Human Spirit

Did anyone see the Motor Neuron Disease segment on Channel 7’s Sunday Night? It featured my cousin and his truly amazing wife who are only in their 20’s and have been given so much to deal with. It meant a lot to Stacy to share her story.

Learn to sew?

I know you have seen the dress before, but after a lovely response I have decided to do a sewing class at Frankie and Swiss where you can leave with the perfect summer dress. It is a great beginners project with lots of confidence building and we will work through it in a small class step by step even if your current sewing ability is straight lines. I am tentatively thinking

Saturday 15th Oct 12:30 – 5ish for $60.

It is BYO fabric and you will need to purchase the pattern (let me know before you do though).

Summer Children at Play Quilt

A couple of weekends ago I was lucky enough to go on a weekend away with some lovely crafty ladies. Of course I had such a lovely time that I managed to take no photos at all – thankfully Andi did a great job for the slackers like me, but did I manage any craft?

Poppy doesn’t like sleeping under a sheet so with hopefully warmer weather coming a light summer quilt was in order. While the gorgeous Parade fabric was new, the rest was linen from the stash (whenever Lincraft have a 50% off fabric some seems to come home with me) and the backing a clearance at Spotlight forever ago. While a definite fan of pattern, the pared back look of this seems perfect for summer. Now it is patiently waiting for some plain pink binding …. and some warmer weather.

Frankie and Swiss

So last weeks bits turned into this. The super lovely Michelle (whose photo I stole .. umm borrowed) and her sister Jacqui have started up an amazingly exciting new business, Frankie and Swiss, where you can print your own designs on fabric right in Melbourne (Head spinningly good – there should be  health warning with this as it WILL keep you awake at night with amazing  AHA moments of possibilities!) There was a little call out on twitter for a sewing bee and after seeing this cute pattern by a Sydney designer ‘Pattern Runway’ last week, I thought it would be perfect combination for showing off fabric design and summer fun.

The fabric is based on Dawn Tan’s Lemon Spaghetti, and as I have no artistic ability, being able to work with an artist who is ace was even more fun (and a bit of a privilege!)

Even though this project was never going to be for me, it has been one of the most fun and inspiring projects of the year. Good luck to the Frankie and Swiss ladies and for letting us all join in with the brave - following a dream.

How to know when it has been too long

It has been so long since there has been some garment sewing the poor overlocker threads – courtesy of cats smooching tails – are looking like macramé, but there is an exciting new dress on the boil.

Basting

Basting, the most despised of a quilter’s jobs – apparently this is all a matter of perception as this member of the family seems to think it is tops !

But it’s Eeeeettttccchhhhhhyyyy

Any woollen item that enters our house is promptly met with Poppy screams of “I am NOT wearing it – it is itchy!!!!” but she was so happy to snuggle into the ripple blanket while I was making it that she begged for her  own. As luck would have it the wool went on sale 40% off. We went into Lincraft and she was given a VERY  specific section (We don’t want to be crocheting with that horrid fluffy yarn or the pompom one!) to choose whatever colours she liked. It was so cute to see her feeling empowered to make any choice, so 14 rainbow coloured selections later this is what we ended up with and now she tells me her favourite colour is not pink – it is rainbow – yippee! She did ask though if it would be ready the next morning …..

Don’t you hate that

 

Last row and ran out of white! So close yet so far. It is now entering the dangerous “weaving in of ends” stage that seems to of cursed many a better crafter than me!

Things I love a little more than I should …

Do you have things that fit into that category, mine should also say chocolate too.

My shoes

The new Heather Ross III. I bought only  the one print, enough to make Poppy this dress out of the snow white one

And I just HAD to get some of the parade fabric from Sarah Jane - obviously I am ahead of my time with all the embroidery designs from Poppy’s quilt turning up in fabric!

The owl clock that Poppy made at her home class with Dawn. Two hours of crafty goodness at your home all supplied for $45 is brilliant and how I love this clock and the self portrait she did.

Instigram on my new phone ( I know, said phone is not that new to most people!)

A ripple in the ripple

 

Couch craft is dangerous in winter - there were plans for dress cutting last night but instead curled up on the couch for an hour of this. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I should share this one here in case I ran out of steam and it ended in a really long scarf instead of a blanket. There was a decision of orange or purple but Caleb assured me orange and white were the way to go. The pattern will be another 2 repeats which seems pretty doable at the moment. I am off solo to Brisbane in a couple of weeks for a wedding so airplane downtime should be my saviour! 

More creative types over here

4

Poppy had such a lovely birthday weekend that she started it at 4:30am on Saturday - mental note, do not have a party on a different day to her birthday! Dawn did a great job at her party if anyone wants to do  fun crafty day she is definitely the lady for the job! A Charlie and Lola story and giant cardboard cupcakes kept all the kids amused.

Katrina made her a fantastic hopscotch cake that she adored.

Of course I completely forgot to take a single picture until the last guest left (thankfully Dawn was here and took some), the compensation was at least it happened to be my  favourite photos ever … even if she does look like she is getting ever so big!

Unfortunately I didn’t have enough time to make her dress, not that she cared. (I did finish it though this week and she declared she hated it and would never ever wear it.) Then the school holiday craziness started. Imagine my enjoyment when on the first day Caleb came up with chicken pox spots and we were stuck in isolation for the first week!

I am still alive ..

….. I have a crazy work deadline of Friday …… a little girl who is turning 4 on Sat …… that has been up at 5am all last week in case it was that morning ….. and the birthday party extravaganza on Sun …. hopefully I will be back next week ….. or asleep in a corner

More Winter Dresses

First up the clever Katrina of Windsor Deli who is the master of desserts and Italian cooking (sugar and carbs how could we not be friends) got coerced on Twitter yesterday into some gnocchi making classes. My cooking needs any help possible and I couldn’t think of a more fun way to do it. Let me know if anyone of you would be interested and we can keep you in the loop.

 

 

Not to sound like I am too keen on myself but I have been loving the latest lot of Poppy winter dresses. I have used the same pattern for all and replaced the ribbon tie for elastic and button and done different waist ties. The hem length on the pattern is quite short as you can see in the first photo so it was lengthened for the second two. The pink cord is decorated with a crochet flower and some little cherry action on the denim dress pocket.

The purple echino was from the patchwork on central sale with spotty Spotlight denim pants from the last creative space post.

Creative Plans

This is not an unfamiliar story I am sure, I went into Spotlight to buy plain denim and ended up with loads more. Often due to the quality and other reasons that people love to bag Spottie and my aim to only buy fabric for projects usually I can stick to my list. While these were around $20/m I am happy to pay for something different and nice weight.

Plans are for some sweet special dresses, the spotty denim for pants, heart denim for a pinnie and the blue flowers has already made it’s way into the jacket. Now all that is left to sew it all!

 I also picked up these on the $10/m table from the Patchwork on Central sale.

More creative spaces in there new home.

Needle Felting

At the insistence of Brown Owls I seem to be expanding my crafty repertoire - first crochet and then last week I was lucky enough to join in with Cintia’s felting workshop. There is nothing as relaxing as poking the crap out of something with really sharp needles – LOVE. In 2 hours we all easily managed to make a macaroon and the sweetest little mushroom (which seems to be MIA ie. stolen by small fingers).

How could I walk away without my very own bag of woolly goodness and have started on a flower for Poppy and a Pokeball for Caleb (don’t ask). I picked up lots of earthy colours in the hopes of making some little creatures soon.

If you are in Melbs there was talk that Cintia may be persuaded to do more classes - fun, portable, not overly expensive  and stabby - what more could you want in a craft? Even if you wanted to just have a crack there are lots of great you-tube tuts as well.

Seeing Double

When going on a big jet plane, sometimes it is nice to go with a friend.

 

My late Softies for Japan organised by the fabulous Lexi! Pattern.

Yay Jacket Time

 

Why is my model standing on the couch poking out her tongue - well why not. Her new winter jacket is fully lined with cord for some extra toasty-ness and the outer fabric has a really interesting texture and is part of the new winter selection at Spotlight.  Most importantly it is a darker fabric with pattern so hides the mess that she seems to attract but still enough pink to pass the test.

The white lace trim are my new favourite way to fancy up her pants.

Often when you talk of making your kids clothes, there is the “is it worth it for the price you can buy” and sometime it is more the enjoyment but the cord and buttons were in the stash so the total cost was around $25. It is the same jacket pattern as last years.

Caleb’s beanie was one of my first finished crochet projects but actually fits Glen better (in my defence Glen does have a head the size of a toddler)

Winter Rising

With the cold snap, the production of the kids warmer clothes is in full swing. Usually it is a time to try lots of new patterns but I have used only a few patterns and varied the fabric, which is actually quite a fun challenge.

I contemplated this year going to the shops and buying them clothes and I discovered I have become that annoying person, “look at that material and finish for how much!”. So expect to be bombarded with lots of sewing – let me know if I get boring - well as many as the temperamental models here will allow.

 

Excuse the mess, the choc chip cookie of co-operation and the lack of ironing. Pattern for dress from here in new My Folklore. Pants pattern is my old faithful one out of Lincraft linen and pink angalise trim.

Pattern from here.

Kids Art Class

Last week Poppy was lucky enough to have one of Dawn’s “kid’s home art classes”. While Dawn is a beautiful artist, her gift is really being able to relate to children. She read a sweet fishy story and then creating of sea creatures was on.

Poppy was entranced learning how to ‘paint properly’ and use ‘Mr Crocodile scissors properly’ (you know those instructions that always sound better coming from someone other than their mother!) and her face at the discovery of glitter glue was one of the cutest thing ever.

 

It was a really great thing for Poppy as she can still be a little unsure around new people and places, so to have it at home with me around was perfect for her. Poppy had such a great time she was inviting her back again before she got to leave and is now going to do Poppy’s birthday party too! (Considering Melbourne weather in June I think it should be a really fun inside alternative) Poppy has asked Katrina to make her cake too so it will be a little bloggy birthday party.

Thanks Dawn for a great morning and letting me use your pictures too!

My Creative Space

Oops, school holidays full of gastro and flu and a busy work it seemed like I was only away for 4 days but it seems to of been nearly 4 weeks!

My softie for Japan is nearly finished and will be express posted up to Lexi today, because there is nothing like leaving it till the very last minute. There were plans for more, but I hope someone will love my very wonky contribution. Super cute pattern from here.

More creative goodies at Kirst’s House of Miniature.

My Creative Space

There has been lots of work, work, work this month and 1 night of sewing in a fortnight – unheard of. Poppy picked this lawn cotton at Spotlight and it is cut and pinned … so very nearly a shirt.

And buoyed by the success of Poppy’s hat, I have one on the hook for Caleb - pattern from the lovely Amanda, I bought it on Ravelry – yeah that’s right I am speaking woollen-ese all over the place. It is my 20 minute wind down at the end of work before bed.  Not the yarn I would of picked but Poppy was adamant that it was perfect for Caleb.

More creative goodies at Kirst’s, here touch of drafting this week looks much more interesting than mine!

Finito

I love that some blogs do gorgeous photo shoots before they make it to blog, this one was on the way to the car. I LOVE this hat, which is a little sad. Mary’s suggestion of the pompom on a string – perfect. According to Poppy the pom pom has a name and is her new pet. She even wore it all day at kinder despite the sunny day yesterday.

My Creative Space

LOOK, I made something out of wool .. and it can be worn …. by a human ….. in public. Sure I had to pull it apart and start again about 4 times, but mostly due to charging in and not reading and understanding the instructions. Even with that crochet is really enjoyable - the motion speaks to me … well the motion of the treble stitch cause that is all I can do. I have started another hat – for Caleb or Glen depending on how big it finishes! Footnotes of thanks to Miss Kat and Miss Mary xx .

Creative wishing well and a fresh cuppa apparently at Miss Kirst’s

Future

The kids were discussing their careers the other day in the car.

Caleb is going to be a palaeontologist / rock star and said to call him Jet from now on.

Poppy decided a doctor or garbage collector – both of which pay pretty well I think so carry on. Her fall back option – butterfly.

Glad to know the future is safe in the hands of youth.

My Creative Space

That is right, I am attempting to learn woollen-ese. No heckling required! Kat tried to learn me a granny square … again. I fear this experience may of required a wine when she got home.

There will be people with actual creative skills at Kirst’s

Have you seen over at Lexi’s that she and Calico and Ivy are collecting toys for kids in Japan devastated by the earthquake. Such a lovely idea, after a donation a gift of love.

Shirt for Poppy

I haven’t had time to sew as much as I would like lately but I did finally get this one finished, it has been 3/4 done and patiently waiting! The pattern is from one of my Japanese books and stashed fabric.

*Notice the start of frozen ankle disease about to take hold on those pants

My Creative Space

I mused a while ago about the dinosaur quilt so here is an action shot. The stripes and embroidery won out. It all seemed to be coming together quite quickly until I see that post was over a month ago – time is not my friend!

More creative goodies at Kirst, and her new quilt-y goodness.

Nippers

So the long suffering readers will know about Caleb’s long running hate to love journey of water. Since the swimming lessons had been going so well I decided Nippers (surf life saving for the littlies) would be a really fun summer activity. It was a bit of a shame that the Melbourne weather didn’t feel the need to commit to a summer. The other benefit was for Caleb to get in ‘loosing’ training – you know the annoying kid at the party that falls apart as soon as he looses – yeah that was mine. It has been lots of fun and has definitely helped. Saturday was their inter-club competition and Caleb got a 2nd and 3rd and he was really happy.

After the group Poppy and Caleb ended up on the paddle board and Poppy pushed him out into the water and while he was trying to sort out what to do he floated out too far to put his feet down. Of course this was the one week I didn’t wear swimmers so I waded out in my jeans before the young life saver offered (reluctantly) to go and fetch him. Unfortunately for the life saver the look on his face as he entered the cold water only made it even funnier.

*No Caleb’s were hurt in this story. He was in no danger, I could of easily reached him and he wasn’t distressed at all.