Echino peg bag

Our poor old peg bag was looking a bit tired and ripped - held together by a peg! So at my hubby's request I whipped up a new one, using a gorgeous linen fabric (Birds & Blooms, Echino by Kokka).

I get such a kick out of using something every day that is bright, happy and handmade by me. It's got me thinking I want more of that feeling when I look around the house. So my goal for AFTER the Christmas crafting craziness is to make some goodies like cushions, a new curtain for the bathroom and some rag rugs for the kitchen.

Farewell from Down Under

Our neighbours of three years, a lovely young couple called Karen & Eric, are relocating back to San Diego, USA. We are very sad to see them go. As a goodbye present and reminder of their time in Oz, I wanted to make them a wall hanging featuring stunning fabrics designed by Australian Aboriginal artists.



I think most fabrics I chose, if not all, are produced by M&S Textiles. I bought them as fat quarters from several different shops at the Craft and Quilt Fair. I've been wanting to make a project featuring these special fabrics since seeing M&S' ads in Down Under Quilts magazine, and also seeing their vivid, gorgeous designs in person recently in the patchwork shop Quiltsmith in Sydney. M&S' Australian Aboriginal fabrics feature evocative names - some of those I used included Bush Sultana, Dreamtime Flowers, Spirit Circles and Women Searching. You can see the whole collection here.

As I have mentioned, I normally favour making projects based on others' designs, so creating this was a bit of a stretch and lots of fun! Luckily M&S' website also features several free quilt/wall hanging designs which I found really inspiring.





I paired the Aboriginal designs with Kona solids and incorporated a panel featuring Australian animals called "Awesome Australia" by Nutex.



Karen and my girls - we'll miss you!

Dear Ma

My lovely Mum had her birthday recently, and it was another excuse to shower her with stitched love!

THIS is what sewing is all about for me! Love and joy through giving!!!!





The bag was Anna Maria Horner's Ruthie clutch, which I've made once before.



The skirt was Amy Butler's Apron Panel from her Barcelona Skirt pattern. I have previously made it for mum, but shortened it this time.





Happy birthday darling Mum! I love you so much.

Bursting my seams with pride

ZOMG, I have been proud of everything I have made over the last few years, but after making my latest project, well I was fit to burst my seams with pride! (Nod to the GORGEOUS fabric Home Sewing is Easy by Alexander Henry - I picked up a fat quarter of it from Voodoo Rabbit at the recent Craft and Quilt Fair).

I was lucky enough to get a Janome 644D overlocker for my birthday.



I've been so excited AND pretty nervous about cranking it up (visions of overlocking my fingers). With some encouragement from a friend, last weekend I finally seized the day and whipped up some leggings for the girls. They ADORE leggings, with or without skirts, wearing them every day in lieu of the zillions of dresses and shorts in their wardrobes. They get holes in the knees, so I was keen to make some myself.

I used the Kwik Sew Girls Tunics and Leggings pattern (3476) for Lily's and Kwik Sew Toddlers Tunics, Leggings & Shorts (2596) for Mia's.

What a buzz!! I can't wait to do more overlocking projects, these were so quick and easy.

The girls wearing their new leggings, getting into the Halloween spirit...(note pre-carved pumpkin)...





All ready for trick or treating...



I've also finally gifted the pink & blue "scissors" fabric in the photo below to my friend Anna for her birthday, along with everything she needs to make a fab skirt from the book Sew What! Skirts - 15 Simple Styles You can Make by Francesca DenHartog. Which means I can share some of what I bought on a recent trip to Sydney. The fabrics on the left are my Liberty loves! I also bought Kids' Crafternoon: Sewing edited by Kathreen Ricketson and a gorgeous Japanese kids pattern book with who appears to be a slightly older Mia on the cover. I can't share the name as it's all in Japanese! It is by Kanon, if that helps.