I've been sewing, really!

 So I havent meant to disappear, l've just been too busy making things to blog, really.

I have a few latest finished projects; I can't show you the bunting I made for the school Fun Day yet (2 weeks away) but I was on a roll, so when my girlfriend couldn't find a baby present she liked for her cousin's baby, I offerred to make some. This retro print from Spotlight is just So. Damn. Cute!

I made a Sidekick tote, I bought the pattern a while ago and finally got a chance! Some reclaimed vintage fabric, Hexy fabric by Cam and some 'staches...Cool.

 I finished off a quilt, 'borrowing' 2 tutrorials along the way. Yay for learning stuff! My challenege to myself this year is 'out of my comfort zone' haha. I made a Churn Dash block and did some zig zag/ honeycomb quilting, both from Crazy Mom Quilts blog.

  I haven't gotten very far on my 'clothes for me' list. My very favourite 'house frock', a shirred strapless number was starting to fall down a lot. I thought I'd lost some boobage, but not all of it- the elastic had pretty much corroded! So it's all unstuck and unpicked ready to re-shir.

Have been spending lots of lovely time with the little man Henry. It's so great having non-sleep deprived time with a tiny newborn haha. And someone who isnt picky about what I sew him!

  

And my little protege- I was able to take her with me last weekend to a Sit n Sew day at the MMQG. I got a lot done- no, not much actually, managed to forget to bring things home, and had a chat about anything and everything- that's half the fun of a sewing day though. All eyes were on this kid (speaking of eyes- no glass in the glasses, just a cool look) as she qhipped up a jelly roll quilt top. Jelly roll from Spotlight with a few 'quilt shop' solids thrown in.

It's the curviest straight line quilt I've seen....but god damn if she didn't sew every seam! And was worried it was a bit boring, so didn't flinch when I suggested chopping it up again...

 I'd seen this and wanted to try it. I'm going to 'help' it lay flat, and she's insisting on quilting it herself...I fully believe her too! There were some mighty impressed adults at GJ's on Saturday (myself included)!

Told you I'd been busy!

An awesome day!

I've been anxiously waiting for this day to come....

the venue

the reason 

the pattern

and a hell of a lot of lollies!

The class was HEAPS of fun, great people and kids, and they all finished a toy (better than some adults Jodie said...)

lots of incentives (and distractions) to stop the kiddies from getting bored...

 little prompts to remind the kids about their softie making;

lunch; gosh, have to add a few pics of that! The class included ANYTHING off 

the amazing menu! Plus coffees, drinks and afternoon tea!

then back to it!

And at the end of the day there were 5 finished pups! From left to right;

 Dottie, Spottie, Raspberry, Kevin, and Sally!

(3 mums and 1 Nanna were the assistants)

And my daughter's badge for Jodie says it all......

'Jodie rules'

What a fabulous day!

(and more on Millrose in the next post.....)

More projects

We got this book a while ago, and as soon as we did, the post-it's were put in!

She pulled it out yesterday and picked her first (of many) projects.

A cute little softie!

The thing that amazes me about kids and sewing is a bit like everything they try- NO FEAR! They don't procrastinate, worry it's not perfect, think about for ages etc. I've told her about a seam ripper, but she looks at me like I'm stoopid!

So she threw herself into this one too.

There's no hand sewing happening- she's more a Sharpie face kind of kid!

I knew my Echino bat fabric would find a use one day!

and felt is very forgiving on the sewing machine. Even the opening was machine sewed!

My project for today was her first nightie (but I had to say no to her on the machine today, haven't figured out how to do my own stuff while teaching yet, I know it will come!)

She saw this at Spotlight for $3 (bought with my free $10 voucher, yeah!) I thought I

 had a nightie pattern in the stash- nope!

I channelled my skills and turned out a pretty ok 'pillowcase' nightie.

I cheated as it wasn't a pillowcase!

 She likes it , I think, wasn't too sure how to finish the top, I muddled through it.

And I wanted to show some bags I made as pressies- so fun to make, the hardest bit 

was picking the colours to go together!

the bottom 2 I made as a teacher gift and Assistant Principal gift!One had 

choccies inside, and the other a hand made purse. I made one for Cam too, but forgot the photo!

I started with the tutorial over here,  then bought Jeni's great pattern- lots of clear picks, and she worked out the sizes for heaps of bags, and tell you how to work out custom sizes too. they are fully lined, too- bonus when you have lots of fabric to use up enjoy!

It's been busy....

So I finished up work and have had my first holiday in a long time. OK, no holiday, that got cancelled as the broke feeling was coming along....

Murray had a birthday, turning 4! He got a bath for his b'day, and loved rolling in the

 forest in the backyard!

He got a chop toy which he's loving.

We got a Xmas pic (I have to re-scan the Santa photo)

And he grudgingly gave us a Xmas pic.

Xmas Eve saw the girl calling the reindeer's...

and Xmas morning saw the benefits of that! Santa arrived!

with a stash of Littlest Pet Shops and Zhu Zhu pets.

I thought longer term- and the fact I was sharing my baby! And teaching my Little Miss some skills seemed like a good idea at the time. Might not be very cool in the playground, but luckily we don't care what they think.....

So today we sat down and had a lesson in threading...

and of course had to sit together while we did it...

I was in charge of the rotary cutter, she was in charge of fabric and stylin'.

And she turned out some pretty impressive drawstring bags! There will be some hand stitching on the little darker squares.

Perfect for storage for all the Littlest Pet Shops she's acquiring.

Yep, styled all by her!

The first of many adventures!

Hope everyone had an awesome Christmas and best wishes for 2012.