Friday Fabric Finds

Friday seems to be my great day for Fabric Finds!!!

I just wanted to share the very bad photos (Sorry for the bad quality, taking pics late at night in bad lighting) of the couple of great pieces I got on Friday, just to add to my ever growing collection

 

A stripey chenile quilt in very good condition.  I am seeing a dressing gown and maybe winter PJ pants for Oliver from this.

 

A gorgeous green seersucker tablecloth in perfect condition.  A top or skirt for me I think.

 

This is a really gorgeous yellow and white stretch sateen - not sure but maybe a tote bag from this.

 

And a little piece of cute french linen. 

The pictures are very sweet and I love fabric with text on it like this.

 

 

 

I think this could make a great set of cushions or mounted on a canvas for a wall hanging.  But there is no rush to decide, I have a million other things to do before I get to this one. 



Thinking about next Christmas already

Note christmas cushions in the background

 

So why do I find myself thinking about next Christmas already ?? It's not because this years wasn't good, I think it's just that I have so many ideas I want to try out before my kids get too old.

And I never seem to get the time to do the christmas baking I desire. I don't really want to eat the food, I just want to make it to look pretty. Someone else can eat it !!!!!! I like the look of this Chambord Cherry Cake pictured above that I stumbled upon this morning through THIS BLOG Souvlaki for the soul. 

I also want to make some slightly original christmas cushions (top picture) like what I found on Kevin and Amandas website here.  I am not sure if they are commonplace in America or anywhere else in the world but I have never seen them like this here in Australia.  I think it is because they are very wintery but nonetheless I really like them. 

I want to make more christmas pyjamas and pillowcases, for the kids and us.  I would also like to do some handmade decorations for the tree and and and and, it never stops.  This brain of mine is inspired everywhere I turn.  Ideas keep popping right into my head, so many ideas and so little time to act on them.  I guess I have a full 12 months at least to tick a few things off my next christmas to do list, so what am I waiting for ???? 
 

Just some of this years creations

 Butterfly canvas done together with Lucy for her bedroom wall

 

It's been a busy year with my two jobs but I always seem to manage to fit in some time along the way for sewing and craft projects.

The butterfly canvas above was made using paint chart samples from Bunnings, old sheet music and some old atlas paper.  I cut the shapes using a butterfly paper punch and stuck them on using a hot glue gun. If I am near a Bunnings store I always pop in to replenish my stash as they are so useful.  They are great for decorating this and I particularly love to make gift tags for Christmas with them.

 

Ipad bag made for my Mums new gadget

 

The ipad bag evolved with some great recycling of a denim dress.  I used the middle section of the dress incorporating the waistband and the buttons down the front and just added a pretty top with a floral green cotton.  The straps were easy as I used the tie belt that came with the dress.  

 Owl made for a friends daughter who simply loves owls to bits

 

Another of my owls, made with recycled denim for the body front, cute cottons for the front and wings, chenille for the back and felt for the eyes

Knitted slouch hat

 

I don't knit often, but was successful in making a slouch hat which I gave to my Mum (it suited her better than me)

 Winter pj's for the kids

Pj's are always a great quick thing to make, I usually buy the tops from target to go with them.  I have started adding large hems on the legs so I can let them down the following year and get at least two seasons from them. 

Cushion for my daughters little friend who adores horses

 

I enjoyed this little project for my daughters friends 8th birthday.  Made with recycled denim for the front and the love heart was done with left overs from Lucys pj's pants.  I quilted the love heart to add interest and hand embroidered her name with embroidery cotton. Another original handmade gift, gotta love it as it costs next to nothing and no one else has one.

Appliqued Towels for christmas for Allie, Liam, Aidan and Nicholas

 

The towels were christmas gifts for my niece and nephew and our neighbours two boys.  I was pretty happy with the result - the towels are really lush and quite large.  I bought the towels from Pillow Talk and used the cotton fabrics from my stash for the applique. 

 

A burlap, lace and pine cone wreath for our front door

 

And lastly here is my new christmas wreath, I used a foam ring that I had in my Christmas stash - probably purchased from a $2 store if I remember correctly.  I wrapped it with strips of hessian and hot glued the pine cones onto it.  I then simply wrapped some old vintage lace around the remainder of the ring and tied a lace ribbon on top to hang. 

 

 

So another year is almost over - only hours left in fact

 

Happy New Year to everyone out there in craft land!

 

See you next year

xox

Christmas PJ's and Pillowcases



 

It's done !

I am so happy....

I wanted to make boxers and pillowcases for the kids last year

but I just simply ran out of time.

 

But this year I have managed it -

a bit last minute but I even made some for myself and my husband too

And a pillowcase each for our neighbours boys (here they are in progress above)

Olivers pillow finished (above)

Oliver very happy with his pillow

Lucy with her pillow

Close up of Lucys pillow

And their boxers (PJ's)

 

I am still to add the applique to their t-shirts, probably a star or tree for Oliver and maybe an angel for Lucy - time remaining will dictate what happens here.

 

So that is another tick off my to do list

And I am very happy.......

But I need to still buy 3 more gifts, bath the guinea pigs, wrap more presents, bake some cookies, make chocolate coated pretzels covered with crushed candy canes and peppermint crisp, finish the kids applique on the PJ's,  pack to go away for Christmas, Shop for the fruit and salad ingredients to take away for Christmas lunch and on and on it goes.

 

Christmas is on it's way that's for sure, but I need to apply the brakes,

COS I'M NOT READY !!!!!!!!!!!

Best be off then and get it going.....

Merry Christmas to one and all

Enjoy the time you spend with your loved ones

It's a special time of year !

 

PS.  The applique is done on their shirts, will post pictures later 

 

 

A gift for the teacher

The gift

(basil, parsley and mint herb pot)

 

The card

 

Gift tag

 

Well the last day of school has come and gone - we are officially on school holidays. And every year there is a challenge to find a gift for the kids teachers. This year they were in the same class (one advantage of having twins) so I only had to choose one gift and this time it was for a man (all previous teachers have been female which is so much easier).

So, what to do ?

I did not want to buy chocolate coated peanuts or a coffee mug (he has about 10 already I think). I knew something would spring into my head - but it only happened the day before their final day at school.

I decided to plant a big pot of herbs. Sometimes when Mr Dreise has a day off his wife is the fill in teacher for the class. So I made it a joint gift to Mr & Mrs Dreise from Oliver & Lucy.

 

Last day of school in their Christmas clothes

 

Waiting patiently to perform in their Christmas concert

 

Image from last year - Lucy in her Santa dress

 

 

I did not photograph last years gifts for the teacher - from memory it was a crazy busy year with me working full time and I don't even recall what I gave the teachers.  But this is the post from 2010 where I managed some home made gifts for the 4 teachers the kids had see post here

Each year I say I must start my Christmas sewing early but alas again it did not happen - but let's face it, it is hard to sew for a man.  But next year they have a female teacher once again so no excuses, next year it will be a handmade sewn gift for Mrs Simpson. 

And of course it will be here before we blink. 

 



It's all in the detail !

The girls invites - styled on a 45" vinyl record

And one for the boys

The details of the party were on the back side

The girls lolly bags - inspiration and instructions from here
Made using old sheet music and butterfly cut outs from paint colour chips

Boys party bags- made from old atlas pages

Op shop buy - trophies for the best dancers
 I removed the name plaque and printed my own
Simply used paper and double sided tape

Teddy Cars - inspiration from here

Boys take home CD memento and thank you gift

Take home CD as a memento from the party - one for the boys and one for the girls
These were a hit and so easy to do

Old records from op shop - disco balls courtesy of the Myer Christmas Shop

Great way to decorate with old records and CD's

The Cake up close - Lucy

And oliver strutting his stuff

James doing the limbo

Doughnut eating competition - no hands

We had a dance off between best boy and girl dancer

The girls have a go at the doughnuts - this was a great fun game for everyone !  inspiration from here

So here are a few more pics to show the fun and games we had at Oliver & Lucys recent disco party.  The lights and haze machine really set the scene.  The cake was fantastic.  The kids were gorgeous and everyone dressed up and had a great time. 
It was a fair bit of work - but I started early and it all went quite well I think.  The kids are still talking about it weeks later - no more parties now for a few years me thinks !!!!