It seems I've become YET ANOTHER blogger to fall by the wayside. To be honest, I find it hard, now that I'm not working and have 2x 2yr olds with me 24x7, to find time to photograph and upload etc. Most of my internet stuff is done from the comfort of my iPhone because it's so convenient but it doesn't seem to want to allow me to upload pics so that kinda puts paid to this caper.

I have, however, still been sewing. LOTS. Oh my, the lead up to Christmas was crazy as I had undertaken to sew lots of gifts this year AND combined with that, at the beginning of December I launched my own little sewing venture via facebook. I'm making bags (mostly) and other accessories (lots of ideas just gotta find time for it all - did I mention the 24x7 2x 2yr olds?) for little people. Check me out: www.facebook.com/myticklespider

Not *Quite* as Unproductive as it Looks

So, we moved, and then my husband was off work for 5 weeks. After him working extraordinarily long hours for an extraordinarily long period of time I was looking forward to some lazy days together, plenty of R&R for him and me, and a few sleep-ins. Ugh, in 5 weeks, I got 2 and given Mother’s Day fell during this period, I really only got 1 bonus sleep-in. In 5 weeks! We ran here there and everywhere doing a whole bunch of things that reared their heads and required immediate attention and very few sleep-in opportunities. Lazy days were practically non-existent and some good old fashioned R&R remains elusive. For him and me. He is now back at work and we will try to have a lazy holiday together some other time.

On the upside it means I have time for sewing again. During our “holiday” there was very little of it taking place. I managed to knock up a couple of flannelette PJ tops for the girls. Largely driven by necessity. At the time we moved a sudden cold snap hit. Combine this with moving from the warmest house in the world to the coldest and they needed some extra layers to wear at night. They sleep in grobags so it’s really only their arms that needed to be layered up. Thus, no need to make any PJ bottoms.

My husband’s work involves him travelling quite a bit at times and for long periods. We’d had a very nice 15 months of him being at home but now he is off again. Given I am not working anymore we decided that the girls and I would go with him wherever he was sent so we could still be together. Thus, we are currently in the country 7 hours from home and very close to the middle of nowhere. We are getting out and about lots to the park and the library etc but are home pretty much every day for my girls’ nap of around 2 hours. This has given me plenty of time to start ticking off some projects BUT I had to sus out an internet connection so blogging was impossible initially. Obviously that’s all sorted now.

But firstly, in between my husband returning to work (and heading away) and us joining him 2 weeks later, I managed to sneak in a few items. First up were some new PJ bottoms for me. I had not pattern, just my other PJ pants that I would use as a template. I had only a yard of fabric, which was not long enough for me to make them in 1 piece to reach from my waist to the floor so I had to improvise a bit. I made a separate waist band and I added a frill to the bottom of them. The elastic in the waist band is a little loose and they try to fall down when I roll over in bed, they kinda look a bit 70s bell bottom, and my husband says they are “stupid” but, hey, they otherwise do their job and I think they are growing on me.



I also made a cute little back pack and skirt for my cousin’s little girl who is just a few months older than my girls. My aunty came for a visit from interstate and I sent them back with her. Cute. The bag was inspired by this tutorial (although I didn’t have a decent canvas so I used a light canvas layered together with the stripey cotton and I made the straps from the spotty fabric and just pocked them through the corners and sewed them into the body of the bag at the bottom). I also sewed a matching little skirt from the same basic pattern as the one in my last tutorial only this one is for an almost 3 year old. Here is the bag, one of my girls modelling it, and the skirt.

Since I’ve been in the country I have finished off an outfit each for the girls. One is overalls and the other, a variation of the same pattern, is a bibbed skirt. Buuuuuut, I haven’t taken any photos of those yet so you are going to have to wait until I get to it. The girls wore them for the first time the other day and the straps are a bit lose. First I will move some buttons and then I will photograph.

I will, instead, leave you with this pic. I visited a friend on the weekend who lives near here (such a treat because normally we are 9-10 hrs of driving away from each other). She has 2 little boys. I made them some dragon slippers. The tutorial is from Made By Rae’s blog. They were doing a month of Celebrate the Boy. Cute!

Packing and Sewing

We move on Saturday and I have been trying very hard to sneak in a little time for sewing in amongst all the time spent packing (oh, and let’s not forget caring for 2x 23mth olds – sheesh!). I have managed to knock a few things over. First cab off the rank was a soft case for the lovely new little netbook that I got for my birthday from my husband. I picked up this lovely Japanese damask in the remnants bin at Spotlight for about 80 cents or something. Add some soft flannel for the inside and a bit of fusible fleece and your away.

I was on a bit of a role so decided to make one for my sister as well. I used some left over Delilah fabric from the bag I made and the same flannel for the inside. I made them both complete with internal pocket ready to store a USB mouse.

Then this morning I quickly made up this for a friend’s little girl who just had her first birthday. I have no idea what the fabric up the top is but it’s quite soft and thick and perfect for winter. It’s also more red in real life than this. Looks kinda burgundy in the picture. I’d say it’s closer to a perfectly ripened tomato colour. I followed this tutorial. I hope it fits her. Length wise should be fine, it’s more the elastic waist I am concerned about.

I have also cut out 2x jumpsuits with some gorgeous velveteen that a friend gave me and a vintage size 3 pattern that I bought second hand. Now that I have cut it out and started sewing it together I have discovered that it is too short in the body. It only gives an overall length, which is spot on and I took it for granted that the body length would be more than long enough given it’s a size 3 and they are only in size 2 (not yet being 2 ‘n all). Well, I was wrong and by not measuring properly I am now in a bit of a quandry. I may just be able to piece a diamond shaped bit of fabric into the crotch to give it extra length or I may need to cut it and insert a waist band. First I will try the diamond. It’ll be much quicker and easier and won’t require me unpicking everything I have done (zip is in already). Also, I joined a group on the Essential Baby web forums where we all agreed to have a fabric buying amnesty in April so if I have to go with the second option I won’t be able to finish them until May (I am hopeful that despite the fact that I am about to pack my sewing machine into a box ready for moving right after I finish typing this, I WILL get back to it next week). So, I’ll cut a diamond shape, baste it in, and check it out. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Easier, cheaper, and quicker!

And I’ve traced a pattern for a bibbed dress and some overalls that I want to sew up in some cute cord for the girls for winter. I’m (possibly delusionally) day-dreaming that I may get at least a start on that next week too. In between unpacking and preparing to go away for the Easter/ANZAC Day long weekend.

Kids Swap Opening Day

It’s finally arrived.  After 2 months of us all sewing, the day we all get to explore what has been sewn for us has arrived.  I chose to commit to just sewing 1 outfit, which means only 1 was sewn for us.  And that is fine.  The girls share all their clothes at the moment anyway (and will do until they ask not to – although if they are anything like my sisters and I, they will be sharing clothes well into their adult years) so they can share this.

The girls (as always when I pull out new clothes for them – such girls!) were very excited this morning when I told them we had a present to open.  And the package was dragged open to reveal a skirt, top, leg warmers, and even some shoes.  WOW!!!!!

The shoes come complete with matching ribbon and sparklies (S was quick to comment, “shoes has sparkles”. Oh how is their dad going to cope living in a house with 3-sparklies obsessed girls?), the skirt has an adjustable waist

The leg warmers have a matching ruffle and cute buttons, and the skirt and top are just exquisitely put together.  What a gorgeous little outfit with amazing attention to detail. 

Of course the girls wanted to try it all on immediately so over it went on top of our PJs.  S was first.  As usual there is no keeping these girls still for photos and S was spinning around and around showing off her new clothes. 

Then it was D’s turn.  I did manage to get a momentary standing still photo from here first up but she was twisting and twirling in no time.  Dancing, so she said. 

My swap partner included a little note to say that she was worried the skirt would not be long enough.  I hope that she can see here that there is plenty of length.  These items will go away for next summer and even with the growth spurt expected between now and then, I think the skirt will be perfect.  It’s sitting right at the bottom of their knees now.  Guessing it’ll be a little above and with (hopefully) no nappies by then to bulk out their little bums, it’ll help it sit even more beautifully. 

THANKS swap partner.  We are stoked!!!!!

Bagathon

Someone commented on my last post to ask what was next. I said it would be something else for the girls but I changed my mind. I decided to make a couple of bags. My husband was working late last night so I sat down with my beautiful Delilah fabric (from Michael Miller’s Antiquity range) plus another I bought to match it from a local quilt shop (Blueberries) and following a tutorial from The DIY Dish girls, I put together this bag.

I was so pleased with it I made another for a friend. She is heading overseas soon and I thought she might be able to take it with her. Will fold down to nothing in her suitcase for the actual trip but when she is away she can take a pretty bag out and about rather than lugging a backpack all the time. She spotted this fabric last time she was at my house and commented on how lovely it was. So, all hers…

I also recently made myself this bag but had neglected to photograph it as yet. I made it using pattern I found on the Craft Gossip website. It’s fully reversible so I’ve photographed both sides for you. I really love the fabric and am also rather pleased with how it turned out. It was a bit fiddly getting through all the layers of fabric, interfacing, and fusible fleece whilst going around corners and I pricked myself a gazillion times while I was making it but that may be more to do with my carelessness than anything else because I pricked myself a gazillion times last night too and that one wasn’t so fiddly.

And lastly, I mentioned a while back that a friend and I were partaking in a mini swap of our own. That being for some bags. So, I used the above same pattern to make one for her.

And just because she ALWAYS out generous-es me in everything, she made me 2 bags. The first one being like a tote style (complete with accessories) and the second more of a casual beachy bag. I’ve been using it to stuff the girls toys and books in when we head out and about and I need to take some. Both of them very lovely bags with such beautiful craftsmanship. So lovely and neat.

My Little Uptown Girls

Yesterday I completed the girls winter jackets.  I spent the better part of 2 days just sitting and sewing.  I made one rather time consuming error 2hrs in where I realised I needed to unpick almost the whole lot and it took me another 2 hours from there to get back to where I had been (or should have been had I not made the mistake).  I was doing it production line style so that meant I made one mistake and then replicated it with each piece.  Ooops.  Oh well.  Other than that it was relatively smooth sailing and it really is quite a straight forward pattern to work with. I am pleased with the result and really love the fabric.  The girls were out playing with their grandparents yesterday (thus I was able to sit and sew) and were very excited with the jackets.  They put them on immediately and ran outside to play.  Even though it was a balmy 28C so jackets were hardly required.  I’ve included some pics below of the jackets and the girls tearing around the yard with them on.  They will now be put away in the cupboard and await their 2nd birthday.  This is their main present from my husband and I.  Their birthday is not until the beginning of May but we are moving house between now and then and I have lots of packing to do so needed to get them over and done with. 

Kids Swap Posting Day

Posting day has arrived and I will be trotting down to the post office to send my package to my Kids Clothing Sewing Swap recipient. Here it is all wrapped and ready to go. The little paper on the front had the child's name so I have smudged that out.


And here is a sneak peak of the finished items. I'll post a full photo once all us swapers have received our items and opened them. Gosh I hope my little guy (and his mum) like what I have sewn. Hope it fits. Hope their eye sight is a little poor so they can't see the crooked lines. Whilst the darker contrast thread looks effective, it sure is obvious when it's not perfectly straight and I was so nervous sewing it I went really slow, which I think made it a little shakier than normal even. D'oh!

In other news, I have started working on my girls' Little Uptown Girl winter jackets. Cut them out yesterday. I'll get some photos up in a couple of days. Finding it harder to sit down in front of the computer and do all this now that I'm not working anymore and instead am messing around with 2 gorgeous girls all day every day. So, sorry this is so few and far between now.