School Holidays and our Easter Break

School went back today much to the disappointment of my daughter.  I think she just had way too much fun over the school holidays.  Well, it was her Birthday for a start, and a party at the park (and lots of prezzies) and then several days of playing with all her new things. 

She got some great presents with lots of crafty things for her to do.  One of them was a pattern and material to make 'Bitty Bug' which is another Bit of Whimsy Dolls design.  Again this was a simple pattern and Samantha just loved deciding what fabric she wanted where.  After I pieced the fabric together for her she did everything else herself and just left me to hand stitch the last bit closed and stitch the face for her.  So she was very pleased that she could do this all herself and she loves the results. 

Here's her 'baby' as she now calls it!

We also managed to see the movie 'Rio' with a couple of her friends and then we also had a lovely day at the beach with her Mama & Papa too.  I just love the beach and so do the kids.  Luckily it's only half an hour from home. 

Our Easter was fun with lots of chocolate Easter eggs and hot cross buns.  The kids and I actually made our own hot cross buns this year too.  Nan & Pa also came up from Melbourne to have a 'sleepover' for 2 nights Easter Sunday and Monday which the kids thought was just fantastic.  

I did get a little bit of sewing done - I made a Little Ninga (Melly & Me design) while Samantha was making her Bitty Bug.  My son also helped to stuff him.  These are so gorgeous and suit boys of all ages.  My son ended up claiming this one and now takes it to bed with him every night!

I have got a few other things to show you but you'll have to wait until my next post as this one is getting a bit long! 

Until next time, happy sewing everyone!

Jody

Happy Easter Everyone!

Wishing you all a Happy Easter and a safe holiday break.  Hope the easter bunny bring you all lots of yummy easter eggs! 

These cute little easter bunnies I made for the kids last easter (you may have seen them on my blog before).  They are from Homespun magazine (Vol11.3).

Happy sewing and I'll be back after the easter break.

Jody

FNSI - Mother's Day Project

It was the Friday Night Sew In last night that Heidi holds once a month.  This is a great way to get us all together for a 'sew in' and complete some of those unfinished projects.  Pop over and have a look at what everyone else has been doing.  Just click on the link HERE. 
Now I have so many projects on the go at the moment it was hard deciding what to work on!  In the end my Mother's Day Project won. 

This is a sewing project I am putting together for the kindergarten class when they get back from school holidays.  They are going to make little softie hearts to give to their mum for mother's day.  The back of the heart is felt and the front is fabric with heavy iron on interfacing on the back.  I have then attached a small heart with a button and then used a small hole punch to place 'sewing' holes for them all around.  They will then use a plastic wool needle and wool to sew them together and then stuff them with polyester filling.  I managed to prepare 6 last night - plus the sample - so now only 18 more to go!
Happy sewing everyone!
Jody 

Guess who just turned 7?

My daughter turned 7 this week - can you believe it!  Where has the time gone!  Here she is wearing the mermaid top I made for her and jewellery that her friends gave her for her birthday.  Looking very grown up - isn't she! 

And here she is modeling the hat I made for her too.  It's the same pattern I used for my sons hat the 'Lazy day hat' by Make it Perfect.

We had a lovely party for her at the park with all her friends and luckily the weather held out for us.  They had a great time running around playing tiggy, playing on the equipment and blowing bubbles, and of course eating birthday cake!  Here they are at the park just before her friends arrived.

We then had a lovely night out with the family at the local RSL club where they have a great playroom for the kids.  They played in there most of the night with some other kids that they made friends with.  She had such a great day and loved every minute of it, it makes me want to be 7 again too! 

Jody     
 

A couple of small things..

Just a couple of small things I've done this week.  After receiving my book 'In the life of a bag' by Anni Downs, I just had to make something from it.  So I whipped up this lipstick case in no time at all. 

Cute isn't it - and usefull!  Very easy to make and will make a great mother's day present.(hope your not looking mum!)  I'll have to make a few more of those.   I also did this little applique on a top for my daughter - as it's her birthday next week.

The design is by Kellie Wulfsohn from 'Don't look now!' and is done using raw edge applique.  The original design was for a cushion and was in Homespun magazine (Vol 11.12) so I decided to reduce the size and put it on a long sleeve top.

Happy sewing everyone!
Jody  

I'm back!

Sorry - it's been a little while since my last post, but I have been working on a few secret projects.  One of them in a Kitchen Hot Pad Swap which I just finished last night - so it will be in the mail on Monday (sorry I can't show you any photo's yet as it is to be a surprise for my swap partner).  This has been a fun and simple project - but something that I hadn't made before.  Cheryll holds these great swaps on her blog so pop over and join up as she has just started another one for a kitchen hand towel. 
Sandy is also holding a swap for a Zippy Purse so if you want to have a go at that pop over to her blog and join up here.  Also a big THANKYOU to Sandy from Cookies & Cream Craft for my lovely parcel I received in the mail this week.  I was lucky enough to win this beautiful book 'In the Life of a Bag' by Anni Downs from Hatched and Patched in the raffle Sandy was running for the Japan Quake Appeal. 

Here's a little look at some of the projects in the book - I think I'll make the lipstick case first, but maybe the birdcage keyring holder or the small notepads...there are just so many lovely projects. 

Sandy also stocks these in her online store - so if you want to get your hands on one, click here to visit her store. 

Thankyou Sandy!

Until next time, happy sewing everyone!

Jody

FNSI results

My Friday Night Sew In was more of a late afternoon, early evening sew in, as I knew I was coming down with some nasty cold/flu thingy.  But with two kids to look after, dinner to prepare and cook, bath, story and getting them ready for bed, I knew I just had to soldier on.  So in between I jumped on the sewing machine and finished off a hat for my son that I had cut out earlier in the day.  My son & I had picked out the fabric for his 'very cool' hat earlier in the week as it had to be something he really loved (so he would wear it!).  This is the 'lazy day hat' by 'Make it Perfect' and is a great design and I was really happy with the results.  The pattern is from toddlers right through to adult sizes so you can reuse it over and over (which is great for growing children!).  I made the medium size for my son and it is a perfect fit.  He loved it as you can probably tell from the photo!  It is reversable so he can choose to wear it as a blue or an orange hat!

Also Jodie Carleton from Ric Rac is running a raffle to win a custom made softie toy to raise money for the Japan Quake Appeal.  There is also a link there to a master list of auctions and raffles that are raising money for this great cause.  Money from these auctions and raffles goes to the Red Cross and Global Giving Funds.

Happy sewing eveyone,
Jody

Softies for Christchurch & FNSI

You may have noticed a new button on the right hand side bar 'Softies for Christchurch NZ'.  Leonie, from New Zealand, has been organising this softie drive to make softies for the children affected by the recent earthquake in Christchurch.  So I've jumped on board and have made these little guys to send to the kids.

There is still time left if you want to join in and send a softie or two to Christchurch.  Leonie hasn't yet set a close off date for this appeal but is thinking mid April would be a good time to have all the softies together and sent down to the children.  My heart also goes out to all those affected by the latest tragedy in Japan and I find it hard to watch the news and see the extent of the devastation over there. 

On a lighter note, I have been very busy sewing for my kids too.  I haven't sewn clothes for them for ages - so I got out some material I'd had stashed away and made some pajama's, pants and then shortened a few pants into shorts for both of them.  It was fun - and the kids had to wear them straight away - so were very happy with them!

My daughter also attended her friend's birthday on the weekend and asked me to make a doll for her.  So I made 'Mae' by 'Bit of Whimsy Dolls'. for her too.  I do love this pattern as it is such a sweet doll and looks so different in different fabrics and colours.  It's also a really nice, easy pattern to follow.

I've also put my name down for the next Friday Night Sew In which is this Friday the 18th of March.  So sign up and make yourself comfy and join in and get some of those unfinished projects completed.  See you there!

Jody

Tiger the Door Sausage Cat

Well - here it is! My new pattern - 'Tiger' the Door Sausage Cat.  Use Tiger to protect your door from drafts!  He'll keep out those pesky drafts and look good too!  Tiger is my cat version of Drafty the Door Sausage Dog.  You can make him to suit any door size, as the pattern allows you to lengthen or shorten him as you like.   Tiger will be available from Cookies & Cream Craft and Riviera Patchwork next week.  Make sure you pop over to Sandy's blog as there will be a giveaway very soon for this new pattern!

Happy sewing everyone,
Jody

Monday's Show & Tell

For today's show & tell I thought I'd show you a bag I made for my mum 2 Christmas's ago.  This is a pattern by Leanne Beasley called 'Marie Roses Carry Bag'.   Mum wanted a bag to store her knitting in, so I made this one up for her, and she loved it.  It's a great size and could be used for any kind of sewing project or as a market bag or carry all bag as it is quite big.

My daughter is still not well and so is still home from school this week - so I have also taken on the role of teacher, so I can keep her up to date with all her school work.  So unfortuanly I haven't been able to do any sewing - and I am having big withdrawals from it!  I'm getting the machine out this afternoon though - as I really need to get back into it.  Luckily my daughter loves sewing too - so it is something that she can do with me when she feels up to it. 
I hope you all have had a good weekend and have been able to get some sewing done.
Happy sewing!
Jody

A week of ups and downs!

Well this week has really been a week of ups and downs!  My daughter had a friend over on the weekend and they had heaps of fun making a softie toy each.  I found this great fabric from Saffron Craig with softie panels.  So they made up a koala each and I helped my son make the owl.  The girls did really well cutting out and then using the sewing machine (under my guidance of course!) and then stuffing their toys.   Here's a photo of my daughter's koala & the owl.

Cute aren't they!  I also managed to get a cover made for my daughter's reader.  I have been wanting to do this for the last couple of weeks but finally managed to get around to it and made it on Sunday afternoon.  The stitchery is from Cinderberry Stitches and is a new pattern (which is free from the Lecien website - just click here) called Woodland faeries.  It's just one of the faeries from the pattern - there are another 4. 

I used a tutorial from Moda Bake Shop called 'Charming Book Cover' to make the cover - they have heaps of great tutorials there. Then I had big intentions of working on one of my designs this week but by daughter picked up a cold/flu thing from school and has been home running really high temperatures for the last few days.  So instead I have been building Lego with her at times when she has felt up to it.  So together we have been making this instead!

This photo didn't include the lovely lego three storey house we had built as my son had used his ninga lego man to bash it down before I took the photo!

Until next time, happy sewing everyone!
Jody

Friday Night Sew In

For my Friday Night Sew In, I worked on my Woodland Magic project designed by Natalie Ross.  This time I managed to get the bag applique at least ironed on and ready to go.  So now it's time to hit the machine and machine applique all the pieces on and then I can start putting the bag together.  Thanks to Bobbi & Heidi for holding these FNSI - it gives me a time to set aside to work on these projects 'for me' that would otherwise be put on hold for a while!

Until next time, Happy Sewing everyone!
Jody

And the winners are....

Well - I can't believe it's Wednesday already and a week since my last post!  The week has just flown by.  We have had a very busy week - with school and kinder back and just trying to get into our routines again.  I've only just managed to finalize the pattern for Drafty and finish writing it today - so it will be printed out and packaged up tomorrow.  So for those of you waiting for the cat version - it will be a little bit longer I'm afraid.  Thankyou all for your lovely comments on 'Drafty'.  He has fitted into our household really well - and the kids love to say goodbye to him as they put their shoes on to go out the front door.  So, now for the winner of a 'Drafty' pattern!  I decided to draw the winner the old way and put the names on a piece of paper and had my kids draw the winner from a container.  So - the winner is.......Lisa!  Congratulations Lisa!  I hope you enjoy making your version of 'Drafty'!  I took a photo of my daughter drawing the winner as you can see below and then my son wanted to have a go....so......he drew a second winner!  Yes - I thought - why not...it's only fair that he could draw a winner too.   So the second winner of a 'Drafty' pattern is.....Cheryll!  Congratulations Cheryll!  I hope you enjoy making 'Drafty' too!   I will send the winners an email shortly and you can then send me your postal address's.

 

Please excuse the dirty faces - they were in the middle of dinner when I asked them to draw the winners! 

Until next time.. Happy sewing everyone,

Jody

Drafty - the Door Sausage Dog

So here it is!  My new design - 'Drafty' the Door Sausage Dog.  He's practical and cute.  Just pop him against any door and he'll stop all those pesky drafts! 

I used corduroy and cotton fabrics and he's filled with plastic stuffing pellets and fibrefill, but you could also use rice.  This keeps him where you want him and you can mould him up against the door to make sure those drafts stay away.  You can also make him to suit any door size - so the pattern allows you to shorten or lengthen him as you like. 

This pattern has been in the back of my mind for a while now, as since we moved into our house we built on our place 2 years ago, I have needed a door sausage for my front door.  I never like the idea of attaching a weatherstrip to the bottom of the door, although I did look at several different kinds.  So I have wanted to make one but decided I wanted something a bit different to your traditional door sausage, that would look cute too, and also serve the purpose of keeping out the drafts.  So meet Drafty!  He will now take pride of place in the hallway against my front door.  I'll be writing the pattern in the next few days - so it should be available by the end of next week.  And for those cat people out there - I've haven't forgotten you - there is a cat version that I'm working on at the moment too.  So keep watching and I'll hopefully have it ready for you soon!

And here's the pattern cover.  It will be available online from  'Cookies & Cream Craft' or from my local patchwork shop 'Riviera Patchwork'

For those of you that saw my previous post - can you see which fabric I have used from the Bumble Bub quilt?  Leave a comment with the answer (hint: bee) and I will draw a random winner on Wednesday next week and you will receive a copy of this new pattern in the mail!  Good luck!

Jody

Bumble Bub Quilt

Here's something I made early last year for a little baby boy.  It's called 'Bumble Bub' and is a cot quilt or playmat and also a softie bee toy too.  It's a Melly & Me design from her Kaleidoscope book and only the third quilt I've ever made.  I do love the fabrics I used in it and it has simple piecing and some machine applique so was fairly simple to put together.  I also machine quilted it in the ditch - as that's really all I could do on my machine at the time.  I would have liked to quilt it differently, so this year I plan to learn more quilting techniques and styles.  The reason I thought I'd show you this quilt is because I am using some of the fabric I used in this quilt in a new design I am working on at the moment.  I won't give too much away yet - but I am really happy with the way the design is all coming together and am just loving the fabrics I'm using in it.  So stay tuned as I'll post a picture of the new design very soon.

Until next time, happy sewing everyone!
Jody