I see leopards....

There's a bit of sewing and non-sewing going on over here. I want to try and participate in 'Me Made May' this year, where I can wear 'handmade by me' for the month of May, so I'm trying at fill the gaps in my wardrobe! More on that later though, I'll show you what I've been doing for everyone else...

I gave the girl free choice of fabrics at Spotlight to make an outfit for her bestie's birthday party. (We'd actually bought a long sleeve denim dress from Target she'd had her eye on, but was too hot and uncomfortable!) This light top (not sure the fabric, but a pain to sew and heaps of thread pulls, grrrr!) suited the day much better! I used a pattern, but ended up taking it in and adjusting so much, I may as well have cut a rectangle with a whole for the head!

I made the leggings too, from a tried and true pattern. It's a ponte stretch (from Spotlight as well) and she adores them! They have the gathered elastic bit on the outer leg, gives em an extra bit of cute. Hmmm, something about this outfit makes me think in about 20yrs I'll hear 'How could you let me go out in THAT?? It's pretty out there!

We ended up buying a denim jacket, as the fussiness and umming and ahhing over styles, fabrics etc was doing my head in! Gone are the days when I can whip something up and she wears it regardless- I have a pile on non-worn handmade stuff to prove it! I made the leggings again, though, she's pretty mad on leopard print at the moment.

I also made some bags for a happy customer, she chose some great fabrics, definitely not my colour schemes, but a real pleasure to sew with. Another fave pattern by You Sew Girl (but unfortunately discontinued)

 A little extra pillow for her son...is that the cutest pillowcase you've seen? I joked that they would all have names within a day!

We had a lazy long weekend a few weeks ago, and we joined Cam for another basketball game- and another Tigers win! We're officially fans!

  

We had a great long day out, with dinner and a play at the park on the way home. The perfect weather made it easy to chill out!

I finally dug into my wee Liberty stash and ran up this pattern, which I'd printed forever ago and hadn't made up! I'd also been after a cute pincushion, similar to these.

 

I also cut up some scraps and made a bigger one, gosh, it is sooo cute! 

I've been carrying the bigger one around all week, despite not having a minute in the workday to do any knitting at the moment. It makes me smile!

Hope your last few weeks have been stitchy and smiley too!

Back soon to show you some clothes.

Blue....

Wow, where has this week gone?

Everything's blue around here lately- partly hanging on since Xmas, topped with reduced work available for a casual worker, therefore less money. Stress gets you so down you can hardly talk. Well, for me anyway. 

I had a break from Twitter, so I didn't drag everyone else down in my blue. No one noticed I was gone, which was both good and bad I guess! It did make me feel better, forgot about my own predicament for a while I guess!

Anyway, have been busy sewing to keep me busy, calm me down and not stress about things.

Some cutting....

piecing and sewing....

I helped a pal de-stash got a lovely little extra....if you haven't seen Leslie's amazing fabric, go now!!

The Little Miss got lucky too- Jodie had spoilt her, and given us her next sewing project! (And both parcels arrived on the same day, lucky coincidence!) (PS Jodie- she loved the Monty and Pearl card the most I think, I have one on the fridge and she was soooo happy to have her own. Simple pleasures, huh?)

I 'Libertied' my letters Santa bought me....

and have finalised my 'oilcloth swimming tote' pattern. 

These will be for sale soon!

 so, yep, lots of blue, but still some good things to carry me through. Always a work in progress.....

blogtoberfest day 12

I have a crazy friend....

who knows if anyone wants Liberty fridge magnets, it would be me!

Now the kitchen is prettier, does that mean I have to spend more time in it?

Blogtoberfest'11 Day 1

Phew, made it in on day 1 in the nick of time!

I have been trying for most of the day to post, but the computer has been playing silly buggers. As my camera has broken (again) as well, this isn't a good start to the month of blogging, but I'm forgetting all those troubles and jumping right in!

Luckily I have some shots from last week of stuff I've made....

First up are bathers for the little girl. I'm a bit tired of hunting and hunting for appropriate ones, and trying to buy then out of season is a pain; in season is expensive! Rathdowne Remnants has such cheap prices (and precut pieces so you don't even have to stand in line to get your fabric cut- sweet!). I walked out of there with a metre of each colour for $12.75 TOTAL. Add in a $5 pattern up to size 14.....

I cut the rashie vest off her old one, and left the neck nice and loose (a pet hate of hers). The tankini below if just the cutest!

 Last week I also headed up on my rare day off to Ballan, and this place of beauty. Seriously an awesome day, hanging out with 2 very funny ladies, an awesome lunch and a bit of Liberty thrown in for good measure. Cup of tea anyone?

I finished another wrap skirt (unfortunately worn, washed and not ironed before this pic) from this day out

and a new summer shoes obsession has begun. Damn you, factory outlets! Bring on summer!

See over here if you want to join in the madness fun; there's giveaway's too, and definitely will be one here on this blog. But will it be announced, or a surprise one? We'll have to comment wait and see!

I used it!

I got this tool the other day on my trip to Amitie, hoping it would kick start me into

making Dresden Plates.

It sure did! Well, that and the gorgeous Liberty sample pack I bought. It's good value, I used a small bit for this cushion, and have heaps left for other projects. Like more cushions, I guess.

The middle piece is a scrap I received, Cindy blogged about it, it fit perfectly with

the rest of the Liberty's.

I need a new cushion insert to puff it up, but I love it, and as it's for me, that's

all that matters!

I've signed up here for a swap; have you?

My haul

I got some lovely sewing things yesterday, spoiling myself and my girl.

I finally added this book to my collection (quite new, but I wanted it since I first read about it!)

I also picked up my Sherbert Pips fat quarter bundle from my buddy, ahh, it's gorgeous!

I stopped in at Amitie, where it was busy busy busy, but lots of people to chat to while we waited.

I picked up the last few months for the BOM i'm supposed to be doing.

This gorgeous Liberty pack, and bonus fat 1/8th wasn't being left behind!

The sales rack was good to me....

and a little tool to push me into some new patchwork. I hope!

blogtoberfest day 9

After such a big event yesterday that occurred in my study, the fun continued last night at Perle 8's, a wee craft group at Amitie. A dangerous combination, I tell ya!I was surrounded bu goodness- good people, good chat, good fabric.....

I finally learnt 'knot hiding' from the quilter extraordinaire

finally met up with this girl and admired Caleb's quilt

checked out the knitting girls

and enjoyed the company of many.

I have started the hand quilting on Jai's quilt, and love the results

And of course helped out my overstocked house with more goodies- a great read, my first Liberty fabrics (eek!) and Perle 8 thread- handpicked my celebrity colour picker Fi.

Tomorrow sees me again at the Yarraville market- for the next few months it will be run over 2 days! Yep, 2 days of handmade goodness. I'll be under a Deadwood quilt hand quilting haha. Come and say hi!