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.