Our New Home

The countdown is on and the boxes are being packed. The girls don't have much room to play at the moment as the lounge is stacked high with boxes but I don't feel too sorry for them as very soon they will have their own playroom/rumpus! It seems to have taken ages to get from first going to see the house to moving in and I suppose it has been a while. We first saw it in early January and fell in love! It really is our dream home. It still has a little work to be done on it but all in all it is what we want. 4 bedroom home with rumpus on 5 acres, a huge established vegetable garden, reclaimed timber flooring, huge kitchen with walk in pantry....and lots more too.

7 days until moving day!!

Here it is...

Beanie in action.

Just as the title says here are some photos of the beanie in action! Elsa was being much more co-operative today!

Pay it Forward

I have just signed up for 'pay it forward' on the lovely Ruth's blog.

Here is how it goes...

I will send a handmade or crafty gift to the first 3 people to leave comments on this post. It wont be tomorrow, maybe not next month, but I promise that it will be in the next 365 days. In return, they have to pay it forward (ie, send something nice!) to 3 more people.

Now doesn't that sound like a nice idea!Oh and this is my lovely Magic Yarn Ball from Vanessa (Monsoon Designs) It is being knitted into a lovely shawl!

Happy Hooker

I played with the idea of naming this post 'i'm a hooker' but backed out!

I have discovered that crochet is SO fast and SO easy!

I made these 2 in the last hmm 18 hours...yes thats TWO beanies in less than a day!The brown and pink one was supposed to be for Isla but it is WAY too small so it will be going to a friends new baby. The other one is for Elsa. It looks gorgeous on but she won't let me take a picture at the moment!

More Tutorials anyone?

Some of you may remember the list of tutorials I did a while ago. Well I was going to add to it along the way but I have found it too confusing as I don't remember everything that is there so here is another post of a few more that I have found along the way.

Sew Mama Sew - weighted pincushion organiser - I love this and am planning to do my own very soon!
Between - the lines headband - One of these is definately on my list for Elsa
Craft Schmaft -Tag Monster
Craft Stylish - How to make Dorset Buttons
Skip to my Lou -Felt Brown Bag Lunch Tutorial
Handmade By Alissa - Baby Quilt
Craft Stylish - How to make Singleton Buttons
Portobellopixie - Rolled Roses
Maize in Montana - Frayed flower
Two Little Banshees - Easy Skirt Tutorial
Made By Rae - Buttercup Bag
Curiously Crafty - Hat

Nirunaru Pinafore Dress

Well not a dress really, more of a top. But gorgeous none the less!

I added a crochet flower to the top and it is worn here over a white tshirt. I have plans to make a little blouse to be worn underneath it too at some stage.




Pattern - Ottobre 1/2008 - 1 Nirunaru Pinafore Dress
Size - 74

Likes

• I found this one very easy to sew. A few simple seams and that was it
• Only took a couple of hours including interuptions from the kids

Dislikes

• The underarm seams were a bit small and fiddly

What I would do differently next time

• Not much really although I would like to try one with the embelishment that is in the pattern.

Susette Sash Pants

My first attempt at an Ottobre pattern! I am pretty pleased with it all up but there are some things I would do differently if I were to do them again I think.

Pattern - Ottobre 1/2008 - 2 (Susette Sash Pants)
Size - 74

Likes

• I am very happy that I actually worked out how to sew it all together with the brief instructions and lack of pictures in an Ottobre pattern.
• Love my fabrics! I chose them about 6 months ago but never got around to using them!
• My belt loops turned out pretty well without too much fiddling
• I learnt a new way to do a waist band and now that I know how to go it I can neaten it up!
• The little gathers are SO cute!

Dislikes

• I had to unpick the elastic on the legs THREE times before I got it right!! It nearly went flying across the room!
• They are a little big for Isla. In fact they fit Elsa better! Fine in length but WAY too wide!
• My overlocker is broken so they are not as neat on the inside as I would have liked but no one sees that but me.

What I would do differently next time

• I wouldn't add a seam allowance as they would be wide enough without it
• I would make the belt loops shorter so that there is room to finish the waistband more neatly
• I wouldn't stay up so late to finish them as I am suffering for it today!!