Champion Cargos - pattern by Make it Perfect

My boys both recently needed new pants to wear to church, so I pulled out the Make it Perfect book that I received for Christmas and found the "perfect" pattern - the Champion Cargos pattern.

The first pair I made were in an olive coloured drill that I had managed to snag on clearance at Spotlight one day. These are size 3.

The second pair I've just finished are in a size 0 for my 12 month old (and there is plenty of room). I made these using some corduroy I picked up at an op shop. I probably wouldn't make these pants out of cord again (unless maybe it was a microcord or something) because when it came to sew the waistband I was sewing through 4 layers of corduroy at the pockets and my sewing machine didn't particularly like it, even when using my denim needle.

I love how these turned out - and how they look just that little bit dressier without having to try and figure out how to do a zip fly!

A few more cards...

We've had a few birthdays recently in the extended family. Oh and Mother's Day :-) Here's my latest card-making attempts:

Got Treats stamp set, Melon Mambo, Whisper White and Basic Black cardstock, Cupcakes wheel, Versamark and Melon Mambo ink, Rhinestone Brads, Dazzling Diamonds glitter and gingham ribbon I picked up at my local scrapbook store (which is now unfortunately closed)

Occasional greetings stamp set, Dinosaurs die set by Cuttlebug, Bold Brights assorted cardstock (retired), Crystal effects.

Dragon stamp by Snag 'Em Stamps, Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set (for greeting), stars embossing folder, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Bold Brights markers and cardstock, Staz On ink.

I know black, red and white is a bit unusual for a mother's day card, but I really like the way these turned out.

Basic Black, Whisper White and Real Red cardstock, Real Red and Garden Green markers, Real Red and Basic Black ink, sponges, Square Lattice embossing Folder, Pocket Silhouettes and Occasional Greetings stamp sets, Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon (retired)

Sharing

A couple of weeks ago (after trying to get together all year! :-D) two of my sisters-in-law came over for a sewing class where I taught them how to shirr. I was so nervous before they came over, because I'm really bad at trying to teach people (I would love to improve in that area - I love sharing techniques and ideas with others but just can't get the words out coherently!). But I shouldn't have worried, because they picked up the technique beautifully :-)

Here's what we made :-) My dress is on the left, G's dress for her 6 year old is in the middle and L's dress for her 6 month old is on the right. (sorry about the dark pic - it turned out to be a really cloudy afternoon...). And then my SIL's went further with the shirring... G figured out how to make shirred sleeves for the dress (I had never been able to figure it out before!). And then...

L made this gorgeous shirred headband and sewed on some felt flowers that I cut out using my Big Shot die cutting machine. The shirring technique is so easy and there are plenty of tutorials around to show you how. I'm glad I was able to share this skill with others and help them to enjoy sewing.

Keeping out the cold

I'm really bad at this blogging thing aren't I :-) Anyway, this past month has included a family holiday to Tasmania so I'm sure you'll excuse the blog neglect!

Before we went to Tasmania I made some scarves and hoods for the boys to help protect their Queensland bodies from the cold. They definitely came in handy! I used the Lion Brand Yarn Mini Trick Hat pattern with a couple of minor alterations (no front flap and no extra round of stitching all around the hat... I was running out of wool!) for the hoods and made up my own patterns for the scarves. Unfortunately I've lost the name of the wool, but it was a really thick wool (which helped these come together so quickly). I do know that I tried to search online for some more but the company doesn't make it any more.

This scarf is knitted. Since it was for the 11 month old, I added buttons so that it couldn't be pulled tight around his neck.

Crocheted scarf using maize stitch.

Crocheted scarf using treble stitch.

And here are some action shots...

They definitely kept us warm and toasty :-)

Finally...

One of my bad crafting tendencies is to get all excited about a project, going out and buying all the supplies... and then leaving them to sit in the (overflowing...) craft cupboard while I move onto something else :-) I've had the material for these cushions for about 18 months now. My original plan was to make this zigzag pattern from A Quilt is Nice - which is probably why it has been sitting there for so long. Cutting out is definitely my least favourite part of sewing. I'd rather just get straight in and sew. Anyway, I looked through the Sewing Bits and Pieces book that I received for Christmas and found this cushion cover pattern and decided that it looked much easier :-)

The material I've used is a fat quarter bundle that I'd found at Spotlight - I think there were 5 co-ordinating materials, and used a navy cotton fabric for the plain rectangles and for the backing.

(Just ignore the baby bottle lid in the photo...)

I'm really happy with the way these turned out. And I have a little bit more room in my craft cupboard now that the cushion inserts are gone :-)

Softies for Smiles

Christy from A Christy Production came up with a wonderful way to help kids who had been affected by the Queensland Floods back in January by inviting people to make soft toys. I was so glad for the opportunity to help out. So here's my contribution :-)

First up is a couple of Oopsie the Octopus from the Moda Bake Shop. You could probably just make one of these out of a fat quarter - I couldn't quite fit all the legs on the blue FQ but I managed to get them all out of the red FQ.

Then I made some of these Snuggle Bugs from the Blinking Flights blog. I normally have a lot of trouble embroidering faces but I'm pretty happy with the way these turned out :-)

I hope they do bring a smile to a child's face :-)

Card Catch-Up

Its been quiet on the crafting front lately. I started back at work from maternity leave, and was working extra shifts to have some extra spending money for our upcoming family holiday to Tasmania :-) Here are a few cards I managed to finish though...

(sorry for the bad photos... I hope to learn photo editing someday soon...)

A card for my niece's baby blessing. I've used the Baby Tees wheel, the Nursery Necessities stamp set (retired), pink pirouette grosgrain ribbon (also retired), pink pirouette and pretty in pink cardstock, the scallop border punch, the oval and scallop oval punches, and Crystal Effects.

Thank you cards for my flood auction winners. I've used Soft Suede, Crumb Cake and Baja Breeze cardsotck, Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon, Elegant Soiree DSP, Soft Suede ink and Endless Kindness stamp set (retired).

A birthday card for my sister. I've used an acetate sheet (well... actually an overhead transparency...), Basic Black, Melon Mambo and Whisper White cardstock, Melon Mambo and Basic Black ink, Cute by the Inch stamp set (Hostess set) and Melon Mambo polkadot ribbon (Unfortunately retired)

And finally, an engagement card. I think the blue/vanilla/brown combo is one of my favourites at the moment - I seem to use it a lot :-) I've used the Elegant Soiree DSP, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake and Soft Suede Cardstock, Top Note die, Happy Everything (retired) and Punch Potpurri (hostess) Stamp Sets and Full Heart Punch.

I'm going to be busy :-)

High on my 2010 Christmas wish list were some craft books that I've been wanting for ages. And I must have been a good girl, because look what I got!

(I actually received this one for our wedding anniversary before Christmas)

I've already looked through most of them and picked out lots of projects that I want to try and do. Luckily I have a big material stash that I want to try and reduce :-) Now all I need is more time for sewing!

Thank you

Just wanted to say thank you to those who bid on items from my flood relief auction. I will be sending the winners an email to let them know that they've won. I didn't quite raise as much as I had hoped, but every little bit counts.

Queensland Flood Relief Auction

Thank you for visiting my blog! I live in Ipswich, Queensland and was fortunate enough to be spared the destruction of the floods. However, just 5 mins away many homes and business have been totally ruined. After counting my blessings I wanted to do something to help. When I read Toni's blog I realised I found the way I could help. With my husband home from work I've been able to spend the last few days at the sewing machine. I'm only a beginning sewist (sewer? that looks too much like another word...) but I hope you find something that you like :-)

Here's what I've got up for auction: (click on the link to be taken to the item for sale)

Girls clothes - Dresses - Size 1

- Size 2

- Size 3

- Size 4

Skirt - Size 5

Boys T-shirts - Size 3

- Size 4

Earrings for Sale

Thanks for your help!