Sugar and spice and everything nice

Hi all,

These gorgeous cushions can be custom made to suit for any occasion. Birthday, new baby, housewarming gift etc.

All cushion covers are hand made. The applique is secured by either hand blanket stitched or by machine. 

Hope your week is treating you and yours well..

Sof xx

What a hoot!

Hi all,

Just a quick post today. Ive been asked by a couple of people to make owl softies and after some thought at a lot of experimentation I've come up with my first prototype. Introducing 'Owlie greenie lovely good' (as named by Miss G).

Im not convinced by its proportions. What do you think? Im thinking I should add little legs to close up the tummy area but as the owl is intended for small people, I didn't want to add too many attachments (little people love to stick things in their mouths).

Ive got a few other ideas but alas, time is not my friend so the ideas stay in my head until a spare moment allows me to set them free!

Hope you're all having a wonderful day.

Sof xx

Whats a few months between friends

Hello lovely blogger readers. Yet again months have passed without a blog post. Time just goes by so fast at the moment.

Not alot going on in my part of the world. I had a few weeks of absolutely no creativity whatsoever and then a burst of enthusiasm (and necessity) drove me back to the sewing room to create again.

The kinder kids birthday season has started again and this year I've chosen to make the birthday kids messenger bags. I really enjoy making these and, with all things, the more I make, the better they get. My latest messenger bag was fashioned from an old pair of the birthday boy's own jeans which is mum had given to me to upcycle.

Sorry for the slightly fuzzy picture. The light was fairly poor.

I used the back pockets of the jeans rather than create new pockets and they turned out really well. It did take me a little longer to cut the fabric but it was really satisfying to create something new from something which would have been otherwise thrown away.

I have spent a little time making a jacket for Miss G. I spent a decent amount of time trying to buy a winter coat but could not find a decent one. IAll I could find were flimsy, barely lined numbers which were poorly made and came in the most awful colours or trims.

The exterior fabric used for this jacket was free, picked up from freecyclers and the fabric lining I found at my local op shop, costing me the princely sum of $1 for about 3 metres. The buttons I pinched from my mums button collection. I liked the effect of the 6 different buttons.

I decided to make a size 6 thinking i'd be able to stretch the jacket out for a few winters. However, I found that the sleeves were a little too tight and, unfortunately, Miss G cant wear a jumper underneath it. So its destined to be a dress jacket.

Finally, Ive made a couple of margaret bags for my mum in law and a friend who recently celebrated her birthday.

Michael Miller owl fabric.

Shoulder version made for my mum in law.

Im currently working on an owl softie and some more cute kids clothes. No doubt there will be a few more messenger bags in the works. 

Hope all is well in your part of the world.

Sof xx

My creative space #2 2011

Hi all,

How are you all??! Life has been pretty busy around here. The colder months have set in and with it has bought my passion for sewing. I missed my machine.

Here are a couple of offerings.

First, a boy's messenger bag for a special little buddy who turned 2. I really wanted to make him something but struggled to find a project until I came across a picture of a boy with a messenger bag. From there it was just a matter of finding the right tute for the right one.

Caribinas hold the strap to the bag with eyelets inserted in the bag's sides to give it strength. 

I need to thank his mum for taking these fantastic pics.

I used an old pair of my jeans for the exterior fabric and the inside fabric (and binding) was specifically bought for the birthday boy. To be honest, I couldn't resist it and I knew his mum would really like it too!

If you'd like to make one of your own, the tutorial can be found here. The tute doesn't come with instructions for the fabric lining but is pretty easy to come up with that bit on your own. Also, if you're using fabric that isn't stiff, Id suggest using a thick fusible webbing to help the bag keep its shape.

I'll definitely be making this one again. The kinder birthday season is starting so you can expect to see a variety of messenger bags this year. Even the husband was impressed by this project and has requested an adult sized version.

Next, I made this set for a little girl who I will hopefully be seeing soon. The pattern for the top is the same one as used here and the pants are a simple elasticised waist number.

Ive had flower fabric for about 2 years, always admiring it but never really having the right project for it. Im glad its finally found its form and is on its way to a new home. Im hoping that the pants aren't too 'boyish'. I think there is way too much pink for girls. Let them wear blue I say!

Hope you are all well.

For more creative spaces, click over here

Do not compute...

Hi all,

Yet another long gap between entries and it will be a quick one as there has been lots of kid work and not very much sewing work.

Firstly, I wanted to show you these two robots, made for two very special little boys. They are made from a pair of my old jeans.

Ive got a fair few jeans past repair so I'd say a few more of these little guys will be made in the not to distant future.

Take care,

Sof

Easter is on its way...

Hi all,

Its been a hectic month or so. Weddings and birthdays and sewing but not alot of posting.

Im currently working on a quilt that Im quite enjoying piecing together. Its a very simple chinese coin quilt and its going very easily, albeit slowly. Its a gift for the recently married couple

Groom punching the air.. he knows how lucky he is :)

..who I was lucky enough to be a part of the bridal party (a bride slave as she put it :) for.

Some of 'the girls'. Im the one with the glasses.

The day passed without a hitch, the bride was absolutely stunning and we had a blast as the limo we travelled in had a karaoke machine AND champagne. Dangerous combo!

Completed items are, again, few and far between. Ive made another pinnie for a little girl who turned 1

denim one side

pastel blue floral on the reverse.

... and have been trialling bunny designs. Here is what I've come up with:

bunny #1 has very strange legs...

bunny #2 is Miss G's most fave softie at the moment.

Last but not least is a quick pic of what the girls got up to today after I gave them a box of scraps to play with...

my girls LOVE mess!

Hope you're all well.

Sof

A spot of modelling and the essential little blue dress

Im grabbing 2 minutes between my shower and the kids having to get dressed to quickly post the pics of the little blue denim dress I made a few days ago for a birthday present. Miss G has a few little girlfriends and this birthday girl is one of her BFF's. I thought it appropriate to try something new with the machine and came up with a little improvisation on a simple a-line dress.

I added the frill at the bottom and a, well i guess you'd call it a kind of frilly bib at the top. Ofcourse both kids loved the smily flower buttons and Miss G took alittle convincing to take the dress off.

Hope you're having a great week.