My Creative Space : Maya

I've been a bit idle in My Creative Space of late.

There are so many things I want to make I keep putting off making any of them, overwhelmed by my 'Want To Do' list.

Crazy logic I know.

By the end of today I want to turn this pile of fabric into...

One of these dresses, the version on the right.

Come back and kick my behind if I haven't blogged it by Saturday at the latest. OK?

See what more productive 'spacers' are up to at Kirsty's place.

She's never idle!

My Creative Space : Lurgy alert

There's been way too much of this in my creative space for this week...

Sick kids + sick husband + sick me = too little serious crafting.

Being indoors a lot means there's been some kid-based craft though.

Apart from stamping, play dough-making and drawing there's been some scissor action.

A new cooktop for in the 'home corner', inspired by Childhood 101's efforts with boxes and stuff you find around the house.

If I had the space I'd be attempting something far more grand like this one on Childhood 101.

(If you are a stay-at-home parent and haven't checked out this blog then seriously - do it now!)

One of the girls asked for a computer, which she has now set up next to the Mickey Mouse phone to make up her study, where she answers very important calls (of course!).

The other asked for a TV, for which she then made up a remote control and a series of changeable programs which include Spot and a beach scene.

The sporting program that's on was chosen especially for Sal!

I love that the girls will play with these 'household' things in an imaginative way - something you can't get from a battery operated version of the same thing.

Watching how they make-up new games all the time with such simple things is really inspiring, and part of why I love being able to stay home with them and watch them grow.

Check out some folk who are into more grown-up creative pursuits over at Kirsty's place.

I will be back soon though with that wrap up of the little carry-along house - as soon as I can drag myself out from under the pile of tissues here!

My Creative Space : finished goods!

I've missed My Creative Space for a couple of weeks as I have been busy sewing!

It was the smallest child's birthday yesterday, she turned two.
More on that another time though.

I decided to make most of her gifts, only buying the furniture and animals for her new carry-along house and a Maisy Mouse dinner set (to match those her sisters have and she always wants the same).

So here's what she got:

Finished Miss Mouse bag made from a Melly and Me pattern, made largely with fabric from the Patty Young Mezzanine line.

Claire guessed right that it was our friend Jemima from the kids program Playschool that I showed previously.
She had no shirt then so I didn't think she was quite ready for her public debut!

She came with a shirt, skirt and pants to match, though literally one minute after she got her and admired her, the small child wanted all Jemima's clothes removed!

And lastly I finally made one of these carry-along houses that have been on my 'to do' list for a long time.

I'll do a post tomorrow with a wrap up of the house, what I used, what I'd do differently and the like in case you are planning to make one.

In the meantime, grab yourself a vat of tea (that's how much you will need to get through the whole list!) and head over to Kirsty's to see what everyone else is doing in their creative spaces.

My Creative Space

There's another party dress on the machine over here, for the daughter of a friend.

I've had the pattern for a little while but it's also in the Sewing Clothes Kids Love book - the Feliz dress.

She got the fabulous Kokka Snow White fabric at one of Amitie's sales a while back and we teamed it with the Michael Miller Ta Dot in teal - a perfect match.

There's also something 'frilling' going on.

I finally had a chance to use this fearsome looking attachment - the ruffler foot and boy am I impressed.

Mine is a snap on foot so was super-easy to attach and then after a couple of little practices away we went.

It makes lovely even gathers in a fraction of the time it takes to hand-draw them up.

It will definitely get lots more use in this dress-obsessed house.

Check out what other crafty peeps are up to today over with Kirsty, the queen of creative.

My Creative Space

Despite
fears and insecurities about all crafty pursuits that are 'long fibre' related..

With...
the assistance of the video tute by Kirsty,
the excellent written instructions by Lara,
some YouTube reminders
and the sage words of my friend 'blogless Judy' (two chain in the corners, one chain along the sides) aaahhh now it makes sense .....

....it would seem that I am doing it!

Now just to Google 'how to join on the next ball of wool when crocheting' and we'll be off again...

Background fabric is from Kitty Yoshido's Brooklyn Heights range - for a future project, for me.

For a range of ideas on great ways to keep warm in winter take a trip to Kirsty's place.

My Creative Space

Inspired by these ladies I am going to make something for myself.... soon....


I just need to finish off a few other items that are cut and ready to go...

And definitely decide what to do with the lovely Japanese cotton I picked up at The Cloth Shop this week...

And wash that other stuff I got at Lincraft...

Oh and fold the washing...

and put some more on...

There are lots of more decided folk over at Kirsty's place, maybe you should just check them out...

My Creative Space

Was looking like this on Monday night.


There are a lot of my favourite fabrics in there - a bit of something for everyone, I hope.

Let me say that cutting out the inner body of each bag x 18, the outer x 18, the insulbrite x 18, the Shapewell x 18 and then all the sides, handles and velcro took, well, considerably longer than anticipated!

A number of these are now completed - but there are still a couple to go to be ready for the big event this weekend.

Can't wait.

There's also this fabric floating around in my creative space.


Seems I have another addict in the house, of the fabric variety that is.

The smallest chose this herself, saying "babus".
The little not-quite-two-year-old person then carried it herself to the counter and, get this, returned it to the shelf after cutting!!

Too funny.

It's for another of the new pattern from Toni. can't wait to show you.

Hope your weekend is as good as I just know mine is going to be!

Check out Kirsty's place for the crafters with it all goin' on.

My Creative Space

Lots on the go here this week...

This is the first of six items (and fabric slected for the next one) I am making for Cass's swap at the Sew It Together crafting day next week.

It uses Insulbrite insulation batting and this first one has some vinyl, which I will use on all of them if sewing this one ends well!

Also, there is a pattern I am testing for Toni which will no doubt be available here very shortly as she is very quick at releasing patterns to market after testing.

If you have girls and live somewhere cold - keep an eye out for it.

The girls chose their own fabrics for this project .

I will admit I attempted to talk Miss A out of the Michael Miller Bot Camp that we found at Spotlight, but she was adamant.

The girls have since spent lots of time spotting various robots and items in the fabric, so they are having fun with it.

It will certainly be a fun, bright item of clothing, which she assures me she will wear.

Lose yourself in the many other crafty places on the big list at Kirsty's.
But don't procrastinate too long - I am sure you have lots on your own list!

My Creative Space

This week I am back at the machine with a vengeance!

Kate has been inspiring me with her versions of the Dortje pants.
So I grabbed some cord and poplin and have set to work to make some pants for kinder.


Yep - they are kinda bright - but I think that clothes for play should be fun and colourful as well as comfortable and practical.

I don't believe in children being dressed as miniature adults - there's plenty of time for that later in their lives.

Now is the time for them to embrace being bold, bright and full of fun.
That's my philosophy anyway.

With regard to the same/same look of the pants - don't blame me - the girls picked the colours themselves.
That said - it makes it a much faster process when the same colour overlocker and top-stitching cotton can be used!
There is method to their madness after all.

I also want to tackle a few Insa skirts and Imke tops from this fabulous book, which is where the pants pattern is from.

But they might be a while away, so don't hold your breath waiting!

Go on over and visit some of the creative spaces on Kirsty's huge list of players.

There's sure to be something there for everyone!

My Creative Space

I've been getting things finished...

The mushroom house pincushion is finished and waiting to be sent...

I used a great tutorial from here.

I've completed the garden for the fabric dollhouse I plan to make for Miss G's second birthday, with carrot patch and pond with a water lily.

It's from the tutorial by UK Lass in US - it's also in the One Yard Wonders Book if you have that.

Nikki made some rippers if you want to check them out.

They actually go quite nicely together, but I'm only sending the pincushion for my swap!

Check out what more than 100 other crafty types are up to by visiting the list at Kirsty's place.

My Creative Space

Has small goings-on happening.

I've finished my badge for this swap, I can't reveal much as it is a miniature item relevant to the swapee - and I want it to be a surprise.

I've also made a start on my pincushion for this mammoth swap arranged by Kate, over 100 swapees - what an effort!

And I am pleased to say that while this was the view from the couch yesterday morning...

The cast has now been removed and I am much more mobile, with a foot that will soon be working well enough to sew at my machine again.

Oh and eventually walk too!

To check out all the other crafty chicks pop over to Kirsty's - she always has something cool going on.

My Creative Space

I've been getting creative in the kitchen!

Don't fall off your chair, it's not like I baked the cakes or anything, in the way that this very clever lady would have.


I cheat and buy very plain slab sponges from Coles, which I then decorate with copious amounts of butter frosting and lollies!


I put the first layer of icing on, then draw the design onto the cake using a toothpick - then it's pretty much like colouring in.

I do this rather than cutting the shape from the cake as it's quite hard to ice the cut edges of cake, they tend to crumble.

My efforts were appreciated and the 'big girls' had a very wonderful 4th birthday on Tuesday.

I think possibly the only downside of having twins is having to make two cakes!

Check out what others have been whipping up by visiting the 'queen of creative' - Kirsty.

My Creative Space

I make no secret of it, I love gadgets that can help make sewing and making things easier and quicker.

That way I can get more done, well in theory anyway!

These have got to be the best, simple gadget I have come across in ages.

They are for making self-covered fabric buttons with.

You know how most kits provide you with a little paper/cardboard circle template for you to trace onto fabric and cut around to make up a button, and how hard it is to make sure you have the image you want to appear positioned in the centre of the button.

Well guess no more!

Each of these templates is a different size for the different sized buttons.

All you do is position it so the image you want centred on the button is shown in the centre circle.
Then trace around the outside of the template and cut and make up your button as usual.

So if you want a small chicken button, a larger red riding hood button or red with all her friends for a huge button for a big hair tie, then you can do it all without waste and, more importantly, frustration!

Super-friendly Kerrie at Jackobindi is the only Aussie distributor of these, and she has all the other stuff you need to make up hair ties, snap clips, bookmarks, magnets, push pins, shoe clips and heaps of other stuff.

Seriously, just get yourself some, you'll be glad you did.

To check out what creative goodness others are working on head on over to Kirsty's.

She's seeing red today.

My Creative Space

Is all about what I am plotting and planning to do in the coming weeks, months and years!

I was recently been given these two amazing books.


So much to look at and take in that I have been reading them in little grabs over the past few nights and days, whenever a quiet moment presents itself.
(which means of course there is still a lot to read!)

They are quite different and while there are projects from both I will undertake, I have to say that 'Sewing Clothes Kids Love' has captured my heart.



It is filled with the most divine colourful images of clothing made in gorgeous European fabric (boy do they have a great range compared to us!).

The book also has some great tips for sewing stretch fabric, embellishing items and an excellent section about measuring your child properly and then making clothes to their size, to ensure a good fit.


Then of course there is this gorgeous pic of a Redondo skirt made by a lovely Aussie gal, well done Sara!


I also got a subscription to Ottobre which included a free back issue.

After checking out their website I came across this one which has two versions of a leotard (something the girls are dying for me to make for them)

And also some very lovely dresses and skirts with ruffles down the back that I would like to tackle for winter.

Should keep me busy for a while don't you think!

Check out what other peeps are contemplating in their crafty world by popping over to Kirsty's place.

My Creative Space

Is dominated by gifts from friends that beg to be explored.

When I can find some time for me I will be testing out this fearsome looking new ruffer foot and also devouring, in detail, the latest Ottobre sent to me by a very kind lady for my birthday.

To check out what other crafty types are getting creative with this week, or to join in, pop over to Kirsty's place.

My Creative Space

First one back for 2010 and surprise, surprise I am sewing kids clothing!

I'm hoping to turn this pile of ric rac, Heather Ross's Mendocino mermaids, Patty Young's Hummingbirds and some dots into two short-sleeved versions of the Nina pattern shown below.

This is a simple but quite versatile pattern, I've already seen a few lovely versions of the sleeveless top shown on the front here and here.

Head on over to Kirsty's place to see what's on everyone else's creative plate this week.

My Creative Space

Is filled with frills.

The present making has been set aside while I tackle the Christmas dresses.

After much deliberation I decided not to go with the three dresses I wanted to make, two of which were not twirly.

Instead I am going with the current "twirly' trend of our two three-year-olds and all the girls will be getting a Feliz dress, the ultimate in twirlability.

Pictured above, the online sewing guide put together by Trillium, brilliant - I don't know if I could have made this dress without it as the instructions are scant, at best.
Thanks to Carolyn for putting me onto it.

The pattern itself that I picked up from here.

Completed underdress panel with the frills that will be down the back.
The most divine vintage fabric with a little girl and her dog going about their daily chores that came to me via a friend of my Dad.

Head on over to Kirtsy's new digs to see who else is playing along in the final creative space for this year.

My (late) Creative Space

I'm a bit late playing along because I needed the small folk to not be around when I photographed this one.

More Christmas gifts for the girls, red and sparkly with spots, that should keep them happy.

Can't really say any more as it's a test pattern for Toni again.

Check out other crafty-types whose business might not be so secret here, at Kirsty's place.

My Creative Space

Lots of sewing happening in my creative space today.

A top for a five-year-old's birthday party on the weekend.

A hat for her brother for Christmas, cut but unlikely to be sewed for at least a few weeks.

Another hat, for the above mentioned birthday girl, almost complete.

The days and weeks are creeping by but 'The List' seems to be growing rather than shrinking...

See who else is getting creative over at Kirsty's.

My Creative Space...

Is lying idle today.

Instead I'm taking some time for a trip down memory lane as we celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary.

Excuse the dodgy scanned pics - yep I was married in the pre-digital era, that ages me doesn't it!

Looking back at the photos I remember how happy and calm we both were that day.
How it really was a fun celebration and we had a great time.

I remember how cold all the girls were getting the photos done.

How tall you looked next to both our little old grandmothers!

I remember the out of tune trumpet player and the squeaky note he hit as we walked out of the church.

How you kept standing on my dress, and apologising.

I remember how happy my Grandmother looked when she saw the lace from my mum's dress had been used on mine.

And I will never forget how very happy I was to be marrying my best friend and the absolute love of my life.

And that's still how I feel today.
Happy anniversary honey, you are a fabulous, husband, friend and also father and my life is so much better because you are in it.

Check out Kirsty's space for people who are actually making stuff!