Making a Move......

I have Moved!  Well - my blog has at least!  I've decided a makeover of my blog, logo and image was needed - so you can now find my new blog at:

http://jodyscraftycreations.com/

See you there!

Jody

A giveaway at May Blossom!

Just sharing a link with you all - Simone Gooding from May Blossom is having a giveaway on her Facebook page.  She has the most gorgeous designs. 

You may remember this 'Mouse in a Matchbox' I made for my daughter a while ago - this is one of her designs.  Pop over to her Facebook page and 'Like' her page and leave a comment to enter!
Happy Sewing!
Jody

My Sewing Creations for 2013

I thought it would be fun to look back over the last 12 months and see what I have made this year.  So here's a little look at my sewing creations for 2013.

Looking forward to making many more creations in 2014!
Happy Sewing!
Jody

Santa's Little Helpers & our Gingerbread House

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas.  We had a wonderful and relaxing day and a lovely Christmas lunch with my family.  The kids and I made a gingerbread house to have Christmas day which was lots of fun to make and eat too!  This has become a bit of a tradition for us to make a gingerbread house and I was very proud of both my kids as they made most of it themselves this year. 

We have tried a few different recipes over the years and this one I think was the best one yet.  It was from Taste.com.au.
(Here is the link for you http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/15035/gingerbread+house)
It made enough dough to make the complete house and was easy to make and roll, and cut out the shapes.  It also tasted great too.  The kids loved making this and it's always lots of fun sticking it together with the icing and adding lots of lollies too.  They also loved being able to smash it down on Christmas day with everyone when it was time to eat it! 
I made 'Santa's little Helper's' for my mum this year, as she has said she would love me to make them for her.  So here they are - Alfie & Evie - Santa's Little Helpers. 

She loved them and they looked very cute sitting on top of her wood heater on Christmas day. 
Enjoy your Boxing Day and I'll be back soon to share a roundup of all my sewing creations for 2013.
Happy Sewing!
Jody

Teacher's Christmas Gifts

Every year I like to make a special homemade gift for the kid's teachers.  So this year I made two of the 'Santa's goodie bags' by Gail Pan Designs. 

 

These were cute little stitchery bags which we then filled with goodies for the teachers.  I also made one of the 'Jumbleberry Santa's' by Simone Gooding.  This was a fun project to do.



 

I love making these Christmas projects each year - it just get's me into the Christmas holiday mood.  Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, I hope you have a lovely day with family, friends and loved ones.   

Happy Sewing!

Jody

Chill Out Slippers

Sometimes you just need to chill out - and these slippers are just perfect for that!  I've just finished making these 'Chill Out Slippers' by Make it Perfect. 

This is a pattern from Toni Coward's book - 'Make it Perfect - 21 easy patterns for sewing women's and children's clothes'. 
This is a great book that has been out for a while but I have only just bought it recently.  I desperately needed new slippers so when I saw the 'Chill out Slippers' I just knew that I had to make that project first.  They were very easy and quick to make and I've made them from fabric scraps I had in my stash.  The only extra fabric that I did buy for them was the Jiffy Grip fabric (a fabric with grip dots in it to use on the soles).  I used cotton fabrics with light weight pellon and some quilt wadding in the sole for cushioning.  These will be perfect for the warmer weather and in fact I am wearing them now while I write this as they are just so comfy! 

I think I'll have to make another pair when we get back to the cooler weather and I'll try some heavier weight cotton or cotton drill fabric and a thicker pellon and padding in the sole for extra warmth. 
Happy Sewing!
Jody

Bumblebee

I finished this cute little Bumblebee today.  This is another project from Abigail Glassenberg's book 'Stuffed Animals'.

This softie is made up from two sphere's joined together.  Each sphere is made from five wedge shaped pieces that are joined together just like the segments of an orange.  Abby takes you through step by step how to make this softie in her book and also gives great information about making other three dimensional shapes and alternate ways to create more spheres too.  I made this one using polar fleece and decided to make if from the pink and green just for something different.  I think I'd like to make more of these little bees - all in different colours - just  for fun!
Happy sewing!
Jody 

Santa's Little Helpers

I've just listed my Christmas Pattern - 'Santa's Little Helpers' on my Etsy store.  Christmas isn't really that far away so why not get in early and make up these cute little Christmas Elves. 

The pattern is now available as an instant downloadable PDF file - just click HERE to go to my Etsy store.
Happy Sewing!
Jody

Friday Night Sew In

Last night was Friday Night Sew In and so I managed to get a little bit more done on my stitchery while I watched a movie on TV.  This is a Cinderberry Stitches design called 'Room for Friends'.

Thanks to Wendy for hosting this month's Friday night sew in.  Drop over and see what everyone got up to for FNSI.
Happy Sewing!
Jody

Don't Worry Doll - a new Design!

Hi there!  Well - I have been very busy lately working on a new design which I can finally show you all today!  But before I do I want to give you a bit of background on where this idea has come from.  My 9 year old daughter was told a couple of months ago that she would need minor dental surgery to remove a tooth bud from her gum (an adult tooth that has never formed) and is blocking the way of another adult tooth.  The surgery required is fairly straightforward but she will need to go under general anaesthetic for it.  It will be a day procedure and will be done at our local hospital.  This news has been very scary and worrying for her.  She has got herself so worked up, upset and worried about the idea of having surgery that this anxiety and stress is actually making her feel physically unwell.  We have been to doctors and specialists and her school has been very supportive trying to help her cope and manage this anxiety.  I never thought she would react this way and we have all been trying to work out ways to help her deal with this and get her mind off things.  She is finally talking about her feelings and worries and starting to learn to cope and deal with this anxiety.  I believe after the surgery (which is in the not too distant future) she should start to feel much better as she won't be worried about it any more.  I needed to try and help her and so I came up with the idea of making her a Don't Worry Doll.

 It's a similar idea to worry dolls (which are brightly coloured tiny dolls) and the idea with them is that you tell them your worries before you go to bed at night and when you wake up in the morning your worries will be gone.  I wanted to make a larger softie doll that she could hold, cuddle and talk to about her worries. 

I have embroidered some positive messages on the doll to help her get through this difficult time. 

 

I am going to give her this gift tonight and so fingers crossed it helps her just a little.  I think it has also been a bit of therapy for me to help me think positive too as I embroidered these messages and spent the time making the doll.  I intend to make a pattern for it shortly and will be releasing it as a downloadable file from my Etsy store.  I hope that other parents, grandparents, family and friends will be able to make these for other children that may be experiencing a difficult time and this may just give them some positive messages, some comfort and something they can tell their worries to.
Thankyou for taking the time to read this post - I know it has been a bit long!
Happy Sewing!
Jody

Friday night with Friends

Last night was 'Friday Night with Friends' hosted by Cheryll over at Gone Stitchin'.  I did some sewing on a new design that I am currently working on - but Sorry - can't show you pictures of it just yet!  I hadn't intended on spending so much time on it last night as I wanted to work on a stitchery - but when you get an idea sometimes you just have to go with it!  So it wasn't until about 10pm that I decided to have a rest from the design work - and get out my stitchery.  So I really didn't make a lot of progress - but it was nice a relaxing to stitch away while watching some TV. 

This is the kit that we received at our stitching day -  'Friends in Stitches' last weekend.  I am using a hoop for the first time - so it is taking me a little longer than normal as I am trying to get the hang of using this hoop.  But so far I am enjoying it and the hoop does seem to hold the fabric better and make the stitches more even.  This stitchery is called 'Room for Friends' by Cinderberry Stitches.
Pop over and see what everyone else got up to at Friday night with Friends!
Happy Sewing!
Jody

Friends in Stitches

We had a lovely day yesterday in Melbourne at the Novotel in Glen Waverley attending 'Friends in stitches' with Gail Pan (Gail Pan Designs), Leanne Beasley (Leanne's House) and Natalie Lymer (Cinderberry Stitches). 

A big thankyou to Lisa, Jenelle and Cindy for coming with me to spend this lovely day stitching together.  We enjoyed a lovely lunch, morning & afternoon tea together too.  Gail, Leanne & Natalie went around to all the tables and said hello to us all and shared some stitching tips and techniques too. 

We also received three lovely new patterns - one from each designer (plus all the fabrics to finish them too) and three postcard designs too.  The three designers had setup displays of their designs on tables and had quilts all around the room - which were just wonderful to see.  There was also Craft Haven of Berwick there so we could stock up on patterns, books, fabrics and threads too.

(Please excuse the quality of the photos - I forgot my camera and so had to use my phone!)



A great day that just seemed to go so fast!  Can't wait for the next one!
Happy Sewing!
Jody

Clutch purse finished

I managed to find some time today to finally finish off my clutch purse.  So glad I did as I am really happy with it. 

Happy Sewing!
Jody

Friday Night Sew In Results

Well I didn't get as much done as I would have liked last night - but I definitely made some progress.

I have had the stitchery finished for a while for this clutch purse - and so last night I managed to get the closure flap of the purse completed and get all the other material cut out and the main piece quilted.  This is a Melly & Me design called 'Out with the Girls'.  I'm going to try and finish it off over the weekend - so fingers crossed and I might be able to post a completed picture early next week.  Pop over and see what everyone else got up to for their Friday Night Sew In.
Happy Sewing!
Jody

Friday Night Sew In

I love these Friday Night Sew In's!  It gives me that little bit of motivation I need to get out one of my unfinished projects and work on it.

So tonight I'm joining in again with many others from all around the world for a virtual sew in!  Pop back over the weekend to see how much I ended up getting done.  Feel free to join in too - just click on this link Here and sign up.  'See' you there!
Happy Sewing!
Jody