Monday, March 29, 2010

Farbenmix Amelie sleeveless hoodie

This time round for my little one.

I liked the ladies version of this (Farbenmix Amelia) when I made it up last month.

It is comfy and I really love the cut of the flared body.

Today I made the Amelie for my daughter.

Little Boozle 2010

It sews up really quickly and my only disappointment was the embroidery.

It is another gorgeous design from EmiOli (from the Enchanted Forest collection) but I just couldn't get it to work on this fabric.

Little Boozle 2010

It is wearable but even on my 2nd attempt with good stabilisation,
it was pretty much a disaster.

The lightweight knit fabric is probably just not up to it.

I'm still learning a lot about this embroidery thing!

Little Boozle



Sunday, March 28, 2010

One Perfect Day

Just for mummy and daddy.

Today hubby and I left the kiddlywinks with my visiting folks to babysit and ventured out into the big wide world, just the two of us.

I almost punched the air with my fist shouting "yes, baby" when some other poor soul was chasing his 3 year old daughter who was clambering over the furniture in the shop, thinking "ha, hah! not our kid for a change!"
(Do that make me a bad person?)


It was a rainy Sunday. Rare here in Adelaide. And ideally my first choice would have been to send grandparents and children out into the world while we sat and drank coffee in our PJs and watch a good old movie.

But we didn't.

We went out.

We had fun.

We talked adult talk.

I dragged hubby to the Bowerbird Bazaar...
        where we shopped,
               chatted with some friends (you always meet people you know when you go out in Adelaide),
        drank really good coffee,
               got some inspiration,
                      and bought some goodies too...

 Sewing 2009
Printed tee

Sewing 2009
Wallpaper Brooch
(both from Delilah devine)

Sewing 2009
Brooch from A Skulk of Foxes

I love supporting Australian made.
However, for the sake of my budget,
I had to admit to myself that I could make a few of the things that caught my eye.
But I love seeing the energy, the creativity, the passion that emanates from these markets.
I come home newly enthused to keep on crafting and enjoying the process.

And let's not forget bringing something home for the kids...

Sewing 2009

Sewing 2009

Sickly sweet macaroons.
Kids loved them of course.

What else did we get up to?

We had to go and check out sofas...
and loved the first one we saw in the first sofa shop we entered.
So then had to go to 5 more shops just to make sure that we were being too impulsive.
Now we just need to pick a colour...

Sewing 2009

Then we went and stuffed ourselves silly on yum cha,
thinking how nice it would be to share the experience with the kids,
but secretly enjoying the fact that they weren't there to chase each other around the tables with dim sims flying.

Then we dropped by a couple of car yards
(hubby's old little run around is terminally ill and,
without wanting to rub the poor old thing's...um...fender in it,
we have to know what we are replacing him with on the day that he chokes it)

Then we went for a coffee.

Then (giggle) we ran out of things that we wanted to do except have a nap
so we snuck home and went to our room and had a little nap for an hour before announcing our return.

It is sad that such a day is so damn exciting that I need to blog every detail
but anyone out there with kids,
with no local family to help babysit,
who have had to make renovating decisions in shops with kids in tow,
I think might well understand
and appreciate the novelty.

And at the very least you might like the little girl wallpaper brooch that I bought for myself.





Saturday, March 27, 2010

Lemon muffins

(very, very good lemon muffins)

2 cups plain flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
rind of 2 lemons
1 cup castor sugar
125g margarine or butter (melted and cooled)
2 eggs (lightly whisked)
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup plain yoghurt

Preheat over 180 degrees.
Sift flour and baking powder.
Stir in grated lemon rind and sugar.
Whisk eggs, yoghurt, butter and juice till well combined.
Add wet mix to dry and stir in till just combined.
Cook about 20 minutes.
Stand 2-3 minutes in tin before removing.
Eat and enjoy.
Glance around surreptiously to make sure no one is counting your muffin intake.
Then eat another one.
(And if there are any left, you can freeze them)



Thursday, March 25, 2010

A new girl in the house!

Well, a new old girl.

My folks made their current trip over from Tassie via a road trip.
They packed up their van, boarded the ferry and took the very scenic Great Ocean Road on their way
to visit their grandkids (not me or hubby; wouldn't miss us if we weren't here)

Given their recent retirement and relocation,
they have been cleaning.
And thus turned up with my old school uniform,
some not so wanted bits and pieces
but one very wanted bit!

Her recent former life was sitting in the back entrance to my mum's house
replete with a lacy tablecloth
and some dust-accummulating, decorative floral thing sitting on top.

But now she is free.

Here she is...

Sewing 2009

Isn't she gorgeous?

Sewing 2009

Dusty maybe but gorgeous.

Sewing 2009

Not functional but gorgeous none-the-less.

Sometime I will get her seen to and see if she is useable.

In the meantime it is one solid piece of furniture
that perfectly accommodates my embroidery machine
in just the place where I wanted it to be.

Sewing 2009

Sometimes things are just meant to be, aren't they?





Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Ready for that bunny.

Drawstring bags for our Easter egg hunt.

Little Boozle 2010

Winter Peach on etsy is selling some very cute patterns for drawstring bags.

One for each child-
and just roomy enough to stash those eggs that will magically appear on Easter Sunday morning.

A chick...

Little Boozle 2010

a lamb...

Little Boozle 2010

and- of course- a bunny...

Little Boozle 2010

...complete with tail...

Little Boozle 2010

(Definately no prizes for guessing which one is for my daughter
and which two are for my sons!)






Monday, March 22, 2010

Birthday Season again

Means the start of cake decorating again

I set myself up for huge stresses every March, May and June.
Which coincides with my kids' birthdays.
Which means cake decorating.

I set myself when my first born was turning one.
The teddy bear cake perfectly co-ordinated the theme of the invitations
and hours of decorating the cake to satisfy my creative urges
set the standard that I now feel compelled to match...
every year,
three times a year.

I used to draw and paint.
Now I sew, craft and decorate cakes instead.

My turning-five year old son adores Tom and Jerry.
I actually thought that was pretty easy
(as you may remember last year I had to fight off a "Transformers" theme for my older son)

JFM 2010


Sunday, March 21, 2010

Adelaide city's Northern Lights

University Buildings, North Terrace, March, 2010.

Light is projected onto the majestic old buildings so that they are transformed from this...

JFM 2010

...to this...

JFM 2010

JFM 2010

JFM 2010

JFM 2010

JFM 2010

JFM 2010

Gaudy or gorgeous?
Tacky or totally awesome?
What do you think?

(I think that they are spectacular.
One or two are a bit gaudy but the effect is amazing)


Friday, March 19, 2010

A Unicorn for a little girl

Melly and Me's Kaleidoscope pattern

This softie is for my goddaughter's 5th birthday.
She is obsessed with horses, unicorns and rainbows
so I am hoping that she will find some magic in this present.

Little Boozle 2010

Little Boozle 2010

Little Boozle 2010

Little Boozle 2010

Slight case of FWS (Floppy Wing Syndrome) happening...

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

A life laid out...

The best laid plans.

My 6 year old had to do a time line at school from birth until adulthood.
The early years are boring and predictable
(you know, birth, kindy, school, school, school,...
though "drinking milk from mummy's boobies" was apparently a first year highlight)

But I am wondering (and hoping) if he may depart from his current life plan...

15 years old- become a builder
16 years old- get married
17 years old- make money
18 years old- have a baby

I am laminating this one for prosperity (and for someone's 21st birthday...
unless of course my dear son is a rich, married builder with a 3 year old child!)

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Keyka Lou Pixie handbag

One of my faves

This bag is one of my all time favourites.
It is sweet, feminine and also just big enough to put in what you need.
Highly recommended pattern.
This one is headed for my marketplace shop.

Little Boozle 2010

Little Boozle 2010

Little Boozle 2010

Little Boozle 2010

Little Boozle 2010

Monday, March 15, 2010

The Crafty Mamas Marketplace Grand Opening tonight.

Support Australian Made and crafting mums!

Lisa from Crafty Mamas shop and forum is generously hosting the Congo Cart Marketplace
and it is opening tonight.
Long term forum members who are active in the forum community
are opening a collective of shops to sell their goodies.
There are some talented girls selling some fabulous stuff.
So please take the time to head on over and have a looksee
(and maybe buy something)



Sunday, March 14, 2010

Farbenmix Amelia hoodie

For the cooler weather (when it decides to get here!)

Now that I am losing weight,
I am starting to make clothes that are more of the vintage feel that I love.
But as I clean out my wardrobe,
I also want to get rid of all the shapeless fleecy winter tops that I have been wearing for the past few years and exchange them for some more fitted, stylish tops.

First cab off the ranks...
Pattern: Farbenmix Amelia
Fabric: Asian Blossom knit from Crafty Mamas shop
Approval rating: I love it. Partner it with a long sleeved tee and it is warm, comfy and a tad more
flattering than a men's shapeless fleecy zip up.

Little Boozle 2010

Little Boozle 2010





Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Little by Little

Making decisions to decrease the blood pressure

I have spent the best of 2 weeks now in a cleaning frenzy.
We are moving bedrooms around,
the painter will be coming soon,
I have nowhere left to put my fabric
and my folks are rocking up next week to stay till after Easter.

The whole time I have been manically sorting, throwing, moving,
I have been thinking how I will have to really get sewing to do this local market in May.

Over the weekend, I decided,
I don't need the extra stress.
And boy, do I feel better for having made that decision.

I am doing dribbles of sewing and intend to do much more.
some for the upcoming winter wardrobe for me and the kids.
some for birthday presents
and some for the impending launch of an on-line sales venue
(Monday 15th March, people. Circle that in your diary!)
That plus keeping this family moving forward is keeping me happily fulfilled.

Here are a couple more things I've made to sell...

Ali Foster Olivia gathered clutch

Little Boozle 2010

Little Boozle 2010

Little Boozle 2010

Melly & Me Gathered Friends Cross-body Bag

Little Boozle 2010

Little Boozle 2010

Little Boozle 2010

Little Boozle 2010

Little Boozle 2010

Little Boozle 2010

 If I don't do the market, I can just keeping pushing along at my own rate,
with few time deadlines
and much lower stress levels.
It's just not the right time for me with the kids at the moment
and there will always be other things that come along,
hopefully at a better time.

Friday, March 5, 2010

10 minute makeover.

Making a denim jacket girl-friendly.

OK More like a half hour makeover but most of that was spent picking ribbons
and waiting for the iron to heat up.

I bought this jacket when my first son was a toddler
at a boys shop closing down sale.
Really cheap but good quality.
But neither of my boys are "denim jacket type" boys
so it has sat in the cupboard.

Little Boozle 2010

I really like some boys' styles on girls.
Love the look of work boots on a girl in a dress
(hence the docs in my shoe collection)
Quite like the squared cut of jackets and the like.

So I just sewed on a couple of ribbons and ironed on an applique
and the goddess has a new coat for Autumn.

Little Boozle 2010

Little Boozle 2010

Little Boozle 2010

Little Boozle 2010

I keep looking at it thinking that it is just enough.
Less is more and all that.
Then I think, maybe something on the sleeves.
Any opinions?