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!

Flood Relief AUCTION - Girls skirt - Size 5

Size 5 girls skirt. Made from the "Gypsy Skirt" pattern from Toni's book "Make It Perfect."

How this auction works:

1. Bidding will start at $15 (Australian).

2. You can place a bid by leaving a comment on this blog post with your bid amount and email address. Please make sure that your bid is higher than the previous bidder.

3. Your bid must be in whole dollar increments.
4. This auction is open to everyone. Postage is FREE.
5. The auction begins NOW and will END at 9pm (AEST) on Monday 24th January 2011.
6. At the close of the auction, I will contact the winner (please make sure your bid comment includes your email address). The winner will pay the winning amount directly into the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal and send me proof of payment via email. Once proof of payment has been received, I will post your skirt to you.
7. Thankyou for participating and happy bidding!

Flood Relief AUCTION - Girls dress - size 1

Size 1 girls dress with butterfly print. Shirred waist and broderie anglaise border.

How this auction works:

1. Bidding will start at $10 (Australian).

2. You can place a bid by leaving a comment on this blog post with your bid amount and email address. Please make sure that your bid is higher than the previous bidder.

3. Your bid must be in whole dollar increments.
4. This auction is open to everyone. Postage is FREE.
5. The auction begins NOW and will END at 9pm (AEST) on Monday 24th January 2011.
6. At the close of the auction, I will contact the winner (please make sure your bid comment includes your email address). The winner will pay the winning amount directly into the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal and send me proof of payment via email. Once proof of payment has been received, I will post your dress to you.
7. Thankyou for participating and happy bidding!

Flood Relief AUCTION - Girls dress - size 2

Size 2 red and white girls dress. Shirred waist, broderie anglaise border and yo-yo embellishment.

How this auction works:

1. Bidding will start at $15 (Australian).

2. You can place a bid by leaving a comment on this blog post with your bid amount and email address. Please make sure that your bid is higher than the previous bidder.

3. Your bid must be in whole dollar increments.
4. This auction is open to everyone. Postage is FREE.
5. The auction begins NOW and will END at 9pm (AEST) on Monday 24th January 2011.
6. At the close of the auction, I will contact the winner (please make sure your bid comment includes your email address). The winner will pay the winning amount directly into the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal and send me proof of payment via email. Once proof of payment has been received, I will post your dress to you.
7. Thankyou for participating and happy bidding!