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.......

Birthday Sewing

I have been busy sewing a birthday gift for my 2 year old niece Kayla- I decided to go with a cooking theme and make up a reversible apron and bandanna and led into a pot holder and mitten and to top it off a table setting for 4 - placemats, coasters and napkin sets. I am very please with the resultThe colours came together using the pink floral print (a fat quarter I had in my stash) I decided not to add a pocket to the floral side as it made it too busy. I quilted the blue spot to make the pot holder and mit. And needed to add some pink spot to make enough pink floral to make the bandanna. All the fabric came from my stash but I will definately be going out to replace my spots.

The table cloth has purple spots and will tie into a second apron and chefs hat for my other niece Sophie (Kayla's sister) who's favourite colour is of course purple and who's birthday is next month.

I hope they will both be cooking up a storm in thier new kitchen ware.

Weekend Sewing

Just because - I have had this fabric in my stash for quite some time now with plans to make an outfit for Miss M so I made some adaptions to a pattern I already own, added ruffles, raided her t-shirt draw and appliqued 2 already worn t-shirts for 2 new outfits.I really love long cotton pants on Miranda for Summer her skin is fair and our sun has a sting so these pants provide coverage without being heavy and hot.

Christmas Giving

This month my sewing machine has been busy sewing children's Christmas gifts.

I was able to sew up 5 gifts to put under a local charity group Christmas Tree who will pass them on to other in need.

I really enjoyed making gifts without the expectation of receiving a gift in return.

So here is the list of my Christmas Cheer.

Package 1 & 2 for 3-4 year olds.

Handmade notebook/pencil rolls - in fairies print to celebrate the new Tinkerbell movie, Basement Bargain Bindi dress and a Pamela Allen Picture book.

Package 3 for 8 - 12 year old

Note book/pencil roll complete with watercolour pencils, brush, fine art line pen and sketch book (inspired by my 9yr olds sketching set)

Package 4 for 2 - 4 year old

Doll Quilt, pillow & case and doll. Doll was made using Black Apple Doll Template on Martha Stewart Website and quilt inspired by Crazymomquilts.blogspot - my own dimensions.

Package 5 for 2-4 year old

Doll quilt, pillow & case and doll - the doll a pattern in Australian Handmade quilt was made using left over squares and my need to finally try to make a quilt using more than squares. I really loved this quilt and found it hard to part with but I can always make another.

Colonial Style Dress

I don't often sew for Bronte my older daughter but when she reminded me (with 2 days to spare) she needed to go to school dressed in English Colonial Style clothing (Australian History Lessons), the machine was out and boxes scavenged through.

A simple tired peasant skirt and top with apron and bonnet in plain blue and some cream. The cream band on the bottom of the top was used to lengthen the top as it was a little short.

I was rather stuck on the bonnet but with a little adaption Hoppo Bumpo's Shower Cap Tutorial
fit perfectly with the theme.without the bonnet and apron it has turned into a pretty spring outfit.

Summer Sewing

Pack or Sew?
Sew of course.

Heat exploded through Sydney for the second weekend, sweaty kids needed something cool to wear with a little sun protection - so what better reason than to make a few dresses to run around in.

2 Peasant dresses - 2 different looks.

Apron Peasant Dress

I am thinking the apron bit needs something (embroidery maybe?), and possibly a removable sash to pull it in.

The Cherry Dress

We have this book at home but it was not until I finished making the dress that I found the book after not reading it in quite a while and noticed the resemblance - I just hope my craftsmanship is as good as in the books and it can be passed on for many years to come.

Since making the dresses the temperature has dropped again and dress wearing will have to wait - maybe on the weekend?

Note to my mum - I was able to send on one large bag and a box full of soft/other toys to the charity bin so we have almost de-cluttered the house now - and just think I have a few less metres of unused fabric (these were from my pile)

I think I lost my Mojo!

And I am thinking the GYM has it hidden somewhere???? HUMPH!

I signed up for a 1 year membership yesterday so I am hoping it will not be hidden for another year.

I have managed to do some sewing and creative work and here is my weekend WIP a Birthday Doll Quilt for my soon to be little 3 year old - where has the time gone?

This quilt was reproduced after creating the quilt in this post for my niece's 3rd Birthday.

The colours were inspired by the vintage sheet used in the pieced backing, each centre square and binding - originally going to be used as sashing but looked too messy - The white sashing worked well and made for a great work space for some stitching - little dolls with dresses in blue, purple, green & pink to match the quilt colours - orange hair and blue eyes for my little red head.

Cats in Paris

I have been busy sewing over the last few weeks and have a number of projects which are in need of some photo shoots (I need some photography lessons) and postings. Here are 2 completed outfits ready for wear by the long and short - using the Ruffled Skirts Tutorial generously posted by Grand Revival Design Bronte has a new and very original outfit to wear to her Australian Girls Choir Winter showcase next week and Miranda will be wearing hers to her cousins 3rd Birthday tomorrow.The Skirts were very simple to make - I made a few adjustments/additions (just need to remember when sewing 2 different sizes to keep them apart - my unpicker was used to tear apart 1 roll of cotton as top 1 got sewn to top 2 as it was mistaken for ruffle 1). I love the way the appliqued tops turned out using the fabric picture and my own Eiffel Tower Silhouette.

Blog Hibernation

Hiding away where nobody sees.....

OK well I have been here, reading not writing.

If you haven't read, I joined the gym 3 weeks ago now and have managed to get there 4 times each week, and whilst I am able to drag myself there I am finding the rest of the day is spent racing around catching up on the 2 hours lost walking on the spot.

SO my days goes something like Wake, eat, dress x3, race Bronte to school, race to the gym, drop Miranda at Creche do about 1 1/2 hours exercise, drive 15mins to Miranda's activity, feed her the remaining lunch, maybe race around the shop, cook dinner, pick up Bronte/wait till she gets home, feed the kids, race to drop Bronte to her activities and then come home and do the night thing with Miranda, get Bronte settled when she gets in and the sit down.

On the sewing front I have finished a few projects.

1st Summer Sassy Apron Swap

I really love how this apron has turned out so here is the finished product heading off over the oceans far away.

2nd Birthday Gifts

My niece is turning 3 in a few weeks and she loves dolls but has way too many so here are some doll accessories I have made

A wonky log cabin doll quilt, matching pillow, some fitted cloth nappies and I plan to make a sleeping bag as both her and her sister sleep in these.

The pillow is my favourite - I quilted each log and it really stands out.

A tackle on Procrastination

Yeah! I have completed 2 sewing projects which have been awaiting my attention.
Both from amy karol - Bend the Rules Sewing

1st - This sweet little jacket made for Miranda - the fabric was bought in winter/spring last year with this project in mind and now complete. I do not have a printer and hesitant to send yet another printing project to my husband so I did some of my own bending of rules and with a little measuring, guessing and drawing got this a perfect match to these sweet little pants made for winter 07 I have to say that both these patterns were super super easy even for the basic sewer and the pants are what got me started in sewing more. Miranda has quite a few of these pants in her wardrobe.

2nd - A quilt using Amy Butler prints in my favourite colour just for me. I made one for my mum for Christmas in the same fabrics but made sure I had enough to make me one too - Ok I am not quite finished I am 1/2 way through hand stitching the binding in place - I need lessons in whip stitch - no matter how many books I read I just can not work it out - but my stitch is working Ok.