I was told to get a hobby!

Harry

2012-02-07T14:19:00.000+11:00

I realised on my holiday last week, that my baby has grown up into a little boy. How did that happen?

Moving On

2012-02-06T11:32:00.000+11:00

Saturday was a sad day.

I am packing up my sewing room :-(

So far I have 7 plastic tubs that are stuffed full of fabric. I need more. I have not even begun to pack up anything that is on my desk.

On February 20th we will have lived in our current house for 3 years. It is not a record for us, our longest is 3 years and 5 months, but it is pretty close. The last time I moved, I said that I was not going to do it again. It was too much hassle and in the 8 years that we have been living back in Australia we have accumulated far to much stuff. When we first moved back to Aus, we moved 3 times in 15 months. Just the thought of that now makes me feel ill.

So we have decided to move again. When I started to pack up my sewing room so that we can get ready to put the house up for sale, it hit me. Moving it is just like childbirth. You forget the pain once it is over. It is not until you are close to doing it again that all the memories come flooding back and you realise what you are in for.

As I look around at my sewing room, I know that I am in for a shock. Can I afford all the plastic tubs needed to store all of my stuff???

So that is the reason for my quiet state. We have been working hard to get the house finished.

The old deck was torn down a couple of weeks ago and the new one was finished last week

I love it. We have put up with the old one for so long and now looking at it, I wonder why we did. It is currently pristine. I better remember what it looks like clean, once the dogs return from their vacation with Grandma it wont stay like this.

We have also been paving

Luckily after quite a bit of rain, the weather seems to have cleared. Hopefully it will be finished soon.

We are aiming to have the house on the market at the end of the month. I know there will be a lot of work in the next month, including removing many grubby child marks off the walls. However, I keep thinking of the end prize.

Fashion!

2012-01-09T13:38:00.000+11:00

Ella has reached the stage that she likes to 'style' herself. Some of her choices are good, some of them are very bad.

One of her recent choices.

It was a hot day, she wanted to go and play in the backyard. She couldn't find her sun hat, so this was close enough.

I dont think Harry was that impressed.

Maybe you can make them to sell.....

2012-01-05T12:36:00.000+11:00

Apparently Mat's dream has always been to have a TV outside. I have never heard of this dream, but I am happy to go with the flow most of the time- even though I thought this one was a bit far fetched. How many people have outdoor TV's?

In November he saw that JB Hifi had a special on LCD TV's. They were nice and cheap and you wouldn't have to worry about it being outside. So as his early Christmas present, he bought it - to add to our TV collection which now stands at 6.

It is back deck and even though I don't want to admit it too much, it has been quite a good edition to the house.

The reason for this purchase - so we could watch play music DVD's when we are outside. The Adele Live at Albert Hall DVD that I got for my birthday has been played quite a few times.

What does every outdoor TV need - a cover. Mat has been asking me to make one since he got it. I hate mending and I hate boring sewing jobs. It seems with sewing if I have to make it, I procrastinate.

When I got around to it, it only took about 45 mins to make - I just winged the pattern and I am pretty happy with how it turned out. Mat likes it, he now wants me to make a cover for the pool table to match.

Mats suggestion "you can make these and sell them - you can't get covers for TV's"

Thanks for that, I think I will pass.

Measure Twice, Cut Once

2012-01-03T18:48:00.000+11:00

Firstly Merry Christmas and Happy 2012 to everyone. The last few weeks of 2011 really got away from me and I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I can't believe that it is over 3 weeks since I blogged. I am back into it for 2012 and have a few projects under my belt.

Measuring, I think that is my downfall. When I made the Grainline Tiny Tank I measured my bust and made the top - remembering that measurement, for the Easy Kimono Dress, I picked the corresponding size (XXS) and I made up a muslin.

Thank goodness I made a muslin. It is like a wetsuit. The fabric is viole that I got from fabric.com that was $1.00 a yard and is totally see through (love the black undies that show up in the photo) Plus do you notice the grey hair - slight dye accident on NYE that turned my blonde hair to purple and then grey. Lovely - need to get that one fixed pretty soon.

I have since measured and I have realised that I may have XXS boobs (thanks to breastfeeding two children and having the life sucked out of them) but I do not have XXS hips - actually if I go by hip measurement I am Small to a Medium.

Rather than starting again today - the shock of seeing this photo was bad enough - I decided to cut out something else

My first ever piece of liberty - the most expensive piece of fabric I have bought to date - just slightly nervous before cutting this, Luckily it is for Ella and I dont have fitting issues with the clothes that I make for her.

Birthdays

2011-12-09T13:35:00.000+11:00

December to everyone is manic enough. I am tired and really hanging out for the 21st December when I finish work until 16th January. For us, December not only means Christmas, it means birthdays. We have too many birthdays.

Ella's is on the 3rd, then one of our close friends 6th, nephew 9th, step father in law 10th and then to finish mine is on the 12th. I can't concentrate on anything Christmassy until all these are out of the way.

Last week was going to be hectic. I had a normal working week (which is long) Ella had swimming lessons, Harry had ANOTHER ENT appointment and there were cakes to make (one for her party and one for daycare), presents to buy and a house to scrub to get ready for her party. Add a smashed iPhone into the picture and you get a mummy that is ready for a meltdown (or a stiff drink)

How many times have you dropped your iPhone. Too many times to count. This time it was in my back pocket and I bent over. It fell out and smashed. I dropped it the following day - and the screen fell out, so now it is covered in sticky tape. Luckily my boss (with a little hinting from my mother-in-law and his wife) offered me one of the work iPhones as a replacement. At least I have cooled down about that one.

Usually I go totally overboard with my kids cakes. We had this for Ella's first birthday

her cake last year

and lastly, Harry's first birthday cake

I promised Mat, I wouldn't go overboard this year. I didn't have the time (or energy) to make a fondant cake (even though I have many pinned) I would make a simple rainbow cake - how hard could it be......

Let me tell you, it was a pain in the butt. I will take a three tiered fondant cake any day of the week!!! This cake took too many ingredients and there was way too many swear words. Just to give you an idea of the ingredients - 4 cups of white sugar, 600gms of butter, 500gms cream cheese, 1.5kgs of icing sugar. Definitely not a cake to eat when you were on a diet. My main problem with the cake - on the outside it is not pretty!!!

OK - it is past not being pretty - it is UGLY. I was so concerned about actually bringing it out of the fridge (it had to be in there for its safety as it would have toppled over - this bugger was heavy) I went down the local shops and bought a cheap icecream cake as a backup.

I don't know if Ella was shocked or excited when I brought the cake out. I will go with excited.

Everyone commented that it was a bit below my standards until we cut it, then they forgave its appearance.

So it does look pretty good inside. Another problem with it - too sickly. I love cake, I mean I love it, I love everything sweet, but this was too sweet and I never realised (until this cake) that there was such a thing.

The day after her birthday, I was exhausted. The kitchen was piled high with dishes, the last thing I wanted to make was ANOTHER cake. I had to. I had promised Ella that she would have cake for daycare. Another pinned cake that I had shown Ella before, that now I wished I had never shown her and just bought a cake.

He was not too bad to make. It was pretty quick. Made in a couple of hours before Mat and I went to see Elton John. He was a hit (the cake - Elton was pretty good too) at daycare and all the teachers were shocked I had made it.

So there you have it. My birthday is in 3 days and like every year, once I get Ella's out of the way, I can't be bothered to do anything for mine. I am still cleaning my house and finding random empty beer bottles. I think I need a nap.

I think Ella has the right idea!!!

Retro shorts

2011-11-27T08:30:00.000+11:00

When I saw these shorts back in April they screamed 'retro' to me. All they needed was some sweat bands and some long knee high socks and they would make the perfect outfit. Little did I know that they would make the perfect outfit for a 70-80's party.

I have already blogged about Harry's outfit, I have been meaning to post about Ella's - it was way too cute.

It started with the O+S Class Picnic Shorts. This pattern calls for woven fabric, but I had knit fabric in my mind from the beginning. I had not seen it done before with that pattern.

The first pair I made, size 12-18 months. Without the nappy, I think Ella's shorts size is going down, not up. They were a little too big - my idea, put them in the dryer and shrink them. Yes they shrunk a little bit, but the dye came out of the cheap spotlight fabric and ran. So time for a second pair, this time 6-12 months to get the look I was after.

This pattern worked really well in the knit, the only thing that I had to change were the front facings. I cut them out as per the pattern, but in order for them to fold over the front piece, I had to double fold them, so they are half the width of the original - which I like.

The fabric for the shorts - the stripe is from Spotlight. My machine usually does not like Spotlight knit fabric and chews it up, but with this it had no trouble at all. The red - that is Patty Young from last year. This is lovely soft knit and I wished I bought more of it.

I am really happy with these shorts - I can see more pairs in my future - too bad they dont go down to 3-6 months as I am sure Ella could get away with a smaller pair.

What do you think of Ella's costume - way too cute if you ask me. She loved the pigtails and has requested to have this hairstyle more often.

Swing when your winning

2011-11-25T10:21:00.000+11:00

My lack of posting has not been due to a lack of sewing. The last two weeks Mat has been on nights, so I have been sewing up a storm. My lack of posting is due to a nearly four year old giving me every excuse under the sun why she cannot try anything on that I have made.

Now, this is not due to her not liking or wanting anything that I have made, as I threatened not to make anything else for her and this was met with tantrums and floods of tears.

The top is another O+S, this one the Swingset Tunic. I finally bought this pattern a couple of weeks ago. I don't know why I resisted it for so long. It is too sweet. It is out of print now, but I was lucky enough to get a copy from Earthgirl Fabrics.

It is really easy to put together. I made the size 3T - it is a little big for Ella and should fit her next year. The only thing I had to do was shorten each strap by 2.5" or it would have been just slightly too revealing. Fabric is seersucker from Spotlight - $4.00 a metre and this top uses less than half a metre.

The shorts - they are the O+S Sailboat shorts. I have owned the pattern for a couple of years, but never made them. I will do another blog post on them, as they are way too cute and really easy to put together

Ella ordered only one photo to be taken in her outfit - I took about 20, but could only salvage one on her own and one with her friends.

What it is with these figurines. I don't know. Ella and Harry are obsessed with them. The only time they stay at the front door (where they are supposed to be) is when they are asleep!

Crossing over to the darkside

2011-11-23T13:35:00.000+11:00

I have never really understood the Liberty obsession. OK start flaming me now. It is seriously expensive fabric. Tt is expensive online, but in Australia it is even more so.

I have a serious fabric obsession, but even I thought it was too much to pay until.......

Source: ifshesleeps.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

What more can I say than 'oh my goodness! I now understand' I have since found the above fabric and have bought only 1/2 a metre (at $50 per metre) to make a replica of this top for Ella. Would I buy this fabric for myself - no, it is too expensive. Would I buy it for my nearly 4 year old - yes.

Why as mums do we do this? Somehow we can't justify the expense for ourselves, but can for our kids.

Livin' in the 70's

2011-11-13T14:58:00.000+11:00

My boss missed out on Cold Chisel tickets, so he decided to hold and 70's and 80's party instead. Fancy dress was required to fit the theme.

First up was Harry. I dont think that there would be too much 70's or 80's clothing around for him in his size, so I needed to be creative. A quick look on Google (how did we ever survive before Google was invented) and I found this photo

I knew it was perfect for what I wanted. I just needed some plaid. A trip to the local Vinnies and a kilt for 50 cents and BINGO.

I am sorry, I know I am biased, but can this little boy get any cuter!!!! The pants are just perfection!!!!

The pattern is...... O+S Sketchbook shorts. I have just lengthened them - added a bit of width to them and I have made the waistband double the height - so he is totally rocking Harry high pants!

The belt - thanks to the local Salvo's for that, an adult belt cut down to about 20cm long.

Everyone at the party thought he was very cute - straight out of Caddyshack. Ella and Harry were the only kids (out of about 20 that came) that dressed up, which was a shame. I will show you her outfit next post as she was way too cute as well.

I've Got a Crush

2011-11-05T13:07:00.000+11:00

An innocent crush!!!

It was my mums birthday on Halloween and so far I have not given her a present. I have an excuse though - she lives nearly 2 hours away and was on a cruise on her birthday.

I have been debating what to give my mum - I usually get her a handbag, I worry about giving handmade gifts, but I know she is one person that will really appreciate it.

It is a table runner. My mum has a HUGE country table in her kitchen. It seats ten people. Mat reminded me when I made it that it was not long enough for her table. It was not meant to be. It is currently 62" long, it would have to have been double that to cover the length of her table.

Fabric is Innocent Crush by Anna Maria Horner. I love this fabric and have had a half yard bundle forever. I love the solids in this as well - the white is Kona Cotton in white - my old faithful and the other colours are from the fat quarter pack of Art Gallery Pure Elements that I won a couple of weeks ago. Those solids are so lovely, and really soft. I think I might have to get some more of them.

I hope my mum likes it. Mat has given his nod of approval. Usually he looks at the things I made all glassy eyed, but this time he said I should make one for our table - now there is a compliment if I ever heard one.

Here's One I Prepared Earlier

2011-11-02T09:39:00.000+11:00

I made these shorts yonks ago. It was over two years ago. I started making them and basically finished them except for sewing the waistband closed and cutting off the threads. I tried them on Ella, and they were too small!!!

She was chubbier then, and had a big nappy bum. I was so put off, that they were put in my WIP basket and that is where they sat for two years.

My little girl, she has grown (she is still quite short for her age) and her hair has grown, but she has not put on any weight. She has also lost the nappy bum and still can fit into her 00 sized shorts, so these shorts were pulled out in the hope that they might fit.

I actually think that they are a little bit big for her. They are sized 18-24 months. She could probably do with the 12-18 months size. Gasp!!! She will be four next month!

The pattern is another O+S staple, the Puppet Show Shorts. I am lucky that I have the pattern in both sizes. They went out of print and were in high demand, but now you can get it in digital download from the Oliver and S website

Thought I would add one more photo of Ella's hair at her request. She is loving her hair today in all in fluffy glory. I have been making her wear her hair in a plait when she goes to daycare as I am petrified that she will get headlice - the benefit for her the day after two days at daycare - FLUFFY HAIR!!!

I've got crabs.

2011-10-29T09:02:00.000+11:00

Not that sort - that is just gross!

No, this sort.

Fabric is Crab Walk in Orange by Emily Herrick The fabric comes from the Going Coastal line, and I think I actually need to buy the whole set of it. That is coming from someone who is on a fabric ban, so maybe I will just put it in my shopping cart and leave it until my stash gets a little bit smaller, or my bank balance looks a little bit better.

Shirt is using my trusty O+S Sketchbook shirt. I have seriously made this shirt way too many times to count now. This is by far my most used pattern. This time it is made in a size 12-18 months, but I have have lengthened it to the 18-24 months - only because my kids only get taller, they don't tend to fill out.

I have had a cracker of a sewing week this week and have churned out quite a few projects. It is amazing what you can achieve when you have a little peace and quiet at night when Mat is on night shift. So there will be quite a few blog posts to follow in the coming days.

Stripes!!!

2011-10-28T14:56:00.000+11:00

I have wanted some seersucker for a while - well ever since I saw this shirt. I have put myself on a fabric ban have resisted buying any. A couple of nights ago, I was ironing some fabric and I looked at my ironing board cover and realised that if it wasn't seersucker, it was pretty close. Luckily I kept the scraps after I made the cover, and had more than enough for a pair of shorts for Harry.

Pattern is the O+S Sketchbook Shorts. I have made these before. This time however, I omitted the front pleat - which I think gives a more casual look. I also made the shorts flat fronted instead of having the elastic the whole way around.

Aren't they so cute. I fell in love with them as soon as they were made. Mat was not convinced when I showed him, as he thought that they were a bit girly, and would be better on Ella than Harry. What do men know when it comes to fashion anyway!!!!

What do you think of Harry's face now. I think it is pretty good. Most of the swelling has gone now, he just has a little bruising across the bridge of his nose, and the burn-mo. Luckily, it turns out that I don't think his nose was broken, as I am sure there would have been a lot more bruising if it was.

Sorry - had to put that last picture in, as Ella wants to be in all photos these days, and gets quite upset if she is not allowed.

Winners are Grinners

2011-10-27T14:31:00.000+11:00

I don't usually win blog giveaways. I enter my fair share, but it doesn't usually matter how many entry's there are, I don't win. So when I won Sukies giveaway, and there was over 250 entries, I was so shocked.

What did I win????

8 fat quarters of Art Gallery Pure Elements Solids. I am going through a solids phase at the moment so I am loving these. Plus I got a little scrap of patterned fabric, don't know what it is called, but I think I might have to get some more of it.

So thankyou Moona Fabrics and Amy aka Sukie for the giveaway and for choosing the great colours.

Tricycles and tears

2011-10-26T14:28:00.000+11:00

Yesterday morning I was at work, the kids at daycare and I get a phone call. My heart always skips a beat when I see daycares number flash up - I always panic that something has happened.

Yesterday it was one of those days when something had happened and my heart dropped.

"Harry has had an accident, he has fallen off a tricycle and hit his face. His nose and lips are swollen and his nose is bleeding. We think his nose might be broken, and we are also concerned, we don't think he passed out, but his eyes were rolling back in his head"

It was a long 10 minute drive to daycare, I was trying to hustle but had visions of being booked for speeding on the way.

This is what I saw at daycare

When I saw my little boy, it took everything to hold back the tears. He was dazed and didn't really make much noise. The GP didn't want to see him, it was a trip to the hospital.

We seem to be regulars at John Hunter Hospital and every time we go there, they whisk us in straight away. They were concerned about Harry as he was quite drowsy, but once they gave him a good pinch to wake him up, he perked right up and was happily trotting around the paed emergency ward. Two hours of monitoring and many visits to other patients we were released.

They don't know if his nose is broken, at the moment there is too much swelling. I am just glad that it is still in its original position, I had visions of it being plastered on one side of his face. We have been warned about black eyes and his face turning all different shades due to the bruising that will come out.

This is Harry today - a lot better than he looked yesterday. The nose is still swollen, but no bruising yet. Even with his injuries he is still a little cutie.

Its a Parade

2011-10-22T06:29:00.000+11:00

I feel like I haven't made any clothes for ages. The reason being is my kids have way too many clothes. I enjoy sewing them, but I am worried that they wont wear them all.

Ella loves dresses. Unlike me, I don't own many dresses. I feel more comfortable in a pair of pants or jeans. If you ask Ella what she wants to wear, her answer will always be to wear a 'pretty dress'

This dress is really simple. I have made it a couple of times before, here and here. They are made using the Lil Blue Boo Sundress tutorial.

The fabric - the main body of the dress in 'On Parade' by Sarah Jane from her Children at Play collection. I love this!!!. I had originally decided to do the top of the dress in white, but my fabric did not 100% match, so I changed it to the red - which actually looks a lot better than the white. It is Denyse Schmidt from the Picnics and Fairgrounds collection.

The worst thing about this dress - it is TIGHT! Tight around the chest. The tutorial uses chest measurement and adds an extra 1.5". The problem with this, it is hard to get it on. You can put it over her head, but to get her arms in - that is a whole different ball game. So my answer is to get Ella to step into it, and also to step out of it.

So there you have it a really quick summer dress. I love a project that you can finish in a couple of hours.

Check Mate

2011-10-21T10:19:00.000+11:00

Remember the quilt from this post? I basted it, and quilted it and then I left it. The only thing that I needed to do was the binding, but it has been sitting at the end of the bed in my sewing room for the last month. Yesterday, I thought I would bind it, as I was going to give my friend Fiona a binding lesson.

The funny thing is, I actually enjoy the binding part of quilt making. I enjoy sitting on the couch and hand sewing it. Call me nuts, but I find it very therapuetic.

This is the biggest quilt that I have made, it measures 72" x 52" - it was not too bad to quilt, and like usual, I have just used straight line quilting, following the checkerboard pattern.

I am loving the back - maybe I actually like it more than the front. It is the first pieced back that I have ever made, and I winged it with the design, as I have never made anything like that before. Love the quilting lines on the back.

So there you have it - one more down. Now last post, Mat asked me 'who or what this quilt was for?' I didn't know then, and I still don't know. Maybe for the spareroom/sewing room. I don't know.... Does everything need a purpose?

The Harry Boy is Swimming

2011-10-19T11:16:00.002+11:00

Water and the Harry Boy do not mix! I have documented many times about the terrible trouble that he has with his ears. He has had his grommets in since the end of March, and since then we have had 6 lots of ear infections in both ears. Not good - the only suggestion from the ENT is that he might need a bigger set of grommets put in. Now this suggestion scares the pants off me, as his last lot took an hour to get in when they should have taken 15 mins as his ear canals are so narrow - can you imagine the struggle to get a larger set in.

Poor Harry, he loves the water, but he has been loving it from a far. The closest thing he gets to swimming is the bath - and that is a quick dip.

A couple of weeks ago, after much searching, I found a place that would make up a set of swim plugs for him. He has cheapy plugs from the chemist, but as we have a pool, he needs to be able to swim for enjoyment and for his safety. The swim plugs arrived on Friday and he had his first swim in well in a year on Sunday.

He had his swim plugs and a head band, and just to make sure that no water gets in his ears, he is going to have a swimming cap too.

Watch out world - Harry is now a swimming man!!!

Tiny Pocket Tank - Take Two.

2011-10-17T19:47:00.003+11:00

Thursday was my lazy day, Friday was my energetic day. The car had a flat battery and we were stuck at home. Perfect time for a bit of cleaning and a bit of sewing. I sewed my second version of the tiny pocket tank.

I made a couple of changes from the original. I added an inch to the neckline and lowered the arm holes by 1/2". After wearing the original version, I was having terrible trouble with my bra showing and the arms were a bit tight.

I really love the new version. The fabric is Denyse Schmidt Diamond Chevron in Cranberry . I love this fabric and actually bought it in 3 different colour ways.

I am sorry, I cannot keep going on this post, while ignoring the photo above. It is bloody terrible! My grin - what is that all about and the roots - Oh my goodness, what it happening there.

Now for my problem with this top. It is great when I am standing up - as per the photo above, even though I think it is a little short - I need to add 2" to it. My problem is, you can't sit down in it as it flops over. It shows all my bra.

I dont know how to fix this. We had friends over yesterday, and I wore the top, Mat told me afterwards that my bra was showing the whole time. Thanks Mat for telling me afterwards!!!

Can anyone tell me what alterations I need to make, so that it does not sit like this when I sit down?

Lazy

2011-10-13T16:02:00.000+11:00

I am feeling so lazy today. I want to sew, but I can't be bothered. I have cut out a new top, but that is as far as I have gotten.

The kids have been asleep for two hours, but I have just watched trashy tv instead of sewing. Do you have days when you know you want to sew, but it just seems too much of an effort?

So rather than showing you a finished article of clothing - as I know that that will not happen today, here is a picture from last Thursday night with Gok.

The photo, it is terrible!!! Not of Gok, of me. My goodness, I need to learn how to smile. I can tell you that the modelling genes of the family were not passed onto me - or the height for that matter!

I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it!!!

2011-10-06T09:03:00.000+11:00

I had a lucky day yesterday. I usually never win anything - I won TWICE. Firstly I won a blog giveaway, but more about that later. My biggest win, and the thing I am most excited about...... no, I haven't won lotto.

I am going to meet....................

GOK!!!!!

I love this man. OK, I know I have never met him before, but I seriously love him. I watch way too many of his shows.

Now if you don't know who Gok is - for those in Australia that don't have Foxtel - I have done a You Tube search for you.

Now, how do I get to meet him. I entered through Retromummy and I never thought I would actually win. Thank you Retrodaddy for picking my entry.

Now I better get going, I have to go and find an outfit to wear. I was going to get my hair done as my roots are dreadful - damn you mother-in-law with your broken leg!

Handmade virgin

2011-10-05T09:51:00.000+11:00

I can now say that I am no longer a handmade clothing virgin..... for myself!!!! I have made plenty of handmade clothing for both Ella and Harry, but never anything for myself.

There are a few reasons that I have never made anything for myself. It was the fit, it is easy to make clothes for kids, their sizes are pretty standard. Plus kids clothing takes a lot less fabric, so if it all goes wrong it doesn't matter. Plus I know my own nature and I know that it would probably sit in my cupboard and never be worn.

However, lately I have been thinking about it more and more. I tried making a Colette Sorbetto - with way too many alterations from the original pattern. I should have thought about 'baby steps' as it looks rubbish. Again it put me off making anything for myself.

Then I bought the Grainline Tiny Pocket Tank pattern, It looked so easy. I was waiting for my fabric to arrive before I made it, but an impromptu trip to Spotlight on Friday and I bought enough fabric for 3 trial runs.

So here it is. My first ever!!! It is made from Silk Chiffon. I saw this fabric when I first walked into the store. $30 per metre. I put it straight back, I couldn't spend that much. I chose two other fabrics, but still went back to the original. It was the print, the colour. Then I saw the sign..... 40% off silk fabrics. It didn't mention silk chiffon, but I thought I would get the lady to check if it was on sale. I could pay $18/m - that was not too expensive to stuff up. I went to the counter - asked the lady to scan it to see if it was on sale. She told me it was it was $3.00 PER METRE!!!!!!

I couldn't believe it!! $3.00 PER METRE. I thought I was restrained and I only bought 4 metres. I should have bought more. I am kicking myself.

Inside view

The pattern is great. I made a size 2 and it fits really well. No alterations at all. The silk chiffon was slippery and my machine did not sew the best with it. I actually changed my thread for the top stitching to a crappy cheap thread and it fixed all the sewing problems. I did all french seams. Usually I don't bother with french seams and just use the overlocker, but I thought this top was worth the extra effort. All of the bias binding, I have put on the inside - adds to the simplicity of the top.

It is the Tiny Pocket tank - I left off the pocket. The fabric was so slippery - I didn't want to ruin it by not having it 100% perfect.

I have worn it out. I wore it to dinner Saturday night. I love it. I was so proud of it. Mat asked if I told everyone at dinner that I had made it. I told him that I didn't - he was a bit disappointed that I didn't. He said it is really good and does not look handmade.

I wanted to get modelling shots - but waiting for Mat to take them, this blog post would never have happened. I will try to get some shots soon and post them.

What is this quilt for????

2011-09-23T13:11:00.001+10:00

I love Pinterest. The only problem with it - it is a total time waster and I find too many nice things that I love and want to make for myself.

When I first saw this quilt - I died!! I don't know if it was the colours, the simplicity, or all the white in the background, but I knew I had to make it.

Source

I bought the fabric for the quilt two months ago. I bought it from Hancocks of Paducah - lets say they are not the fastest with their shipping. Got to love the free shipping, but it took 2 months for the fabric to arrive - and I am still waiting on part of my order.

My aqua is a bit stronger than the original and I was a little worried when I started putting it together, but now that I have sat on it for a couple of days, I am liking it. I showed Mat this morning - his comments were 'yeah its OK - who is it for? Where is it going'

It is a really quick quilt to piece - it took only a couple of hours once I had cut the fabric. Plus what I like the most - not too many threads to cut off at the end.

I have already made the backing - my first pieced backing, which I am pretty proud of. Now to baste and quilt it.

Sick AGAIN!

2011-09-19T11:29:00.002+10:00

I am sick AGAIN. I can't believe it! This is my third bout of a head cold is as many weeks. Harry is sick too. His ears are playing up again (whats new) and he has conjuctive eyetis....yuck!

This was my two weeks to sew. Mat starts two weeks of night shifts tonight and that means that my evenings after the kids go to sleep are dedicated to sewing. Fingers crossed, this lurgy does not hang around for too long.

I have been shopping (like I need any more fabric). Maybe I can dream of making things and that will make me feel a little less sorry for myself.

Here are my bargains from yesterday.

The fabric is Denyse Schmidt - Greenfield Hill - Diamond Chevron Viole.

The top colourway I fell in love with it from this photo. I didn't think I would find the fabric. Searching on Etsy for something else I came across it for $US15.95 a yard. Being cheap and not needing to spend any more money, I sat on it for a week. Yesterday one of my friends 'liked' a fabric store on Facebook - it was Wondrous Woven Fabrics. They were having a sale and also there was an extra 20% off. So searching through the sale fabric - what did I see looking back at me. Viole - lovely viole in three different colour ways. Cost per yard - $7.50 with an extra 20% off - total cost per yard $6.00!!!! That is less than half price - hey it is nearly 1/3 of the price of the Etsy store.

Total yards bought - 7. Total cost with shipping $55.00. BARGAIN!!

Now what do I want to make with this lovely fabric.

Grainline Tiny Tank

oooh and maybe this too

Source

Happy sewing!!!!

Gardening Shorts

2011-09-15T18:12:00.000+10:00

I was delighted when I got home from work yesterday. One it was Wednesday - which is my Friday and also that there was a package waiting for me. It was my Amy Butler fabric. I was stunned, it only took a week to arrive, and it was more beautiful than I expected. I thought being home deco fabric it would be thick and rough, however, it is so lovely and soft, and the colours are better than I thought. I had to use it straight away.

O+S Puppet show shorts - I have made a few of these, but have not made any for awhile - actually I have not made a pair since Ella has been toilet trained - as she still fits into the same size that I originally made for her when I bought this pattern. 18 - 24 months.

I could have actually gone down a size as they are a little big in the waist. I wanted to have them flat fronted, but with all the extra fabric, it would have been too bunched at the back - so there is elastic all the way around.

I can't tell you how much I love this fabric!!! The shorts are to die for. I need a pair of these. I am already contemplating ordering more of this fabric, as it is up there as one of my favourites.

I have now written a list of everything I want to make - so I don't forget. I think I am going to be busy for the next few weeks - actually make that few months.

Summer sewing

2011-09-13T08:59:00.000+10:00

I haven't been doing any sewing lately. My sewing machine taunts me from the dining room table. I am really missing it and need to start making something. What makes every woman feel better??? SHOPPING!!!

I have not been out at the shops, the mountain buggy has a flat tyre and Harry has worked out that it is way more fun to run than walk,so shopping with two kids is a fate worse than death at the moment. I have been shopping from the comfort of my office...... oops don't tell my boss that.

What have I been buying? PATTERNS!

I held off buying the last lot of 'new' Oliver and S patterns. They didn't really blow me away and with them being released as we in Australia are going into winter, summer dresses weren't on the top of my hit list. With summer approaching (my MIL tells me it is going to be 28 degrees on Saturday) I bit the bullet and bought them.

Don't you just think of long socks and sweat bands when you see these shorts!

Now, here is the bargain part. These patterns are usually $US15.95 - you generally can't get them cheaper than that. I bought them from fabric.com - they were already discounted to $12.76 each. There is a website called retailmenot.com that if you put in the store you are buying from, lets you know if there are any coupons. There was one for fabric.com - spend over $40.00, get another 15% off. I bought another O+S pattern - one that I already have, but in the larger size and the whole lot including shipping cost $US47.33.

Those in Australia will know that fabric.com is a killer when it comes to shipping charges - turns out for patterns they are CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP - $3.95 to ship 4 patterns. BARGAIN!

Paint and butterflies

2011-09-11T07:00:00.004+10:00

I didn't really intend to do anything today other than lie on the couch. Mat has been sick and graciously passed it onto me. Yesterday was not a good day, today I am feeling slightly more human. The problem when your a mum, is no matter how sick you are there are still the kids that need looking after.

I made the mistake of showing Ella the fabric paint that I had bought. She has been a broken record since then wanting to paint a t-shirt. Today was the day, but being a typical 3 year old, it was fun for all of two minutes and then she went off and watched Dora and left me to finish it.

I used this tutorial which I found really helpful. For the stencilling you need 'freezer paper'. In the States, they have it in the supermarket, it is another thing that we don't get in Australia. There are some stockists that sell a box for about $20.00 - I found it at Spotlight for $1.50/metre - not cheap compared to how much the box would have originally been, but I bought 5 metres and I am sure that will last a long time.

The fabric paints - they were expensive in Spotlight, $11.00 per colour. I ended up finding 8 colours for $25.00 in Riot Art. The paint went a really long way and I have used hardly any of it, which I am happy about.

I bought 5 t-shirts, so I am sure that there will be quite a few more to come now that the weather is getting warmer.

Bargain!

2011-09-09T09:53:00.000+10:00

I have been looking for this fabric since I saw this skirt on Flickr. Then I saw this cushion and knew that I 'needed' the fabric

Source

I had not been able to find it anywhere and so I gave up. I received the Quilthome newsletter, it mentioned over 1,000 fabrics on sale. I don't need any more fabric, but there can be no harm in looking right????

To my delight look what I found.......

$7.18 a yard. BARGAIN!!! All I could squeeze was 3.5 years into an envelope - so it works out to be less than $40.00 with the shipping! Got to be happy with that!

Prints Charming

2011-09-06T07:14:00.000+10:00

I have finally finished my Red Pepper Quilts knock off. I have blogged about it before here and here It was actually finished quite a while ago, but I ended up leaving it with just the threads to cut off as Mat was less than positive about it.

I was so excited to show him. His reply was "I don't really like it, not my style, but if you like that sort of thing......" Thanks for that - "it's nice" would have been fine.

Rather than leaving it forever, I finally cut off all the threads yesterday. I still love it, but just not sure what I am going to do with it.

Do I keep it? Do I give it away? Every time I make something now, other than kids clothing Mat wants to know the purpose - is it for someone? I guess you can't keep every quilt you make, can you?

Actually just writing this post has changed my mind - stuff him I like it. Who said men had good taste anyway!

Mr Magoo

2011-09-03T08:10:00.000+10:00

I am trying to get through my WIP box this week before I start anything new. There are a few things there that are not worth going back to, but there are a couple of things that shout at me every time that I open it up. This one didn't shout at me, but there was a three year old that kept reminding me that I still needed to sew her monkey.

I bought the Melly and Me Magoo pattern last year and cut out the fabric straight away. I read the first instruction and put it down. I have looked at it a couple of times since then, but never gotten past the first instruction.

Yesterday I got past the first step and ended up finishing Magoo.

He is actually very cute and quite a lot bigger than I thought he would be. He measures 58cms. There are two things that I learnt.

1. I hate sewing softies. The end result is good, but the actual sewing of them is painful

2. Melly and Me patterns - this is the second one that I have sewn and they are painful. I think the seam allowance is too small and the instructions leave quite a bit to be desired. There needs to be more detailed instructions and more pattern markings. There was no pattern markings as to where the legs or arms are positioned. The only photo is the main photo on the front of the pattern and that does not help with the legs.

You can't really see it in the photos, but the arms sew onto the body as one of the final steps. To me, it looks a bit messy and Ella has only had the monkey from this morning and already both of the arms fell off. Not sure if the dodgy seamstress is to blame here, but not really the best way to join the arms to the body when it is a childs toy. I have now sewed them onto the body with Perle 8 thread. I am sure that they are not going anywhere now, but not as neat as I would like them.

Despite my complaints - the end product is a good one. Ella loves him and has been dragging him around (with one arm missing) all day. I don't know if I can see myself making another one that quickly. Harry might have to share this one.

Clever Ella

2011-09-01T16:30:00.000+10:00

I made these shorts a couple of weeks ago and have been waiting for the buttons to arrive so that I could finish them off.

They are the Clever Charlotte Finch Shorts pattern. The pattern is easy to put together. There are a few pieces, but not the 12 that has been floating around on the www. Each of the pieces are necessary and add to the final product. The instructions are adequate, but you will not get as many pictures or lessons as you do with the Oliver and S patterns.

Ella will be 4 in December and these are a size 2T. As you can see they are a little big for her around the waist. I would have preferred to go down a size for her (she can still fit into 00 sized shorts) but the smallest size in this pattern is the 2T - so at least I know I will get some wear out of them.

Sorry for the hideous photos - someone was not on their game today - and the kid won't model. Something about needing to go to the shops as she has run out of bubbles.... You work that one out.

Preppy Plaid

2011-08-26T18:26:00.000+10:00

When I posted about the fabric that I had bought in my last post, I did not think that it would come in the near future. Australia Post has been pretty slack lately and parcels that used to take a week from the States have been taking close to a month. So when my latest Hawthorne Threads purchase showed up today just over a week after ordering it, I was more than excited.

I have been sick for the last couple of days, another bug from daycare that has gone through Harry, Mat, me and now Ella looks like she is copping it too. However, what is a head cold, when you have 9 yards of fabric to sew with.

My first project - Sketchbook Shorts for Harry. When I saw this fabric, I knew it would be perfect for shorts, very preppy, and quite Ralph Lauren-esq. All he needs now is a while polo shirt with the collar up.

I have had this pattern for ages and have made many of the shirts, but I have never made the shorts. I don't know why I never have. As usual it is a great pattern, but it does have one thing that annoys me. There are erratas in the pattern. OK, I know there are mistakes in patterns, but the O+S patterns are premium patterns and they are not cheap. Nic alerted to the errors in this pattern when she made them last year and I kept this in mind before I made these. I have never thought to check the errata before - thanks Nic for the tip. There is an error in 3 of the 5 pattern pieces - the seam allowances are missing - not a major drama to add them in but still annoying.

While I am talking about Nic - do you notice the body suit Harry is wearing? I won it in Nic's raffle in the QLD flood appeal auctions. Harry is finally big enough to wear it!!!!! It looks great on him. Thanks Nic!

One part of the pattern I did change - I made them flat fronted intead of having the elastic around all of the waist. This is really simple to do, but I think it gives a nicer look to the shorts.

Can you believe my little boy is walking. First teeth, now walking - how did that happen? Where did my baby go?

More fabric

2011-08-24T10:00:00.000+10:00

I always like to think up a snappy title for my blog posts - today my brain wont extend past 'more fabric'

I discovered Children at Play by Sarah Jane there are 52 prints in this collection. I have only bought a few, but I think I might have to add some more. Here are the ones I got.

a sketchook shirt for Harry as seen here

just because

Summer dress for Ella.

Sketchbook shorts for Harry

Another collection I stumbled across and I just had to add it to my shopping cart. It is Going Coastal by Emily Herrick.


Sketchbook shorts for Harry and shorts for Ella.

Shirt for Harry.

I can't wait for this fabric to get here - I have lots of summer sewing to get started on. Australia Post has been pretty slack lately. I have a package that I am waiting on from America that was sent on 26/07/11 and still has not arrived!

The journey

2011-08-22T19:47:00.000+10:00

I have been sewing, but I don't have anything to show for my efforts at the moment. Missing buttons and thousands of threads to cut off. Apart from my WIPS I have been occupied by something else this week.

Mat, he loves caravans. He has fond childhood memories of caravaning holidays in the UK, I have memories of staying in caravans as a child as being in a family of 6 there were too many of us to stay in a hotel. Mat wanted to re-live those memories and get a caravan, I wanted a nice overseas holiday that involved hotels.

Our friends have a great caravan, expensive too - at $60,000. It has everything. "I will have a caravan if we can have one like their one" knowing we would never get one like that - $60,000 can buy so much more than a van. Never say never!!

So back in April, Mat was searching on the internet for a caravan in England and happened to stumble on a caravan exactly like our friends - for a fraction of the cost. It was on the Isle of Anglesey - more than 400kms from where Mats dad lives and a lot more than that from Australia.

First task was getting it to Brighton - which is at the bottom of England - two trips by two different people of over 400kms - and then once the import papers were received, getting it to Southampton to the shipping docks - this took 2 months and included a tow truck and another 100 kms. Finally it left England on 1st July and arrived in Australia over 17,000kms away10 days ago.

Before I could get it, Customs needed to do their thing and charge me a lot of money, Quarantine needed to inspect it to determine that we were not harbouring any English nasties (funny thing is they cleared it, and then when we collected it, a spider crawled out of one of the compartments) Finally I got to take it home - another 400 kms.

At the docks - Port Kembla

So there is my $60,000 caravan for a fraction of the price. It has travelled over 18,000 kms in order to get here. Mat is ecstatic - he is already planning many trips away. For me not being a caravan lover, this one is pretty nice. I think I will be able to get used to this style of camping

I am just hoping with all it took to get it here (and actually getting it from the docks to home was the hardest part of the whole exercise) that my effort is rewarded with lots of fabric. On that note - I have been buying more. I will share that in my next post.

Its Black. Its White

2011-08-14T13:37:00.000+10:00

Scrolling through Facebook one morning a couple of months ago I came across this image.

I didn't have a clue what it was. It was posted by Robbie Williams and being totally naive thought it might be the cover artwork for an upcoming album. Whatever it was - it would look great as a quilt.

841 2.5" squares later and all the blocks are complete.

I have since crawled out of the rock that I have been living under and have found out that it is a QR Code which is basically a barcode that is readable by smart phones. This QR code is for Robbie Williams. There is actually a QR code website that you can go on and generate your own QR codes.

I wish I had found this out before I started making the quilt as I would have made it up for my own blog.

Now I just have to cut off all those loose threads before I can baste and quilt it - and believe me there is a lot of them.

Back flips

2011-08-09T14:57:00.000+10:00

He thought the chair was crap. Typical man couldn't see the potential.

He liked it when it was finished. Usually he will say things I make are nice, but I am sure that is just to keep me happy.

Sunday was wet, he was stuck inside helping me de-clutter the house. Musical furniture was the order of the day.

Thanks to Mat, look what takes pride of place at our front door now

Four words "I told you so"

Bolt

2011-07-26T21:47:00.000+10:00

You have to love any mail that is not a bill. Frankly I don't get nearly enough of this mail. Today I got a phone call at work from Mat (who is on nights this week)

"You have a parcel"
"Is it big?" I replied
"yes it is pretty big"

Now usually I would think "crap, I've been busted ordering more fabric" but this time, I was more concerned about the size of it. Mat knew about this one before I even ordered it. So I didn't have to suffer with buyers remorse.

When I got home this afternoon, this was waiting for me.

What excited me the most, and by saying this, I am sure I am a major dork, but there was a whole BOLT of fabric just for me.

There is 15 yards of Kona Cotton in White. I love this stuff. Very excited that it came all wrapped in plastic - an unopened bolt.

I also got some 11 yards of other Kona Cotton, plus what I was really looking forward to

The Kona colour card.

All this came from Hancocks of Paducah. A couple of times a year they do free shipping and it also includes international shipping. This package weighed 6.5kgs and their website calculated it at $70.00 of shipping costs. To add to their free shipping, their Kona Cotton if you buy over 3 yards is only $4.78 per yard - the cheapest I have found.

A touch of masculinity

2011-07-24T11:36:00.000+10:00

I was right when I said that Mat would think my little chair was a piece of junk. The first thing he said when he walked in the door, was it was a piece of rubbish and hopefully I got it for free. I told him it was $5.00 - it was actually $8.00, but knowing my husband all too well, he thought it was too expensive at $5.00.

I wasn't planning on re-upholstering this chair so quickly, but yesterday afternoon while Mat worked on his car and Harry napped, I got stuck in.

My original thought was to use some Ink and Spindle fabric to cover the chair, but at $96.00 per metre and this chair needing over a metre. I am also impatient and I hate waiting for mail to arrive. So I scrapped that idea and used the fabric that I had in my stash.

Do you remember what it looked like before?

Here is my little chair now.....

I just love it! I had originally intended to paint the wood a lot darker grey. I sanded back the wood and painted it using house paint we already had. I don't know what happened to the paint, on the walls it is almost black, but on the chair it is charcoal. I used matte floor varnish over the top of the paint so it wont chip.

The fabric is Echino helicopters. I have used this fabric before for Harry's Downtown Boy Jacket and had bought 3 metres of it on sale to make a shirt for a friends birthday. Hopefully I still have enough fabric left over to make the shirt.

What do you think?

Now I have to decide where it goes. I would love it in our bedroom. Our bedroom needs a major makeover. I think this will fit into the new colour scheme that I want, however, Mat is fighting me on it. He wants to keep the brown scheme we already have, and the $400 doona set that we bought in 2004 (as it is perfectly fine and was expensive) and I want to chuck it all out and start again.

Snail mail

2011-07-21T16:55:00.001+10:00

I ordered four 'Sew Lisette' patterns from sewingpatterns.com at the end of March.

They arrived two days ago. That is one week under 4 months.

Now I know the mail system can be slow, but not this slow! It took the company 3 months to post out the order, and that was after many un-answered emails and excuses that the patterns had been on back order.

Hmmm, I think they need to work on their customer service.

Opportunity knocks

2011-07-19T14:24:00.001+10:00

My job is generally office based, but every now and then I venture out to run errands for work. Sometimes on these errands, there might be some shops that I detour past.

Today happened to be one of those days and I stopped in the local Salvos. I am wanting to re-decorate both my bedroom and the sewing/spare bedroom and I think the little chair I found will be perfect.

It looks pretty shabby now, and actually reminds me of a chair my grandpa would have owned. I am sure Mat will think it is a piece of junk, but with a bit of TLC, it will have a new lease of life. Now I just have to work out what to cover it with.

Wheeze bag

2011-07-14T12:59:00.000+10:00

Harry has asthma. Ella probably has it too, but we are waiting for the diagnosis from the Paedatrician.

Currently I carry around their asthma paraphernalia in a large zip lock bag. Yesterday I used some of my new Pooches and Pickups fabric and made something a little better.

The outside is the Big Trucks in Spring and Kona Cotton in grey. The inside is lined with Small Trucks in Spring

Perfect for all the asthma crap, and much nicer than carrying around a zip lock bag. Now, I have to make one for Ella.

Candy stripes

2011-07-13T11:15:00.002+10:00

My ironing board was disgusting!! OK, maybe it was not that bad, but it was pretty gross.

This is the original cover that the board came with in 2004!! It does not help that when my mother-in-law lived with us for 3 months she left the iron face down rather than putting it up when she was not using it - so there are many burn marks. It has really been past its prime for years.

I am a procrastinator I know that. I have been putting off making a new one for ages. Stupidly it did not take that long - about 20 mins from start to finish. It didn't cost me anything either as I had everything in my stash.

I took the original cover off and took out the cord, traced around the original cover, overlocked the edges and sewed a casing seam. I added a layer of quilt batting to the foam that covers the metal. I used the original cord back in the new cover.

Much better don't you think!

Little rocker

2011-07-11T17:16:00.000+10:00

I know what I said about buying knit fabric in Australia. It is usually expensive and not very inspiring. I actually found some (in Spotlight would you believe) and it is a boy knit - win win!!! I only bought a metre - which I am kicking myself about. I might have to go back and get some more.

I am sorry, but I don't think this could be any cuter. It is the Heidi and Finn Urban Hoodie, the size is 6-12 months, but it is TINY!!!

I bought this pattern awhile ago and I actually started making one for Harry in this size as he wears 00 hoodies, only to realise that his arm wouldn't have fitted in the sleeve. So I have made him another one in a size 2. So just to warn, this pattern runs REALLY small.

I originally bought this fabric for Harry, but thought it would be a great gift for Dylan. I only need to sew on the buttons and it will be ready.

Oh my goodness I saw him again yesterday, and he makes my uterus ache. I think with finally getting a full night sleep, my clucky-ness has returned. Does it go away????

Apart from running small, which believe me it does - so if your child is over a size 3 normally, I would steer clear (Ella is in a size 2 and I have started a size 4 for her and it is snug), but apart from that it is a great pattern. The instructions are good and it comes together really quickly.

Thrifty business

2011-07-07T18:28:00.001+10:00

Those that live in Australia will understand when I say that you can't get any decent knit fabric in Australia. You can get plain colours, but there is not a lot of pattern knits. If it is nice, it is expensive and if you buy it in from overseas the postage is a killer. Usually I steer clear of knits for this reason.

Flickr surfing I came across Sophie from Cirque du Bebe she is also in Australia and upcycles knits from clothing handed down or from op shops.

So yesterday, whilst I was supposed to be working, I went to the local Vinnies. I grapped a few items, which I thought were pretty cheap at $4.00 each, but the lady behind the counter must have thought that I looked needy that day (my roots aren't that bad) and only charged me $2.00 for each item.

So here is the before shot.......

Mens size L rugby jumper - maybe she thought I had a large husband at home?

Drumroll please........................................

The after shot.....

Isn't it just so cute!

The pattern - well I didn't work to a pattern 100%. I know I wanted to keep the collar and the placket detail (is that the right term?)

I started out with the O+S Nature Walk Pullover. To be honest, I am not a fan of this pattern. Shock horror I love O+S patterns, but this one, it really didn't inspire me. The reason why I bought it was this version. With some thick knit fabric, I could make some rugby tops for Harry.

The pattern is cut so that you can have two different fabrics and it also has pockets in the front. I didn't want those details, so I cut the sleeve, back and front as single pieces and then cut it out with the original placket in tact.

The sleeves on the O+S pattern are a bit too wide for my liking, so I have narrowed them down quite a bit.

When I showed Mat this morning my handy work, he asked where I got it from. When I told him I made it, he said "it is actually really good - show me" When I told him that I had made it all apart from the placket, he was still impressed, but not as much as before. I should have shut my mouth!!!

No good modelling shots from Harry today. I can't even bribe him at this age - so here are the out-takes.

nope I wont sit up

Take my picture like this

Or how about one like this?

Ohhh is this what you want, it will cost you though.

This modelling gig, it wears you out!

What do you think? Cost $2.00, nothing else was used (apart from thread) in the making of this top other than the original jumper. I think it is pretty cool and one that will get some wear.

T.F.F.T.

2011-07-04T19:31:00.000+10:00

It has taken one year, two months and 8 days to get to this point. I am scared to even write this just incase I jinx myself.

On Friday night Harry slept through the night! I woke up in the morning and for the first time since he was born and realised that I had not had to get up all night. OMG!!!!!

Hoping this was not a once off, I crossed everything that I had he would do it again Saturday night.... and he did, and last night too. That THREE nights in a row. Holy crap!!!

It has been hard work to get to this point. A couple of months ago, I had come to the end of my rope. His ears were good, he was well, but the sleeping, well it was still crap. We were back to waking hourly most nights. Working 3 days a week and with Mat working shift work, I couldn't do it anymore.

So I got tough. I didn't know what else to do. I let him cry. I shut his door and I shut mine and I lay in bed with tears streaming down my face as he cried. The first night it went on for 20 mins and then he went to sleep, gradually over the weeks it got less and less to the point that I was getting up once to still give him a bottle.

I knew the time was coming where I was going to have to get really tough with him and not give him a bottle through the night. I didn't want to do it when Mat was on the early shift as I thought it would be a major fight, so I kept putting it off.

Lucky for me, he seems to have done it on his own. Thank goodness for that! I love this little boy more than life itself, but bloody hell I need some sleep. I have a over a years worth to catch up on.

Bliss

2011-07-02T09:08:00.004+10:00

I don't know what your idea of bliss is, but after a week of sickness in the house, work and having to make the house all nice and smick for the valuer, my idea of bliss is both kids in bed and asleep before 6pm (yes that is correct, before 6pm) and shutting myself away in the sewing room with Adele playing on the laptop and sewing without any interuptions.

Sewing away to Adele, I finished my Prints Charming quilt top. I am so in love with this quilt.

I was tempted in the beginning to give it away, but I know that I will never manage to be able to do it. It is mine all mine.

I have actually ordered another Prints Charming panel, so that I can make one for my mum - I know that she would love this quilt.

I was a little daunted by this quilt to start with. I have never made a half-square triangle before, but I followed Rita advice from Red Pepper Quilts of trimming all HST's to 4.5" before you start sewing and then they are all the same size. Once you get all the cutting and trimming out of the way, it is not too complicated and comes together pretty quickly.

Now onto quilting and binding. I have them both picked out - remember I said my quilt was a copy of the original from Red Pepper Quilts - so you don't have to think too far out of the box to work out what the backing and binding will be.

One day..... One day.....

2011-07-01T10:00:00.000+10:00

Do you remember this scene from Kindergarten Cop?

It used to always make me laugh - little did I know that I would be hearing the same things from my own kids.

Ella: I have a gina mum

Me: Yes you do.

Ella: Harry has a willy

Me: Yes he does

Ella: You have a gina too

Me: Yes I have a gina too.

Ella: Daddy has a willy too

Me: Yes daddy does have a willy

Now this is quite normal, we often have this conversation, but it never leads to this

Ella: One day mum I will have a willy.

Me: Aaaahhhh no Ella, you are a girl, you have a gina and you wont have a willy.

Ella: No, one day, one day mum, I will have a willy.

Hmmmmm.

Forty Five

2011-06-29T17:16:00.000+10:00

Forty five? What is that? Well it is not my age, I can tell you that.

Forty five is the amount of yards of fabric I have bought in the last two weeks!!!! OMG!!!! Actually, I forgot about the 3 metres and the odd fat quarters that I bought at the quilt show and the scrap pack at Prints Charming, but we will leave it at 45 - it doesnt need to sound any worse.

I have said many times before - it is a disease, a disease. I can't help it. My first, of how many packages arrived today - it contains 9 yards of Riley Blake All Star 2. It is so lovely. There are two more prints in orange from the collection - they are part of the other 36 yards that are still to arrive.

What else is coming? Well there is 9 yards of Pooches and Pickups and there is 26 yards of Kona Cotton Solids.

Now there is a small reason that I bought the majority of the fabric - yes I know it is pretty and will look so good in my stash, but I got an email from Hancocks of Paducah and they were offering FREE SHIPPING. So 26 yards later, and a few notions - I saved $63.30 in shipping and got Kona Cotton for only $4.78 a yard. Bargain all around!!!

Seeing red

2011-06-26T08:35:00.000+10:00

I have been seeing red for the last couple of weeks.

Lots of red in the form of 180 half square triangles.

I am using my Prints Charming panel that I picked up on the SIT sewing trip back in March. I admit, I am completely un-original and this quilt is going to be a complete copy of Red Pepper Quilts Charming Triangles quilt. Copying and flattery and all that.......

I love this quilt, however, maybe not a good one where you don't have the fabrics already in your stash. There is over 30 different prints here, and apart from a few that I had, I bought them all - so 30 fat quarters, not cheap, but I think it is worth it (not sure Mat would agree)

Mat's on night shift this week, so I am hoping to get this one finished.