A well deserved holiday

Hi Lovelies,

Today's post is school related - don't worry there's no tests or homework involved.  Phew!!

Emsy's grade 4 teacher Mr Monroe is finishing up today.  He is about to start his long service leave and won't be back for the rest of the year.  So I made a card (Double Z fold) for him and added it to the mug rug that I had made earlier in the year.  I also wrapped up some chocolates for him as well.

Which somehow I managed to co-ordinate.  I can't believe how good I did.  Since I picked up the pp yesterday at Daisy Chain Scrapbooks.  Gotta love that.

This card was only my second attempt (the first one being Mr Monroe's card) at a Double Z fold card.  I really like the way it turned out and can see myself doing some more of these.  The pp is from Kaisercraft's Barber Shoppe collection .  The cars and quote where on the very bottom (the other side of the dpp had the collection info on it) of the pp.  Which is always a fun thing.  

Have a wonderful day & happy crafting.

My Fabric Stash & the fleas!

Hi there,

Not long after we got back from WA in October last year we had a major flea infestation.  It was so bad we had to spray, wash & flea bomb everything.  I mean everything, the cat escaped being bombed, but not the spraying & washing.  It was horrid.  Poor Emsy copped the worst of it, it seems she's tasty to the fleas.  Even now her legs are still a mess (she wont leave the scabs alone). 

But as they say for every dark cloud there is a silver lining.  For me it was I decided to wash all my fabrics that I amassed over the last five or six years.  Which then led me to actually making something with them. 

This is what I made.  It's a wall hanging measuring 14.5 inches by 19.5 inches. 

I designed this quilt from scratch.  I was inspired by the night sky material that I used as a background.  I named this quilt "Owlet" because it reminds me of a baby owl.  I tried to make it look as though he's sitting on a fence. I am really pleased with this quilt.  It took one day to design & put together.  Not bad for my first real attempt. 

This picture is the start of Lils' Santa Sack.  Which I made for her before starting one for Emsy.  I used two different applique pictures from one of my (many) quilting magazines.  Emsy wanted a cat like our Smudge on her sack. 

This is Lils' finished sack. It is the same size as a pillow case.  I didn't use a lot of christmas fabric in this one.  The bears around the edges have hearts & I thought they tied in well with the central panel.  I zig zagged around the edges of the applique.  I  also used a fine Coic marker for the Christmas light string & some of the finer details on the bear.  The coloured lights I satin stiched (not well).  I will share a photo of Emsy's sack once I find out where she's put it.

Well that's it from me for today.  Hope you enjoyed seeing some of my "other" craft.

Hugs to you all xoxoxo  

 

 

 

    

The trouble with Mermaids.......................

Hi everyone,

Yet again, I have been "playing" with my trusty old sewing machine.  This time making a mermaid tail at the request of Miss Emsy.  Unfortunately we had a tanty over the end result as she wanted her legs "inside" not out!  But because mummy is penny pinching at the moment all I could find on the 'net was this free pattern.  Which Em did like to start with.  Since then (yesterday) we (Em) have come to the conclusion that the mermaid tail is a good thing.  But trying to convince a headstrong four year old that having your legs out is a good thing (ie safe) is not only frustrating, but gets mummy very cranky as well.

It wasn't until Daddy suggested that we put the tail to the front & sit on our legs that the tail became wonderful.  Thank goodness for daddys' that can think fast.

 Now all I have to do is make about five or six more of these for Em's party in August & we will be all good.  This year we are having a party for Em at Underwater World.  As we have an eighteen month pass, as do most of Em's friends.

Thanks for stopping by :D & happy crafting everyone xoxoxoxoxoxo 

Sew, sew, sew

Hi everyone,

Just me again & this time I don't have anything paper to share.  Instead I've stretched myself to do some sewing & boy does that feel good.  Not that I'm giving my cardmaking away.  Just having a small break from it.

When Lilly was born, I started using Em's old nappy bag (shaped like a backpack).  But soon gave up on it, as it's way to blocky & didn't fit under the pram well, as well as being unfunctional (well to me at least).  I was using an old bag that I had made ages ago.  But I was always trying to find everything in it - another not so Paula friendly bag.   So for the last two days I have been making this bag.

 As you can see it's full of pockets, both on the inside & the outside.  I even made three bottle holders on the inside which will stop my glass bottles from banging together & I will be able to access them easily & most importantly quickly. 

For this bag I did some 'net surfing to see what was out there & then decided to heck with it all & came up with my own design.  So this is a one of a kind custom made bag just for me, Lilly, Em & probably Doug ;P.  I got the materials from my quilting box.  The outside print I brought a few years ago now when I last visited my Mum in WA.  I figured this dark colour would hide the dirt really well.  The inside of the bag is in lighter colours which compliment the outside print.  I had to use two different colours inside as I didn't have enough of either colour, but I think that just adds to my bag.

I had to include a picture of Lills' as well.  The "monsta" as I affectionally call her is now trying to walk & has four teeth.  I can't believe she is 8 months old already!!!  Or as Doug is keen to point out nearly nine months old.  My, my how time flies. 

Well that's enough for this post.  I'm off to make a christmas card ;) & one or two others.  Happy crafting everyone xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Sew, sew easy...............I wish

Hi all,

Well I guess you can tell that I've had a busy away from the computer week again. Not only due to illness, tests & looking after dd. But I finally managed to get some sewing in over the last three days.

Firstly to let you all know that the blood tests haven't come back yet but I am hoping that they will be at my obst. on about Mon/Tues of this week. So will keep you all posted with the results. On a bright note I haven't thrown up since Wednesday morning.............I know, I know TMIP (to much info Paula) ;).



As you can see I made Em an Apron with Dora the Explorer on it. Boy was that a challenge!!! My machine didn't take kindly to all that small zig zagging I did around the outside of the Applique pieces. So of course this meant that what was going to take one day to complete turned into three days. As I had to have a "rest" for one day (was too drained to tackle it). So today I finished the apron & Em absolutely loves it. Tomorrow we give it a test drive when we do some cooking together. We are making an animal cake, or to be specific a Turtle cake Em told me today. I am thinking cupcakes would be a better option. I will let you all know who wins that round ;D later.



This is the first apron I've ever made & the first time I have used elasticised lace as well. So am pleased with the way it has turned out. I think I will probably make another apron soon as there are a few things I'd like to try & change. But I guess we will see what happens. TTFN everyone ;D