Crayon roll fun!

It is my baby boy's 2nd birthday on Sunday and I have been trying to think of something to make for the kids who are coming, rather than giving lolly bags!

The end result is these crayon rolls. SO easy to make, I made 12 in 3 hours! I used THIS link!

I hope all the little cheeky muffins who are coming enjoy them!!

Long time no sew....

After not sewing since January, I finally have my machines back and my mojo! I have settled back into work as well so I think its all on!

This is a "Singing Circle" mainly for my infant grades for singing songs, learning beat etc!

For some reason my photos have posted themselves in the wrong order - ack and I don't know how to fix them!

Stitch by Stitch Giveaway!

Yvy at Stitch by Stitch is giving away some gorgeous fabric over here!! I hope I win it and can then use it for my knit challenge!!! Fingers crossed!

'Shroomy hat!

Isn't my model for the day just gorgeous!!! He insisted on wearing it at snack time!


Another project for my gorgeous girlfriends daughter! It's going to be hot up north so she will need lots of hat! It's a an Otto 3/2009 pattern in a size 51cms. My kids wear a 53cm so I thought this was going to run small for her but it's quite big! Easy to sew pattern and reversable - far from perfect but I am happy with it!!

When the kittens are away....

the big mama mouse will play!

What better way to distract myself while the kids are at their first day in child care than to sew sew sew!! I really need to get cracking on my 12 in 12 item for myself but couldn't resist whipping up a couple of dresses for a friends little girl.

They move to HOT HOT HOT Jabiru (3 hours out of Darwin) at the end of the month plus it's her 2nd birthday tomorrow so I thought a few summery dresses would be nice!

Ahhhh 2 hours to go!

Geisha girl pillowcase dress!

This came together so easily and quickly! All cut up and sewn today with kids playing around me for a while

I still don't like sewing around corners so the arm bands are slightly wonky but better than previous efforts! I think it looks pretty cute and even the messing around I had to do with the pattern didn't mess up too badly, it's just not as A-line as the original! Izzy thinks it's cute too with the "ladies" on it.

Pattern is Ottobre 3/200 #18!

Reflection and anticipation!!

2009 was the year I began sewing and found Crafty Mamas, Ottobre magazine and numerous other patterns, fabrics and tutorials!

I find crafting and sewing so rewarding, it is good for the mind and soul and I am looking forward to 2010 with great anticipation of things to learn and craft!

I just blogged HERE this morning about my goals for 2010. I don't believe in resolutions in their truest sense, I know that lots of people start and fail and feel crap about it, but I do feel that I am continually looking for ways to improve myself spiritually, physically, mentally and once these are all in balance, I may be the parent and person I strive to be! Lofty aims!

As part of my aims for sewing this year I am going to be part of this 12 challenges in 12 months!

Here is the link to the original post and I will blog the button when I work out how!

Japanese goodness.....

These are the trusty Japanese instructions!!! Included was this little of gem of wisdom......

"The handmade things
give me spaceing mith the mistise"

Extraordinarily helpful that was.....

This was my finished version!!!....

Which looked pretty much like this I think!!

Aiko came back from Japan last week with these 3 gorgeous Japanese pattern books.

and this stash of wonderful fabric! Just gorgeous!


I don't think I did too badly really and I have realised again how much I have taught myself in such a short time about sewing. I was able to nut out things for myself and put it together with no cries of "help"!!!!!

As usual the binding around the arms was a bit dodgy but otherwise this sweet top will be a little summer nighty top for Izzy and I might make some matching shorties or bloomers for her. She is a HOT sleeper who gets blood noses frequently at night, so I'm always looking at ways to keep her cool!


I managed to get her to try it on and it looks SO cuteI will definitely make a few more for her! It looks super sweet on her, plus very cool for these already hot days we are having!

Giveaway!

Henny Penny from MoederKip is having a wonderful giveaway after her recent 7 projects in 7 days!
I would love to win the Bjarne, as my poor J man misses out a bit in the sewing department!!

Check it out HERE!!

Apron swap!

In September I was part of an apron swap on Crafty Mamas!
It was my first time being involved in a swap and I was very nervous about my lack of sewing ability, in the end I made 2 aprons for my partner - hopefully this made up for my ability!

I receieved this gorgeous, bright and beautiful apron from Cherri! Isn't it just gorgeous!

Just in receiving it, I have learnt alot about finer details, the pleats in the bodice are gorgeous! The bow (which can snap on or off!) is cute as and the general way it was made is just lovely!
Thanks Cherri!! It has pride of place hanging on a clip on my fridge so I can grab it easily and people always comment!

http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com/2009/11/handmade-dress-patterns-guest-giveaway.html

These are just the most divine dresses and I would love to make one for Izzy! I LOVE the beautiful buble skirt on the Miss Lily! TOOOOO cute!

Loving the learning journey....

The waist band is stuffed, took me 3 attempts!

The hem needs something (as I couldn't find a nice lace) maybe some white ric rak?

The pockets are skewed even though I have made them lots for the tunic top...

BUT

I have loved learning through this process! I made buttonholes for the first time ever AND I didn't call mum to work it out, but sat and read the instruction manual (shock horror!) I love that I have 3 more of these cut out ready to go as I know they will be infinitely better as I learn as I go!

Can't wait for my gorgwah girl to arrive home so she can try it on!

On a side note, Al has for around 12 years been telling me to get a hobby, I have one now and am obsessed and totally in love with making things!! Sewing rocks...and yes I'm a craft nerd now.

Peace out.

Another tunic!

This is from Ottobre 1/2009 #14 again! I love Otto! and I love this tunic, so versatile and just looks so gorgeous! I made some more errors in the casing and the elastic casing is a PITA - not sure I will ever be able to sew, stretch elastic and around corners all at once!!!

Sorry about the million photos of the same dress too - she's just so cute!!

It's birthday time....

and somehow I manage to create more work for myself each birthday!!

This year I decided on robots for James' party invites! Ivy from mothers group who runs Jump Cactus Design did the invites for me! I asked for a retro robot theme in red and blue and got this!! Gorgeous!

and so I spent the last 2 days sewing EIGHT robots.

That is 16 arms.
40 buttons.
Numerous errors and holes.
Some have square legs, some have rounded legs, some have both, some have nearly none....

There will be a little tag disclaimer for each mama stating that youngies shouldn't play and that I don't guarantee the wadding won't fall out on the way home.
They do look sort of cute though!!



Task over now I can bake tomorrow ~ Robot cake coming right up.

Have to mention that I just got asked by Miss 2 what I am doing, to which I replied,my blog, to which she replied
BOOGA BOOGA BOOGA...... ahhhh kids!

My disasterous Saturday sewing attempt.....

I hate wasting time and fabric although I guess I learnt alot in the process.

I used THIS tutorial and I don't think it is for beginners, well I found it difficult

anyway!

A few bits seemed to be in a weird order. The whole thing is far too big but having no zipper if I make the chest piece smaller I think it won't go over my head properly. As you can see from the lovely side shot (no I'm not pregnant) it's shorter at the front because of my ahem, larger boobies.
I LOVE this fabric though and it makes me feel happy and summery so I will wear it around the house on warmer days when nobody will see it! Please excuse the just washed hair, it was 3pm before I got to have a shower. Nice.

Tunic number 3......

I will lay this pattern to rest after number 4!! but this one is my best yet!

Hemming is neat, ric rac is gorgeous and generally went together beautifully! Ahhh Otto sweet Otto.

I have been a crazy lady today! People for dinner so I also made this.


Don't let the ugliness of the tray fool you. Was it my idea to pack the baking goods in a kitchen box labelled "NON-ESSENTIAL kitchen items" until we get to our new place? Crazy lady.

This is the most intense, lemony tart you will ever eat.....I'm drooling at the thought!

A new accidental dress for dolly....

Not sure why I wake up with these brainwaves....going to visit my gf today and her little girl is 6 weeks old. Hey, why don't I make her a dress! Today! I've known that I am going for weeks but hey let's do it on the morning of the visit.

Hey let's also chose a pattern I haven't made before with SHIRRING that I haven't done before!

Needless to say the pattern didn't work out -I used a measurement chart and thought, ok 44cm + 20 cms should be plenty.

Wrong. It fits dolly. Which is probably a good thing seeing as the shirring lines would make even a non-sewer shriek in horror.

Iz will be delighted with dolly's new dress, I think dolly needs a little top to go under it though as you can see her...... um fabric ;) And yes our poor dear has a bung eye, why 2 year olds have a fascination with gouging out the eyes of their loved ones I do not know. Lucky I am a whizz with the super glue!

I'm in love....

With these!!!

Take 2!

Here it is! Still a few mistakes but overall a much better result! I finally got her to put it on! Yay!

My first Otto!

Otto 1/2009 Tunic #14.........



Mistakes galore but I am happy with it for my first attempt and am off to bed!