Project Patchwork 2010

Awhile ago I signed up to contribute to Project Patchwork, and today I got a Heart Quilt Block kit in the mail. Very exciting and I am eager to get started!



Lizzy who is organising things is very sweet as has a lovely blog, The Things She Sees.

Recent Makings

New cushions for the family room, one to go:



Cards for a friends shop:


C Cushion for an old school friends new baby (yet to post - eek!), but with my new label (yay!):




A pin cushion for a friend:

Weekend Fun

It has been a weekend of markets and brunch. Two of my favourite things!

We had a delicious brunch with friends at Mantra, a lovely place on King William Road. Despite not having any high chairs (who doesn't + there were lot's of people with children there), my breakfast was totally delicious. The service was very good also, and I love the size of their tables. Nice and big... roomy even!

The Bowerbird Bazaar Market at the Queen's Theatre was fantastic! I went home with a few goodies, a full belly and some details about some stall holders I want to hang onto until I have more money to spend! We met up with some friends on Saturday, had some delicious food courtesy of Let Them Eat, a delicious beer by the Brew Boys, sweets by Careme, and wandered around. On Sunday I returned with my sister and my mum, to follow up on purchasing said goodies seen on the previous day... including:

A necklace by Victoria Mason:


A necklace by Angus & Celeste:



Cards by Able & Game. This is not one I bought, but I love love love... I have to keep some things secret!



People who's things I covet:

Bilingual - beautiful jewelry, including this piece which can be worn as a ring or as a pendant:



Hood Scarves by The Encouragement Award:


Prints by Printspace:

Lyssa loved this fan necklace by Sara Rothe:


Art by Sue Ninham:



...and the list could go on. Fun Fun Fun. It is so great to see a lot of these people and wares in the flesh. I am looking forward to doing some Christmas shopping at the next market in October!

Sand Pit Toys

Ruby received this set of sand pit toys for her birthday from her grandparents. Unfortunately, they've sat on the back bench looking untidy since then...


...well no longer! I finally made a drawstring bag for them to go into! Hurrah! I love it when I have an idea and then actually put it into action, instead of thinking about it forever. Of course, I had been thinking about this since she got them, but now it's actually done!

I appliqued some shapes from the set onto the terry towelling, and then finished off the beachy vibe with some soft rope for the drawstring. Voila!



Ruby loves the sandpit at Playgroup so I've been thinking that I might get one for home, but it needs to be able to be closed so that the Sushi monster doesn't get into it. A couple of these will do the trick I think:


I'm pretty sure Big W or Kmart will stock them, just need to go and look!

I ♥ Handmade Toys... and so does my Mum!

My Mum has been a strong influence on my crafting life. When my sister and I were growing up she was a sewer, a knitter and crocheter. Lyssa and I had so many fabulous toys and outfits that she made. My Mum was taught by my Nan who is a knitter and sewer, and Nan also contributed heavily to my childhood craft memories. Some of my very first creations were clothes for my Barbie Doll's, oh so much fun! One year Nan made me costumes of the world for a couple of my dolls and they were favourites for a long time! They were from a Paton's book, which I have seen around in second hand shops from time to time, but couldn't find online (apart from some already sold copies on ebay). Mum has them safely stored away for when Ruby is old enough to play with them.


Mum loves knitting, crocheting and sewing all things baby/child related. When Ruby was on the way, she went into overdrive, and we have so many wonderful things made from her loving hands. Here is a photo of some of the things she's made for Ruby, and also some amigurumi animals my sister made, the pink rabbit is from my Nan and I made the ball. (And Mum made the crocheted rug too). All in the family!!


Mum gets an enormous kick out of little one's wearing her things or playing with her toys, it is one of her life's joys. Nothing speaks more to me about my Mum's love and devotion to our family than with her crafty hands. I love you Mum!! xxx

Sneak Peak of things to come...

I've been thinking(!) about a new 'business' name for a long, long time - in actual fact, since September 2007. Needless to say I haven't done anything about it (apart from a flickr account & blogspot)... until now. Hurray! Now I also have a domain (pointing to nothing at this stage, but a domain nonetheless. I intend to use my new name, Fox and Feathers to promote my sale able goods, and keep Spinning Pretty for more personal stuff.


I've been working on some items to put into some brick and mortar shops and also an etsy shop. They're still a bit of a way off, but I am a bit further along than I have been in the past. Some sneak peaks:





I am hoping to get some patterns, cards, postcards and kits into the shop. I haven't set myself a timeline yet, but that's something I need to do in the next couple of days. Stay tuned!

Recent Commissions

Recent makings for new bubs...



'C' Cushions all 'round, mini Gocco laundry bags (perfect for the nappy bag!), flannels, softie - Harold the Giraffe, pattern by Hop Skip Jump, and little card.

Make-A-Long

I finally bought the Wee Wonderful's patterns for the Olive & Archie Make-a-Long softies. I made two Olive's for my cousin's daughters, Chelsea and Maddalyn. My cousin lent us so many things when Ruby was born, that I wanted to give her girls a gift for being so generous.


They were very easy to make, but I must admit, that the second time around, I modified a couple of ways of doing things that worked better for me. Hillary points out that the sewing up around the bottom with the stuffed legs is a bit tricky, and I did use this method for the first doll, but I didn't quite catch the legs terribly well/neatly. The second doll I didn't stuff the legs, flipped them into the inside and then stuffed them when I'd turned out the body.

# 1 Attempt



# 2 Attempt


The only other alterations I made were adding some more embroidery to the eyes, leaving off the eyebrows and making the bow a little smaller.

I think they are just darling. Next up with this pattern is both an Olive and an Archie for Ruby, I'm hoping to get the whole kit and kaboodle made for her 1st birthday.

Amelia

Yesterday, Ruby and I visited a friend with a new baby called Amelia. She is the little sister of Lily, and was really very adorable. We had a lovely cuddle, cup of tea, afternoon bun and were able to give little Amelia a C cushion. This was the first patchwork one I've made, again using freezer paper for her name.


I've made the top side of a C cushion for Ruby now, just need to back and stuff it. If anyone is interested in the pattern, please let me know.

Name Pillows

I've made a few of these name pillows over the last few years. They've been perfect as gifts for new babies, toddlers and older children. A colleague of mine has bought four or five for various family and friends, including this new one for baby Tom:



I really like backing them with denim and loved using the frayed edge on this one with a new label. These labels I've made just using inkjet iron on paper, I need to come up with something else, gocco labels is what I'm thinking.

Winter Rose

Dear friends of ours welcomed their second little one into the world on the 28th of June. Today, Ruby and I were lucky to have a visit with Winter Rose and her family. What a little stunner! Congratulations to Al, David & Oliver!


I made Winter a Fleur Playmat, this time in orange tones. It came out nice and bright for a little one born in cold weather!

After my first attempt, and trouble with the wadding, I cut this one a little bigger, but this time it was a little too big. The only conclusion I can come to is that I mis-cut the first one, perhaps not reading the pattern properly. I will be making one for Ruby next, so will follow carefully this time!!

Baby Maya

A friend's daughter had a baby several weeks ago. Maya was born at 26 weeks and is still in the hospital. When she gets home, she has a 'C' cushion and little dog waiting for her.


I freezer paper stenciled Maya's name on her cushion. I haven't done any for awhile, and forgot how easy and effective it is. The 'C' Cushion is modeled on one I bought when I was doing infant massage and it has proved so versatile. It's great for general lolling about, has been excellent for helping Ruby to be happy lying on her tummy and now fits snugly around her back and helps her to sit up.


The little dog is from the book More Softies. The pattern sewed up pretty quickly, and Elsie the Little Dog has come out nicely.

Fleur Playmat

This week has been a great one for sewing. I have a new neice on the way in the next few weeks, and needed to get a gift made to post this week (my brother-in-law and his family currently live in the States). I've been wanting to make a Fleur Playmat by Onegirl Designwrks for ages. I got the pattern in a copy of Australian Homespun (Kids Issue) which I picked up at the Stitches and Craft Show for $5. Talk about a bargain! I missed it when it came out, so was super happy to get it eventually!


The only alterations to the pattern I made were with the face. I appliqued the yellow face and polka dot cheeks, and blanket stitched the eyelashes. I think it came out really nicely, although I could have done with cutting the batting for the circle a little bigger. I followed the instructions, so am not sure what happened (perhaps my allowance was smaller), but it is a bit short of the edges, so next time I will cut it a couple of cm's bigger (can always make it smaller if it needs to be!)

1 Spot Left - Pay It Forward Giveaway

One spot still open, if anyone is interested in the following:



Go to this post, and comment and I'll be in touch : )

Mail Love

This arrived in the post from Cass on Thursday. She was very sweet to send me some lovely goodies. Lilly will find her way into Ruby's room, the bag will be perfect for a project I am working on and a suprise item which was lovely and will continue to remain a secret... for awhile anyway!

Thanks again Cass!



We're off to Sydney tomorrow, DB has some work obligations and Ruby and I are tagging along. Amongst other things, we intend to spend a lot of time here and show Ruby this. Unfortunately we are going to miss this, which I am pretty bummed about, but nevermind!

Ruby's Albums

I made these albums as thank you's to our family for all their wonderful support throughout our pregnancy and the first couple of months of Ruby's life. I gocco'd the fabric and then covered some albums I bought from the local cheap shop (I got a few looks buying ten of them!). The albums are the type with the screw attachments folded under the spine. Really easy to pull apart and cover.

By the end of it I was a pro, and only took 5 minutes to make them. I finished the cover off with a black and white photo.

Pay It Forward Giveaway

From here.

I will make a handmade gift for the first 3 interested people who comment on this post. I have 365 days to do it in…What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise!The catch is that you must participate as well: you must have a blog and before you leave your comment here, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going. (Just cut and paste this one if you like, which I did). Cheers!