Handmade Fairies

The girls had a Fairy Birthday party to go to yesterday morning. On Saturday night I pulled out their dress-ups only to find that there fairy wings were in a sorry state (you know the ones - stocking stretched over wire. They never seem to stay looking nice in this house for long!) So I raided the stash and thanks to mum I had a little bit of donated fairy fabric, left over from a doona cover she made my little sister about 15 years ago.

So 20 minutes later.... Two bits of interfaced fabric x 2, sewn right sides together, turned out and topstitched ..Wahla...the girls have new fairy wings. I just wrapped a piece of bias binding around the middle and hand stitched it to a plain T-shirt. PERFECT..Although a little handmade looking compared to all the other fairies at the party.

A Whole Lot of Pink

...this outfit is gorgeous (if I do say myself) and if I could get away with dressing the little man in pink then I certainly wouldn't be giving it to a special little girl, for her 2nd Birthday tomorrow. There is a lot of pink but she is a pink girl and looks lovely in all shades...

I finally mastered the pockets in the pants that I had a real disaster with on the din-o-door outfit. The tunic top is from the latest otto mag - Kukkopilli raglan sleeve tunic top or bird whistle top. I omitted the applique as I didn't really like it.

I have used this fabric before and I have lots left over. Iam trying to use what's in my stash, although I am tempted to visit Spotlight this weekend. I got a voucher in the mail today for spend $100, get $40 off. WooHoo and I think the kids need some cord for winter.

Now off to start some winter sewing for the kids and some birthday sewing for my twin sister..(I am running out of time )

No Sewing..but some new Inspiration

Still no sewing..apart from some library bags for the girls(But I suppose that counts). The sleep deprivation and the sickness continues in this house. Blah..Blah ..Blah. Although last night everyone sletp in their own bed. Its amazing what a decent nights sleep does for the soul and the sewjo. Today I traced a couple of things off from Ottobre for a little ones 2nd Birthday next week. So fingers crossed that the sleep continues and I may get some sewing done this weekend. Yay.


I decided to visit Spotlight last week for some inspiration (excuse the crappy photos). I really want to try sewing knit fabrics. I scored the mother load in knit fabrics. I think it was last years knits but they were all reduced to $7 per metre. I just love a good bargain! So I am hoping that some new fabric in the stash will get me motivated to do some winter sewing for the kids.

Some lovely knits for winter sewing - lots of chocolate brown. I hope this will look okay on little girls?

And some bright summer cottons that I think I will use to make the Siiri Pinafore from the latest Otto

Dino-O-Door Set

A special little man turned two and had his party on the weekend. I whipped up this little Dinosaur set as he loves them...calls them din-o-doors! They are the "Taku" linen pants from the latest Ottobre (minus the square pockets). They are quiet a slim fit. I hope they fit over his little nappy bum. I will definitely add an extra cm to the seam allowance when I make them up again. I decided to get tricky and draw up my own pockets ( I even made my own bias binding). What a nightmare. The front pockets looked great laid out on the cord but of course I forgot to add extra to the top to take into account the top casing. Ahhh...this is why you shouldn't sew while sleep deprived. So they turned into patches instead. Anyway it looks cute, topped off with a bonds skivvy. Perfect for winter.

I saw this post by Bek and thought that this is me. Life seems to be a constant cycle of washing, cooking, cleaning up, getting kids out the door, grocery shopping, working.... There is no time. We are also seriously sleep deprived. The girls are both waking, every night and Archie seems to have joined in. (I can't remember the last time we had a full nights sleep)...Ahh sometimes I just wish we had family we could palm them off to for half a day, so that we could have some time together. I keep telling myself it will get easier and its just the sleep deprivation talking. It looks like my shifts will be cut as they have employed 3 new staff so at least I should get some more family time on weekends and maybe even a sleep in. I can live in hope.

So Sad...

The devastation from the VIC fires is heartbreaking. So many people have lost everything and so many lives taken.
We lived through the Canberra fires in 2003. The row of houses in front of us were burnt to the ground. We were lucky. Its brought back some very unpleasant memories. I don't think I have ever been so scared in all my life. Things happened so quickly. Watching a fire on a distant hill, racing back to the house, packing what we could and driving through the dark streets to escape. I will never forget the noise or the wind or the fear in the pit of my stomach.
It is heartbreaking to watch and to hear their stories. So I am being grateful for everything I have - my gorgeous family, my little house, our possessions.
We have donated to the Red Cross and I will also be joining this amazing girl and lots of other wonderful crafty bloggers and sewing some handmade goodies for the kids that have lost everything.

Pacman Lounge Set

I was just checking through some photos and realised I had forgotten to share these. I made my SIL in the UK some lounge pants for her birthday in early January. I used a retro sheet that I picked up at the Salvos (it reminded me of pacman). They actually look nothing like pacman but for some reason they conjure up pacman memories. And I finished them off with new yellow gingham on the cuff and by embellishing a singlet with covered buttons and yo-yos. I followed this tutorial. The yo-yos were so easy. I can't believe I waited so long to attempt them!! They are super comfy (if there is such a word).

Its Been a Productive Week

Its been so hot here...we have been hibernating in our lovely airconditioned house. So last week while the kids played, I managed to get a little birthday present finished for my niece Ruby who turns 5 on Friday. As we speak this parcel of goodies is winging its way to the UK. (I know her mum checks this blog but I am sort of hoping that she doesn't have time this week). Jane, we need some photos of her in her new outfits.

Umbrella Girl - Lounge Set. I stencilled the little girl onto the plain tee. I am not overly happy as some areas smudged. But it looks cute. I used a vintage cotton for the pants and cuffed them with some new fabric that was in the stash. I love how these two fabrics came together. I am thinking that I need some of these for me :)

Siiri Pinafore Dress - my first pattern from my new otto subscription. I love it. It came together quickly. I made the 110 size but didn't add the seam allowance. Its a perfect fit on my girls and I know Rubes is a similar size. It will look great over jeans and with a long sleeved tee or tights and a skirt. I will definetley be making the girls one of these for winter. The only area I am not happy with is the loop. Thankfully the big button hides it!. Its also the last of the cupcake material.

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY SWEET RUBES xoxo