A Pretty Little Pouch

I have been dying to make up a pouch with Toni's Zippered Pouch Tutorial. One of my daughter's friends turned 6 this week and she will be having her party tomorrow afternoon and Ruth wanted to give her a little pouch for her little things she has. (okay so I may have swayed her slightly :p ).

Anyway... so I did it! I made not only the zippered pouch, but I also did my first ever piece of patchworking on the front panel. Im very impressed and the hand embroidery was really like a breath of fresh air after all the sequining I have been doing for Ruth's Calisthenics costumes.

The front of the pouch, the back is a panel of the bird fabric you see on the right hand side here.

Close up of my embroidery. :) I really am a fan of stem stitch, ever since I learned to do it I always use it for lettering, I like how it hugs the curves.

The inside fabric is some floral print that I had laying around, I used it at Christmas time for some market dresses.

Anyway... So I was really impressed with the tutorial, it was very well explained and pictured :) and its such a fantastic little project to use up some of my scraps! Look out for more of these in the future!

Admitting Weakness

I set to completing my wonderful cool batman outfit on Saturday Afternoon, which I was confident was going to be AWESOME!! anyway looking at pictures online so that I could get a good idea of what to do, My wonderful daughter came up and said "ohhhh so that's who batman is... My friend already has a batman outfit mummy" **insert cry of defeat here** I was devastated. I couldnt believe that my beautiful work was going to waste.. I decided that I wasnt going to give a batman costume if he already had one and searched and searched for ideas of what to make him.

Eventually I came across this... Art Bag Tutorial which is quite girly, but I thought I could whip one up and then maybe chuck in the batman cape as well... this is where my weakness comes in.

I am prone to "whipping things up" at the last second. But then I decide whilst making it, "oh this would look great with *insert whatever embellishment i think of here* on it. And this is what happened with the Art Bag...

 

I most certainly couldnt give a plain art case to someone, so I decided to do a small amount of hand embroidery... as you can see, my weakness came back and I did more than a small amount of hand embroidery. But it does look AMAZING! All of the other mums were green with envy so I no doubt will have made 50 of these by the end of the year... :-p

Complete with a ben 10 colouring book which of course is very cool right now, this went off to its new owner yesterday afternoon. I (without exaggerating) finished it 5 minutes before we had to leave, still in my pjs. Thank goodness for Mick being home or we would have been horribly late as I would have had to get us all ready in 5 minutes! The photos arent very well staged as I took them 2 seconds before we left for the party. 

Weakness.... it sometimes pays to give in... 

Finally!!!

Something Non-Nappy Related! Nappies (cute little balls of fluff that they are) have taken over my sewing room lately. There are random bits of nappy everywhere, I really need more storage so it doesn't look like a bomb has hit that room!!

Anyway, I have been this week doing some other sewing. Having a week off from WeePantz so that I can get some other sewing done. I have half finished a pair of jeans, well its more like 2/3 finished but yes im angry at them. And have been invited to a few parties (well DD has been invited,, im just her hanger on). I thought (as every sew-a-holic does) that I would make the presents.

My friend's little girl is turning 4 and she is apparently cooking mad. So I made her this apron.

front

back

I used See & Sew Pattern #4585 for the basic shape but didn't really follow the instructions as I (as usual) had an image in my head of what I wanted to make and the pattern was just giving me a leg up so I didn't have to draft. Yep! Completely LAZY!!

So I used the basic shape from the pattern left the front pocket off (little kids don't need a pocket on their apron, it gets filled with so many useless bits of crap, oh hang on that happens to grown up aprons too :-p) I used some very thin batting in the middle and then backed it with the sage cotton lawn. 

Also, instead of using D rings for the neck strap I used velcro. I was tempted to use snaps, but the snap press was packed away at the time, so I reached for the closest possible fastening equipment that wasn't a zip.

And then for the final touch...

...I embroidered her name.

For the embroidery stitching I used Kirsty's version of stem stitch which I DID find so easy to do thanks Kirsty!! 

I am really pleased with how this turned out. I have no "oh dear that didn't work out the way I imagined it" moments and it came together really easily. I really hope she (and her mummy) likes it!

Now off to make a batman/generic super hero costume! I have made the black cape and had one go at making a batman mask (complete disaster!). This is for a little boy that DD goes to school with. Who is having a party on the same day. AHH to be 4 and the most popular girl in prep... 

In a few weeks we are attending a dress up party so that will be fun for mummy, might have to start that costume now!! haha!!  Also got to start to make things for DD's 5th birthday party in a few weeks... so much fun... so much work and most of all... SO MUCH SEWING!! good thing Id rather be doing nothing else... :-)

Until next time readers... might be sooner than we think, perhaps I will successfully make a beautiful batman mask and want to show it off, or my jeans will start behaving themselves!!

Amy :-)

SURPRISE PRESENTS!!

Yesterday I was told to stay at home so that I would be here when my two birthday gifts arrived (in 2 separate packages). I sat by the front door all day... yes... literally, so no work got actually done yesterday, except cutting out one pair of little explorer pants for Olly. LOL!!

Anyway, so to my surprise the first gift arrived, I had  been told to be very careful when opening this one as it is delecate, so it arrived, and I opened it.... inside was this....

Clock made my my sister Carmel. Photos are of me, my partner and my kids. This will take pride of place on the wall above my sewing machines :-) what a talented sister I have.

I then waited once again (and very impatiently) for the second package. It actually looked like it wasnt going to arrive. I was about to leave my post next to the door and I saw a little Toll van drive into my driveway. I got incredibly excited, ran outside and almost mauled the driver!!

I was really really hopeing it was going to be an embroidery machine... wishful thinking I know, but a girl can dream!!! right?? Anyway, so I opened up the package and RIPPED out the invoice sitting in the top of the box and sure enough my mother had purchased me a new LAPTOP!! replacement for my old one which carked it a few months back!! fantastic new piece of equipment!! and means I can have my own special computer for my business which is great, I can keep all the **lovely things my partner downloads** off it!!!

Lots of squealing and phonecalls followed the arrival and consequent opening of the laptop and I now have it set up with some of my files on it. I just have to transfer a few from the desktop and Im set!!

a picture of my lovely new acer computer. has a built in webcam and lots of lovely HD features. Im just happy to have my own computer again!!

I feel soooo spoiled!!!!!

Amy xo

Some sewing...

As I said, I bought the Make it Perfect Little Explorer Pattern while I was away for Christmas. I was so excited to use my new pattern (and fabrics) so I made up a little pair of the overalls for my nephew. I will make another pair for Olly soon. Apparently I am getting more fabric for my birthday :D

little explorer overalls

Pattern: Little Explorer by Make it Perfect

Size: 1

Fabric: Ivory Cotton Drill & Michael Miller Print (I think...)

Ive also been doing alot more prep for the Markets that I have coming up. So Ive been making some larger, pop over style bibs. I think they are just drool worthy and hope they sell really well so I can make more!!!

WeePantz Pop Over Bibs

Size: OSFA

Pattern: My own measurements

Fabric: 100%cotton prints (from Spotlight mainly), Terry Towelling backing & cotton Ribbing

I have also been doing some unpicking today. I LOATHE UNPICKING It is the bane of my existence. But, alas, once its done its done, so I attempt to stick to it. Funny all the "other" things I can think of to do rather than sewing and crafting when unpicking has to be done. I think my washing has never been more up-to-date!!!!!!

Anyway, yes the blog was another unpicking procrastination... :P I will get back to it... why on earth dont they invent an electric unpicker? perhaps I need to teach DD how to do it!! HEEEEE HEEEE

Amy xo

Happy 2010!!

Well... Ive missed a bunch of updating over the holidays, but that is because I was busy sewing and then went away... Good excuse right??

Firstly... Thankyou to my swap sender who sent me this beautiful apron and pot holder for my secret santa gift. :-)

Also, here is some photos of the gifts I made, although there were lots more gifts and I forgot to photograph them all... WHOOPS!!

Clockwise from top left:

Crayon Roll; Skirt (My own pattern); Messenger Bag (Burda); Rice bags.

So on for the new year!! :-)

Amy xo

Advent Blog-A-Long Day 15

Yeah... so I missed a few days over the weekend!! I have a good cause, and that is because I was sewing! Thats a good excuse right?!?! Anyway.. so I made 13 dresses on sunday its battlestations getting ready for the market on Sunday this week. Im hopeing it will be worth all my effort :D

Yesterday however I spent some time sewing a gift for my mother in law. This will be her christmas gift, and I really hope she loves it!!

I am so very very proud of myself with this one. the front panel is all hand embroidered and its the first time Ive done so much hand embroidery on one piece. Im definately addicted to hand stitching now!!

The pattern was in the November issue of Handmade Magazine and is by strath sewing and quilting.

So yes... I just have to put in the cushion and thats another present down!

I am now officially addicted to hand stitching and my next planned project (after christmas) is a hexagon hand pieced sewing bag that I found in a book I borrowed from the library. I might even take away my stitching on holiday when we go on boxing day!!

Advent Blog-A-Long Day 8!

Well! A big couple of days here! Ive spent a fair bit of time in the sewing room, not only sewing, but organising (I will share pics of that on Thursday). And Ive been super busy doing family orientated things, much to the distress of some people, I still have to sew though!! So thus my short posts over the weekend! Mister WeePantz was home so mummy did some work!!!!

So here's a bunch of Photos of what we have been up to!!!

 

We put up the Christmas Tree!!

Ruth was very excited to decorate the entire thing herself, and Oliver was very beautiful, with tinsel draped all over him whilst sitting in the high chair looking on. There's no playpen around it or anything, so I have now decided I just need to record myself screaming OLIVER!! STOP TOUCHING THE CHRISTMAS TREE!! Im sure it will get alot of use!!

1 complete secret santa gift!!

 I finished and posted both of my secret santa gifts today. I must say I am nervous of how much there is, and really hope my SS recipients both like their gifts. Its always hard when you dont know someone well to send them a super thoughtful gift. But alot of time went into choosing these gifts so Im hopeing that they are recieved with a smile!

I took the kids to the zoo with my Mother In Law

I will post more pics of this adventure tomorrow I think as there are so many, and its too difficult to just choose one!! But this is my favourite photo, I thought this sign near the lion enclosure was ace! The kids just loved being able to be so close to animals from places like africa, asia and south america.

Anyway... more on that tomorrow. My newly organised sewing room is SCREAMING to me... Oh no hang on thats the kids tv show that is going, there seems to be alot of screaming on that... Id better go check its not scary!!

Until tomorrow...

Amy xo

Advent Blog-a-long #3 - Dec 3rd (My Creative Space)

Okay so #2 post was on the first and I skipped yesterday... really already shapeing up to being really good at this whole posting thing!! hahaha!!!!!

Well today, I thought I would share a pic of a little gift I made for Ruth's friend's birthday on the weekend. The party was on Saturday, and on Friday night I mentioned to Ruth that we would go buy something for her friend, and then she proceeded to BEG me to make something!! So I threw together a little purse, some bracelets and some hairties.

Ruth's little friend LOVED her gift... sooo glad!!!!

the finished gift just prior to wrapping on.

3 bracelets made from beads I had laying around

2 hairties made from buttons I got in a christmas mixed bag from Spotlight

1 purse (Burda 8235) made from some fabric I picked up at Spotlight.

the finished, wrapped gift, (yes thats christmas paper hahaa) complete with a card I whipped up at the last minute.

Ahh the joys of being unprepared to craft! Turned out pretty good after all!!!

Now back to dresses!!

Amy xo

More creative Spaces HERE

My Creative Space

Okay so today I have 2 creative spaces. The first of which being my dining table where I sat hand sewing some applique for my Christmas secret santa swap on EB. The photo is sneaky for a reason hee hee.

My hand sewing is improving. Funny how now that I know how to do it, I have been adding little handsewn bits to everything!! :-)

The second creative space for me today was in my kitchen. I am making the greatest spag bog ever! I am quite good at combining flavours and before you start inspecting the ingredients, the secret ones that make it so amazing ARENT in the photo! :-D If I went showing that to people, my boyfriend might just leave me for someone else who can cook as good as I can!! haha!!

Hmm so anyway, my laptop is broken **CRY** thus why I am unusually silent. It can be assured that I am keeping busy with sewing and have completed one dress for the markets coming up in December. Its on the 20th so I have a bit of time to fuss around and make them perfect :-) Yes so the master of the house (mister weepantz himself) has told me that Im not allowed to get my laptop fixed until I have had the oven fixed and I have a bit of spare cash. So it might take a while to get my lappy back online. But I have his desktop in the mean time :-) well when hes not home!!!

Anyway, back to ironing some new fabric I picked up the other day at Spotlight. I got a bunch of fat 1/4's some of the fabric I know I will be going back for yardage... :-p

For more creative spaces go HERE

Another One Down..

Here is my second handmade Christmas gift for 2009. A set of skittles just like these ones by london mummy.

I used some paisley fabric by max new that I picked up at my local quilt shop. Instead of using fabric scraps for the ties, I used bias binding and secured it with a running stitch. I also attached felt numbers to each skittle made of felt, attached with a blanket stitch.

This is the first time Ive gotten creative with hand stitching. But I'm so glad I took the timer to sit down and make it right, they look awesome!! Im sure lil Charlie, who is 3 weeks younger than Olly will get some good use out of them!

Next.... Crayon Rolls I think... :-)

One Christmas Present Finished!

Woo Hoo!!!

1 Down, sooooo many to go!!!! I think a certain little girl will be super excited when she opens this one on christmas morning!!!

Well the last few days I have been working on a gift for a friend of mine's little girl. Its her first birthday coming up, so I decided to make her a gift of a nappy and a matching dress.

It is a corset style top with a circle skirt. The pink fabric is a stretch drill and I used bias binding for the straps and loops. I used some lace I got in the Habby swap from EB earlier this year.

The nappy is a white minkee that I put flowers on the back of. I also did hot pink top stitching on the white nappy.

I really Hope my friend (and her bub) like their gift...