Do you play croquet??

Ooops - sort of left you hanging there again didn't I!!

The big brown box contained this gorgeous thing...

The new 'baby' of the house!! Pic from You Sew Girl

It's the Bernina 710 - the machine that will last me a lifetime, and I feel very, very lucky to have it.

The things this machine can do amaze me, it is so easy to operate with a fully-computerised touch screen and sews through multiple layers like they are butter, and every time I use it I discover something new that it can do.

I borrowed this pic from Nikki's blog, she did a review of our wonderful Sewjourn weekend.

Lara did too - and read the post above this one to see how much she got sewn - she is a fabulous seamstress, she is so efficient when she sews.

As always, Sewjourn was a wonderful chance to relax, rejuvenate and refresh myself creatively in the company of a really wonderful group of women.  If only our husbands and kids heard some of the conversations, it really is a scream at times.

I used some of the time to work on the teacher bags I was supposed to finish for the Bag Adventure Cam ran in August...

I totally love those big silver rings! (Another of Nikki's pic)

This Mod is shaping up nicely and using Tan's edgestitching foot I was able to get a lovely finish on it too.

I also whipped up a series of small girl nighties which have already been washed and worn and washed and worn again and this, the Oliver + S Croquet Dress.

New dress = Happy girl

This is some fabric I picked up at Spotlight on the bargain table and it was probably a little stiff to try this cute sleeve application I alluded to here, but I love the results none-the-less.

If you want to give it a try then click here for the details from StraightGrain Blog.

Something a bit fun for the sleeve

As always - a lovely finish and a very happy little girl.

This is view B and I kept it very simple - just adding the contrast bow for a pop of colour.

View B of the Croquet Dress - simple, classic design.

She's been itching to wear this dress - trying to put it on for dinner each night (because as you sit down to spaghetti bolognese is just when you want the six-year-old to put on a new dress...)

Today was the day - she ran a lemonade stand with her friend, and said this was just the right dress to wear... more on that tomorrow.

Time out...again!

I've been very lucky to be able to 'escape' day to day life and spend time in the company of other sewing and crafty chicks a number of times this year, the weekend just gone included.

A couple of the girls at NCB had a booking for Sewjourn with a couple of spare places available. As I have had a few weekends away lately I agreed that I would only go if my crafty friend could also make it as I knew spending time with her would be an added bonus.

As usual, it was lovely to relax, unwind and be free of the regular activities of daily life such as cooking, refereeing/parenting, cleaning and cooking; and just go with the flow.

I also love seeing what other people get up to in their crafty pursuits. 

How they do things, what they choose to work on - I learn something new every time.

Brianna put this amazing quilt top together and inspired Wendy to make one up too. I love the colours and the shapes and everything about it. 

The fabric is a range from Parson Gray (aka Mr Amy Butler), and I had planned on getting some for upcoming teacher gifts (yes I am planning well ahead!), so it was lovely to see and touch and feel the range 'in the flesh'.

Brianna, along with Mel, Claire, Liesl, Lisa, Daisy and of course Wendy and myself - got through a huge amount of sewing.

This is just some of what was done.

Oven mitts, PJ/lounge pants, skirts, jackets, quilt tops galore, dresses, cushion covers, shower caps, a scarf a bat softie, ear bud pouches, skirts ruffled and tiered and a sweet little Oliver+s top.

Phew!

Clothing, quilts and cushion covers for all shapes, sizes, styles and tastes!

We took our time with it all - it was great to sew without feeling like I 'had' to get anything done.

I was in fact very productive, completing two ruffled and two tiered skirts, five little shower caps (just for fun!), completing my first Slip-on Suzie dress, doing repairs on two pairs of jeans, one pair of bathers, one skirt, one shirt and putting elastic into three pair of leggings as well as making a start on my Clover Cape.

Did you see the cute bat softie in the centre of the quilt...

I have to say my only regret was not having started my cape earlier as the finish on the seams when using Brianna's totally-amazing-steam-generator-iron was nothing short of incredible - so I wish I had been able to complete it.

But I came home feeling like a 'sewing weight' had been lifted from my shoulders as many little 'odd jobs' that have been sitting in the 'to do' pile have now been completed.

Loving making this one, stay tuned...

So thank you ladies for a really great weekend.
For excellent food, conversation, music selections and of course company.
Check out Wendy's post here for more details on all the quilts she worked on.

A very big thanks to 'the guy who lives here' for making it possible - you are one in a million, and I am glad you are my one from the millions. xx

Sprouting from Sewjourn

I'm back!

Life's been a little busy around here.

Unfortunately I don't just sew and play with kids - there's a bunch of other stuff I have to fit into my day that keeps me from the sewing machine.

You know, stuff like being on committees for both kinder and school, keeping up with friends and family, assisting in a number of classroom activities in the school with both our older girls (so twice the amount of classroom help!!), chasing work, doing work, helping people with IT/design stuff because they are not very tech savvy, running kids to and from activities, running, going to the gym and of course keeping things running on the home front.

So anyway - the weekend just gone involved none of that. It was one of pure indulgence and fun.
Yep - Sewjourn again!!

I won't go into all that we got up to because what happens at Sewjourn stays at Sewjourn!

Let me sum it up by saying the conversations are enlightening, funny, serious, uplifting, heartfelt and always sincere.

The sewing is creative, inspirational, experimental, enjoyable and relaxing.
The company - wonderful sums it up I think, though there are many other adjectives that could be applied.

There are a few pics to give you a feel for the weekend on Lara's blog.

And here is one of the garments I sewed, a Make It Perfect Sprout dress for Miss G - who doesn't like to wear her sister's hand-me-downs (aaaahhhhh), but who very happily put this new snug and warm dress on today for kinder - with no fuss.

It's always a winner for me this one.

I also sunk my teeth into some StyleArc patterns, a Clever Charlotte I have been wanting to try and finally finished off an Oliver + s cape I cut last winter.

More on those another time....
I need to catch up on some sleep!

This one time at craft camp...

Annie pieced and cut and shopped for fabric (she NEEDED it alright!)...

and made this...

and these...

Lara made herself lots of lovely shirts by Simplicity and Style Arc - and Kathryn, Rachel and I tried them on then attempted to sneak them into our own bags...

She also made nighties, skirts and a kaftan as well as half a jacket! 

Tanya made a gorgeous hat from Nikki's book and is close to completing a dress to match it...

She also became the apprentice interfacing nerd - and can now tell you what/where and how when it comes to interfacing!!

We all created general mess, madness and chaos...

We danced to daggy 80's songs, we sang loudly karaoke style, we walked, we ran, we ate too much chocolate, we drank too much wine (is there really such a thing...) and we chatted and laughed, a lot.

Kathryn made a gorgeous 'garden party' dress as well as several other tops and a skirt...



Rachel made this very sweet View B version of the Jump Rope dress...

and some shorts for her daughter and worked on some other shorts for her boys.

Megan 'hooked' her way through the weekend and did lots and lots of work on this amazing blanket...

Yep - it has three-dimensional flowers on it...

but the most amazing feat of all is that.... Nikki completed this ENTIRE quilt!! Including free-motion-quilting hearts all over it!

And the more incredible thing is this is her first ever quilt.

and what about me...

Well I completed (among a few other things) this Colette Jasmine blouse, which was a dream to sew.

Then I pulled a silly face while Lara took a photo...

but this photo Lara took kind of sums it all up for me...

talking while sewing and enjoying the company of seven fabulous ladies.

Thanks girls - as always I had a ball and can't wait til next time.

The weekend that was

What a great weekend.

I don't have any photos of what I was doing to show you - I didn't have my camera with me and so it was great to just be in the moment and enjoy.

We talked, a lot;
sewed, a lot;
ate, a little;
drank, a bit
and relaxed in this wonderful place.

The company was fabulous. Lots of funny, clever, talented, fun and helpful ladies.
(These descriptions apply to them all equally, not just the one they are linked to! Megan and 'Nikki's sewing buddy' were the other two lovely ladies who joined us, and they certainly apply to them too!)

I got lots made.
All for me.

Going away is a whole lot more relaxing when 'the guy who lives here' makes it so easy.
There's no guilt laid on me about having time to myself.
There's no demand as to when I have to be home.
He gets it; totally.
And I love him even more for that.

So here's what he and the girls got up to while I was away;

Butter wouldn't melt in their mouths would it...

Our standard zoo photo - their legs are getting very long!

Small child who just wants to be one of the gang.

Photo fun

This was on the door when I got home.

The chocolate cake they baked for my return was also enjoyed.

So thanks everyone for a lovely weekend - let's do it again, soon.

PS excuse the quality of the photos - they are all all iphone or Blackberry ones.

PPS - don't forget that SAY is on tonight - hope to see you there.

And yet more

Told you I got lots finished at Sewjourn!!

Here are two more completed garments.

There wasn't much to be done here as I confessed, but the recipients are super-happy with these.

This little Miss is looking quite pale - she's been unwell all week but jumped at the chance to pose in her leotard.

I used the same sparkly iron-on for both as the other designs were a little lacking in a distinct shape, I just picked these up at Spotlight and was impressed at how easy they were to use.

Custom made - so it fits the very long torso of Miss A.

I picked up this gorgeous soft velour in a bulk pack at Rathdown Remnants ages ago.

The pattern is from an edition of Ottobre that I specifically chose for a leotard pattern.
It's late and I'm tired so I'm not going to look up which edition unless you really want to know!

There's a little more growing room in these which is great - and the best bit -  not a wedgie to be seen at gymnastics.

Miss L declared that she loved, loved, loved it and was never taking it off, not even for a wash!
I'm happy with that as my report card.

When asked where it was from by another mum, Miss L told her "My mum made it for me" and then Miss A added "my mum sews 30 50 things!"
Which is apparently the biggest number you can imagine.
*heart*

Off to the Village...

...to buy some buttons.

What buttons would you put on this dress?

This is one of the items I made at Sewjourn, The Village Frock, a pattern by Sugar City Journal.

The pattern is not available any more so I was glad I purchased it on a whim, hoping to one day make it.

I actually cut it out at SIT in May and had not touched it til Sewjourn - ahh bliss!

It's made in a lightweight denim, so it drapes quite nicely.

I love this dress - and I am glad I decided to keep the fabric choice simple and let the design speak for itself.

I did learn that the next time I make this I will take care not to accidentally pull on both the bobbin and needle threads when gathering - bad move!

I will also be sure to put the gathering stitches in using a different coloured thread so they are easier to get out.

But now - what buttons??

Self-covered, a pop of colour (red??) or something neutral like silver or wood buttons??

I await your suggestions!

This one time on sewing camp...

There have been lots of girls blog about their time spent at Sewjourn and how wonderful it is - but trust me - words won't do it justice.

48 hours of clear sewing time - let me say that again..
48 HOURS OF CLEAR SEWING TIME!!!

As a mum with three kids aged four and under and a husband, a freelance job and a bunch of other commitments - that just never happens, until Sewjourn.

But the best thing about it??
Spending that time with other like-minded individuals.
People who didn't look at me strangely (or with a glazed expression) as we chatted about fabric ranges, or the merits of a french seam versus an overlocked one, or discussed fabric types and their uses and compared patterns.

Photo from Lara's blog!

Rachel, Lara, (Me), Catherine, Annie and Nikki

Spending time with such a friendly, funny, kind, generous, warm and very talented bunch of ladies was the highlight for me.

There were the early birds who got up and sewed in their PJ's before even having breakfast and a fellow night-owl to keep me company.

There was sewing for children, for yourself, for a friend, for a gift.

There was (much to Lara's disgust!) hand-stitching, cover-stitching, overlocking, free-motion quilting, stretch sewing and lots of pattern tracing and seam pressing.

And amongst all that we shared wonderful conversations while getting through an absolute mountain of sewing.

What can I say...

Thanks ladies, I had a ball.

I came home to two test patterns to get done for Toni (I forgot to pack the stretch fabric I needed  to get them done at Sewjourn!) and then an unscheduled two day visit with my parents, hence my delay in blogging!!

I'll share some of what I made in the next couple of days. It included finishing off a couple of those UFO's I mentioned.

Thanks also to blogless Kerry for taking the above photo that I 'borrowed' from Lara's blog, and hello to blogless Megan who was with us until Saturday afternoon.