Lately....

I've been drawing a sweet little babushka. Inspired by our new surroundings, I've picked up the old nib pen and have spent my evenings with curving lines and sweet smiling faces rather than wool felt, needles and thread. It's been a long time since I've drawn and although she's not a very challenging subject some of my motifs of old have found a home with her.

Once I've copied her in black and white for a bit of gocco printing (she's destined to grace a t-shirt or twenty), I'm planning on adding a whole heap of colour. But first Mr. Gocco and I need to get reaquainted. That's if I can find him in the jumble of boxes that are residing in the back shed.

Yep, My life can be found in boxes in the back shed at present. We are house sitting for a very generous and wonderful family who have gone on away on a big adventure. It is an amazing home and staying here has made our transition back home so much easier.



So of course we've been house hunting. Oh dear.....If only we could find something as perfect as this beautiful home. Unfortunately most of the time we have been here one of the kids has been sick. All up we've probably had 5 days without an illness. We've had sticky eyes, followed by tummy bugs and after 5 days grace we now have the big girl down with fever. Poor old warrny is full of bugs after fun 4 kids it seems!



Of course I have also found time to set up a space for me and get sewing. Although I do admit the drawing bug is taking precedence, there's nothing like agreeing to do a market in a couple of months to get you motivated at the sewing machine. Polly and ollie dollies and pixies in various stages are underway. And if i can find my box of fabric there will be more. I just need to find the right boxes...

bo peep skirt

This weekend I'm hoping to get this skirt made for Tully. The pattern is from Anna Maria Horner's "Seams to Me" and I'm planning on using the princess and the pea by Heather Ross in Tully's fav colour of the moment, purple. Now I just have to decide, do I mix it with the mermaids by Heather Ross or some gorgeous echino or some spots? Ohhh decisions decisions...

Got anything crafty planned this weekend?

the best way to spend a winters day

Of course the best way to spend a winter's day is inside at the sewing machine whilst the toddler plays contentedly. Particularly, if the weather involves rain, hail, thunder and lightning! I must admit I do love this type of weather, but only if I'm inside. Which today I was, sewing away.

On my sewing table today I have an array of pixies at different stages of assembly, a pile of said pixies arms and legs, another pile of babushka's and a sweet little angel reminding me I need to make more like her. The angel is Tully's and has adorned various pieces of clothing since I made her a few weeks ago. She has also spent some time in the washing machine, hence the slightly bent wings. Poor angel.

Upon my table I also have a new bundle of fabric that my brave postie delievered today. I could see the parcel in my letterbox through the hail and was so eager to see it's contents but of course waited for the pelting to stop, no way was I getting belted by little nuggets of ice even for an exciting fabric parcel. I so love getting fabric in the mail, I think it's nearly my favourite type of mail! And just look at my selection. Some awesome echino, cute Japanese and some great spots and stripes. All intended for new pixies. See the way cute rainbow/mushie one on top, well the very sweet bonus to this is the little flowers and and apples are adorned with glitter. My word Miss Tully will be a bit excited about this one, I know I was!



Hmmm what else, well to say thank you to all you lovely readers and my friends over at facebook AND customers at my new store on made it, I'm going to have a little giveaway. As I have a bit of a production line of babushka's on the go I figure that's the best thing to offer up. So what do you have to do? Well you need to "like" pint over on facebook and then simply leave a comment here telling me what your fav thing to do on a winters day is. Easy! You have until Sunday night to leave a comment, and I'll select a winner with the random generator thingie on Monday. Cool.

above and below

Above, a neat little stack of babushka's slowly came together.



Whilst below a once neat little box of trims and bias became a tangled mess of colour. Sewing with children under feet can be so much fun.

to market, to market.....

Yesterday I discovered a handmade children's market coming to Warrnambool which is just a couple of hours away and home to my sweet Mum. I've been lacking a bit of enthusiasm about selling my wares of late so this is just the kick in the butt I need. I already have a gazillion plans for it and am quietly a little excited, not hugely optimistic that my softies will be brilliantly receieved, but keen to see some faces and expose little old pint to a wider audience.

The market is only 8 or so weeks away, but thankfully I have been putting in some time and have two as yet unnamed long-legged polly dolly's, well nearly 2,just gotta finish the body on the little red head. Two more polly's are in the works, and some pixies will join them as well. Lots more plans are afoot, but lets be realistic ...8 weeks! If you are local to Warrnambool or interested you'll find more info here



Today is sewing day here, so off I go whilst Miss Sage sleeps. Speaking of the cheeky monkey, here she is in her new little duds. After a bit of a stuff up sewing wrong pieces together, they've been saved and I'm pretty happy about that. The denim is lovely and thick, perfect for the very chilly weather we have been experiencing. Thankfully, Lach rescued the little heater from his shed, and now my little sewing space is a warm one, hope yours is too!

what's on....

Wednesday is making day for me now. With only Sage to keep me company whilst the big kids are off at kindy and school, I leave most of the housework for another day and try to get a bit of crafting happening. Well, that's the idea anyway. Some days Sage thinks that it would be much more fun for me to hold her which makes sewing rather difficult, particularly when she tries to point at the needle as it hammers along. Today has been a bit of a mix of actually getting something done and "uhh uhhing" little fingers. I must say I have been slightly productive.
I've got some little misses all ready for some final attachments and stuffing.



I've been redrafting the latest softie on the block, tweaking, tweaking trying to get him right.




I've been playing with some of my purchases from the stiches and craft show. Did you go? The incubator space was great. Lots of fantastic crafty ladies = lots of fun craftiness bought home. This little miss is from the red thread. I've used her to cover up an oil stain on one of Tully's tee's. I'll applique properly and sew a felt flower on her hair tonight.




And lastly, I've been contemplating finishing of the granny rug, but nahhhh that can wait.

Frida, oh how I love thee

I had high hopes for the Frida pattern by Modkid, and they certainly reached them! Having read reviews in Sew Hip and hearing lots of other great reviews and just perusing the pattern itself, it just looked so flawless and clear, and that is just what it was. An absolute delight to make with beautifully presented instructions. And to top it off, the fit is perfect, it's super sweet and Tully loves it!



I made this little number in a Michael Miller range. I loved the bird fabric and bought it with the idea to make "a" dress for Tully but then when I was trying to decide exactly what to use for Frida, it was the perfect choice. I think it has a mexican feel to it, and suits the style perfectly. I love that this is so bright and vibrant, it will be perfect for all the dancing in store next week when we head off to WOMAD, which I'm way too excited about!



I was thinking that it would be lovely to make this in actual Frida Kahlo material but it could be a bit much for a little girls dress, maybe? Although I have just found this Frida in spooflower, ohh too cute!



And now for the littlest misses birthday dress. Lesley asked for a piccie, so I thought I had actually put it on Sage to see that it fits. That's right Sage didn't even wear her birthday dress on her birthday and hasn't even tried it on yet. It was way hot 35 degrees on her big day and we spent the day at the beach and chilling and of course eating cake. I actually though it would be too big for her! Well it's not it fits her perfectly, maybe a bit long for the crawler but once she gets her balance it'll be perfect. Her latest very most favourite thing to do is swing, swing , swing. Oh what a delight it is, she cackles and squeals and just won't get out! I forgot to take a piccie with her matching polly dolly so those shots will come along soon.

Now it's time to sew for the little boy. Lach has a pair of shorts he doesn't like the fit of, so I'm gonna hack them up for some pants for my growing little guy, everything has become ankle basher over summer. Oh and summer, where did that go! I'm so sad that the cold weather is on the way, I love the sunshine.

my creative space

Lately my sewing has all been about little dresses. This week it's been Tully's turn so I pulled out a few patterns and played with some lovely fabric trying to decide exactly what combinations I would go for. First of I made a Lily top by Pink fig, which I will tell you about later but I should have started with the Frida by Modkid as this pattern is just crying out for me to make it. Have you seen the instructions? Oh my, these patterns are just amazing. Full coloured little booklets with lots of great detail. I'll let you know how I go. Oh and the fabric, well I'm going to use the birdy and pink spot which are both Michael Miller prints. That little twillerbee (or whatever the thing is called) help me decide that one. I'm not exactly sure what that is doing there, it's a bit cute though so it can stay.




So the Lily top, well it turned out quite nice, Tully loves it which is the main thing but I didn't come away from making it full of praise for the pattern designer. Maybe I've been spoilt by the Sew liberated pattern but hmmmm well there was quite a bit missing from the pattern. Sizing was off,instructions would not be detailed enough for a beginner (which I'm not thankfully), spelling mistakes and no reference to different sleeve lengths beyond the actual pattern pieces had me a bit miffed with it. But at the end of the day, the dress turned out ok. I love the Anna Maria Horner and Amy Butler mix, great colours for Tully but would probably have preferred shorter sleeves rather than the longer.



What better compliment can you have than your child rushing in the door after school to put on her new dress and then off to the back yard to see how it goes at headstands. Yep we had knicker shots, but I didn't think you needed to see her cupcake undies.



Hopefully I'll get to make a start on Frida tomorrow. If I don't spend all day checking out all the creative spaces of at kootoyoo, oh my there's a lot of players these days!

Dress....tick

I actually crossed two things of my list of sewing today, yep TWO! Awesome! I must admit I didn't start them from scratch, one has been in the works for a couple of weeks (well maybe months) and the other I started earlier in the week. The amazing thing is that they were completed with no swearing, no stuff ups and no confusion over the pattern directions. That last point is the reall bonus for me as I suck alot at reading, or more to the point following patterns. And so to work on not only one but two gems, well it made for a truly enjoyable arvo of sewing.

I'm only sharing a piccie of one of these as the second is for a much waited for trade so I don't want to spoil the very patient receipent's suprise. I will share that it's an emmeline apron by sew liberated, and that it's a great pattern. Really clear instructions and an absolute breeze to make.

The second was a vintage patterns by McCall's circa 1974 (vintage, gah that's the year I was born). This was the big suprise for me as usually I do have trouble with some vintage patterns but nah this one was great. Clear instructions once again and really lovely finishing touches. I love how it came together and am truly stoked that it's done a whole week before Sage's birthday! Woot, now to finish the polly dolly to go in her litte wooden pram and I'm done. Organised or what!

ho ho ho.....

Are you ready for it yet? The BIG day is getting closer and closer. The tree's been up for ages, we're halfway through the advent calendar and there's even pressies under the tree already. I have quite an extensive list still to make but thought I'd have a break from it and make some new santa sacks for the kids. I've been meaning to do these since Tully's first chrissy so since I needed to make Sage one, the other two got them as well.



They were super easy to make and have turned out just as I hoped. Sage's was first and thus the satin stitching is a little dodgey on hers and Asher's, but Tully's is pretty good. I'm thinking of ways of using these ideas for softies and even maybe embelishments on clothing....endless possibilities really.



And lastly, a little pixie I sent off on her way last week to a strawberry loving home. I do so heart her.



Now back to the gazillion pressies to make on my list.

my creative space

It's all pixies and pants today:) Getting some pixies done for a stocking in a few weeks and pants for the kids whose ankles are starting to hang under the hems of their old ones. Lots of lovely Japanese fabrics to play with too. Master Asher choose the cars for the pockets for his pants , I totally love this fabric but I equally love the alice in wonderland as well.



It's all go go go as I'm trying to get as much done as possible before we head off on a holiday to the Flinders Ranges on the weekend. We're camping for a few weeks....ohhhh the excitement!! wooot!

More creative spaces over here

ruby girl

A couple of weeks ago we visited my sweet friend Ruby, an uber talented crafting chick who I lived with many moons ago. A cuppa and chat was all time allowed, along with indulging in some yummy brownies cooked up by my clever friend, SuziQ. It was all very civilised....except for my children running amok through Ruby's home dragging Sue's poor children around.

Ruby is a very clever seamstress who has been making some way cool bags of late. She doesn't sell on-line yet, but hopefully she'll get set up one day soon and share her talent. A little peak at her talent is being modelled by Tully, a very cute little dress in vintage fabric. I love it, it's stunning and sure to be a fav with Tul and little Sage for a long time to come.

little boy lost

Tonight I finally pulled out the pattern and fabric I have been promising myself I would get to and look what I found, a little boy on horseback lost in the pattern packet. aww I sort of felt a bit sorry for this little fella lost. There must be a Mum somewhere wondering where he is.
I love these old photos. It's the exact format all my childhood photos are in, why did they ever change!
I also love this sweet little pattern. I'm making the little blue number and have gotten all inspired by the local love stocking to cut into some of Lara Cameron's bonsai for the pockets. I love the shape of these pockets and the zip down the front of the pini! Cute and in apple green cord, way cute. Hopefully Tully will think so too!

sewing for baby

A little bit of sewing for the bun in the oven today. A bit of a hem on a piece of muslin for a wrap and pieceing together fabric squares for a quilt. The quilt has been so easy so far...not perfect but easy. Mind you all the fabric is pre-cut so i just match them up and sew. Next I just need to find some backing fabric and quilt it all together.



And this is a shot of me modelling Asher in a little bit of sewing that was done for me. The very clever Leah made this mei tai for me as a part of a trade with Carmen. It's faulous and i love it!!! Thanks ladies:D

summer lovin'

Finally a little bit of summer the last few days. It's been way too mild around here and although I'm not cherishing the thought of heatwaves or anything, it's so nice to have some real summer weather for a change.

We went for a quick visit to Warrny this weekend and Lach took the kids for a quick spin in the little boats down at Lake Pertobe. A huge hit for Asher, although Tully was lost in dreams of wedding boats and castles on the water.

I've also started thinking it's about time I get some stuff ready for the newest little member of our household. I can't believe how quickly this pregnancy has flown by and am a bit sorry to say I have made pretty much nothing for this little bubba. So I've been pulling out patterns and fabric from the stash and planning away. Pixies are in the plans of course, along with some printed tee's. But there are also plans for little quilts from these charm squares. I've never made a quilt before, I'm very lucky to have a clever mumma who makes them for my kiddies and myself. I have bought fabric so many times with the intention of making quilts though. This little charm pack has the perfect amount for a little quilt for the hammock or pram and are perfectly gender neutral. I've had a go at laying them out and getting the colour flow right so now just to sew them together.




I've also been adding to the stash. Found some great yellows finally via Kelani fabric store. Why are good yellows so hard to find?




I've also been very lucky that my clever mum is also a great knitter. These soakers are for the new bubba and are from wool from my stash which has been knitted and frogged a couple of times (I'm so not a knitter). Finally they have a new life and are just perfect. They're everlasting wonder soakers which is a definite fav pattern here for great fit and longevity.



And the last little number is from the ever talented and generous Tikki. Two little fish washcloths and some great washers for the bubba. The cloths for the bub were meant to be dishcloths but the cotton is too soft and lovely to be used to wash dishes and will be great for the bub. Tik whipped up another for Lily whilst they were staying before they kids bathed in no time flat, bloody amazing that girl....



3 weeks until D-day, although I know it will be more likely to be 5 weeks.....I'm a slow cooker

on my desk....wednesday

Yay for Spring!!!! Spring has arrived and so has a lovely change in the weather. Just a couple of degrees warmer but 17 is so much nicer than 14! And blue skies! It's been a while since we've seen them. The rain has been wonderful and we certainly need more for the poor old rivers around here but my god it's so nice to have a little bit of dry weather to catch up on washing and go for walks without lugging all the wet weather gear along jic. On the first day of Spring Tully jumped out of bed expecting to see heaps of beautiful flowers and butterflies flitting everywhere in our yard. Poor little thing didn't know what was going on.

Along with the warmer weather has seen a bit of renewed ethusiasm and energy to "make" on my part. So today I have two desks to share.

This one is my desk in the warm lounge. Here is where I work away on pixies and do a bit of sketching in the evening and when it's really chilly. Hopefully these pixies will be making an appearnce in the shop some time soon along with some more tee's. It has been ages since I put anything up! Oh and can you see the little cherub sticking her head in the side of the shot. Funny little one...



And this is the other desk in the study/playroom. I've been doing a bit more sewing of little skirts and planning summer dresses and pants for the kidlets. A good friend had a beautiful little girl recently so I have also been scheming up some pressies for the dear little Bonnie along with a bit of painting for long overdue trades.



Busy busy desks....

in the swing with starashan

Gee I've been meaning to post pics of this gorgeous little number I got from Sherrin of Starashan for ages but the camera and weather have not been cooperative the last month. Every time I would pop this on her the battery would be flat or it would be raining. Today we got lucky and here it is. So super sweet and wonderfully made. I loved it so much when Sherrin popped a similar one up on her blog and was super stoked when she offered to make one for Tully. I love red on Tully and really adore the design Sherrin has used.



Tully adores it as well and Asher commented this morning that she was like a ballerina in it. Er well...... he does like princesses and all the girly stuff Tully loves at the moment, so if he think she looks like a ballerina well that's fine.

I especially love the detail on the back of the pini. It's a really lovely touch.



Amongst getting ready to face the day this morning I also whipped up this little skirt. It has been absolutely ages since I made something for my kids and this was so gratifying. I've had the fabric cut out for about a year waiting for me to pull my finger out and ,voila, after 1/2 hour here it is.



All ready for some booty wiggling fun!

all ready for bed

Today I finished off this nighty for Tully. She's super stoked and so keen to pop it on. She wanted to leave it on when I tried it on her to check the arm and hem length. Me.....ahhhh well I sort of like the style of it but those princesses. Here's hoping she gets over them pretty quick!

I was good and followed the pattern mostly. I didn't bother with the ties around the kneck or the elastic casing around the arms and didn't finish my seams properly. My mum would be horrified! Following the pattern though it doesn't tell you to finish seams. I would normally but oh well if it falls apart so be it.

The afghan in the pic was made by my clever little Mum. She used to make heaps of these to go on our beds in winter. It's double sided and so heavy and warm.



And this is what I found in my mailbox today. A very generous friend sent this to me and I was so surprised and stoked to find a package for me! Not for the kids, but for me!!! Such a beautiful bag made from very special vintage fabric. Love love love it