My Creative Space

I've been spending a lot of time sitting at my kitchen table the last few days with this view...

I've been sitting and watching the kids play while I sew, like I said last week, and it is really proving to be quite productive. 

I've had a few orders, and with my first market for 2011 being next week I'm fairly busy.

So the kids have a movie or some music on, get to play with their toys and mummy can supervise as well as work :) Yesterday we did finger painting... more on that another day...

Now that the post is back up and running in QLD I also have to post this today, so I had better get moving!!

For more creativeness head over to Kirsty's.

Dont forget the auctions either.... Right hand side bar... I found out yesterday that so far we have collectively raised $45,000!! I feel so privileged to have the opportunity and ability to be involved in this :) Bidding is still open for a few days, so if you have been outbid its not too late :)

My Creative Space

Today I am continuing on with orders from stockists as well as some from friends. And I am also preparing some nappies with matching accessories for the auction. 

I am busy creating time for myself to actually get work done during the school holidays. I feel like every time I go into the sewing room I cant really supervise the kids properly as they are in a completely different room with doors and walls between us. 

So yesterday I just simply decided to move the work to the kids. I set up on the kitchen table and cut some fabric then carted out my sewing machine and got more work done than I would have otherwise. AND the kids were entertained because they had all of their toys, and mummy. So it is definitely the plan for the rest of the holidays. As much as I am creating more work for myself to have to set up and pack up my machines every day, my work time has become more productive which makes it all worth it.

Cutting PUL for Aqua Basics Nappies

I've been nursing a sore finger too.. I busted open the skin on my knuckle when I was cutting through 4 layers of bamboo fabric at once. Perhaps I need an electric cutter, but then I'd probably cut my arm off or something most likely as I am a but of a clutz. Thankfully no blood got on the fabric, in fact it didn't bleed at all....

Today is also my birthday :) The kids have made me some pictures and my Mother In Law sent me a little package which made me feel very special. 

The day has only just begun, but I will most likely spend it working as I said before, lots of work to do and creating to happen! Hopefully I will also enjoy a yummy dinner tonight, that is not cooked by me :-p

Hope you are having a great day and those of you in QLD are safe and dry. 

My Creative Space

Whoops! Skipped another day! 

 I mentioned on Tuesday that I am working on some super secret squirrel things for the markets as gift ideas for Christmas. So that is what has been happening in my creative space lately. Lots of sewing, cutting, and thinking of what I am going to do next! LOL!

I have made the decision to go with a little something that looks a little like this...

I will be making baby blankets to try out at the markets and will be taking the first run of them to Eats & Treats tomorrow night as well as to the Monkey Markets on Sunday.

This one is white cotton with a feature strip on the front with minky on the back and is so beautiful and soft. I will be making up a few, mostly with chenille or flannel on the back, and only a couple with minky on the back for now as I am awaiting a shipment of minky at the moment and don't have many big pieces left :p.

They are a beautiful weight for the coming warmer months and are the perfect size for swaddling or using as a cuddle or pram blanket. I am still unsure how much they will be, I am leaning towards something between $30 & $45. Not sure yet, but I will have to decide soon!!

I have a bunch more that are ready to be sewn as well...

So I will have a nice little pile of them with me at the markets this week to see how they go. They are so beautiful, I hope that they go really well so I can keep making them! 

I have also spent the last few weeks dealing with a little problem that we in the nappy world call "wing droop". I had a few comments from one or 2 of my nappy testers and reviewers lately that there has been some small issues with this on their tester nappies, and of course, the perfectionist in me says "AHH, FIX IT!!" So I have spent a couple of days testing out a new front design of some nappies to deal with wing droop.

As usual, the easiest solution tends to be the best, I simply cut the wings off! I am still deciding whether I will reduce the amount of snaps on the front of the nappy to 6, I probably wont as it will reduce the amount of use it gets. (Ignore my pasty white leg in this photo by the way)

What are you doing in your creative space today? Why not head over to Kirsty's and join in with everyone else and share your creativeness with us all :-)

Amy xo

My Creative Space

Okay so I missed another day... more RNW things to do yesterday, but relax everyone, I am back, I am done with RNW for this year :-)

Today in my Creative Space I have been cutting, pinning, sewing, ironing, washing and buying fabric for bibs and nappies ahead of Saturday and Sunday. (yes, I realise i am completely crazy organising 2 markets for a weekend, but alas, I thought one of the markets was last week and miscalculated my dates... eek!! All is good, I have done this before, and will most likely be crazy and do this again,..

So I bought this fabric today (along with some blue stary fabric) for bibs. I woke up this morning, started organising my work space for the day before breakfast and the school run occurred, and then realised something horrid. I only had about 20 bibs!! now when you generally sell out of bibs in every market you 20 is simply just not enough for 2 markets! So off I trundled to Spotlight. The middle fabric is Michael Miller (from the discounted $5 bin). At least I am assuming it is Michael Miller, It had MMF in the selvage.

I also finally cut into some of this...

Some of these lovely boyish fishies will be gracing my products too. :)

Anyway, off to tend to children, dinner and baths and bed to do. And then more sewing!!

For more spaces head over to kootooyoo

My Creative Space

Well this morning I started cleaning up my creative space, that would be the sewing room, its a complete and utter mess in there most of the time! Sorting out fabric (oh wow! I have so much fabric by the way, I will have to share a photo of that soon) and finding alot of pins!

Anyway, I was almost finished cleaning up and was about to jump on the sewing machine and do some nappies when my posters arrived for RNW so I sat for a few hours preparing them for the MCH offices, shopping centers and library around about to promote the information session we are running on Wednesday next week.

So we are running the session at the Wyndham City Library on Wednesday, all of the info is on the Nappy Network Website. Would love to see you there!

Now back to this...

... massive pile of nappies, I have gotten through some of that now. And will finish it off tomorrow I think ;)

For more creative spaces head over and visit kirsty.

See-ya tomorrow!!

My Creative Space

Hello my lovely readers!

So today in my creative space I have been cutting out nappies again, nothing too exciting... but I have, however been in alot of discussion in the last few days about how people arrange their home offices / studios.

Mine... Hmm... I would like to say that I am AIMING to be organised. I have massive shelves installed and have finally acquired a table that I don't have to fold up every week when I pack the car for the market. 

I have, also discovered that I need far more storage than that which I have and am working on putting in more shelving in my sewing room, mainly by making room by removing the spare bed...  I also think that I need some plastic tubs to store different sized nappy cuts (small or large, and soon NB and XL) to clear up space to have more stuff on a shelf.

I have hidden the majority of the mess... Of course I need more space for my stationary and paperwork and I would LOVE to be able to move my cutting into my studio as well so that I can close the door at the end of the work day.

I have also spent the last few days downloading, installing and eventually figuring out how to run, shopping cart software so I can make a more efficient, easily navigated and used website for WeePantz, there is nothing wrong with my website now, I LOVE my website, I just feel there's a need for a new way of doing things, something I am learning more and more lately with new stockists and more market dates coming up, things are changing around here and I am thinking much more about grown up things like cash flow and marketing.

The software is pretty easy to use, and considering I wrote my current website from code, I'm hoping it will be much easier to get this online... hoping... **crossing fingers**

I've been working hard making so many nappies! I just love the fact that I get to sell my creations and that people (not just my mum, although my mum's opinion is very good too) love them! 

I've also been doing alot of organising for Reusable Nappy Week. 

Organising a meet up and 2 static displays, and I'm on the home stretch now! 

Also, last night, I made muesli bars... I cant figure out how I'm going to get them out of the pan... yes... I should have used baking paper, but I didn't...

 IDEAS?? HELP??

for more spaces head over here... 

My Creative Space

So today in my creative space, I am doing alot of nappy sewing, new fabric is such a joy and a refreshing time. 

Plus, I am doing this....

knot....

through fabric....

sequin on...

bead on...

back through and knot...

cut.... repeat...

Oh the joys of sequining... I've gotta stop feeling bad for not volunteering for sewing duties at school. This one is for the school prep performance and thankfully, there aren't many sequins per outfit, I should get them done today.

To find out who is doing things slightly less monotonous, click here!

My Creative Space

This week in my space I am doing a lot of appliqué and just general nappy sewing for a focus group sample for one of my potential wholesalers. All sounds very interesting doesn't it? well I HOPE to have more news on this soon.

I also confirmed this afternoon that we will be stocking in a handmade baby shop in NSW as well! very exciting, and I will tell you more as things progress :)

Now for the photos... well there has been a lot of appliqué in my space of late. Apparently my Animal Friends Nappies are VERY popular, which is great, and it means I am getting SOOOO much better at appliqué. I can get through one in a couple of minutes now! AWESOME!

The going around of tight corners is proving to be much easier, and looks neat still! I'm pretty excited about this, as it has always been my #1 struggle with appliqué.

I am also loving my new eye embroidery technique. Something Im sure everyone else was up to speed on, and I finally caught up with the bus. LOL! But it looks so much neater and is sooo soo much easier to do!

Voila! Beautiful Froggy! 

Head over to Kirsty's to see what everyone else is up to this week!

My Creative Space

Its been a while since I joined in, school holidays are a massive drain on my computer time, I dont get much done online but nevertheless I AM back!!

This week I finished setting up some shelving in my sewing room. This means that the space is looking SLIGHTLY less cluttered. I am thinking that I need at least one more set of shelves before the place is going to start looking organsied. Or perhaps I need to finish sewing up all of the nappies that are cut out and sitting on the shelves in pieces!!

The two sets of shelves I put against the wall stacked to the top with fabric, notions, half assembled nappies and patterns. You can see the nappies all over the ironing board (all sewn up now though!)

This rack was against the wall where the shelves now are. I love it against here it opens the room up soooo much! You can see all of the callisthenics costumes that I am working on. 5 in total for this girl! I might officially be able to say that I hate sequins. You can also see some fabric hanging on a hanger, I intend to do this with all of my dress, quilting and denim fabrics to free up space. I still have a massive pile of fabric sitting on the bed (my sewing room doubles as the spare room) to be sorted and this is how I will be storing it for ease of finding it and accessing it.

Ive also been spending alot of time playing dressups and getting all kinds of loving looks from the little man :)

Until next time... More creative spaces here

My Creative Space

Today my space is on my bed curled up with a hot cup of tea and fabric that I am cutting out for appliqué.

Its a lovely snuggly escape from the kids who are driving me INSANE with the school holidays on and Olly getting his first 3 molars all at the same time. 

I have also this week completed a couple of tasks. Oh you lovely readers probably thought I had been kidnapped or something... well in some description I was probably kidnapped by my sewing machine. I have a market this Sunday so its all stations go with the mass sewing spree!

I have finally completed the first batch of wet bags for the shop . Mind you, with the lack of computer time around here lately I haven't had time to upload them to the actual store, but you can view all of the designs on my facebook page.

I also took part in a stitched postcard swap recently, this is a scanned image of the front of my card. It was my first ever stitched postcard, and I am SUCH an ametuer when it comes to hand stitching and hand appliqué. But I really enjoyed it so much and will probably complete some more stitched post cards in the future. I will do a post about the swap when my card arrives. It is coming from the USA so it might take a little while to get here :)

Anyway, so lots happening here, I am also working on costumes for Ruthie's callisthenics costumes, but I wont be able to show photos of those until after the first competition I don't think. Just the rules. But they are very involved and I do believe I HATE sequins and also Lycra in general. But they are really going to look great when I finally get them finished.

Once again I do apologise for my long gaps between posts. I am spending so much time at the sewing machine that when I'm not there, I am generally feeding the children, at the gym or cleaning my house which most of the time even when cleaned up looks like a small atomic bomb hit it with the kids pulling the toys out as soon as I put them away!

Until next time... I'm hoping it wont be such a long gap this time!

Now I'm off to stop whining about my un-updated website and update it!!!! For more creative spaces head over here

My Creative Space

 Today in the space there is a massive pile of nappies ready to be finished for my store stocking on Tuesday Night. I am putting up the preview tomorrow morning, so in order to upload it in time, its gotta be ready! and had photos taken of it etc etc etc.... So thats pretty much taking over everything right now...

The Jacket, from last week well its still in the process of being finished. It has taken a slight detour of the back burner while I finish off this stuff for the shop. 

I have also printed out this pattern to make myself a dress. Apparently all of my clothes are around 3 years old (pre Olly pregnancy) so they are all falling apart at once. Some of them have lasted about 5 or 6 years, so its a good stint, but its time for new stuff, so I will get sewing!

I have also been procrastinating at times cooking up a storm in the kitchen, I made crumpets on Tuesday... DELICIOUS! But I need to work on it, perhaps that will be today's procrastination baking adventure, and Soup (cauliflower, and can you believe it is the only meal my son has devoured in about a month! he is very off his food right now so just snacking) and Casserole yesterday and at 5am this morning whipped up some muffins for Ruth to take to school for Australia's Biggest Morning Tea.

So busy busy, and I cant find my camera cord which will allow me to share all of my beautiful work with you! But rest assured, when I find it, you will see...

More Creative Spaces HERE.

My Creative Space

Today in the space I am clearing out getting ready for my store stocking on June 1st. So I am working to finish this jacket before the weekend. I have done one fitting so far, and it looks and feels good. 

Here is a sneaky peek at the pocket, I have never done a lot of the things I have to do here, like easing the seams together, doing an in-seam pocket and the lining is something I am yet to tackle but it will be something I've not done either.

So far so good, going slowly and paying attention is the key.

that thread laying across the top is annoying me, but I'm not about to go and take a new photo, I have sewing to do! 

For more spaces, check out Kirsty's place

My Creative Space

Today in "the space" I am making Bibs.

  

At my last market I sold out of bibs which was a pretty crazy inconvenience for my customers because there weren't many to choose from by the end. (don't look at my ugly guitar playing mangled hands haha)

 so for the market this weekend I am making up HEAPS!!

And I'm using lots of new fabrics which is exciting :) Apparently I have been sewing so fast that the machine gets speed wobbles, the cotton pops of the spoke on top of the machine and then breaks! haha. That has never happened before...

Next week I will be back on nappies, so I am enjoying the non snapping week! hee hee. Until then... I should probably go back to sewing before the boy awakes from his nap...

For more spaces, head over here

My Creative Space

Today in the space, I have sitting this pattern...

Image from here

also, 2m of aqua/green satin, 1.5m of gold trimming, and a zip.

Princess Ruth wants to go to a costume party as one of the barbie 3 musketeers. 

So I bought this pattern, basically so I don't have to draft the bodice of this dress. I will be making a knee length circle skirt piece to attach to the bodice so it is the same as the movie character and putting some tulle underneath so it sits out rather than draping straight down. Also cutting off the draping long piece of the sleeves and leaving out the excessive unnecessary pleating on the top half. (there is a second view of the pattern that doesn't include the pleating) 

I know you are all jealous of my fantastic amazing need to sew children's princess dresses! I hope it goes well because I don't want to go back down to spotlight, tail between legs saying to them "failed miserably, more fabric please!" 

I will report progress this afternoon when I've sewn some of it together and done ALOT of swearing at the satin because its slippery... Any tips for sewing satin are much appreciated at this point! Going slow is my current idea!

WISH ME LUCK!!

For more creative spaces, head over to Kirsty's

My Creative Space

Okay so it has been a long long time since I have paid any attention to my poor little neglected blog! I have, however been very very busy on school holidays with my gorgeous daughter and then went away to beautiful sunny Queensland for a week! 

Ahh that was lovely and warm, and then came home to be greeted with the freezing cold Melbourne weather. Although, I have it on good authority... ok well it was the weather thing on igoogle, but still... the only authority I have, that it will warm up for the market on the weekend.

A couple of photos from our last day in Queensland...

Ruth and her cousin Charlotte who she still has been crying about missing!

Olly sitting on my sister's beautiful green grass! mind you, all grass looks amazing compared to my brown dead grass!

It was a fantastic time away, however short. We had a lovely time and it was nice to see my side of the family who all live in Brissy. 

Now... on to the creative stuff!

I've been doing a few things since I have been back from QLD. I didnt set my machines back up until Monday giving myself a few days off which I spent my time playing the sims all the time!! Oh how I love that game. I wish I could just put up a wall whenever I had an extra $100 and change my body shape by going in a body shaping machine!! Ahh back to reality...

So since Monday Ive been setting myself up for making some more nappies. When I sew them, I do them in stages, so I can make roughly (children willing) 30-50 in a week, I cut one day, sew the boosters another do the snaps another blah blah, all comes together very easily when I stick to my routine!

Yesterday I did the snaps on 50 nappies... oh my how my arm is incredibly sore!!

It's quite hard taking a photo of yourself snapping!

Anyway, Ive now looked into a foot press cos they look easier! hee hee... I must say that one of the advantages of working from home, is that you can work in your trackies and your boyfriend's jumper and no-one ever has to find out! As you can see from the above picture.

The other thing I attempted this week was taking some new photos for my website. This was unsuccessful... my model wasnt very co-operative, The fact that it was around 15 degrees probably was the reason! 

**note to self... turn on the heater next time!**

NOT enjoying it at all!

That's all thats happening in my creative space this week! Today is sewing day so I better get back to it, although... the child is not really willing :-( darn teeth!

For more creative spaces, head over to here!

My Creative Space

Wow this week has gone super fast! I feel like the gap between Thursdays is slowly becoming shorter. Which apparently is true now by a slight shift in day length due to the recent Chilean earthquake according to NASA. But is that really the reason for my lack of ability to keep up? Probably not! Most likely, the cause of my surprise at weekly intervals is due to being pretty darn busy!

Anyway, that was completely irrelevant... haha! I have this week been making nappies and other general wares for my market this weekend in Williamstown. (details over to the side of the posting area)

Whilst awaiting an order of about 600 snaps I thought Id get stuck into my other wares, which has become quite small of late due to summer ending and me packing away all of those lovely dresses that I was selling over the warmer months. I gave a small preview of some of these pants last week, made in denim. This week I cut into the cordorouy, mmm I love cord, it is a wonderful winteriffic fabric. 

They aren't complete yet, so this batch is still a work in progress, not ready for sale. I have to stitch on the faux fly and possible (not sure yet) appliqué on. Oh and my weepantz labels. But I am, I must admit, falling in love with these pants...

These, however, are my favourite, they are beautifully vintagey retroish. (Yes, Part of my creative space this week is making up verbs :-p) Anyway, they are my favourite, and if I was allowed, I possibly would wear these myself, but ahh alas, I am not a children's size 2...

In other news, the girl has started school full time this week, so that's 5 full days. Its a little sad for her mummy as I miss her a lot. I also miss our creative moments which I have been known to include in this Thursday digest. So it's just me and the boy now. I attempt to make him do creative stuff like drawing with me, but he's much more interested in rummaging through my scraps bucket and wearing the long thin pieces as scarves, hats or belts. Otherwise, all he wants to do is this...

EAT!

Yes, my son, old hollow legs here, I will say he's being creative because the Vegemite is so lovingly smeared all over his face... And just before he was painting himself with Yoghurt. Perhaps my son is creative after all, he just requires a bit of inspiration (yes, the inspiration is food....)

Okay, well I've gone off on a motherly bragging tangent and I must go attend to this boy as he is wandering around with a bottle bag as a handbag with a hackey sack inside and cant get it out...

For more creative spaces head over here

My Creative Space

This week, I have been busily testing out my new pattern for baby jeans. It is still slightly Secret Squirrel, but I'm being nice and giving a full shot of one pair because my readers are so special.... See how lovely I am?? :)

They will all be hand appliquéd and hand embroidered. Yes, I'm crazy but I am absolutely loving the excuse to do some hand stitching!!!

So because there are no markets this week, all of these pants will go into the "to market" pile for next week. 

I am also about to cut into 10m of bamboo that is now "pre-shrunk", folded and rolled, ready to be made into soakers and overnight boosters. 

And today PUL will arrive to make another 50 nappies!! Not over excited there with stock, just getting ready for a busy month in March! We are looking at booking in 4 markets for the first time ever! :) GO ME!

Anyway, that bamboo awaits, it unfortunately wont cut itself. Thank goodness for my new scissors I bought last week!! Super Sharp and utterly FANTASTIC!!

For more spaces.. head over to Kristy's!

My Creative Space...

This week, my creative space has been dominated by denim, PUL, microfleece and gorgeous cotton prints.

What my sewing machine area currently looks like... a MASSIVE pile of nappies so big I have no pins left :)

This is one of the secret squirrel things I have been working on, some little skirts, I am in love with them, I will give them their own post soon, but they still need labels and size tags :) Im loving the designer fabrics in these ones though!

These are some of my pop over bibs, which also will recieve their own post eventually :-p Ive been too busy sewing to blog lately...

So its market prep all round for me this week and next, although I am going to take some time today or tomorrow to make myself a v neck t-shirt style top and maybe some coulottes.

For more creative spaces head over HERE to Kristy's blog :-)