Keeping an eye on progress

The chooks are keeping their eyes on me, literally. They have taken to flying onto the kitchen window sill and talking to me. When they can't see me, they call out madly, even waking Master 7 at times! I may have posted these pics before - it's been a while since I posted anything at all.

I have had a dear friend help me cleanse the fabric stash. I had been getting out of control. There was just too much - yes it IS possible! Projects I wanted to undertake were being drowned out by the mountains of fabric I had acquired.

As a result of the big purge, 2 garbage bags of fabric sit in the boot of my car. I will get around to taking them to Salvos, I will. Eventually.

I have spent the last week making a quilt top for our bed, with some gorgeous fabric of the Provence variety. No Kate, not Shabby Shite, bright reds, blues, yellows. Sounds hideous? To many perhaps. I love it, and in 8 weeks time when I get it back from the quilter, I will photograph it and post. I backed it with a double bed doona cover I collected from an Op Shop over Summer for $2. This makes up for the $110 for wadding and fabric, and $117 for quilting. Bloody expensive habit!

Also on the cards is a dress for me, using Burda 7671. I have been wanting a wrap dress for a while that covers more than a size 18, and this looks to be it. I'm making it out of a jersey with a slight pattern, so should be quite forgiving. Will let you know how it goes.

Lovely to be back to blogging - feel ready to slide back into it and get back into creativity at the same time.

Hope all is well with you.

J

Handmade birthday presents for kids

I am putting together a booklet for my craft group on handmade birthday presents for children. These are generally projects adults will make for kids, but may include some ideas for kids to make for their friends and siblings.

In the past, I have made various presents, and have decided to collate some simple projects that anyone can do. I am not claiming any of these as my original ideas, and credits will be attributed. What are your craft ideas for kids' presents? I have a couple more in my head, not yet made, which I hope will make it into this booklet. I may have bitten off more than I can chew....

apron

pinny

pillowcase dress

knitted back pack

pram quilt

Air guitar by redmag!

Poncho

Dress-ups stand

Crayon melts

Apron

bibs

bunting

hair accessories

craft rolls

library bags

skirts

cushions

tops

booties

knitted food

Felt food

Mugs painted by kids


And examples of beautiful gifts by this amazing crafter, who's permission is not yet sought - E we need to talk!

Journals
Skirts
Car tidy
Puppets
Fabric Boxes
Lacing cards
Texta rolls
Car neck cushions
Doll's clothes
Board games
Books we have written and illustrated

What else have I forgotten??!

MMaM Project One!

So have you bought or borrowed The Book? Everyone is talking about and snapping up Pip's lovely creation!


My mothers' group bought one for the library and it happens to have come home with me (thanks Rachel!)

I had a go this morning of Project One - the Teeny-tiny Goody-two-shoes.


Miss M seemed to think they were ok - I think that the pink buttons I added (Miss M loves buttons!) should have been red, but not bad for a first attempt. Hoping to do 2 more pairs before the weekend for Miss S and Master C just because their feet are tiny enough to fit into them!

Only a teeny bit of swearing involved in this project, so perfect for beginners and confident seamstresses alike. Fabric was left over from obi belt of dress I made for Miss 3 for Mr BBs 40th after being inspired by Little Munchkins. Great project for re-using scraps.

Can You Please Help?

Can You Help? Please ask your networks!

I am searching hard for a needle plate (B) for a very old Janome Overlocker JL-603A

As you know I would prefer to re-use, re-cycle an existing machine than buy something new. The issue is the machine that has been generously offered is missing a stack of accessories. I can get hold of everything else, just not a needle plate (kinda useful to have....)


I await your comments!

There will be a fabric bundle and sewing notions mailed off to the helpful peep who can assist! I will pay postage etc.

Many, many thanks.

J

It's been a long time, been a long time, been a long.....

It really has been a long time since I blogged. Unintentionally. After a few weeks, my bloglines stand at 533 and I may have to clear them and start again. Easter has come and gone. School holidays came and went. Sewing made a regular appearance on my to-do list. I had a lovely evening whipping up presents for littlies.

A top for Pops from Sew Hip - she looks super-cute in lemon and turned 2 this week.

Jonty turned 2 and got a pair of pants that over time will become shorts (the beauty of the draw-string waist).

Russian dollies for Miss 2 and Pops to cuddle and play with.

A skirt for K who just turned 3. K loves pink, her mum prefers black, skulls, etc. Here thanks to Spotlight they can both be happy!

We had a week in Melbourne during which I had some time to myself in the beautiful city, saw friends and family, celebrated Mr BB's 40th birthday, and made it back up the Hume to Canberra.

Mr BB then fell ill with meningitis and spent some days in hospital. Scary time. What do you do when a Dr says to you: "He'll either be better in 24 hours or he'll be dead" ????? I did very little. I kept it together around the kids. I catastrophised when they were at school. I envisaged the kids and I living in a caravan in rural Victoria. Without an annex. I swore that Life Insurance was something we should spend on. I prayed. I cried. I knitted feverishly.

I visited The Man I Have Loved for 15 years who was residing in isolation. After donning a mask, gloves and a yellow gown I sat with him. He oscillated between sleep and hallucinations. Morphine for pain. I sat there in the "dress-ups" that were supposedly to prevent me becoming infected. It seemed pointless really. The night before I had sat with him for hours in emergency. Holding his hand, kissing his forehead, pretty much rolling in any germs to be had.

Thankfully, he's now home, and very much on the improve. Time will bring good health and strength. The knitting has continued and I have immersed myself in my sock. I began this sock years ago. It has been unpicked, re-worked, thrown aside, and fiddled with. I spent an age working out how to knit in the round. Then I paused a few months to work out how to turn the heel. Then again it lay waiting for me to work out how to pick up stitches and do the foot. I was so worried about Mr BB that I didn't even pause to worry about how to graft a toe. If craft is therapy, then it has really been a wonderful way to get through the week.



One down, one to go! I wore it last night though and loved the feel of my first hand-knitted sock. Maybe I can do the second one in a shorter time frame.

Pics and words following later in the week of happy op-shoppiness of the past month.

Take care,

J.

Yes I DO still sew!

In the case of Buttons versus the Blog, we submit the following evidence that the Janome is still fighting fit and producing merrily.

Of course there have been more tiered skirts. They are a staple, and I love them. Question is, would you buy one? What's the going rate for wonky craft?! I'm no professional but I do need to feed the habit... At a market stall not a shop where you expect a bit more like perfection, what price tag would sing to you? I'm interested in feedback from you. I have a number in my head - is it too low? Too high? Just an aside.



There have been bags using up scraps and thrifted zippers, from my head as well as on line tutorials. These are destined as gifts not commercial gain, as they are not my 'original' designs. (What IS original anyway???!)




Also a present for a great friend who ADORES President Obama. I used a free downloadable image of a cross-stitch pattern and printed it onto silk. Using interfacing and trim to 'frame' the image, it now graces a t-shirt for her!

Finally a wonky-looking (as it's full already!) bag for Master 7's computer-gamey thing. Necesary not beautiful. I was not going to buy one for $20 - I knew there was polar fleece and velcro around here somewhere that could be used!

In closing, in the pile of things to sew are: a dress for Miss 2 for the upcoming 40th of a certain BB family member; PJ pants for me; mending; a memory quilty thingy idea for a pressie; and innumerable other options for bunting; tiered skirts; and pants for Master 7. Elasticated pants (necessary for the Asperger in him) are hard to find past size 6.

As long as the family don't want the dining table back soon I will be fine to continue sewing daily. Cheap therapy!

And for gratuitous cute value, here is Miss 2 colouring in her Easter page for the local competition. No parental help here, an entry from a two-year-old is in fact done by... a two-year-old! Note that the toasted cheese sandwich finger prints are her own original touch.

j

"Happy days are here again...

... The sky outside is blue again!"

There is nothing like an open afternoon to create without any time pressures. This weekend I had such an afternoon. Miss 2 and Master 7 were with friends, Mr BB was bike riding; so I had no impediments.

Skirts made a triumphant reappearance on the agenda. I love these. I now have a little system going when I do them, and no longer have to think. After nearly ten down, I am still not finished with them! A dear friend has offered a skill swap for some of her artwork, so another one to make for a little poppet! Yay!

Size 2 for Miss 2 with thrifted denim and ric rac, and stash fabrics. A fine leaf pattern from years ago, and a more recent toadstool print from Japan.

Lemon yellow for my niece Miss almost-2, little PP. This is also lined as the cotton voile I made it from is so fine.

Size 4 for Miss 2 as a longer skirt, to grow into. Thrifted everything except the floral, which was a 30cm strip from my old work.

Also made a library bag for Miss 2 who starts 3-year-old kinder in a couple of weeks. Handles used to be a draw-string in a pair of Miss 2's track pants.


Tried my hand at some more piecework for a patchwork class. The fabrics were all provided, so I did an eye-spy cushion for Miss 2. I'm no good with novelty prints usually. Miss 2 was a little overwhelmed too I think, as she keeps the backing up (a mermaid print) rather than the chaotic front. Zippered for easy washing it may not be here long.


Love, love, love having the Janome back out, and reluctant to put it away. Do need to clean her out though - vacuum the fluff out etc, oil the bits, change the needle. Do you clean your machine regularly? Ever? It works so much better when you do!

SO SICK OF The Little Mermaid! Kids watch it too much. Miss 2 has taken to quoting it: "Dad, I'm not a child!" which of course is pretty funny.
CAN'T STOP EATING choc-coated bullets - the choc part is fake, the licorice is painfully chewy, but they are. as Mr BB would say, Spanish! (Moorish)
READING Pride and Prejudice (Did you watch Lost in Austen? Rather fun take on an old classic, complete with Mr Darcy/Colin Firth comparisons and wet shirt scene!), Does my Bum look Big in This Clutter, Brideshead Revisited, TV Guide.
WATCHING Life on Mars Series 2 (UK version) and 24 (Jack's back!)
WORKING on my CV to get a job that is not cleaning, retail or reception. Those years at Uni won't be wasted!
LOVING the cooler weather in Canberra this week. I'd forgotten what it was like to be cold. Lovely!

xx