Pink Fig - Lily Dress

I have waited so long to make this dress. I bought the pattern at the start of winter and waited and waited for the days to get warmer. Suddenly we seemed to have skipped warm in Melbourne and gone head first into Summers Hot weather.

Both fabrics are from SL. I adore the orange floral and had a hard time finding anything orange to go with it. I finally found a fat quarter of just the right orange and used some of that for the belt. If I had enough the sleeves and frill would be orange too. Instead I settled for a pretty dark pink with little white leaves. I think it matches well and DD was more than happy with the outcome of this dress.

DD is only 100cm tall but I had to make the size 6-7 in this pattern. I have no idea why - she is a fairly thin 4 year old. The smaller size just seemed too small.

So I have now knocked over two of my goals...

1.) Learn to do a nice rolled hem on my overlocker/serger.

2.) Learn to shir.

I have scribbled my machine settings for both techniques in a safe place so that I NEVER forget! They are both so easy to do - just fiddly getting the tensions right.

I am so happy I bought this pattern and am off to make a dress for my youngest and some tops for the nieces in the family...

Thanks for looking.

Wordless Weekend

Cheeky grins

Chubby legs

OTTOBRE 05/2006 - Boy's Vest

The first of these vests that I made for DS a couple of months back was gorgeous but just too small. I made him a size 92 (he was 92cm) but it was very tight.

Front

So I made this for him - two sizes bigger. I used the same linen for the front of the vest, but a plaid fabric from Tessuti for the lining and back. I think the plaid fabric matches well but also offers a nice contrast.

Back

Lining

This took no time at all to make and DS looked gorgeous in it.

4 years and a few days ago...

I held my first born in my arms for the first time.

All of a sudden, time has whisked us to 2009 where my baby is a bright and intelligent 4 year old girl.

Ahhh it has all gone so fast. I have not accomplished many of the things I set out to do when she was first born. Though I have achieved many others.

Her day started off with presents from Mum and Dad. First up was a bucket of scrap fabric for her to work her magic with. Along with a set of cottons, needles and a measuring tape.

Next up was this top made from the same Japanese cotton as used in this Uptown Jacket. I used my Girly Style Wardrobe Japanese Pattern book. DD specifically asked if she could 'swish' her hair for these photos!

Also, this dress - my first attempt at shirring, again using above-mentioned fabric (I still have more!)

DD wore this dress to her party and it fits beautifully - I am so relieved...

To cap off the day we bought DD her first 'big girl' bike. After dinner we all took it for a spin around the block as it was just so gorgeous out.

Oh and I nearly forgot that Daddy came home from work with these...

Her now favourite uncle and aunty bought DD her own working sewing machine. We tested it out the next day! She was absolutly rapt and plans on making her brother a T Shirt!

And here is her brother giving her a great birthday cuddle... These two are inseperable!

(N.B. The single donut was not her real b'day cake! )

Some Home Truths...

Thank you to The Handmaden for tagging me here - it was great to hear your answers...here are mine.



The rules are:
-Thank the person who gave you the award.
-Post ten honest facts about yourself.
-Pass the award on to seven others.



So, here we go:



1) I like things tidy - I mean display home tidy - I hate clutter and mess - it makes my whole life feel messy. I don't always succeed in having my home this tidy - but it is a daily goal!



2) I am very interested in pregnancy and birth. Love reading about others birth stories and telling mine. Should have been a midwife. My first labour was 1hr 45mins, second was (the worse) 1hr 35 mins and the best was my last birth earlier this year - 35 minutes from start to cradling bubs!



3) I often feel overwhelmed with my sewing/craft projects and worry that I will die before I get to do them all. So pessimistic I know.




4) I use to read heaps of non-fiction crime, but stopped years ago when I became paranoid about being murdered (which led me to point 3 hehehe).




5) I was a 15 year old Supermarket Deli girl and he was a 16 year old Shelf filler when DH and I met 16 years go.




6) I rarely watch TV - just don't get a chance to get into shows because the kids keep me very occupied. I usually spend my spare time online, or sewing which I do after 10pm normally...




7) I will be buying a Jamome Coverlock machine soon and that occupies a lot of my dreaming time at the moment!




8) My mother first taught me to sew and I made my first 'wearable' outfit at 8.




9) I use to do Human Resources and payroll for an international company before I had children and can say that I DO NOT MISS IT.




10) I love concerts and have been to: Salt n Pepa, Craig David, K Ci & Jo Jo, Elvis Tribute, Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Pink, Usher, Boyz II Men, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder and many more! The best was MJ - he was just phenomenal, then Pink - she was unbelieveable and then I think Stevie Wonder - I am not a huge fan but he worked the crowd and was very funny.




Some of my chosen 7 have been tagged so I will just do a few: Sara Jo, Melinda, Helen, Novy and Kim.




Thanks for reading!

What's black and white and red all over?

Well not quite all over - but here and there...

This is another "Deer Pinafore" and "Maya Blouse" that I knocked up for DD to wear to a party Saturday night.

Beautiful fine black pinwale cord for the dress - with black/white gingham for the feature binding.



I was a little worried the dress would look a little dark for DD, so I made this cotton blouse. I added a row of shirring elastic 2 cm from the sleeve hem to create a ruffle effect.



I also added these sparkly red buttons and flower/ribbon to the front of the dress.



DD looked gorgeous with her red tights and red shoes...

I think these patterns need a rest now - time to move on!

Gift for a Girl

I needed a gift for a dear friend who is about to embark on a year long working holiday. I have always wanted to make two things and got to make both of them for her on Thursday night:

A covered diary...

and a wristlet purse...

I drafted up the patterns for both items myself and used some left over Shimmer Look Linen from Spotlight for both the diary and purse. I am really happy with the results of both - the wristlet was super easy (just calculating the pleats took time).

I also used exactly 1 metre of my gorgeous ribbon that I bought from here some months ago.

The diary cover was easy too with the most difficult part, having to work out what pieces to stitch together first. I use a diary every day and love extra pockets to keep my receipts and notes in order, so I placed a small pocket on the inside front cover and a longer pocket on the back cover.

Inside front cover pocket...

Inside back cover pocket...

I added a little folded bow as a feature - it functions as a pen holder as well. These were really well received and it was completely worth using up my favourite ribbon!

This is a view of the front and back...

I used a simple D ring to hold the wrist strap onto the purse - I really need to make myself one of these...

I think I will need to make more of these for Christmas gifts...