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Lil’ Mim giveaway!!

Here she is – the first Lil’ Mim I made after drawing up her pattern. I’m so darn pleased with my Lil’ Mim dolls that I’ve decided to celebrate by giving this one away. As I’ve previously mentioned, I plan to put out a pattern for this doll and some cute Lil’ Mim stitcheries when I can manage it.

This doll is 10 inches tall, made with cotton tricot and Hilco knit, stuffed with carded wool and her hair is a beautifully soft cashmerino aran. Her hair is styled. Her dress and pettiskirt are removable.

To enter please leave a comment. For an additional entry please blog about this giveaway with a link back to here and mention that you have done so in your comment.

The winner will be drawn randomly on Saturday 20th February.

Second dyed silk blankie

by Kelly 5 Comments

Well, we made it home in one piece, it’s funny that you go away “for a break” but for parents of young children there really is no break, just a change of scenery. No matter, the change of scenery was welcome.

So… here is my second silk blanket for daughter aged 4. I find dyeing so captivating, the whole process – from mixing your colours to unveiling the prize at the end.

This time I dyed the flannel backing too, a beautiful lime green which is her favourite colour.

Tomorrow I’ll be starting the promised Lil’ Mim giveaway so I hope you’ll be back to enter!

Lil’ Mim

by Kelly 7 Comments

I have a new design and here she is! I created Lil’ Mim from a character based on one of my girls. My first thought was to launch a pattern for this type of doll, but I’m coming to accept that I can’t always do what I want all the time, in other words – the pattern will have to wait, I don’t have the time at present.

Did I mention she’s available in my Etsy shop now?

She is a smallish doll at 10 inches, simply because over the years I’ve discovered I like to make smaller rather than larger dolls.

I will be making a bunch of these in various colours and styles, I really love the pattern and feel it is the most “me” design I’ve come up with so far.

I have the prototype doll that will feature in a giveaway here next week, she is quite different to this one in her colourings.

My family and I are going away for part of the weekend (hooray, what a treat!!) so I won’t be around for a few days.

I hope your days until then are filled with many blessings.

Lil Mim has SOLD – thank you!!

Today is….

by Kelly 4 Comments

Enjoying the cooler weather and baking homegrown zucchini loaves. I must give you the recipe, it’s fantastic!

Feeling thankful for the overnight and much needed rain and bountiful harvest from the vegetable garden.

Watching new personalities emerge from lovely dolls.

Roasting and grinding coffee, filling the house with a beautiful caramel scent.

Making another batch of homegrown tomato relish.

I love a cool day after a hot spell.

A successful barter and a whinge!

by Kelly 6 Comments

Remember my post about bartering? Here is what I received in the mail today, thank you Gilly, what a welcome parcel! I don’t own many crafting books, so you’ve just doubled my collection. I just love surprises!

Now for the whinge. I picked up my sewing machine yesterday after it jammed and had to wait a week whilst it was (apparently) repaired. Naturally, I was very eager to use it yesterday, but what with h.schooling starting back today I had a lot to organise. Anyway…… I managed to steal a few moments earlier to work on a skirt, and, lo and behold – it’s still jammed!!
This is the point where I had to stem my natural inclination to run to the phone to ask the repairer if there had been a misunderstanding, as in – I give you $80, you give me fixed machine. Yes I appreciate your dusting my machine, after all it was a bit dusty, but I actually wanted to use it not just look at it. Ok, Ok, now I’m getting snitchy, but surely not without justification?!

On a lighter note, our first day back at h.school after the hols’ went brilliantly despite a toddler with a tummy upset and it has generally been a very good day.

Off to the sewing centre I go…………

WAHM ideas

by Kelly 7 Comments

I know many of you who read my blog are stay at home mums, as I am. For the record, I haven’t been able to find a way of making a regular income from home even after trying for 10 years! I’ve tried selling books, second hand clothes, I’ve even advertised in the local paper to do ironing with a total success rate of 0!! I’ve been able to sell a few craft items here and there for the equivalent of slave wages – not very sustainable. I wish it was as simple as following your passions and “what you’re good at”. However, I haven’t given up and I’m more determined than ever to earn money without having to compromise my family by seeking work outside the home.

1. Sell your crafts

2. Online shop

3. Clothing alterations

4. Market stall

5. Childcare (Family day care in your own home)

6. Freelance services (bookeeping, financial services, design etc)

7. Employer arrangement to work from home

8. Write ebooks

sites to check out:

www.workathomemums.com.au

www.wahm.com

www.wahm-ideas.com

www.wahmbizsuccess.com

Maybe this will be your year? (and hopefully mine!)

An empty space (sniffle..)

by Kelly 3 Comments

X marks the spot on my work table which is the home of my faithful Janome. As you can see, nobody is home today, nor tomorrow, not the next day either. In fact, this space will be empty for a whole week! A week of listless glances in this direction as I wander past. A week of concocting projects I can cut out in readiness for her return.
Perhaps it’s a good thing she jammed and is “in the shop” (in the middle of a doll order I might add!) Perhaps I might finally catch up on all those assignments I owe my tutor, perhaps I’ll clean out those cupboards that need it.
I don’t think I realised how integral the sewing machine has become to my life, what a great release it is to be able to sit and sew. The lady at the sewing centre said “Oh well, you can have a rest from it for this week” to which I replied “It is my rest!!”

Buy secondhand!

by Kelly Leave a Comment

One of my goals for this year is to save money by always looking for a second hand alternative before buying new. Not only will this save me money, but can often mean better quality in the age of the “made in China” sticker. I also think in this throwaway society we waste far too much, and I don’t want to contribute to that.

Throughout the year I’m going to keep tabs here on how much I’ve saved on items that I’ve bought second hand. Here is the most recent purchase – a used television (no I haven’t relented on my views of TV, it’s for a new Xbox, not for watching! )

1. Television –

Second hand price $170

New price – Couldn’t find an exact price but it would have to be at least $270, more like $300.

Saving – $100

For the record, I looked at used xbox ‘s but the price was no different, so decided to buy new.

Next purchase – bunk beds………

Total savings tally for 2010 – $100

Dyed skirt from scratch and a beautiful artwork

by Kelly 6 Comments

As I mentioned in another post, someone had skirt envy after seeing her sister’s old skirt makeover.

This time I made up the skirt as I went along. I started with white cotton lawn, made 3 tiers and an elasticated waistband.

The first dye bath was pink, then, while the skirt was still damp I dipped the bottom hem in yellow to get the graduated orange blending into the pink. The effect I was after was something like a sunset.

It’s a little more mottled than I would have liked and next time I’ll make the colours stronger, but it’s all good experience and plenty of fun.

My husband thinks I should make these to sell.

A while ago I won talented Israeli artist Ayelet’s giveaway and received this print of one of her artworks yesterday. It’s just gorgeous, she has a wonderful style. She’s also selling embroidery patterns of her artworks now, head over to her Etsy shop for a look.

Thank you Ayelet, I love it!

It started with one…

by Kelly 6 Comments

It always starts with one. One little hand sewn wool felt bear. “Oh, how cute!” says happy child as said bear is whisked away for a game. Sure enough, in a relatively short period of time, another little face appears beside me. “Mum, bear – make?” She may have a limited vocabulary but she knows what she wants! Once again, said bear is whisked away.
Then the bears need “friends” to play with.
Then Mum opens her big mouth and suggests that, given there are now 3 bears a game of Goldilocks could be an option.
“But Mum, we don’t have a Goldilocks!” they chime with shining eyes.

It always starts with one……