School Ready

It's time to become school ready for us.  School returns next Monday.

With that in mind I thought I should at least have a look at what the kids need.....they are not the only ones in denial about returning to school!

Luckily not too much more than what is tucked away in the stationary overflow cupboard....if you have been a school family for more than a couple of years you probably have the overflow of school supplies that builds each year too.

But  a new pencil case was required. So I set off to Spotlight with the boy to choose his own material.

They are really simple to put together...here's a tutorial if you need one 

15 minutes at my sewing machine and all done.

So now we are a little more school ready for next week......Now just to get our heads around the idea.

Quick I need a gift....

I am catching up with a friend and her brand new bub tomorrow......but I hate going empty handed.....

With a zero budget and a room full of possibility what was I to do?

Use this great little perfect baby blanket tutorial and within half an hour and no expense I have a very soft and perfect gift to take with me tomorrow

{So excited to finally use a piece of the fabric I picked up in Melbourne 3 YEARS AGO...I know I am such a pack rat}

A little thank you sewing

One more week of the school term to go.....

One more week of playgroup fun.....

One more week and then I get to say thanks for all your hard work in making the best team ever...

So a little hand sewing has been in order.

A little gift for the volunteers that are so great at volunteering..... 

 

My Creative Space

 My space is a shared one this week...( to make up for the lack of crafting being done lately)

So if my sisters are reading.....

It has finally been confirmed....I am our mum.....

You know how I know?

I sewed  my Year 10 daughter's school skirt!!!! The only difference between me and mum is that my daughter asked me to make the skirt.......and....I made the kind she wanted!

So I present one circle skirt for wearing to school.......

 I used this tutorial. 

It is not perfect but she loves it....although not so good for those windy days I am told......

My mum made all our school skirts but she always made the decision as to what style....A line was her choice....we all wanted the pencil skirt but they were deemed impractical for riding our bikes to school!

Such was the conversation about a circle skirt as apposed to a more longer design....and the wind factor.......

But what do mums know anyways hey!

 Well I did say this was a shared space this week....shared with my little guy who suddenly was desperate to learn to sew....and it had to be now this week.....sigh

We began with straight lines practice.....

 .and practice some more.....

 Apparently after two sessions he was ready to sew something proper.....so we compromised and I suggested he make some bunting for his bedroom.

So he hit my scrap drawer and we cut out some flags together.....he sewed them together and then onto the tie.....

He decided he wanted to make his name so six flags were needed.

I suggested that he try printing his letters on once sewed......

He did a really good job.....and really enjoyed the whole process.....that was after he checked with me that it wasn't too "girly" to be sewing?

I assured him it was most definitely not! 

 I must admit I was a bit flustered to begin with...but I soon realised that this was a great opportunity to foster screen free and creative time with him......

I am just not sure where he will want to go from here....any suggestions for easy boy sewing projects ...just so I am prepared?

Joining in with Show and Tell.

A little festive hand stitching

 

 

 

 

I am finally feeling the space ...space to think about something that is not on a deadline.....

So I sat on the couch with my needle and thread, some recycled hessian and a few vintage bits......and I hand sewed....sewed just for pleasure.

Now I have a little bit of festive bunting that cheers up a blank space....actually I think it could pass for non festive hanging too...maybe it will hang out there long after the festive season is finished.

Joining in with Show and Tell and My Creative Space. 

My Creative Space

I made something!!!!

It has been so long since I have sat at my machine and made anything..(well except for the  100 pencil cases or library bags that is  )

I took an old pair of jeans that didn't fit right.......

+
a piece of fabric 

+

a pair of scissors 

=

 

 

 

 

 

I love it.....a new skirt that is perfect for the end of our very dreary Winter and will serve me well into Spring and Summer ...when they finally arrive.

Oh it feels good to have created something new to wear ....especially re-purposing something from my wardrobe.

Joining in with Show and Tell 

A question for you....

Excuse the poor photo but I was wondering if you would play a little game with me????

Do you know what the following gadget is used for?

Lets make it a multiple choice question...

Is it ..

A)  an medical instrument used in obstetrics?

B) a fancy cake testing tool

or

C)  a sewers best friend when needing to turn straps or handles inside out.......

Am I the only one who hadn't seen one of  these before?.....if only I had found one before. It could have saved me hours on all those bags I have made over the years.

I got mine at Spotlight it is called a "loop turner" or the fancy name a "rouleau"

Thanks Jody .....Friday sewing enlightens me in so many ways.

My Creative Space

Can't say too much.....working on a birthday gift for my niece....

 one who loved to dress up and be dramatic....

Just need a few more quiet hours to execute it's finish....

then I will be back to share .

Other creative endeavors here. 

My Creative Space

It's been a few weeks since my first splice skirt attempt......I love wearing it too......

I now have finished a second one......

This time I used three layers....

 I think I am going to love it as much as the first one I made.....

You could make your own buy purchasing a pattern from the lovely Jody here......

 

Other creative peeps here.

To do list....

With the school holidays beginning today,  so does the need for a list....

A list of some of the tasks that I need to do.....

and

A list of the things I would like to do.......

So apart from activities to keep the kids busy....

the chores around the house that need catching up on.....

the books I want to read....

the hours I still need to keep at work.....

Here are some of the crafty pursuits I need to tackle.....

Some overdue baby presents..... 

A commissioned bag and apron using some precious heirloom stitching......

Another commission to turn this favourite dress into a bag.......

Maybe not needed but certainly a WANT.... 

and a pile of garments waiting to be REinvented........ 

We are still all coughing and lagging a little with the lurgy that hit us  but I am sure I will muster the energy to tackle some of the to do list.

It can't be the end???

 Today was my final class in my 8 week REinventing workshop......

I had a few hurdles to jump in order to get there 

{insert unwell little boy}

thankfully my adorable sister was able to lend him a piece of couch for the day.....

I have had such a fantastic time learning new skills,

looking a garments through new eyes,

creating some fantastic new pieces for my wardrobe

and 

making some super great new friends...... 

 as something fun to do for the last class we agreed to do an op shop crawl during the week and put together a package for an anonymous swap.

 I arrived a little late to class so the gift giving was delayed but once the go ahead was given it was all on.......

we laughed and laughed,stressed that our gift wasn't going to be as great as another....oh and laughed some more.....

  no stress was needed as each chose and unwrapped their gift ,there was great excitment at what awaited us.....

In just a week, we had all mangaed to come up with some lovely sewing related treasures.....

 

Although I did notice a little chocolate was snuck into a couple of packages.....every girl knows you need a little chocolate to keep you going....

This was my package of goodies I put together......Kate was the lucky receiver....

One of my  handmade tote bag made from some oppie finds,

a tissue pouch made from a linen tea towel,

a pin cushion tea cup that I was able to put together from my trawling of local op shops

and the chocolate!

I also put in a vintage pattern instruction for wrapping..... 

I was lucky enough to receive some beautiful retro fabric zippered pouches that were collected on a stopover in Darwin during the week.

Such a lovely memento of my time in this workshop..... 

Hopefully tomorrow I can put together a roundup of all the new outfits I created during the last eight weeks

14 in total 

Hop over here to see other lovely things and lovely people

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something you can be thankful for..no matter how simple it is.