Art Journaling - The Wishing Tree

You know those people that can put together a whole heap of stuff and make it look like Art? Well I have a few on line friends of the Arty variety and they can do it with ease.

So why am I writing about Art  Journaling?

Well because they challenged me to do it.

You see Anna at TillyTom  had a pop-up sale on her Facebook page (sale still on!!) where Miss Dove was buying a lovely little Stationary bundle, and with my nicest manners I asked Hubby if I could have one to. Somehow, although I don't think it was my fault, Car ended up with one also.

Then apparently according to the 'rules' when 3 people have the same craft supplies a challenge to create something must begin.

So Saturday afternoon it is and low and behold I have completed the challenge on time.

One Art Journal page using only the crafty supplies from TillyTom + 1 other medium.
I chose a pile of scrap booking papers.

I had a great idea in the shower a few days ago and it has been grown and forming in my head ever since.
After editing my school reports for the final time this Semester, I cleared down the dinning table and set up my supplies.

Of course I needed to set  the boy up with something too otherwise I'd get nothing done!

We were graciously allowed scissor, tape, lead pencil and rubber for sketching and attaching the elements to the paper and so I began.....cautiously at first....

Pleased with the direction it was taking and surprisingly like the image I had in my head, I continued on. Except for the colour of the tree. I couldn't find any brown in the paper pile so I decided to go a little whimsy and chose a bright stripe instead.



I changed a few things around as I went. I'm not sure the purpose of the washi tape near the tree. The one along the bottom would have been enough. The green leaves weren't showing up on the green grass very well so I changed them out too....after they had already been glued down!

I give you 'The Wishing Tree'  My first completed Art Journal page.

Life is full of wishes and dreams some more important than others, some less important as time moves on and life moves forward. These are the things on my wishing tree at the moment.

And you can see down the bottom all the leaves from the wishing tree that I have already collected in my life and for them I am very grateful.

Every tree needs something to help it grow, even wishing trees.

I'm looking forward to creating my pages in my Art Journal, when ever the desire arises.

Aiming for Accuracy Quilt Along

You all know how I love starting a new project right...and I don't have enough on the go at the moment right.....so Bec showed this Quilt-Along on her blog and well I'm a sucker for HST and bright fabric so I thought I might give this ago.

 

The schedule is pretty tight but I like (failing) a challenge.....anyone want to join in??



Dear Jane.....the beginning

I've been waiting for ages to start....I just didn't really know how or where to start. But last night I just jumped right in and printed out the first block.

G7 - The centre block - Indianapolis

I couldn't find any reds in my stash that I liked. I was going to resort to fussy cutting a christmas print to use the red, but instead found a left over bunting flag that had the red that I wanted. I unpicked the and the 2 triangles were just enough to make the block pieces.

There are 25 pieces in this block. The first 4 were stitched together while watchign the lastest Bond movie 'Skyfall' with Hubby as has become our usual Saturday night after the small one has gone to bed.
It is going to take me 4.3 years of Saturday nights to finish the 225 blocks in this quilt. That is if each block only take 1 weekend.....they wont.

So I'm giving myself a generous 10 years to finish this quilt!
My really happy with my first attempt at hand stitching and I can't imagine trying to fit such small pieces under the machine, so I will continue to hand stitch them all.
Miss Dove is a few blocks ahead of me so I'm hoping to catch her soon and motivate her to stitch along with me!

Ta Da!!
My first finished Dear Jane block!

13 in '13 Challenge

I don't know why it took me so long to find this book. It is a novel about War told from a very unusual angle. It took a little while for me to warm up to the unusual writing style but it is fabulous and whilst I didn't cry at the end (I was in the dentist's waiting room with Aden!!) the places it takes your mind and thoughts is....well scary and sad. I'll be passing this on to both my Mum and sister. I think they will enjoy it too.

HERE IS A SMALL FACT - YOU ARE GOING TO DIE. 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier. Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall. SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION - THIS NOVEL IS NARRATED BY DEATH. It's a small story, about: a girl, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. ANOTHER THING YOU SHOULD KNOW - DEATH WILL VISIT THE BOOK THIEF THREE TIMES

This is my 6th book in the 13 in '13 challenge...so right on target! I'm now looking for another book to read...suggestions?

And of course there are those folks who like to throw a challenge on top of a challenge....Kylie here has risen to the occasion (Celebrating 200 years of Pride and Prejudice) 

 And this isn’t JUST  a challenge – it is a multi layered challenge!! Basically you need to be a massive fan of  Pride and Prejudice {affiliate link} Read the book, watch the movies and The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. What is the LBD I hear you ask.....well I had to ask and look where that got me.......

late nights when I should be sleeping...wondering if I can watch a few while the boy eats breakfast (I didn't Hubby just so you know!!)....wondering if YouTube will let me watch it through the 'child blocks' at work on my lunch break....it is so not a good time for me as I'm in full report card writing mode....and I FULLY blame Miss Dove. Apparently it is not her fault.......

I'm tempted to skip to Ep. 98......but I'll wait.... I'm currently finished 15.....

Blogger Boogie.....Fail

Another Blogger Boogie fail...sorry Miss Dove!!! I'll try better for next week!

Today was a lovely day for bike riding. I was stuck inside with a tummy bug and writing report card comments. These songs were ringing in my head....get it....RING RING!!

Birthday boogie

You know that friend that you can not see for weeks and then your 'free day' aligns and you manage a catch up and a girly chat, while the kids play at your feet, and it is like you were talking to them just yesterday? I have one of those and she is kinda special.

I wish we had more free time to catch up, although we are now a car trip apart rather than a plane flight  and we do get to see each other more than we used to we still don't get to visit often enough for my liking!

I was lucky enough to be one of her bridesmaids and if I didn't have so many sisters she would have been there for me too (I regret that a little. I should have made room for her too...sorry xx)

We share our lives, our ups and downs. We share our children when we visit and treat each others kids like our own. We share similar parenting styles (boys will be boys!) and we love to have a laugh and a gossip!

Today is her birthday and sadly it is not a 'free day' for either of us and so we will have to wait to next time to share a piece of birthday cake. Her real surprise present isn't quite ready yet so instead today I have dedicated my weekend boogie to her.

Happy Birthday my dear friend. Love you!














I'm joining in here although I missed the linky....maybe next time! Sorry Miss Dove!

Weekender Bag - progress - internal pockets and piping

Thanks for your help with the fabric choices for my weekender bag. I've gone with the first option, one of my favourites from Kate Spain!

Of course I can never follow a pattern properly and started arse-about with the lining! After reading many blog posts on the weekender bag and talking to some of my favourite experts in the sewing field, I felt that internal elastic pockets on both side were the way to go. I like the little zippered ones people are adding too but I think the elastic open pockets will be more useful to us.

I used Summer House by Lily Ashbury for the lining. Each of the internal pockets are a simple rectangle about 10" x 24", folded over 1/4 inch twice, to make a casing for 3mm elastic. Gathering stitches added to the bottom to pull it in. Iron a fold down the centre of each piece to match them up and pin all the way around. I sew my basting stitches very close to the raw edge so that it won't be seen in the final seam and I use a regular stitch length.

I round off this corner edge with scissor before sewing so that I maintain the right shape of the bag piece.



No flash - a truer representation of the colour - very much an aqua rather than a light blue

The pockets as you can see are sewn down the middle to seperate into 2 smaller pockets rather than 1 larger one. I've made 1 matching the lining and the other out of the piping fabric, hopefully when the bag is in use it will make it easier to remember which pocket I put things in to save too much searching around for stuff!

I also had my first go ever at making piping. There is 5 metres of it here pouring out the back of the machine. It wasn't too hard to make at all.....but I haven't attempted to add it to anything yet that will be the real test!

The piping fabric is Honey Honey by Kate Spain.

Fairy Tale Dress ups!

I totally had my work cut out for me to get these done in time!
Three 2am finishes in a row saw them all done......just! It was all my fault though I couldn't decide if we actually needed to go dressed up and then at the last possible moment, while in Spotlight, I decided yes we should! The $5 pattern sale certainly helped!

I'm super happy with how the boys outfits turned out but mine was a bit of a flop....well the hat definitely was! The instructions didn't even make sense so I winged it and was disappointed with the results. If I ever have to wear this again (or if anyone wants you borrow it you're welcome) I'll be making a cardboard hat and covering it in fabric to get the same look.

Despite 3 weeks or more of trying to convince Aden is go as a dragon to fit in with the 'Fairy Tale theme' he wouldn't budge. He had to go as a dinosaur!
 

He did make a pretty cute Dinosaur and had a great time playing/fighting with his cousin til it was dark and cold. Then they were both happy to snuggle up on the couch with my while the rest of the family continued drinking.

The best part of the night was having my wonderful son and husband call me 'Beautiful Princess Mummy' all night, despite the fact that I think I look horrible!

Happy 18th Birthday Katie and Emma!

A new challenge and a fabric decision!

My sister turned 31 this weekend and my Mum wanted to go see 'Hot Shoe Shuffle' at the theatre for an early Mother's Day treat. So I packed up the boys and headed into town.

The show was great! It kinda makes you wish you could tap dance!

Aden was all set with his little Thomas suitcase, but on packing our bags for just one night I realised that other than our large suitcase we had nothing to take our clothes in!

Lucky I had obviously foreseen the future and had ordered the Amy Butler Weekender Bag the week before at 40% off bringing the pattern to just $13.40! It arrived on Friday and I'm itching to try it out! Oh and a little bag challenge I have going with some online sewing friends is great incentive too!

I have spent the last 3 hours reading and researching all the little tips, tricks and reviews out there in blog land.....and now I'm divided between the beautiful bags I've pinned on Pinterest and all the scary reviews about how difficult the bag is to make!

I will forge on though.....after I make the most difficult decision....what Fabric to use!

Maybe you can help me!?!?!

These are all fabrics I have pulled from my stash

Piping, Exterior, Interior

Interior and Piping, Exterior with contrasting pockets in the FQ - Kate Spain fabrics

Piping and Interior, Exterior - Hubby's pick

Linen outer, DS lining  - need to find a blue or grey for the piping and handles

Lady bug lining, DS outer, would have to find a nice pink/red for the handles and piping  

Dark blue outer, green piping and dots on the lining

 Please share you favourite....I'd like to get started soon!

New Dresses for a special occasion.

How sweet does my niece look!

The dress was a lovely fit and perfect length (it is a size 2T with a size 4 length). Her mum was happy with the finished dress. I found the perfect shoes the day before for a bargain $14 and we found a headband that was also a perfect match the morning of the wedding! She didn't wear the ribbon I made but I'm sure she will another time as she has a little bit of growing room.



My handsome son in his 'handsome clothes'
He was wonderfully well behaved throughout the entire wedding and reception. So proud of my little man!

Picking up the flower petals with Bailey after the ceremony to throw at Milla!

So glad I made the little bloomers for her too. Again a perfect match in colour.

And I managed to finish my dress in time too! I wasn't sold on the fabric while I was making it but it looks ok. This fabric is quite a bit stiffer than the first version of this dress and I'm not 100% happy with the way the pleats sit over my tummy (making it look bigger than it is - I'm actually the lightest I have been in a long time!) But it was just right for this beautiful Autumn wedding.

And congratulations to Kristin and Kev on your wedding day! Thank you for including us in your special day. 

SYST

8 FQ's in and 6 out  - I only bought what I needed for the dress but there is a little bit left over maybe enough for a simple skirt??

Peaches and Cream Abby Dress

After successfully making a practice of the Abby Dress for my niece a few weeks ago. It was time for the real thing!

WORST fabric in the world to work with but it turned out quite cute don't ya think!?!?

 

The lining fabric was super thin and the lace rather stiff. I won't tell you all the parts that aren't quite right I'm sure you can notice them for yourselves.

 

 I decided to close the back with a ribbon this time. ( and I actually have the neck the right way this time!) and it sits lovely and flat and pretty. I had to hand stitch the facings down with super tiny stitches.

 

 

And because of the thin lining and lace I'm super worried that it might be a little see-through so to save my nieces modesty I made a little pair of bloomers to cover her nappy. And what 18-month-old is a perfect little lady and keeps her dress down....certainly not this one!

 

 

There is also a peach hair ribbon/head band as per the original inspiration photo

 

 

 

So there you have it one wedding outfit ready to go....now I just have to start mine!

 

 

SYST

Incoming: 1 metre lace, 1 metre lining, 1/2 metre cotton

Outgoing 6 FQ's 

Amazing Fit Dress ....Easter Challenge

 

 

It took a little longer than I hoped, school-holiday sickness interrupted my sewing time, but it is finished. And it fits!

 

I had a little bit of trouble with the zipper but it sits flat and straight.

 

There are no adjustments in the bodice, a little give room around the hips, thighs and armholes - all my favourite parts of my body... NOT, and no length changes just a small hem.

 



Please excuse the sun squint face!

Hubby says it looks good and that is good enough for me. I'm keen to make a few more now in the other fabrics I have picked.....or maybe something from the stash now I know it fits so well.

I also finished a few pieces for my nieces 2nd birthday in a few weeks.

A half size version of the 241 Tote by Noodlehead - owls and a sprinkle of Fairy Frost (butterflies on the inside)

And a pink elephant skirt

And of course the boy had to get in on the action.... I don't mind he is rather cute!

SYST - outgoing 12 FQ's

Bailey's Roadworks Quilt

Aden's not great with the camera just yet....

 

 



Today my hamdsome nephew turns 3! Happy Birthday Bailey!

I finished this last month but waited til today to blog it. Bailey loves things that have wheels, make lots of noise and anything to do with dirt!

So the Roadworks quilt seemed like the prefect 3rd birthday present. He will be here in a few weeks time for me to give it to him. Aden thinks any quilt I finish belongs to him, but he is happy to let Baily have this one, only cause he loves his cousin so much!

Size: 69 x 54  inches

 

 

 

A prefectly matched print from Michael Miller for the backing!

 

SYST - outgoing 21 FQ's