Fabric Flashbacks

What do you do when you just want to test a pattern before cutting into more expensive fabrics? Raid the local op-shop of course! Both of these prints remind me of rather daggy 90's leggings. They did a good job of testing pattern and fit though, on this maternity t-shirt (roughly drafted from an existing top) and basic premmie nightie (a combination and modification of patterns in 'Kwik-sew for babies'). The nightie is not super tiny, perhaps 0000 or 00000 and meant for a 33+ weeker who is stable enough to be in an open cot in the special care nursery. After testing the pattern I made a handful for my hospital bag, just in case the next bub decides to make an early entrance like the first one did! If they aren't required I will donate them to the nursery communal wardrobe, for people who find themselves with a premmie and aren't prepared for it, and need to use hospital clothes in the early days.
This fabric has been in mum's stash forever. It is now destined for really thick flannelette for winter PJ bottoms, and a cotton sari-style print for summer PJ bottoms, both for me! The tops will be t-shirt style, but won't be made until the baby bulge is out of the way!

Paying it forward, eventually!

Many months after starting my Pay it forward, I am getting back to it!
My random winners were Kylie, Karen and Kys who left a comment, even if it was so long ago they don't remember!
I will send a pm to the lovely winning EB sewing girls who were kind enough to leave a comment. I would love it if you could leave a comment to point me in the general direction of a handmade goodie you would like to receive and favourite colours or sizes! It's very daunting to be sewing for such talented sewing folk, but perhaps you've seen something here you wouldn't make yourself?

Would you like a handpainted T-shirt or pair of PJ's?

How about a charming handbag from 'Bend-the-rules Sewing' by Amy Karol. A handmade teddy for someone special?
Jemima? From the pattern in the original Play School 'Useful Book'.

Are softies your thing? Not necessarily this pattern! Although he is my son's favourite at the moment, he has named him 'Gabba Gabba'
Perhaps something to get in early for Christmas?
I am enjoying making Dolls clothes too at the moment, my patterns are mostly for 35-40cm dolls. So, anything here take your fancy, or anything else on my blog?

Please give me some clues, as I would love to have a new project or two for the next few weeks!

More pyjamas!

Yup, using the same freehand + freezer paper stencil painting technique as in the last post! And the same Kwik sew pattern too....

Freezer paper meets freehand painting

I am still loving freezer paper stencilling. I first read about it here. I use the same basic idea, a cut out freezer paper shape on the front and plain sheet of freezer paper ironed on the back to reduce fabric movement during painting. However, rather than one colour I mix up several colours with some fabric medium and just go for it!
On darker colours I use white first, let dry for a little while, then add in the other colours as required. The lion on this shirt was inspired by a Little Golden Book 'The Lion's Paw'.
Although it reminds me more of the story of the lion and mouse, where the mouse is able to rescue the lion by chewing through the net in which he is captured. Especially when teamed with these net-like checks on the PJ pants!
Both the shirt and pants (more or less) are from the 'Kwik-sew for toddlers' book, and have been well used throughout the winter. And my son like them too!

Catching up again

Hmm, I'm really not too sure where July and August went. I have squeezed in quite a bit of sewing and crafting but not a lot of blogging. I whipped up a simple velcro bib, a nappy wallet and a toy bag for my friends beautiful baby boy back in July and that seemed to get the sewing bug going again. Around the same time this hoodie was created for my own little boy using a combination of fleecy knit and some groovy retro inspired MM fabric. The colours go really well together. The hoodie is made from scraps and there simply wasn't enough fabric to make it with out the inserts anyway!
Meanwhile I have had several weeks off work on sick leave to rest and do my best to not have a premmie baby yet. You can't see the computer in the pic, but I am both cruising blogs and chatting on the phone all while keeping my feet up!

Alterations and a fun day out.

You may recognise this t-shirt. I appliqued and puff painted round the star and used it as a summer t-shirt, but now winter is here it has been modified. The PJ pants are recycled flannelette and the t-shirt sleeves have been lengthened with other recycled fabric. More PJ's are in the pipeline but this is the first pair for winter.
We spent a lovely day visiting the Halls Gap Wildlife Park & Zoo recently. It was just perfect for our 2 year old. Not so many things to be overwhelming, but definitely enough to fill a few hours, get up close and personal with several animals and have a lovely picnic lunch and a play afterwards! There was a nice mix of native animals and several exotic species. My favourites are always the beautiful peacocks. And all the friendly deer, wallabies and young kangaroos who love to eat out of your hand as you wander around checking out the other animals.

Thank You Karen!

Last week we received a wonderful parcel in the mail from Karen. I was a very lucky recipient of one of her Pay-it-forward gifts. Inside was a gorgeous outfit for my little boy-I love the guitar print patches on it. And a tissue case which has been incredibly handy as the cold virus has swept through our little family this week. And last but not least, the lovely set of coasters, which look too nice to use but will be loved and used anyway!

And the ric rac ribbon is most definitely going to but recycled onto something in the near future I hope. Thanks again Karen, we really appreciated your lovely gift.