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

Mission (mostly) accomplished...

So I set off from finishing my last blog post with a spring in my step toward the sewing room, intent on getting things done.

First cab off the ranks was the denim hat. I finished the binding on the brim.. check. Next up, attaching brim to crown. After much fiddling, sewing, unpicking, sewing, unpicking (you get the vibe) it was finally attached. Alittle grosgrain ribbon to finish the inside, some hand sewing and voila! finished. Or so I thought. On checking the fit on Miss G, I noticed that i hadnt attached the brim to the crown straight. This wouldnt have been a problem if not for the fact that I'd topstitched everything in a bright blue. Lets just say its pretty obvious. So back to the 'to do' pile it goes.

Next, the red spotty hat. Should be a cinch I think. No such luck. I've decided that the way the pattern finishes the hat doesn't really satisfy my standard of 'finished'. Back to the 'to do' pile.

Next, costumes for the girls. Cutting went off without a hitch. Sat at the machine to put it together and my machine starts to skip stitches. At this point Im just alittle over it all. Call in "mrs fixit" AKA my mum. We change needles, adjust tensions, change cottons, rethread the machine, all to no avail. Mum takes the materials home and completes two gorgeous fairy costumes in 3 days. No mean feat but she did it, and here they are:

The only credit I can take on these is buying the fabrics. At this point, my sewing mojo is threatening to leave me again.

Ok, final project of the week. A present for the birthday girl. I have been meaning to make a hair clip stand / frame for my girls for some time. It went together really easily. Of course my girls are going to have to wait for one of their own.

I had enough time to make some hair clips for the birthday girl as well.

Her mum tells me that it was well received and well timed. The birthday girl had received a number of hair clips as presents.

Yes I am alittle disheartened by my fails of the week but I guess every mistake is a lesson learnt. This week I aim to:

Finish the two hats;

Make some dresses for the girls;

Investigate some new sewing machine options;

Not be so hard on myself!

Last but not least, a very big THANK YOU to Lisa for sending me a large bag of beautiful scrap fabrics. I have been inspired by the array of fabrics and its sent my mind ticking over with ideas. Thanks so much Lisa!

My creative space #1 2011

Hope everything in your part of the world is good. Its been pretty crazy weather here in Melbourne (and, quite frankly, everywhere along the eastern seaboard of Australia). Floods in all states along the east and days of horrible humidity followed by cool weather. Today is one of the few days of the summer I remember as a kid (think blue skies, 30+ degrees and bugs!). Im glad its finally arriving.

Koo's creative space entries have started again and I will endeavour to post at least once a week to coincide with it. It will (hopefully) ensure that I do take some time out for creativity during the week.

Here are a few more things finished up this week.

These are covered photo albums made for some of my friends daughters for Christmas. I am ashamed to say that I just finished these (almost the end of January) but I rarely get to see my girl friends and their kids. Well they were made on time for delivery. I hope they are well received.

Another birthday girl who's siblings had each received a letter cushion last year for their birthdays finally received her own. I found the letter alittle tricky and it took me some time to work out how to turn it. I ended up having to stuff via the space in the middle of the A..... made sewing it up very frustrating but it turned out nicer than i'd anticipated.

On the kiddies front, we've been doing alot of indoor crafts as the weather (as mentioned above) has been quite wet. Here is one crafting session that went well and they were interested in for more than 5 minutes! Sure its messy but letting them experiment with the paper and glue was fun to watch. Miss G decided that rather than stick flat bits of paper to the window, it would be nicer if they were made into 'flowers'. I'd never have thought of that!

One of the above mentioned flowers can be seen in Miss G's hair (its the blue thing).

The girls being able to work together side by side was an added bonus of this activity.

Finished window.... and very sticky fingers!

Four birthdays and a christening

As my previous post hinted, I've been super busy with present making and its given me the opportunity to be creative which is always good. I can be a little lazy if I don't have a deadline to meet. Procrastination is a (not so) good friend of mine. Im not sure if anyone else feels the way I do... I couldnt be bothered going into the sewing room but once there, I cant get out. On the odd day I do venture in, hoping inspiration will miraculously appear and it doesn't. Those kinds of days leave me avoiding the fabric, cotton and machine until a birthday or some other important event creeps up. I'm constantly getting frustrated with myself. Does anyone out there do this to themselves too?

Here are my offerings for the past two weeks. Alittle meagre considering more than 2 weeks has lapsed since my last post but they are presents and they are all done and delivered... and Im happy with them.

Firstly, I finished my last little offering for a young man who's christening I attended (and made the pants and hat for in the last post). It was made to match this quilt which was a present for him at birth.

For birthday number 1 , another space pillow for one of Miss G's little friends. His mum saw this pillow made for another young man and commented on it. So I decided to make him one too. I love making pillows (if you couldnt half tell) and the kids seem to get a kick out of seeing their name or initial on something that is their very own. Certainly when this young man saw the cushion, he was very happy (and so was his mum!) :)

Ive hand embroidered this one (as opposed to machine applique which Im not great at) and I think it looks neater.

Birthday no. 2 was a kinder friend of Miss G. For this birthday I made a new and improved pencil roll. I'd had feedback from my last batch (and infact from my own experience) that the pencils would fall out. So Ive incorporated a flap at the top that is folded down before being folded up. Yes, my explanation sucks. Here are some pictures:

I did make another letter cushion for another young man who celebrated his birthday but forgot to take a picture! I do remember thinking 'i should take a picture' but somewhere I've just plain forgotten. Probably a small child bugging me to be fed or watered was involved.

Finally, a present for a young lady (another of Miss G's friends) who celebrated her birthday on the weekend. I'm loving this cushion so much that Im going to make one for each of my girls (who will be celebrating their birthdays very soon). So simple. I strugged with what to make for this young girl for some time. She is shy and quiet and I sat for atleast an hour laying out fussy designs that just didnt work (and didn't seem to suit her). I was about to give up when a illustration in a book caught my eye. A simple flower. It worked and look no longer than an hour to design, cut and assemble. Ofcourse it is hand stitched so it took some more time to finish (again, bad time management skills). We went to the birthday empty handed but happily delivered it this morning at kinder.

Back of the cushion. Simple envelope opening. I didnt have enough fabric to do a solid colour so I used two different fabrics.

So its off to the sewing room once more as we have another birthday this weekend. Miss G and Baby A have a very busy social calendar in August and September!