A catch up

 A few tumbleweeds blowing through here, life has been whizzing by, mainly thanks to work, and catching up on here is often on the back burner. Remember you can follow me Instagram, though (as becsibbi)

Grab a cuppa, first catch up is the sewing!

I tackled my first 'crinkly' fabric book (I found mine here) 

It's recipient was suitably impressed! I've renamed that plastic 'baby crack', he goes nuts for it! Well chewed and bashed around already, which is just what you want! Cute fabric choices mean he even read it later on when he's bigger.

I've been loving some poms...pom pom of course! I used a weird square tool thingy which meant lots of trimming required. I'm experimenting with tools, I've even seen a fork used! They are too fun, and were for a purpose...

I've stuck them up on the wall in my office (sorry for weird colour pic, will try and take a better one next week). but you get the idea!

Sitting in this office with my only heating the one on the wall in the heater I needed a few winter work clothes- so this corduroy from Spotlight...

became, after an accurate fitting late at night,

  

a cord Wiksten Tova dress! I've lost count of how many times I've made this pattern now. I went down a size too, and love it even more! Soooo warm.

My cowl matched perfectly, and the fabric is heavy enough not to cling too much to my tights.

I'm a bit houndstooth mad at the moment, actually!

I've entered the Hottie Challenge again this year. Here's my last entry 2 yrs ago. I thought I was a bit more organised this time, but no, left it till the last minute again! At least when I dropped it to Ms Curlypops to get it in on time it meant I could get good pics this time! I'm looking forward to the opening party, I got to have a peak at about 1/3 of the hotties expected, and there so many I wanted! Cam is doing an amazing job organizing it all, she's a whizz with a spreadsheet thank goodness!

 Oh, and lastly, some nursery accessories I was asked to make, to go with the quilt I made my colleague. Some soft fabric baskets

A matching cushion (a little personal poem from mum to baby embroidered on the front)

 and some bandanna bibs. These pics were taken in the 'photo room' of Ms Curlypops as she has an awesome snap machine- the little hammer in snaps from Spotlight/Birch I've always used just wouldn't work! Frustrating! 

The bibs are backed with minky fabric, soft around the neck, and absorbent. they are too cute and fun to make.

Phew, I think that's enough for now! I have a new custom order quilt I am starting now, I was given free reign with pattern and fabrics, which is more stressful than you'd think (for me, anyway). But my friend is confident it will be great, so I am telling myself that! Will post some sneak peeks when I can.

Dresden madness!

I didn't realise I hadn't blogged these cushions- uploading pics to Google + takes forever, so by the time they're done, I feel like I've already blogged it! It's not till I went back through the albums....well, here they are!

I've made these before,  and have been itching to do a cushion for me, like this one. And I'm slowly making my bedroom over, so why not some big boofy bed cushions?

I used mainly fabrics from 'the pool room', ie my extra faves! Some were hard to cut into, but so worth it! The white fabric is a bargain- in my op shopping haunts I found a bolt of 'cotton/linen' for $3.25! I should have measured, but I wasn't fussy....but there will be LOTS of usage, it's a lovely fabric to work with.

  

Some simple quilting...

I found this cotton sateen in the furnishing section at Spotlight, and thought matching backs for all the cushions would be cute (after first thinking what a great frock it would make!) Some green binding 'makes it pop' according to my stylist aka Little Miss!

Another one I did was using some fabrics I've been collecting  from scrap packs! They are all made by Leslie, from Maze and Vale. Her fabric is- Just. Gorgeous! I'd wanted to try this type of quilting for a while, and thought this was a good project for it. 

 I love big fat squishy cushions, great for sitting up against while reading in bed!

To assist my pillow obsession, I came across this book, and snapped it up! Actually, I got it between the squares one and the Dresden, but can't be bothered changing all the pics around! I'm loving these cushions, as they are like mini or doll quilts, just cuddly haha.

So, another Dresden project. Hey, if you are onto a good thing, stick to it!

A colleague at work is having a baby, so I made a little quilt to gift from the team. I'd made an earlier one that I still love (and have, it will be listed for sale soon!) but some detective work proved that this colourway suited her better.

Oh, the best bit about the Dresden stuff? Quick! The longest bit is picking the fabrics! If you've never tried them, do it! My top cushion was a one day job!

 

I did some 'echoey' quilting (yep, I'm sure that's a real word haha) with a yummy stripe binding- that isn't on the bias, it's a diagonal print. 'Make me a candy cane toy' was the request from the Little Miss!

  I used a vintage sheet for the back, which thankfully she loved!

I'm not 100% happy- for some reason, I thought I'd go around the Dresden's a few times, and did some Dresden quilting in the big white space- but left too much unquilted space for my liking! Of course, I only noticed after I saw the pics...and it was gifted and up in the baby's room! Oh, well, next time!

I received a possible order for a similar quilt on the back of this one, from another colleague- but unfortunately they have had to pull out- so it will also be listed for sale. keep and eye out here for the listings/announcement/whatever-shop I decide on opening!

Blogtoberfest Day 22

I just realised I hadn't shown an op shop[ score for a while. I don't get as much time to go anymore, and have to literally drive past one at the same time as having some spare change....which is rare!

I got lucky on a last minute decision to stop and go in- my girl's favourite series of books at the moment, which they have in classroom library as well, $1 each but an extra picture book- so a set of 8 books for the less than the price of 1! To say she was thrilled is an understatement!

I also stocked up on some zips for $4

 And was a bit excited to see this one. I have made a bag around a red stripey zip before, and can see where this one is heading!

When it's all about me...

which lately, it has been. 

But first, before I get to the birthday, here's a sneak peak of the sewing room. It's coming along...

Sunday afternoon saw me  saving sanity filling boredom by getting my helper in. Off came the old Dymo labels ( that were sticky taped on as they didn't stick well to this kind of plastic)

and on with the new. I had most of these boxes anyway, originally paying $2.98 a box from Big W, they hold 3 patterns each. I went back for a few more, reduced to $1.98 each. Now THAT'S what I call a bargain...

And they completely fit in with my obsessive compulsive side!

And then on Monday it was my birthday. Filled with extra lovely tweets and texts and Facebook messages from all my bloggy and some real life friends; guys, without you I would be in the corner rocking in the fetal position, my big bloggy family are the bomb!

Dinner was with a girlfriend and the kiddies;  they made me feel spesh with drawings and cards, and lots of hugs from my main man Jai.

yummy cakes which I chopped up and shared;

and some awesome shopping skills from the Little Miss. Thanks to 2 awesome friends that picked her up and took her shopping, she then wrapped by herself, wrote on the card etc. I've trained her too well!

(ok, I may have shown her which books I wanted, she ain't that good yet!)

So, another older, lots of stuff undone (I really wanted to clean the fridge out last year, hmm, maybe this one) and a sense of who my family is and getting on with life without the old stuff around my neck. Still hate birthdays though!!

She's catching the bug Part 1

A lovely day on Sunday.....we finally got a chance to check out these books!

Little Miss Crazy Hair picked her project....

and did her first machine sewing- yep, on paper, but you have to start somewhere!

I showed her how to trace, and helped with the stitching down the side.

 

and wow, it looked just like the picture!

The post-it notes came out to mark the next projects, and the "Sewing" book will get a look in too.

If the girl rated it out of 10? I reckon an 11!

Exhausting stuff this sewing....

Phew, what a weekend at craft camp! While I sort through my pics and think about the post, check out my 'sewing sister's' post over here.

But already there are a few new projects I want to get onto! A bevy of beauties has arrived.....

No rest for the wicked!

My haul

I got some lovely sewing things yesterday, spoiling myself and my girl.

I finally added this book to my collection (quite new, but I wanted it since I first read about it!)

I also picked up my Sherbert Pips fat quarter bundle from my buddy, ahh, it's gorgeous!

I stopped in at Amitie, where it was busy busy busy, but lots of people to chat to while we waited.

I picked up the last few months for the BOM i'm supposed to be doing.

This gorgeous Liberty pack, and bonus fat 1/8th wasn't being left behind!

The sales rack was good to me....

and a little tool to push me into some new patchwork. I hope!

Finally! Part 1

I have been struggling for a few days to post this, but 'computer says noooo".

But here 'tis!

I made a pressie for my lil' sis's couch, kind of an engagement present (as a lead up to the wedding present, of course!). Ink and Spindle scrap pack, bought at the awesome open warehouse day.

I added a scrap of Pippijoe, too, so cute!

The back is a piece of vintage linen, and the verdict was a good one!

I also got extreeemly lucky the other week, I mistakenly entered 2 giveaways for the same book (I don't normally do that, I try and give everyone a chance), and would you believe I won both giveaways?

I was so excited, I got the 2nd book withdrawn, and received my copy for the US in record time. And now I can a whole new lot of inspiration, and a new blog to follow!

I'll be back later (depending on computer) to show you more goodies I've recieved lately!