Happy NYE..bye bye 2008

I am back and need to backtrack a bit as I completely ran out of time to post my handmade Christmas gifts. I haven't been well and decided to take a little break and just enjoy some time with the family.

Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope your day was special. Ours was - family, too much food and lots of excitement!. It was the first year that the girls actually understood what Christmas was about and it was such a joy to watch the excitement on their faces when opening their pressies.

Amy Butler Birdie Sling. This is my first ever bag and I was extremely happy with the finished result. It was so easy! I will be making this up for me next, with a few slight changes!

Lining of my Amy Butler Sling - I just used a plain drill

Cupcake and Icy pole dresses for the girls. You can't half tell that I love this pattern?

Short longs for the little one - orange stripes and vintage smurfs

I saw these tote-able towels over at And so, I sew and I knew they would be prefect for my girls and also my cousins. I made a few changes as I found it really hard to sandwich the towel between two pieces of material. (I think I was running out of patience and energy - thank god for Mum's help). So I just sewed a rectangle of material onto the top side of the towel, with a hem turned under on all 4 sides. Before sewing all they way round I pinned in the shoulder strap and a small strap. Too easy! Thanks for the inspiration Karen.

Vintage boxers for my cousin

A reindeer Christmas shirt for the little one

Phew.....all done. And on that note Happy New Year. My new years resolution is to be a more consistent blogger. I am enjoying blogging and the inspiration from other amazing crafters is fantastic. So THANK YOU

Christmas Crafting...slowly

Well Christmas crafting is happening here..just very slowly. Life is busy and coupled with sleepless nights it just doesn't help the creativity and motivation!!! But we will get there.

I finished my Christmas wreath last night by following this tutorial by Katy. Its fantastic. So quick and easy. I can't believe I put it off for so long.

And some Christmas pj's for the kids. For the girls I used vintage sheets that I bought from the op shop during the year. They look great and feel so comfy. And the little man's pair is made from some car fabric that I picked up at Spotlight during my last visit.

Christmas Crafting

We made a start on our Christmas crafting yesterday. We had a great time. Thankfully I chose to set it up outside as we had paint from one end to the other (literally). We made some Christmas paper with a roll of brown paper, potato stamps, stencils, red and green paint and glitter. They girls want to use it to wrap their aunties pressies!! Its a bit rustic but I am sure it will look great under the Christmas tree.

Our Work In Progress

I also got an email today to say that Issue 5 of LMNOP was out. I love this little mag. There are some great Christmas Ideas in this issue. If you haven't seen it pop over to LMNOP and subscribe. You won't be disappointed.


I have been also doing some tea dying, just by following these instructions. Its for a pressie on my Christmas list. Its worked wonderfully and hopefully I can share the finished product soon.

M.I.A.

It feels like ages since my last post (I feel like I am becoming a crafting fraud). This working gig is hard going. I was originally only meant to work two weekends a month but there is a real shortage of staff so its been every weekend and this will continue until Christmas (can't complain too much as the money is good). I just hope I can get through my Christmas list. I have been doing lots of cutting out (this is my least favourite thing) with the hope that I will get through things faster, if they are all ready to go.

I have managed a few little things between work, sick kids with gastro and a missing daddy for a few days!!!

Cupcake bloomers for a little girl in the US to wear next summer (modelled by the little man as I was a bit worried they were too small. Just don't tell Dad!)

A Ladybug and Butterfly shift for a little girls 4th Birthday - she is mad about creepie crawlies!

A taggy giraffe that I am working on. I have re done him and made him a bit more boxy (he was too difficult to turn). I think he will make a nice pressie for all the bubs that have been born lately.

Wet Washing...

Hanging on the line.. I love looking out my kitchen window and seeing my newly washed fabrics blowing in the wind. I ventured out to spotlight yesterday (my final trip until after Christmas). It was chaos. So busy..but hopefully I have everything I need. Its only 7 weeks till Christmas and its time to start working on my big To Do list. I scored some great fabrics on the bargain table. Beautiful cotton that feels like a linen. Reduced to $3 a metre. It came home with me and will turn into something for the girls for Christmas

Giveaway at Tollipop

OMG look at this fantastic giveaway at Tollipop . I hope I win, her illustrations are gorgeous and I can picture them hanging in the girls room!

Gathered Shorts

A cute pic of them together....

Cheeky girls wiggling their bums when I asked them to turn around

Front view with Miss A looking like she has Harry High Pants!! I don't normally tuck their t-shirts in but this was hiding a big stain leftover from lunch.

Not much sewing happening at the moment. I am feeling exhausted and just hanging out for a trip to the coast tomorrow to have some time with family and 2 very good friends and their families. But I did get inspired by a little pair of shorts I saw over at Ten In the Bed . They are by Monstar and I thought they would be just perfect for summer. Here is my version. A little fuller but the girls love them, which is always a bonus.