random rainy garden images

Weekend All Sewn Up

I have had quite a productive weekend - I have cut out the skirt that I am going to make (most likely over easter), I have cut out a tunic top that is in the Anna Maria Horner "Seams to me" book, and I have sewn up an apron that was in a past issue of Get creative magazine.

When I locate my camera again (I think (Hope) it is in the car), I will take a picture of it. I made it using this georgous lingerie fabric that I bought a while back just because I loved it.

I like attempting these types of patterns because it helps me to learn new sewing skills (like setting in a skirt to the waist band) and increases my sewing confidence. My next skill that I really need to learn is inserting a zip - and I have a project in mind for that.

So, back to the Apron.

I do like how it turned out - although there are a few small things that I would probably change were I to make it again.

I think I would do the neck strap in a different style or at least make it longer - in fact I may still do that to this one.

The other thing I would do is make the skirt part wider so that is went around more of my body., and probably shorten it so that it ended just under my knees. I don't mind it how it is now, but these things would make it better I think.

For some reason I have a really strong urge to make every single apron pattern that I come accross. I might do that just for fun. I really should wear an apron when I am doing things at home because I constantly wipe my hands on my clothes when I am in the kitchen or eating.

Spotlight (fabric store) is having a clearance sale this week so I am going to go tomorrow and get some fabrics that caught my eye last week.

Consulting the Oracle

My husband's grandmother was a very accomplished seamstress and while I never had the pleasure of meeting her, she did pass her skills for all things sewing on to her two daughters - my husband's aunts.

So, every so often when I reach a bump in my sewng skills road, I have to go and consult the oracles.

It's really nice and I feel as though I am startign to get that little crafters bond going with them.

I am in the process of making a skirt - my first true garment made from a purchased pattern.

When I had a spare 5 minutes today I sat down with the pattern to cut the pieces out, however when it came to the cutting guide for the skirt waist band and interfacing I got all confused by the was the pattern instructions said to place the pattern piece on the fold of the fabric and I needed further instruction.

It seems to be worked out now but the proof will be when I piece it together and see what it looks like in the end.

The comments on my blog don't seem to have been working up until this point - thanks to Kirsty for pointing that out to me! I seem to have the problem fixed now though!

I am hanging out to get to the fabric store next week (not until Tuesday!) because I am really into the quilt I am making for my friends baby and I need to get the final bits of fabric for the quilt top. There is also a bag project that I am going to get some material for.

Right now I have an old gift box housing my fabric stash but I can see that is going to get too small pretty soon!

I read a great thing today in the current Notebook magazine about a woman who took a photograph of somethign she was grateful for in her life, every single day for 1 year. It was such a lovely story about being present in the moment and appreciating the things and people in her life. I was especially enchanted by the part in the story where she told of her daughters becoming more present and 'aware' because she had, and them bcoming more appreciative of the things and people in their lives.

This is something that I would like to see in myself. I will be the first to admit that I am bad at saying thank you. I say thank - you of course but I feel like I never do it with enough sincerity or in some situations (When It is called for) excitement. I think that I would like to be more excited about certain things in life and respond to them accordingly on the whole. I mean - I can be self conscious about even saying hello to people in the hallway at work or smiling at times. This is a part of me that I would like to work on. I have been listening to the CraftSanity podcasts at night while I have been breastfeeding Harris and this is something I notice about many of the Americans that Jennifer interviews. They are all really sincere and grateful, thankful and excited about what they do. Many of them seem to have a realy Joie de vivre for life and I think that I need to find a little bit of that in me. It's not that I don't enjoy life - I do - I'm just not very good at expressing it. I need to work on that. I think that being able to rediscover crafting is helping me a lot with finding out things about myself I had forgotten. I am very grateful for being able to reconnect with parts of me that needed nurturing. I am so excited about the prospects of all the things I can make and be crative with. When I first finished up working to go on maternity leave, I felt incredibly unconstructive, but sewing and making things has allowed me to feel like I am accomplishing things each day - that I am productive with my time. That is important to my psyche!

Bunny, Bunny, Bunny

Look how cute these bunnies are over at Edward and Lily's blog!

How lucky that she is having a giveaway and I have a chance to win one.

Please little bunny..come to live at my house....

Trip to Cockington Green

Cockington green is a tourist attraction in Canberra, where they have created a world of miniture houses and replicas of england and other buildings from countries around the world.
The minitures were cute and very well done but the gardens were just stunning.

A great place to take the kids as they have good play equipment.

We went as my mum was in town and she wanted to see it - I'mnot sure I will go again until I have kids big enough to enjoy it more thoroughly.

was a nice way to spend the afternoon though.

Cockinton green is located in the Gold Creek village where there are numerous other boutique shops and cafes to browse through and enjoy a nice morning or afternoon out.

If you do go, i thoroughly recommend Cafe Injoy at the top end of the main street - best cafe I have been to in Canberra.

There is also a lovely little quilting shop next door called Calico Patch, and a scapbooking shop next door to that. Enough to keep any crafter happy for a few hours.

My Creative Space

I seem to be finally getting into a groove with crafting again and have this week managed to get my first attempt at a quilt on the go. I haven't quite mastered the art of rotary cutting but I am getting much better and last night managed to get some piecing done while the wee one slept for a solid 3 hours (WOW!).

I have a whole box of pre cut projects to do - eventually. Lucky I was so into cutting out while I was pregnant.

My Creative space is hosted by Kirsty at Kootoyou.

Crafting rant of the week...

Why is it, that when you buy a precut fat quarter, they insist on including the selvage/branding in the measurement - when you only have to cut the selvage off anyway...

I don't get it...

rant over