Finally, some sewing!

My poor, neglected blog. My poor neglected sewing life! I read about sewing alot, I look at beautiful fabrics a lot, I drool over what other people have sewn a lot, I dream about what I would like to do ......a lot.

Well finally I have done something about that. Today I turned the computer off while Ashton was asleep and got into some Christmas sewing. The pattern has been sitting on my kitchen bench for abut 5 days now, waiting to be traced and cut out.

I had traced it before 6 am and have now completed two hats. From the trusty Make It Perfect Lazy Days pattern. Awesome pattern and an awesome hat. This is the first adult size one I have made and I am really happy with it.

And this dress I made Ellyse about a month ago. It didn't really pass the twirl, party dress factor but she does like it and has worn it a few times now, including to the Mathilda's Market.

My next project is a playmat for some really good friends. Their first baby has been a long time coming (you would think I would be more organised!) and I just know how much this mat will be appreciated.

And just because I can, here is a belly shot. 25 week and 3 days now. Mentally I am already for this bub, it is going to be a long, hot summer!

Going to learn something new

When I saw this post of Chaletgirl's I instantly fell in love. It was the first time I had heard about The Quilt Project. If you haven't alredy check out the Flickr Group, there are some amazing designs there.

Any back to Chaletgirl. I saw her design and instantly thought how great it would look in a series, framed and hung on one of my new walls. I really want to have a modern, yet homely feel to my home and would love to have some handmade items around the place. K wasn't as sure as I would as to how they would look, but I think they would be fabulous.

I was so excited at the hairdressers last night to pick up the latest issue of Better Homes and Gardens and see my exact idea featured in there. I can't wait to get to the shops this afternoon and pick up a copy. I am not completely sold on their designs yet so if any one knows of good modern designs I would love to know. I plan on going to the library at soe stage to check out their books, and of course a quick google should get me somewhere.

I am looking forward to trying something new.

Oh and look what just landed on my doorstep -

fabric for Ashton's quilt

some pretties for Ellyse

and some Christmas fabric

Blogger not playing along at all with pics, wil try again later.

On a roll

I just loved this little ruffle sleeve top I saw on Sparkle Power's blog. I just knew I wanted to sew some of those gorgeous ruffles.

I have had this fabric for a long time and actually had it earmarked for a dress but I thought the little flowers would be perfect for a top instead. I have actually made two of these today. One for Ellyse, and one for her little friend. Her friend's mum helps me out a lot, she is only a new friend this year but one I think I might have for a long time even though the girls will be going to different schools next year.

Anyway here is my gorgeous girl modelling the top and checking the twirl factor - of which there isn't any.

Now what to sew next? Just so happens that Ellyse bought out a pair of shorts I made Ashton last year and wanted to know if they would still fit him. Well they didn't and that gave me my next sewing project. I have some similar fabric I picked up from Spotlight on sale so I will have to get the pattern from my girlfriend and get sewing.

Our house renovation

We are not quite finished yet, and we are still not set up in our new room, but you can get an idea of the progress here.

We are absolutely loving the changes and looking forward to it all being done.

Don't fall over, but...

I have actually been sewing.

After wanting to try a pillow case dress for a few years now and then seeing a few of them around I thought I would have a go.

My first effort was way too narrow for Ellyse and has been lovingly passed on. My next effort was much better but still needs some tweaking under the arms. I love the colours.

This is the too small version

I also made Ellyse a top using the Miss Madeline dress pattern. I love this as a top and will be making more.

Stay tuned, it won't be as long between posts as I already have two little tops cut out and ready for sewing. Not sure I will get there tonight, but definitely tomorrow.

Wordless Weekend

11 weeks 3 days

Oliver + S Sunday Brunch Jacket

I have been looking for a jacket to buy Ellyse for this winter but just could not find the perfect one. I was browsing a sewing forum when I saw this gorgeous Sunday Brunch Jacket. I just knew it was going to be THE jacket for winter.

I tried Spotlight for fabric, that was a joke. I ended up at our local Bargain Box and their range of cord wasn't the best either. I settled on some ghastly pink that really only a little girl could wear.

I am in love with the jacket. The pattern was so easy to follow and the jacket came together in a matter of hours. I am not happy with my button choice at all, I am after something a bit more classy so will go on a search in the coming days. This jacket cost $15 to make including thread and buttons (as bad as they are) so I think I will be making a few more.

Here it is with my reluctant model.

Here she is all dressed for kindy wearing her Flipsy skirt - this is my wrong side and her right side of the skirt. I will have to get another shot of the good side!

Don't you just love the 'ballet tights' under the skirt! It is her favourite look.

Turning 4

..really is very exciting when you are Ellyse. I think she has told everyone we have met since her birthday that she is four now. That fact certainly outweighed any gifts she got, or things we did...the most exciting thing is that she is four!

All of a sudden she feels four to me, she can do all of these amazing tricks on the rings of her swing set that she couldn't do last week, she is working out the difference between the th and f sounds, she has finally mastered the k sound (she was using t) and we had this conversation tonight at bedtime.

E 'Mummy can you put my blanket there just next to me?"

M 'I can put it on you if you like.'

E 'No it's ok, Daddy will put it on me in the middle of the night when he goes to bed. You and Daddy can have a race and if daddy runs and you walk then he will be the first one here and he will beat you.'

M 'That is good thinking Ellyse, he will beat me, he will be moving faster than I am so he will get to you first.'

E 'I am clever Mummy, because I am four!'

So being four is pretty cool, especially when you get to celebrate it at least four times!

Celebration One - Wednesday 1st of April (actual birthday)

Daddy stayed home in the morning to see the present opening. Ellyse recieved a CD player, snakes and ladders game, some socks and glitter pens from us.

Ellyse and Ashton enjoying the sounds of Hi 5 on the new CD player

Ellyse went to Kindy as usual and took cupcakes to share. She was so very excited. I don't have a pic as my scanner isn't working but Miss Deb sen home two adorable pictures of her with her cupcakes.

That evening my mum, dad and sister came over for roast pork. Ellyse recieved a new bike helmet and some great hi 5 Cds that come with activity books from mum and dad. My sister bought her a party dress from Espirit (this has become a tradition, although the dresses are usually sent form London), and will be taking her to Seaworld.

Celebration Two - Friday 3rd April

The plan was to host mothers' group at our house and begin our pink celebrations, but the weather in Brisbane was terrible, we had recieved so much rain the day and night before there is no way I could host. So we all met at a play center and had a cake there.

Celebration Three - Saturday 4th April THE Pink Party

We had planned to have about 35 people here, but again because of the rain it had to be scaled back. I was so disappointed and was cranky all day. It rained all night Friday night, but cleared after early showers and was fine all day. We weren't to know this though and cancelled earlier this morning. We ended up with just K's family which was nice, but not the same as having lots of crazy four year olds playing games, decorating goody bags and runny around high on pink sugar!

Hence the need for at least one more celebration.

We celebrated the pink party with pink meringues, strawberries dipped in pink chocolate, pink rocky road, pink punch, musk sticks, strawberries and cream, pink licorice, pink and white love heart mashmallows, baked ham, and a lovely white chocolate mud cake.

It was good fun. I think my pom poms looked fantastic! I wish I had made more!

Well that is one enormous post and I can't believe I have the energy to write it after our day. Enjoy the pics and I will be back at the machine tomorrow to finish a birthday gift for a friend.