Thursday, June 19, 2008

What a bargain!!

Well today I got the best bargain I think I have ever got when thrifting. I stopped in at my local tip shop to have a squizz & for $3, yes you heard right $3 I came away with all this.....
These gorgeous vintage barkcloth type curtains - The photo does not do them justice - the colours are so pretty!! Definately destined for a bag & maybe some cushions...
Vintage drill nautical fabric (about 1 & 1/2 M) - Most likely some pants for Liam..
Yes there is still more... Remember all of this for $3 (You can tell I was rather wrapped with my purchases)
Fantastic retro cotton print fabric - about 3M!
And finally, you wouldn't believe it, but another of these tablecloths (see post from a couple of days ago!) & 2 gorgeous vintage smocking patterns!

I really couldn't believe it & even asked the man if he was sure that was enough & he said yes of course. It is generally pretty cheap there but not usually that cheap! WOW I just couldn't believe how fortunate I was - I almost didn't stop as I had to get home & pack. We are off to QLD for a break (and hopefully some warmer weather!!).

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Yet another bag & some Olivias.....


Here is another bag which I finished today - I think I am in a bag making mood at the moment as I have made/cut out quite a few. I also whipped up a couple of Olivia dresses (farbenmix pattern). These have not been hemmed or the pocket applied on yet, but I will get there!

Saturday, June 14, 2008

This tablecloth....

I just love vitnage tablecloths & have a box full of them - sometimes they turn into dresses, other times they turn into bags, and if large will occasionaly make it to pants, but most of all they sit in the box for me to take out & look at how fabulous they are & dream of the many things I would love to do with them, but probably never will get the time to do. There is one particular tablecloth that always stands out though, because belive it or not I have 4 (at least) of them! It is not the prettiest I have, but I love the colours & pattern is very funky. I just can't believe it keeps popping up everywhere - I have even left some in the opshops before as I have so many of them already. But anyway here it is.....




Thursday, June 12, 2008

For Lucy.....

This set is made from some fabulously cute fabric my sister inlaw got from Japan. She asked if I would make some pants for my niece & here they are. Very simple, but I also appliqued some of the fabric on a bodysuit to match. Now to post them off before winter ends (or she grows out of them!).

CREAMY LEMON SQUARES RECIPE

Oh this is a recipe for
CREAMY LEMON SQUARES

The pic looked so devine - I will try & find it & post it.


1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, plus more for dusting
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
4 large egg yolks
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 3 lemons)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan. Line bottom with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides; butter paper.
Make crust: Using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy. Add flour, and mix on low just until combined. Press dough into the bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of prepared pan; prick all over with a fork. Bake until lightly golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
Make filling: In a large bowl, whisk together yolks, condensed milk, and lemon juice until smooth. Pour over hot crust in pan; return to oven, and bake until filling is set, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely in pan.
Refrigerate until filling is firm, about 2 hours or up to 3 days. Using paper overhang, lift cake onto a work surface; cut into 16 squares, and dust with confectioners sugar.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

More sewing

Well I have done loads of cutting out of things lately & the UFO pile is sky high, so I thought that I better finish a few things


"Weeke" pants by Farbenmix - there is also a top in the set, but have not cut it out yet - sorry I really need to iron my things before taking a pic - they look uneven, but they aren't.


This bucket style bag is made from a retro supper cloth which was one of my favourites & finally decided on this bag - it was too small for a pair of pants for liam which I would have liked to have done instead.



This bucket bag is made from a left over pice of Amy Butlers "Ginger Bliss" range (I adore the colour & pattern of this fabric) & some other spot I had.


I didn't mean for this pic to be here & can't get rid of it, but if you are wondering it is a handsewn order I did on some trackie pants.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Inspired......


I have been really inspired by Milly at tin whistle with her most devine overalls ( you really should check them out) & with the hideously cold weather down here overalls are so practical, so I decided that if nothing else this long weekend I would make the kids a pair of overalls each. And amazingly I have almost finished - just need to do the button holes/buttons. They are not quite as gorgeous as what I have been inspired by, but I never had expectation that they would be, I am just glad I managed to get them finished (well almost!)

Friday, June 6, 2008

A couple more Sasha's

I had promised Em a dress for such a long time that I thought I better come through, so I let her free in my fabric stash & told her to pick 3 materials that she liked. First came the yellow spot, then the blue & pink floral. I was a bit worried at how the yellow would go with the other too, but it is finished & she loves it. Sorry shocking pic, not ironed etc...


Since I was making one, I thought I would bite the bullet & make another at the same time. I have been wanting to try this Sasha pattern out with recycled fabric (in this case sheets) for a while & was rather pleased at how it turned out. Both dresses just need the snap studs put on & they are completely finished.

Am hoping to get a pair of overalls completed for both Em & Liam this weekend - both are cut out, just need DH to occupy the tinlids for a while!

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Yoyo's anyone???

While we were in Fiji I knew I would get a small amount of withdrawl symptoms as I would be away from my sewing machine so I took along my clover yoyo maker & some scraps

of fabric. It was actually rather relaxing lazing either by the pool or in our villa at night making them up. I think I made about 50! My challenge now is what I should do with them. I will no doubt use some with a button in the centre on tops for Em, but the rest????

I also wanted to purchase some fabric while I was there, but unfortunately the shops I cam across with fabric had alot of polycotton blends & I really wanted just cotton. I did however pick up this piece which I am planning to make some shorts for Liam out of & most likely a bag, when I fins the right pattern.

BULA!!

Bula (hello in Fiji). Finally I have got my act together & am writing on this blog again!


I recommend Fiji to anyone - it was absolute bliss! We stayed at the Sheraton Denarau Villas & it was beautiful & all the staff were fabulous! I took 3 books over & wished I had taken more as I finished them all with time to spare. We even had a in house babysitter a couple of times during the day & once at night so we could have dinner together & it was great. It only cost $20 for 3 hours & then $6/hr after that (and that was for both kids not each).

The sunset which greeted us each evening......




My 2 Fiji babies.......




Some of the many pools at the resort.......

Oh I could have stayed forever, but no instead I had to come home to freezing Tassie! Oh I must immerse myself in craft now so as not to feel too glum.......