Sunday, August 31, 2008

This Is... My Favourite Fabric/Craft Shop

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OK, so I can't choose one...

For fabric: http://www.quilthome.com/ = Dangerous. Shipping to Australia is quick and at US$12 freight for up to about 8-9 yards of fabric, super cheap.

My new favourite 'special' fabric: http://kristendorandesign.blogspot.com/. Hand printed in Australia (just down the road from our house). Beautiful craft panels and colours and the linen used is fabulous. I can't wait to get some more of this fabric.

For patterns: http://www.duckcloth.com.au/

All things bag-a-licious: http://www.nicolemdesign.com.au/

I haven't visited many fabric shops in real life, but of those I've been too I love Pitt Trading at Ramsgate. Their ribbons and vintage fabric selection is drool-worthy. Last week I visited Jules at Loftus for the first time, and they had an amazing selection for what looked like such a tiny shop in a little street miles from any other shops. And while their fabrics aren't great, I can't go past a trip to Spotlight for the essentials at cheap prices.

Thanks to three buttons for hosting and handmaiden for this weeks This Is.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Tutorial List Update

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Head over here for my updated tutorial list added with some extra tutorials that have caught my eye. A big thank you to Danielle who also emailed me with links to some more great tutorials that I have added too. (Sorry I don't know your blog address if you have one). She also sent me a link to a non-English blog that is just jammed packed with tutorials, and once I have a spare few hours (or maybe days!), I will go through them and be posting them too. Thanks again Danielle.

These are the new tutorials: Spool Spool Sewing's Sewing Machine Cover, Spool Sewing's Grocery Tote, Studio Tantrum's Dings Da Organiser, UK Lass in US's Fabric Dollhouse, Made by Petchy's Ipod Nano Cover, Habitual's Sundress, Sew Christine's Wallet with coin compartment, Home Companion's Sweet Treat Apron

Friday, August 29, 2008

Dora Art Bag

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The inside view

A friend asked me for one of the Art Bags I made for Bella for her Dora-obssesed grand-daughter. I teamed it with pink canvas instead of the denim and the inside is pink as well with white top stitching and a blue polka dot ribbon. I'm working on a couple of things to go with it too. The photos are pretty shocking in this light, one day I'll get some better ones. I have a couple more of these to make and am LOVING making them.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Captain Destructo & his Accomplice

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Technically Isabella had no part of this. Or so she tells me. She just stood at the side lines calling out which book to throw next. All because he wanted That's Not my Lion apparently. The last thing I saw was two little feet disappearing INTO the bare shelf searching for more books. Lucky he can't reach the next shelf up.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Bunny

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My attempt at the Bunny pattern from Kristen Doran that I purchased at the show last week. Liam obviously thinks bunnies bounce alot as so far all he has done is grab it by an ear and hurl it around and around and around his head. Strange boy.

Knitted Beanie for Liam

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I knitted Liam a beanie on the weekend using el-cheapo wool but I'm still happy how it came out. Of course he has no interest in wearing it whatsoever so no luck for a photo with him in it. I really wanted a pattern with the rolled brim like this one but they are really quite hard to find on straight not circular needles. This pattern came from a freebie on Lion Yarn's website.

I really liked knitting this, it was pretty quick so I didn't loose my interest like I normally do. If only I was a fast knitter I would love to make them more things.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Coin Purse

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From the Nicole M Design pattern I got at the Stitches & Craft show last week. It is using Lara Cameron fabric which is just lovely. There is even enough fabric left for another coin purse, all I need is another handle.

This Is.... My Favourite Children's Book

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I loved reading as a child, always had my nose in a book right up until we had kids. I don't think I've finished a book since. Well none that are more than 10 pages and have furry animals or nursery rhymes in them anyway.

1. The Jolly Postman, 2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, 3. Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, 4. Snugglepot & Cuddlepie.

These were my favourites as a child. I even have my original Snugglepot & Cuddlepie kept for the kids and somewhere I have my original Charlie & the Chocolate Factory.

Isabella's current favourites, 1. Big Red Bath, 2. Where Did Daddy's Hair Go?, 3. Ooo Ooo Ooo Gorilla, 4. Goodnight Lulu.

Liam likes all of the "That's Not My..." series, but his favourite is the Monkey one. See he is a true monkey!

Dean is also a mad book reader. Lucky we've started going to library, he can read a book in a day on the train too and from work. I hope the kids get out love of books.

Thanks to three buttons for hosting and Potty Mouth Mama for this weeks This Is.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Happy Birthday Dean

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This weekend we dropped the Princess and the Monkey boy off at their Nanny & Poppy's on Saturday morning and headed off for a surprise birthday for Dean. He sure was spoilt!

Belgium Bier Cafe at Fox Studios for lunch. His is the beer tasting platter, mine is that glass of wine. You can guess who almost needed rolling out of the restaurant after all that alco-hick-col. First "surprise", I took him to La Premiere to see The Dark Knight which was fantastic. We can't stop raving about Heath Ledger's role as the Joker. He was brilliant.

Next "surprise", he thought we were just going to dinner but we made a stop at the Westin to check-in for the night in our favourite room.

We had dinner at Kingsley's Steak House for the PERFECT steak, then back to the hotel for a relaxing bath and this morning we had breakfast at the hotel. We were going to go window shopping but were missing the kiddies so headed back to Mum's early.

And pressies, which Daddy needed help with.

I would swear she's not my child but apparently I used to like dressing in the same ridiculous fashion.

Nice relaxing weekend. 5 minutes after we got home normality bought us back to worth with a thud as Dean fed the kids dinner and I put washing away.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Art Bag

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The fabric I got from Kristen Doran at today's Stitches and Craft show, is definitely a new favourite and I was inspired by some things I saw and also her lovely inspiration book she had on display. So this is what I made for Isbella tonight. I knew I couldn't sleep without making it.

I used some leftover denim and Kristen's Ladybug fabric.

I even attempted some hand stitching on the bag and handle which was a first.

It's no ordinary bag of course, it's an art bag to take with spots for her pencils and plenty of room for colouring-in books and all the other bits she takes with us.

I even used some of my new Chicken trefle ribbon to make a tag which I am going to make Isabella a little hang-bag to hook on to.

I loved making this bag! Off to bed. Let's hope she likes it.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Stitches and Craft Show

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The Monkey and I went to the Stitches and Craft show today, my first time, and wow. I picked up so many goodies and spotted many many many more. But I had self-control and just bought a little bit but bought home a stack of business cards to do some online shopping later.

The Living Creatively level was absolutely my favourite and I bought almost everything I came home with from there. I wish they had more people displaying. Or maybe my bank account is happy they didn't.

I met Kristen from the Cheekybeaks blog who was just lovely. Liam took a real liking to her and her bunny who was on display. I bought a couple of things from her and before I left had to go back and get some more. Turns out from reading her blog a little more closely tonight that she's local to me too, another "Shire" girl. All up I ended up with a fabric scraps bag, a bunny pattern and a panel of this ladybug fabric which she showed me so many things I could make with it.

I also met Nicole from NicoleMDesign who I recently drove crazy with all my interfacing questions when making Dean's laptop case. I picked up this coin purse pattern and splurged on the version with the Lara Cameron material, but also was eyeing off the Puff purse pattern.

These goodies were from Tuttifruiti. They had so many lovely things.

This material. Forgot to grab a card from this lady. If anyone knows her name? She had some lovely brown ones too which I wish I grabbed but as it was only the third place I visited and had already bought from all three I thought I better restrain myself!

I passed a bunch of men crafting these incredible bowls and things from wood live at the show. Apparently they only get together to do it once or twice a year at the show. Anyway, when they make their pieces there are often offcuts which they turn into their "Charity Bowls". They were only $5 each and all money made from these bowls go towards Cochlear Impants.

This fat quarter from here. They also had THE most gorgeous cupcake material and matching polka dots material. I'm still kicking myself I didn't buy it, but I just didn't know what I would use it on.

Sand art for Isabella from here.

I also found a stall that was selling iron on interfacing and vliesoflix for so much cheaper than Spotlight so I grabbed a metre of each. Even their freight is super cheap so I might be ordering from them again.

I came home with so many ideas for things to make I had to rush home to put them all down on paper! Now what do I make first??

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Skirts

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Another post for the day..

Just finished. A skirt with pleats. A friend over here sent me some instructions which I then turned into complete mush and had to stumble my way into making cut up fabric into a skirt. It was supposed to be long but I didn't have enough of this fabric or anything decent, so it's just below knee.

And a very basic skirt, no pattern.

Ottoman cover

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Before and After...

New Softies

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Two new softies joined our family this week.

A Robot from this tutorial. No he doesn't have arms. Isabella points that out EVERY time she walks past him. See the marks on his face? She thought he should have a nose when I wasn't looking and then came up to me and "Look Mummy I helped. I gave him a nose". Hmm thanks. Also, Little Kitty from Melly & Me for Isabella. I don't think she's too interested in it. Oh well.

Catchup

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The power cord has arrived! Photos have been retrieved from the camera.. Catch up time...

I was pulling at straws yesterday what I could do with no laptop to work on. I can check emails on Dean's laptop he left me to work on, but no design programs so no "proper" work and a back too sore to sew. So...

I folded my stash away.

Made a batch of cupcakes for Dean to take to work to celebrate his and his workmate, Brents birthdays which are Saturday and tomorrow. They're all iced up now with Vanilla Buttercream. Yummm.

And I baked this No Knead Bread from the NY Times in 2006. It was finished just in time for dinner last night and it was BEAUTIFUL. I have another batch ready to cook tonight. It was so quick and simple and doesn't have that yeasty-taste that I don't normally like in our homemade bread attempts.

This Is... How I Like to Spend my Weekend

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1. Farmers Market, 2. Cheese platter, 3. Cronulla, 4. back to grind

A trip to the Farmer's Market on Saturday morning. Food for us. A ride on the Round-a-bout for Isabella and Liam. Isabella ALWAYS rides the Elephant.

Once the kids are tucked in bed Saturday night, us snuggled on the couch with wine and cheese watching a movie.

A stroll around Cronulla on Sunday. Coffee for Dean & I from our favourite spot. Milkshake for Isabella.

On special weekends we head out to Westfield Bondi for a seafood platter for us and a plate of BBQ Octopus for Isabella and some shopping.

Thanks to three buttons for hosting and Bird Bath for this weeks This Is.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Houston we have a problem...

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Sewing IS happening but my laptop's power cord decided to snap yesterday so until my replacement comes by courier hopefully tomorrow, all photos of my efforts are trapped on the camera.

There's photos of my finally finished ottoman cover, a couple of softies, a skirt for one of Isabella's friends, a skirt for myself, and a snap of something I got off my Mum on the weekend that is very exciting. Well if I can figure out how to use it. There's also 2 gifts for blog giveaways also done so a very productive couple of days. If only I could prove it!

Normal broadcasting will resume shortly... all dependent on Hewlett Packard's couriers.

Friday, August 15, 2008

A Pinch of Heather and a Dash of Amy...

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New fabrics arrived this morning. Yum. Heather Bailey Pop Garden and Amy Butler Belle. I don't think any of this will join the stash, it's already assigned to projects.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Shirred dress

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World's simplest dress. This is pre-shirred fabric from Spotlight, seamed at the back, trimmed a few inches off the botton and made the offcut into straps which were top stitched and sewed in position. Possibly the quickest dress ever made too. Did I mention we are hangin' for summer?

Holy Smoke Batman...

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Is it a pair of pants?... No
Is it a baby blanket?... No
Is it a kimono?... No
It's...

A grocery bag for moi. From the tutorial at The Tin Whistle, a plastic coated shopping bag about the same size as our Coles/Woolworths green bags. Isabella has already claimed it hers and filled it with all her "stuff".