Lilly's Garden

My sewing machine has been out of action for the past year but it has fired up it's engines (a little rusty mind you) and has been going great guns for the last few months....with Christmas fast approaching I thought I would handcraft a few gifts to save a little money but give personalised gifts of better value than can be purchased.....

My favourite so far is this little quilt using the pillow tutorial from Don't look now! with a few altercations......firstly I have made it into a wall hanging, something to brighten up a little girls room and secondly I had to hand embroider the flowers as I was not too comfortable using the darning foot and on attempt was not at all happy with the result (Must go and do some lessons).... I also added two white butterflies to blend into the background and an extended birds tail just because......

I tried to bury all the embroidery ends but it became cumbersome so in the end I just cut the close to the end...I also tossed up whether to cover up the back but did not think it would do it justice......it is finished and labeled and I think i like the back better than the front.......

Christmas Carols!

Bronte is getting ready to sing at St Mary's Cathedral Sydney for the Lights of Christmas on Saturday 12th December and then again at The QVB on Christmas Eve day especially for shoppers, to spread the christmas cheer. She has already mastered Silent Night in German.
I hope you are enjoying the festive season and being good to each other.

Small Gifts

I made these cute hand stitched teeny tiny pocket pillows using this tutorial from goody goody handmade.
The boy was a gift for a little boy I babysat and the 3 girls were for Miranda to take to her 1st sleep over with her friends who were looking after her while we were at The Opera House for Bronte's annual Choir concert.

I really love how they turned out and was able to personalise them with thier favourite colours and names.

Singing

Bronte has had a great year with Choir and was fortunate to have gained a place (through audition) into Canto an entry specialist level within the choir.

This is Bronte outside the Sydney Opera H0use after her Annual Concert

Singing at Randwick Races Tatersalls Day

Singing at Star City Sydney NSW Export Awards in Qantas uniform

Bronte will continue to sing with Chior next year and moves up a level in regular rehearsals and will stay in Canto, with more public performances to come.

Costume Bags

With the girls annual dance concert coming up and 7 costumes to protect I thought it would be fun to make up some costume bags. I used Japara fabric which is 100% cotton and I have just found out is waxed and repels water (fantastic). I really love the texture of Japara which is often used in pillows and quilts to prevent goose/duck down from excaping the weave. I also made my own bias to add a bit of difference.
I used a shop bought plastic garment bag to make my own design and added a shorter zipper to create a large pocket in which they can chuck thier costumes into after each dance to ensure each piece comes home and does not get left behind.

A large outside pocket to hold shoes or other bits and pieces.

Silhouette

I was keen on getting some art/pictures for my bedroom wall and was browsing one of those vinyl wall sticker stands but just could not make up my mind on what to get - I was close to getting a silhouette of a lady whose hair turned to flowers but something was just not quite right about it, after a few days of thought the lightbulb flicked and I made this, Miranda in silhouette much better than some thing random. My bed spread is black and beige and this vinyl was so easy to work with -If my pinning was more precise. Now all I need to complete the task is make one up of daughter number 1 and have them hung.

Facebook v's Blogging

Ok so how can their possibly be a comparison?
There can not be, but somehow that is where I have found myself over the last 15 months.

So much has happened over the last 15 months, We have moved house, and after 12 months I was finally able to unpack all of my sewing boxes, the kids are both 15 months older, with my baby off to big school next year.

And my big girl doing well in dance and choir - I just love her lines in this photo.

We have lost 1 cat and gained 2 (Violet and Rose),

we were the caretakers of 2 mice for about 9 months and are now the owners of 2 chickens (Chickpea and Lindsay).I guess I stopped sewing, crafting and blogging so much as well, but whilst so much has happened, so much has stayed the same.

I am back into my sewing, crafting and hopefully blogging - I hope to see you again more regularly.

Some recent projects

Sarah

xx