The reasons I sew.

Sis Boom Emily in Love Chirp Farbenmix

2010-08-29T18:50:00.000-07:00

Well I have to say that I am LOVING the Sis Boom patterns. They are so easy to understand and sew up beautifully. This one is the Emily Tunic top from the Crafty Mamas store and it is just gorgeous. The instructions are so clear and detailed, almost too detailed in some areas. I actually skipped some of the instructions and went on my own little merry way but for a beginner sewer they are awesome.

The sizing is generous too, I made a sz 5-6 and took it in a little bit in the sides as it will be too big for my lil Princess. The fabric is the Love Chirp fabric from Farbenmix as usual from the Crafty Mamas shop......seriously I should look into buying shares there ;)

No modelled shot at this stage but will get some after school. Thanks for looking :)

Something for my little fella.

2010-06-20T06:19:00.000-07:00

I have to admit something! Making clothes for girls is much more fun that making clothes for boys! And therefore my little man really doesn't get many home made items from his Mummy.

So with some bad Mummy guilt happening I thought I'd make some things for my little man. It is not that he doesn't have lovely clothes, he does, I BUY him lovely things. But that's not the same thing is it???

So today with his help in choosing colours, I made him this top, he loves it especially the robot on the front. As soon as I'd finished he put it on and didn't take it off until bed-time tonight. He spent most of the afternoon pretending to be a robot.

He's just so funny and cute sometimes :)

Crafty Mamas

2010-06-10T05:30:00.000-07:00

My favourite fabric place is having a give-away.

Good luck everyone :)

Here's the link.

Gracie's New Party Dress

2010-05-14T23:40:00.001-07:00

Gracie had a party today for one of her friends and nothing to wear. So last night I cut out an Abigail which is a new Modkid pattern that I received from Crafty Mamas this week.

I made a sz 5 which I still had to take in a little in the shoulders as I found it a little wide across. Other than that it fits perfectly. I used three different fabrics, the stripes and the dots were from Banberry Place and the floral fabric is from Crafty Mamas.

The dress was made with 15 minutes to spare before the party....heaps of time ;)

Sorry about the quality of the pictures, the Princess isn't in the mood for modelling today!!

Farbernmix Nala for Gracie

2010-04-17T19:21:00.000-07:00

After arriving home from Queensland I discovered that Gracie's autumn wardrobe was completely lacking so pulled out the trusty old machine and decided to make her a Nala from the Farbenmix range.

I wanted whole outfits so that I didn't have to fish around for coordinating pieces, so I picked out the Nala pattern from the Farbernmix range. I had all the fabric in my stash....surprising I know ;) and it was all from Crafty Mamas, such yummy fabric from that shop, so much nicer than anything that is available in Adelaide. Anyway I digress. This was an easy pattern to make up and Gracie loves it and is wearing it today, hot off the machine.

Willow and Moo creation.

2010-03-21T22:48:00.000-07:00

I really haven't had much time for sewing lately so I purchased this lovely for my lovely. Sara at Willow and Moo does the most amazing work, it really is gorgeous. Thanks Sara, we love it and Gracie found it and put on before I even had a chance to show her :)

Cluckity Cluck Cluck Cluck

2010-02-15T16:17:00.000-08:00

I have been saying for years that I'm finished with having more babies, my family is complete with my three little darlings (well not so little anymore!) However, I still love little babies, it makes me so clucky, they smell so beautiful and they are like little blank canvases with their whole life ahead of them. In an ideal world I probably would have had another baby but circumstances were against us.

Anyway yesterday I met sweet little Heather awwwwww she is so sweet, makes my ovaries ache. Then I realise that she will turn into a toddler one day, ummmm wonder if Tracy will let me have her until then???? Doubtful ;)

So here she is, isn't she the sweetest lil bub??

My doll baby!

2010-01-17T19:06:00.000-08:00

I just realised that I hadn't updated my "About Me" page. My little Gracie turned 6 three days before Christmas, I really can't believe that my little miracle girl is 6 already.

So here is a picture heavy post for my doll baby.

"Birthday" My sick little chickie a couple of hours after she was born.

1st birthday and looking much healthier than her previous birthday.

2nd birthday and the beginning of the fairy dress obsession!

3rd birthday with her cousie Alice.

4 years old.

5 years old, fairy party!

6th birthay, hippy chick, camping. She is totally obsessed with headbands and bling now, although she does still like to frock up in her fairy dresses too!

And with the two people in the world who love her more than anything and who still can't believe that she is here with them!!!

Happy birthday to my very gorgeous special little Princess.

Another Olivia

2010-01-17T03:17:00.000-08:00

I haven't had anytime for sewing since last year...but the bug is back ;)

Gracie had a holiday program to attend and didn't have anything suitable to wear (well any excuse to sew!)

Decided to make something quick and easy, so pulled out my Olivia pattern and used some fabric from my stash. Unfortunately I didn't have enough fabric to make the whole Olivia so I decided to use some stella knit to match. I even had to split the hood into contasting fabrics but I am happy with the finished product.

Despite the look in this photo my little Princess adores her new outfit.

A Madita and More Lazy Day Hats

2009-12-12T03:05:00.001-08:00

I've been busy sewing for Christmas. I finally completed a Madita for my niece Alice using some fabric that I picked up from spotlight. The colour is much prettier than the pictures show, I took them at night so they look a little washed out due to the flash. I also made a little reversible head-band to match...will try to get some modelled shots later.

These hats are great for summer. The girly one on the left is for Gracie and the one on the right is for my nephew Christopher. I love them when they are finished but I have to say they are not my favourite thing to make, although I really enjoy top-stitching so love that part of them! Also love how they are reversible, works for my messy kids ;)

Lazy Satdee arvo sewing!

2009-11-21T02:08:00.001-08:00

Absolutely love this pattern, it was so quick and easy and I adore the fabric too. The pattern is from Ulla from Mamu Design. I made a 40/42 or a medium and it is very generous, I probably could have gone down a size but it'll be good for hiding Christmas cheer ;)

I'm totally in love with the fabric which I bought from the Crafty Mamas shop.....where I buy lots of fabric!!!

Sew Liberated Schoolhouse Tunic

2009-11-21T01:32:00.001-08:00

I'm not sure about this pattern. I ended up having to take it in so much even though I made according to my measurements, to make it a little more streamed lined I ended up sewing down the pleats also. Without that I felt like a ship in full sail!!

All in all it was an easy pattern to sew up and the instructions were really straight forward, just not totally convinced that it works on me. Maybe a softer fabric might be better, something like a light weight linen. I do love the fabric, it is from Patty Young's Andalucia range, the Birdie Damask. I still think I look like a ship in full sail...hence my nerdy "model" pose - hahaha

The garden in full bloom.

2009-11-01T19:42:00.000-08:00

As the weather has finally warmed up the garden has started to bloom. Here's my beautiful roses and iris. I love the warmer weather but I think that it might mean a very short rose season this year.

New Hat

2009-10-28T00:04:00.001-07:00

I finally finished Edward's hat that I started on the weekend. It's not perfect but he's happy with it, so that's the main thing ;) He picked that fabric himself from my stash, he loves the fishies and I love how it's completely reversible.

I used a "Make it Perfect" pattern, the Lazy Day Hat. I have another one cut out for Gracie and will try and make that soon. It's a little bit big for Edward but it will keep the sun off his face which is the main issue.

It's very sunny here today...hence the squint.

Yummy comfort food

2009-10-27T20:22:00.000-07:00

My friend Tas made the yummiest Apple Cake when we were all at her place for our crafty day. I loved it so much that she posted the recipe on her blog...well today I decided to do some baking with the children, Gracie loves to bake :)

Anyway typical of me....no apples in the house, so I found a tin of stewed apricots and improvised. Currently it's cooling in the kitchen, we'll tuck into it in a little while. It looks and smells delish!!

Thanks Tassy :)

Baby Lulu

2009-10-26T02:50:00.001-07:00

At my Crafty Mamas catch up last weekend I just loved Helen's top and thought that it looked familiar....anyway here's the reason why.

Just love Baby Lulu.....the fabric is just beautiful. And I love Helen's top too!

Fun crafty day with some of the Crafty Mama gang.

2009-10-17T02:31:00.000-07:00

Had a really fantastic day with some of my Crafty Mama friends. We started the day at 10ish (which meant 10.30 ;) ). I was a little ambitious in the amount of sewing I anticipated completing as the picture indicates - haha. Although I don't think I won the prize for the biggest crafting haul of the day....just ask Helen (stitcharooney)!

Everyone contributed bits and pieces towards lunch but a huge thank you must go to Tas (Little Boozle) for her wonderful hospitality and her husband for letting us use his house all day. Here's some of the yummies that we had, in the top left hand corner is the yummiest apple cake/slice that I've eaten. Loved it! I should have swiped the recipe!!

Here's Tas and Helen crafting up a storm.

Just after lunch Becci arrived and more chatting continued. Still wondering if it was a chatfest or a craftfest - haha. So I've decided to call it a funfest :)

Although there is a glass of bubbles in front of me, it certainly wasn't a boozefest....despite what Tas' hubby though!

What a great day, wish we could get together more often, fun, fun, fun!

Finally some sewing and a sore head

2009-09-18T19:43:00.001-07:00

Well after more than a month of non-sewing I finally pulled the machines out yesterday to make Edward some clothes. Poor little man really has no pants that fit him anymore, they are all ankle-freezers! So I pulled out some Ottos and decided on the "Taku" linen pants from 1/2009 and the "Reko" raglan-sleeve t-shirt from 4/2008.

I used fabric already in my stash, which is fabulous because I have this fabric addiction thing going on that I have to curb ;) The pants are made from a denim look linen blend from Lindcraft and the t-shirt from stella knit in my stash. I bought the froggy ribbon that I used as trim from the Crafty Mamas store. Anyway Edward loves his new threads :)

Edward wanted me to take a photo of the back pockets...he loves pockets...good thing because these pants have 7!!!

However, last night Edward took a leap off Harry's bed and ended up hitting his head on Harry's desk. Originally I though he was fine as it stopped bleeding really quickly...however when Marty gave him a shower the cut was really deep, all the way to his skull!!!!!! He ended up in hospital and is now that proud owner of two staples. He seems fine and is happy enough but oh what a scare!! And finally a shot of the staples!

Hip Hooray, it's my birthday.

2009-08-02T04:40:00.000-07:00

I've had a wonderful day with my family today...yep I'm terribly old but still young at heart ;) Here's the five of us together, not the best pic but hey at least we are all in it!

Woke up to pancakes cooked by my sweet Harrison, then we all went out to lunch which was really lovely. Here we are together in a rare photo...always hard to get him to pose!!

Me with my three gorgeous babies.

With my beautiful sister Nicole at lunch.

Harry with his girlfriend Emilie....he still looks like he has eyeliner on from his stage performance last night.....too funny!

After lunch I decided to do some sewing for me!!! Cut out a child's pattern from Ottobre 6/2008, no 37 - Nana knit dress....off course I made a few adjustments...eg a 'bit' extra in the hip/chest areas ;) Hopefully will get a chance to actually sew it up this week.

I also managed to get to Office Works to buy some magazine holders for all my sewing magazines using the money my mother and father in-law sent to me for my birthday, really happy with the display now. So easy to find the magazine and pattern I need.

So all in all a lovely day, family, food, wine, shopping and sewing...what else is there!!

New-born outfit from Ottobre 6/2008

2009-07-30T21:22:00.000-07:00

Now I have to apologise for the pictures, I took them after 10pm so they are not great. My photography needs help...especially late at night!! These pictures don't do the fabric any justice, it's so pretty in real life.

So anyway I wanted to make an outfit for a new little baby girl and was looking through all my back issues of Otto. I already had the fabric picked out, just needed something soft and easy to put on and off to make with it.

I decided to make no 2 - "Lelle" leggings and no 3 - "Elly" raglan-sleeve blouse. I had never made a top with neck-binding or with shirring. The shirring ended up being super super easy and I'm kicking myself that I haven't tried it before. I really love how it turned out. The neck-binding was OK too...still need to perfect it a little more but I was reasonably happy for a first try. On the little leggings I decided to add a frill....I wish I'd gathered a little more than I did and next time I will.

What I'm really happy with is the top stitching, I really love this and I love how it worked on the hems of the top. This this stitch is going to become a bit of a fave.

Anyway the outfit was received very well and everyone at the party couldn't believe I'd made it...people who don't sew think that sewers are amazingly clever....if only they knew!! And it still wasn't perfect. I need to make another outfit for another new born baby girl, so I think I'll duplicate and hopefully it works out even better.

Barcelona skirt and matching bag.

2009-07-25T18:18:00.000-07:00

Well after a week of celebrating Harrison's 16th birthday I finally had time to finish off a couple of projects that have been hanging around for a while. An A-line skirt from The Amy Butler Barcelona skirt pattern and a matching hand-bag that my friend Levineke helped me make. I've never made a bag before and I loved doing it, thanks so much Levin for the help....I'd still be trying to work out how to sew the lining to the outside if you hadn't of helped!!!

The fabric is quilting fabric from Spotlight, I really like the quality, nice and thick and irons well.

I think next time I'll try and do a zip compartment in my bag too, I'm happy that I have a custom size mobile phone pocket though :)

Now I have the apron over-lay cut out to match and hopefully will get that done in the next few days. Also I have some fabric to make an Ottobre women's top to match...just have to find the time!

Of course after I got all dressed up in my new outfit...where did I go??? Spotlight of course, where else ;)

The picture quality isn't fabo, I really need to learn to take pictures!

My Princess in her new Jule top.

2009-07-20T19:52:00.000-07:00

I have to admit I wasn't 100% sure about the fabrics after I had made the Jule but once I put it on Gracie this morning, I am LOVING it! It really needs to be worn with jeans, anything else would be too busy I think. Anyway here's my doll-baby this morning in her new top, she loves it, especially the pocket! And don't you just love her "model" faces - no idea where she got those expressions from!

My Jule is finally finished!!

2009-07-19T18:32:00.001-07:00

After a full-on weekend with lots of parties, visitors etc etc I didn't get much chance to finish it off. So this morning I had a bit of spare time before work and finally finished it.

I used some Spotlight fabric from my stash because I wasn't sure how hard/easy it would be and I didn't want to waste my "good" fabrics. I have to say that the hood and the pocket, the two parts I was worried about were actually really easy and I enjoyed sewing them. The hood is lined because I'm sick of seeing stitching lines in my children's hood, so I lined it in the opposite fabric...looks much better that way I think. I love love love the pocket and went to town with top-stitching around it...love top-stitching, my fave part of sewing.

The frills are what annoyed me the most. I decided against the lettuce edge and went with a folded edge where the material is doubled over...no need for a hem that way. I do like the results but geez I hate doing frills...yucko. The double stitch, all the thread that needs to be pulled at the end...does my head in ;)

I have no idea why this pic is sideways as it isn't on my camera or computer...you'll just have to turn your screens to see my awesome top-stitching - hahah

Will get a picture with the model at a later time as she's not here at the moment, off enjoying a day with her Grandy and Grandpa.

Start of the Jule

2009-07-16T17:49:00.001-07:00

Lettuce edges.

Outing in some of the new creations.

2009-07-12T00:13:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to add a couple of pics of my babies in some of the new clothes that I made this week.

My little hoodie addict!

It's very hard to say no to these big brown eyes!!!

Little Miss Licorice Legs...she loves these and they really look so cute on, I'm definitely going to be making these in some more colours!

The "pot-plants" where things hide!

Another hoodie, an Ottobre from 4/2009.

2009-07-11T18:03:00.000-07:00

I think I'm over making hoodies but I wanted to make one more for Edward that was really warm as it's been freezing here in Adelaide. The polar fleece was lurking in my pile just waiting for a cute hoodie pattern to arrive and arrive it did in the for of the latest Ottobre.

As I have been disappointed in the hoods of some of my hoodies where the seam can be seen, I decided to line the hood to alleviate this issue. I'm really happy with the result. I used #14 - Pistachio Chocolate reversible raglan-sleeve top, although I decided not to make it reversible as I thought it would be too bulky but it did help me to get the hood right.

Will get some photos with my "model" later but here's the finished result. Hopefully will be the last hoodie for a while, I'm moving on from hoodie-land ;)

I attached the pocket with my machine blanket stitch which I really liked, just next time I might make the stitch length a little longer. Sorry about the side-ways pic, I have absolutely no clue why blogger is posting it like that!! I'll look into later!

Edward's "new" jeans by Sew Hip!

2009-07-10T00:15:00.000-07:00

My Edward has grown up but definitely not out, he's a little stick man. Clearly takes after his Daddy there, definitely not his Mummy ;)

Anyway he needs new jeans desperately. I went shopping on Monday to try and find some but the size 4s are just massive and even when they are pulled in really tight they are still too big, the size 3s that we have here are all ankle freezers....not a good look in the middle of a cold winter.

So on Monday my Sew Hip! magazine arrived as if on purpose...inside was an idea to get more wear out of jeans for children by adding some fabric. I decided to take his daggiest pair of jeans for a trial just in case it was a disaster (after some of my sewing efforts this week was a good chance!....oh by the way my skirt zip looks awesome now, will post pics later).

I'm pretty happy with the results, cost me absolutely nothing as we already had the jeans and the fabric I insertered was left over from the "Olivia" I made him a couple of weeks ago. By chance he was wearing his top today so when I finished the jeans he looked all co-ordinated (total fluke!)

Sorry about the photos but my camera battery died and these were the only 3 I had taken.

Anyway he is happy...so according to the formula

Happy E = Happy Mummy

He wanted me to take a pic of the back....looks like he's got a little tail - haha...it the hoodie of his "Olivia". You can see from this pic that the size 3 is plenty wide enough for him too!

Ottobre 4/2009 - Licorice cropped leggings

2009-07-08T01:32:00.000-07:00

Well my Ottobre FINALLY arrived today, I swear the rest of the world must have had theirs before I did this time....I was starting to get worried.

Anyway wanted to get something started and finished today so decided on an easy project...well what I thought was easy....the Licorice cropped leggings. Easy to trace and cut off, no dramas...until I realised there were 22...yep...22 pin-tucks!! I've never sewn a pin-tuck in my life, was a baptism of fire!!

So anyway here they are, I'm happy with them and they look really comfy. I trace off a 110, I think next time I'll do a 116 as they seem a little small, which will be fine for now but not for spring. The fabric is actually a lot darker than my pic shows but I'm a lame photographer, what can I say!

Far out brussell sprout!!

2009-07-06T00:56:00.000-07:00

I had to keep it polite but aaaaaaagggggghhhhh.

Finally decided to attempt the invisible zip in my Amy Butler Barcelona skirt. I have had this fabric cut out for ages and I've finished the matching bag but wanted to have it all finished before I blogged about it.

Anyway I've never put in an invisible zip, it was going really well, my new fabo zipper foot was working a treat. Pity I can't work out the right side v wrong side of zip. Here's my effort...guess I'll be doing a bit of unpicking tonight while watching Masterchef.

Edward's new hair-cut and new Farbenmix hoodie.

2009-06-29T21:26:00.000-07:00

My Mum cut Edward's hair yesterday, he looks so grown up now! My baby boy is growing up, he is such a sweet boy 99% of the time ;)

I am loving the Farbenmix "Olivia" pattern and have made him another hoodie top using this pattern. Even though it is a girl pattern it adapts well for a boy too, I have made the hood part a little shorter than the pattern and have adjusted the sides to suit a boy.

He loves his hoodie tops!

A lovely day at home.

2009-06-24T01:52:00.000-07:00

Wednesdays are our "stay at home" day (when possible!). It's lovely not to rush to get out of the house before 8.30am and to have the whole day to play. Yesterday I collected my overlocker, which had been in for a service and I was keen to see if it was working properly again. So with that thought I decided to make some aprons for the children which I'd been meaning to do for a long time.

I already had the fabric and had used the some of the "apron" fabric to make an apron for my Mum for Mother's Day. The turkey fabric I bought at Spotlight a month or more ago and though it would look good as an apron for a boy. The black and white fabric was also used in my Mum's apron and I decided to make the aprons reversible, good idea considering how messy my children are!!

The overlocker worked like a dream and I was really happy with how well the aprons turned out....one small issue, Gracie decided that she needed to cut fabric too and decided to cut the neck loop!!!! After a minor freak..by me...I decided it would be ok just to tie it anyway...phew!

Gracie wouldn't give me a nice smile today so I had to be satisfied with a 50% smiley rate with my children!

After the aprons were made we decided that they needed to be put to good use and made the weet-bix and marshmallow slice that was on the Make it Perfect blog. Yummo. I made the marshmallow pink at Gracie's insistance...everything is pink with her ;)

Edward loved smashing up the Weet-Bix!

Gracie was a little more gentle!

A bit of a mix.

Yummy...time to eat!

The finished product.

All in all a lovely day.

My little artist.

2009-06-20T00:32:00.001-07:00

Gracie was asked to participate in a session with some other Down Syndrome children in creating an art-work to be auctioned at the Foundation 21 dinner. She absolutely loved it and what a wonderful place, I'm thinking of doing some of the school holiday programs with my two little ones...goodness knows I have no artistic bone in my body so I need somebody else to help ;)

I'm looking forward to seeing the end product after Janine (from Little Picassos) has completed it.

So proud of my little girl she was the youngest by far and did a great job too...well for a 5 year old ;) After the canvas, she sat and drew for ages and even did a cover for a Christmas card. She had an absolute ball!

Farbenmix - Olivia

2009-06-10T04:57:00.001-07:00

After being stuck inside for almost a week, due to my little Princess being struck down with a virus that impacted badly on her asthma, I completed a couple of sewing projects.

I've been wanting to make the Olivia dress for a long time and a fellow sewing friend told me how simple it was, so I finally plucked up the courage to make one for Gracie. Seriously if I'd known how easy it was I'd have made a dress ages ago.

I stuck with the undress and didn't bother with the pocket, then I decided to adjust the pattern for Edward and made a top for him with the same hood. Now that I know what the pattern is about I'll get more creative.

Anyway I'm happy with my first attempts of this pattern.

Gracie was in a very grumpy mood and didn't want her picture taken but I finally got a smirk out of her when I asked them to show me the back.

Little chefs.

2009-06-02T16:49:00.000-07:00

My children love cooking, well rather they love licking the beaters. One of my next sewing projects will be to make them an apron each.

Daddy's little helpers

2009-05-31T19:00:00.000-07:00

Gracie and Edward love to help Daddy...even when their defiition of helping is different to Marty's!

After all the rain we have had lately our back yard looked like a jungle, time to call in the Jungle Tamers!!

I'm sure it took Marty 5 times as long to mow but everyone had fun.