Ditty Bag

I am a pattern collector (and pinner!). I have a rather large box of sewing patterns and most of them have never been used. I do get them out from time to time while I am browsing fabric shops online to match fabric to patterns but so many times I never actually get to sewing them…a bit sad really. Maybe if I spent less time on Pinterest, Ravelry and Facebook I would get more done!

One of those patterns that I had pinned a while ago was the Ditty Bag. It is acute little top zippered pouch with a hanging loop. Perfect for storing knitting accessories! So when I signed up for a knitting accessory swap on Ravelry I knew I had to make one for my partner!

Although I own a few Keyka Lou patterns this was the first I have actually sewn(see I told you I was a pattern collector!) and i found the photos and directions very easy to follow. I could make it without having to think too much.

 

This is now on it’s way to my swapee! I hope she likes it!

I now want one for all my bits and pieces but with my huge list of things to make for Christmas I think it will have to wait until after Christmas!

I made it for ME!

I am so super excited that I finally made something for myself! After sewing that dress for my 30th and having it actually fit me I was all inspired to sew for myself again. It did take me a while to actually get around to it though. Talking to my SIL I discovered that she too wanted to make herself some skirts for the summer and we had another friend who was interested too so we got together last week for a skirt sewing evening. To be honest only one of use got much sewing done and it wasn’t me! I did get my pattern drafted and my SIL made good progress on one of the gifts she is making for my girls for Christmas so it was a productive evening anyway. The next morning everything was still out so I decided to get stuck into it even though I had all 3 kids around. It only took a couple of hours so I was pretty pleased.

 

The skirt is a combination of the circle skirt from MADE and this tutorial changing it into a wrap skirt. I had to cut two semi circles(donuts) as my fabric wasn’t wide enough and if I make another(which I am pretty certain that I will) I will change how I put it together as how I like to tie it the seam sits right at the front. It doesn’t really matter as you can’t see it very well anyway.

You can tie the ties in a bow as above or leave them in a knot. I like both looks.

I see a few more of these being made for both myself and the girls!

Now what to sew next?

ps Taking good photos of yourself is HARD!

12. The letter ‘c’

9. Spring

 

8. Happiness

(and a little bit of cheekiness too!)

Miss a few…7. Love

A Crochet Tiara

I tend to make grand plans and then stress when it doesn’t happen the way I had planned. I had planned to make rainbow tutu’s and crochet tiaras for all the little girls at Elsa's party last weekend. I only ordered the supplies 4 weeks before hand and they didn’t arrive in time. I think this is probably a good thing as I would have been horrible to live with if I was trying to get 10 tiaras and 10 tutus made in less than a week as well as all the other birthday things!

Anyway, I decided to make one up for the girls anyway. I had seen a few patterns about. A cute one for $5 and free ones that I didn’t care for much. Since I can get a gorgeous garment pattern for $5 I had a hard time considering paying for a pattern for a tiara so I made one up With a little help from my crocheting sister in law!

 

I will write this up sometime…I am not very experienced in crochet patterns so I will need to call on my SIL to help I think.

A Happy Rainbow Birthday!

Today was full of fun and rainbows. My little Elsa is 5 and it seems like only yesterday that I was holding a new baby in my arms with no idea what I was in for.

Just a few snaps of the day…this exhausted mummy is too tired for any more words!

   

5 years ago…

I was in hospital waiting. Waiting for the medical staff to tell me when I would actually be induced, waiting for my mum to arrive, waiting for a baby!

Today I am getting ready for a rainbow party for a very assertive 5 year old! Pinterest has been a great source of inspiration for this and here are a few things I have planned…

Source: brandyscrafts.blogspot.com via Meika on Pinterest

Source: littlelovely.typepad.com via Meika on Pinterest

Source: designmom.com via Meika on Pinterest

Source: littlelovely.typepad.com via Meika on Pinterest

Better get off the computer...lots of rainbowing to do!

5. Shallow Depth of Field

4. Black and White

A Proud Mummy Moment!

Today my two oldest girls had their very first dance concert.

We started the day realising that my husband had left the dance bag at the dance studio after yesterdays lesson and needless to say I was a little (ok a LOT) stressed when I realised that they had no shoes! I managed to sort it out and they were at the theatre when we arrived!

Once we got there and I got their make up on it was all ok and they danced so well I was very proud. 3 and 4 year olds might not have the best technique or do all the right steps but they certainly are entertaining and totally gorgeous!

   

  This last photo is shocking but it is the only one I have of them as Mrs Potato Head!

3. A bad habit

For Bec…

Today I had an awesome time at the Hobart Botanical Gardens with my good friend Bec. Today is her birthday and we headed off with 7 kids between us, hoping for good weather…and we got it! We had chocolate cake and a yummy healthy salad (to balance out that chocolate cake!) and lots of fun and silliness in the sun! 

 

 

I also made her a camera strap cover. For anyone who knows Bec they know that she LOVES to take photos so I thought something pretty for her camera would be a good gift for her. In true Meika style I left it to the last minute to make it and was up pretty late last night finishing it off.

 

I used this pattern from Etsy.

I also made her a birthday cake using this recipe…it was delicious! I ate too much!

2. Something Green

1. Self Portrait

It’s not too late to join! You can catch up or you can just start where we are up to. Today is Day 3 “a bad habit”. Yesterday was “something green” ( my photo is coming!). Don’t forget to pop over to the flickr group to see what others are doing and to share your photos. If you have posted them on your blog then please feel free to leave a link in the comments as I would love to check them out.