Boring!!

Yes, I have been really looking forward to doing some 'fun' sewing, like more kids clothes and some PJs and a skirt for me but first I have to get some less fun tasks out the way. I was at mum and dads on the weekend and raided mums pattern stash. She has quite alot of patterns for kids clothing that she has been using to make clothes for Chloe since she was born. Now that I have got back into sewing she is letting me borrow them. I decided to trace them all so I could add them to my own stash. My ultimate plan is to design my own clothes so by getting lots of different patterns for different styles Ill be able to start adapting them. So I bought some tracing paper from Spotlight and got started last night. It is very time consuming and not overly rewarding but it must be done! Its hard because you get all of these ideas while you are doing it but you can't do it yet because you need to finish the job in front of you.

The other boring job that has to be completed is making absorbent pads for the pocket nappies I bought off ebay. The ones that came with the nappies are terrible so I decided to make my own out of bamboo fleece. The material was $18 a meter. I was able to cut out 12 boosters from it. The question is what next? I could fold the material up and zig zag all around to make booster pads or I could leave it as a rectangle and just fold it up to use it. Im thinking I would probably have to zig zag around the edges but I don't want to waste time doing it if it isn't necessary.

Im impressed with myself for doing this because the nappies without the stuffers are really quite good and were really cheap. I figured out each nappy with the new booster I am making cost me $6.50 all up. I think they are very similar to my peapods which cost me around $20 each but even better because they fit from birth to toilet training whereas peapods are sized. If I was to do it all again I would just buy the covers. I noticed the seller had a message saying she would be prepared to do that. I also noticed today that the seller threw in an extra few nappies at no extra cost. Gotta love that!

Nothing will ever compare with my Pop-Ins though, they were worth the extra money.

Cup of Tea biscuits

Chloe and I made these biscuits for a bit of fun. We will definitly be making them again. She did it all, the only part I did was the handles. Having a 3 year old is good fun!

Itching to do some stitching!

Well today I had so much to do as we are heading to Mum and Dads for Chritmas and are leaving here on Wednesday. So what do I do? I sew! I was totally overcome with the need to create! As we are catching the train to mum and dads and its going to be a hot day I decided that Chloe needed a new summery, girly top to wear. I have had this yellow cherry print material in my stash for a while and have been wanting to use it for weeks but wouldn't let myslef until I had finished all the Christmas presents. I found a pattern in my stash that I picked up cheap at Spotlight a while ago and decided to have a go! I have wanted to make a bodice for a while and now that I have a pattern for it I can make heaps of different dresses and tops.

I love how it came out and it wasn't too difficult. I do need to adjust the straps though and move them in on the back as they keep falling off chloes shoulders. I also love my little model, as soon as I said stay still so I can take a pic she started wiggling all over the place! I got heaps of cute photos though!

More Baby leg Warmers!

These ones are for Chloe though!

Silkie for Ely

This was meant to be another Chrissy present for Ely but I decided to get rid of her dummy yesterday and she has struggled a bit today. I decided to give her this a week early to give her something in place of her dummy. I think she is going to be a thumb sucker like her sister. I used my fav bunny rug and a piece of satin lining, sewed them together, turned it out and topstitched all the way around and through the middle.

kids Back Pack

I picked up a $2 kids clothing pattern from spotlight the other day and noticed it had a back pack pattern on it. I decided to give it a go. I made two at the one time for my 1 year old nephews. They were really tricky to make. I did it in one evening and it took 6 hours!! I love them though. When Im feeling motivated again I will make one for Chloe

Notebook Covers

I made these notebooks as presents for people for Christmas. I used this tutorial. For some reason I really struggled to make these. I think I thought that they were so easy that I kept rushing the important steps like measuring and cutting out the fabric. So everytime I thought I was finished I would discover that the inside pocket was upside down on one side (I ended up making them all without pockets lol) or it was either to small or to big for the cover! I like how they turned out in the end and the tutorial is great, I just don't have any patience!

Taggie Blanket

I made a taggie blanket for Elyssa for Christmas using this tutorial. I did mine a bit differently. I sewed together three bits of different textured materials from my stash. This is an easy project but not a quick one. It did take a while to pin on all of the ribbons! I can't wait to give it to Ely to see if she takes to it or not. Bring on Christmas!!

Colouring Wallets

I have been working in the evenings to finish all the Christmas presents I am making for people. Some of it has been experimentation and great fun, others have been complicated and hard work and have taken far too long! Im pleased with the results though and can't wait to start giving them to people. I have made some more colouring wallets, this is my own design, although Im sure its not original! I just couldn't find a tutorial on the net to use. If I get time next year Ill put together my own tutorial for it. The idea behind it is that it contains everything a child needs to colour on the go, it has a closing flap that velcros so nothing falls out in the nappy bag, back pack or handbag, its not too big and its bright and inviting.

Play Clothes

I have been having fun making some play clothes for Chloe. I didn't make the denim shorts, just added the cuffs and belt! These are fun, quick projects that are good practice while I rediscover how to sew.

Baby Leggings!! Love them!!

I used this tutorial but used a zig zag stitch

Elyssa in 00- Not!

Today I got Ben to get the 00 clothes out of the garage because I don't have alot of 000 clothing. They are still far too big for her but there is so many! I had to take a couple of Pics.

Colouring Wallet for Chloe

Im very impressed with me again! I wanted to make a colouring wallet for Chloe that will hold crayons, a colouring book and would fit in my nappy bag. I also wanted the crayons covered so that they wouldn't fall out or make a mess. I couldn't find anything that I liked so I made my own instructions and measurements and came up with something that fitted the above description. Next time I would make it slightly bigger because the book only just fits in it.

Chloes Kinder Bag

Im excited! I made Chloe a Kinder/day care bag that I am going to give to her for Christmas. I love it and think I am very clever :) I followed this tutorial. I made a little drawstring bag out of matching material to go in it that will have her spare change of clothes in it. Im going to make a matching library bag as well.

Sewing Nappies!

As I am pregnant and having a bit of a rough time with high blood pressure and feeling unwell, I have been trying to take it easy. Instead of getting the 'nesting' urge to clean the house I have been really motivated to sew. I got my machine out for the first time in a couple of years and searched the net for instructions. I found this pattern. I made some alterations to it because I wanted it to be really trim and I suspect my bub will be a small one. I searched the house for scraps of material that would be suitable as an absorber and found some old towels, bunny rugs and flat cloth nappies. I followed the directions to make the nappies and really impressed myself, particularly with sewing the elastic. I didn't bother putting any hook and loop on it as the covers will hold it closed! Ive put up a pic of my efforts....Now I just need to buy some cute wrap covers.

Playgroup Christmas Party

We had a fantastic time at the Miniature trains, a great place to hold a christmas party! The highlight was definitly Santa arriving by train. Chloe was so interested in him and watched his every move. She was most upset that he didn't give her a lolly like all the other kids! A friend had a lolly in her bag and gave her a few. We pretended that Santa had given it her to give to Chloe. Chloe keeps asking me to repeat the story, I think she is trying to work it out in her head! After Santa left by train she asked to go on three train rides in a row. Turns out she wanted to find Santa! She keeps asking me where the North Pole is. She has lots of questions that are difficult to answer. Chloe is very excited about Christmas, even though she doesn't completely understand what Christmas is!

I Love Christmas Time!

I have been hanging out for the 1st December so I can kick start the Christmas season. I love having a 3 year old, it makes it even more fun! So far we have put up the tree, had Christmas pictures taken and attended the playgroup christmas party at the miniature trains. This is all in the first four days!!

Christmas Outfits!

I made Chloes tierd skirt and put a square of the material on a t-shirt from Target as an applique. Its only the first week of December and we have already had lots of use out of it!

Baby Elyssa

I love my new bub soooooooooooooooo much! She is three months old and such an easy going little thing. She is so cute in photographs and looks like a little doll. She makes me want to have more kids!