Happy 4th Birthday Eve

FOUR years old! My baby is FOUR! I honestly am blown away by how fast time goes. I must admit to feeling a little sad. I loved the baby years. I know there is so much to look forward to but I feel very sentimental looking back at photos of my gorgeous little Eve. I am also very glad that she gets to stay home with me for another year before I send her off to school!

1 day old

6 months old

1 year old

Eve was born 12 days before her sisters second birthday so for the last few years I have thrown them combined birthday parties. I'm not sure how much longer I will get away with doing this for though. I think Eve might want her own party once she starts school next year!

Happy Birthday Eve!

My (slightly grotty!) little princess

Eve you are delightful! You love to have fun and be silly and to dance! You are kind, loving and affectionate. I love you to the moon and back xxx

The Versatile Wrap Skirt {A Make it Perfect Pattern}

Taking photos for this blog post took forever! A combination of getting your 5 and 7 year olds to take the photos and using a tripod and a timer meant a challenging photo shoot! It doesn't help that when I look at the photos I can see the weight I have gained. I think I have been living in denial but photos are ever truthful unfortunately! Anyway back to the sewing...

I purchased this pattern  when I first got back into sewing so probably about 5-6 years ago! It is a simple pattern where the pieces are cut from the measurements given. I know some people hate this and prefer to have pattern pieces but I actually really like having measurements...no tracing out the pattern pieces!

I wore the skirt out before I had put the button hole on the side as I really wanted to wear it out and I was really pushing it to get it done! At first I was happy without the button hole but after wearing it again today I have now put the button hole in it as the ties stay in place better with it.

I have now pulled out heaps of other fabric that I could use to sew myself skirts and can see that before long my wardrobe will be full of them! Hooray for ME sewing!

Pattern - Versatile Wrap by Make It Perfect

Fabric - Twill Bouquet in Black, Dowry, Anna Maria Horner purchased from Hawthorne Threads

Laila Ruffle Dress by Bobkin

This dress is just the most ruffley girly dress ever!

I must admit I was a little scared of the invisible zip but I got it in ok and it wasn't as bad as I thought. 

The fabric is Circa by Jennifer Paganelli and it is just perfect for this pattern. There are a few other options in this dress pattern including a double ruffle(this is the single!). 

Pattern is available soon...like today or tomorrow soon! Head over to the Bobkin FB page to keep an eye out for the release.

My Handmade Christmas gifts

So Christmas is over and I only blogged 3 of my 6 promised blog posts! I sat down to do it a few times and kept thinking how I really should be sewing or cooking or something else and I ended up leaving the blog posts! I'm sure you can all forgive me for that!

I finished both dolls and their little outfits. I used the Pretty Peasant Dress from A Bit of Whimsy Dolls. It is made to fit her doll patterns and wasn't the perfect fit but it was ok. Heidi (the blonde doll) is wearing the original pattern and I made it a little bigger for Greta's dress. 

Both girls loved their dolls! This is my niece with her doll and her matching outfit. Isn't she adorable! She is wearing a Seaside Playsuit made with a Fresh Designs pattern

My girls wore their Disco dresses(pattern by Ainslee Fox) on Christmas day but I must admit that the lining was not yet stitched down! I stayed up two nights in a row until 2:30 am and they still weren't done so I did as much as I could before we left for out Christmas lunch and decided to put them in the dresses anyway. You can't tell and they are now all finished (apart from the belts!)

I would love to sew the Disco Dress again. I am not happy with my finish on the lining as I decided to machine stitch the bottom and it looks a little messy. I think I will hand stitch next time even though it will take SO much longer!

Today I enjoyed my Christmas gifts...I drank my new tea from my new tea cup while reading my new cookbook! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas too xx

Progress {Waldorf Doll}

I finally got out my doll making supplies, most of which I purchased a few months ago. After a quick trip to town to buy her 'hair' and colours for her eyes and mouth I started on her head...lets just say that it almost went flying across the room a few times! Oh I just couldn't get it to work and was getting SO frustrated! I worked out in the end that I had purchased polyester thread which is just too slippery and after I found some cotton 'thread'(otherwise known as Bendigo Woollen Mills Cotton yarn!) I got it to work for me. I must remember to buy some proper cotton thread before I attempt another doll!

She is imperfect but I still like her.

Tonight she gets hair!

5 day's 'til Christmas!

So what did I do today?

Danced to Christmas music with my girls! My 3 year old thought mummy was a fantastic dancer and my 7 year old rolled her eyes, my 5 year old wasn't sure.

Browsed Pinterest for more Thermomix recipies.

Joined WW again! Yes 5 days before Christmas! Not sure how my first week will go but you have got to start sometime right?

Went to the Botanical Gardens to meet my brother, sister in law and gorgeous little niece for some photos in the pouring rain!

Oh and on the Christmas crafting front I sent my husband to Big W for some ink for the printer so I can print the dress pattern tonight! Hopefully by the morning I will have some progress shots for you!

Busy Busy Busy

I guess it goes without saying that this time of year is Busy (with a capital B!). I have just finished my last business order and now I am getting my Christmas sewing list together. I have just a little bit to do...

Each of my girls will be getting new dresses so that is first on my list. They will be matching but not too matching!

I am going with the Disco Dress from Ainsley Fox.

This little Doll(Gretel) needs clothes! I am almost finished a little knitted tunic using this pattern and have also started a Poppy Cardigan. She just needs a dress or skirt and maybe some little shoes...I'm still deciding if I will knit them or sew them with felt...probably whatever is easier and faster!

Oh and I have to make another doll and her clothes too...I still need to buy the yarn for her hair...I really must get on to that!

I would love to sew a skirt for myself before Christmas too but I don't like my chances!

Oh and I need to make a Rapunzel Wig for a friends little girl too...not sure how much sleep I will be getting between now and Christmas!

I am going to blog daily between now and Christmas to keep myself on track...so you can all give me a kick if I don't!