Baskets

I hope you are all enjoying the Easter break, and the lead up to the school holidays. I've been mooching around and getting some stuff done, and heading back to work tomorrow. 

I've managed to get a few things finished, or nearly finished anyway! The zip! In The Dress! I ummed and ahhed for a good while, and finally plucked up the courage- and it was easy! I 'hand picked' the zip, basically a term for hand sewing it in- I used a tutorial from here.

I combined tacking and pins to hold it in place, and then marked the spaces in lead pencil (a bit anal, but that's OK).

I love it! Just a quick peek before it's pressed, which I believe helps it sit flatter. It's been a real challenge using such a different fabric from my norm, I'm learning a lot. Now to tackle the hem.... Luckily, I have nowhere to wear this yet, so there is no hurry, therefore no 'rushed job' to get it done!

 I finished off a few 'orders' for my sister- she cam over for a 'shop in the stash' for these ones! I wanted to try this pattern, and she thought they'd be pretty handy for the bubba....

 I love this fabric, a real fave, lucky I have a ton left over.

I used a combination of medium-heavy interfacing and fusible wadding to get the firmness; empty they are a little soft, but I'm sure they'll be fine full. It's really hard to get a good idea of the size, so here's my rotary cutter to help heehee.

 This has some soft shirting sort of fabric for the lining, and some leftover Lisette fabric for the handles and divider. 

And some more of this fabric, a fave with both of us! Looks great team with grey.

I made these ones a bit earlier, and if you can't tell, my sister likes grey! This was pattern from here, again really hard to tell the size- I think for both of these I needed to invest in a packet of disposable nappies! (or check my measurements, another way I guess). I'm not really happy with this size- they are meant to be big toy baskets for the living room. I made them a bit taller by omitting the fold over cuff and sewing it flat.

 I got to use some yummy fabrics though, Ink and Spindle, this one is Blockprint in Persimmon.

And Linear in Saffron. I even had some old Hollabee (I think) that went well with it. Both should help the baskets stand up to years of play from Master Henry!

This is the little man on a grumpy day! We had some very serious (and not so serious) chats!

Xmas sewing

So it wasn't a big frenzy of sewing this year, I had a few little things to make, and could easily do them over the Xmas break. The things for me, of course, have all had to wait though :(

I had a Kris Kringle (or Secret Santa) gift to make for my work Xmas party- which I left at home on the night, so my boss ended up getting it, she being the one who handed them all out and got the last one! I based it on this tutorial- really fun and a great scrap buster! Suffice to say my boss was pretty happy with it! (phew!)

 I wanted to make my sister something, and ended up making 2 of them so she could pick the fabric she wanted! I bought this pattern when they had a sale recently, a pdf download, and used my new fave spray glue with it (told you I was obsessed!) The yellow leather wasn't the best choice, a bit too stiff, but the soft blue one was lovely.

 I'll try and get a pic of the back one that she chose next time I see her!

Oh, Henry got some Christmas pants to wear on Christmas Day- they are a 0-3mth size and fit him perfectly in the leg at 2weeks of age! Uh-oh....

This was what "Santa" brought me for Xmas...

Now to stop making things for everyone else and spend some time on me...maybe.

Oh, a sneak peek at Henry's mobile I put together on Boxing Day! I think there will be much better pics when it's up and against the white wall (nudge nudge to the B.I.L to hang it!)

I'll do a 'proper' post then (I've been 'Gramming it a bit, I'm 'becsibbi' over there if you want to find me).

Blogtoberfest Day 22

I just realised I hadn't shown an op shop[ score for a while. I don't get as much time to go anymore, and have to literally drive past one at the same time as having some spare change....which is rare!

I got lucky on a last minute decision to stop and go in- my girl's favourite series of books at the moment, which they have in classroom library as well, $1 each but an extra picture book- so a set of 8 books for the less than the price of 1! To say she was thrilled is an understatement!

I also stocked up on some zips for $4

 And was a bit excited to see this one. I have made a bag around a red stripey zip before, and can see where this one is heading!

Overacheiver.....

So, as I finished the sew a long dress a bit too quickly, I decided to make a bag. I found the mustardy yellow fabric in the remnant bin- yep, the roll sold that quick at my Spotlight that they had a remnant leftover! A bit cheaper too, $10 for 1.3m.

I paired it up with this pattern; the 2nd pattern of Nikki's I bought, and that I got at the pattern launch- gosh, I felt like I met someone famous that day! Well, I kinda did- my kind of famous, anyway!

The first bag I made from this pattern was pretty terrible, no photos remain and I 

don't think it was ever blogged!

It's a bit fiddly, lots of steps, but worth it in the end....

Ta-da!!

 (I wasn't feeling in a modelling mood, and the kid is having pj day as she's sick- so 

Fem Bot stood in for us. Thanks, darl!)

I usually wear mine on this side; I purposely put the adjuster at the back to there is less bulk at the front. Smart like that I am teehee

a zippered gusset;

the lining was a quilting cotton I picked up in Spotty in the sales- reminds me I love me!

And am worth a new bag whenever I feel like it!

And I challenged myself to another zip, this time a pocket. I don't have a fear of zips- just am generally pretty lazy, and prefer not to if I can get away with it. Luckily, Nikki's patterns have such good instructions they take no time at all!

This will sure brighten up the wintry days to come!

Now to go and sort the washing- it can only ever be put off!

Oppy goodness

I don't think I've posted any oppy goodness for a while, I try and do it on Sundays to join in Flea Market Finds, but I forget what I've gotten by then, so I don't do it!

Today's haul was a goodun'; 2 oppy's on my lunch break gave me a pretty good haul.

The Tupperware container was $4, perfect for taking my milk to work with my plunger and coffee in a bag; Smiggle pencil case for $2 (I'm the kids hero now); new wallet; vintage tablecloth; massive bag of zips for $5 and not in the pic is a bag of patchwork fabrics for $5; and a retro Dymo labeller for....$0.99!

Lovely!

Been a bit caught up.

Washing a pooch, only to give him a bone just as it gets wet;

teaching myself the 'new trick' of a chevron friendship bracelet for my girl;

Cutting piles of little 4 inch squares to make a scrappy quilt;

a custom order for a friend;

 and some funky zips from the oppy, to base a bag around.

Yep, been a bit caught up.

Things (like a walk in the park)....

Zips. Ridiculous. I have more zips than I will ever use in a lifetime. All thrifted or free. So I can't say no. Or be accused of spending my money on crap.

Xmas- here are the prep teachers thank you pressies, heaps of fun to make. 5 purses to go....

Another helpful Xmas elf gave me a discount voucher, so this yummy fabric can be made into cool accessories for little Miss, I think. Or me.

Love an op shop sale. BSL at Brunswick had this set of 4 for $10, reduced by 30%- yay! Cleaned up beautifully and under the tree for me!


Boo hoo. My fantastic Clover unpick (they really ARE the best) broke. And painfully hard to find in the shops, back to here for another one.

Now: Off to sew and Listen to this. Mmm, Finn. Happy happy joy joy.

Edit: Normal use of unpick, just the usual bit of seam and SNAP!