Aussie Heroes and More

It was a week for Aussie Heroes this week with my first quilt going off to a soldier!  The little hands are 'helping' to pack the box.  The box contained the quilt, matching laundry bag and a few little extras - some caramel latte sachets, green tea bags and some little toiletries.

Today I finished off 6 laundry bags.  Material all came from Big W and I found our QB sheets that were still in good condition and reused them as the linings.

 Next item finished was Baby's Quilt.  I bought all the fabric while still pregnant and had it all cut out while waiting to have him.  He is now almost 18 months and I finally finished yesterday!

 Hung on the cot ready for bed!  The cot will be going soon so the timing was just right to have this finished.  I am so happy with how it finished!  The pattern was 'Two Square' by Audrey and Maude.  I think I added a few extra rows at the bottom to make it big enough for the single bed.

I finished a few other little jobs - the MOTH's work shirts and a zip in a bean bag.  I am hoping to have a tidy up in the sewing room and start on the Christmas sewing!

Happy Sewing,
Kristy

Aussie Hero Quilt

When I heard about Aussie Hero Quilts I just knew it was the 'charity' I needed to make something for.  I had seen a finished quilt on the blog of a 'brick' quilt and decided that with all the boyish fabrics I had I would make my own.  I finally finished the binding over the school holidays and printed off my label today.  I was soo excited I just had to go find a nice spot to take photos and went down to the Botanical Gardens to find some rocks. 
 

I am very happy with how they have both finished up and will let you know when they get posted!

School swimming starts this term for my oldest son and wet days for the middle child so I decided to make them each a swimming bag.  I have discovered I don't like sewing plastic!!  Probably more due to the fact that I needed a bigger sewing machine needle and probably need to put something on the plastic to help it 'slip' through the machine better, but it was just a bugger to sew with.  Lesson learned.  And I probably should have made them a little bit bigger but I have made 3 now and hopefully they will last for a few years!

The rest of this week's sewing will be devoted to fixing the MOTH's work shirts and making a bag for Sagala (similar to Scouts) for each of the boys to store all their bits and pieces.

Happy Sewing
Kristy

I may have a problem . . .

Yep.  I made more hats.  Mum's hat went MIA and my Aunty needed one and Master 6's twin friends had a birthday.  So I made more hats.  Just putting off doing housework really, and the tax stuff.  But the tax is sorted now and the hats got finished in time.

I am loving using the kids toys as models! 

I have also finished the binding on the Aussie Hero Quilt but waiting on some printable fabric to make a label.  I did finish the laundry bag and will post a photo when it's all completed. 

So just a quick update but will hopefully be back at the end of the week with a bit more of a wrap up and photos of the finished brick quilt and Master 1's as well!

Happy Sewing
Kristy

Sunday Sewing Session

Sewing Sunday was happening here again today!!

 

I have finally finished the baby (who is now 1 and I should probably stop calling 'baby') quilt top!  Sooo excited!  It will go off in the mail to the quilter this week along with the Brick Quilt for Aussie Heroes.  Baby quilt was cut out while I was the size of a whale waiting around for baby to be born.  It was a great way to spend some time at Mum's.  Fabric from Spotlight, pattern is Two Square by Audrey and Maude.  I had to add 2 more rows to the bottom to make it long enough for a single bed but I am really pleased with how it has finished.  Can't wait to get it back from the quilter!

Next I needed to make a birthday present and a new big brother present and decided to make hats. 

And finally there were a couple of new baby packs to put together. 

I have finally bought the patterns for Christmas sewing and just need a trip to a fabric shop for supplies and I think that will keep me going for a while!

Happy Sewing
Kristy

Saturday Sewing Session

2 more hexagon bags finished and in the 'Present Cupboard' waiting for the end of year birthdays and babies.  We have had a friend have a baby girl today so more handmade goodies will be going in the mail this week. 

'The Brick Quilt'
I saw a similar pattern on the Aussie Hero Quilts blog and had to have a go.  Between my Mum and I we figured out some measurements that would fit with their guidelines and I was sewing away happily today!  It really went together quite quick once it was all cut out.  I did have some trouble getting the half brick bits to measure right so I made them a bit long and trimmed up that side of the quilt.   It will go in the mail to the quilter this week.



I am also hoping to get a start on putting together Master 1's quilt tomorrow and put both of the quilts in the mail.  This quilt has been cut out since before he was born so it might be time to finish it off!

 Off to feed the masses and lock myself away in the sewing room!

Happy Sewing
Kristy

What I've been up to . . .

Yet another hat, a bag for a nieces birthday and 2 more 'boy' seahorses as I have given the other 2 away.  The hat is a Lazy Day hat by Make It Perfect, another hexagon bag by Narioka and the seahorses are Melly and Me.

I am hoping to start on a quilt and laundry bag for Aussie Heroes on the weekend.  Will share the progress!

Happy Sewing
Kristy

LOTS to share!!

LONG time between blog posts but I have been quietly working away on finishing a few things and cleaning up the sewing room.  Sad that I have no one to blame but myself for the mess (although Master 1 likes to 'help').  I have finally gotten around to sorting through my fabric stash and have boxed and labeled most of it.  It is still a work in progress.  Essentials for the process included cup of tea, label maker and plastic boxes.  LOVE The Reject Shop!

 

Rainbow of colours!

 Master 6's house team for school is Topaz.  The MOTH thought that yellow streamers on the pram was a bit much and too embarrassing, so I sewed words onto shirts instead!  I did the lettering on the machine - not enough time to hand sew and had lots of lovely comments!

This is a mei tai baby carrier that I made last year to help with dropping off the kids at school.  Brilliant!!  To see how it works, click here.  I also used it when I went on the plane and found it great that I could have my hands free to grab my luggage and stuff.

Close up of feather stitching.

Finally finished the number wall hanging although I still haven't put it up on the wall yet!  I really enjoyed doing the feather stitching in the ditch for this one.  Made it a bit more interesting and I love to show off verigated cotton!

And of course I finished a whole pile of nappy wallets in some awesome new fabrics!  I have Australian animals, farm animals, frogs and jungle animals all up on my facebook page if anyone would like to purchase.

And that's about it for now.  Hopefully the tidying and sorting will continue and I can start on some new projects soon!

Happy Sewing
Kristy

Post Office

I don't like going to our local post office.  The line up is ALWAYS to the door no matter what time you go there.  I try to never go with more than 1 child because it can be a long, boring wait.  Anyway, the reason I was there was to send a parcel of handmade goodies to a friend who had a baby a few weeks ago and to send off a little Mother's Day surprise.  I didn't have a chance to make something for Mum this year but will hopefully get round to it for next year.

Special parcel included a hexagon bag for each of the older girls, seahorse for the new baby boy and a nappy wallet for the busy Mum!  I am really enjoying creating gifts for friends and family, hope they enjoy them too! 

The boys wall hanging has progressed quite well.  I have backed and quilted it and almost finished the hand sewing of the binding.  Will hopefully be able to share over the weekend.  Until then,

Happy sewing
Kristy

Parcels

So 2 of my friends had baby boys this week!  Yay!  I sent off one big parcel on Friday and just need to finish another nappy wallet to send off the other.  LOVE baby news!  Bit silly though, forgot to take a photo of all the handmade goodness!  Oh well.  No photos of any other finishes to share but I have been down to the shop and picked up some pellon and backing to finish the boys wall hanging.  It is on the lounge at the moment, patiently waiting till all the folding is finished and for Bones to come on tonight!

Just a quick post so I can get busy!
Happy Sewing!
Kristy

S is for Sunday, S is for Sewing!

Well we are home after a lovely Easter break catching up with family, and doing a fair bit of hand sewing on the long car trip.  I am now almost finished all the appliqué on the boys wall hanging and have sewed together the blocks I've already done.  I've started block 9 and will hopefully get to finishing them soon.  This is a Kids Quilts pattern I've had for a few years and finally got around to starting.  I also have the Alphabet wall hanging which might be next on the list.

The seahorses finally got stuffed!  They are very cute and are destined as baby gifts for a few friends and relatives expecting in the next few months.  This pattern is a Melly and Me.  She has also got a new bag pattern that will be finding it's way to my house soon (Christmas presents for nieces and nephews)!!

 And I finished off a few of the hexagon bags.  I think I only have 2 more to make for nieces birthdays later in the year.  It feels good to have a few things finished, now I think the sewing room needs a good tidy!

Happy Sewing
Kristy

Special Bag for a Special Girl!

One of our nieces turned 10 today!  I still remember going to visit her in hospital!  This year's handmade birthday gifts are hexagon bags and books.  I know my children have enough toys to last a century so I am trying to give the nieces and nephews things that might last longer.  I am going to be known as the Aunty who gives books I think!  I really enjoy making the hexagon bags as I can sit and watch TV while putting them together.  They aren't really very difficult - just time consuming when you decide to make 8 or 9!  I had asked for this special girl's favourite colour which is aqua and this is the end result.

The pattern is from here and the fabric from the local fabric shop.  Lining was a bargain picked up at Spotlight for about $2m! 

I also bought another, yes another, pattern!  Sophie Seahorse is so cute and just what I had been looking to make for a number of babies due in the very near future.  After a search through the stash and a quick dash to the craft shop for a few little extras I have now got 4 on my cutting table ready to be sewed.  I am hoping to get them done this weekend.

I have also finally cut out the boys Number Wall Hanging and have ironed the appliqué pieces to fabric waiting for some time in front of the TV to cut it all out.  Hopefully I can share some progress photos of that too!

Also at the fabric shop this week I bought some fabric to make a dress for another niece.  I have the Fab Frocks pattern patiently waiting to be made and just wanted to see how quick it would be to put together.

So that's what I have been up to this week. 
Happy Sewing
Kristy

Fabric and Hemming

This lovely pile of fabric turned up in the mail the other day!  I love this kind of mail!  These are the fabrics I will be using to make a couple of Kaleidoscope Quilts.  I love the pattern and hope that it will be easy enough for me to get done.  I have given myself plenty of time to start and finish and now that the washing and ironing part is done I might get some cutting done this week.

Today I have been in the sewing room mending and hemming.  I found this tutorial on Hemming Jeans and the MOTH had a pair that needed fixing.  This was so, so easy.  No cutting involved!!  I am so glad that I can cross another job off the list! 

Happy Sewing
Kristy

More Peek-A-Boo Toy Sacks

I have been busy making up a couple of  Peek-a-boo toy sacks for my boys and a niece and nephew.  I saw this fabric by FlowerPress and just had to have some, just to make special toy bags for my boys.  I had enough to cut out 4 bags so one of our nephews will be the lucky recipient of the other bag.  I also needed to make a present for our niece's birthday and finished it just in time to go to the post office.  I was lucky enough to go away for the weekend and took just the baby (with his little toy bag packed) and gave the big boys their bags as part of their presents from Mum while she was away!     

I have one pink one left for sale so we will see what happens with that.  If not, I'm sure I can find lots of other nieces to give it to!! 

I have bought some new fabric for hexagon bag linings and am keen to get a few more finished this week some time.  That's about all the creativeness happening around here for now!  Hope to share some more bags soon!

Happy Sewing
Kristy

Hexagon Bags

I saw the Hexagon Bag pattern and just had to make one - okay, maybe not just one!  So far I have cut out 4, or is it 5?  Can't remember but I have completed 2 and have quite a few more in my beside the chair, night TV watching stash of sewing. They are cute little bags which will end up being presents for some special friends this year. 

I also forgot to show off the boys Christmas shirts that I finished just in time for Christmas.  Crazy me decided to make them about 2 weeks before Christmas and then had trouble finding a plain red shirt for Master 6 in town!  I had the other 2 shirts in the boys clothes and made a size 8, 4 and 1 to make them fit for next year as well.  I went looking for buttons at the local patchwork shop but found little bells instead and the boys just loved them!  They jingled all over the house on Christmas Day!

I am also working on some more peek-a-boo toy sacks and a few other projects.  Now that school has resumed and we are in a bit more of a routine I hope to get lots more sewing done! 

Happy Sewing
Kristy

Christmas Sewing - Take 2

I can finally show off some of the Christmas sewing!  Of course there was the toy bags for nieces and nephews and some Peek-a-boo sacks for some of the other nieces and nephews.

My bricks print fabric from Flower Press arrived, I haven't had time to even iron it yet but it's on my to-do list to make each of my boys a Peek-a-boo Toy sack. 


I also finished a stitchery for my Mum and had the MOTH make a frame for it.  I picked up the kit at the local craft fair in November which included the pre-printed muslin and buttons.   
 
 
The last picture is for some Tea Bag Wallets.  I saw this pattern online and loved the idea.  I also needed to make a friend a Christmas present and these were just perfect!  They were really easy to put together too!


I have also bought yet another pattern Kaleidoscope Quilt, I know I don't really NEED anymore, but I really liked it and will probably need to make 2 new baby quilts for early next year and if I don't start thinking about it now it will never get done!!  

I have also decided to sell some of my creations to fund my sewing 'habit' and have created a facebook page.  I'm still working on how to add the 'like' button on this blog but I hope to have it sorted this week.  Off to upload some more photos now!

Happy Sewing
Kristy