Little Red Riding Hood

Ohhh it's been a while since I've posted here, so long in fact that blogger has changed it's layout! It's like driving a fancy new car - learning where the indicator & windscreen wipers are, new car smell, shiny & clean......Anyhoo, on to what I'm here to share with you today.

Photo courtesy of Candy Goldsmith Photography

Look at this bonnie Red Riding Hood with her new matching Little Red Riding Hood dolly!

My very good friend Candy was the one who first commissioned me to make her little girl a Red Riding Hood Cape for winter. We sat together (I sewed, she wrangled 5 children) and by dinner time, the cape was made.

Bonnie has just loved the cape, so much so that Candy commissioned a matching doll from Miss Goodie Two Shoes. These wonderful dolls are handmade down on a farm in the SW of Western Australia (you gotta love the talent here in WA!).

Photo courtesy of Candy Goldsmith Photography

The kids & I were over after school having a play at Candy's house when the dolly arrived in the mail. When the satchel was torn open, there was much squealing in delight & leaping around the kitchen (from Candy, that is!). Poor Bonnie didn't even get a look at her new doll until Candy & I had examined every square inch of stunning detail. I have to say, the workmanship in the doll is sublime. She has little ballet shoes, hand crochet flowers in her hair, a removable skirt & cape. 

Whilst there are no custom spots for a Miss Goodie Two Shoes for now, you should head over to the photo album and see the other gorgeous dolls that have come from this wonderful doll maker. While you're hopping around on the interweb, you can visit her fab blog A Country Wife (where does she find the time to farm, raise two gorgeous kids & make dolls! I suppose it's in those wee hours where the rest of us do - ha!).


If you are interested in a custom-made Red Riding Hood Cape, you can see more over at the shop, or shoot me an email.

Thanks Candy for sharing the photos.

Candy Goldsmith Photography does it again!

Sleep well Little Red Riding Hoods - keep one eye open for that wolf though!

Photo courtesy of Candy Goldsmith Photography

New Party Dress

Hi Jacq, 

Didn't I post on FB last week there had been 10 days of NO sewing updates??? Well, do I have some sewing updates for you...

Holey, I'm up to my eyeballs with sewing! Jen from Pikelet workshop has been away for 9 days and left me with some Poppet creating. Just like the 'ol days' she comes back tomorrow and I haven't even started!!!

 Poppet massacre 29/03/2011 via Facebook by iPhone

I went up to Jo's from Joallie Petit yesterday for an absolutely FABULOUS day of sewing, coffee, chatting, a bit more sewing, more chatting....oh a very late lunch, more sewing and wait....a bit more chatting! It was so much fun. Isn't it nice to spend the day talking about fabric, the creative process, what you're up to, what they're up to, what others are up to..... You get the gist. Anyhoo, Jo left me with some catch up sewing to do at home (I'm still on my L-plates with her, I still need bit of practice to achieve her immaculate level of craftsmanship). I should have come home and done that but no....

 Photos via: Candygoldsmithphotography

Last night Candy came over to dissect a hand-sewn creation of hers (see pink dress above). Made during one of her wee girl's naps Candy wanted it reproduced (by a sewing machine, hee hee) in a new fabric.I can't believe she just sat down with a pair of scissor, needle & thread and came up with this! Me, I am too scared to attempt anything without a pattern backed up with a bunch of tutorials (pic heavy is a must)! I think Candy & I would make a good team - she designs, I create.....

As poor Mr B put the kids to bed (AGAIN..) We ripped stitches, cut, labeled, drank mango beer, cut some more, had another G&T as I tried to figure out where to go next.... and lo and behold....A dress was created! I can't show you the pics yet, anything I took on my crappy camera (sorry Mr B, but it is) would do it a disservice. All I can say is that it ended up remarkably like THIS Disney princess & I was terribly proud that I managed to create something without a pattern. I sure have come a long way in 4 years don't you think Jacq?!?!

Now, where was this post going....I forget??!!

Oh yeah. What I've been up to instead of finishing my paid jobs :)

A new Pink Champagne party dress for Miss T!! Oh my! Isn't it the bomb!

I can't wait to see her in it tomorrow. For once, she looked very pleased when I told her it was a new dress for her. Normally she won't have a bar of it, but today I must have caught her in a good mood! Let's hope she feels the same way tomorrow afternoon when I try to get her dressed.

I have to confess, I'm have bought the ruffle fabric in pink, charcoal & white/navy for the Mollydag Made shop. I have a market coming up on May 1st so I thought I could take them & see how they go. I know you and I discussed how selling bodysuits were an issue last time (though I'm still taking the ones I still have!)so I thought these would be less of a problem for fit. I thought of offering a size 2, 4 & 5 (or 6). Try to cover my bases. What do you think?

Wow, that was a long ramble. I haven't spoken to you for ages so that's probably why. I should get on the machine & finish off my paid work but 2 glasses of wine mean I'm DONE! I got through all my studies thinking that I can 'always do it tomorrow' so why change my habits now! :)

Love you.

Amber

XX

PS. LOVE YOUR NEW STORE!!!

An apple a day

These are some of the photos the fabulous Candy took today in her studio. We threw Miss T onto a table top so she couldn't escape and gave her a green apple to chew on, and chew on it she did! We barely got a photo of her face.

Dolly quilt set

How comfy does Rosy look lounging in bed. 

She is just trying out the new quilt & mattress I whipped up for Baby G who turned 1 last week. Every little girl needs something to wrap her dolly in.

 

I liked this commissioned piece as it was paid for in wine. Yipee, 2 bottles of delicious Stella Bella. Thanks Barb, I'm going to squirrel them away for something special. I think Mr Brown & I might go to the Sommerville next week and have a little date night. XX

Night-night Ruby, sweet dreams.........

The Party Dress

My Miss T turned 2 on the weekend. I'm sure you all agree when I say, "Where did the time go?"

From Tilly's birthday

To celebrate, I made her this fabulous Party Dress. It is made from 100% silk, a steal from the Spotlight clearance sale at a mere $8/m. Bargain! I bought 1 m thinking that would be tonnes but it turns out I had to do some wiggling and jiggling, shorten the skirt & waist tie and had to line the front of the bodice with some teal jersey to make the the pattern fit. 

From Tilly's birthday

Don't you think it is perfect for a wee girl's birthday? Once she was all dressed up, we had somewhere (she can't be all dressed up with nowhere to go!!) so a quick call to our our good friends Candy & Lew and off to her first restaurant dinner!

From Tilly's birthday

Thank you Lindsay for your fantastic pattern & tutorial. Head on over and take a look at her blog & gorgeous shop.

Vintsge ribbon headband

Ok, this post isn't going backwards in time, I made this today. A headband to go with my new, much shorter, hair-do.

I made it from true 'vintage' ribbon - it came from mums sewing stash so it has to be vintage!! Ha!

Girly Headbands x2

What to make a 4 year old girl for her birthday?

Headbands - one for school (she has to wear only red) and one for everyday wear.

The zipper flower was made using one of the zillions of tutorials out there. I modge podged (is that a word?) the headband and covered it with some fabric. It seemed to work and hopefully will hold up. The inside of the headband is trimmed with felt for comfort.

The 2nd band has been in my WIP box for ages (I'm talking at least 1.5 years - whoops). Bec's mum or grandmother had a book on ribbon folding and showed me how to do it a long time ago. If she hasn't shown you on her blog how it's done and if you're interested, I'll make a quick tutorial for you Jacq.

Mark said the headbands were a big hit with the birthday girl. She and a friend wore them right out of the wrapping paper. Whew!

The best bibs

I love these bibs from Bec's tutorial. I've made some before and they make such a perfect gift (Well I think so, let's hope Amy agrees! Ha ha)

I made 2 yesterday after calling Auntie Sally to see if she would come down to mind the kids. Of course they went from whiney, clingy kids to perfect angels when Sally arrived. Good thing she bought her crocheting with her. She just sat at the kitchen table crocheting & making coffees while we chatted all afternoon. The kids played really happily by themselves - TYPICAL!

Thanks Sally. That was a fun & productive afternoon.

I made a third this morning because all my gear was still on the kitchen table and both kids were happily bopping around with their digital cameras (gotta love old broken technology - perfect for the dress-up box).

Aren't they great and don't you like my model. Now I want to make some for her too. She still uses giles's bib all the time.

Tools of the Trade

After the last post, you can imagine how handy this new tool is.

Every sewer HATES to unpick. This makes it a somewhat bearable task.

Good old Lee Valley Tools.

"Pro" Series...lol!!! Maybe double as a surgical scalpel if the needs arrises.

Sheer cuteness!

Why was I so scared about doing this it's so easy!
instead of tidying & getting ready for our busy week I sat at the machine to pump out the remainder of my cloth nappies (before the wee gal grows out if them). two inserts later I wad bored, bored, bored so decided to swap gears completely and sew her up a shirred dress.
All the tutorials out there say it's so easy and what do you know, it is! I'm hooked now. I couldn't stop at one dress and whipped up another, then matching bloomers for the 1st dress.
Now, who else do I know who NEEDS a dress/top like this?

Twins' Tie Tees

Happy news... "the twins" have arrived and E, A and the babes are doing great!! What and adorable pair, huh?!!!!

What could be cuter than tie tee onesies for the twins??!!!

I saw the idea recently at Saltwater Kids and was eagerly awaiting the next wee boy to arrive so I could try it out. Wow, how lucky was I (;0) when TWIN boys arrived!!!! Perfect.

I hadn't wanted to send typically matching outfits, but the opportunity to create mix and match, co-ordinating tie tee onesies seemed too adorable to bear. Hope you think so too. This was incredibly easy and quick to throw together. The challenge was finding plain onesies. "Joe" brand came through once more. I hope they like them...what do you think????

Click on photo for more....

A is for pain-in-the ASS...

A is for Apron should read:
A is for ALTERATION, or
A is for pain-in-the-ASS

I just fell in love with the Kaleidoscope apron that was published in the book A is for Apron & highlighted on Etsy's handmade blog 'How-to: Stitch an Apron' and linked to in Whipup and Craftzine. I've been squirreling this pattern away waiting for the right opportunity to make such a cute apron and as this weekend was Mel's kitchen tea, I thought this couldn't be a better pressie for her!
Now, with two kids (one being only 7 weeks old) my sewing time (or any time for myself for that matter) is very, VERY precious. The last thing you want is to leap into the project only to find at what felt like EVERY turn, there are mistakes to this gorgeous pattern & tutorial. Wrong enlargement size, wrong measurements, poor descriptions, the list goes on. Did I mention my time is very precious. After many expletives, some deep breaths and help from my techno-savy husband, I completed the apron. I stuck with it because I think it is a gorgeous looking apron and was worth the effort.
I gave it to Mel & she loved it. Doesn't she just look a doll!

I thought I would write up my modified pattern so that people who wish to reproduce the picture can do so without the trauma I went through.

Just for you interest use to following links to download:

The original pattern from Etsy

The revised templates published on the Lark Books website   (they are still errors in this template!)

Instead of downloading the pdf and trying to enlarge it at your local Officeworks or such, here is the pattern, enlarged as per the errata at Lark Books (found that a bit too late! I'd already cut out the 1st batch of fabric before I realised it didn't fit together - #@**@+!) ready for you to download & print. You just have to stick it all together.

I have done some major modifications to the waistband as the measurements given in the original & in the edited version are STILL wrong.
Here is a version that will work:

Putting my feet up

[caption id="attachment_106" align="aligncenter" width="269" caption="Lounge Pants"][/caption]

I know you told me this morning to put my feet up before the big day but I thought I needed a pair of lounge pants that will fit my ample belly before I do. Just over 2 hours later, I have this pair of uber comfy capri-length pants. Thank god Mark entertained The Boy while I madly cut, sewed & ironed these beauties. The wonderful man also made us all FRESH spaghetti & meatballs for dinner in that time too. What a champion!

I had bought this fabric ages ago from a massive Spotlight sale. I think it was $4 for the remnant roll. I don't know how many meters were on the roll, but more than enough to make several more pairs of pants

[caption id="attachment_107" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="PastaFace"][/caption]

.

Twirly Skirts

Well with only three days notice for a five year old's birthday...what do you do?!

Easton was invited to a young girl's birthday, from her Pre-school class, Gianna Campisi. I knew right away what I was going to make for her gift. She is very similar to Easton with her love of anything princess/dance related, and my mind instantly went to the few meters of fabric I had just thrifted from our local "Sally Ann" (Salvation Army).

It was a beautiful ;) sequined aqua fabric, truly only dreamt up for a young girl of 4 or 5...or some figure skater or drag queen...dreamy!!! A little purple and aqua tule, sequined braid, elastic and silk lining...wa-la...a skirt made for only twirling and swirling. A tank top, equally "bedazzled" with sequins, ribbon and braid and there you have it...it was a hit!!! 4 days later...according to Gianna's mum, Brandi, she was still wearing it having not taken it off...even for bed.

 Easton, was of course...intensely happy for Gianna, whilst simutaneously immensely jealous. I promised I would make her a twirly skirt for her girlfriend, Ella's 5th birthday which was a "dance party". She was exstatic, needless to say when I pulled it out on the day. Tasman was shattered! Where was his dance outfit?!!! Well last minute pressure always brings out the best in me...I whipped him up a Travolta/Saturday Night Fever style matching sequined shirt to wear with his authentic 70's brown polyester 3-piece suit. A little tule buttonhole and was the styliest man at the party! The pictures aren't great but you get the idea.

My disappearing 9-patch quilt

Mel & Rhys asked us over for a BBQ to celebrate Mel & Mark getting new jobs & Mel's birthday. She is such as sweetie and always is really thoughtful with Xmas & birthday presents so I figured it was a great excuse to jump on board the sew,mama,sew! Quilting Month bandwagon.

I knew the disappearing 9 patch was a groovy and simple way to make a quilt but didn't realize you could make it have an overall pattern, rather than the randomness most of these quilts have. I was inspired Oh, Fransson's Doll quilt I saw on the Quilting Month Flickr Pool. It just took me about 15 min to find the photo but I really wanted to credit her with the inspiration for this quilt. I love the way the center four panels make one big panel. I didn't have any Joel Dewberry's Aviary fabric for the center focal panels so I figured, "I'll embroider something". Geeze, its not like I only had 1 week to make something!!!!! So, for a couple of days, I took the quilt top on the train, tucked my elbows in and finished the birds.

I really must get a better photo of this quilt, I forgot and only had my camera phone the day I gave it to Mel. Hmm, seems to be a recurrent theme here that I need to take better photos and edit these posts.......

If you are interested in how to lay out your blocks to get this effect, go to my Flickr site and check out Before & After photos. Like I said, really easy to get something that looks quite complex.

OK, what else have I got for you...........

Library bag

I think this was one of the very first things I sewed when I was getting into surfing the many crafty blogs out there. I'll have to dig through and find the tutorial I followed.

OK, I found the tutorial HERE. I was cheap and just did a rectangle shaped bag with a separate handle. Better fabric usage! I learned how to sew a boxed bottom from this tutorial though. Well written & easy to follow. Thanks jenhook.

New Cowboy shirt

I'm getting fancy. A shirt made from Micheal Miller Retro Yipee fabric ($5/m discounted fabric - gotta love it) using the same Simplicity pattern as these pants. I tell ya' its a learning curve using a pattern & instructions! I wouldn't want to look at the sewing too closely, particularly at the skew-wif collar. From a distance, and for a first attempt, not bad me thinks. I chickened out and used snaps for the front. Who wants to sew button-hole manually when you have a snap machine on hand.

That snap machine has just been one of the greatest buys. I love it. I bought it for nappy making but have used it for tonnes of things including hanging block-out curtain in The Boy's room. Who needs velcro when you have snaps?!!?

I had to include this photo because its not often you take one of yourself and like it, plus it shows my new hairdo Jacq. There are some more photos on Flickr of the shirt too.

Lumberjack Pants

OK, here is my 1st attempt at following an actual pattern...with instructions even. I'm the kinda gal that simply lies the clothing that I want to duplicate directly onto the fabric, trace around and wing-it-and-see. It hasn't worked too badly in the past, but I gotta say it was miles easier using a pattern with instructions, even for such a simple thing as elasticated pants. These pants are actually a pj pattern (Simplicity #3856) that Bec purchased ages ago with the hope of making some summer cotton PJs for Amelia.

I'm pretty pleased with the result, as was The Boy. As you can see however, they need to have more room for his nappy to prevent the plumbers crack you see in the photos above. Even in disposables, the rise is too low. Its actually quite difficult to tell front from back so I've made a couple of pockets but haven't sewn them on yet.

The pants were a size 1 with about 4 inches cut off the legs! Yup, he has the same 'ducks-disease' I have. I have redrafted the pattern and plan to make a swath of these for winter. These were cotton drill with my fav Log Cabin print that I bought from Spotlight during a sale where fat quarters were only $1.50 each. The print looks like a bunch of logs side-by-side. cute.

So here you have it - Lumberjack pants.

A 2-2 1sie

A Tutu Onsie inspired by some super cute clothes by Snazzidrawers I saw on ETSY a long time ago. I had figured it was too much work to cut tulle into thin strips, plus I found it impossible to find soft tulle, it was all stiff and scratchy, not so nice for a babe's bottom! What I did find was some netting made for crochet/knitting. It is precut into about 2cm strip. Pink trim from a wee store in Busselton, knicker elastic for the other two rows. Wove strips with wool needle. Have meters of the stuff now!!! Tonnes to make......



Oh, must continue post later The Boy just awoke!