Owlish bubble dress

Could this pattern be any more perfect?


I've been admiring the garments made with the Oliver+S patterns (and have quite a few in the stash). The bubble dress is actually quite simple to make up. I just needed to find two whole afternoons and some patience to sew it up.


'Cos I just knew that hurrying the sewing will just ruin this cute dress. (Fabric is a cotton voile from Tessuti and some plain cotton voile for the lining)

The kiddo's given me the thumbs up. Methinks this will be her fave summer romp-around frock.


And its great for building sand forts.


Cheerio, bloggy peeps!

So there you go

My little sis went off to get hitched and it turned out to be a beautiful affair. I hear someone ask for photos.......I just got these in from a good friend.


The venue was perfect.


The flowers were sweet and lovely.


The kiddos were very cute and and well behaved.....mostly.


And we three of us actually ended up in a photo for the first time in years. Normally, I'm behind the camera snapping away.


Hope everyone's having a good week! I'll head back into my impromptu blog break. Work is taking up all of my energy and sleep taking up my spare time.

I'll have something crafty for you this weekend. Just waiting for some good light.

Cheerio!

A different turn

I've been putting this one off for a while. Those confounding flower girl dresses.


With only two weeks to my little sister's wedding, I really needed a swift kick up the arse. So two days ago I started the stitching (yes, needle and thread, not glue gun, although I seriously considered this) and hours later all finished.


Three flower girl dresses, with purple rosettes hand-stitched down the bodice. The kiddo's twirled in hers already. So cute!


And now I can go back to the regular crafting on this 'ere blog.


Patterns have been traced and cut. I just gotta get on with it.........after I rest my sore fingers first.

Cheerio! And hope your weekend wasn't as wet and soggy as ours.

The weekend that was

I couldn't have capped off a fortnight away from work better than spending some quality time in a beautiful getaway with this fabulous bunch of ladies. And may I say that our organiser has outdone herself in finding this gem of a place.

Words aren't enough this time, so I'll just let the photos do the talking.






Oooh, yes. I actually finished this summer toppity top. The beautiful sheer cotton voile fabric is from Tesutti and the pattern (with some minor alterations) is from this japanese craft book.


Till next time, ladies! I can hardly wait.

And to you, bloggy peeps, hope you have a good week ahead.

Cheerio!


PS. All photos on this post courtesy of Ms Tutti Fruiti cos I brought so much stuff, had to choose between the bernina and camera. Thanks heaps, Belinda!

Derailed

Oops! We've gone off the rails on this 'ere blog. How long have I been gone?

Sorry peeps! The brood (we three) went up far north to go native and catch some rays for a week.

There was a lot of sight seeing.


A bit of trekking.


And lots of posing.


I'm missing the hot weather already!

In the meantime, I must go pack for a sewing weekend quick smart. We'll be here by tomorrow afternoon.....and I'll be fixing the distinct absence of crafty by next post.

Cheerio!

Whirlwind

It all started with a rocket launch in the wee hours of yesterday, a real life rocket launch. You see, bloggy peeps, my day job is spent in a big corporate and we were all in a tizz Friday afternoon about this rocket launch. Everything was over in a minute, but the buzz and the countdown was still amazing. See what a geek I am?!

Then the real excitement happened. I had known for a while that this was happening again in Sydney-town. So after reassuring the geezer that I wasn’t about to go hooning on the roads and letting the kiddo know I’ll be back in a half-a-day, off I went.


And I didn’t buy any fabric! I know! Must be PMS.

Had I bought fabric only, I would’ve probably parted with less. But I’m already putting some of these on the present pile for that big-holiday-at-the-end-of-the-year-I-don’t-want-to-name…….don’t panic.


This piece of fabric (and yes I said I made no fabric purchase) was a lovely gift from Jenny of Amitie who put it in my hands and ran away before I could gather my wits and my wallet. You see, I had been admiring this piece of Liberty on her blog a few months ago, when the new order got delivered, patiently waiting for it to make an appearance in her online shop. Here was me thinking “new summer dress”. Pretty!

But it sold out as soon as it hit her shelves. She remembered me when she spotted this last fat quarter.

Thank you, Jenny! That was very thoughtful. You shouldn’t have, but I’m so glad you did!


Here’s another pic of the loot. And I was restrained. Yarn from Lush Yarns, some knitting needles, platypus and quilt pattern from the lovely Kate (who I finally met! Very exciting!), hippo pattern from Cathy & Louise alias Audrey & Maude, Mixtapezine Number 8 from Justine


And last but not least ribbons from Tamara, a Craftapalooza apple pin cushion and the prettiest princess & pea skirt, all from Belinda’s booth…..the kiddo donned that skirt the minute she saw it.

Of course the best part of the show was catching up with old friends (even if it was just to wave and air-kiss) and meeting new ones….specially the ones that I’d only previously chatted with via comments and emails.

Exhausted happy, I was!

Hope your weekend is going gangbusters, too!

PS. I’m so out of practice, I forgot to lug the pic-snapper along. So you’ll have to make do with everyone elses’. Cheerio!

Chocolate linen tulip

It's really gratifying when you create a new something and it turns out even better than the image in your mind's eye.

I had long been in love with this tulip skirt Jenny Gordy designed for Stitch magazine....and although I knew that my old before-bub shape would have worn it pretty well, I wasn't so sure about sticking my pear-bod into this one. My hips would never look as cute as the size 6 model on that glossy page.


Short of getting an emergency tummy-tuck, some pattern altering had to be done. And here tis. Very comfy and very wearable. In fact, I'd probably buy this off the rack if I saw it in a shop.


Medium-weight chocolate linen and buttons from Tessuti...and I pretty much followed all the instructions to the letter. Except I top-stitched the waistband and the placket seams to make them sit flat. I also sewed the pleats down 5cm from the waistband seam, to make me look less hip-py. The dark colour of the fabric definitely helps.

I might take this out for a spin in this unseasonal warm weather we're having. In the meantime, must whittle down that list below.

Tootles!

Blathering again

I'm making messes in the real world, but here I insist on some order.....and some pretty.


A bunch of sweetpeas for you. A shame you can't smell their sweet perfume.

I camped out on the couch last weekend binding the quilt. There's still a long way to go.


But at least there's these cute drool-catchers. They've gone to live with a wee kitty.

Also, I'll fess up to the growing pile of unfinished projects I have. Shall I?

(1) Crochet granny blanket, woefully folded away waiting for a bit of interest

(2) Cardi for the kiddo, my first real knitting thing. Back is done, one front side halfway up

(3) Binding on the spare room quilt, only a fifth of the way through

(4) Three-quarter sleeve top, pattern traced and cut, fabric uncut. Waiting for the ordered replacement overlocker manual, due to me misplacing the old manual in the big move last year

(5) Linen tulip skirt.....oops, I finished this one! Must display on the blog window

(6) Print & assemble 60 invites for my sister's wedding. Waiting for card stock

(7) Sew flowers onto three flower girl dresses. Ack! I've got the design in my head, just need to put it down on paper

You can imagine the mess all those projects create. I dread to step into the craft room right now.....and I used to keep the half-done projects at a minimum. On the bright side, there's really six on the list. I'll put the skirt on tomorrow and throw on a coordinating outfit before I take a photo.

Hope everyone's having a good week! I'll lurk on everyone else's blogs during the next few days (I'm so behind!). For now the lids are getting droopy.

Night night!

Late to the party

Yep! Everybody in the blogging world has played with this pattern. After spying it on a craft blog (can't remember which) I sent away for my own Simplicity 4589 and its been in the stash forever. Waiting for the right moment.

Last weekend whilst still plagued by the bug I got bored into actually sewing something for myself. Too sick to cook, but well enough to sew. He he he! So here you go......requisite pose.


I love this top, but I've had to throw on a cardie to keep the goosebumps at bay. Definitely one for summer....and so good at hiding the remainder of last night's dinner.

Fabric was acquired from Tessuti during an excursion early last year while I was still house-bound. So cute! Can you see the little piggies? The selvedge says its japanese.


I decided to revive my resolution to sew more of my clothes. So I made a bit of a guilty splurge at my local Tessuti in Bondi Junction (boo hoo hoo, it's closing down in two weeks!). Two cotton-silk blends, one stripey shirting weight and the owls is a cotton voile. The owls are destined for a bubble dress for the kiddo. Soon. Soon.


Now to find appropriate patterns for the other three. But first, there's a quilt waiting to be bound.

Hope your weekend is sunny!

Cheerio!

Couch sitting

Long time no blog, hey peeps! The kiddo and I are bunged up with our very own bugs. She coughed into my face two days ago and now I'm down with her germs. Don't you just love sharing?! Not.


It's nearly noon and here we are slobbing on the couch...still in our jammies.


Haven't the energy to change into something decent, in case some hot, young postman/delivery guy comes ringing at the front door (oh geez, maybe I should at least pull on some jeans), but I seem game enough to take photos, post photos and blog....not to mention knit. He he he!


And here's a finished patchy cushion made from the leftovers of the zigzag couch quilt. I still have no concept of how much to cut when I make the quilts. So I usually end up with a pile of leftovers. Sometimes I make a new unplanned project out of them, but mostly they just languish in the stash.


Lastly, I thought to post a photo of the kiddo test driving the new pinafore I made a few weeks ago. She's worn it three times now since it flew off the sewing machine. She loves it and it looks great with the pale pink turtleneck.


Hokay, time to feed the kiddo methinks. Hope you're all having a good week!

Cheerio!

Catherine wheel scarf

Hello peeps! I gifted away this scarf before I remembered to take the requisite photo.


I crocheted this one last year as a present for a good friend who became a new mummy. Here's my practice swatch. She sent me this pic very recently and now I'm posting it on this 'ere blog to make up for my absence and my lack of active crochet. I've put the crochet granny blanket down for the moment in favour of other quickie projects. I'll pick it up again later.

Anyhow, longer post to follow soon.

Cheerio!

Late afternoon

Since going back to full-time work, I only ever get to spend sewing time on weekends while the kiddo is napping and into the late, late afternoon.


Every now and then, I get a guilty niggle when I'm sewing away and the geezer is waking her up from her nap in the next room. Should I be doing that? Of course, the niggle is forgotten after a moment 'cos I'm in the happy zone again. They didn't need me. All is well.

The blocks for another quilt are all sewed up and squared, waiting for me to lay it out.....next weekend. I love my weekends!

Hope yours was good, too!

Cheerio!

Pinafore or dress

Whatever you call this linen pretty, I reckon it'll work either way. It fits the kiddo now so I'll garb her in it with a skivvy or a long sleeve top underneath.


I love this fabric....again another purchase from Leslie's now closed up shop. The pattern is from this craft book. Yes, I'm hopeless. My addiction to japanese craft pattern books isn't waning. I seem to obsess about them more now that I've less time.


And what's this we see??? Button holes? Ack! Let's take a closer look.


Yes, yes! Perfect cute tiny buttonholes.


'Cos I brought home the ultimate swag from that most recent Sydney craft show last week. I took the plunge and upscaled my sewing toy to this grown-up piece....and I'm in love. It's so smooth, so quiet and so easy to learn. The pinafore is actually the second project I've sewn on the newbie. I cracked my learner plates on a new tea towel (already in use and grotty), an easy project to warm up a new sewing machine to.


And as if that wasn't enough, I also dived off the deep end and cast on this little cardigan. The kiddo's new apricot scarf (the blocking does wonders, I'm now a believer, Claudine!) was a hit.


You can't see it, but I just spotted a dropped stitch already. Do I care? Nope.


So was that a catch-up or what?! I'm switching comments back on, 'cos I wanna hear what you all have been up to. And by the way, any takers for this pile of fabric? I've just done another clean out and I've decided these are just too subdued for me colour-wise.


Okey dokey! Back to the real world.

Cheerio!

Long weekend

It would seem like I'm forever playing catch-up on this blog nowadays. But since I still love writing the blog posts, catch-up it'll have to be.

Two weekends ago was the Queen's Birthday long weekend. Us being in a commonwealth country and all, we get the benefit of the additional public holiday for a well-earned getaway to cold and windy Canberra.

The kid loved looking at the little miniature English village. But the oohing was reserved for the teeny tiny castles. I actually remembered to bring the camera this time around. So I was snapping away at every opportunity........posing in front of castles.


Waiting on orange benches with trusty new friends.


And just being a plain ole goof. (Belinda, the kiddo loves the skirt! And so do I.)


Notice all the handmade in each pic?

Ahem, someone else made the castle, but it was definitely made by hand.

Cheerio!

Laundry, what laundry?

While I'm in a blogging groove here, I thought to play catch-up with my posting....since it's been a wee while. Doh! Too much busy-ness.


Anyhow, that fairytale quilt has been long-armed, bound and slept under for a while now. Here 'tis with the kiddo's bed friends.


Some progress has been made on the granny square blanket. This one's going too slowly for my liking, but perhaps I just need to accept it for the tortoise-speed project that it is. Maybe it'll be finished in time for next winter.


And guess what new craft I've learned this year?! Claudine came over a few weeks ago and taught me the knitting basics. So now I know how to cast on, cast off, do garter and do stocking stitch. Hopefully, that's enough for the moment until I can actually finish a project within days, let alone months. For someone so used to whipping a little something in no time, I'm still a tad slow.


And while we wait for the real birthday pressie to arrive, the kiddo will be tearing into this package tonight. After cake (I told the geezer to hunt for one at short notice...this one has crept up on us) and candles. Hopefully she likes it!


Now I really need to attend to the laundry.

Cheerio!

Heavenly

Driving up the scary road......in a rental car.......by myself......in the darkening late afternoon.....eek! It's enough to give a girl conniptions. But the drive was so, so worth reaching the top of the mountain. It's like heaven, the crafty kind, of course. More weekend wrap-ups here and here.

And the rest of the photos courtesy of our in-house picsnapper here. With big hugs and thank you's to all these ladies who made the weekend a blast!

Hokay! Must attend to the laundry now. Cheerio!

Down the fun drain

What do I do when there are more pressing matters I want to ignore? I windowshop.

I see a dream theme of high heels recurring in this wardrobe, what I'd normally call "one-hour shoes". Cos I know that's how long I'd last in them before I'm itching to slip them off.

Beautiful nonetheless! I'm wanting that ombre skirt and the tan Philip Lim jacket.....and all four pairs of heels.

Okay, I'm going back to reality. Cheerio!

Yarn attack

I had one of those when I spied Louise's most recent project on-the-make. I remembered last year wanting to get on the granny square bandwagon, but I wasn't brave and was still very unskilled in the art of crochet. Nowadays I'm a bit more fearless. Don't know about the skill. Ha!


Last weekend, armed with my trusty hook I did a bit of yarn hoarding over at my local in town to make up a car/travel blanket, justifying that not one inch of it will got to waste...after all this one's going to be treasured for years to come. When it's finished.

I'm crocheting the blocks together as I go, a la this super excellent tutorial. I'm hoping it'll end up with a mishmash organic feel when it's done 'cos the layout is pretty much unplanned.


Of course, I've piled myself with another project on-the-go. Gah!......when I really should be binding the new quilt (yep, its back) for the kiddo.


Instead I'm strangely compelled to make more small "grannies".


Hope your week is good! Cheerio!

Leftovers

Leftovers can sometimes be fun..... fabric scraps that is. And these two now make it seven house blocks all up. Here they are posing with some toys I borrowed from the kiddo.


I'm aiming for, ummm let's see, about twenty blocks? Or even twenty-four. At this rate, it'll take me forever to frickin sew the entire top.

Each one eats up about an hour to sew and each one is frustratingly fiddly. The roof patches are constantly confounding me each time I start a new one. That one up there took me three attempts to get the okay nod.


At this slowpoke rate, the quilt might end up gifted to the kid when she's a teenager. Or to the grandkid, good heavens!

And as slow as each one takes to make, each one of these is also infinitely satisfying to finish.

We're all a bit snotty and flu-ey around here. So, I'm going back to the couch with a hot cup of lemon tea to banish the germs and watch this fun romp of a show.

Cheerio!

Growth spurt

The kid has been needing trousers lately. What with this growth spurt, she's turning into quite the weed.

I had been a neglectful mummy and ignoring the ankle view she had been showing me from the last lot of trouser sewing I did.....until I saw how shabby she looked next to her friends at child care last week. Good thing this easter long weekend shindig. I really got stuck into revving up the machines.


I even chose a new trouser pattern from this superb japanese craft book. This one has pockets and a slight boot leg.


And here's trouser number two (same pattern) being road tested this morning while we were at the park.



Both trousers were transformed from japanese fabrics from my stash. The pros of having a decent sized stash being I didn't have to step out of my craft room for this session. (Not even for some notions) I think the first one was from Reprodepot and the second is from Leslie's etsy shop.

Hope everyone's having a good week.

Cheerio!