Elizabeths dress

Well this was a bit of a challenge for Elizabeth and it ended up being a bit of a joint project between the two of us. It was great for Elizabeth to to get a complete picture about dress making. We started right at the begninning, with her choosing the pattern and fabric and working out how much she would need and then matching up the thread. I showed her how you work out what pattern pieces you need, how to trace them off onto interfacing and then she cut out all the pieces. I helped her with reading the instructions and pinning each piece. She did 90% of the actual sewing, including the rolled hem on the frilled sleeves. I had to eat my hat over this little project because Elizabeth did a fantastic job and I thikn it has really given her a heap of confidence (not that she was really lacking considering her age LOL). She is pretty chuffed that she actually made a DRESS!!! A dress that she wears and people ask her if her MUM made it for her!!!

For your interest this is Simplicity 4722, made up in the smallest size (8.5) which was way too large on 8 year old Elizabeth.



Elizabeths sewing teacher made up up this hat, which she wears with pride.

Perth quilt and craft Fair.

I had a lovely time at the quilt and craft fair today but started to feel a little overwhelmed by all there was to see and buy. Two hours definately wasnt long enough as I only got enough time to walk through the stalls once and only 10 minutes in the exhibition part (and even then I kept having to duck back to the kids corner where I had left Elizabeth making quilting blocks from paper and glue).

My next quilty challenges are to try out bargello piecing and to somehow work the drunkards path block into a quilt (not the bargello quilt though!) so I shopped with those in mind. The rainbow of fat eigths is for the bargello and I bought a nice pattern for the drunkards path but couldnt settle on some fabric for that. Nothing was really cheap so its not like I was doing myself out of a bargain quilt so I will just wait and let that one evolve over time. I couldnt resist the moda sock monkey charm pack and I bought those with the plan to make a small quilt for George (he uses his quilts like a "ruggy" and this will make a perfect doll sized one to take to daycare etc). The other fat quarters just slipped in because I liked them. The trims are Elizabeths purchases, and the thread is mine. I bought the varegated thread to quilt the Ispy quilt I posted in the previous blog entry. I hunted for some backing for this quilt at the fair but most fabric seemed to be sold by the fat quarter not off the bolt.

Just pfaffing around

I picked up my lovely new Pfaff sewing machine yesterday and because I am so excited about it I had to show you all some pictures. Here is the new baby- Its a Pfaff Quilters edition (model # 2048)
I had to rearrange the sewing room a bit to fit it in. I am planning on placing a nice big work table under the window and will put the three machines at one end (Overlocker, new Pfaff and my old Elna), and this will leave a nice clear work space at the other end of the table. The Elna will still have a use as I intend to keep it set up with white thread and will be used for sewing on my tin whistle labels. That way I wont have to keep rethreading the Pfaff half way through sewing an item. I contemplated for a while what should be my first project on the new Pfaff. In the end I went for a quilt. I have been saving up/swapping the Ispy squares for a couple of months, so I decided to sew them all together with some stripey sashing between each square.

This weeks orders...

I really enjoyed all the orders I had to fill this week. The orders were a bit varied, which is nice for me, and I got to put together some gorgeous fabric combinations.

Custom hood for a Bugaboo Cameleon- this one is brown with pink dots and works well with the owners existing chocolate 'base' fabrics and pink toppings.

Pram liner and hang bag for a Mountain Buggy Urban pram

Some hang bags- LtoR... Disco dots, oilily Kimono, dusty blue, critures and creatures.

Size 2 dungaree's in pink corduroy with hearts trim

Size 2 dungaree's in red corduroy with "aloha girls" trim

Size 2 dungaree's in denim with red polka dot trim

Size 6-12 months dungaree's. Red corduroy with ladybug trim and pink corduroy with fairy trim




And just for good measure, just because I dont think I have ever blogged them here are a couple of items them I sold recently on my minicuture store.


Here is a pic of them being work by little Zara- photo sent in by her Mum. Thanks Belinda!

But wait there's more....

Just when you were all so amazed at the amount of tin whistle sewing I have got done in the last couple of weeks check out the extra stuff I have whipped up for my family.

Here is me in a top I made from Amy Butlers latest offering, "The Anna Tunic". I wasnt too sure about it at first because it only just fits over my hips, as a result I felt it was ballooing a bit over my tummy. I was expecting it to be a bit more flared and A-line ya know?? After wearing it all day out at the shops and stealing glimpses of myself in shop windows (everyone does this right???) I have decided it I like it and may even make another in a different colourway. George is wearing one of two raglan skivvies I made using Kwik sew 3309. The second skivvy uses the same fabric but reversed; blue sleeves, white body. Oh and check out my pinky finger... I sliced of 1/4 of my fingernail with a tupperware potato peeler. Blood city!!.

George enjoying his thumb on the couch.

George and Matilda watching TV. George likes the new hexagonal quilt and quite often snuggles up to it on the couch.
Matilda modelling a skivvy made using the Ottobre creative workshop 301 pattern. This is the fitted top variation from the ottobre pattern, but I made it several sizes too big as I like kids in a looser fit (ie 122cm pattern for 109cm tall Matilda).
Elizabeth modelling her skivvy. She is wearing the 122cm size and is 124cm tall. Its more snug than I would normally buy for her, but since its designed to be worn under her school uniform it will suit its purpose. But for regular outwear I think I would upsize.
While I am here I may as well show off her playground injury. She got accidently knee'd in the face by one of her little friends, who apparently cried her eyes out that she had given Elizabeth a black eye!
My kids have got right into the wooden train tracks lately. Here Elizabeth and George (with help from me and supervised by Pele the dog) playing with trains in Georges bedroom.

Some tin whistle orders from May 08

A complete tin whistle pram set: Liner, stowable blanket and hang bag.

The liner is made from gorgeous retro robots heavy weight cotton and green chenille.
The stowable blanket has chenille on one side and blabk microfleece on the other.
Liner and blanket in reverse.
Hang bag attached to the pram. The hang bag is reversible, chenille on one side and black corduroy on the other.
Hangbag can turned it into a cute little handbag.

A pair of Retro dungaree's in 2 of the Valori Wells Sole range of fabrics. This pair is size 2+ and fully reversible.

Newborn Kimono set featuring Michael Millar "Bounding Blossoms" fabric.

Some happy little customers

Some photo's I have received back from happy customers. Thanks so much!!

Lucy in Size 6-12 months retro dungaree's in denim with red dolkadot lining, patch pocket and cuff turn up.

Eeeek I cant remember this sweet little babies name. I am hoping it was never mentioned in my correspondence with her Mum. She is also wearing size 6-12 month retro dungaree's in pink baby cord with toile lining and patch pocket. There are poppers through the crotch.