Rainbow patch quilt - or Procrastination is stupid.

2012-11-27 12.17.58, a photo by TinCanDaisy on Flickr.

My daughter asked me to make her a quilt like the one in her favourite book - Laura's Star. That was 3 years ago and I procrastinated for that long. First I thought I needed exactly the same colours as the book, then I couldn't decide what backing to use then I couldn't decide what size to make it and then for some reason I couldn't find any enthusiasm for the project. I guess I had just put so many obstacles in my own path that it became too hard. One day though I just decided I was being ridiculous....my daughter really wanted the quilt. If I left it any longer she wouldn't be interested in it any more and it would just become another thing I'd promised to make her and never gotten to, so I just started on it and lo and behold it really wasn't that hard. So the moral of the story is, procrastinating that much is stupid. It really is.
The quilt is single bed size, the quilting cottons came mostly from spotlight. I used a flannelette sheet to back it so it's nice and snuggly and the bamboo wadding came from my mother in laws stash, I had to piece it but that was no drama either.
I'm so glad I made this for my girl, she loves it. She feels loved and I feel like a good mama for getting it done when I said I would.

The pretty witch dress.

2012-11-25 14.38.06, a photo by TinCanDaisy on Flickr.

I think it's safe to say that I'm a bad blogger but I've decided that I'm ok with that. So today I'm going to share the pretty witch dress I made for my littlest DD for Halloween.

I used a vintage basic bodice dress pattern and altered the front. If I'd had more time I would have altered the fit as it turned out very wide, but the little witch was happy and really that's all that matters.

Crafty Mamas Pixie Dress

I'm almost embarrassed to come back and make this post....but I made something and thought, well, maybe I ought to share.

I was very very lucky to be chosen to test the latest pattern from Crafty Mamas, designed by the very lovely Lisa herself. This is the Pixie Dress. It's so cute it makes me want to squeal!! I love that it's a slim fitting pattern as my kids are all on the average to slim side and so many patterns that I make up end up being loose and baggy on them.

There are a ton of options for this pattern. Hooded or not, long sleeve or flutter sleeve,  pieced hood and sleeves or plain. There are 3 length options for the skirt, tunic (which is what I made) knee length and long. I can think of so many things I can do with this pattern and I'm sure it's going to become a favourite.

My little model loves her new top. I don't know why she's sticking out her belly in this photo....she's one of those people who is very natural and happy but point a camera at her and she goes all awkward (a bit like her mama perhaps).

Lucky me.

It's been a long long time between posts and a lot has changed in my life. I used to be a shed dweller but I now live in a house. It's a rental, but it's a house none the less and it doesn't leak, there are no gaps in the walls and it has both reverse cycle ac and a lovely wood heater hence this winter we are snug as bugs in rugs. The landlord lives on the property and he mows the lawns all the time so I never have to ask (nag) to get them done. I am surrounded by beautiful gardens that I'm free to weed and plant out to my hearts content. There are fruit trees....oranges, mandarins, lemons, lemonades and in summer a plum and also a strawberry patch that the children are encouraged to plunder. Yes, this is a good place to live and I have been blessed.

In my shed shack I had a small area that I claimed as my sewing space, but it was cramped and cold/hot depending on the season and dusty and I didn't really get much done. The depression that came from living in unsuitable conditions was debilitating. I was constantly worried about the health of my children when I could see how much dirt and dust would blow in. The bathroom and 'dining room' ceiling were covered in mould. It really freaked me out and I'm so glad we aren't living in there anymore. It was really just supposed to be for 6 months while we built our home but 6 months turned into 8 years and although it's getting close the house still is not finished. At first I was able to treat the shed/shack as an adventure and pretty much played pioneer woman. I figured the settlers in this area had put up with so much that surely I could cope, and I did cope....for a while. But there came a point where the adventure wore off and it was all about surviving. I'm not a church going person but I do have believe in a power that is higher than ourselves. Call it God, Allah, Mother Nature....call it what you will....I just think there is more to this world than us. Anyway, for some time I had lost my faith. I was in a difficult situation and I was trying desperately to control it and find my own way through, but one night I lay down in my bed and I realised that I needed help. That I was ready for help. It was at that point that I gave my desire to control the situation I was in away and I asked for help, for a way out of that horrid shed/shack. The very next day my partner told me that our next door neighbours house would be vacant for 6 months. To say I was surprised was an understatement. I had prayed, I had asked for help and there it was. So now I and my family are cosily wrapped in the warm embrace of this beautiful home and I am ever so grateful.

Of course, now that I have my lovely sewing space you'd think that I was making a million and one little dresses and pants and all sorts of things but I'm still finding it hard to focus. It's a challenge for all of us, going from a one bedroom shed/shack to a 4 bedroom house with 2 living areas and 2 bathrooms!! We are all having to learn to be tidy, to put our stuff away when we are done. I think I might be one of the messiest though, but shhhh....don't tell. I tend to get all my craft crap out and then spread it all over the place. My boxes of fabric have all been rescued from storage and I'm shocked and overwhelmed by how much I have. I'm also sad when I pull out fabric that was supposed to be made into a dress for one of my little DD's who are now not little at all. Why can't they stay little??? I hate it that they grow up so fast.

Before I go I want to share a picture of this gorgeous slouchie beanie that I was so lucky to receive. One of my online friends made it especially for me.

I find it funny that I should have online friends. I used to be so negative about computers but learning to use the internet has been a mostly positive experience for me. I say mostly because I do tend to spend too much time and money online (which has a lot to do with how much fabric I have!!) but if I hadn't learned to use the computer and the net I would never have met the many really lovely people I now know, nor would I have learned as much about sewing as I now know. Just like everything else in life it is a balancing act and sometimes we are in balance and sometimes I guess we just trip over and fall in a heap of crap...or a daisy bush. I'd really rather the daisy bush.

Thongs

Thongs, a photo by TinCanDaisy on Flickr.

Somebody took my left thong and hid it. Somebody took DH's left thong and hid it too......thankfully I only had to wear this mismatched pair to the letterbox. Nobody saw me which was good. But then everyone around here knows I'm a bit quirky so they probably would have just assumed I was trying out a new look and then I would have tried to explain, which would have made it worse because I get flustered when I'm embarrassed and trying to defend myself. And then they REALLY would have thought I'd chosen to wear odd thongs.

Now that I look at my feet I can see how badly I need to let my toe nails grow. I cut them super short for some reason and I need to stop it. Painted nails would be so much cuter.

And yes, that is a tattoo on my toe. It was a failed attempt and there's a funny story about it, but you'd have to buy me a tequila to get me to tell it ;)

White Ants

White Ants, a photo by TinCanDaisy on Flickr.

Apparently, if you're a white ant, after you've eaten the insides of the built in pine tv unit, the skirtings and the architraves, books made a rather tasty dessert.

If I'd taken a picture of this book yesterday I'd have been able to show you the dozens of white ants happily eating away at it's pages, but I put the book outside overnight and when I went to take the picture the next day they were all gone. Because, apparently if you're a black ant, white ants are rather tasty.

And more undies!

IMG_6906, a photo by TinCanDaisy on Flickr.

It's been a really, really long time since I've had paid work so I have been having a wonderful time making undies and selling them. 6 pairs of these were for an order from a truly lovely lady who does the MOST amazing sewing, so I was incredibly nervous making them for her little girl. I cut and sewed 6 pairs, then decided my colour combos weren't good enough so cut and sewed a whole bunch more!