Oscar's quilt and an embarrassing UFO

So, lets get the uncomfortable project out of the way first (well uncomfortable for me).  I have two projects that I started way over a year ago...both for Thea.  I feel really guilty about this as she loves when I make her stuff but somethings get put in the too-hard basket and stay there.

Anyway, I started the Jo Pinafore way back in March/April last year.  Every two weeks I would take it to my craft group and knit a few rows then put it away again until next time.  It's not a hard pattern at all but I have come to realise that I am not into big projects - I like quick things like hats, scarves, handwarmers etc.

Anyway, my mother-n-law was down for the weekend and she finished it off for me!!!  She's a very experienced knitter, not to mention quick, so within a matter of minutes (it seemed) the straps were done and the loose bits woven in.  All ready for Thea to wear to a party that afternoon!

We deviated from the pattern slightly with the straps (I was finding the double knitting incredibly frustrating) so they are wider than the proper Jo pinafore.  But I don't care...it's finished!  And hopefuly will see her through a couple more winters.

The other project that was finished on the weekend (again thanks to my MIL who finished hand sewing the binding) is Oscar's quilt.  Remember I used the Parson Gray range of fabrics which I love.  I am really happy with it.

My craft girls helped me decide on the colour for the border and binding which I think works so well.

I just decided to quilt a straight line through the middle of each 5" block.  And I backed it with a woollen blanket that came from my mums stash.

While I just sewed the 5" blocks together, I tried to create random  shapes - a large square here, a long rectangle here.  I am so pleased with this quilt and I hope it will be something he takes with him into adulthood!

Until next time, Melissa

Holidays... its all about a bit of fun!

This is a post about our holidays... a bit of fun for everyone. Its not just about crafting but mostly :)

Fun for the kids, on the beach...

And fun for Mummy with the sewing machine!

At the beginning of the holidays, a pattern arrived from Esty for me.. This one The Schoolhouse Tunic. I have been eyeing it up for months, perhaps even a year. So, day one of the school holidays sees us tootling down to Lower Hutt in search of bargin fabric to have a go at it. I got some pretty blue/green fabric for $3 per metre... perfect for a try! Got it home, washed, pattern traced, pinned and cut out... then it sat for a week. Thank goodness for a sew club night! Tunic dress done....BUT way too big. Thankfully I had spare fabric and was able to cut out the top half again and reuse the skirt. Today it is finished. It looks nothing on the hanger but quite cool on...



I like it, but I had in mind a finer material... something more floaty and sheer. So I headed back down to Fabric Barn and found some $6 per metre sheer cotton. It was washed last night, hung to dry overnight, ironed, pieces cut out and ready for making this morning. Bless my lovely hubbie who took the kiddies to the library and out for lunch while I had 3 hours of peace and quiet to whip this one up. My fav!

Hehe, all finished as the kiddies arrived home all excited from their surprise visit to The Warehouse. Just ready for dinner out tonight!

Still had the sew bug... After 3 hours of sewing I had worked out what I sorely needed.... a second pin cushion. Its frustrating to be pinning at the ironing board, moving to sew at the machine and not remembering to bring the pin cushion with you! I got inspired by this gorgeous wee story from Tea Rose Home. I had quite a few fabric scraps left from my cot quilt so thought I would have a little go at making my own, very very simple pin cushion!

I am very tempted to stick a wee velco dot on the bottom and another on my sew table so it has a little home. Bet you have heaps of scraps crying to be made into a little spare pin cushion. Great gift for someone aye?

I'm not quite ready to put my machine away yet.. I have a skirt to hem, a cape to repair and no doubt something else will come up that I wanna have a go at. Happy holiday sewing everyone A xx





Tooth Cute

Oscar is six this month and as yet so sign of any teeth falling out...I can't wait as I think there's nothing cuter than some missing teeth! (On kids that is)

Anyway, I wanted to be ready and so came across a very clever tutorial for a totally rad Tooth Office Pillow,

It was super easy and super quick and I had most of  the materials in my stash.  It's surprisingly big and the tooth goes in the wee pocket where the front teeth are.

Of course Thea couldn't miss out either - even though she is three years away from her teeth falling out :)  So I made her a ballerina pillow complete with ballet shoes.

Until next time, Melissa

My first quilt

A while ago I told you about my love affair with Amy Butler.  Well it continues with my first quilt - a lap quilt for the couch.

And it matches my Amy Butler Gum Drop Pillow!

My sew club (that Amber's a member of too) had a couple of classes with Amber's Mum, a very experienced quilter.  I decided to do a 'disappearing nine patch' for my quilt.  While I had my Amy Butler fabric, for this method you need a 'constant' fabric, so Amber's mum kindly rushed out to get me some of the green spot you can see below.

Right so it was fun to put together, I cut many many 5" squares (and now see the benefit of charm packs!) and sewed nine together randomly...except always having the green constant in the middle

Then I sliced by nine patch down the middle horizontally and vertically

Then turned them around and sewed it back together!

From here it was simply a matter of repeating with however many nine patches I needed.

The quilt has already had some use :)

I have a few more to make and will try different methods so I shall be back!

Until next time, Melissa

Spolight find

Macie and I took a wee trip to Spotlight last week. Our main job was to find fabric for a Jedi cape for her bestie Cruz. Of course we took the opportunity to have a good look around! I am so lucky to have a little princess who enjoys fabric and shops... Macie happy to push her baby in the trolley, sit and look at the pattern books and also check out whats on offer fabric wise... how could I then resist when she found the cutest wee cord fabric with elephants on it.... oh and a great pattern book with the cutest wee tunic top in it! (Sorry Daddy, it was a MUST have!)

So, after a bargin of denim for $3, elephant fabric and book, and of course the Jedi fabric for Cruz.. we headed home. Macie got up the next morning expecting to wear her elephant dress... alas it was still just a piece of fabric.. so on Saturday we got busy sewing. She helped a little bit and then helped more by keeping herself busy and out of my way...;)

Here is the finished product...

Check out the face! Not sure what thats about, seems when we 'model' these days it comes with a screwed up nose and two chins!!!!!!!!! ;)

Check out the special strawberry pockets we chose to put on the dress..

Here is the clever straps up close... we used suspender clips. Macie loves!

Here is the gorgeous book the dress is from...

Its available on Book Depository. The book has 23 different project from the same basic 4 patterns. It includes tops, skirts, dresses and pants. Good buy!

Just about to sit down and sew together the Jedi cape, will post pic when thats all done especially for those with Star Wars fans. Happy sewing everyone. A xx

Crafty Girls Road Trip

I was very spoilt this mothers day. I even received a pressie from my Mum. It was this wee book. It is a cool idea.... it details all the great crafty spots all over the country of New Zealand including Vintage shops and crafters that re-use or upcycle goods.

This past weekend, I have been a very lucky duck. I have been in Nelson, craft centre of the country! Around the conference I was there for, I made sure I was able to get out and about with my darling Rach to visit all the places she had been dying to show me. Funnily enough, we talked about this wee book (which I neglected to take with me... would I need it with a local to show me around... I thought not). Once I arrived home on Sunday evening, I checked the book... We had visited nine of the recommended spots for the Nelson region plus one that is not in the book but will definately be there in the next addition!

So... here is where I went and what I thought/brought.

First up and an absolute must is the Saturday Market. This is an absolute must for any visitor to Nelson, crafter or not. It has a wonderful assortment of stalls and amazing foodie smells. I looked mainly at the clothing and vintage ones. Oh and the delicious peanut butter one.. a wee jar snuck into my bag for Macie and Daddy. I loved the vintage stall where I spent a grand total of $20. I got a sweet little leather wallet and a cool 1950's woven basket in red for my kitchen. Topped off with a hot chocolate, it was a fabulous morning.

After a day at the conference Rach picked me up and took me to her all time fav Vintage Shop, Black Cat Vintage. This delightful little shop is just off Main Stoke Road and it is home to a fabulous selection of extremely well priced second hand vintage items. It was heaven for an hour! Here I picked up a wooden chess set for my clever chess playing five year old (who was over the moon!) and 3 gorgeous doilies for a project I have in mind. I saw many many an item directly from my childhood and my grandparents homes. It was like a trip down memory lane. LOVED IT. This little gem was a definate highlight and should feature in the next Crafty girls book.

On a Sunday at this time of the year, many places are closed in Nelson. And a good thing too I believe. However, venturing a wee way out of the city to Mapua opened up many a shopping opportunity. In Mapua we visited...
...The Mapua Country Trading Co. This was like taking a step back in time upon entering this little gardening shop. It was home to 'vintage' seed packets, awesome DIY ideas for the compost/garden and many a delightful pressie for the people in your life that have everything and are hard to buy for.
...Delicious. A little wee it like Stevens but way way better. This gorgeous kitchen/giftware/toy shop was top notch at affordable prices. Spacious, not cramped it was just a treat to look around. I found a cute wee cup for Macie, purple with white spots. A sure winner!
...The Hat Factory. (Not in the book). I loved this shop. Every type of hat you could think of and nothing I saw over $20. Of course I had to buy one. Now have a lovely knitted bucket style hat in white. Scrummy. Couldn't wear on the plane home otherwise I risked having it blown back to Nelson when I stepped out of the plane in Nelson.

We headed back into town for lunch and had the most amazing food at The Suter Cafe. Attached to the art gallery, a lovely little place to eat. Its also right on the very edge of the duck pond at Queen's Gardens so a fun place for little ones to walk and feed the ducks and ducklings.

After a drive around the streets of Nelson, seeing all of these places and more I am quite sure that I could move there! Just have a few people to convince that this is the best idea ever!!! ;)

While away, I got lots of crochet done. Two hats and half a blanket not bad going I'd say for two nights away. Hope your weekend was fun filled too! A xx

Pretty neat doll!

My sewing friend sent me a link to the most adorable fabric doll kit - a Roxy Long Socks.  I just had to get one and Thea was extremely excited when it came in the mail.

This was a lovely project that we did together - she's older now and very sure of what she wants (!) and even though I tried to steer her in the winter doll option, she was adament that it was the springtime option that was perfect for her.

So I got out all my fabric scraps and we picked the fabric together - again she was pretty sure about what she wanted but I managed to get a few of her quilt colours in there.

The doll was quick and easy to sew up - Thea sat beside me passing me the stuffing so it was totally a team effort.

I think she's pretty happy with it!



I am still keen to make the winter doll (it has a hood!) but I know plenty of girls that I can sew for.  The great thing about this pattern is you can purchase the faces seperately so I think I will have a few tucked away for later.  It's also a great project for scraps.

Till next time
Melissa