Throwing myself straight back in here!

It has been a long while since my blog got some attention, despite my resolutions at the beginning of the year to try and keep it up to date.  This year has brought lots of big decisions, a couple of lifestyle changes and new routines for the whole family to get used to. But through all that, the same creative ventures have been keeping me sane, even in such a limited capacity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The two little twinnies I made a heap of preemie stuff for once upon a time, turned two just after we finally got to fly over to Perth and meet them.  So I decided to celebrate the occasion with a birthday vest and hat set for each little rocket boy. 

Miss M also gained a couple of winter hand knitted cardies, since the girl just keeps on growing like a weed.  Master A is struggling to stay above her on the height chart, and they weigh about the same even though there are 3 years between them.

The quilting has taken a bit of a back seat over winter, but I have been adding to my Lucky Star BOM blocks gradually through the year (just a couple of months behind).  I lost the race that the hubby and I had going - he finished Miss M's big bed, before I got the courage to quilt her big bed quilt.  And now I am hoping to find some time to catch up with the talented Emma, who has kindly offered to quilt it for me (she also saved the day and finished quilting Master A's big bed quilt for me after my pregnant belly with Miss M grew too big to get in close enough to my machine).

 

 

 

And now that the weather is warming again, the sewing machine keeps calling my name.  Miss M started school this term, a very rushed last minute decision by the school and kindy to have her start early meant we had no uniform in time for her transition visit, so I sewed her a little grey skirt from the Sassy Skirt pattern I found on etsy.  Sadly it only just fit her, even though I had added length and width, so she wore it once for the visit, and then it went straight to the op shop. 

 

 

I wished I had've listened to the recommendation someone gave me on Facebook to try out the Scientific Seamstress Perfectly Preppy skirt.  So when I couldn't

find her any black school skorts in any size less than 8, I went straight over to Scientific Seamstress and bought the Perfectly Preppy!  So glad I did.  I love everything about this pattern, and have many plans for more colourful skorts in my future!

 

On another facebook recommendation, I used the Scientific Seamstress Precious Dress pattern to make this adorable Alice in Wonderland Costume for Miss M. 

 

 

 

 

 

They were meant to follow the theme "across the universe" for book week, but she had her heart set on Alice after we had listened to it as an audiobook on our many trips up the hill to pick up Master A from school.  The only space characters we could think of weren't from books, but TV shows/movies, so we decided to ignore the theme and go with the literacy side of things, since Alice is a character she could relate to.  On the way to school that day, she surprised me with some quotes from the book that I hadn't even realised she had remembered!

 

I have also been involved as a volunteer pattern data entry lass over at the Kids Clothes Week Challenge.  I was assigned the Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop to set up first, which took a while as Amy has so many patterns.  Of course adding patterns meant also adding some to my cart, and so along came an evening re-connecting with my sewing machine to make this cute hoodie dress for Miss M.  When I finished with Peek-a-Boo Patterns, I asked my favourite designer from last summer's sewing if I could add hers.  So I am now in the process of adding the wonderful Tie Die Diva Patterns.  Jen was really lovely about it, and gifted me her gorgeous Butterfly Dress pattern, so I can't wait to try that one out too!

 

 

 

 

 

My newfound addiction to Scientific Seamstress patterns, meant a new fabric order for me, which arrived today.  They are hosting a selfish sewing week from the 23nd September, and I am looking forward to sewing for me for the first time in years -  I think I am going to go with the Jamie for this one.