Baby bundle

A friend has recently had her fourth child so I whipped up a gift for her over the weekend - a baby bundle!  The bundle includes a bib, a change mat, a nappy wallet and the shoes I made for Ruby that ended up being too smalll for her.

I had wanted to add some red bias binding to the bib, which would have finished it off nicely, but I had a bit of a nightmare trying to sew it on, so ended up unpicking what little bit I had managed to attach.  I started at the most difficult point on the bib, which was probably a bad idea - need more practice!

The change mat is the stripey dotty fabric on the outside and black vinyl on the inside, fastened with a dome.  Again I had high hopes of finishing it with some red bias binding but alas, my skills weren't up to it.

For the nappy wallet I used the same design as one I have made for myself, except I rounded the edge of the flap.

And I made some tags out of brown paper, just to see how they would look.

Ruby's Ruffle Tee

Wow, who ever knew sewing a straight line on knit fabric was so hard?  I bought this lovely slinky navy fabric from Geoff's Emporium, I think it's a viscose.  I want to make a T for me out of it, but thought I'd test one out on Ruby first (less fabric wasted if it goes pear shaped).  Similarly, I wanted to try out a ruffle, as I haven't done a lot of ruffling (or gathering). 

Inspired by a recent post on Craftiness in Not Optional, I took one of Ruby's t-shirts and made a pattern out of it.  The sleeves are a bit small, which I think you can actually tell just by looking at the photo above, but that's easily fixed for next time.  While I was making this I thought it would have to be relegated to the dud pile because the neckline is just awful, the sleeves are a bit tight and the hemline - well, what can I say?  Judge for yourself - the sewing machine seemed to have a mind of its own.

But then I put it on Ruby and it didn't seem too bad - especially as she doesn't really sit still long enough for anyone to notice the neckline and hemline.

Now, my grandmother once told me that you shouldn't wear navy and black together, but I like the combination here.

Is that a vintage suitcase?

Well, no, but that was certainly the look I was going for!  Its a papier-mâché suitcase that I bought at Spotlight, painted on the outside with Resene Hot Chilli and lined with some scrapbooking paper. 

I had been thinking about doing this for a while, finally bought the materials and then procrastinated for quite some time before finally starting it a few days before Ruby was born (she is now 9 months old!).  I managed to get a couple of coats of paint in before the obstetrician decided hospital was the best place for me and it has been gathering dust (and cat hair) under our bed ever since.

I had originally intended it to be used as storage for Ruby's toys, or as a suitcase when she has sleepovers at Grandma and Poppa's house, but I don't think it's study enough for that.  At the moment Ali Bear likes hanging out in it. 

The paper is Cherry Cordial from Basic Grey's Bittersweet collection. When I went to finish it recently I realised I didn't have enough paper.  My local Spotlight no longer stocked it so I went on a mad internet search to find some.  I ended up buying the whole collection kit, which I no doubt will find some use for.

Ginger, Date and Cornflake sllice

Yum!  I never used to be much of a fan of dates (eg Date Scones), but on the weekend I tried a delicious ginger, date and cornflake slice.  I was at a Sands screening of 5 Hours with Raja on Sunday and a lovely lady called Kate had made this delicious slice.  She gave me the recipe and I made it today. 

Pleated skirt

A couple of weeks ago I went shopping for Ruby and bought a whole lot of cute clothes, many of which needed a denim skirt to complete the look.  I couldn't find what I wanted so thought I'd try making one - a pleated denim skirt.  It's a little bit too tight, so next time I think I'll add another pleat front and back.  It was my first time making an elastic waisted skirt (without a pattern), so even though it's a bit tight I'm pleased with the outcome.  I made it during her lunchtime nap, so it was pretty quick to make!

I'm planning on creating a tutorial for this skirt because it's so easy to make.

Buttercup bag

I've had a Buttercup bag on my to-do list for a while and I finally got around to making one.  I chose a linen fabric from my stash, linen may not be the best choice for a bag such as this but I liked the print.  I fused some interfacing to the outer fabric to make it stiffer, so that it holds its shape better.  It's a little on the small side, so I've now got my eye on this pleated purse pattern, which looks a little bigger.

Anyone wondering what the red prop is in the background?  Stay tuned to find out!

Some shoes to match the dress - かわいい ね!

I made Ruby some cute little shoes to match her dress, they are too cute, don't you think?  Sadly, they are also too small.  I can squeeze them on without socks or tights, but I think they'll have to be someone else's cute little shoes.  I used the Baby Kawaii Kimono pattern from Sweat Pea patterns, which I bought off Etsy.  I made the 3 - 6 months size, which was rather silly considering Ruby is 9 months.  She's a petite 9 months but as it turns out, not that petite!  The lazy daisies match her dress, so does the lining.

I squeezed them on for a photo shoot, but they don't stay on long.

What a Hoot!

I've made a couple of cards recently, here are some pics.  The one below is from a free owl template available at Blue Sky Confections.

The paper is origami paper, I've got it in three different colours, this lovely pink one and also yellow and green.  My thing for cards at the moment is silhouettes using this origami paper - elephants, angels, T-rex.  
 

 

I think the T-rex one needs more definition, so I might go around the edge of it with a gold pen, which is what I did with Queenie below.

Ruby's first dress

I made Ruby a dress, which I am rather pleased with because I've never made a dress before and didn't have a pattern.  Inspired by a few blogs I've seen lately about making clothes for kids by tracing the shape of something that fits them (such as the sew-alongs on Craftiness is not Optional), I decided to give it a go.

Before I get into the details of how I did it, here is the finished article (modelled by Ruby, of course).  It is a lightweight denim on the outside, with a black and white spotty stripe cotton lining, fastened on the shoulder with dome fasteners. 

 
I took a dress that is similar to what I wanted to get the shape, added some extra for seam allowance, and a bit more so she'll fit it for longer.  I cut out two versions, the front neckline dips lower than the back, and the shoulder strap is longer on the back so that it overlaps the front. 

I had high hopes of making it reversible but as I was making it up as I went I got to a point where I realised it wouldn't be reversible unless I did a bit of unpicking and I couldn't be bothered. 

Couldn't resist adding a few lazy daisies ...

 If anyone wants a step by step tutorial of this let me know and I'll post one, along with the pattern I made.

Lola

I've just finished making a rag-doll - her name is Lola, she lives on a strawberry farm and is a bit of a tom boy. I found a pattern in an issue of a British Woman's Weekly craft special, which I adapted somewhat.  I would love to be able to create a doll as gorgeous as those made by Goodby Blue Monday.

 

She has sequin eyes and a bow in her hair ...

 And a little strawberry on her shorts. 

She stands about 40cm tall.  The outfit was a bit of a struggle - never again will I put bias binding on something as fiddly as her little tunic! If I make another one I'll give her a bigger head and put a dress on her.

Here is the original doll from the magazine:

Crafty fun

Here are a few things I've made...

A market bag, from a Film in the Fridge tutuorial.  I've made quite a few of these in different fabrics for my sisters, my mum, friends and myself. They are a great size, you can fit lots of things in them - nappy bag, wallet, baby bottles, mobile ...

A colouring wallet made out of some vintage kids farm-scene fabric I found in an op shop.

Crayon Wallet - Front

Crayon Wallet - Back

A needle wallet, so cute!  This is made out of a vintage sheet and some felt - fastened with a ribbon.

A pincushion, I think I got the idea from one of the Softies books, and made it from memory.

Lucky Penny and M. Sasek

Welcome!  I love making things.  I find inspiration in other people's blogs, especially ones that have tutorials and how-to's, so I thought it was high time I created a blog of my own to share the inspiration around, maybe create a tutorial or two while I'm at it.  

Last night I had my very first visit to the Lucky Penny Crafty Club and I learnt that you can design your own fabric at a great website called Spoonflower.  Oh how I wish I could draw!  I'd really love some fabric with some of Miroslav Sasek's drawings on it.

A couple of weeks ago I went to one of my local op shops on a whirlwind visit - it was 5 minutes before closing time and Ruby was due to wake up.  I got some fabric and some kids books, one of which was Miroslav Sasek's "Mike and the Modelmakers".  It is in mint condition, it doesn't even feel like it has been read, and it cost me 20c!! 


I'd love some fabric with this print on it (from the inside cover):

Inside cover - Mike and the Modelmakers