Moving House

I have decided to move house in order to combine my two blogs and to create a more special place to talk about craft and family life alongside my fitness goals.

I hope you can come and join me in The Shed!

Down in The Shed

25 Days of Crafting

I have plenty of christmas sewing to do so I thought I would challenge myself to 25 days of Christmas crafting.

There are garlands and ornaments to be made, and presents to be crafted with love.

So here is the first of many more to come. Interestingly NOT a christmas themed item, but a birthday crown.

With me heading back to work after Christmas I thought I would get a head start on the birthday crafting also.

Sunday Saunter

Gypsy Love

1. Gypsy Collage, 2. Gypsy Dancer, 3. gypsy wagon, 4. Dasha at the KHAMORO World Gypsy Festival 2006, 5. Gypsy Fortune Teller, 6. Gypsy  (roma  tigan rrom tzigane) (Roman / Romania), 7. Gypsy caravan, 8. gypsy girls PUSHKAR, 9. An old gypsy caravan - 4013 Views to date ??

Love the Colours and the spice....

Harris on the box

Funny!

Sunday Saunter (on a monday)

Spring Green

 

1. SCK0000710ba It's not easy being green, 2. Beautiful Weed, 3. Madagascar Orb Weaving Spider, 4. Verde, 5. Spring Green, 6. Spring Green Petunias, 7. Spring greens, 8. Spring Greens!!, 9. Spring Means Green and HOPE has Arrived!

 

Home Made Baby Toys

 

One thing I have noticed since having my own little one is that you can never have too many toys. They do seem to get bored with the same toys over and over again. The only problem with that is that toys can be expensive!

Simple home made shakers using pasta and craft supplies and cheap plastic containers are perfect to keep things interesting for the little monkey!

To make these, all I did was take some clear plastic screw top containers purchased at a $2 shop and filled them with different sounding objects.

In this picture, the first contains some metallic bells, the second contains some puff pom poms and sequins for a very small soft sound and the third contains an assortment of macaroni, buttons and novelty buttons in different animal shapes - to give the baby something to search for in the jar.

To make it safe for baby to play with, I affixed the jar lid using some 2 part epoxy glue on the inside of the screw top lid - that way the lid can't be pryed open by little hands.

These toys are probably appropriate from 3 months upwards - however once your baby learns that jar's such as these can be opened it is probably best that they are used under supervision - just incase they manage to get past the glue!

This is Harris's very first attempt at painting  - he actually wanted to eat the paint brish more than paint with it - and it was rather messy - but fun all the same!

What a busy Week!

 

Play School - The Show is coming to Canberra!

 The Ever Popular Television Show! Live in Concert.
Featuring Two Presenters plus the toys from the popular television show.
This show is full of active participation.
Play School, which celebrates its 42nd birthday this year, has featured some of Australia’s leading actors as presenters over the years.
These popular Play School live shows are specially designed to delight pre-schoolers and parents alike.
Each show features 40 minutes of songs, games and stories with many of the well-loved toys plus along with two past or present presenters from the television series.
The roars of approval heard whenever they appear on stage attest to the ongoing popularity of Big Ted, Little Ted, Jemima and Humpty
.As with the television program, everything in the concerts is carefully paced especially for children.
There are songs to move to, as well as quiet times to just watch and listen.
The familiarity of the material totally engages the young audience for the 40-minute duration of the concerts
Audience numbers are limited per session so those children
can see and hear the show easily, and move about safely.

Friday 27th November 2009
Yarralumla
Albert Hall
Commonwealth ave Yarralumla
All Tickets *$13.20
Adults at Children's prices. Infants under 12 months on the day of the concert are free

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL
Phone Kids Promotions on 1300 788 028
or Book Online 

We are going along! It should be a whole lot of fun for the bubs!

Not a whole lot of crafting going on this week - we have been busy doing boring chore type activities.

I took Harris for his first swing ride at the park this morning - he seemed to really enjoy  himself!

Baby Shorts and Escapism

These are the little shorts I have made for Harris this summer, all made from refashioned jersey shirts and pillowcases.

Below is a sequence of an attempted escape in progress - luckily it was foiled by mummy.

 

  

 

Cheeky little nappy butt!

Wardrobe Refashion Attempt #1

Here is what I started out with:

 

And this is how it ended up:

I'm not entirely impressed but it's not too bad for a first attempt. Unfortunately - although it looks wearable - it's not really. The shoulder straps keep falling down and the under arm piece is a llittle too high cut for my comfort.  However - I don;t mind the pattern and I think I will have another go at it with some adjustments.

Sunday Saunter

As I was sauntering around the blogs for this week I caught a glance of the lovely Smaggle donning a sweet vintagey looking pinafore - and it got me all inspired. Here are some favourites:

 

1. Retro Smix Jumper, 2. Citrus Pinafore, 3. Prairie Studies Pinafore, 4. Little Pinafores, 5. Vintage McCalls Pattern 2925 Boho Pinafore and Apron, Little House on The Prairie, 6. Choco-Blue Pinafore Dress, 7. pinafores, 8. Nasta Pinafore Dress, 9. pinafore and flats

What's inspriing you this Sunday? 

Handmade Home Beach Blanket

harris play mat 002
Originally uploaded by Andjx2009

I just finished zipping up this lovely blanket made from recycled sheets and pillowcases so that Harris and I have something to sit on outside so we can enjoy the coming warmth of Spring.

It was a fairly easy project, however, my machine really couldn't cope with the bulk of fabric in the blanket and I don't think I'll be making another one anytime soon (The arm on my sewing machine is quite short).

The blanket can be found in the oh so lovely book "Handmade Home" by Amanda Blake Soule - the eternally inspiring lady who is fast becoming my mentor for natural parenting.  Her blog Soule Mama is here.

I have decided that I have serious issues with Bias binding and that we are not friends.

The hardest part was actually keeping the baby on the blanket once we got outside. He isn't really one for staying in the one spot for too long and thinks that grass is tasty.

 

 

 

What you makin' Mama?

 

 I can help? No really I can!

In progress is a nice picnic blanket - made entirely from thrifted fabric and as given as a project in the book by Amanda Blake Soule - Handmade Home.

It is a lovely book with lots of family friendly projects based on aiming to use the things you have.

In reality right now I am procastinating from making the bias tape for the outside of thie rug.

Ho Hum... off I go

Summer Skirts

Here is a few pics of the skirts I have made for this coming summer. Super easy to make - no pattern required - just some pretty fabric. I have another 4 or 5 lined up to make - so that should see me through.

Delicate Delicate New Life of Spring

 

Sometimes I wish I knew how to make pictures bigger on blogger so that it did them justice a bit better.

Yesterday I wore a skirt and a tank top all day and the maximum temperature was only 16 - but to me that was plenty warm enough to stop wallowing in the depths of winter clothing.

What can I say - the warmer months make me happy!

Below is a pic of my latest haul from the Salvo's. Looking at it now I have actually already used most of it to make shorts for the baby for summer. I'll post a pic later on. I often flick through the vintage patterns at the salvo's just to see what might happen to pop out at me. This one did the other day - I thought it had a nice sillhouete. If anything - it will make a nice summer frock to throw over swimmers at the beach. 

Smashing Smock!

This top is the smock project from the Anna Maria Horner Book - Seams to Me.

I made no alterations to this one - except for adding some ties so that I could nip the top in a little at the waist. However if I make it again, I think that I w ould like to take some fabric off the arm sleeve edge and just bring it in to expose my shoulders a bit more.

I am a size 12 and made the Medium in the book and it fits quite well.

I just used plain cotton fabric with no stretch.

I am by no means an accomplished sewer and I found this project easy - but I did have to study the instructions very thoroughly.

I will most likely make it again - next time I am going to make it in all the same fabric rather than the contrast.

Wardrobe refashion

Eeek! I have have taken the pledge to commit to wardrobe refashioning for the next 2months!!

From over here. The pledge goes like this:

" I pledge that I shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself for the term of the contract. I pledge that I shall create and craft items of clothing for myself with my own hands in fabric yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. "

I do need to make one caveat though - at some time in the next couple of months I am going to need to go out and buy some plain white singlet tops and t-shirts. Being pregnant all last summer has left me with very little in the way of top half coverings and as I practically live in singlets and t-shirts when it is warmer - I can't get by without buying just a few.

I figured that I was pretty much doing this at the moment anyway - so why not take the challenge. That and I need to live simply and be thrifty for the next few months. I enjoy the concept and idea of it - but have been too lazy to do anything about it up till now.

Last week I made 4 skirts and I have plans for another 4. Yesterday I cut off a pair of old cargo pants into shorts and found a really nice pair of black shorts at Vinnies.

I'm ready to see just how creative I can be - AND - I really like the environmental aspects of a challenge like this. I absolutely hate the throwaway nature of our society and clothes sold in the shops now are so expensive considering they are made in China by people who may be living below the poverty line.

When I do come to buying those singlets I need, I'm going to do some research into a brand that is made in Australia I think.

I'll post a pic of my thrifting and sewing later on.

Ahhh Spring....

A rainy day

I have been pretty focussed on exercise and fitness lately and it is eating into the crafting somewhat. However, I went to the Craft and Quilt fair here in canberra on the weekend and it was awesome to say the least.

I am taliking specifically about the quilt show because it was spectacular!

So - of couse - this has me on the verge of another crafting spree and I am really looking forward to recieving all the packages I have recently purchase from the US of fabric and crafting books and particularly a lovely pattern! (For wihich the fabric in the first picture is promised!)

I am also in the process of redesigning this blog - it is slow because it takes time - but it will get there - so stay tuned!

Destruct-a-baby strikes...

Today...my new Real Living magazine arrived in the mail...

Just now I walked back into the lounge to find this:

and what do those innocent eyes say? "What...isn't that why you left it out for me?"

and he can't even crawl yet...eek!