Baby

My sweet baby. I will cherish these photos forever. I sometimes wonder why you were brought into my life so early. Now I can't imagine living without having you to love.

Sewing from last week

I worked on these pants the other day. I thought that it needed a matching top, but I did not have quite enough for a size 3. So the top will go to a friend's daughter, who is having her dedication on Saturday.

Jalisa has been sleep in until at least 7:30 the past few days...it has been bliss to get extra sleep.

Taking a break

Having a breather from sewing. I have cut out everything except the binding (haven't looked for any matching or contrasting fabric yet) and I have sewn part of the bodice. The fabric is being a right pain so I will be glad when this is over. While I love the look and feel of rayon, I don't like their uncooperative nature.

Helped out with the creche after doing my part at Sunday School with the older kids...I love the littlies...that just have this wonderful innocence about them. I have washed and dried the fabric for the dress...I may cut it out and start if I have some time today. I do have to go to the shops to buy some wool, we are doing some dyeing at Tuesday with Mums' group (quilting as well). should be a hoot.

Vogue 1773

As I was organizing my pattern drawer, I found this pattern and remembered how much I love it and want to make it. I had bought fabric for it - I like all views but the centre design actually uses less fabric, so I only have enough to make that...I don't tend to buy fabrics in large amounts. I hope to get around to making all views, I am drawn to the vintage feel of the patterns and I have discovered a stack of other designer vogue patterns that I haven't used but want to use in the future. Now, I just have to wash the fabric and I can get started.

A book called Knitting

By Anne Bartlett. I am usually drawn to a book by it's cover (hence I read lot of books with pretty pink or green or blue covers!). Obviously I see what it is about and it is seems okay I borrow it. I found this book and I thought that I would be a nice read. Man was I wrong. It was an awesome read.

I am not a knitter but I felt that the author was describing the way I am with fabric...to a degree. It was extremely refreshing to read a book with real characters in it. Too often I find myself reading books that end up describing the same workaholic person looking for love. Fine to pass the time but I prefer to read about realistic people with hobbies and flaws.

Busy busy busy

Working relief and then picking up some more work on the way home. I actually went to the fabric store and was looking at patterns but my headache was so bad I had to leave. Leave the store! The headache was not from the kids but probably a combo of lack of water, food and the relief of being free to go.

I have finished the challenge

These are some items for sale, at Crafty Mamas, modelled on my dummy. Twirl skirt, size 3/4 (on right)


Shorts and apron, size 2. The ruffles are not perfectly even, so I am selling with the apron.


Boys long shorts with cargo pockets, size 2.










Halter top and appliqued capri pants (lipstick and powder compact...kinda blends in with the dots...the Michael Miller fabric that I used as a patch is really gorgeous though and matches the dotty print)






Uploading these photos is proving to be a real pain...I can't count the number of attempts. I can't control where they land and they muck up any text.

This week's challenge

I want to make a toddler size dummy, to display my clothing. This task has me a bit perplexed..should I just make it like a soft toy and try to prop it up. Or should I somehow insert wood or wire to give it some structure so that it will stand up.

The softer version will be easier to dress as well as being easier to make. The structured will stand better but I haven't quite figured out what I would use.

So I cleaned my overlocker

...and it is running a whole lot better. I do normally clean it regularly but this time I gave it a thorough cleaning and oiling and changed the needle. I have been using fabrics that cause a lot of lint lately I suppose.

Hopefully today is a good day.

Cutting back

The challenge is to cut back on internet time. I spend WAY too much time online. I was going to go cold turkey for a week but I thought that was going to be too hard for me and then I would have to deal with the guilt that went with not being able to keep that challenge. So I am limiting myself to less than 1 hour a day.

I have been aware of my problem for a bit, been trying to fill my time with other fun things. Wayne is gone for a long time during the day (Monday -Friday: leaves at 6:15, back at home a 5, Saturdays 6:15-1) and Jalisa is up early and has two long sleeps during the day, so I have a lot of time to fill by myself.

I am the type of person that has to be busy, occupied but I have made the commitment not to return to permanent work while the kids are really young. I am used to being at home now, but really need a big project or something to work on.

Christmas in July entry

I decided just to go with some buttons. I spent a little time placing them at random, then in a Christmas tree configeration but went with the straight line.

I am not normally a big Christmas-y person. I did make a dress for Jay last year in a Christmas tree print though. I was going to somehow try to represent the traditional story, maybe with a baby or a star or something but I did not want anything too fussy either. After having trouble with the dress (now two piece set...hey, I was going to make a headscraf too...may have to make that today, I forgot!) I went for simplicity.

Sewing

Years ago, while I sewed all my clothes, I did not particularly like seewing...I liked the fabrics and patterns and the finished article. That has changed lately, I am not sure when. I am a *bit* of a perfectionist with my sewing and I fine that I really love the sewing part.

I was making a dress yseterday but the proportions were just not right. So I cut it back into a top (I used my top pattern and just added a skirt). I am making a seperate skirt to go with it. I decided after the top was finished that it needed something else, so I made have to un-stitch to do some applique. Or maybe it will work like it is.

I have to clean the oven and the dishes before sewing though...I can't even use the oven because it smokes out the house...don't ask.

Wool dying in a kit

I am sure it is not a totally original concept, but someone has put together a wool-dying kit here:

http://www.buyena.com/DYE-it-YOURSELF-pure-wool-kit-with-KOOLAID,itemname,189,id,auctiondetails

Oh, and I am loving the sets at http://www.josiekatstrunk.com

Articles

Tooting my horn and saying I have written some sewing articles:

Use your children as inspiration and get creative:
http://www.craftymamas.net/?ID=17

What they did not tell you when you bought a sewing machine
http://www.craftymamas.net/?ID=29

Wool pics

So I finally uploaded the dyed woll pics. My first attempt is the brown and green (choc mint) ball, the other pink/green was my second attempt. They are not as pretty as I would have liked, but man it was fun. I since I don't even knit, I don't need a lot of wool anyway. Here is my headband, very comfy: When we have another baby, I plan to get my Mum or MIL to knit up some soakers for us.

Daily must see sites

http://www.craftymamas.net/forum
www.nappycino.com
www.textilefetish.blogspot.com
www.themessydesk.com.au/forum

No pics but have been crafty

I tried dying wool with food colouring, lots of fun. I used this tutorial: http://www.withawareness.com.au/CraftDyesFooddyemethod.htm I don't knit but I crochet, so I started to make a headband for Jay. But then I realised it was too wide and would be out of proportion with her head. So the headband is for me...it is great.

My friend came over yesterday and we did some sewing, well I was guiding her. she told me she can see why I love sewing, because of my "fancy machine." I do admit I love all the features at the touch of the button and it really help me be more precise with my sewing.

Buying online

I just love the ease of shopping online. No need to queue up and wait. No screaming kids and rude sales assistants. One can just sit at home and if you are anything like me you are in your jammies when you make that purchase.

This is a great blog entry of six one six on indie businesses. http://616sixonesix.blogspot.com/2006/07/indie-community.html

I love the part about how much love and care goes into each individual creation. It is so true...not that I have a biz yet but I am in the process of planning it out and I am starting to make stuff to sell in a forum community's online store. I have put as much if not more care and certainly as much love into these garments as the clothing I make for my daughter. I just am loving the process.

I wonder if people realise that when they buy indie or WAHM made that they are supporting real people with great talents, not just "lining the pockets" of investers and executives. I wonder if people think about all the emotion that is sewn, knitted, stirred, beaded or otherwise fashioned into the item or all the time and energy it takes to design something unique and fresh...

So where can you buy these items?
http://www.craftymamas.net/shop
http://www.ozebaby.com.au
http://www.sixonesix.com.au
These are some Aussie ones that I have come across in my travels...I would love to hear of others.

No cohesion

I was just reading through my posts. One day I am saying about the competition and how I am drafting a pattern for a gathered halter top. The next day I have posted a picture of my entry which is a peasant top. I forgot that I was going to do the halter as my entry and was inspired to make the peasant. No rhyme or reason to it.

Kool Aid

My friend Cindy agreed to buy some Kool Aid while over visiting Mick. So if you want some come and sign on at Crafty Mamas. The price will be US retail plus the postage it takes to get it from my house to yours!

Competition entry

I spent part of Saturday doing this...I have a stack of that zebra print and I just love using it. I originally bought it to make a sling but realised I was short by a little.

I am thinking of selling this in the Crafty Mamas shop (link is to the side) but not sure on a price. I will see if I get some more feedback about it.

I saw my SIL (E's mum - I made the overalls for him). I was a tad down because she did not say anything about them at the time and I thought that she might not like them. I saw her today and she says she loves them and they have had lots of comments about them. That made me feel fantastic...though I should have told her that they can get their own from me if they want. I really need to work on letting people know that I am selling my creations.

Creative children's clothing

The competition at crafty mamas this month is creative children's clothing. That was enough to motivate me to trying out my draft of the gathered halter top. I thought the first try (gathers at the top only) was not quite right, so I changed to a gathers all the way through. Wayne actually prefered the first, but I still needed to make changes to the length and add seam allowances.

I am hoping that I have got it right for now. No doubt I will change it in the future but I may be able to cut into some more precious fabric, rather than the scraps.

Fun sewing

Yesterday I was challenging myself to do some sewing using scraps. I was making this awesome skirt (cord and leftover stretch poplin) but I had to much fabric to gather and being so thick (double fold casing) I couldn't get the elastic through that last inch. Then the nappy pin broke. Still I had used a new pleating technique for me in the hem band.

So I moved on to some hand embroidery...incorporating the Crafty mama's theme challenge for this month.

Then onto applique. I decided it looked like it should be an apron. I love applique and have decided doing words is fun...so look out for some other garments with words.

Side snapping newborn gown

I was sketching ideas down the other day and I came up with this idea. Raglan sleeves, snaps at side, elastic in casing at the bottom...this one needs less elastic...I made another for a friend who is due next month because this one also has a dodgy snap. Would you believe that none of my snaps really matched, so I went for the netural over navy or red.