Ugh, Ruffles!!

I know I've mentioned it before, probably more than once, but I really love hanging out with my brother's family. My SIL and I are pretty close in age and our daughters love playing together, so I go and see her every couple of weeks and we catch up for the day. It's always lovely and today was no exception. However, a fortnight ago while I was there we pulled out a skirt that had been cut out and started by somebody else and left with SIL to complete. One of her UFOs. The picture was so sweet, a very frilly layered skirt, perfect for my niece. We started to get it all together, but we ran out of time, so today we pulled it back out again. I took my sewing machine over today and got straight onto stitching ruffles (SIL did all the gathering, thankfully) to the in between-y strips. After we had joined together 4 of the 6 layers, the skirt was only down to my niece's bottom, not very modest! After much studying of the cutting instructions etc, we agreed that the pattern was incorrect and it couldn't have been any better than it was given the size of each piece. It took AGES to get to the point we were at and we really wanted to get it done today. We were both a bit over it but were also totally disappointed with how it turned out. So we decided to lengthen each of the in between-y strips, then left off the bottom ruffle and after another couple of hours of stress and frustration...

TADA!!

One cute-as ruffle-y skirt.

Never again!

Mind you, both SIL and I were tempted to try it again just to see whether or not we could improve it.

oh yeah, and isn't my niece gorgeous!

Now, talking about UFOs, yesterday I pulled out one of mine, a panel that was given to me when my daughter was born. I had added some decorative stitching to highlight the details on the panel. I had also added a peeper and border. Yesterday I sandwiched it with wadding and backing and used the bagging technique to join them. The I quilted around some of the features on the panel, but not much.

I realised 2 things while completing this project:

1. I LOVE my walking foot!

2. I really don't like working with cheap puffy polyester wadding.

I'm not a huge fan pf panels usually, but my assistant totally deserves this quilt!

Last night, having finished something, I was on a craft high, so I used the motivation to dive into my stash and make another skirt for my assistant. She has been eyeing off this yellow printed vintage replica fat quarter that I've had for years, so I decided to use it to make the new skirt. I paired it with some striped cotton voile which I bought at the very start of my stash building. I used it to make a skirt for myself about 9 years ago and since have only used tiny pieces at a time. It had the perfect colours to match with the other fabric and I knew it was meant to be.

I really love the way it turned out.  I know, gathering, but this was way easy and way less gathering than today's insane ruffles.

I also love these little try-hard smiles! I know I have the most adorable little assistant though.

Anyway, I should go and sleep...

Sweet dreams! xo

Sewtember Day Twenty-Five - Triumphant Tuesday

I got a fair bit done today. I even had the kids inside for most of it, which is different. I guess having my assistant occupied with small jobs like sorting my buttons into little jars really helps. What doesn't help is losing velcro! I really needed it to do something which took 4 minutes in the end, but over 2 hours was wasted looking for the velcro! Oh well, I still got stuff done, so that's the main thing.

The first thing I was working on was the cape for an order. You might have seen the "C" emblem in past posts. Well, now it's finished and in the bag ready for delivery. Woo! Here is a very quick how-to style run of pics from the next step.

Then turn through the opening at the curve and top-stitch around the whole cape.

Now try it out!

What do you think? My assistant thought it was pretty cool, so I deem it a success!

Ok, the next project for today was the flower place-mats I started a few weeks back. Here you can see where I was up to. And here is what I did today.

I think they're going to look really pretty when they're finished. Then I'll just need to wrap them.

Anyway, I'm off to watch something on TV, by myself! Hasn't happened for a while, and I'm sick of having to justify why I want to watch a particular show. I don't really care if someone else thinks it's lame. I like it.

I'll be back tomorrow with some more progress pics, I hope...

Sweet dreams!

Sewtember Day Twenty-Two - Party Time!

Ok, so we celebrated 2 birthdays in our family today. One for my sister Annelise and the other for my cousin Alleyne. We went to Great Nana's for a party and caught up with everyone and ate a lot of food.

I know, everyone just wants to see the presents...Ok, seeing as Annelise was born first, here is hers.

 Annelise already has a couple of these shirts, but she said if I kept making them she'd love it, so that's what happened. Happy Birthday Annelise! Love you lots!!

Now, here is the one I've been working on for Alleyne. It took some time to get the design just how I wanted it and I think it was totally worth the effort.

Do you remember the gift I made for my Dad? Hint: It was a mini-quilt... This is related to that one.

Ta-da!

I love it!

I'm not really into Dr Who, but I'm totally tempted to make one of these for myself. Haha.

Maybe I'll try some other forms too. Postman Pat's van was suggested, or maybe something else. Who knows. Maybe one day when I get the time to make something for myself I'll think about it a little more.

I had the just enough thread to complete the phone cover. Phew!

Here they are with there presents. They loved them! It was such a great afternoon!

Tonight was our 10 year high school reunion...more about that tomorrow.

And this is what I was working on this morning before all of the party stuff.

Next step: applique! But that's a job for tomorrow, I think.

Shouldn't be too long before it's complete.

Yay for semi-quick projects!

Oh, our fence is back up and the wall is done! Looks so great!!

And the puppy is home. Awww. Isn't he cute!

Anyway, it was a big day and I need some sleep. I'll see you all tomorrow!

Sweet dreams!

Sewtember Day Twenty-One - Family Friday

We spent the day with my brother's family. My assistant loves spending time at their house and now she has worked out how to get on and off the trampoline unassisted she loves it even more. I think we might need to invest in some kind of outdoor play things, like swings or a tramp or a slide. Or we could re-hang our tyre swing.

Better suited to adults though.

(This looks like an ad for toothpaste or something, but it's really our tyre swing being used by some of our friends).

On the way home I needed to tend to someone's garden while they are away and I found these. They're little rhubarbs. When I looked at them the other day you could hardly see them, so I feel good that they're growing. I'm thinking about getting back into my vege patch soon too.

Our landscaper was working so hard today. I think the fence needs to be back by tomorrow so that Oscar can come home, poor puppy. It's looking really good. I only just got out to take a photo though, so it's a bit dark, but you can see it.

I think it looks great! What do you think?

Seeing as I was out all day and got so much done over the last few days, I've taken it easy with the sewing today. I haven't pushed for more time on a particular project or anything. But I have done a little bit of work on that order I mentioned the other day. Here is the drawing of the emblem I will applique onto it.

Here are a couple of others I made recently. Well in the last 6 months anyway...

I'm feeling so much more positive today, it's amazing. I love hanging out with my family. My brother and his wife are just so encouraging. They have great kids too, so it's really easy to stay at their house all day...the time goes by so fast and it never feels like long enough. 

Actually in the coming weeks I might be making skirts with her too. I'm totally pumped for it! I love skirts for little girls because they are cute and fast to make, so it gives a great sense of achievement when you finish one.

I really should head to bed though, I have a big weekend with birthdays and my high school reunion (I'm starting to feel old). I'll be back tomorrow with photos of the presents for you.

Sweet (sewing) dreams!!

Sewtember Day Nineteen - Spring has most definitely Sprung

It was most definitely Spring today, and I've decided that Spring is best spent at Great Nana's house. Her garden has the most beautiful aroma! I could have just stood there in her backyard breathing it all in for the whole afternoon. As it turned out, we played Scrabble in the sun room so we were still surrounded by the awesomeness of her garden, and the fragrance. It makes me want to sing "Indescribable" by Chris Tomlin, "...From the colours of Fall to the fragrance of Spring..."  I love it! (The song and Spring, that is.)

At craft today I was helping my Aunty to put together hexies for a quilt that she is working on. It needs to be done by Christmas and it's a slow process when the only time it gets done is at craft and that's hard because my kids demand a lot of her attention. So I was helping her and it was a really nice change from my applique. I always wonder why I choose those tedious projects, I guess it's worth it in the end, but it's annoying in the process and I shouldn't start them anymore.

When we got home tonight there was a big change to the new wall.

There is a wall the whole way along...not long now 'til it's done...eeeeee!

Our landscaper must have had a much better day, weather-wise, he got a lot done. It's looking really good and I think He's hoping to have the posts for the fence in over the next day or so. How exciting!!

Oh, here is a sneak peek at my project for tomorrow...I know at least one of you knows what it will be, but for those of you who don't, just wait and you'll soon see. I'm so totally pumped about it!!! I hope it works out in real life like it does in my head. My test one was pretty close, so with a couple of minor adjustments I think the real one will be so amazingly awesome...

I'd better get to bed. My energy tank is almost empty and I do have a huge pile of work to get done in the next day or two.

Thanks for reading along!

I'll see you all tomorrow. Goodnight!