Organiser for work

This project was inspired by various organiser patterns I have seen on the web (Amy Butler 's sweet greeting portfolio and Soule Mama's gratitude wrap). I decided it would be great to have an organiser for work, to hold my diary, post-it notes, pens etc. I was walking through the stationary aisle at a local department store when I saw some A4 folders that I use for holding my lesson plans and worksheets for school.

I thought that it would be easy to make a cover for the folder and just add a couple of pockets to hold the pens etc but it turned out a little more complicated than I thought. See, if you are making a slip cover, you can't have pockets unless you have another layer of fabric to sew onto, otherwise the folder won't slip in at all.

Anyway, here it is.

It's not perfect (the back slip pocket could have been a little wider for more stability) but it does the job.

Oh look, I just noticed I cut the birdie's head off -- ooops.

Sweet tees for a sweetie

Skinny Minnie Jalisa has lots of shorts that still fit her (some are in their 3rd summer). So she needed a few more tops – Ottobre of course.

Pink cotton tee is the Ottobre puffed sleeve tee again. The butterfly appliqué was chosen by Jalisa.

Oops, pasted in the wrong picture...

The lilac cotton singlet has a simple J appliqué (who knew it would be so hard finding the right looking font?).

The lilac cotton tee I finished up this morning. I actually stencilled a butterfly on with some fabric dye thickened with a special paste but I made added too much urea water and it was too transparent (and the colours ran). So I cut a new front and appliquéd a butterfly, using some marble dyed fabric. I am pretty happy with the result and it is another idea to add to my list of possible entries for next year’s show. I accidently cut the wrong sleeve pattern (was meant to be another puff sleeved version) but this one fit perfectly.

Close up of the butterfly.

EB Secret Santa Quiz / wishlist

My SS could probably do a search and find last year's quiz but here are my answers anyway:

Would you like something handmade as a gift?
Handmade rocks. I don't take enough time to make stuff for myself. I am totally open to stuff such as handbags, grocery bags, apron, oven mitts, tea towels, placemats, coasters, hair accessories, fobs (scissors, keyring), fabric magnets, handbag organizers, make up brushes organizer, which I make for others but never seem to make for myself (why is that???)

Do you have a favourite Christmas Colour?
Not really.

Do you decorate the whole house or just a part of it?
Just parts of it. I decorate the coffee table and put up the tree. Oh, and some other christmas things on a shelf in the kitchen.

Do you have any Christmas Traditions?
We go around a look at Christmas lights many times leading up to Christmas. Christmas Eve we celebrate Christmas with Dh's family and Christmas day with mine. Christmas morning for our own little family. This year will actually be the first year we come back home on Christmas night, usually we are already on our annual camping holiday.

What sizes are your children?
Scott is 74cm tall and Jalisa is 104cm tall - both are skinny (so next size down at least in width).

Do you like quick projects or things that take a little longer?
Good mixture of both. I like to be challenged every now and then but like fast projects for quick fixes.

Is there anything that you like to collect?
Fabric of course. I am always on the look out for fun trims, decorative elastics etc.

Is there anything you don't want or need?
White cotton fabrics to dye. I have more than enough at the moment. Ditto plain knit fabrics, buttons, Christmas decorations/Christmas related stuff.

Got some sewjo back

Okay, so I might have my sewjo back but I still am having technical difficulties. I have put a non-sewing picture up first...Scott when he was messing around at dinner time. DH had made the potatoes super runny that day.
Okay, here is one of the dresses I have made the in the last couple of days. I whipped this one up this morning. Fabric is embroidered voile, pattern is Ottobre, Jalisa decided to get changed and wear this dress instead today.

Yesterday I made a dress using the tee pattern from last week (puffy sleeves). Jalisa wore that straight away too, and so has some dinner all over it before I could get a decent picture. And I could not be bothered to show the blouse and the romper that I finished. I have been making such boring stuff lately - it almost makes me feel down when I know I can create more intersting things, but I find being creative exhusting.

For those of you who asked for a picture

Here it is (maybe I should add to my fabric addict list - when you request to see other people's purchases :P) Not much to say - I got over 11 meters of a beige cotton knit, some pink cotton knit, some rayon knit, black stretch drill for cropped work pants and a little bit of voile which I will try to make into butterfly wings *maybe* for Jalisa for Christmas. I while I am writing a blog entry, I thought I should post some more sewing pictures. Mine are so boring because they don't contain any designer fabrics or exciting fabric combinations. This is a little puff sleeves Otto tee (#18 from 1/07) - fabric is hand dyed cotton lycra, pattern is easy peasy. I plan to use it for a little dress soon.

Cotton kimono robe for me. Pattern is from Burda WOF, but I can't remember the issue. Hopefully this will be good for when we go camping and have to use communal showers. Sash is from some marbled dyed fabric.

Another nightie, this time for me. The fabric is a spotted rayon knit (I started with like 12 metres of this stuff, so it is being used for many jammies). I used a vintage Kwik Sew pattern, #717. The pattern is actually a slip but I think it would make a really nice dress pattern for someone with some confidence. I don't really do spaghetti straps in public anymore. I think I am going to alter this to make a singlet pattern.

You know when you are a fabric addict when...

• buying fabric becomes a hobby in itself
• you go to de-stash some fabric and can't bear the thought of selling
• you spend close to three hours in a car in the hope to snare some bargains at a chain store relocation sale

I only bought 21 metres though, at $1 a metre. I saved more money (over $150 if you base it on the original price) than I spent on fuel (less than $20). Hopefully it was worth the whinging from a little boy for half the trip.

Lemonade and Strawberry ripple iceblocks anyone?

Ah, spring time. I love it when the sun starts to shine and it starts to feel like Summer should be. Oh course, where I live, it is always stinking hot in the Summer and not the most enjoyable season. So I will enjoy some Summer sewing while it is still pleasant.

I made these two dresses yesterday. I thought the seersucker would make a really nice light summer dress for Jalisa. When she tried it on though, it screamed nightie. *Sigh* I morphed a peasant top (Ottobre #16 from 1/07) with a dress (Ottobre #14 2/03). I was planned on adding shirring to the waist but will leave it like this for jammies.


The iceblock dress is Ottobre #14 (2/03) made up mostly to the pattern. I used an invisible zipper at the back and gathered the sleeves with shirring elastic rather than the narrow elastic. I also did not use bias to finish the rest of the sleeve - I just overlocked, folded down the seam allowance and topstitched.

The constrast frill and sleeves are some marble dyed fabric and Jalisa chose the fabric herself from Spotlight on our last visit. I feel like something is missing from the pattern - maybe a sash in the dyed fabric?

I love dog prints

Here is Scott's birthday outfit, not modelled because I was way to impatient to wit until he woke up. I used the woven romper pattern from Ottobre 2/2005 (#5 ).

The only modification I made was to get rid of the back flap - Scott is a nightmare to change at the moment (must hold a book or something to stop the kicks and rolls) so I did not think an opening at the back would cut it when I am in a hurry. (I should try it one day though, as I might find it easier that way, but it appears as though you have to stick their legs back in and that did not seem practical). To make the lower back into one piece, you just have to trace one part and then overlap where the opening would normally go. I added a little extra to the front and back lower pieces so I could put snaps in there.

I was really pleased with this pattern - the sleeves were looking like they would be too big but they were exactly the right length - no gathering needed. The pattern is really easy to put together - just lots of topstitching.

If I were to do this pattern again (already have one half sewn) I would choose a plain fabric rather than a print - you cannot see all the wonderful topstitching on a print whereas a plain fabric would highlight the topstitching and seams better, showing all your hard work.

Happy birthday Scooter

So mad at myself for not taking more photos - actually, these were taken by my friend Anna.

Here is the birthday cake - Wayne did the decorating and this was the best cake I have made - the cake and icing tasted so yummy.

It ended up storming all night so the house was a mess

as party stuff was placed willy-nilly and then shoved out the way so people could eat their BBQ dinner - ah well. The kids and I are all wearing Mama made - I will have to do a review of Scott's outfit because it is a new Ottobre pattern (for me).

Some boyish duds

First up is this Ottobre singlet pattern (I size up because it is really tight otherwise) from 2/2005 (or free from their site) in a red lacoste knit. It is paired with some cotton check pants. I used a very simple long shorts pattern so as not to mess up lining up the checks with pockets etc...the fabric is kinda funny in that it has some parts of the check woven tighter or something, so that it has a light texture to it.
Next up is this unfinished romper. I am waiting for DH to draw a car to applique on and I still have to apply the snaps, but I felt like taking a picture of it. Fabric is hand dyed - meant to be mottled. Thank goodness DH has developed a liking for dyed items - I thought it would be too hippy-ish for his tastes but he is digging the dyed stuff I have done. I heart him. This is another curved raglan tee from Ottobre 2/2005 morphed onto a romper from Kwik Sew (any would do!)

Under the sea print using an easy long shorts pattern. Again I did not want extra seams and pockets affecting the look of the print - which is big and loud. I think this took all of 15 minutes all up.

My favourite short pattern - another Ottobre (2/03 I think). With a faux fly, back yoke and bellow pockets, it takes a little more time but the results speak for themselves I think. I can't help buying dog prints at the moment. This pair is destined to be a present for a little boy - Scott is going to have overalls in this print.

I have a few more projects cut but next up I will have to make a birthday outfit for Scott...he is one on Saturday.