A finished quilt!

Another bit of a break between posts (I'll try not to say that at the beginning of EVERY post though) but I have a good reason! The battery in my laptop died a few weeks ago (may have been a few months, actually, have lost track). It was around that same time as a few other things broke, so a new battery wasn't high on the list of priorities. So I decided to leave it plugged in and use with the charger...fast forward to the charger dying! A week and a bit to order a new one...lets just say, nice to have it back!

I've been working a bit more the last few weeks too, my colleague going on leave meant I was able to do 4 weeks of full time work! Eeek! Could I do it? Turns out- not very well! maybe for other little black ducks, but not this one! Keeping things running at home was a lot harder, and my time to 'look after myself' (usually by doing chores on my spare days the kiddo is at school, so we can spend the weekend together) was gone! So happily, due to work being quiet, the last 2 Fridays were cut off and I could breeeaatthheee!

I also got asked to do a custom quilt in the middle of all this! Of course, I said yes! It was for the sibling of the girl who got this quilt; and I was allowed to pick the pattern and fabrics! (had some colours to guide me).

I chose this pattern, and am really glad I did!  Easy to follow and accurate, I'm really hoping to try a few more of Allison's patterns, and get a copy of her book. Only problem is deciding which on to make first!

The fabrics were picked from GJ's Fabrics, during one of the Sit n Sew days of the MMQG. I had a few helpers thankfully, as picking fabrics is not my forte!

 

 (Sewing is a lot more fun with sparkly nails I've decided!)

 lots of trimming!

  

and finally came putting it all together. A rockin' Saturday night that was!

I planned it to be finished by this weekend coming- but I got absolutely motivated at the sit n Sew day on last Saturday with the Guild, and got it basted, quilted and nearly bound in one day! I finished the binding that night. Then went to bed and died of back pain haha.

  Yummy binding!

  I'm happy to say it was all worth it! I didn't get much time in the old grey weather for good pics, as it was picked up quick smart- so some indoor shots to show the quilting, and outdoor for the colours.

I'm going to miss working on this beauty!

Op Shopping

I either haven't been op shopping, gotten good bargains or remembered to post them on here, but today I made sure I did!

I was lamenting after the last post over the fact I'm running out of vintage sheets, especially big ones.  ! went to 2 oppy's today (Salvo's and Vinnies) where it's all tending to be modern and expensive. So I dropped into a few smaller ones on the way home, and got luckier.

A few paleish ones, and the orange beauty, which is flannelette;

and this one. Not sure how vintage it is, but it yelled out to me, so I grabbed it 

for a few bucks.

A hounds tooth cap for $2, a mug (for a pincushion) and a few patterns;

and this was definitely NOT staying on the rack. Not for $8!!! 

It has a beautiful thick purple satin lining, delish!

Very happy with my haul! Now the washing (and soaking) begins!

More projects

We got this book a while ago, and as soon as we did, the post-it's were put in!

She pulled it out yesterday and picked her first (of many) projects.

A cute little softie!

The thing that amazes me about kids and sewing is a bit like everything they try- NO FEAR! They don't procrastinate, worry it's not perfect, think about for ages etc. I've told her about a seam ripper, but she looks at me like I'm stoopid!

So she threw herself into this one too.

There's no hand sewing happening- she's more a Sharpie face kind of kid!

I knew my Echino bat fabric would find a use one day!

and felt is very forgiving on the sewing machine. Even the opening was machine sewed!

My project for today was her first nightie (but I had to say no to her on the machine today, haven't figured out how to do my own stuff while teaching yet, I know it will come!)

She saw this at Spotlight for $3 (bought with my free $10 voucher, yeah!) I thought I

 had a nightie pattern in the stash- nope!

I channelled my skills and turned out a pretty ok 'pillowcase' nightie.

I cheated as it wasn't a pillowcase!

 She likes it , I think, wasn't too sure how to finish the top, I muddled through it.

And I wanted to show some bags I made as pressies- so fun to make, the hardest bit 

was picking the colours to go together!

the bottom 2 I made as a teacher gift and Assistant Principal gift!One had 

choccies inside, and the other a hand made purse. I made one for Cam too, but forgot the photo!

I started with the tutorial over here,  then bought Jeni's great pattern- lots of clear picks, and she worked out the sizes for heaps of bags, and tell you how to work out custom sizes too. they are fully lined, too- bonus when you have lots of fabric to use up enjoy!

When it's all about me...

which lately, it has been. 

But first, before I get to the birthday, here's a sneak peak of the sewing room. It's coming along...

Sunday afternoon saw me  saving sanity filling boredom by getting my helper in. Off came the old Dymo labels ( that were sticky taped on as they didn't stick well to this kind of plastic)

and on with the new. I had most of these boxes anyway, originally paying $2.98 a box from Big W, they hold 3 patterns each. I went back for a few more, reduced to $1.98 each. Now THAT'S what I call a bargain...

And they completely fit in with my obsessive compulsive side!

And then on Monday it was my birthday. Filled with extra lovely tweets and texts and Facebook messages from all my bloggy and some real life friends; guys, without you I would be in the corner rocking in the fetal position, my big bloggy family are the bomb!

Dinner was with a girlfriend and the kiddies;  they made me feel spesh with drawings and cards, and lots of hugs from my main man Jai.

yummy cakes which I chopped up and shared;

and some awesome shopping skills from the Little Miss. Thanks to 2 awesome friends that picked her up and took her shopping, she then wrapped by herself, wrote on the card etc. I've trained her too well!

(ok, I may have shown her which books I wanted, she ain't that good yet!)

So, another older, lots of stuff undone (I really wanted to clean the fridge out last year, hmm, maybe this one) and a sense of who my family is and getting on with life without the old stuff around my neck. Still hate birthdays though!!

The rest of the pics

Ok, a little warning- not much craft and lots of wedding action happening!

The Little Miss and I got all glammed up on Saturday

She likes pampering as much as me!

Unfortunately, her hair is a bit like mine, and doesn't like to curl.....but it was still fun.

My frock- I finished the hem that day! (New Look 6910) My whole outfit (jacket, dress and bag) took 1 week;

 The girl's was made the week before, with help from Trimmings and Remnants

 and New Look 6737

I made the headband too.

and my first outfit form my pal's book, the Wristlet bag.

My little sister, Jess.

The happy couple, Jess and Jamie.

with the pretend 'flower girl' (the best bit for her was holding the bouquet while

 the ceremony was on)

 Yummmmmmy raspberry vanilla cupcakes

It was a beautiful night; scrumptious dinner and a bloody fun night!

I wish them lifelong fun times! (once they get back from their 6mth around the world

 holiday. *sigh*)

My Creative Space

I've been productive this week, but thought I'd show my next projects:

 the top right pattern is for a fellow blogger, can't wait to get stuck into that!

The rest are for moi- at $5 a pattern, couldn't say no!

Little Miss also scored- this pattern was $14.95, kid's size 4-12. The corduroy she picked was reduced to $5 and $1 a metre, and there's some fur here in the stash she wants in the hood. That scares me a little (sewing the fur, I mean).

Cam got her into the fabric markers at her place on Saturday, they are a great idea,

 I want her to embellish some tees this winter!

Head over here for more great creativity!

More good stuff happening Part 2

A good news story happened to me last week, not big enough for the news....hang on, there are lots of crap news stories added in as 'filler', this could make it in haha.

I purchased this necklace in the Xmas sales from an online store, and waited...and waited... and when it finally arrived- black! Tarnished. Unwearable. I was so sad; after getting the kid the same designer necklace (as in the person who made it, not an commercially made designer)

I emailed the store, and didn't get much help; so I finally emailed the designer herself, and how amazing is this;

she sent me a cleaning cloth, and as I'd requested to buy a larger size necklace (my fault for not measuring the chain originally when I bought it online) she sent that along as well. Complimentary! So I could 'love my necklace again'! (and the cute doily was an added bonus!)

Oh, I do, so very much, the cloth worked a treat, and I even got out the little beading pliers and moved the name disc over to it, so I can wear them together, being now and even huger fan of Victoria Mason! That's customer service, in a nutshell; the moral for me is buy straight form the designer; the money goes straight to them, and if there are problems, a lot easier to fix!

I haven't taken it off! (oh, the dirty necklace will be cleaned up and kept for Little Miss, I plane on getting her another pendant to put on it).

 I recently found a hat in an op shop (can't find the pic anywhere!) and found a similar pattern, can't wait to make it up!

I finished of a little bag for a penguin obsessed friend of the Little Miss, for her b'day party yesterday- filled it with home made hair ties, it was a real hit!

Off to finish off another creative weekend! Hope your week is good.