December Bee blocks

I have only just been managing to keep up with my bees this month - with Christmas cards and gifts to make... things have been an little crazy !
Also being 17 weeks pregnant and still sick does not help either :(
anyway .... December blocks include:

Improvised blocks using neutrals and reds for Gayle

Star blocks for Liz - I am loving the moda bliss fabric - so yummy !!

2 seperate blocks for 2 seperate quilts

Modern swappers item # 3

O.k.... the last of the items to send to my secret swap partner:

A set of reversible coasters. I really wanted to make a set of 6 but ran out of fabric and thought it was odd to send 5 coasters ! They are machine quilted and relatively simple and quick to make, I think a few people may be getting a set for christmas !

Modern Swappers Item 2

To send with my sewing caddy for the 'Modern Swappers' group I also made a travel pouch to carry around sewing patterns and a matching fabric covered tape measure.

Also going with the package a selection of fat quarters and a candle.... I hope my partner likes it ! Still busy making skipping ropes, no great interest in the hair ties though.

Hair ties

I have also been busy making hair ties for my store.
At only $4.00 they are a bargain and a great addition to add to a christmas stocking.

Photos don't really do them justice.

I have also been busy making hair ties for my store.

At only $4.00 they are a bargain and a great addition to add to a christmas stocking.

Skipping ropes and more skipping ropes

Not much going down in sewing room recently except that I have had a ton of orders for my skipping ropes - not that I am complaining..... but have just been keeping up with the orders and not much time for one's creative self.
I have been mainly doing custom orders with embroidered names on the back - cute christmas presents !

Back of the skipping rope with personalised name embroidered

front of the skipping rope - pigtails can be done in any colour.

No excuses

There are really no excuses.... except for the fact that I have been slack. Please forgive me blog... I will try and keep you updated even if it is not daily at least 3 times a week.
Anyway.... what have I been up to:
I have been sewing for the 'Modern swappers' group over at flickr - where you exchange a handmade item, fabric and a decoration. My handmade item is done... a sewing time caddy with removal bucket.

I followed the tutorial here

The pincushion was a little hard to follow so I just made it up in the end. Can you tell ?

A bee shirt for Bella

All of have sewn in the last week or so is blocks for the various bees I have been involved in. I will do a large post about all those blocks tomorrow. However inspired by the 'bee' I made Bella this cute little shirt.......

I used a simple iron on motif, added some bright yellow running stitch and a bee button !

Apologies for me absence

I can't believe it has been a month since my last post.... my excuse... we have been away on holidays plus I have some good news that I will keep under my hat for mow ut will reveal more later !
As mentioned we had a whirlwind holiday and travelled over 26 hours across the state, caught up with some friends and overall had a great time.
I will also post photos from our holiday a little later.
On a totally different note..... I am super excited that Toni from Make it perfect is releasing her first ever book in November ...... how yummy does it look !

At around $34.95 it is going straight to the top of the christmas list !!

Christmas has come early !

OMG...... I have just recieved the BEST present ever from my secret swap partner in the {Urban} home goods swap.... Look what I got :

Sewing themed goodies in the form of scissors holder, and needlecase and.....

pincushion and tape measure and..................

sewing machine cover !!!!!! I couldn't of asked for a better swap partner ! Love the sewing theme items, love the fabrics and love the fact that it will fit in with my chocolate and aqua sewing room!

Thanks so much Kelly your the best !

A simple embellished white shirt

Take a white T-Shirt from Target, add a 10c motif found at Vinnies = a cute little shirt with a beaded flower that looks way more then expensive then it cost to make. In all the new shirt and motif plus 20 minutes of sewing cost me $4 !!!

I had to bribe the model by putting on 'Finding Nemo' to get a semi decent picture of her waering it !

A closer shot.... look at the transfixed gaze she has going on there !

Finally a semi decent shot... but I wish she wasn't poking her belly out !

Bee blocks

I have been busy keeping up with my bees this month, as I am away next week for a long overdue holiday. Here are the bee blocks I have made:

Firsty Julie in the 'Bee in my bonnet' bee sent out a range of pink, green and chocolate fabrics and wanted us to make a block based on this http://www.filminthefridge.com/2009/06/24/quartered-squares-a-modified-bento-box-block-tutorial/ tutorial.

One block was to be 13 inches and the other block was to be 5 inches

I just love her combination of pink, green and chocolate fabrics

Secondly for Hollie in the 'Red and Aqua' bee, she requested a set pattern and block based on the tutorial here http://modifytradition.blogspot.com/2010/03/quatrefoil.html

Both blocks are slightly different.... hope she like them !

With these committments done, time for my own sewing time ! yay !!!

A special request

I had an unusual request this week.... another teacher at school his daughter was turning 5 today and she is obsessed with dinosaurs. The uglier and more gross they look, the more she likes them ! She is also found of dragons but can name fact after fact about dinosaurs !! A girl who hates pink and likes scary dinosaurs ! Anyway he asked if I could make her a dinosaur for her birthday ! I used a pattern from my 'One Yard wonders book' to make her a dinosaur softie but could not make the mean and scary looking !
Anyway on all reports Ruby loved it ! Happy 5th Birthday Ruby !

Bee block for Bella

This month in the 'Bee seam piecing downunder' group it is my month. I have chosen a basic block using my moda basic grey - blush offcut range. I love the combination if pink and aqua with just a hint of chocolate. However i think it does need something in the middle.......

I am thinking maybe applique another square in the middle ???? Not sure... may just have to wait and see all the blocks returned before I make a decision.

A bunting for Bella

I am forever sewing goods for other people as favours or presents that I often forget to make nice cute things for myself or my own daughter. I have always loved the look of a 'bunting' and wanted to make one for Isabella for her room. Eventually when she comes out of a cot and into a bed I want to have nice white furniture and make it pretty and girly.

So....... I have made her a bunting to match her quilt that is currently being made by the bee members of the Bee seam piecing downunder group. It was really hard to get a good photo of it as it is really long ( 16 flags long in fact ! ) and it was really windy all weekend and still is today.

I used my moda basic grey - blush fabric and her quilt will match. Still undecided on the actual look of the quilt as such... but more about that tomorrow !!

Happy Fathers day !

Today is Fathers day... it was celebrated with a sleep in for Dad, a picnic with yummy goodies in the glorious sunshine, 9 holes of golf for Dad with a friend and watching footy with a few beverages this afternoon.

Enjoy your day...... Love you long time XX

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,
Well it is that time of year where it is time to start thinking of christmas and all the goodies that go with the festive season. I am going to continue my pledge to make handmade items for friends and family this year, and have started to compile a list of things that need to be done and for whom. A big task...... but I am sure it will get done with a few midnight sewing sessions and plenty of coffee !!!
Family always say that I am hard to buy for... so I thought I would start my own list of items that I would appreciate if they were stuck for an idea.
First up is the gorgeous kit from 'Prints charming' which can be found here

The hearts get embroidered and made up into a garland, or pin cuhion or decoration... so sweet ! All their fabrics are hand printed and are just gorgeous !! It comes in pink, aqua or teal !!!

{Urban} home goods swap

With a week or so of sickness in the family I have not been able go near my sewing machine. However feeling 100% better now and have managed to finish the goods for my partner. I am going to end up sending :

1. A pile of hexies


2. A pair of potholders

3. A plastic bag/ grocery bag dispenser ( it was hard to get a good photo ogf this one )

The tutorial for the plastic bag dispenser can be found here

As mentioned I was challenged with the fabric style and colour range for my swap partner... I just hope she likes them. I also made the 'tree' ( see previous posts ) which I am going to send unframed to my partner as I was not quite sure whether a pillow would do it justice. I think this will be enough !

I {heart} the mailman !

I love the mailman, espically when he brings goodies like this :

Approximately 6 inches - selvedge to selvedge of the entire Moda Basic Grey Blush range, my next all time favourite fabric range after Tanya Whelan's 'Darla' range !!

Am going to use this in the next bee block of mine I think... not to just find the right block to create.

2 presents

A quick post.... halfway through tidying up and finished these aprons for Rosanna and Olivia. Not the best photos but I am sure the girls will like them

I love the fabric on Olivia's pocket, it has cute kitchen motifs on it such as a rolling pin, apples, cupcakes, knifes and forks, etc. The pocket does not look straight in the photo but it is !!!

Again the pockets don't look straight but they are. My machine is still not 100% - have packed it up and am going to get it serviced, so I will have to complete hand stitching things this week 1

My Messy space !!

I am usually a very neat and organised person. For example my desk at work has each of the subjects I teach in colour coded folders, with all the spines lined up and I always write my teaching programs using the same font and style. Some say I may be 'anal' but I like to write in my day book in a certain type of pen and am a highly routine person. So it is rather embrassing to show my creative space at the moment. My desk and sewing area is a mess !!! I blame the fact that I have literally about 10 projects on the go at the moments, and that I am littled for time so I tend to 'push' things to the side and not put things away. I am hoping posting about my mess will force me to clean it up.... a bit like a 'before' and 'after' shot !

My baskets on the shelves hold everything, so really it it a matter of putting things away as I go. Lucky you can't actually see under the desk as that is a complete other story !! I am currently sewing /working on :

1. An apron for Olivia's birthday

2. An apron for Rosie's dedication

3. A gathered clutch

4. A hobby horse for Isabella

5. Pot holders, plastic bag dispenser for the urban home goods swap

6. Presents for my niece Gabi - birthday in October

Plus my month is coming up in September for the 'Bee seam piecing down under' bee.... and then I would like to make myself a plastic bag dispenser and oven mitts with some cute fabric I found.

My only wish is that the cleaning fairies will come and make my creative space neat and organised again and then they can grant me some more time in my day to actually get some of my projects done !!!

A onesie for Noah

Today we went to a first birthday party for our little friend Noah. It was a glorious day and the kids had a great time playing outside, eating bright green birthday cake and chasing the dog. I struggled for 'boy' type ideas for a present in terms of making something. We already had chosen a wooden stacking toy and I always like to add something personal. So I purchased a 'onesie' appliqued a cute car motif before adding the birthday boys name.

I hope he likes it. On a sad note my sewing machine is playing up so not much to show at the moment. I have to work a half day tomorrow so hopefully I can fix it and clean up my sewing and desk area because at the moment it is a disgrace !!!