let everyone know how many items they need to make (for example if there are 30 people we would probably divide it into 5 groups of 6 so you would make 5 items). MAXIMUM ITEMS WOULD BE 10, although even if everyone participated we could still do smaller groups if it would make it easier time-wise.
  

• Bring your items to the Saturday session

• Some time during the day those who participated could break away and then I would have everyone's name in a hat and we would start drawing. The first 6 names to come out would break away and swap their items and so on.

So let me know what you think, anyone interested? You can also leave any messages here

Cass

Big Brown Bear

Some very good friends recently gave birth to a beautiful little boy called Ryan.  Of course I had to make him something but had to wait until he was born before I could start.  I decided on a small quilt/play blanket using Big Brown Bear fabric and we gave him the book to go with it.

I just did a simple stitch in the ditch quilting and I did the binding in the stripe fabric. 

At 6 weeks old he seemed very happy with it!

Lead Pencils

Why can I never find any lead pencils in my house?

Why do lots of lead pencils come unsharpened?

I love writing with lead pencil,

Charlotte has to do her homework in lead pencil

I think The Borrowers are living here.

Testing

I was reading this blog yesterday and Michelle mentioned Windows Live so last night I downloaded it and thought I would have a go posting from the Live Writer feature.  So I don’t really have anything to say except maybe check it out and see what you think.

I can’t get the photo bit to work though so I need to investigate that more.

OK that’s cool I just went back in and can retrieve the post so now I’m going to try a photo

So I can add a photo from flickr but not from my computer.  I think I need to set some other thing up but as you can tell I am totally un-geeky!

Fabric

We had our monthly Hills Craft Room last night and Sheridan and Peta were talking about a sale at Hobby Sew. Now I get the mailouts from them but this time I didn't even open it and apparently there was Denyse Schmidt on sale. Now this lady had pretty much cleaned the shop out and after checking out what she got I thought I'd take a little trip this morning. So Lucy and I dashed out there between school drop off and playgroup and got all this:

Denise Schmydt

Anna Maria Horner, Jennifer Paganelli, Heather Ross

To top the morning off this was in the mailbox when we got home, just about to sit down with some lunch and have a read

It's been all sickness over in the shell lately and now I've almost lost my voice. The kids are loving it but I'm over it now.

So there hasn't been any crafting happening but this package did arrive from the Fat Quarter Shop yesterday.The Brown Bear fabric is for a new little baby boy and the Paula Prass is just because.

Freebie

Does anyone have the 5" Xyron machine. I picked this cartridge up at Spotlight on sale the other day thinking it would fit the machine I got on sale at another Spotlight but mine is only the 2.5" one.
If anyone in Australia wants it email me your details and I'll pop it in the post.

Available here

Swimming Carnival

Charlotte's school had their swimming carnival today. This is the first year they have let the 7 year olds who are in Year 2 participate so Charlotte decided just to go in the 25 metre freestyle (she's been sick this week and thought the backstroke might be too much).
My instructions this morning were to keep kicking and do her best and she did both. She ended up coming 4th and came off the pool deck with a big smile on her face.

She also did some novelty races which cooled her off at the end of the day.
Lucy spent the day in the toddlers pool with a couple of friends and luckily it was only very shallow so the mums did lots of standing in it to keep cool too.

Never get lost again

Now available here

Backpack

Lucy started pre-school today so over the holidays I thought I would make her a backpack following along with a few friends who have made them too. I really enjoyed making this especially the piping although I'm not 100% happy with the straps but I think in hindsight I didn't have the right adjuster.

I used a laminated cotton which was great to sew with. I didn't interface it and it stands up by itself but I think I would like it a bit stiffer so would definitely interface next time.(and yes the back fabric is upside down!)

Last night I had to whip Lucy up a hat because she left hers at a friend's house yesterday. I used an apple canvas I got from Home Ec last year which I love although apparently Lucy doesn't like green so she has asked for another one.

The Craft Room

I posted this over on the Craft Room blog too but for anyone that doesn't know about that blog we are starting up a Hills Craft Room.

Thanks to Fiona we have found somewhere to hold a North-West/Hills Craft Room in 2010. The Hills Craft Room will be held on the 1st Thursday of each month starting on 4th February from 7.30pm - 9.30pm

If you are interested in coming along contact me via email cassandra_ward (at) telstra (dot) com for location details.

We'd love it if you can come along.

On Friday Charlotte did a cooking class at Brasserie Bread. She had a fantastic time and if you are in Sydney it's well worth a look. The school holiday programme is only $30 for 2 hours and they even have free 1 hour workshops on Saturdays.
They made 4 goodies to take home - a large choc chip & sultana biscuit, an apple loaf which was absolutely divine
a pizza (that Charlotte and Lucy had for dinner) and a choc chip plait.

She's now decided she wants to cook a meal each week which I think is great but we'll see how long it lasts.

Today

is my birthday and although I am quite a bit older than this birthday girl it is lovely to share a birthday with one of my lovely blogging and now real life friends (and we are both left-handed too).

I feel very lucky to have Jeff in my life. He has given me two beautiful girls. I'm also lucky to have my mum and brother close by and my dad in my heart always. I also feel very lucky to have found a place in this wonderful crafting community and now have "friends" scattered across the country.

It's been a funny day, Charlotte is away and Jeff is working late and I spent the whole day at work. I came home to some lovely presents though. A gift voucher from here from Jeff, a Wii Fit from my mum and brother and some yummy chocolates from Lucy. With everyone else out my mum, Lucy and I had a yummy takeaway for dinner and I've been Wii Fitting and relaxing on the lounge tonight.

Yes that's a bear on my head (photo courtesy of Lucy)

Now I'm debating whether to get an Ipod Touch, any thoughts!

7

I can't believe it but my baby turned 7 today. I know it's a cliche but I just don't know where the years have gone, in two weeks she'll be starting Year 2, next thing we know it'll be the end of her schooling.

You are caring and considerate towards others, you are happy and always have a smile on your face, well most of the time.

You love creating and crafting and will happily sit for hours drawing/cutting/pasting. You have a bit of a short fuse and are very like me and we often clash so I'm sure there will be lots of door slamming in the teenage years, something to look forward to.

You are lovable, loving and loved by the whole family. I've loved watching you grow into the the wonderful girl you are today.

Holiday Mode

We've been having a great time over the holidays, although Jeff and I both have this gruesome cough. We haven't really ventured too far from the house, it's been in and out of the pool, playing the Wii, a couple of movies and a little bit of sewing.

Charlotte and I are taking 2 of her friends to the movies on Friday for her birthday so I made this little drawstring bags to put some goodies in. Hopefully the girls will be able to re-use them for their school readers this year as they need a bag this year.

Lucy's moving from child care to pre-school this year and she needs a library bag so the one on the right is for her. The other one is a new library bag for Charlotte as the one she has used for the last 2 years was looking very tired.

The lovely Belinda just nominated me for this. If anyone out there would like to nominate me too that would be fantastic.

2009 the year that was

I've seen this on a few blogs so I thought I'd do a recap of the year.

January
Saw the arrival of a beautiful quilt from my lovely friend Helen

February
Seemed to be bag month and quite a few were made, my favourite was this one

March
Was all about Mathildas Market and making, making, making in preparation.
April
In April an idea grew for a swap and lots of ou lovely bloggers decided it was a good idea and I think from memory about 40 signed up

May
Also seemed to be swap month. I participated in the Sheridan's Vintage Sheet Swap and the kids were in the Kids Mail Swap over at Pigeon Pair. I was also besieged with packages for the 10 items swap.

June
June was a busy month. The first Crafty Weekend away, Swap goodies all posted out around the country, plenty of sewing and the first Sunday Craft Room



July
3 years of blogging

August
The highlight of August was definitely the Stitches and Craft show. I lent a hand to Fi and Justine (while she battled a dodgy stomach), caught up with Nicole, Cathy & Louise, Belinda and finally got to meet some wonderful bloggers I'd been dying to meet for ages.


September
I participated in the Handmade Kids Challenge, did a market at school for Pink Ribbon Day and had another Crafty Weekend away.

October
October was all about preparing for the next Mathildas Market

November
The 1st saw the last Mathildas Market for the year. The rest of the month was turned over to buying fabric, Lucy's birthday and preparing for Christmas

December
Finally the year was over and of course it was all about Christmas and the kids.
Thanks so much for reading my blog throughout 2009. I don't know what 2010 will hold although it will involve getting fit, hopefully. I'm feeling in a bit of a rut about sewing to sell at the moment and am thoroughly enjoying just sewing for pleasure. I'm not sure what that will mean for me but I will still definitely be sewing and crafting through 2010.