CREATIVE MOMENTS

Australian Patchwork and Quilting Wallhanging

2012-02-02T11:08:00.000+13:00

In October 2011 my family moved to a new, much bigger home. In honor of this happening, I decided to see what my new machine could do and made a wallhanging. This was from an Australian Patchwork and Quilting mag and was so much fun to do. I tried freemotion quilting(see the leaf) which I really enjoyed. Now I have been inspired to pull out my other unfinished quilting projects!

Yellow Sundress

2012-02-02T10:59:00.001+13:00

You can tell it's been a while - mega update LOL! For Christmas 2012 I made a sundress for my little girl. I was really happy with it and she looked so cute.

Ottobre winter 6/2011

2012-02-02T10:44:00.002+13:00

As promised long ago, I am starting to make some clothes from the wonderful Ottobre Design magazine. This nighty for my baby is from Ottobre winter 6/2011 and is the one featured on the cover. I forgot to add seam allowances arghh! Thankfully I had made it big enough that it didn't matter. I did change the process a bit. Adding binding the traditional way was far too bulky (see the neckline) so I changed to overlocking it on the sleeves already folded then topstitching it down. I am really happy with the effect this way. Overall I would give the pattern a good rating. Although it was fiddly with all the tracing etc, the fit is great and flattering.

Bernina 1080

2012-02-02T10:23:00.001+13:00

As the title suggests, I have a new sewing machine! My lovely hubby allowed me to buy the kind of machine I have always wanted. Buttonholes, embroidery stitches, blanket stitch (yay!) and a pile of feet to experiment with. My Bernina 1080 is around twelve years old and runs like a dream. I have since bought a perspex extension table and a hard case for it. Stay tuned for lots more sewing!

My Wedding Dress

2011-04-24T17:10:00.000+12:00

Much as I love my four children, The busyness of life has meant not much time to sew. However, With my wedding coming up, I had to haul out my machines - I was determined to make my own dress. I was really happy with how it turned out. A mishmash of patterns with a silk bodice, acrylic skirt with a silk-chiffon underlay. It had a lace-up back which I loved.

Ottobre

2011-04-24T16:58:00.000+12:00

Finally! After two years of lusting after them, I have subscribed to Ottobre thanks to my lovely husband. This Finnish pattern magazine has the most beautiful patterns for childrens clothes and is quite inspirational. My stepdaughters are coming to stay for the school holidays but after that.. here I come!

Two Years!

2010-06-07T19:14:00.000+12:00

Hard to believe I know but...miracles do happen and I have returned. No longer part of the sewing group that inspired this blog but branching out on my own. Sewing is still a huge part of my identity.
Just under two years ago, I moved with my children(minus one husband, long story) back to New Zealand. I have been sewing regularly over that time but want to start fresh from today so...without further ado, my latest creation, another rag cot quilt. This one hopefully to sell.

2008-05-02T10:13:00.000+12:00

I have removed this post. I was having a bit of a bad/sad day but don't want to leave it here permanently. Thanks PinkLizzy for your kind comment.

Nikkis Nightie

2008-04-29T23:02:00.000+12:00

My poor girls are freezing to death with outgrown PJs that are missing half their buttons. I finally got my butt into gear and made Nikki a warm flannelette nightie. It is made from Winnie the Pooh fabric and the most gorgeous vintage dress pattern. I just removed the stiff collar, lace trim and replace the zip with ribbon ties. Presto! The cutest nightie ever. I SERIOUSLY want want of these but I think my huge mummy ( ) ( ) would look really odd in it.

Harness

2008-04-29T22:52:00.000+12:00

Ok - here it is; My Invention! Sam is such a little ratbag when it comes to eating. He's always escaping his highchair so we decided to sit him at the table so I designed a harness to keep him there! One piece velcros around the chair, the other velcros around him then they buckle together. Complicated but effective. I had so much fun making this and am glad I used waterproof fabric for the front. The only thing I would change is to add a piece of fabric to sling under the crotch as he does slip forward just slightly.

It's a success! He can't get out of it - although he has discovered that if you push at the table you can rock the chair until it falls over. Funnily enough he only did it once.

Here she is...

2008-04-23T21:25:00.000+12:00

Introducing the new love of my life, Brooke Alexis. This little darling was born two weeks late after a 1 1/2 hour labour and weighed a whopping 9lb 7oz! She is a good sleeper(after a couple of rough weeks) and has been smiling at her momma for the last couple of days(not for the camera yet!). Here is a photo of her just after she was born and two at the hospital the next day.

my favourite

2008-04-23T21:13:00.000+12:00

This is my favourite photo of Brooke at four weeks.

Four weeks...

2008-04-23T21:07:00.000+12:00

Thanks to some motivation from my husband, we have been walking to pick up the older girls from school. My Valco works really well and Sam loves the toddler seat. Brooke is four weeks old in these photos. Look at the lovely chubba cheeks! Sam also started walking a couple of weeks ago and is slowly getting steadier.

yep I'm still here!

2008-03-04T23:42:00.000+13:00

Just a quick little update to let you all know that I am still here in one piece. Tomorrow(wednesday) is my due date and I am seriously ready LOL. DH is getting a bit sick of me being so useless and sore all the time so hopefully it won't be long! My brother and his wife came to stay for a couple of days from NZ and went home yesterday then my parents fly in on saturday to help out for a couple of weeks. Gotta love em!

Hopefully my next post will include some good news and photos :)

Just a moan

2008-02-21T19:06:00.000+13:00

This post is just purely to complain about my week LOL. This last couple of weeks my body seems to have given out and I am so swollen and twingey and tired. It seems impossible to do anything and my house is getting dirtier and messier. This hasn't been helped by Sams recurring ear infections which have meant DH and I have had about two decent nights sleep in the last few months. After his last ear infection/tonsillitis and two batches of antibiotics, his ear started weeping again on Monday and he had a temperature so I booked him into the doctor again later that morning. By that time, he was white and doing that aweful soft moan and his temperature wasn't responding to Nurofen. The doctor took one look at Sam and sent us up to Royal Childrens Hospital emergency.

After four hours of waiting with the nurse not believing how sick he was, he was taken through for observation and hooked up to an IV drip and antibiotics. They found some blood-red pin prick dots on his chest and took blood for a culture thinking he might have bacterial meningitis! After three days and two nights, he was finally released yesterday looking much better. Scary stuff though! He's still pale and not eating or drinking as much as usual but is vastly improved.

I have really crashed today though. I've swollen up like a puffer fish and can't do anything without running out of energy.

AH it's nice to get all that out. Now I can go back to being a pleasant water-melon.

Valentines Day Swap

2008-02-15T21:06:00.000+13:00

I took part in this years Valentines day swap on EB and wasn't I spoilt! The lovely Heids was my swap partner and today in the mail I received some very Valetinesy gifts( Is that a word?).

This gorgeous apron caught my eye( I am a bit of a sucker for them). A really cute style that I haven't seen before. I took the photo next to some beautiful roses my Husband brought me today although you can only see one! I thought it was appropriate :)

Also in the parcel was some cute heart ribbon, lace, some pretty Broderie edging, some funky wool, two cute pieces of flannelette, a bead kit and last but not least....Choccie hearts! DH has already run off with one of them LOL.

Nikitas quilt

2008-01-23T22:14:00.000+13:00

Well, I have finally done it. My UFO of over six months is finally complete and Nikki is snuggled up under it as we speak. I stopped sewing it because of wicked morning sickness and the fact that I don't like the colours! I finally convinced myself that it wasn't my quilt and that its owner loves the colours so I hauled it out again yesterday morning. Embarrassingly I finished it late last night - binding and all. I thought it might take just a little bit longer than that. I tried my hand at free-hand machine quilting for the first time and love how easy and effective it is so I have a photo of my swirly border here too. Please excuse the missing top of the quilt in the photos. It was just too big for the washing line!!

babies

2008-01-23T22:05:00.000+13:00

Today I finally started to sort out my babies bits and pieces. With only six weeks to go I was starting to feel very unorganised! I pulled out all my boxes and tubs and started washing. I have done two baby loads now with only two to go. I brought a toddler car seat for my son last week so bub can go in the convertible and DH just went and picked up the Bassinet tonight. I'll try and put the auction photo on as the real thing is in pieces at the moment. I have seen the mattress though. It is HUGE! About twice the size of a normal bassinet. We'll probably get 4-6 months out of it.

Christmas2007

2008-01-03T22:06:00.000+13:00

This Christmas was a lovely quiet one for my family. My brother and his lovely new wife came for lunch, we ate far too much beautiful food and topped the afternoon off by walking to the park and flying kites for a couple of hours! Much nicer than sitting around feeling sick LOL.

I made lots of presents this year. I made four aprons, one book bag, two dresses, one princess costume, one skirt and one nightie. Talk about fun! I only have a couple of photos of my creations here. Elyssa is wearing her new red Christmas dress which she loves(minus the sash which she refuses to wear) and I also have a couple of photos of the book bag I made for my nephew. My poor old sewing machine needs a service so I didn't want to risk it doing satin stitch hence the lovely hand blanket-stitching(I actually really love this look and it is so restful to do).

I also threw in a couple of Christmas photos of my other two children, just because they are wonderful.

sewing again at last

2007-11-19T18:22:00.000+13:00

Here is a really simple dress I whipped up this afternoon for my almost-eight-year old for Christmas. May it be the first item of many more in the coming months!( And may it fit LOL)

Pregnancy

2007-11-13T14:47:00.000+13:00

Last but not least - my bubby. I am 24 weeks pregnant now and took my first belly shot in NZ at 21 weeks. I also took a photo of my very tired face so you all know what I look like! I had a scan just before leaving. Bubby is doing well and very wriggly and No, I didn't find out the sex LOL.

My lovely kiddies!

2007-11-13T14:41:00.000+13:00

All of my children had a great time with their cousins and grandparents. The girls got to go rockclimbing three times which they loved, and basically ran wild the rest of the time. Sam turned one while I was over there which was really hard without his daddy there.

Mega Catch-up

2007-11-13T14:20:00.000+13:00

I'm finally back from nearly a month in New Zealand with my lovely family(minus my husband boohoo) and have decided I seriously need to update my blog! I'll start with the reason I went to NZ to begin with: My brothers wedding. It all went really well although Adam(my brother) was really sick on the day. Rachelle's dress turned out well but is really hard to see in the couple of photos I took. Hopefully you'll get the idea anyway.

Quilt sneaky peek

2007-07-08T12:56:00.000+12:00

Yes! It's true! I am finally updating my blog.... but don't you worry. I have been sewing my little heart out. I started a quilt a couple of weeks ago for miss five which has taken over my life. DH can't complain though..It was his idea! He really doesn't like the colours though. Luckily miss five does although she wishes it had a bit more pink in it. I have now pieced and sandwiched it ( thanks Helens blog for the technique) and have machine quilted 80% and hand quilted about 30% of what needs to be done. Hopefully I can finish it within the next week or so or I might be feeling a bit sick to do so!

The other picture is of a turtle applique sample just to try out a new stitch. The quilts I want to make for DD1 and DS1 have a lot of applique so I want it to look nice. This zigzag works in a similar colour thread like in the turtles legs and head but not so well with a contrasting thread like on the edge of the shell.

Stash

2007-06-13T22:40:00.000+12:00

I'm feeling a bit tired tonight so I thought I'd sort out my stash. I have only been collecting fabrics for about the last six months as I got rid of my old stash before moving to Aussie. Wow! Not counting fabrics I am donating and getting rid of, I have over 60 metres of fabric that I am yet to sew. I think I might need to embark on a fabric buying ban. :blush:

Sewing Frenzy

2007-06-13T15:41:00.000+12:00

My poor boy has outgrown all his pants so I did some clothes recycling yesterday! An op-shop top and dress, each $1 have now become cute pants for my little man. I also made him some quick trackies from some leftover fleece. Unfortunately he is in bed so no photos. After all this sewing and a stressful afternoon alone with my children, I finally got them all in bed. Sitting on the couch I thought to myself; What does any sane mum do when exhausted and it's night time? Sew till 1 am of course!

So I dug into my stash and pulled out the sheet I op-shopped ages ago, and made my seven year old a tier skirt. It was all worth it when she tried it on this morning and said;" It's my style mum". And then she grinned and started jumping up and down crying "I love it, I REALLY love it"! What more could any mummy ask for?

It's Knittin' Time!

2007-06-07T13:49:00.000+12:00

I have finally broken out of my knitting dry-spell. I have had a period where I knit a garment and it doesn't fit, or I use a free internet pattern that is all screwed up...so I reverted to an old favourite to make myself feel better . I love these booties so much and I don't mind that they won't fit for long- cause I can always just knit another pair!!

Nappy Bag

2007-05-27T17:51:00.000+12:00

This has been on my list of things to make for ages now. Finally, I dug through my stash and pulled out all my Opshop fabrics(plus some SL poplin) and got stuck in! It took me ages to make as it was my first bag and I didn't have a pattern. I love the finished product though some of my friends think it's a bit bright! I have to say I did NOT enjoy the process. I am proud of myself but don't think I will become a mass bag producer.

Tagged

2007-05-13T16:57:00.000+12:00

Oops! I need to check the blogs more often! I have been tagged by both Corrie and Kylie and have to tell you seven random things about myself.

And the rules are:
• Start with 7 random facts/habits about yourself, that others may not know!
• People who are tagged have to write their 7 things on their blog
• Then choose another 7 people to get tagged and list their names

Here we go!

1. One of the first things I told DH when I first met him was how to take a dogs temperature (I was only 17 LOL)

2. I love the country. Looking out the kitchen window and seeing nothing but paddocks ( No, I don't live in the country)

3. I started a cross-stitch of a mother and child when pregnant with my first daughter. I only work on it when I am pregnant and it is still not finished after 7 1/2 years.

4. My best friend was afraid to introduce new boyfriends to me because I interrogated them worse than her mother!

5. I am really bad at emailing and writing to my friends and family overseas.

6. I have officially given up apologising for the state of my house.

7. I cut the hair of everyone in my family - we don't have a hairdresser!

I tag: Helen, Jgal, clair, olivia, cass, shibley, becca.

Nikki's New Top

2007-05-11T12:01:00.000+12:00

Nikki wearing her new top

swap fabric

2007-05-11T11:48:00.000+12:00

In fact I thought the fabrics were so lovely I immediately started sewing and made Nikita this summer top(my own pattern) using the pink floral and the lacy trim that Clair sent me. The straps are not sewn in the back yet but I wanted to get a picture before Nikki went to school.

Pincushion Swap from Clair

2007-05-11T11:44:00.000+12:00

The very lovely Clair sent me this fantastic parcel as part of the pincushion swap. The little owl is so cute and the fabrics are beautiful.

Pincushion Swap

2007-05-09T23:47:00.000+12:00

Now that Michelle has opened her pincushion swap, I can post some pictures! The Pinni is reversable and a size two so probably won't fit Michelles bub yet. I popped a pattern of mine in because I just won't use it any more as my girls are getting a bit old.

It's finished!

2007-04-26T10:59:00.000+12:00

Well, here is the finished rag quilt as promised. It took me two days to complete(working around family etc) and I am really happy with the finished product. I cut the squares with the old rip-and-cut method as I don't have a rotary cutter and board, so the squares are a little bit odd sized.

Raggy Quilt- work in progress

2007-04-24T21:02:00.000+12:00

I realised today that my sisters baby is due in a couple of weeks and I have practically nothing to give her! So, a quick trip to spotlight later, And I am well on the way to making my first rag quilt. I have to say, the impatient part of me is loving this! I started at lunchtime today and am already half done.. It does also shrink a lot when sewn together.

Dolls faces

2007-04-17T01:24:00.000+12:00

Here are a couple of the dolls I have made over the years. They are five and seven years old respectfully. They have been sucked on, dragged through the dirt, thrown in the bath, ripped open and slammed repeatedly inside the lid of the toybox. Need I say any more about their appearance? They are only in my blog to show a fellow sewer their faces. Poor little darlings.

Jammies

2007-04-17T00:59:00.000+12:00

I finally finished my Pjs! I really like them. Not something I normally go for, these were really easy to make and a perfect fit. They are crazily comfy too. You can see the flower on my hip which doesn't really match the rest - it is there to cover up a hole that I found when I had almost finished making the pants! I bound the bottom edge with the same yellow fabric as the flower to try and make it look less weird. Now I'm going to wear them in dreamland. Goodnight :)

Kitchen Swap

2007-04-12T16:07:00.000+12:00

Thanks Kerry! My Kitchen swap arrived this afternoon from Kerry. It contained a lovely green apron which is being modeled by my daughter ( It wraps twice around her but fits me perfectly), and a cover for my bread maker which is being modeled by.....my bread maker! There is a recipe for sticky cinnamon scrolls stitched onto the cover which I thought was a really clever idea. Yum! Can't wait to bake them! Thanks again.

Photos

2007-04-02T15:59:00.000+12:00

A dear friend came around yesterday to take some practise pics of my kids. I love them!

Nighties

2007-03-28T23:11:00.000+12:00

See, I have been SEWING! I hauled my poor daughters out of bed to get these photos of them in their new nighties. Elyssa's nightie has lace trim all over it but it's impossible to see because the picture is overexposed. I'm not really into lace myself but hey! She's seven!

Op - Shop haul

2007-03-28T23:05:00.000+12:00

I went for a trawl through the Op-shop yesterday and found a huge bag with six sheets in it! They are lovely florals, I just don't know what to do with them. Any ideas?

Kitchen Swap

2007-03-12T02:33:00.000+13:00

Here are the questions for the swap.

1. What colours are your kitchen?
Not a good one to go by. My kitchen is hideous. However, I do like intense colours and am really into blues/greens at the moment.

2. What is your favourite appliance?
My breadmaker - though I hardly ever get to use it.

3. What do you love cooking most?
This one's easy. Baking. If I have to choose savory then I would say Indian.

4. What item would you love the most from your swap partner?
A half apron would be great! Actually, anything would be great. Except oven mitts/potholders. Got a million of those.

Thanks to my swap person!

The return of the Mojo

2007-03-09T16:53:00.000+13:00

I FINALLY got around to doing the hoodie! I have been working on this sucker for a couple of weeks now ( well it's actually just been spread all over my table for a couple of weeks doing nothing). An afternoon of inspiration has it nearly finished apart from the buttons. The hoodie is being modeled by its owner who has already puked in the hood.

2007-02-23T23:54:00.000+13:00

Here's another photo of my boy. Just cause I can.

A present for my sister

2007-02-20T14:15:00.000+13:00

My baby sister is having her second baby in a couple of months. She lives in New Zealand and it will be REALLY cold when he is born, so I have made him a lovely cosy polarfleece sleepsuit. Hopefully he will stay nice and warm!

Sewing again...

2007-02-20T14:08:00.000+13:00

Finally I have my machines out again. This set was a bit of a learning curve for me because I have never really sewn knit fabrics before! Shocking huh. Of course the overlocker made it a little easier. Anyway, here are some winter PJs for my bub( I think someone used this fabric for a T-shirt?) I'm quite happy with them but would do some things differently next time.

2007-02-05T00:29:00.000+13:00

I can't resist putting this photo of my baby Sammy on. He just melts me.

This ones for the family- Nikkis birthday

2007-01-30T14:48:00.000+13:00

Here are a couple of my favorite shots from Nikkis 5th birthday at Wriggle it. Having a contemplative moment by herself and the zaniest group photo ever! My other daughter Elyssa is wearing the teal shirt.

Family Photo

2007-01-30T14:45:00.000+13:00

My best friend insisted on sitting my entire family down for a group photo a couple of weeks ago. I'm not particularly impressed with it but it gives me a before shot!

Close-up of the apron.

2007-01-29T13:25:00.000+13:00

Creative juices flowing!

2007-01-29T13:13:00.000+13:00

Ok. Here is a photo of my lovely new overlocker. I started this apron for my daughter so that I could try it out but ended up not using it at all! The fabric was really thin so I lined the whole thing and topstitched it instead. Excuse Nikitas clothes as I hauled her in from playing outside for the photo.

2007-01-28T13:44:00.000+13:00

Ok. Here are some old photos of my brothers wedding five years ago. This is my little girl Elyssa as a flower girl in the dress mummy made. It lasted for two weddings.
Next to it are a picture of myself with my baby in the outfit I made for the wedding(green) and also one of the four bridesmaid dresses I made with my sister inside it!(Cranberry)

My first blog!

2007-01-28T12:23:00.000+13:00

Well here I am with my very own spot on the worldwide web. This is really for my craft projects but I think I'll stick on some photos of the family too for all the Kiwis to look at. What have we been up to. Well its Australia day weekend and we decided to replace our backdoor ( the old one had a broken lock, broken dog door and was ugly.) We bought one off ebay which was carefully measured and Rodger carved out the hinge placements and prepared to mount it. Yeah right. It was too deep and wouldn't shut. So, after hacking away at the frame with a chisel for the rest of the afternoon, it now pretty much fits and looks alright. Now I just need to rip up the flooring....