Search Results for: sewing

Busy, busy, busy!!

I’ve managed to fit in a lot of sewing and crafting time this week. I’m showing glimpses of something I’ve been working on to try and impress someone. More about that later I hope.

I love the colour combinations.

I’m so pleased with the finished product.

This being my 399th post can only mean one thing.

So.. to celebrate my 400th post (and today – my 34th birthday!) I’m running a giveaway.

Stay tuned, it’s a good one!

It’s been great having a break and re focusing on the things I need to re focus on. Being away from the computer has given me more time to sew, embroider, homeschool, organise the house – I could go on. I’ve decided to restrict my computer time and prioritise.

I was going through my fabric trying to decide what to do with the smaller pieces of knit and thought it was high time I did some sewing for the little one.

The top is an Antonia and I used an old Burda pattern for the pants. A very cheap outfit too – the blue panne velvet for the pants was a freebie from someone who didn’t want it, the sleeves are from a swap with Gilly and the rest were Crafty Mamas fabrics I had left over.

Cute and comfy!

Off to the USA..

by Kelly 6 Comments

Not me unfortunately – my dolls are much better travelled than I am. This doll is being sent with her own hand dyed silk and flannel blanket.

Her dress is a lovely soft cotton velour and she has Hilco striped leggings. Her hair is a mohair blend. This colour hair is very popular, it seems lots of little girls have similar hair.

I’m so pleased to see sun streaming in the windows, I had asked Linda in South Africa to send some sunshine over here – it must have worked.

Today is trying to reorganise my sewing table – oh boy, it’s so out of hand!! Hope you have a great weekend, see you next week.

The Bonnie Babes Foundation

by Kelly 5 Comments

I have joined the Bonnie Babes Foundation as a volunteer. I will be sewing burial gowns for families who have lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or prematurity.

This is a practice gown I made today, I’ll be making many more in a few different styles from my own patterns. Making dolls clothes has been a good preparation for this.

It brought tears to my eyes when I realised how tiny the gowns will be. I am so blessed to have safely delivered 4 healthy children. I have lost 2 babies to miscarriage at 10 weeks, but the burden seems very light compared to this reality. I hope my gowns will bring some sort of comfort to the grieving parents who receive them.

Turn a top into an apron…

by Kelly 7 Comments

I bought this top at an op shop for a few dollars. When I put it on at home it didn’t suit me and looked very apron – like. Well, a girl can never have too many aprons! A pair of scissors and a sewing machine later….. Here’s an overview of what I did:

I started by cutting straight up the middle of the back so that when laid out it looked like this.

Then I cut out the sleeves, just following the seam lines (cut out the seams too.) Because of the style of the yoke and neckline, mine now looked like this.

Next I folded it exactly in half and cut an “apron shape” – that is that sort of curved look where the sleeve was. You can either “wing it” or use an existing apron as a guide for the shape. I also cut a few inches of excess from the back edges for a good fit when wrapped around.

The next step is to overlock (serge) all raw edges, which in this case was right around the sides and the top ties of the apron. Using the tie that came with the top, I cut it in half before attaching it by the raw edges to the sides where I wanted the apron to wrap around and tie at the back. Once all the edges were tidy and finished I sewed the ties at the top together to form a loop to go over my head.

Don’t you think it looks much better as an apron?!

Really inspiring

by Kelly 2 Comments

I’ve been participating in a couple of blog themes each Friday (Saturday here is Oz.)
If you’re looking for some beautifully inspiring projects, tutorials or just eye candy check out these links (you’ll see me in there somewhere too!).

The Magic Onions – Friday’s Nature Table

Natural Suburbia – Friendship Friday

Thanks for your recent kindly comments, I think I’m on the mend now and I’m planning on making my hands busy today (at the sewing table of course!)

Wishing you many blessings this weekend.

New play clothes

by Kelly 5 Comments

I made some much needed warm play clothes for the girls. This is what I like – simple and quick sewing with a cute result. I actually get a lot of clothes sewn up in my mind, but sadly not many in reality!

I modified the Miss Madeline dress pattern to make long tops with 3/4 sleeves.

The leggings are from a very easy Simplicity pattern.

This little one hasn’t quite got her “camera smile” figured out yet!

The fabric was all on special at Spotlight. I find knits really easy to work with these days, providing they don’t have too much stretch. I usually look for cotton with about 5% lycra or similar.

I’ll be making more of these, the girls find them so comfortable too.

Interview with Posie Patchwork!

by Kelly 3 Comments

I have to admit I have an ulterior motive for presenting this interview. I get to pick the brain and receive some great advice from a successful and long admired crafty mumpreneur. I know how many other budding designers, crafters, sewers and artists there are out there who can benefit from and be inspired my Mums following their dreams to make a living out of their passions.

First up we have the talented Jennie from Posie Patchwork, enjoy the read…..

* What prompted you to start your business?

I was a new young mother in 1999, fresh out of Uni, with a husband away at war, so I started sewing more

seriously to stop myself from feeling lonely & I like having a project to work on. I started selling to family, friends, word of mouth, then went full time after having twins in 2001 & started a website. When my 4th child started preschool in 2007, I started a wholesale label too & attended markets on a more regular basis.

* What do you feel are the keys to a successful business?

Finding a strong niche which you have a passion for, know your demographic, be original, fresh & add your own twist on new designs. You have to know your style & be confident in your skills.

*What’s next for your business?

Well as Army life has it, we’re moving in December to Brisbane, the 4th different state & territory I’ve started my business over in. It’s amazing how well supported you are locally & with good markets. I’m actually cutting back, as we venture into high school & more deployments coming up. 4 children have a lot of homework & sport for one parent to manage. I’d like to continue to do quarterly high end markets, perhaps start a small retail shop front, reduce & refine my range.

* What advice can you give other crafty women wanting to start their own

business?

I highly recommend you have a clear & concise answer for when anyone asks “what do you do”. If you um & ah you don’t sound serious, professional or convinced yourself!! Be strong, say something like “I own a design studio where I produce handmade products made from an amazing range of fabrics from around the world” which really means you have a craft room at home, work around the children & order fabrics on the internet.

* Many people say “do what you love and the rest will fall into place”. Do

you think this is true?

Depends if you want to be able to say you are in business or want to make money!! Handmade craft business is long hours, coming up with new styles & constantly trying to stay ahead of the growing competition. I still love what I do after a decade in this profession, but I was patient, let it grow slowly, work around the children from babies to primary school & managed to get involved with some great PR opportunities – magazines, markets, stores & customers who spread the word. My priority is my family, thus why I’m cutting back as they become teenagers & our family dynamic changes.

Thank you to Jenny for being my first interview victim!

If you would like your business or profile to be featured here, please contact me.

Crafty Mamas get together

by Kelly 12 Comments

There were only a few of us but we had a great day. We met at Nat’s quaint and lovely home where she has an upstairs room devoted to sewing (yes, we were jealous!)

Above you can see Nat and Claire hard at work on their dolls.

Zofia and I marvelled at Nat’s beautiful sewing machine- computerized and so quiet and smooth.

Nat took to doll making like a duck to water.

Claire made a doll for her eagerly awaiting daughter.

We all determined it was a lot of fun and something to definitely do again.

Many thanks to Paul for his enthusiastic help with the children, he did a brilliant job.

Funny things happen while you’re away…

by Kelly 8 Comments

The garden was fairly dry when we left but apparently Melbourne had a lot of rain and we’ve come back to a jungle – like backyard complete with giant zucchinis. The one at the front weighed in at 2.9 kilograms!! Unfortunately they’re not really edible at this size (I’ve tried!)

I’m working on a few things at the moment. Actually, I just want to plonk myself in front of the sewing machine after my week away, but there is so much else that needs my attention! I’m hoping to finish off a new doll this week, start on a custom order and organise myself for the Crafty Mamas get together on Friday where I’ll be teaching doll making for the first time (gulp).

Better get back to it…..