The Ball Dress

Ok - I think that this will be my one and only ball gown/dress that I make while pregnant! It is hard to make something to fit now and hope that it will fit in a few months time!

I like how it has turned out - It still needs something - I have a broach on loan at the moment and have some more that I will try before I make a final decision - but it really does need something!

Oh and those that know anything about cameras and photography - I have no idea how I managed to take these photos of myself, but I like how they have turned out and gives you all a sneak peak at the dress.

I learnt and practiced alot of skills making this dress. First ball gown, first time using boning, making a casing and adding elastic and of course that dreaded zip (which I must confess actually came in and out of the dress about 6 times in total and is currently hand stitched in places - lets just hope that it holds up to a night of wining and dining and maybe a little dance floor shuffle!)

Will be back with some pics of us at the ball, and then who knows when I will get a chance to jump back on here, the house is currently being packed back into boxes and will be it's way to our new 'home' for two years!

Work in Progress Wednesday!

I have been working on and off on this little number.
It is taking a while and I am learning a few new skills as I go along (I have never put boning into anything and have not done alot of sewing with jersey before) I have finished the bodice and am about to attach it to the skirt and then it is onto the zip...

The photo does not do it justice - When the overlay is moved it shimmers silver. Tim doesn't like the material - he says that it looks like "fly mesh" MEN!
A friend also had a little girl the other day - so I thought that I would sew her something for summer. We are off to see her this afternoon armed with these goodies.

I little dress that is made from a vintage swing top pattern that I found in one of my recent opshop visits. The pattern says 6months but as you can see Amelia is able to wear it as a shirt at almost two. Fully reversible and complete with another little yoyo on the dress.

And a little doll - next time I make her I wont make her little arms so chubby!Does anyone have a pattern for little pants that go with the swing tops? - I always seem to find the patterns with the pant pieces missing!

Bring on Spring so we can see the wildflowers and lambs!

I have been doing a little sewing of late. I have just finished the first outfit for Amelia's Spring/Mackay wardrobe. I know - I should be working on my ball dress (and I promised photos of that tomorrow) But while I had white on the overlocker I could not help myself.

This little outfit is as vintage as one can get. The pattern (Simplicity 5649 - Vintage 1973) and the material came from the opshop and the yellow came from my grandmothers stash (and could well have been there for 20 years)

Complete with a little hair clip made with my new tool. It is a Yoyo Flower maker - not sure if I will use it alot, but it does make for a cute hairclip addition.






I have some orange ricrac here - and just tossing up whether to add it to the bottom of the shirt. What do you think?

I also want to get some little dresses made and a twirly skirt (or two) and a tiered shirt. Ok - off to thread the overlocker with black thread now and overlock the seams of the dress.

NoteBook and Pen Holder

I whipped up this little gift in about 40minutes (from thinking about it to having it wrapped and out the door to the party that is!)

I got the original idea from One Red Robin - but did it alot smaller. Still very cute though - Next time I will make a few changes - put the interfacing on the lining (when using denim as the outer material - the denim really does not need any extra strength!) Think about the placement of the strap next time - if you open it like a book the pens and notepad are upside down (opps!)

And a few happy snaps of my little girl off to her first fancy dress birthday party!

" Wonder if I can turn Eme into a horse and carriage and be taken to the party in style - instead of having to walk?"

FlashBack Friday

This week called for a group photo - apart from school photos and the one that I used last week I dont have much to choose from. Dad tells me that he has a great photo from his soccer days with us in it as well (so I might add that one when I get a chance to take a picture of it!)Eimeo Road Hockey Team
Me - top row, second from left

Brownies

Me - the left of the photo - Don't look very happy do I!

These photos bring back so many memories for me. I was hopeless at Hockey - yet I think I stuck it out for a few seasons. I am still useless with ball games to this day and apparently I would stand on the field and yawn!

I love this picture of all of the brownies together one day down at the beach. There are people in here that I still know and have contact with, others that I would not even know there names. The best thing about it though is that I like the old 'brown' uniform and the fact that Brownies are not called bronwies anymore - they are classed as Junior Guides.

Thrifty Tuesday

Well, where has that week gone.

Over the weekend we made a trip up to Albury to visit Tim's brother and SIL. I managed to get to a few opshops and this the result. Two lovely pillowcases, 1 meter of white material with little gardening girls on it and 20 zips.

Now all I need to do is find the time to turn them into something - Oh and find the energy!

Edited to add: Lily - the zips will become little purses (just some ideas that I have in my head to sell at the christmas stall and for 50cents for all of them I could not leave them there) and Lah - yes they are from your secret stash - but it is ok - I left some for you.

The Candy Man Can!

This weeks FlashBack Friday called for ourselves dressed in Fancy Dress. These ones aren't totally fancy dress but they are funny and have a story to tell.

I was in Calisthenics and these photos were taken at the very end of 1985 (so they just sneak in) It was our Christmas Concert and was held at the old Theater Royal (in Mackay) Me: Bottom Left

The first as the title suggests in a photo of a group of us ready to go on stage as Candy Canes! Ok now I have the song in my head so here are the words from the song featured in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Who can take a sunrise,
Sprinkle it with dew?
Cover it in chocolate and a miracle or two…
The candyman, the candyman can,
The candyman can 'cause he mixes it with love
and makes the world taste good…

Who can take a rainbow,
Wrap it in a sigh?
Soak it in the sun and make the stra'bry lemon pie
The candyman? The candyman can…
The candyman can 'cause he mixes it with love
and makes the world taste good…

The Candyman makes
everything he bakes
Satisfying and delicious.
Talk about your childhood wishes.
You can even eat the dishes!

Who can take tomorrow,
Dip it in a dream?
Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream,
The candyman? The Candyman can, the candyman can…
The candyman can 'cause he mixes it with love
and makes the world taste good…
And the world tastes good
'cause the candyman thinks it should…

And the second photo (taken from the same concert) is me, dressed and looking gorgeous as a Soldier Boy. Look at how long the pants are on me. Thanks Mum, these long pants caused me to have a stumble on stage and is still a treasured memory to this day for all of my family!

A special note must be said to all of our crafty Mums who put many of hours into making us look the part for these concerts - Thanks Mum

Another Project started means another forgotten!

Humm - Why do I do this - get an idea and just start something new without finishing something that I am already starting on.

This latest one is with the wool that I bought while over at the Bendigo Wool and Sheep Expo - There is a reason for this one being cast onto the stitches though. We are attending a ball on the 1st September and was thinking that I would wear it to that! I am now starting to stress that I won't have enough wool - So I am on mission to get it finished over the weekend just incase I have to order some more! So that means a minimum of 10 rows per day.

It is looking good and am loving the feel of the wool.

I also managed to get the sewing machine and overlocker out and sew up a pair of PJ's for Amelia. I appliquéd a little bird on them (inspired by the birds on everything at the moment) Amelia likes it too and walked around the house after her shower pointing to it and saying "burd, burd"

Going Spotty!
This little quilt is the quickest out there - made up of 3inch fabric squares and stitched together in raggy edge quilt style (thanks Helen for the instructions here and here)

It will be part of a Birthday present for one of Amelia's little friends next week.

Note to self: Next time I do this type of quilt don't do 3inch squares - they are just to fiddly
Oh and don't look too closely - this little doll does not have any clothes on - poor little mite, you would think that with a sewing Mumma and a Grandmumma we could have clothes for Amelia's dolls.

Thrifty Tuesdays

Giving credit where credit is due - I got the idea of Thrifty Tuesdays from Pip who got the idea from Paper.String.Cloth

I think that I will alternate with Toddler Tuesdays - as I have a little girl here how wants to be doing more and more every day and crayons just aren't keeping her occupied anymore - so keep an eye out next week for some recipes and craft for little ones!

Look at all of this op shop loveliness - and apparently the op shops have been thin - I am so moving to Albury/Wodonga if this is what they have to offer! Thankyou so much Leah - I love everything...

And look - my very own little purse filled with this lovely little iron on's (cant wait to make something for Miss A)








Some of my other favourites. I love this little knitted outfit (we have a few naked dolls around here at the moment)











And this little doll - how cute is she - Have a friend who is due to have a little one any day and would make a great gift. Humm what else - a piece of flannelette and a piece of cotton and two patterns for when I am back to being my NON Pregnant state again!

Thanks Leah - you are a gem and you had absolutely nothing to worry about.

A Quick and Chunky Jumper

This jumper is the quickest and easiest out there. Knitted on 8mm needles and thick and funky wool (don't ask me where I got the pattern from - it is currently a photocopy which came out of a book that I loaned from the library sometime last year!) Do you remember this wool - it is the wool that Tim did not like and called it "Moudy Orange" He now says that it looks ok - but he did not say that until he saw it on his super cute little girl (And how can any dad say that 'his' little girl is not cute!)Amelia did not want to stand still for me to take a picture of it on her so I hope that you are able to see parts of it. I messed up and made the body in a size 1 and the arms in a size 2 (big opps!) But I was able to extend the body a little with two rows of crochet. As you can see the sleeves are rolled up so maybe it will see her out for two winters.

La Hawaiian Girl

Welcome back to Flashback Fridays. Thought that I would just show you a pic of ME this week. A big thanks must go to my Mum and Dad who have been such good sports about having thee georgous pictures on my blog (love you both)

This photo was taken on my 2nd Christmas (I think!)
And to make it easier for all of you interested in Flashback Fridays there is now a webring set up (check out my side bar) Just click on next and it will take you to the next person in the ring who has signed up.

WIP - Rugs4Kids - Complete and in the Mail!

Sorry Joy that this is getting off late - I have dragged the chain with getting this done and the dreaded Morning Sickness has not helped at all! Kerry keep an eye out for it coming your way!

So here it is, my 7cm. It was getting a little too purple! So I thought some pink was in order. It is a machine wash 4ply knitted double and I knitted a little butterfly pattern into it! So Cute!

I ended up adding a poem! Changed slightly from this one here!

My Blankie!

This has been my favourite blankie,
Since the day that it was received.
Even though it is loved & treasured now
With dirt and just a little torn.

Mumma tries to coax me,
To let her wash out the grime,
But I sneak it out from the laundry,
Just in the knick of time!

Saved from suds at least for now,
It has my smell and the feel I love,
its my bedtime security.

Someday I will be brave enough,
To pack me treasured blankie away,
And will be a picture in my memory
Of that blankie that is so special to me!