A new look

Well, I spent hours at BTemplates this evening to find a new look for my blog. I am loving this design! I love that it is wider, that it has my prefered 2 columns, that it's softer on the eyes than the last template etc. My own dislike is that the date is not lining up in it's box, but it's so small it hardly matters. I would have prefered some tabs or drop down menus like the last teplate had to neaten up my side bar, but it's no biggie! I just like a clean and uncluttered blog.

When visiting other blogs I really hate clutter. It drags at the download and takes a while. I dislike music on blogs! When I am on my computer I have my own music going, music *I* like. Why do I want to hear 5 different lots of someone else's likes when I have blogs open? I blog surf, I click from link to link to link and save that which I like, move on from what I don't. If I start to hear music chances are I'll move on. If the page takes a month of sundays to open, I'll move on. If you have more content in your side bar than in your blog, again I'll move on. Why do people do that anyway? It's not like they spend time on the front page of their blog to benifit from the music and all the crap they put there, is it? I don't know. I sure don't.

Thankfully, it seems I still had a lot of my pics on my old computer, so I've not lost everything, just everything since getting a new computer some 2yrs ago. I'm still sad. I emailed Sandisk, and while I'm not holding my breath for a response I'm still hopeful. If not, maybe one of my computer tech friends can work it out. Curse computers!

A cute pic, just cos!

Out on the tramp with mummy and honorary Aunt's Cissy and Helen until 11pm! There was no way Jessi was missing out on anything. I am still surprised she managed to stay awake so long.

Little pretties

Last night Jessi kicked me off the computer. How I hate that! *lol* But it was a good excuse to go do something! I grabbed some scraps of fabric and stiff interfacing and finally made myself one of these

I didn't have any ink for a long time to be able to print the template. I like the little dish, it's very sweet. It's cloudy today so the lighting is either poor or washed out with flash, sorry. I sewed the tacks on the wrong side, I had intended for the green fabric to be inside the bowl and the bright patterned fabric to be on the outside. Oh well :) It doesn't matter all that much.

After Jess went to bed and I had regained my precious computer, I sewed yet another pocket tissue case while chatting to friends. This is cute, but it looks tacky! Again, the photos aren't wonderful, sorry.

This is the pattern I used for Jessica's dress for the races

I didn't use cased elastic in the sleeves due to Jessica's latex allergy, so I made cuffs with bias binding. I've never done cuffs before, so that was interesting. I sewed 3 little hearts onto the bottom of 3 of the pleats but they don't show up too well in the pics.

On a really really sad note, it seems my thumb-drive has stopped working! In fear of this I had JUST bought a portable hard drive and now can't transfer anything to it. Please, does someone have any suggestions? ALL of my digital photos are on that thumb drive *cries* There's a good 3yrs worth *sobs uncontrollably* I have tried it on another computer, I am googling to try find solutions. Basically, the red light isn't coming on and the computer isn't recognising it. I have noticed that the device is getting mighty warm in the moment's it's plugged in. It's a Sandisk U3 8GB Micro. I am so sad right now. Best I go read my new Handmade magazine to feel better.

As the sunshine fades

Summer is gone and the cool air is already moving in, which is surprising as it was such a HOT summer! Not only is summer gone, so is almost 1/4 of the year. I just don't know how time gets away from me so bad! I always mean to pop in here and update my blog, and then I get bored with the idea (or as is more the truth, too distracted by other people's blogs!) and when I finally go to do a post it's HUGE! I really need to blod more regularly. Yet, since I say that every time I do blog, don't get your hopes up :) I'm quite annoyed right this minute, I was doing the rounds of my fave blogs and it seems Flickr is down which means many of the images on blogs are little red x's. Boo!! On this note, I uploaded all my pics to Photobucket this time, since I didn't like the idea of another 6 hours for one blog post. I'll load them in as thumbs, you *should* be able to click them to see bigger images, if you so desire :)

My friend Marrissa of Through the Garden Gate and I have decided to try our luck at this years Mother's Day markets. Every year our small town holds a markets in the park and it gets smaller and smaller every year. We both enjoy creating (I'd say crafting, but we certainly don't limit ourself to crafts!) and it's not only our way of giving back, but to see if local people really are as interested in what we do as they say they are. We live in a tiny town, some 800 people, and the majority of them work for the local gold mine, so lets just use the S word and be get the nastys out the way. Snobs. They drive 2hrs ONE WAY to buy their groceries, they don't support local business. You know the kind, right? Nothing is ever good enough. We have a town full of them. So we'll try it out, see what happens. If we sell nothing then I guess all our friends know what they'll be receiving for bdays this year *haha*. It will cost us probably $5-10AUD to hold the stall so it's not like we'll be losing out. If we keep our target small and aim for the kids given $10 and told to "go buy something for mum" we might make back our fee. *lol* So as you see, we're in it more for the fun than to make mega bucks. It's always so nice to sit and socialise and markets are a great place for it.

It seems I had a blog giveaway win way back in January, and I had no idea!! Probably cos I wasn't checking blogs much then as I was away in Perth a lot (and my prepaid broadband is so expensive and that's what I use when not at home). It would have been some buttons. I've just sent an apology email to the wonderful host Jane of Pretty Jane. And here I was feeling like I've never won anything, ever. Well, now I can say I have, I just don't have it to show *lol* (I'm not claiming the prize after such a long time, just so you now. the email was merely for good manners.)

My gorgeous nephew is getting big. As much as I hate all the trips to Perth which Jess requires since being on Cyclosporin for her eczema, it allows us to see little Hayden all the more. Jessi dotes on him! She still wants a baby sister :)

My baby girl has turned 6! Amazing.. we didn't do anything for her bday as we had a very stressful drive home from Perth with her asthma. We only arrived home at noon the day of her bday, my mum was at work (she works away on a 2week on 1 week off roster) so she went to our toy shop with nanna while I raced home and wrapped some presents.

I've promised her a belated party cos Feb is just hectic in this little town, so many bdays! I have ideas piling up thick and fast.. Should be interesting. Jessi's eczema has never been sooooo brilliant! She was put on immunosuppressants (which still scare the hell out of me) but they're working! Jess is finally wearing socks! I can't believe it! It's been almost 2yrs since she agreed to wear them last. Such small things but so significant in our home.

I made some bits and pieces for Jessica for her birthday and she seems to have passed them. First off is my first ever patchwork and quilting. I've never done anything like it before, and I'm not sure I ever will. I didn't follow any patterns or directions. I made my quilt top, my quilt back, then made a sandwich of the two with wadding between, quilted it, then did the binding. Of all that it was the binding which made me wanna forget the whole thing! I flowed with the fabrics and I wasn't sure you could patch mitred corners but since I had no one to tell me I couldn't or that it wouldn't work, I just did it.

My fabric of choice

The Results


And a little dolls outfit made from a thrifted ladies shirt as seen some posts ago. The doll is one we bought at a stay in Princess Margaret Hospital when the doll we took with us went missing. She is Jessi's fave doll of choice right now and always seem to be naked! I used an old (I am reluctant to use the term vintage) pattern for these, I can dig out the details later if anyone's interested. I free formed the shoes with craft felt.

As mentioned, Feb is a big month of birthdays here so of course, we were invited to more than 1! The twin girls got these bags with hair accessories, while the other bdays got purchased gifts.


March saw the running of the local horse races which is one of the few social events in town. I had known for a long while I wanted to make myself an Infinity Dress, of which there is a really great tutorial on Craftster by Rostichery. Now, I looked at a LOT of similar dresses online to see what I wanted. I didn't "follow" the tute as such, just remembered the basics. I had bought fabric from my last trip to Perth to try this dress and it was quite hard to work with as it kept stretching all over the place. I borrowed an overlocker (serger) but the power cord seems to have been lost, which meant I sewed this on my regular machine. Nothing about the dress is "neat" or even "finished" (only the hem). I made a circle in a square skirt to get pixie hems and cut the circle too big *duh*. I also made Jess a dress from yet another old pattern. This one is without dates on the pack but I'm leaning toward 70's from the style. It's a "one size only pattern" and one of the few I had in a 4. I let Jessica choose the fabric, I wasn't even sure I had a zipper, but it all came off well. I don't have any good photos of my dress and will have to get some at a later date. As I cut the circle too big it was a bit too short in some places and I kept tugging at it all day! It was fun to wear, very comfy, and we both got some very lovely comments about our attire. I just found a pic of Jessica's pattern online at Wikia


Last minute I also made us each something for our hair. Mine is crazily crap, but hers was very sweet!


Since Jessi is anaphylactic to latex (as well tree nuts and sesame) I made some beanbags for her classroom to use in place of balls where possible. Her teacher was delighted. I think there was around 20 in all in 2 different sizes. So easy to make! I didn't hand stitch them closed as I was making so many and they're no worse off for it.


I've made myself a pincushion, trialling an idea/pattern. I am sure I have this in a magazine but my recent reminder was from Whosie at Whosie's Written Whatnots which she has titled Doily Pincushion. I would love to have had some small vintage doilies to play with! I'm still pleased with my pincushion. It helps that I am IN LOVE with this particular fabric! These are in mind for our afore-mentioned Mother's Day Stall. Not sure..

Also in mind for the stall, some pocket tissue covers. These are all the wrong size, too big, too small. Still trying to get it just right.


Sew Hip is a really cool magazine which I am so pleased to be able to buy here in Aus. So far we've had 3 issues and I am in love! I am sick of buying mags a few issues then they stop selling them. Bring me back I Can Make It Myself (which I didn't realise was Aussie until just now, so will be hitting up the newsagents to reorder this one!!!!) and Better Homes and Gardens Quilts and More. Anyway, getting back to Sew Hip, I have issue 3 and decided I liked what was coming in issue 4 so much I made it already, without the mag. As you can see, it's not perfect but I didn't put too much thought into it anyhow! I figured I can wait to read the pattern in isse 4 *lol*. I do need to move the button embellishments as they're far too low.


I've had some interesting thrift finds lately. Would you ever believe what size this dress is?

If you open the pic with the tags you will just see it's a size 8!! That's tiny! Compared to me anyhow, I am a 22! Yet the pic of me, in the dress, is me in the dress. Completely un played with. Hard to believe, huh? I decided to refashion it into a comfortable fit as that elastic waistband is sooooo tight, and add some length to it. I almost had it, almost wore it out. Then realised there were some ginormous errors and haven't yet got back to it. I need to rework that dress! But alas, winter is coming so the urge to perfect dresses is dwindling.

Another interesting thrift find is this fabric panel. I have no idea what I am going to do with it, but I can assure you it wont be making a box o_0 what an odd reason to make a panel. It has some really cute prints which I am sure can find a much cuter home!

Some unusual printed fabrics, again I don't know what I am going to do with them, I just find it impossible to leave fabric at the thrift shop!! I got plenty more, these are just more interesting. And I am sure you get sick of my posts being weighed down with images of fabrics that are all so old! I wish I had the $$ to go buy some Maria Horner and other bright, fun, modern fabrics. Maybe if I get the job I have an interview for on Monday I can. What's the bet I have to order them from the US?


A cute apron I thought would be good to draft a pattern from. I was disgusted to see it was made in China, I thought it was a handmade piece. Oh well. I wonder what they used the Velcro strip for?

And a pic of Jessica with her 11yr old aunt, whom she hasn't seen since she was 6mths old. To me they look very similar yet people keep telling me how much she looks like me. I think she is her dads family all over. Not that it matters, she's my princess no matter how she looks :)


I am sorry for the ultra messy layout. I am tired, this still took ages, and Jess has been begging for the computer for hours. Enjoy :)