My Secret Santa has landed

Well I just got home and there was a lovely parcel waiting for me from my EB Sewing Secret Santa, the lovely Belinda. There were 2 pieces of fabric (a nice spotty one and a christmas one), 3 different ribbons and a t-shirt for Charlotte appliqued with the goldfish fabric. Thanks again Belinda.

EB Secret Santa

After only posting my package on Saturday it has been received by Leah in Victoria (well done Australia Post). Now it has been recieved I can post some photos of what I sent. I am really pleased Leah was happy with the parcel expecilly as she has been a one-woman show lately with her hubby away. I hope my gift made her smile.

I made each of the kids a "reindeer" snail with the one for Poppy-mae with terry towelling body and a crinkly shell. The only one I haven't got a picture of is the one for Darcy but I think Leah will post a pic of that. The snails were all made from the Michael Miller christmas fabric I got recently.

For Leah herself I made a pot holder and also sent her some fabric. In her ss quiz she mentioned she loved broderie angelis (wrong spelling I know) so I got her some of that which was really soft and also sent her a piece of zoo fabric.

For Leah's husband Steve I made a stubby holder (also from the Michael Miller fabric). Hopefully it will keep his beer cool over the festive season.

PS - excuse the photos I was trying out some new locations to make the items look a bit more interesting.

Paloma Bird skirt

Here is the skirt I made out of the paloma bird fabric.

Also a photo of Lucy in the little dress made by Ingrid. The pants were still a little too big but the dress looked great.

Some Lovely Gifts

We had a lovely visit today from Ingrid, Belinda and Julie from EB. It was great to meet up and put some faces to the names of the people I chat with.

We also got some lovely gifts. This beautiful cat was made by Ingrid for Charlotte. Charlotte loves it and had named it Rainbow.



This set was also made by Ingrid for Lucy and it is a dress and bloomers and a wee rabbit. Funnily Ingrid used the same material I had used to make a rug for Lucy and I love it.


















This singlet is was a gift from Belinda. It is appliqued with a great goldfish fabric which I really love.

Novy's Outfit

Here are pictures of Lucy "wearing"the outfit made by the lovely Novy. She's not too happy in the photo as she had just had a bath, which she doesn't really like yet.

Purchases

These are the fabrics I got from Ebay. A white and black of the paloma bird print, a zoo print and one with women on it. Notsure what i am doing with it yet but I might make Charlotte a skirt from the white bird one with shirring at the waistband and a plain fabric ruffle at the bottom.




The Hula Girls I am going to make Charlotte a drink bottle holder and use some to applique onto the front of a denim bag for her as well. The cowboy I am going to possbily use as side pockets on a pair of denim shorts to give to friend's little boy.

These are the michael Miller fabrics I picked up today at SL. The middle one is a fat 1/4 but the other 2 were on a roll and I just got 250cm of each as they were $18.95/m. I am using them for some christmas stuff. More on that later.

A Lovely Gift

This is the beautiful gift we received today from Novy one of my EB Sewing Buddies. I can't wait until Lucy grows a bit more for her to be able to wear it.

These are 2 of my recent Ebay purchases.

When things just go right

I have just had the best sewing day. I made Charlotte a pair of 3/4 pants from a pink cameo material and I am so pleased with how they turnd out. I used Ingrid's Easy Pants pattern but put two cargo style pockets on either side and I just lvoe how they turned out. I am definitely going to make some more to sell in the shop and I think they are a style which will also work really well for boys. I am waiting on some material from Ebay which I think will suit a boys pair fantastically. PS - Not the best modelling today and excuse the singlet top. Mind you I cant get her to take them off now.

Xmas Fat Quarters

Pics of the Michael Miller fat quarters from Spotlight

Advent Calendar

This is the advent calendar we got last year, which I forgotten all about. It's not as nice as Helen's but it will do the job. I don't think it as that much maybe $30 max.

Dress for Charlotte

This is the dress I made for Charlotte last night. I had the material for ages and finally cut it out a few weeks ago so thought I would finally put it together. The pattern is from one of those books from Spotlight (Sew Girls Clothes or something). The instructions were a bit funny so I just put it together how I thought it should go and it only took about 2 hours all up. I am pretty happy with it although it is a little short so I might put a frill on the bottom. I am going to put some binding on the sleeves and probably neckline as they seem a bit flimsy.

The Dress and My Big Girl

Well the weddings are over and even though it was quite cold in Sydney ysterday I still wore the dress I made. I really love the material and even thought I look huge I think it turned out ok and I am really hoping I can eventually adjust it so I can wear it post-baby. The inevitable photo of Jeff and my bellies had to be taken so I have included that as well because you can see the dress a bit better.

This is a photo of Charlotte with her new haircut and her big girl make-up on. I think she might be a clown when she grows up!

Variety is the Spice of Life

Here is the dress I made today. I just need to do the hem as I wanted to use the twin needle but it broke!











I have also been perfecting some snails which I am hoping to start selling as well.














I am looking at setting up another blog as a
shop to sell these (some of which you have seen before) and some other stuff.

Secret Santa Quiz

Secret Santa Answers
1. What's your favorite colour? Pink
2. What's your favorite item to sew? Easy Pants because they are quick. I also like sewing softies.
3. What items other people have made would you have loved to have done yourself? I love everything people have made but would love to try the shirred top.
4. What takes your fancy in the notions world? Rik Rack? Ribbons? I think I am addicted to Ribbons at the moment. I love Ribbons Galore
5. What is your fabric weakness? Buying too much fabric before I know what I am going to do with it.
6. What's one thing you haven't tried but would like to? Buttonholes
7. Are there any patterns that you like in particular? Even though I am a novice I tend not to use patterns.
8. For how long have you been sewing? A couple of months
9. What size are your kids? DD is in a 4/5 depending. She likes wearing pants and skirts below her belly so tops need to be a bit larger to cover the gap.
10. Do you like quick projects or projects that take a little longer to finish? I like quick projects. I like the result immediately
11. What do you hope to do with your sewing in the future?Selling/Sell more/keep as hobby etc/Design....? I would love to sell stuff but not sure if I am good enough just yet.
12. What is your favourite time of year? I love Christmas
13. What is your favorite type of fabric? Cotton
14. What is you least favourite fabric to sew with? Terry Towelling
15. Do you have any christmas traditions? The only one atm is DD and I go into the city and see Santa at Myers and DJ's and have a girls day. Want to start some others this year now we have our own space.
16. What frustrates you about sewing? Loops when sewing on the back of the material
17. What 'style' do you dress your children in/ which shop clothes do you try to imitate? I don't think I have a "style". I never spent heaps on PP etc which I why I like sewing stuff so much as I can get similar things for a fraction of the price. DD likes pants, shorts and twirly skirts, she is a bit of a tom boy.

A Funny Hat

Here is the hat I made my brother. The brim is waaay to floppy even though I used a strong interfacing in it. I am thinking of cutting it in half so it's not so floppy.

A Busy Day

I have had a busy day and night sewing here. I made this skirt for Charlotte. I am quite happy with it (hard to see in the picture), but it is a pale green with pink flowers at the top and the frill is pale pink with flowers. I will get some outdoor shots tomorrow with her wearing it. The only thin I don't like is the frill is a heavier, stiffer material and doesn't fall quite as well as I would like. I also appliqued a t-shirt for her with a sneak preview of something I have been working on. More later on that........





I also made some softies which I am hoping to try and sell on Etsy. The first is one for a boy obviously appliqued with a B on it and on the matching singlet.

The next one just has a crown appliqued on it and would suit a girl.

The last one is appliqued with a G and comes with a matching singlet.

Shorts for present

These are the shorts I made for Charlotte's little friend who is having a birthday on Sunday. I'm sure he won't be excited but we will get him something toy-related to go with them. I put a pocket on the back although I am not 100% happy with it.

Ingrid - you may recognise this fabric.

A Quick Sewing Afternoon

Well these 2 things took me about 1 hour all up to sew so I am very happy. I did cut them out last night while watching Cold Case. The first one is a bib using a fat quarter I got from Ebay and the bag is using another fat quarter from Ebay. Charlotte doesn't actually seem very impressed with the bag so I may try and sell it. Mind you I just told her I might sell it and now she likes it - kids!

A Great Night's Sewing

Well I haven't sewn for a few days and it was great to be doing some sewing again. I found out today that my hairdresser had a baby girl recently so I thought I would make her something. I made a softie and a bag to deliver it in.




I also decided to make a bag up in the fabric I got from Ebay a while ago (following your suggestion Natalie). This is the result. I loosely used a pattern although made a few "modifications". Next time I would make the strap a bit longer but as I don't have a bag to use when just nipping to the shops it will come in handy.