3 kids

Well, I volunteered to look after a niece and nephew for the morning and whew, I am tired. Only because I woke up early and had a late night though.

Thanks for all your comments too - I really appreciate hearing encouragement.

I have no sewing news, apart from them being impressed with the softies that I made. Last year I looked after them just before christmas and they wanted to make pillows, so if we do it again this year, I might end up making them a little softie.

Bleery eyes, so signing off now.

Stress

Gee, nothing like feeling stressed to make me cranky. I haven't felt like this is years, but I don't help myself by not eating. That is a trigger point for me.

Anyhoo, I finished another dress to sell after doing the data entry work for today. Plus I have been trying to take good photos and organise the website. Still, things do take time.

I am all over the place. I should eat and then go deliver my work.

Ebbs and flows

I haven't done any sewing since the weekend. I wonder if there are others like me. I sew sew sew like crazy and then don't sew for awhile. I do tend to sew more towards the end of the week because I have more time, but I have plenty of time today and have no plans for sewing. i just done feel like it much.

Definitions

I found this interesting website, should you ever have a dispute about the definition of your clothing. No, I did not but it could be handy.

And I am bookmarking this site - looks fantastic. My reader's digest is missing some modern fabric terms! I was trying to identify if the fabrics I have bought are French terry or not - I think they are. FT sounds better than tracksuiting. It is not fleecy.

Aquaberry

My business name is Aquaberry and the address will be www.aquaberry.com.au. I am still waiting on my payments going through to the host etc so there is absolutely nothing there at the moment.I can't wait to get it running. I have a stack of stock to photograph and get up there.

I see this biz as a long term *thing* - I have it as a goal to homeschool Jalisa and any other children we have but we need a bit more than 1 income. The work at home stuff I do at the moment will not continue forever, as the company is growing so much and they will need an office junior to help out. I can still do the teaching I suppose, I just don't see myself relieving long-term. It is stressful not knowing if there is work, where you will work and who the kids will be every time.

Exciting news - I recieved my biz rego yesterday, with my first choice a winner. Yay. So I am actually able to progress with an ABN, get a domain name etc.

I finished the shirred top for Jalisa yesterday. It is very much like the picture of my skirt, only a lot smaller. When she saw it, she wanted to try it on immediately - over her PJs. I will have to find a spot to put them away for down the coast, a place where I remember where at the right time, rather than in a year's time.

Tone on tone colours - i.e textured plains - if you like the "print" they are great too...thanks for reminding me Helen. I don't tend to buy much in the way of different textures - not to mix together anyway. Another thing to concentrate on rather than those delightful though aging prints.

Sewing, sadness, stash

I did some sewing for myself yesterday. I had plans on making matching shirred tops for Jalisa and me to wear on holidays, but W doesn't like them on anyone (they make people look preggers apparently). So it is a skirt for me now.



After watching Steve Irwin's emotional memorial, Mum and I headed down to SL. I just wanted to pick up so softie fill and some threads that I had run out of and I got those plus some extra fabrics that were at 75% off...including another rayon elastane blend that is sure to be a top and skirt set for me, some natural coloured cotton tracksuiting and some beige-y cotton.

I have read that plain bolts of fabric are not as appealling as prints...I suppose they don't catch the eye as much. And yet, the plain colour is more versatile - It does not date like a print will. They can be used across a few garments without having that deja vu feeling. That is why I force myself to look at the potential of one toned fabrics - they can age in my stash.

Sewing, sadness

I did some sewing for myself yesterday. I had plans on making matching shirred tops for Jalisa and me to wear on holidays, but W doesn't like them on anyone (they make people look preggers apparently). So it is a skirt for me now.



After watching Steve Irwin's emotional memorial, Mum and I headed down to SL. I just wanted to pick up so softie fill and some threads that I had run out of and I got those plus some extra fabrics that were at 75% off...including another rayon elastane blend that is sure to be a top and skirt set for me, some natural coloured cotton tracksuiting and some beige-y cotton.

I have read that plain bolts of fabric are not as appealling as prints...I suppose they don't catch the eye as much. And yet, the plain colour is more versatile - It does not date like a print will. They can be used across a few garments without having that deja vu feeling. That is why I force myself to look at the potential of one toned fabrics - they can age in my stash.

I love the look of these hand dyed cottons. But they are way too small for me to use for garment sewing. I have bought some similar to these but they were FQ size. Even FQ can be hard to make into something, but they are good for one section of a child's garment.

I am still recovering from my sickness - Yesterda I spent some time watching videos, mowing the grass and reading my reader's digest book. I always forget that I own some great resources, like my past Australian Stitches books (the older ones were full of information, and of course my RD sewing and knitting book.

Ta-da

I now have an pink light in my sewing studio that I will have to get more used to. You can also see a part of my (messy) sewing table. To the left are two shelves of adult fabric (one of wovens, one of knits)...I used to keep these super organised, all fabrics rolled but I haven't kept it as updated lately.

Under the sewing machine is the bin (great to throw all my threads in, rather than on the ground like I did previously when the bin was over the other side of the room). The middle blue box has fabric and there are piles of fabric on top. Old tax returns then my sewing magazines and some other magazines. Then there are my rulers and cutting mat before a couple of draws to hold patterns (top), old UFOs and extra fabric. I don't think you can see that in the photo.

I should take some more photos of the room - once I have cleaned up of course.

To answer your questions

The fabric is leftover from Bonds - so it is nice and thick. I was disappointed when it came, as it was slightly off white-ish and I wanted white. But it is just lovely to work with. I can't think of who was selling it.

As for the pattern, I followed some directions in the vintage Kwik sew for babies book to change the sleeper into a long gown and then some other directions for adding a placket at the side. I then added a casing for elastic at the bottom.

I am going to make up some like these for when we have our next one - I was too busy working last time (and relaxing after work) to make anything much for a baby.

And Bronwen - I think I should become a handy-woman lilke you. I drill is on the charger, so it could not be done any sooner. DH is still fixing our car but we have cancelled waterskiing today so there should be time.

Joy gown

My friend Sue commented the other day that the only problem with the baby gown I gave her (I was thinking ah-oh....what is wrong with it) was that there was only 1 of them.

Not that it was a hint or anything but I decided to make another one for her. I used this off-white Bonds interlock (bought at a steal from Ebay). Since it is very plain, the applique really makes it a bit unique. The letters (hand dyed scraps left over from another project) are machine blacket stitched onto the polka dot cotton, so that there is only one line of stitches on the front (as not to irritate the skin.

Curtains rod is not hung yet, so not pics today. Still have my aches and permanent headache - so I am about to have some chicken soup. Yum.

Curtains are done

...but still no pics. I need to get a curtain rod, so I promise to upload a pic on Friday.

I am feeling a little sick today, my eyes are SORE so I am glad that I managed to vacuum, mop and sew curtains.

OK, so the other day I was tagged by Cass and honestly, I had no idea what I had to do. It wasn't until I was reading Clair's blog that I realised.

The rules of the tag are: List 5 weird things about yourself or your pets. Tag 5 friends and list them. Then, those people need to write on their blogs about 5 weird things, and state the rules, and tag 5 more people. Dont forget to let the people you tag know by posting a comment on their blog!
Lisa, Bronwen, Sam, Kellie, Kystar

1. Birds make me scream. I have this irrational fear that they are going to swoop me/peck me other something. Funny thing is, we have always had birds as pets, but they were alright.

2. I can take a long time to sew something. Not because I sew slow, but because after each step, I stop and admire my work.

3. I have weird food rules. Like you can't mix sweet and savoury together, except honey chicken (and that make sme sick)...actually, I don't like eating many foods combined, like mint and chocolate, meat and vegies...but I sometimes break my own rules!

4. I have had twice as much education as my husband. He went grades 1-10, I had 2 years at kinder, preschool, 1-12 and 5 years of uni. Then I went back to school and was a teacher.

5. I don't ask for help often. I like to find out the answer myslef, for some reason. Maybe if I did I would do better.

I realised that I do have enough for covering the corkboard, making a overlocker cover etc. I measured the width of the fabric and it is 240cm width, already 1.5 times my window width. I don’t want it too gathered anyway, so I will cut it in half lengthwise and have 2 drops in one. So I have a whole other 1.5m+ of the fabric, to use as I like. Yay. Obviously maths is not my forte.

Still haven't taken a pic yet...how slack am I. Once I have made the curtains,I will take a before and after photos. I need get a curtain rod too.

Still waiting for my biz rego to process, but I did recieve some fabric in the mail. I love getting fabric in the mail.

So proud of myself

Usually when I go to SL I am the one rooting around in the bargain fabric section, loading up my trolley. But not yesterday. I found my curtain fabric, orange shades of pink dots (similar to MM's flamingo disco dots). I really like that combination of bright colours and it goes well with the pink bookcase.I bought enough for curtains, but I should have gotten extra so that I could update my overlocker cover (currently a piece of fabric draped over) and to cover the corkboard. the only other things I bought were some fray stoppa and a marking pencil. I was tempted by many othr goodies, including a emboidery threads pack, hand embroidery skeins and hoops...but I restrained myself.

As I had looked after a niece and nephew for a few hours, SIL returned the favour so that I could go to SL by myself. It was great.

Create an inspiring studio

I had always planned on hanging some curtains in my studio but had never gotten around to doing it. Following a conversation I had with Eccles2003 (not sure if I should use her real name) I thought about how I could make my sewing studio more me.

I have a bookcase that we painted pink (my favourite colour0 and I have a fairly empty cork board as well as a decoupaged suitcase hidden by the overlocker.

I need to think of other ways that I can define my space. Any suggestions?

Delights

Had a delightful morning with Eccles from CM. We hit some op shops in Brisbane, in search of fabric. While I did not find any fabric I liked, I did grab some patterns, a wool jumper to reconstruct into some nappy covers, a denim dress for Jay and an embroidery hoop (really big size.

I am washing some fabrics at the moment and I might change threads on the overlocker so I continue with the pants. I could not seem to motivate myself to change colours - how lazy am I.

Windy weather

So glad I am not teaching today. It is extremely windy today and it is well known phenomena (spelling?) in spec ed that windy weather = grumpy children. It certainly was making me grumpy when trying to hang washing and get some off the line.

I have been working on my black wool blend pants. I found, as I was inserting the invisible zipper, that I get a better result sewing from top of the zipper on both sides. It means that you have to sew with the fabric on the other side of the needle (i.e crammed in the space) but the seams where the yoke meet at perfectly even. Yay. Will take a pic when the pants are finished. I still have to hem and add the yoke facing. I might have them finished to wear tomorrow, when I go op shopping with a fellow Crafty Mama.

So thankful

When I teach a class like I did today, I realise all that I have to be thankful for. That my daughter can do the things that most people take for granted. That my life hasn't altered that much that I will spend so much energy care for my child for the rest of their life.

My husband and I worked on a softie design last night...he is a better drawing than me. Just have to find the right fabrics, draw up actual pattern pieces and get to work.

Tomorrow I plan to work, do the washing and then maybe some sewing time. Either business or personal.

Murphy's law in sewing

Why is it when you want to start a fresh project either

• the fabric is not washed
• you don't have enough thread
• you don't have the right size pattern
• your house is too messy to sew in.

Well, I cleaned up the bench that I cut off. Then I realise that I don't have the size that I want. So I draft up that size, plus some others. Right, then the fabric is not washed. Okay, that won't be done today seeing as there is a pile of other stuff in the queue (including all the towels etc that were used to mop up the laundry after an accident involving trying to recycle water in one way or another - don't ask). So you pick out some washed fabric, with a pattern that you have already and, yeah, probably not enough thread there.

Okay, not to worry, as I am topstitching in a different colour and the skirt is a differnt colour with which I have plenty of thread.