Shop update

I've been very busy this week making and crafting for Christmas, but just a quick post tonight to let you know that I have a small bunch of new bibs in shop for those interested.  Great for baby showers/new baby gifts and special little people.  The latest batch I've made with some gorgeous Maze and Vale prints. 

If you'd like one you can find them here.

My creative space.

New bibs for the shop in some lovely handprints.

Broken wings for repair.

Random christmas stuff from yesterday's decorating efforts.

One of my favourite doilies awaiting some more clay ornament impressions.

And I'm off to get some more Fimo today... ;)

Joining in with lots of other creative spaces here.

Sammy.

Clothtopus complete and off to his new home shortly.  This is such a delightful pattern from Fiona's book (love!) and a great scrap buster.

I used a range of handprinted fabrics, quilting cottons and linen (some Yardage Design, Publisher Textiles and Lotta in there).  Fun to sew, a little fiddly to close - I hope he holds up.

We wouldn't mind if he stayed really, but he has little arms waiting, so off he goes.

Kids Clothes Week Challenge :: Pillowcase dress

I just scraped in for day 7 of kcwc with this quick and easy 30 minute project.  The sewing is getting easier as the week progresses, have you noticed?   I'm getting lazier and more time poor ;)  Details below!

The pattern: Basic pillowcase dress (no pattern).  I just guessed the width and length.  Probably a touch too large for her at the moment, but this child seems to grow as fast as I can sew for her, so not too worried about that.  Pillowcase dress tutorials are everywhere online if you're not sure how to do it.

The fabric:  Thrifted pillowcase - $1.  Not real happy with the fabric now that I've made it.  It's got some polyester in it so not as natural and comfortable as I would have liked.  I broke my rule about always using natural fabrics, and definitely regretted it.   It also seems a little see-through so it might just be a dress for playing in at home.  I might need to add some lining at some point (if I can be bothered!).  Cute print though, yes?

The sewing:  Nothing to it.  30 mins from start to photograph. Yay! 

Well I think that's it for kcwc for me this time round.  I've run out of puff and days, but perhaps I'll be better organised next time and might plan ahead a little more.  Did you sew along too?  I hope you enjoyed it, I certainly did.

[She loves a silly photo this one]

Kids Clothes Week Challenge :: shirt dress

Well I got something else done.  Very pleasing given we've been on 'Operation sleep through the night' with V for the last week.  Read tired.  Very tired.

But here's my very first refashion. Mens knit t-shirt to kid dress.

The pattern:  Flashback skinny tee by Rae Hoekstra (nice!) but increased in length of course for the dress.  I highly recommend measuring your child and adjusting the pattern as instructed by Rae.  It was worth the extra 30 mins it took me to work it out.

The fabric:  Thrifted Men's tee  - $2.

The sewing:  Easy peasy!  Super Quick.  No hemming or binding.  Fantastic.  Only I think my rosette is wonky and bulky so I think I need to take a few lessons from Ros.  I hope it makes it through a wash.

And she loves it.  Bonus.

More KCWC inspiration right here (seriously fantastic).

Kids Clothes Week Challenge: Tiered Skirt.

I did it.  I got an item of clothing completed for Kids Clothes week!!  Hurrah!  It's only day 4 so I'm a bit slow but still some time to have a crack at something else too.  Details are below (I'm using Meg's summary idea)

The pattern:  Tiered skirt from Happy Homemade Kids Volume 2 (Oh how I love that this book is available in English now! Available in these online stores for those interested)

The fabric:  Some of my leftover Sea Island Cotton Lawn (from the Tova fail) that I picked up on sale for very cheap.

The sewing:  I've come to the realisation that I'm really not a fan of sewing gathers.  I don't like fiddle - pin - fiddle - pin - repeat.  But all in all it came together for a nice floaty twirly skirt.  Didn't take too long. Super quick to cut out.

My creative space.

There's a lot going on in my creative space today.  I'm still trying to squeeze in some time to finish this quilt top, I'm trying to make some more lace pouches for the shop, I have a Wiksten Tova on the go, and I have two skeins of this gorgeous Madeline Tosh Merino DK sitting in my yarn box while I'm trying to decide what to make with it.  In short, a lot of stuff in my head and on the table.

The colour of this yarn is so beautiful.  I'm thinking something warm for my neck this winter....any suggestions welcome!

More lovely creative spaces here.

Puzzle Ball.

This poor little fella's been sitting in my unfinished project box for about 2 years now, and it's about time I finished him.  I finally got the chance (and inclination) to complete what I should have 2 years ago - he was originally intended to be a last minute gift, but time got away from me and I had to leave him be until now.  I actually forgot about it and in the end it was only a couple of night's work and he was completed.

Perfect?  Absolutely not.  Actually extremely crooked, but fun to make and a clever, pretty and very forgiving pattern from Joelle Hoverson's lovely book.

Now my littlest girl doesn't have to miss out on some handmade fun.  Those grabby little hands have already started (where has 4 months gone?).

Shop now open

And off we go again on the weekly merry-go-round.  Can you believe how fast the weeks are rolling by this year? I hope all you Mamas had a lovely day yesterday (or today if you're still celebrating) -  I spent the day with my 3 lovelies, just relaxing and chilling out, which was exactly what I needed. 

But Monday has arrived here and I've finally got my act together post baby and I've opened up my shop again, including new listings of smaller bibs in some different fabrics (the print below is a personal favourite).   These smaller items are more suited to little ones 0-6 months of age.  They're super absorbant and fit with complete coverage around the neck.

I still have several larger bibs, for 6 months to toddler in stock, along with some coin purses, clutches and brooches.

I'd love to know what you think :)

More new items coming soon.

Back to it.

It's been a long time since a little bit of hooking around here.  Thanks to morning sickness kicking in 12 months ago, I packed the crochet away and couldn't look at it until now.  I'm sure many of you know what that's like - there are still so many things I can't look at or enjoy related to that time...the theme song from Fireman Sam just makes me want to throw up - ABC kids saved the day but it was on every morning at 630...Shudder.

Finally, I've got the bug to pick it up again, and I'm starting on a nice easy project to refresh my skills. I'm pretty new to crochet anyway so this is all good practise!  And I'm taking the punt by using the good yarn instead of the dodgy on the first project.  Some lovely squishy soft Malabrigo Worsted in a very girly shade of pink.  Yes, I'm giving her what she really wants.  :)

Pink Pincushion

Life has been rough here the last couple of weeks.  All members of my little family have fallen ill, with husband developing early Pneumonia, toddler with asthma, and finally 8 week old to get sick with a horrid respiratory bug.   Not nice.  Therefore not much chance to jump on the machine, but I did squeeze in this pretty pink pincushion for my lovely sister who is learning to sew.  You can't go past a bit of liberty, solid pink, natural linen and a vintage button for a cute gift.

Tutorial from here if you'd like to make one too. 

Last minute Christmas Gift Sack

I've been meaning to make Ellie a stocking or sack to lay out on Christmas Eve for a few years, and I finally had the chance on Monday.  While I wanted to buy some new bright prints for the sack, I really needed to be a good girl and continue to destash my fabrics, so instead I used some more linen, and a mix of vintage, solid, liberty and Anna Maria Horner Prints.

Hopefully it will last her a few years to come. I tried not to make it too young, and something she could grow into as well.

Lined with some thrifted brushed cotton, the sack has a drawstring closing with a vintage Grosgrain ribbon all from the stash.  It's quite thick and heavy with the linen and lining, and hopefully sturdy enough to hold several gifts.  I'm looking forward to seeing it get some use!  Only 2 sleeps to go.

Have a lovely Christmas and New Year everyone.  I'm off for a while - to seek some much needed R&R...and then there's that childbirth and newborn bit coming in only a few more weeks!  Yikes.  

Hope you have a wonderful celebration with family and friends and I'll see you sometime in the New Year when we're home and settled.

G x

Christmas Table

Yep, one Christmas dinner is done and dusted in our house.  We celebrated Christmas a little earlier than normal this year on my husband's side seeing as I won't be able to fly next weekend. This year I went for simplicity on the Christmas table settings.  I used red, silver and white, and also some New South Wales Christmas bush, a pretty Australian Native that grows in my part of the world in the festive season.  It's one of my favourite parts of an Aussie Christmas.

I added some place cards using chalkboard paint onto some shipping labels, which I also used in gift  wrapping.

It's been a big week for our family for many reasons, with another big one to come, so I'm looking forward to resting up after Christmas for a few short weeks before I'm back into the swing of life with a newborn.  At least the Christmas shopping is complete.

Have a lovely pre-christmas week!

x

Happily hooking

Happily hooking up a storm this week.  I'm getting faster, closer to the finish and enjoying every bit.  I can't seem to stop,  and now I have five whole days of the Easter long weekend to push ahead and hopefully conquer my first real project with the hook.

Enjoy what I hope is your last day of normal before a nice long weekend ahead!

Innocent Crush Quilt

I did it.  I made it to the end of another one, this time so much better than the first.

A nice large lap quilt for the living room, to curl up in during the upcoming cold. 

My own design of a simple split (or disappearing) nine patch.  Made with one Innocent Crush fat quarter bundle and a little extra blue & mauve for fill in and binding. The back is Eggplant and Blue from the Adelaide Collection by Michele Hill (In The Beginning Fabrics).  Organic line quilted with thanks to my inspiration and also this tutorial.

Even though it's a lot brighter with more colour than I would usually feel comfortable with, I do love the result, and I'm feeling very satisfied right now. There will be more quilting around here for sure. 

This quilt is dedicated to the memory of my Nanna who left us in January.  She was a fabulous quilter, loved bright warm colours and made for me (with my Grandad) my very first quilt.

It's off to the wash for extra crinkle once I get some decent sunshine.  Have fun browsing todays creative spaces!

My creative space.

Ironing some Innocent Crush fat quarters by the sea this week while we have a family break away. 

Next step:  cutting fat quarters after a quick swim.

 I could really get used to this.

Far more productive spaces here.

Mr J.A.

This little pram blanket was made this week for another new baby in my life.  Lovely Michael Miller Zoology Print one side and cozy bamboo fleece on the other (so soft!!). 

I added his initials as well, just to finish it off and personalise it.  To say I'm excited about this little man's arrival is an understatement.

Have a lovely weekend folks.

x

My creative space.

Loving this print by Liz Scott in the Sugar Pop Range for Moda.  It looks fantastic with linen.  Better in real life than in the photo.

I picked up this fabric for some custom order bibs last week, and it's perfect unisex, so I might just put a few in shop too.

Hope your creative space is going great.  Make sure you show us and join in!

Baby needs a new dress fast.

"Baby" as she is affectionately known needed a new dress fast.  Her clothes were missing and "needed" in a hurry.

Seeing as I'm not a fan of her original attire, baby got a new dress quick smart, like in 10 minutes flat so that we could continue with our role play activities.  Perhaps it took 15 minutes in between prying pins and grabbing scissors out of 2 year old hands.  Another good use for that fabric.

Have a lovely weekend. 

My creative space.

Enjoying the process of making several custom iPhone pouches and bib orders this week.  

Not much else to say really, but I've been busy and a bit tired.  You know that kind of parental tiredness from packing too much in, back to back toddler head colds, multiple night wakings, ear infections, fighting viruses off yourself and normal life stuff.  

Of course, a little bit of liberty and linen makes everything better and we're doing OK, looking forward to our weekend.

I've enjoyed browsing this week's creative spaces, have you?