kids clothes week | birthday crown

Poor Sachin, our middle child is a December baby. His birthday is close to Christmas and all the hustle and bustle of the festive season. There has been a guilt cloud hanging over me until today. This week, I'm playing along with Kids Clothes Week . It's always fun! Not sure how far I'll get given it is school holidays??

So finally, today while little one was sleeping..... a very patient Sachin gets his own mum-made Birthday Crown (like big sister and little sister). He may be 6.5 years old but all good things are worth waiting for....

Happy un-birthday buddy!

waiting..... waiting...... waiting....

Miss Q turned 2

Our little lady celebrated her 2nd birthday last weekend. Gee whiz, that couple of years went by amazingly fast...

Quinn had a super day. Smile from ear to ear from the moment she woke up to the moment she lay her weary head. Kept up with the bigger kids all afternoon at the party -  trampolining, swinging, parcel opening, singing, running, eating, drinking, hip hip hooraying and candle blowing. She is one very happy soul who makes us laugh every day. We love her to bits!

The bear cakes were a hit. Kikki K tutorials here

KCWC | Spring Stripes

Did it! Last day today of the Kids Clothes Week Challenge. You should check out the Elsie Marley flickr pool to see what all the creative folk have been making. So, so totally inspiring to see the work of many talented mums sewing for their kids. If only I had the drive to keep this going. Having said this, Friday night DH came home from work and said "geez, glad you don't sew like this every week!". Not sure if you could visualize the mess that our house was/is in (I'm currently trying to get through 6 loads of catch up washing....uuugh). I'm not very good at multi tasking when I have a focused goal. Infact, I have blinkers on and can only think about that one thing - particularly if it is something that I am passionate about!

Anyway, I'm sure the family can cope with it twice a year. Thanks again Meg!

I made these Hipsters from Slimsters pants again for Sach like these and these. He's such a slim fellow and the pattern fits him perfectly. This time I changed it up a little by adding some bits - boy bits - buttons, tabs and a leather panel.

Admittedly, they are way too long but I wanted to allow for those growing legs. They're the kind of pants that look fine rolled up in the summer with a pair of thongs (or flip flops, as you guys in the northern hemisphere call them).

KCWC | polka dot pjs

I was all prepared to start a pair of pants for Sachin last night, when at bedtime Ruby couldn't find a pair of pyjama pants to wear that weren't either too short or ripped across the knee and threadbare. Ka-ching! went my brain. I finished the bedtime routine and bolted into my sewing room to find that yard of red polka dot flannelet I remember buying last year to make a cot sheet for Quinn (which is/was still on the list of things to do).

Pulled apart an old pair of retired Pjs to copy, and added a couple of inches as this kid is growing like a wildflower! Spring is here (so we're told although still waiting for some warmer weather) so these ones will go away very soon for next year.

They passed the lounge test!

KCWC | Cloud Dress

It's day 3. I have something more substantial to share. Phiew!

I have to say a really big thankyou to the wonderful Meg of Elsie Marley for hosting the Kids Clothes Week Challenge over the years (I first played in May 2010), as she is responsible for me learning to actually sew. Now don't get me wrong, I could sew, but now I feel like I am really learning to "sew sew". The real deal! Without blowing my own trumpet (eh.. too late) I am absolutely chuffed at my efforts today. This dress is probably the best technical thing I have ever made. I followed this pattern from Shwin Designs, which for me had many steps and components I had not tried before. I conquered pockets, pleats, button holes and lining. Woohoo.

I finished it just in time to wake the little lady up, give her a late lunch and go pick the bigger kids up from school. I ironed the dress, hung it on the hanger, stood back in admiration, and said to myself "there is no way in hell this is going to fit her!"

So we skipped the lunch, packed a box of snacks for the car and quickly whipped the dress on for a fashion show. While it is supposed to be spring here at the moment, today was freezing, dark and dreary, so we left the leggings on under the dress for practical reasons.

A M A Z I N G... It fit beautifully!

 Now for outfit number two....

KCWC | day 2

Awww... it's day 2 of the Kids Clothes Week Challenge and I'm afraid I don't have an awful lot to show. So with that out there, here's my effort so far.

Whilst I am a fan of daylight savings (turning the clocks forward one hour) as the light filled balmy nights over summer are awesome, there is a price to be paid when it comes to children and sleep patterns. This leads me to excuse myself for the lack of accomplishment on day 2 as I have spent the last 2 nights attempting to get numbers 1 & 2 children to bed, and whats more, to sleep before 9pm. The wise words of fellow South Australian mother, AKA Chapter Forty, sum up the situation perfectly "Whoever planned school holiday's end after day light saving time change clearly was NOT of the sleep deprived mother variety of human species" Here here I say!

I just couldn't say no!

I took the opportunity this morning to read some fave blogs (which sadly I haven't done in waaaay too long) and up jumped Elsie Marley with her Kids Clothes Week Challenge Fall 2012. I've not participated for a while and itching to get back into it I said YES YES YES! Bring it on.

Spring is here and with it seems to come new energy - feels much like shedding an old lazy skin that grows over in the winter - if you know what I mean!! Additionally, summer clothes are quick and easy to make. This is an important factor now that I have three little people to please.

While I've been absent I have been collating lots of ideas on my Pinterest boards. I have a collection of bigger girls wear for Ruby (who just turned 7). Here are some of my summer favourite looks for her.

Then there is this board for boy looks for Sachin (who will soon be 6). I'm thinking I might try up-cycling some of Dad's T-shirts to make shorts or PJ's - inspired by these pants by Ffarmom

Last but certainly not least is the little girls style inspiration for Quinn (17 months). There's so many to choose from (and of course having an older sister she already has copious amounts of clothing) but these are some of my favourite summer looks.

Why don't you join me? All you need is a sewing machine and 1 hour each day.... tempted????

fede toys now at Ethels

I am happy to announce that fede toys are now available to buy locally at E for Ethels - a groovy little coffee shop / handmade gift store tucked in at 116 Melbourne St, North Adelaide.

If you're local, or ever planning a visit to Adelaide, pop in and see Amanda for a lovely cuppa, friendly chat and gander at the mini gallery of Australian made goodies she has so lovingly created.

Isn't that wallpaper just fabulous!

they may be scraps for some...

...but not for others!

I've been replenishing my scrap fabric collection lately.

Found these lovelies at the Bowerbird Bazaar market from Surface Art. The first thing that comes to mind is a skirt for moi.... I think one of pieces is large enough to do a front panel... oooh....could be a goer.

Then I was super dooper lucky to win these Maze and Vale handprinted pieces by the clever Leslie Keating over on her blog. Oh yeah, I was pretty chuffed. She seems to always add a little extra to the package, like this a few years ago. Last week she threw in the linen circle brooch. So sweet. Thanks Leslie!

Goodbye and adios to this collection of toys. They're heading off to a new retailer here in Adelaide. Will let you know more when they are in store :)

Wishing all the mums and grandmas a lovely day for tomorrow xx

Oh dear!

Hello! How are you? It's been a while between drinks. Nothing personal ;)

It's always hard to know what to share when it's been so long since checking in. I'm not very good at working out priorities, never been a strength of mine. In fact I tend to get caught up in the small detail which is often of very little significance, but there you go, you probably didn't really need to know that. Oops.

So.... getting back to much more interesting things.

I have been having a fling with Pinterest.


Yes, I am over there having a wow of a time. Seriously, what can be more fun than creating pinboards for all the lovely things, ideas and inspirations that one finds online? It has always been a dilemma of mine to know where to store these so I could find them later - bookmarking never seemed to work for me - it's just not visual enough! Feel free to follow my pins here or send me your email and I can invite you in as a friend.

I have had a few evening dates with my sewing machine and finally brought to life a new design (which has been floating around in my head for a couple of years). Introducing...the Stop Light. Tada.


Oh and also a golf club and retro tool set for good measure.

Of course you can still check out my toys on Etsy but now, in addition, if you are in Australia you can also find me at Down That Little Lane. I am fortunate to have been invited to sell my wares in this delightful little online store run by Tessa White. Seriously, if you love all things unique and desirable, this is a one stop shop!

I did make these 9 months ago

So you will have noticed that my irregular posts have morphed to almost non existent. Sorry about that. Sorry me. I really would love to be chatting here, reading what you have all been up to and generally keeping in touch with the world, but it just ain't happening. While attempting to finish Quinn's "first 6 months" memory book (you may get to see this one day), I found the following pics and realised that there are things that I have accomplished in the last 10 months (in addition to raising a beautiful happy baby girl) which I haven't managed to brag about, oops, share yet!



Bassinet and cot sheets made from thrifted sheets (except the middle image, which is an Anna Maria Horner fabric from the Folksy Flannel range, called Fortune in colour Marine)

rockin' the peg bag

...cause that's what I do.... hang out lots of washing!

I think I missed my call as a peg bag model. Ho Ho Ho...oh so hilarious Fiona! (sleep deprived humour). So anyway, I made myself a new peg bag as the old one disintegrated. Found this plastic coated fabric at Ikea which will hopefully withstand some of the outside elements for at least a season. I'm a big fan of the shoulder peg bag - much easier than using a go to basket. In fact I've even convinced DH to whip it over his shoulder when he's at the line...mmmm...must get a photo of that :)