Surprise.....

Why surprise?

The lady who commission these doesn't know I finished them.
So when she is browsing and checking my blog she'll hopefully get a nice surprise.

The set is finished!


Longies, vest and hat.


Knit in Tiger Cub and black.
The vest is a one of the kind. I had to rip it back a few times.

Lady X sent me the yarn and asked me to make her son a matching set.

I finished the legs of the longies with crochet.

I have three more commissions on the go.
Another pair of longies, for which I am waiting measurements.
A crochet skirt which is half way there.
A crochet dress that I've almost finished.

Are you interested in commissioning me?
My rates are cheap and turn around usually within the month.

Great Weather for.....

DUCKS!

Sir Francis and the girls are very happy with our weather.
The chickens are all huddled in their coop.
The kids are all stir crazy, cooped up inside.
The tanks are filling with rain water.

I've spent the morning sewing, in the shed .
Pete was in the house doing daddy duty, he had yesterday off playing Golf.

Check out what I've been sewing over on my Enid BLOG.

All The way From Estonia to Australia

Machine embroidered Label
The blog doesn't tell me much as I can't read Estonian (is that a language?)

Just stunning!
The colour is balanced beautifully through the quilt.

Siret lives on a little Island in the Baltic.

Thank you Siret for the beautiful quilt and the chocolate
Yes, Siret sent me chocolate! How did she know I was a chocoholic?
One looks like white chocolate with Blueberries and the other I'll have to open to find out.

Thank you to Margaret of 'Four Seasons Quilt Swap' for organising and hosting this swap.

Stash or scraps?

This sounds like fun :)


The "rules":
1. You are not allowed to buy fabric for this challenge.
2. Make quilts using only scraps from your scrap bin. What you call a "scrap" is completely up to you.
3. Do consider the difference between "scrap" and "stash" when choosing fabric.
4. There are no other rules.

If you'd like to join in, leave a comment on this Blog Post by Twiddletails

Happy Easter

Christ Has Died,

Christ Is Risen,

Christ Will Come Again

Hunting up the eggs. Daddy has the basket.
The kids all find the eggs and put them in the basket They are shared out and the little ones don't miss out.

Mark 16:6
And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

Wishing you all peace and joy.
What ever you celebrate.

The Lilly Apron - Cupcake style

Another Lilly Apron for the store
Fully lined.
This one has an Applique Cupcake on the pocket.

Lilly wants to keep it!
Fits Sizes 3 to 6

Undies

Undies - A pattern designed by That Darn Cat
Another Pattern I bought from You Can Make This

Size 4 for Lilly
They went together very easy.
The pattern is wonderfully written.
Very clear instructions and easy to follow with lots of photos to help along the way.
I love the design and so do Rose and Lilly.

Size 6 for Rose.
Once more I varied from the pattern instructions.
I was too lazy to change the threads on my overlocker!
I used a honeycomb stitch to finish the seams.
I sewed two of the pairs just on the sewing machine.
You don't need an overlocker to make these.

Fern now wants some. They only go up to a size 8.
Hopefully, with Fern being so little, she'll fit them.

Sewing for Baby. (no, I'm not pregnant again)

My Dear Friend rang the other day and dropped a bombshell. The baby is going to be here next week!!! So I've boosted up the sewing rate.

Hat and Booties from HERE
Another free pattern. I think they turned out very cute.
The pattern was very good the instructions a bit vague.
I posted a review over on Burda Style

The Sara Bib fromPrecious Patterns
This is one of the three bib designs I bought fromYou can make This
They had a discount on the bundle pack.

I know .."Why are you buying patterns for bibs they are easy enough to draft yourself?" you ask.

Well.... They are really cute, it saves be drafting, they are cheap really, and they let me make them for sale!

Allowing limited home sewing for profit is a HUGE selling point for me. I wish more designers did it and I'd be buying more patterns (umm maybe not, I spend too much now.)

Beetle, ladybird and Bee bib also from Precious Patterns.
I was trying to make the bee but had no black ric rac so it's now a yellow beetle.
I can't stick to the pattern so had to adjust it a little.
Instead of a wadding I used a fleece as the backing.
I did the same with the Bear bib below.

Kitty,bear and round bibs also from precious Patterns
I loved the patterns. The instructions were very clear and easy to follow with lots of photos.
Being PDF I can print them out whenever I need another copy.
I'm getting addicted to downloadable patterns.
No waiting for the postman to arrive.

A sleeping Bag.
I'm not that pleased with this one I've made the armholes a little big.
The ones I saw an IKEA were without sleeves.
I thought I might make this one without sleeve too.
I think I should of added the sleeves. Too late now as I've finished the armhole.
The new mum may have to sew the armholes up a little to keep her little girl snug.

Acceptance vs Tolerance

Which do you practice?

I believe Jesus would of wanted me to accept others not just tolerate them. He wanted me to love my fellow man as he loved me.

On this very special day let us not just tolerate others but accept and love them as Jesus commanded.
Wouldn't the world be such a beautiful place, if we all could follow this beautiful commandment.
( and the one about not judging one another! boy do I fail at this one!)

“Love One Another, As I Have Loved You”

Luke 22:1-38; John 13

Love SPRINGs Eternal

Love SPRINGs Eternal
Made for Susan
For the Four Season Quilt Swap
Susan requested Red and Spring.


Freemotion quilted with hearts,
Beaded with flowers and hearts

Pieced braid.

Celtic knot with hearts.

Background is pieced with scraps and strips of red.

I really loved creating this piece. It's been a while since I just let myself go. Susan has her quilt now so I can share the colour and theme with you. I'd like to make a few more of these small quilts they are so much fun to make, relatively small and quick to make.

New PJ's For Michael

Practical Pyjama pants from Enid Gilchirst Baby book
I've made these a few times now.
I like the way they are drafted with extra height in the back.
Making more room for the cloth nappy Michael wears.

The fabric is a flannelette another gift from Judith (Wendy's Mum)
I love this fabric and it suits us perfect since our dog is named Scruffy!

Baby Kimono - FREE pattern from Habitual
I made this in a smaller size a few days ago.
This time I did the binding differently. I might have to do a tutorial on the binding I did on this one I found it easier than a few methods I've tried. It doesn't look as good from the wrong side but I think it's easier.

Baby pants

New born Pants from this FREE PDF pattern from Bee's Nest
Made in a stretch knit fleece an off cut given to me by Judith.
I used a honeycomb stitch to finish the hems. I'm pleased with the result

Clever Marketing

Freshly baked 3 dozen Banana and Choc chip muffins.
My recipe is HERE
I varied it and used 1/2 wholemeal flour.

I had no intention on baking these today. When I went to the supermarket they were giving away overripe bananas. Being the frugal person I am (sometimes) I grab a couple of kilo. I then went and bought flour, margarine and choc chips to make the muffins.

The supermarket by giving away the overripe bananas, something they would normally throw out, have increased their sales of baking goods! How clever :D It pays to shop local.

Simple Baby Jacket

Simple Baby Jacket
I drafted this jacket from an Enid Gilchrist magazine.
Stretch fleece given to me by Wendy's Mum Judith
Edges bound in commercial bias.

I'd like to start making some of my Enid creations for sale.
I've read the information sheets HERE
Especially the Craftworkers (hobby), Sewing Patterns, Fashion Design and costumes and Designs for functional articles.

And I'm thinking because I draft these designs from instructions then I may not be violating Copyright if I make garments for sale from the patterns I draft.

I have a few how to draft patterns books, these are texts for many fashion courses. Showing how to design and draft patterns. If you design a pattern based on these instructions they are your patterns.

I've tried contacting New Idea but have had no response.
I'm not even sure if they own the copyright.

So what do you think?
Would I be ok to sell my Enid inspired creations?
I've seen many designs being sold out there that could be Enids.

Trapped

I heard screaming in the kitchen.
There he was under the table.
He'd trapped himself on the chair he'd climbed onto under the table.
I was a good mum and rescued him quick.
Only to have him do it again a couple of minutes later!
So I grabbed the camera, I though it mustn't be that bad if he'd gone and done it again.

Baby Kimono

Baby Kimono - FREE pattern from Habitual
Fabric from the op-shop ..again :)
The bias binding was also from an op-shop.

When you are not a master at applying bias binding ,cheat and use a decorative stitch!

More free tutorials to try...

Baby Kimono

Baby Sundress

Itty Bitty Baby dress

Felt Hair Clip Tutorial

Apron Dress

Sleeveless dress T2-3

Toddler Halter Top

Baby Pants

reusable lunch wrap

Don't you love the NET?

PinTuck Dress

Pintuck Dress - FREE tutorial from Amy of During Quiet Time

Made from a sheet I bought for $2 at the op-shop.
The sheet is beautifully soft, perfect for a little one.
I finished the hem with some lace.
The neckline and arm holes are finished with purchased Bias, another vintage find from an op-shop.

I only did 6 pintucks.
Michael has been raiding my sewing cabinet and I couldn't find my smaller twin needle

I used snaps in the back.
I have a snap press from Snaps Australia.
I was just looking over on Nappies Covered and Jodie now has a hand held snap press!

I've made this for a very special little girl who is not far from making her appearance.
I'm so excited, I'm looking forward to newborn cuddles.

Michael's how to climb a table...

Step 1: Pull out chair and climb onto it.

Step two: Climb onto the table.

Step 3: Raid the fruit bowl and anything else that is semi-interesting.

Michael is pretty impressed with his new skill.
I'm not!
Nothing can be left on the table.
All knives need to put away as soon as they have been finished with.

You don't want to see him climb the bunk beds?
He can do it!
It feels like no one but me knows how to close a door around here.
Michael loves being outside so any door left open is exited at speed.
Michael can now climb up the slide and onto the trampoline all by himself!

The nappy he's wearing is a Nappies Covered Chloe Toes.
Both Pete's and my all time favorites.
I was very lucky to have Jodie make a few customs for Michael.
The only problem is that they fit for too long so I haven't needed to buy any bigger ones yet! Michael is still in the smalls and mediums

Blog search

Have you tried the Google blog search engine?

I managed to loose a couple of hours playing in it this afternoon.
I found a few tutorials to explore.

Birthday Bunting - sewing

Three little fairies - craft with wooden shape

Post it notes cover - scrapbooking

Take along placemat - sewing

Toddler smock - pdf download sewing ( this looks fabulous!)

More baby shoes - pdf pattern and very very cute - sewing

Dishtowel bib - a nice big bib for the grot!

Baby food jar pincushion - this is fantastic I need one

Pintuck Baby dress - This is sooo cute ..I'm going to make one for my DF new baby

Crayon Apron

Baby legs - from socks very cute

Another baby bib

Pillowcase dress

Simple baby dress

Bag tutorial

Big bag tutorial

Big Sister bag

Shoe Bag

Fat quarter bag

Everything pocketbag

Boxy bag - this one is fabulous!

Now don't blame me if you get lost in the net for a few hours