A few more baby items.....

So lots of pics here, so I can show them all off! I've been swept up in great baby patterns available, wish I'd known about all these 9 and a bit years ago! Luckily they are all being received gratefully; unfortunately I want to give lots of handmade pressies, they want to pick my brain with all the parenting and baby help! Think I'll be able to do both....

All of these were soooooo fun to make, too! Not stuff I'd do everyday, which makes it interesting.

First up in the 'dad bag' as I call it from this book. One of a few things I'll be trying from this book, and I've already made a few things from it, so getting my value for money for sure! 

I did this in heavy denim, so I could skip the interfacing and just used some fusible fleece on the lining.

I coordinated the denim with these fabrics from ages ago from Spotlight; spotty under the flap.

and a stripe for the lining. The zip at the front hides a nice big pocket in the flap, but I added this compartment pocket in as well.

The elastic is to hold bottles and items etc

I attempted the zip at 10.24pm on a Saturday night, and it was in in about 5mins! too easy! Next time my zip wont be as thick, as it was difficult when I needed to top stitch etc.

Then some baskets and change mat.

Change mat pattern is here. Another one I've been wanting to try for ages. This one has more of a vintage feel about it.

Bias binding that I made ages ago was perfect for this.

It has a layer of fabric, fleece and then chenille, quilted together.

I only had room for one folded over edge, then sewed to form pockets. I didn't even try for that great picture placement, it just happened!

And finally, some 'useful' baskets. I saw a link to this tute, and wanted to give it a whirl.The yellow/black/grey fabric was a fat quarter pack from Spotlight. It had a rough, quite yucky texture to it, and wasn't suitable for clothes etc, but great for furnishings!

I quilted each one a bit differently- a feathery stitch;

my FIRST free motion quilting! Very organic, as they say.

 and some 'waves. very fun, and broke up the repetitive 'repeat 3 times' kind of feel!

Little quilted bottoms! teehee

I delivered them just in time for the nursery decorating- the room was fully renovated by my clever brother in law, carpet had just gone in, and my baskets were the first items in! They were filled with some of my sisters softies from when she was a wee one, awwww!

They're in the little nook that will have a few shelves in it, and become a bookshelf. But don't you think a padded cushion would make a great reading nook? Or maybe I just want that for me! The cross stitch is a really old one I did for my sister probably back in my teens! Egads!

A few weeks to go, and there'll be a lil bubba to show everyone! And then once I know the sex, a bit more sewing....????

Finally......

There's been some dramas here in my laptop land! I'd somehow used up my free space for storing my blog photos- a bit of investigation was required (when I have the brain space for it) and thanks to Lisa  (she's here too) it's sorted! For now....

Except for then dropping said laptop! Luckily I took it straight up to a repair place nearby and they looked at it (for free- I told them what I shitty day I was having heehee) and said 'good thing you brought it straight in- it's fine. But you could have moved the motherboard and blah blah blah. All I heard was 'fine'!

So here is a (brief) update. I've been busy....

There was a Spotlight sale (as usual) and As Ms Curlypops and I had been umming and ahhing over a new dressmaker dummy for a while, when this one came up on sale, we grabbed! (Kind of- we waited till that least day of the sale teehee).

 Her name is Mildred.

The tall skinny bitch that doesn't live here anymore! (well, she's put away for now in the garage until the kid grows up)

 

Speaking of the (9yr old-in-a-week) kid, here is her new t-shirt! Lovely cotton lycra from Rathdowne Fabrics. Pattern from here. What I love about sewing is I don't have to make her heaps of things, or make her every t-shirt, just being able to do it is enough! Pattern details- I made a size 9, shirt sleeve, and no bands or neck band. 

And a bit of baby sewing! These pants with a couple of boring white singlets.

This set is actually a fluke- accidentally matching.

Simple appliqué

With some labels on the outside so they don't scratch!

and some more pants.

I thought of a good trick for the hem (for the quick growing bubba's). The folded one hem over, sewed it and then folded again. So when they are too small- a quick unpick of the outside stitching will make a bit longer!

Back soon with more....

Blogtoberfest Day 20

A beautiful sunny Melbourne day appeared, after a brisk start, and I had a free weekend, with the kid spending some time with other family members. So I headed down here...

to the Finders Keepers market!

 Lots of beautiful stalls, Gleaners Inc was there, and had a beautiful range of items.

I was very busy gawking and didn't take many snaps unfortunately!

I picked some cute patterns from Clare;

  

and caught up with Leslie and her gorgeous fabrics. I do love me a sample pack! It was VERY hard to resist this little guy- but I have way too many baby presents already for my little niece/nephew, so I had to pass. There's only so many hours to make things!

  And a treat for me!

I needed a big Nanna nap when I got home, it was well worth it though!

Blogtoberfest Day 11

I started this blanket ages ago, before I started the blog I think, in a different wool, making it 'just because' and I needed some portable craft. I think I halfway through and yep, ribbit ribbit (frogged!)

Now I have a niece or nephew coming, I thought it wouold be a good idea to make it fully- I have having something 'beat' me!

I had a work conference today and got the first bit done (no counting in this bit, easy!). I started the band a few weeks ago, but mistakingly did plain rib. Nope, that wouldn't do, I like it for the moss stitch!

The kid's doing swimming lessons again this term, so I'm hoping to have some more to show you by the end of term! Not that there's any hurry, this summer baby won't need this for a few mths yet. It will be TIED to the pram so it doesn't go missing!

Pattern book is here.

Blogtoberfest day 6

 I didn't plan to miss a day early in the month, but I seriously had nothing yesterday. Zip. Nada. Nil. 5 days of work wiped me out, and I thought a pic of our sausages on bread for dinner was just not acceptable!

So I made sure I took a snap today!

I've had serious sew-jo issues lately, haven't been at the machine all week, the couch is my friend at the moment! So in lieu of my sewing, I present- the cutest little baby gift my sister got given. Her friend is obviously a talented knitter! No idea of the pattern or wool etc, we were a bit worried though is may be a bit small- my niece or nephew will be a summer bub and not a small one at that! Always good to look at though; or save for number 2 (hmmm, that comment wasn't appreciated halfway thought the first pregnancy!)

 Actually, there are only 11 weeks to go, so I finally grilled her and got a plan of what I can sew etc, and some ideas of baby room gifts. 2 plans are this little guy

and this! Not sure what colours yet. Pattern from here, which I can hopefully pick up here.

And she gave my little/big girl a pressie- her old iPod, which will do great until her b'day in a few months! This burning to CD drama was so 1990's, we have added some technology to the house! Sad that I had to go wake the kid up to learn how to turn it off *sigh*

Too cute

Finished the little gown I mentioned in the previous post, thanks for posting the pattern http://http://thismamamakesstuff.blogspot.com/2008/08/tutorial-t-shirt-to-newborn-gown.html (sorry, haven't worked out to change the lenght of thelink yet, if someone could help out I'd love it!). This was super easy and such a different thing to make for a newborn. I love the "Tag Team" on the back, boy, is parenting that or what!
It was a short sleeved t-shirt, so the sleeves weren't long enough, but it's a summer baby, sort of anyway. Other news is a girl's night out tonight. My faithful mum's group friend's and I are hitting the town, off to heae a band and drink beer and generally get up to mischief. Little Miss is having a sleepover at her friends house, homemade pizza's and The Incredibles on tv- who couyld ask for more? Both girls in this household happy.