We're off...

to kinder.

Friday is a big day for our 'big' girls - it's their first day of Kinder.
It's a big day for me too, because after nearly four years of being their stay-at-home primary carer, I am letting them go into the world.

While I know this is good for them (and I guess for me) I feel a sense of apprehension that they will be exposed to some behaviour, language and let's face it, children that I'd rather they not be exposed to.

But then that's all part of learning I guess.
Learning when to join in or follow as instructed and when to stand up for yourself and assert your independence.


In preparing for their big day I finished their backpacks last night and they've hardly had them off today.
I think they're a hit.

The best parts of the bag, according to the girls, are the hook for hanging it up at kinder, and the sparkly plastic sqaure where I put a little slip of paper with their names.

I won't show you those, or th straps here, because you can see them in the last couple of backpack posts.

This time around I used medium-heavy weight fusible interfacing that I got from Nikki, which was lovely to work with.
It has given the backpacks great support and firmness, without being all stiff and hard. Will definitely use this again.

I also used template plastic in the base and some purse feet, which because this bag was not lined and it put together with an outer loop (the sides, top/zipper and base) joined to the front and then back, I will admit were a bit fiddly to do.

But I really love the final effect.



The finishing touch for these backpacks are a couple of cute heart and flower zipper pulls - which are on their way to me now.

Then we will be ready to go, well the girls will at least.

Packed and ready

I have hoarded, I mean kept, some Wizard of Oz fabric I bought from Corrie ages ago for just the right project, and when I saw the Made by Rae backpack that Joy made for her son Austen, I knew I had found it.

But before cutting into my precious material I decided to make one up using things in my stash, so here is my test backpack.

This is a really sweet little pattern and I found it easy to follow, but it took some time as there were lots of processes to it.

This was probably partly due to the fact that I wanted the piping to match really well so made my own (a first for me), then the cotton twill I bought for the straps were not wide enough and so were slipping so I made them too, and I am glad I did as they now match really nicely.

It's not lined so the inside you can see the seams - I bound the ones inside near the zipper panel for neatness.

It is a really cute little bag but after I started it Joy suggested interfacing the fabric and I will definitely do this for the next one so it 'sits up' better on its own.

I filled the bag with paper to take these pics.

You can't really see it too well, but on the back near the top between the straps I sewed a small piece of plastic (with glitter through it as that was all I had on hand) on three sides, so the new owner can slip a piece of paper inside with her name and address on it.

Now I have another cut and ready to go for the twin brother of the girl who will be getting this for her birthday.

Then it's on to the kinder bags.