Sidetracked in a sea of pink

Lucy Top

I am in school holiday mode, the washing machine is not getting a break, the ironing basket seems to refill itself daily and the food is dissapearing too!!

Time out for me!! - I decided it was high time to sort through the stash and trim some bits for a very special project... While sorting and snipping I found some long forgotten bits and pieces You know when you see it on the roll at the store and think of all these great ideas and just HAVE TO HAVE IT>>>> But I was inspired to make the girls some buntings for their bedroom walls.

I had clipped this pic out of a magazine some years back and thought it would also make a great gift for some little girls who were soon to have birthdays.. So with my little ironing lass, we cut and made triangles all afternoon..

We traced the letters, she ironed them on and along we went in a sea of pink...

I have stopped momentarily to refill the biscuit barrell..

Meanwhile here is a sneak peek at the nearly finished Audrey top..

These two tops are only my test sew items, I hope to make them in a linen blend in several colours.. though it probably wont happen in the holidays I am guessing.. Then I hope someone wants to buy them!

It is very difficult to sew whilst counting for the skipping rope or resolve arguments over who had which texta first!!

The Audrey Top

And this little parcel will be on its way today, fully stacked with goodness and a few hand sketched pictures by the girls...possibly even some bikky crumbs by now!!

Busy mummy far from yummy..

Oh I feel so exhausted just from keeping 3 kids entertained, distracted, disciplined and educated. It is very hard work. As I am sure many of you know... and some more than only 3.
Why is it that they always whinge and whine about utter starvation whilst unpacking the groceries ffrom the car? Why is it that they cannot wait till all bags are in the kitchen before telling you what it is they need to eat or they are going to die? And why is it that they insist (chuck a tantrum) on eating something before it even gets to the pantry shelf? especially when they only had the weetbix wiped from their faces 2 minutes before going to the supermarket?? (it is only a minute drive each way!!) I can so remember doing the same (whinging) when I was little..except back then parents(mothers) werent dragged off the police station if they left 3 kids sitting in the carpark for an hour or so while your mum did the monthly(yes thats true!) grocery shop...Think think think, what would I have liked my mum to do when I saw those choccy biccys and tried so hard to convince her to let me eat one before I died????
PLAN _ next time shopping, buy extra packet of something, give to kids to hold on the way home and let them cut loose as soon as I get home, put groceries away in peace, all happy!!

enough mummy talk...........

Here are a few shots of the pattern I have drafted off for the chocolate linen dress I mentioned in the previous post. All I have to do is the hem and it is all done, but here are the design shots.. I bought this handy little bendable tape measure/ruler a while ago and it has definitely been worth the money. I have used it here to add the 1cm seam allowances to the pattern, and I get the exact curve I need.

I feel so slack about not posting lately but it truly reflects the spare time in life.. I'm one of those anal people (is that ok to admit?) that cannot relax and do something for myself unless all household duties are finished and the image of spotlessness is achieved.. Yeah, yeah call me Mrs Windex, my husband does. Perhaps I need some shock treatment, or worse....(Call me a shrink). I constantly (whilst windexing) think of a quote I read somewhere on a crafty blog sidebar about 'a clean house was a sign of a wasted life' or something to that effect in a more crafty orientated way, true yes, but it has become a bit of an obsession for me.. (OOOh that hurt, better read my Dr Phil book and see if that is at all normal??)

So I will attempt to sew, more, very soon. I need to finish the brown dress and this little pinafore for miss 4.5... I only need make the shoulder straps and take up the hem, or rolled hem it on the overlocker?? wait and see. Is it a good or bad thing when you start to send unused fabric to St Vinnies? the yellow garbage bag in the photo is all unwanted fabric and I am thinking, enough stashing, more sewing..

Go with the inspiration...

Thanks Fiona for the tips at the Stitches and Craft.. I made my first necklace today while trying to be quiet so Master2 would find his way to the land of sleep...

It was good fun actually, procrastinating over which button next to the last one & whether or not to balance it up each side of centre... I made a loop at the back to thread a large button through for the closure at the back.

Miss 4.5 won 5th prize in the Easter raffle at Kinder today and was into it straight away..

Amongst all the Easter hype, I have been doing a little bit of sewing, I have had to prise myself away from the computer, all those new blogs to browse, the stitches and craft seems to have been a real popular meeting spot... It has made me realise that is very normal to enjoy sharing the pleasure of craft with others who enjoy the bit of pride it brings to your day.

I drafted a pattern off a old pair of wide legged linen pants the girls have had. I want to make them a few sizes up.. What was meant to be a size 4 ended up a 6, but too short. Bugger. So I made a contrasting hem facing and now they look just fine. I must have been running short of chocolate or coffee when measuring the old pants....

Yo-Yo's and Gourmet Pies

I have made my first yo-yo. I decided to make a home for my sewing scissors. So after finding and preparing the tin, I got out the felt, lined the base, then cut, glued and the rest is history....Although after doing this I decided I should start a little collection of vintage flower buttons.. I have a few, but not quite enough...what an excuse.

My absolute favourite buttons are Mother of Pearl which I try to use on everything!!!!. and maybe I need some more?

So now I have a SCISSOR POT.

I saw this little rosette on a website and I presume it is a set of yo-yo's so I might give it a go one day soon.....

After indulging in so much time wasting for myself, I thought I should treat my dear husband to one of his all time favourite foods. Home made Gourmet meat-pies...

I never follow a recipe, unless it is cakes and biscuits. So I just browsed through the spice drawer and popped a bit of this and that into the mix, lots of Gravy mix and home-made Tomato sauce.
The kids love watching the pastry get cut out, I think that is why I find them asking for round sandwiches. They have such creative thinking and when I say " I cannot cut a round sandwich!". They get the pie making cutter and shake it at me like I am utterly daft."Yeah, with this!"

So here are my yummy pies.

A few months ago, whilst tossing around ideas of selling my childrenswear, I bought a new pattern drafting book, just for children. It is absolutely loaded with valuable information and will be very useful when I alter or design patterns. I am keen to design and make all my own things.

I have long admired things that friends have bought from City markets only to discover that some of these dresses and tops are actually made in China. How do you know what is really custom or handmade anymore???

Does everyone have one of these bobbin holders? They are worth their weight in gold, especially when little people are about....

As for the Heather Bailey, I still cant decide what to do. Not the standard shift dress that is about, something a bit more funky... More homework is needed before I cut into this one..

Japanese Pattern Drafting

Today I covered new territory, I drafted off my first Japanese pattern, ok about 4 really.
Once I got the pattern sheet out I found the pieces quite easily.
I am starting with this set, top a and skirt b.

I worked out the easiest way to draft the pattern succesfully and I hope it will lead to much less frustration when cutting or piecing.

*Firstly look at the cutting layout picture for the garment and add the seam allowances and hem allowances according to the diagram. The little 3 inside the hemline meant add 3 centimetres, so I having done this , I marked it on the pattern.
I have also worked out the symbols that mean front and back.
I have been reading that a lot of people use paper to draft off patterns, I always buy a roll of cheap interfacing to use for patterns. You dont need to pin it onto the fabric as it stays put once in position. It doesnt tear, you can fold it up or roll it up. I like to store my patterns in a snap lock bag with the details written on the front in texta. If I get my act together I will scan the pattern info from the mag or book and put it into the bag also, saves wear and tear on the book.....
Just this morning I have stumbled across this great step by step post that covers everything I have just done and was about to say.... look here first!!!Thought and thimble

O.k. Here is the pictures of top 'a' from my first Japanese sewing book Onnanoko no Oyoufuku Camisole Kara Kichinto Fuku Made ....

My little Miss4 was wrapt and asked whilst posing for the pics, "can I play with this on now?". Its always nice to be appreciated!!!

I made the size 110 and it fits really well, It was easy to put together, the worst part was deciding which buttons looked best. Onward to the next item.....I am already thinking which books I need next.. I did really love the "My favourite Style" book for myself..