2009 Advent Blog-A-Long - #18 Over and Out

Tomorrow we move out of my parents for good and head to the caravan park at the beach for two wonderful weeks. I've spent the past couple of days packing (for the 6th time this year) attempting to clean the house with 3 grubs that keep pulling stuff out and getting organised for Christmas. I'm thinking I might not take the laptop with me to the caravan park, I think I need a break to actually read a book and do some quiet embroidery.

So just in case I don't pop back in, have a wonderful Christmas, sorry I failed at the blog a day, I should have known this would be a terrible time of year for me to do it for the first time.

2009 Advent Blog-A-Long #16 So it was another one of 'those' days

I seem to be having those days alot lately, todays drama was the worst yet I think, I decided to start packing the caravan for our little holiday today and opened the fridge door to put some tupperware in there, well omg I have never smelt something more disgusting in my life, seriously there was nothing worse than this, the fridge had stopped working, god knows how long ago and the chicken that I had in the freezer had dissolved into a green sloppy mess, 1kg of chicken breasts and some other unrecognisable 'something'.

I can't seem to get the smell out of my nose and I'm pretty sure I may never eat chicken again.
I've just been to Coles and got a long list of things that may get rid of the smell, vinegar, bicarb, nilodor, vanilla and tomorrow I have to find some coal somewhere as apprently this is the best.

Not sure how I am going to sleep in that caravan in a couple of days time, it smells like someone died in there! Wish me luck!

2009 Advent Blog A Long - #14 Happy 1st Birthday beautiful boy

I know I'm a day early for your birthday wishes but I didn't want to miss this. Thank you for being such a wonderful little baby, you are the happiest little guy and I couldn't wish for better. We had a rough start you and I, my body not behaving itself and you being in a rush to meet your very lucky family. You arrived 2 months early and have been a surprise right from the moment we found out you existed, what a great suprise you were!

Your only a few hours old

Your little tiny beenie, I sat next to your bed when you were one day old making this for you, it is as big as my fist

In your very cute teeny tiny Willow & Moo outfit

A few weeks old

Starting to look like the little pudding that you are

Happy 1st birthday my darling boy you are pure joy to have around

2009 Advent Blog-A-Long - #13 I'm banning myself

I'm banning myself from sewing for the next few days, I have even gone as far as putting the electrical cord from my machine into the Husbands car so I can't be tempted, I have become somewhat addicted and nothing is getting done around here. Not a problem you say? Well this week we have to pack all our stuff up at my Mum & Dads and live in a caravan for two weeks then move back to our house in Coolum, I'm running out of time!

I started making this skirt at 4.10am this morning (see told you I was addicted) Sam woke up then and wouldn't go back to sleep so I sewed. I took this pattern of one of my sisters wrap skirts years ago and had never done anything with it. It turned out perfectly and I just love this Heather Bailey fabric, I didn't want to go and add different colour trim or anything like that just in case it didn't turn out, luckily it did! It's nice to be sewing for myself again, it's been a long long time.

2009 Advent Blog-A-Long - #12 I actually finished a quilt!

Finishing a quilt is a huge deal for me even if it is only a small 100 x 100 knee quilt, it's the first time I have ever finished one and the first time I have ever done binding, which wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. Jack saw me making it yesterday and asked could he have one, he loved it (it's one of his Christmas presents) he will be so happy when he receives it as he often misses out on having things made for him.

2009 Advent Blog-A-Long - #11 A plate to share freak out

Yesterday was a shocker, everything that could go wrong, went wrong. I didn't know it was free dress day at school, I didn't know we had to bring a plate to share (I found this out AFTER I had driven back home and back up to the school to take the clothes!) and I didn't know we were meant to take clothes to get wet in....yes it seems I have missed a note somewhere along the line. And I was still getting over my silly fight with my gorgeous sister :(

I need to add that it was 38 degrees here and I had to cart a very heavy nearly 1 year old in and out of the car and up the hill to the classroom numerous times!

I didn't have time to go to the shop to buy anything for the plate to share, thank god I had some Milk Arrowroots, a tub of good ole Betty Crocker chocolate icing and some 100 & 1000's in the cupboard.

Today I am not leaving the house.

Here are the finished thank you gifts for the lovely teachers who have taught Jack & Zoe this year. I found an old Christmas Noddy book at the book exchange a few weeks back for 20cents and decided to turn it into cute christmas cards. The bookmarks turned out great, and I think they will be appreciated.

Here is the cute little jumpsuit I made my new baby niece for Christmas, I love this fabric...the jumpsuit looks alot better in real life than it does in the photo.

2009 Advent Blog A Long - I haven't forgotten

My computer at home will not let me go into my blog for some strange reason, it's saying something about security??? So I'm at work sneaking in a blog post, very frustrating!

I've been doing a little bit of sewing, getting thank you gifts finished, the 3 quilts are being worked on (not sure I will get them done by Christmas now :( and I've sewn some cute little clothes for my new baby niece.

I had a very silly and embarrasing fight with my sister this morning over our Nan's tin of buttons which it seems I am very attached to, the way I carried on was a little bit ridiculous I must say, hmm am I sentimental or what?! Sorry Sal, you know I am nuts xo

Big news this week is we are moving back to Coolum on the 8th January, our tenants have broken the lease and I just want my house back, I am crazily home sick and our trip will now be cut to only 2 months, but hey I can't have everything can I.

Ok crying baby, gotta go, will come back when I can!

2009 Advent Blog-A-Long - #6 Opps I forgot

I got into bed last night and remembered I didn't post, slack me. I spent the day sewing and playing with the kids, slowly getting through the list and I'm also working on a new pattern, watch this space!

Should have something more exciting later!

2009 Advent Blog-A-Long - #5 No sew Saturday

but I did make my new top last night and I love it! I will have to get the Husband to take a pic when he gets back from camping for me. The Amelia top from Froglegs and Ponytails is great to make, so easy, I completed it in an hour. Also I got so much exciting mail yesterday it wasn't funny, I got my two orders from the States at the same time, which is kind of strange cause they were ordered a week apart. I also got my MIP Lazy Day Hat pattern that I am dying to make. Not today though, I'm off to a party in my new Amelia top!

Hope everyone is having a great Saturday.

2009 Advent Blog A Long - #4 Random Ramblings

Not much sewing will be happening today, or this weekend by the looks of it, dh has decided to go camping at Double Island Point on a boys weekend with his brothers, it's going to be perfect weather for camping, I owe him a few weekends away so I can't complain :)

In two weeks we will be heading off to the gorgeous Mudjimba Beach Caravan Park for 2 weeks over Christmas, gosh I can't wait, will be such a lovely stress free Christmas this year, no driving all over the coast, if the family want to see us they can come to us for a change.

I won't be taking my sewing machine this time around, it's too hot to put the annexe of the van up so I will have to keep my hands busy doing some embroidery. I will most likely make some more of these cute little pin cushions. I made these two for a couple of beautiful friends who made Sam some gorgeous miniature premmie clothes when he was born xo

2009 Advent Blog-A-Long - #3 what I've been up to

Slowly slowly I am getting through the list, things seem to be working against me though, a baby who is into everything and wants to be picked up all day (which I don't really complain about cause I love his cuddles) having to go and do the bookwork for the husbands business (blah) and a silly silly store delivering the wrong fabric colour (idiots), oh and I forgot to mention I totally stuffed up Mr 6's christmas present and left it sitting on the couch and completely forgot to put it away before he got home from school, well he has had a lovely time playing with it this afternoon...opps

Anyway this is what I have been getting up to today, 2 cushions have been completed and ready to send off, and I have 5 bookmarks made for the teachers/daycarers for the thank you gifts.

well...poop!

One of my fabric orders has just turned up and it's WRONG! 8 metres of wrong fabric, I could just cry, I have orders to get out and now no nice dark denim to do them, they decided in their wisdom because the dark denim was out of stock that they would send light denim instead, 8 metres of it! A phone call would have helped don't you think. Damn Damn Damn!

2009 Advent Blog-A-Long - #2 getting there

I thought I had better post now before my littlest man wakes up as I won't get time later on.
I've fully completed one cushion and have two more that just need stuffing. I'm desperately waiting on my fabric to arrive from the States, everytime there is a knock on the door I go running, only to find it's an Austar man or real estate agent, damn door knockers!

Anyway that's it from me today, I hope the rest of you are having a wonderfully creative day.

Have I mentioned how much I am in love with my new sewing machine?

2009 Advent Blog-A-Long - #1 - I have a list

I have a list a mile long....

So many things I have to make and I end up going around in circles and end up not doing anything!

So here is my list:

• knee quilts for J, Z & S
  
• make bookmarks & cards for teacher thank you's


• 4 x name cushions (Billy, Flynn, Chloe & Sam)


• 3 x bag orders


• 4 x nappy/wipe pouch orders


• santa sacks


• shorts for Oliver


• little zippered pouches for friends gifts
• the Frog Leg & Ponytails Amelia Top for me :)

Hopefully when I come back in to do my post tomorrow I can actually say I've done some of it!

Happy 1st day of Summer!

my fussy Miss 5

yes, that's right, Little Miss 5 does not like them one little bit...the fabrics aren't great, thank god I didn't use my good stuff and they are not sewn to perfection but I really like them!

The first one is made using the wonderful That Darn Kat pattern, I love it and it was extra easy to make, I think a few friends will be putting their hands up for one of these.

The second is a combination of a couple of different dresses, I made a pillowcase style dress and added sleeves from another pattern that I have, I used fabric that was out of the bargain bin for $1 a metre just incase it didn't work. Maybe oneday she will decide she likes them.

The easiest skirt

I made this skirt today for Zoe, I was on a mission because she has decided she doesn't like anything I make her anymore, we sat down and had a chat and I asked her what would she like me to make her, she said a skirt, she doesn't like dresses anymore :( (I'd made her two dresses during the week, she hates both of them) so I made her a skirt with an elastic waist, one of those easy rectangle gathered skirts that take 20mins to make, of course she complained that the elastic itched her, grrr no pleasing my miss 5.

So I decided to make the same skirt out of fabric she picked herself (we got it in the bargain bin at Spotlight a few months ago) and instead of an elastic waist I put a waist band with a zipper in the back, some little pockets and ric rac feature, the buttons are from my dear Nan's button tin. Oh and I used a little more fabric to make it extra full and twirly (I needed to cover all bases lol)

She LOVES it! I have a winner.

2009 Advent Blog-A-Long

Christmas is on it's way! so exciting.

Anyway I am taking part in the 2009 Advent Blog-A-Long here I will be posting once a day from the 1st December #1 it will make me give my blog lots of love #2 it will make me pull my finger out and do LOTS of sewing #3 I just thought it would be fun!

It's like torture!

Waiting waiting waiting for fabrics to arrive...
I've got fabrics coming from here and here and here and I just want them to hurry up!
I'm keen to get my Made It store up and running and this waiting is driving me bonkers.
They're not late, I'm just impatient :)

Fun at the beach

These photos were taken on our latest camping trip up to Double Island Point, it was such a beautiful photo taking afternoon. On this trip their were 19 children and 13 adults and we all had a ball!

bird on a wire

Another bag creation....I'm having alot of fun making these bags and sewing this particular denim is great and looks particulary good with red. This one is for twin #2, I'm sure she will love it, well I hope she will love it! I think being able to make my Christmas presents is one of the best things ever.

A fantastic book!

As I was wandering around the shops I walked past Sussan of all places and for some reason I glanced at the table, it was holding a book that caught my eye called The Crafty Minx by Kelly Doust, well I picked it up and just HAD to have it...so many great ideas. I can't wait to start creating and being inspired by it.

Messenger Bag

I got my present early! Husband went and picked up the new sewing machine yesterday morning and I have barely left it's side....

I have made 4 pairs of little boy shorts and a bag for my god daughter, she is 13 and I know she will love this. I made a smaller version of a Messenger Bag that I already have here and I am so pleased how it turned out, everything has fitted together perfectly and is the perfect size for a small 13 year old girl, heck I think it's the perfect size for me but I have wayyyy too many bags as it is. It has two pockets at the front and a panel of pockets inside, I have also included a mobile phone holder as apprently all 13 year olds have them these days???

Yesterday I got a phonecall......

from a lady at a little shop called The Sewing Basket to say my new sewing machine had arrived! hmmm I didn't know I was getting a new sewing machine (well I had kind of an idea when I found some brochures in husbands car!) anyway it's my birthday next week and it turns out husband has been sewing machine shopping! And somehow they phoned me instead of him.

He has settled on the Brother NS50 which I am very pleased about....I was a little nervous, I mean I wouldn't just go out and buy him a new drop saw or something would I? Anyway he has chosen well, I have always had Brother machines and am pleased he has stuck with this brand.

I have had my current Brother Star3 for nearly 17 years and I guess I am a little sad I won't be using it anymore, we have had so much fun together and created so many things that I feel kind of crappy, I'm sure once I get my hands on my new baby I will forget all about it!

Something different

I stumbled across a tutorial http://www.ragandbone.com/blog/?p=1446 to make these gorgeous Kusudama flowers , I just loved the look of them. I used my old highschool dictonary pages to create them. I had forgetten my love of paper craft, a little bit more practise and they will be perfect.

Ok I've stopped

playing with my blog...I have now found a template I love, it's taken a while, over the past few days I think I have had 5 different templates, this one is it, I just have to get my own logo put up (it's on my computer at work, will have to wait til Monday) and it will be perfect.

HOw cute is this

It's now on my desktop and I just love it, if you want to get your own, go here to download it http://www.leeloublogs.blogspot.com/

A pair of shorts for Sam

I just whipped these up tonight, I love making shorts as they are so quick to do...I used my new Kwik Sew pattern and am thinking I might have to make the next size up, these were Size T1, the rate Sam is growing he will be in T2 in no time.

OMG look what I found!

I found this old tin of buttons in a drawer at Mum's place where I am currently living, this is so exciting as they were my Nan's, I used to play with these buttons when I was a little girl.

Can I have a hat please Mum?

This is what Zoe asked me this morning, she even picked the fabric out of my stash, too bad I was going to make bags today, oh well there is always tomorrow.


The hat is made from Kwik Sew pattern 3079, which I had to order in, apparently it's a very popular pattern due to the fact that it has a great pair of shorts as well. Very easy to make, well a little fiddly but not too bad. It's fully reversable and I decided to do some applique on the denim side for something different. I love sewing with Kwik Sew, the patterns are very easy to trace and the instructions are easy to follow too.

Today....

After I do the usual mundane chores I plan on sewing for the ENTIRE day, it looks a little rainy out and will be the perfect day for it.

I'm going to start getting my christmas gifts underway and want to make a messenger bag each for my gorgeous 13 year old twin god daughters, I just found this tutorial and have got all inspired to do some applique on the front flap.

Happy 6th Birthday Eli

It is my nephew Eli's 6th birthday tomorrow and he is having a party this afternoon, all he wanted was a monster truck party and cake, I hope he likes it!