jigsaw bags

We have lots of jigsaws. The kids were really keen on them over the colder months but they haven't been played with as much lately. 

I wanted to pack them up but many had ripped boxes or nothing at all to be stored in. As a solution I bought some pillowcases from an oppy for 50c each- they're less expensive than fabric and already 1/2 sewn : )

When cut in half each pillowcase made up 2 drawstring bags. I used some lengths of ribbon as drawstrings and wrote the name of the jigsaw puzzle on the outside of the bag. They're tucked away in the laundry cupboard until next Winter.

I've made a few spares as I'm sure we'll find other things to store in them.

wheat bag warmness

I've never really loved the kids using hot water bottles. In my 20s I found one that had fallen under my bed and it had sort of melted/ disintegrated/ perished in the short time it was there. I don't know how it did that to itself ( bit odd!) but I've been a wary of them since. 

I don't like the idea of electric blankets either as ours are the sort of kids that would fiddle with the controls and end up falling asleep with them on, or they could get left on while we're out.

So I've decided that wheat bags are the way to go. T has one already so today I made M one using some fabric offcuts. We got the wheat from Piko on Stanmore Rd, it was really cheap-  $6 to fill our wheat bag and I still have plenty left over for other projects.

I've made my mum two mini ones for her jacket pockets. While we were in Wellington she told me she gets cold hands when she's out walking- they're part of her Mother's day present.

Such an easy way to achieve toasty warmness : )

warm hands coming your way mum x

pillowcase dresses

I'm not a great sewer but I can do the basics. I really like this easy pattern for a 'pillowcase dress'. I guess it's called that because for a little girl you could actually use a pillowcase to make one.

They're really good in Summer for keeping cool and cute in Winter with a long sleeved top and tights underneath.

Here's the two I made for M when she was much smaller. There's a link to some instructions for a similar dress below ( they used binding around the arms, I didn't bother). Once I got the tie length right for on her shoulders I sewed the ribbons onto the fabric- just because  I could see her pulling them out and me having to re-thread them. You could also use some of the same, different fabric or some binding to make the ties.

link here: http://www.craftleftovers.com/projects/refashion-guest-pattern-pillowcase-dress/

a skirt from scraps

I've always loved the look of handmade children's clothing. I can't knit or crochet and I can only just sew so this was a bit of a challenge for me. Last weekend at a friend's birthday party there was a little girl wearing a very cute 'sticky-outy' skirt that her mum had made her. 

It got me thinking; the time that my kids will happily wear things I've made is probably limited, so I may as well have a bit of fun with it while I can.

I used scrappy bits of fabric from my stash and pieced it together like a jigsaw/ quilt. I then sewed a simple hem and elasticated waist band. I think it's sweet- if you don't look to closely at the sewing!

She likes it too....now to try and sew the boy some shorts.....

   a blurry shot of the back- the model had things to do!

 Joining in with Sunshine x3's linky here: http://3xsunshine.blogspot.co.nz/2013/02/show-tell-oldschool.html

an owl

Owls are M's new classroom's sort of mascots, OWL standing for Outstanding Wise Learners. Yesterday I made this little pillow for their couch in the reading corner. I drew up a paper pattern and used fabric from my stash, no cost and 30 minutes of my time. I thought he was finished but last night decided to add a heart on his chest - for Valentines Day. I hope they like him, he was fun to make.

sketches to softies

I am so in love with this idea. Child's own is a studio that custom makes toys with children. Children send in their drawings that are then transformed into soft toys by the artist Wendy Tsao. Wendy created Child’s Own Studio in 2007, after making her first softie based on a sketch that her 4 year old son was constantly drawing. 

http://www.childsown.com/

"I am inspired by the child’s drawing, a wonderful expression of childhood.   Typically, a drawing is sent to me, and I decide if I can work with it.  (I normally work only with children’s drawings, hand-drawn and coloured).   There may be notes included with the drawing.   I may ask for clarification about some details.   And then I get to work, in my Vancouver studio.  The machine whirs, scissors snip, needles zip, and everything gets covered in fibrefill fluff.  Details and color choices are reproduced as closely as possible, and I may use some artistic licence – unless you specifically tell me not to. When I am happy with the finished softie, I take photos of it and send them to the customer, before shipping the softie to the young artist."

"I celebrate children’s art with hand-crafted softies and give young people a sense of the soft, small comforts they can make and of what power they have, with their imagination.  Children need to know this, so they grow up knowing the power of designing, making and crafting all sorts of things for a civilized world. " Wendy Tsao

Aren't they wonderful?!

Allie aged 6

Zara aged 5

Amelie aged 7

Emelina aged 9

Emilie aged 6

Devon aged 10

Javinda aged 2

Veronica aged 7

Malia aged 6

There's more gorgeous softies to see here: animals

here: dolls

and here: mermaids and monsters

I also really like this idea: your child's drawing appliqued on to fabric

http://www.etsy.com/listing/110063453/your-childs-drawing-appliqued-on-to

nana's singer sewing machine

A few days ago quite out of the blue my mum arrived at our house with my nana's old sewing machine. I love it. It's the machine mum learned to sew on. I also have mum's first machine ( the one I learned to sew on) and a machine I bought with my inheritance- so it's just nice all around. one day the kids will learn to sew on one of the three- perhaps not nana's though! : ). 

I love how it looks sitting on top of my craft cupboard.

a mermaid costume

The kids have a mermaid party next week and with no 'real' costumes I've had to get creative. The good thing about being a fabric and other stuff hoarder is that after a good rummage I can often put something together pretty easily. I made a long skirt out of some green crushed satin, cut a tail shape, hemmed it and drew scales on with a gold marker:

The rest of the costume is:

~Her already owned gold sequin tee shirt ( k mart) and green jandals ( cotton on kids)

~Necklaces and bracelets from the dress up drawers

~Strips of ripped green and purple satin and a shell xmas decoration tied to her fairy wand

~Green satin made into a skirt with the bottom cut into the shape of a tail

~A purple hair tie with more fabric strips attached 

~I'll paint her fingernails and toenails gold the day of the party and she's said she'd like 'crinkly' hair so will go to bed with her hair in plaits the night before : )

The boy is going as Sponge bob square pants- being less creative with him and just borrowing a SB hat and tee shirt.

fabric advent calendar

It's my first attempt, it's far from straight, I was too lazy to iron it before the photos and it's not perfectly sewn but I made it with love. It's for my nephews and their baby brother or sister who arrives next year.

I've filled the first 2 days with lollipops and freddo frogs but will leave the job of filling the other pockets up to my brother and sister in law : ).

I had the red fabric in my stash, bought the green polka dot and Christmas ones from Spotlight and Lincraft. I used sticky back felt for the white dots and after cutting out the numbers in red felt I just glued them on. I hand stitched the top sides of each of the pockets to strengthen them. The little silver bells on 25 make a really nice 'Christmasy' sound.

I love fabric and I'm really looking forward to having the time to visit the new Make Cafe in Riccarton Road, it looks like they have a great play area- but I'm thinking some 'mum time' there is in my future:

http://sewpretty.co.nz/index.php?route=common/home and find them on facebook https://www.facebook.com/Sewpretty.co.nz

hobby horses

I made these for the children last Christmas but don't think I've shared them ( ?). I could try and explain how I made them but adding the YouTube tutorials I watched and based mine on is a much better idea :

how to make a hobby horse

the girl's

the boy's

the boy with the girl's : )