I'm back at last with some Christmas craftiness!

Well it has been soooo long since my last blog and sooo much has happened since then. We have sold our house and have begun the search for a new one in a more convenient location. Needless to say, the sewing machine and fabric have been packed away and very little time has been spent creating!

I was desperate to make a Christmas outfit for Gabby so I whipped this one up a few weeks ago.

The fabric is from Spotlight and I think it's good for both Christmas and anytime. The pattern is by Whimsy Couture and can be found here. I love the idea of a romper- still pretty but also practical for an active little girl. This was the first time I had done ruching (sewing with elastic thread) and I am thrilled with the result. Looking forward to showing you a photo of my little girl wearing this one- it's too cold and rainy out today.

Christmas time is my favourite time of the year. I love decorating the house and taking Christmas photos of my kids. This year, I covered some wooden letters with red polkadot fabric and took some snaps in front of the Christmas tree. I got lots of good ones, but here is one of the winners.

And they look good as a decoration too:

I hope you all enjoy the season as we celebrate the JOY of Jesus' birth!

Baby presents for Daphne June

I'm so excited to have a beautiful new baby niece! Daphne June was born on Friday 6 October to my brother Jono and wife Anna. I have been working on some baby sewing projects for a few months, but I thought I had at least one or two more weeks to complete them. Daphne came a week early so I spent all day yesterday up until very late last night finishing some gifts. Here they are...

Some nice big bibs- funky fabric one side, towelling the other.

A beach/ bath robe made out of a towel

I started this quilt when Jono and Anna first told me they were expecting...

...and I finished it VERY late last night!

Here is Daphne June with her very proud Aunty

Welcome to the world little one. We love you heaps and heaps!

My dresses

School holidays are here again! I was lucky enough to have one full day of sewing on Monday when my husband took the three kids out all day. It was rainy and miserable all day- perfect for cranking the music and SEWING- and this is what I made...

I am really happy with the way it turned out although it is a little big in the top. Better too big than too small right?

This is my second attempt at making clothing for myself. Here is the first:

Both patterns are by Sew Serendipity and both are made using fabric by Amy Butler. 

Holidays are nearly over. Kids back to school and husband and I back to work next week. Here is a favourite holiday snap taken on the beautiful South Coast at Greenpatch. Our camping adventure was abandoned after just 2 nights due to terrible weather, but we still had fun!

Handmade iPad case

I have a new toy- an iPad! I can't believe how good it is. I have been using one for a little while at work. I'm finding it excellent to use with the kids I teach who have learning difficulties. There are interactive story books, spelling practise activities, language, conversation, and vocabulary builders as well as times table games and other maths games. It really is an amazing educational tool and the kids love it!

I'm looking forward to sharing with you some of my favourite apps, but until then, here is the case I made for my iPad last night. I'm really happy with the way it turned out. It's nice and padded and will keep my iPad safe and sound to and from work.

Handmade baby shower gift

My cousin is having twins! Eek!

I made this groovy little change mat clutch for her. Handy to throw in the pram for quick trips to the shops. I wish I had one of these when my kids were babies!

Pretty Amy Butler fabric

Opens out like this and holds a couple of nappies and some baby wipes. Clear vinyl easy to wipe clean.

And it folds back up like this...

...into a cute little clutch with a magnetic clasp.

The vinyl was a little tricky to work with as it sticks to the machine as you sew. A tip I read was to place some tissue paper underneath, sew with the vinyl side down and then tear it away. This worked well.

My brother and his wife will have their first baby next month, so I will have more baby projects to show you soon.

Sock Monkey!

I have always wanted to make one of these!

 Today I was at home with my 5 year old who will be off to big school in only a few short months :(( He loves to make things nearly as much as I do so I thought we'd have a crafty day together. We used a pair of his knee-high, stripey socks to make this monkey. I sewed, he stuffed and stuffed and stuffed. I wish I'd taken a photo of him and Gabby stuffing this thing- they were soooo quiet and focussed for so long.

I found the tutorial online HERE.

It turned out super cute- nearly as cute as its owner :)

Apple dress collage

Here is my Gabby in the apple dress I made for her and her friend. I made this collage using Picasa. Haven't used it before. So much fun!