sugarmouse

The Dolls house Project (pt2)

2011-09-28T22:41:00.003+02:00

Things are coming along nicely!

Over the weekend I was able to finish off painting the outside of the house. I decided to go with a white house with fuchsia roof and trims.
I love how bright the pink is, however I am rather annoyed with myself that I had painted the underlay of the roof white, as it turns out it wasn't an emulsion paint so the top pink coats are gonna be prone to scratching off I think! I guess I could have sanded it down first, but to be honest I couldn't be bothered. We will see how long it holds up!

Now to get started on the inside.....

The house has 6 rooms in total. I think we will have the kitchen and living room on the ground floor. A bed room and a Library on the middle floor and the bathroom and a nursery in the attic.

I have been browsing the wallpaper isles in Focus and found these lovely striped wallpapers.....The great thing about these DIY stores is that you can normally cut of a sample strip of wallpaper free of charge. So i did!.....

I think the pale blue stripe will be good for the bath room and the pale pink for the nursery. The colours aren't actually as pale as the picture's show, but it was tricky trying to photograph them!

For the flooring I have seen some wood effect contact paper, but they were out of the colour I wanted so I will try back this weekend.
The Whirlwind is desperate to get her mitts on the house. We had a look on eBay for furniture (Soooo expensive!). but for now she is allowed to play with it using her Peppa Pig figures and furniture.

On the sewing table this week I am making a few bags.
I created the pattern myself and am really pleased with how the first one has turned out! Cant wait to show them off when their all done.

x K

The Owl & The Pussycat

2011-09-23T18:35:00.004+02:00

My favourite children's rhyme is the Edward Lear poem ''The Owl and the Pussycat.'' I have been reciting it to The Whirlwind every night when I put her to bed, since the day she was born. She knows the whole rhyme by heart now! We like to recite it in funny voice's and have added animal noises at certain point's.''.......So they took it away and were married next day by the Turkey who lives on the hill.....Gobble Gobble!''(Roo's favourite sound effect!)
For a long time now I have been wanting to create something with the poems theme to hang in her room (as part of the ongoing decorating project!). I have found some lovely bits for inspiration on line which finally prompted me to start using Pinterest (HOW addictive!)
Yesterday I got the scrap bag out!

I'm not entirely happy with it as there are 'several' flaws....

The Pussycat is a bit too pale and I messed up the embroidery on her face, then the thread pulled in the Owls body leaving a white line across the brown fabric.! But I like the composition so not bad for a first go I guess?
I hope that after a bit of practicing my freearm embroidery on the machine I will be able to create something a bit 'neater' on a bigger scale!

Happy weekending y'all
x K

The Dolls House Project!

2011-09-19T15:30:00.000+02:00

About 6/7 years ago Neilyboy bought me a dolls house. It came flat packed and I had dreams of building it and wiring and decorating it and then finding some way to shrink myself so i could move into it!.....
......I got as far as gluing four walls and then it sat in the hallway at my mothers house, collecting dust and being used as a spot for my brother to store his football shoes!

When we got back from Malta I decided now was the time to resurrect it and eventually give it to Ruby to play with.

My 'Grand Design's' have been scaled down somewhat and the plan now is just to paint it and decorate the inside using carpet, fabric and wallpaper scraps.
I really wanted Ruby to be involved...She is very eger! Her morning mantra is ''Can we paint the house today? Can we paint the house today?'' (x1000).
So far I have let her help me paint the primer coat. It was a very ~~stress full~~ bonding experience watching her slap and flick paint around my kitchen table. Unfortunatly now that she is ~~out of the way~~ back in nursery I don't ~~want her to ruin it!~~ think she will be able to help as much !!!!

Now that the base coat has been done I am quite excited about painting the actual colours. I'm thinking Gray roof, Plumb walls with Pink and Green Detailing around the windows and doors.Unfortunately I'm gonna have to wait a day or so to crack on with it as The Whirlwind is at home sick with a very bad cough. Poor baby!

x K

Back to blogger!

2011-09-15T14:16:00.004+02:00

I'm back!

It's been such a long time!
Are you still there?.....
.....I know you have all missed me!

Our time in Malta kind of ran away with me!
We're home now and not going anywhere else anytime soon....Promise!

I have a fancy NEW sewing machine (The last one died in Malta :-(.....One of the reasons I stopped blogging.)

She's a few days old and so far I have made this......

Its a new cover for the Whirlwind's Ikea Poang chair. It originally had a plain calico cover but after 2yrs it was all stained and worn and a bit shrunken from too much tumble drying. It was time for a makeover! My new sewing machine is such a breath of fresh air, I didn't even break any needles sewing through 4 layers of canvas...This is a first for me...I'm VERY happy! All I did was trace over the old cover to create a pattern and then used the old padding inside this one. I am VERY Pleased with how it turned out...Especially as it sits quite dominantly in our front room.

The Whirlwind went back to nursery this week after a whole summer off (Can I have a hallelujah!)

Look how big this baby got!!!

This leaves me with a bit of free time to get on with some serious sewing and also a little Project I am trying to get up and running!....Watch this space.

x K

Wordless Wednesday......Malta Bus!

2010-11-10T17:52:00.002+01:00

Fun in the sun and a new bag for mamma!

2010-10-30T18:58:00.000+02:00

After 2wks of random downpours every day ( all be it still warm!) We have finally had a break from the grey clouds and enjoyed some lovely sunshine these past couple of days.

We have given nanny Dee a guided tour around our local part of Malta.
We met the local fisherman and his cat.....

took in the views,
both outside....

and inside....

(This is the inside of the Dome ceiling at the Cathedral in Medina)

Even went for a bike ride....

I have eaten my body weight in Rice and peas (believe me that's A LOT!) and managed to do some guilt free sewing to produce a new little tote bag for me, myself and I....

Tomorrow were off to Valletta to visit the flea market!.....Must remember that I am not allowed to buy anything that cant be taken back to England in a suitcase!!!!

Happy weekend trick or treating.

xK

Nanny Dee.....

2010-10-26T16:34:00.002+02:00

Is arriving this evening.

We are all very excited. Nanny Dee has only seen the Whirlwind 3 days over the last 7months!.....She is staying for 3weeks.

TOP 5 REASONS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO NANNY DEE's VISIT....

1) Built in baby sitter! Neily boy and I are going on the razz big time! (can't actually remember the last time we went out on our own for the evening!)

2) Someone else to do the washing up and housework (Yay!)

3) Hours of guilt free sewing for me whilst Nanny entertains the Whirlwind.(BIG YAY!)

4) Long lay-ins whilst Nanny makes Whirlwinds breakfast, gets her changed, takes her out.....I may in fact spend the entire 3 weeks laying in, and put a sign on my bedroom door stating ''do not disturb before 12noon'

5) Jerk Chicken with rice and beans EVERY NIGHT! (at least this is my plan)

But mostly we are looking forward to spending quality time (when I'm not doing any of the above mentioned!) doing lots of sight seeing around the island and enjoying the warm autumn weather.

Neily boy is excited too as apparently Nanny makes a better cup of tea than I do!

x K

Preppy pan collar makeover....A tutorial, eeek.!

2010-10-20T14:14:00.000+02:00

The Whirlwind has a stack of plain t-shirt's in her draw, I have been meaning to spruce them up for ages and finally got round to doing one during yesterdays nap time.

From boring old plain t-shirt, to this........

You will need....
pencil, paper, ruler, tale measure, sewing machine, needle & thread. breakfast bowl!
x1 plain t-Shirt ( from here on referred to as a tee)
x1 22x13 inch piece of fabric.
x1 7inch strip of bias tape (store bought or make your own)
x2 buttons
x2 2inch strips of elastic thread.

Please note these measurements are what I used to create a collar on an age 2 toddler tee. You may have to adjust your own measurements accordingly.
You can click on each picture individually for a closer look at my notes.

First off I created a pattern for the shape of the collar I wanted. I basically found a bowl from the kitchen which had approximately the same curve as the neckline and placed it on top of the tee, then made little pencil Marks on both sides of the side of the bowl where it met with the shoulder line.

Now place your bowl onto a sheet of large paper (I taped 2 A4 sheets together) and draw your curve line from shoulder mark to shoulder mark.

Eyeball the look and shape that you want for your collar.... I wanted a curved peter pan style, but you could easily do pointed lapels(good for boys tee's) or a scalloped edge the choice is yours.

Go back and pick up your tee again and measure the back neck line from shoulder to shoulder, then divide this number by 2.

Take this number as the distance you need to draw a straight line up from the inner shoulder point in your pattern.....For example The Whirlwinds tee measured 9inches along the back neckline This divided by 2 is 4.5inches. So I drew a straight line 4.5inches up from the top of the inner curve I had already drawn on my paper. (make sense?). Extend the outer curve into a line to match the first. This will be the part of the collar that runs round the back of the neck.

You basically now have your pattern, but you need to add seam allowance. I always use a 1/4inch seam allowance and I eyeballed this around my pattern like so...

Once this is all done cut out your pattern (including seam allowance) and you should have something like this...

Now the fun begins!...

Fold your desired fabric in half and line up the short straight edge of your pattern with the fold. Trace round and cut out. Do this twice, when you are done and open up your fold you should have two long strips resembling a 'C' shape....

Pin the collars right sides together, mark two points a distance of 2inches along the middle top curve, and sew all around your perimeter from one point to the other. Do not sew across the 2inch mark as this will be where you turn right side out. Once sewn trim your seam allowance (no closer than 2mm from your stitches and not across the 2inch opening) and then clip tiny slits along your curve lines and clip the corners this will give much smoother curves once turned right side out just be careful not to cut through your stitching.

Turn right side out...use a chopstick or a blunt pencil to help push out your corners. Tuck in your opening ,iron flat and topstitch around the entire collar.

Take your tee and turn inside out. Find the mid point of the back neckline(fold shoulder seam to shoulder seam to find this) Do the same for your collar and pin the inner neckline of your collar to the inner neck of your tee working from the back mid point to the front lapels....
Sew together starting about 1/2inch in from the start of one end of the collar, and stopping 1/2inch from the other end of the collar( this gives you room to attach your bias tape.) I used a zigzag stitch, but I don't think it matters if you use a straight stitch as there will be an opening at the front anyway to get it over your head.(you will notice in my pics that my collar did not quiet meet up in the centre, this is because I changed my mind over which tee I wanted to make over.. I noticed a hole at the bottom of my original tee... and was too lazy to re-do another collar, but on the original tee they met closer in the middle!)

Now turn your tee right side out and flip your collar out and iron down.

Mark a vertical line 3inches down the centre of your tee between the 2 lapels (collar) and cut (make sure this line is straight!)

Take your bias tape (measurement calculated by x2 the length of the incision + an extra inch for tidy ends...Tuck in 1/2inch at each end for tidy seams)line it up with the top or your tee( in the 1/2inch space) and sew all the way down one side and up the next of the cut in one continuous length. (look here for how to make your own bias tape and how best to sew on bias tape) Go back and sew down the 1/2inch section of the lapels on top.
I seem to have lost the pic for cutting the front of the tee and sewing the bias, so I have tried to write clear directions on this earlier pic instead.

Hand sew on your buttons, one at the top, one mid way down. Do the same on the other side for your elastic loops, You will have to test exactly how big or small your loops need to be depending on the size of your button.

Voila....Stand back and admire the cuteness of your work.

Then spend half an hour chasing your little one around the place trying to get a decent pic ! Or admire yourself in the mirror as you can easily make this for your own tee.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. It is the first one I have ever written and its a bit thrown together, so please feel free to ask me anything vie comments or email if none of it makes any sense!

x K

Wool Plaid shorts.

2010-10-17T21:45:00.000+02:00

You can never have to many shorts.... right? They can be one of the most versatile items in any fashionista's wardrobe.

Wear them in the sun with a simple tee......

or layered up in the winter with leggings and boots.....

These ones are made from a wool plaid and my favourite Amy Butler print from her love collection. I am going to work on creating a tutorial for these as I'm really pleased at how they turned out, and It's about time I shared one! Also it gives me an excuse to make another pair!

x K

Reunited, and it feels so good......

2010-10-13T21:00:00.000+02:00

Well she is finally here, my one true love and I are finally reunited. It was a long drawn out reunion to be honest. For the first couple of days all we could do was look longingly at one another. We were desperate to be left alone, but with only 10 days in England and 101 friends and family needing a visit I had to wait at least 5 of those days before we could have a long embrace, and even then it was limited. For this reason we were unable to participate in Kids clothes week (I was so naive to even think we would!) although we did create a pair of green apple print baby shoes with matching applique onesie for our good friends new baby boy and a matching (in red apples) for his big sis.....obviously I forgot to photograph them, but trust me they were cute.
After that I had to bundle my lover up in bubble wrap and 15kg of my favourite fabrics and supplies, stuff it all into 2 suitcases and up, up and away we went.

So far we have created 11 red super hero capes.....

For Neilyboys works 'Its a knockout' fun day. There are 10 in his team but The Whirlwind demanded I make her one as well, and it stopped her from trying to pull them off the machine once she had her own. This turned out to be a really fun afternoon where we got to meet a lot of Neilyboys colleague's family's.

My new HUGE beach bag......(it has rained every day here since I finished it!!)

I made the pattern up as I went along and I can seriously fit EVERYTHING including the kitchen sink in there!....I LOVE IT!

Another bag for a little girls 8th birthday. I made it late one evening to take to the party the next day, so obviously I forgot to photograph it...Again! (It was denim with cute floral semi circle ruffles) But here are some pics of The Whirlwind at said party wearing the H&F dress I made for her 2hrs before the party started.

She has a matching bow clip in her hair (somewhere!) I absolutely love this fabric. I found it in a little fabric shop by my mums last year. I only bought a meter and made myself a skirt. I desperately wanted some more, but whenever I went back to the shop they never had it in and the little old lady that owns the place couldn't figure out what I was blabbing on about when I tried to describe it to her, anyway when we were home last month I popped in just to buy some buttons and there it was, so I bought 4metres (it was only £4.99 per mtr so why not huh!)I'm planning on using it for the lining of The Whirlwinds new coat (when I get round to it)

We also made some shorts out of a zara tea towel......Neily boy thinks there too short but I think they are really cute!

I have 2 more tea towels in autumnal colours to make some more, it may be raining right now but it is still very humid and shorts with tights is such a cool look when it cools down.

So that's all so far.

On the sewing table this week is a new bag for me, just a medium size tote to use when I need to pick u a few groceries as the supermarkets charge you £1 per bag out here.
Then I think I might start on the winter wardrobe as it looks like the weather has definitely turned now and although all of The Whirlwinds summer dresses will look cute layered up, she will really needs some heavier weight stuff.

Also I have started on a 'secret' project which I might just share a few sneak peeks with you!

Happy stitches for now and checkout this cool giveaway/fundraiser on this super cute blog

x K

I may not have a sewing machine, but we can still make........

2010-09-13T12:56:00.000+02:00

......Fairy Princess wings
I think 'we all know' who had the most fun doing all this cutting and sticking!......We will be finding bits of peach tissue paper everywhere for weeks! There is also a matching wand but she point blankly refused to hold it up for the camera!

If you haven't seen or heard of the wonderful Elsie Marley then go take a look at her blog. She is hosting another kid's clothes week challenge for Fall/Autumn. She did one in the spring which I missed, but as I will be reunited with my 'ONE TRUE GREAT LOVE'(sewing machine) this Friday I think joining in will be a fun way to get back into the sewing swing of things

So what do i plan on making....

- A new coat for The Whirlwind. I really loved the spring coat I made her but it was always a bit snug and now just wont do. so I shall use the same pattern and I'm thinking purple cord or twill for a new one, as believe it on not it does get a little cold here in the winter months.

-Pants/knickers....We're potty training right now and you can never have too many.

Also.....

-A beach bag- Can you believe I never took one to Malta, so had to buy a really bright yellow awful thing in a beach emergency.

So that's for starters...What will you be sewing?

The silent city

2010-09-11T08:35:00.000+02:00

Wednesday was a public holiday in Malta. I don't know what for exactly, but more than likely it was to do with a Saint!
We decided to head to the Medieval city of M'dina....
It is situated high on a hill

It has Lots of winding narrow streets

Beautiful houses (The old palaces which are now private residence)

A beautiful Cathedral

Panoramic views of the Island

Lots of history (something to do with Knights)

Beautiful little features everywhere

Is this not the prettiest cash point machine you have ever seen!

It is also known as 'The silent city'...again i don't know why....
But for the 1.5hrs we were there it was renamed 'The incredibly noisy toddler city!!'

Yesterday was my birthday.......I got a different selection of presents than i normally get, i think due to having to post them and all, but all lovely and much appreciated. The highlight are my john Lewis vouchers which i CAN NOT WAIT to blow in the haberdashery department when I'm home next week (exactly a week today).

Happy weekend folk's. We are barbecuing and water parking it this weekend how about you?

xK

Life on the island.

2010-09-03T13:44:00.000+02:00

So I'm a very bad blogger.....It's official.

The truth be told i have found myself in a bit of a blogging rut since we moved to Malta. I have started many post's but finished none (except this one i hope!) The main problem is my lack of sewing machine and supplies.
I'm finding that one day is very much like the next at the moment. I never thought I would find myself complaining about the heat, but it really has been too hot. In the high 30's/40's most days, although the temperature has dropped the last two days and there have actually been a few 'grey' clouds in the sky this morning...apparently we are set for storms this weekend!
Due to the insufferable heat and the mountain of a hill we have to walk up to get home from a trip, we are spending most of oer days as follows...

Mornings at the beach, the playzone (indoor ball park with air con!) or walking along
the promenade.
Then home for lunch by 1pm.
Then 2hr nap (for me too!)
Followed by an afternoon of me chasing The Whirlwind round the flat with a potty hoping
she will poo into that, and not on the floor! (thank God for marble floors!)

We have also become somewhat obsessed with the Disney Movie Cars, and by 'we' i mean The Whirlwind. She is not happy unless she has watched it at least 8 times a day. Literally from the moment she wakes till the moment she goes to bed at night she goes on about it...''Watch Car's now mummy?''...''I'm Lightning McQueen''...''I'm the fastest, just like lighting McQueen''...''Lets race, c'mon Lightning McQueen''....On and on she goes! So far she has managed to manipulate a Lightning McQueen toy car, bucket and spade and cup and plate set out of us. But she can spot the brand images from 50 paces and it is EVERYWHERE.....I guess its the 'Boy's' Equivalent of Disney Princesses (whom she doesn't even bat an eyelid at!

Our evenings are where it has all come alive....We have had lots of dinners out and barbeque's with friends, one of the biggest adjustments living out here has been the fact that the children are all up late. Ruby comes 'everywhere' with us and it has taken me a while to figure out how best to handle this, as her routine in the UK had her in bed at 7pm on the dot, without fail. This is the time we tend to go out in the evening's here. She would be fine for the first hour (but we are an hour ahead here anyway) then she would enter the manic zone...you know the zone where they are tired but don't want to give in to it, so just go manic, and wont sit still...Not fun when your in a restaurant (a restaurant full of other children all sitting nicely without making a peep!)
But I think she is getting used to it now, Later naps for her and more alcohol for me has resulted in us being a lot more chilled out of an eve now.

There is a mother and toddler club starting up next week which we shall be going along to with some friends that we have met, and then the week after that we are actually going home for a week. I am very excited about this trip as i intend to spend the whole seven days glued to my sewing machine....and it will defiantly be coming back to Malta with me this time.

Looking out my window it is actually raining right now, that's the first time in the eight weeks we have been here that it has rain. I think i will have to take The Whirlwind out to jump some puddles!
x K

We're Heeeeere!

2010-07-22T22:03:00.000+02:00

We have been here in Malta now for nearly 3 weeks now....I would have blogged sooner but the last week at home and the first week here were Mad! ( and I've been too lazy in the heat!)

Now i knew it would be hot...but it is REALLY REALLY REALLY HOT.....EVERY DAY!!! The Whirlwind is getting more golden brown with blond streaks by the day.

Our apartment is lovely....So much space The Whirlwind loves it...there is a big long hall-way with motion sensor lighting which Roo loves running up and down ( and us adults have had a few drunken games of 'How far can you get up the hall before turning the lights on'...so far i win!)

If you want to have a total snoop around then click here

I have finally managed to get my bearings and everything is pretty much 'up-hill'!...even to get back down hill you seem to have to go up hill!!!and with the heat...Man i have sweated in places i didn't know you could sweat! This all seems to highlight how totally unfit i am...but i am pushing a chunky toddler in a pushchair people, so feel free to come give it a go if you think you can do it better!
Luckily though everything is very close we have tried out several swimming spots now....Most of the 'beaches in Malta are actually large rocks, some are very child friendly some not so! there is a man-made pebble beach called Georges bay about 20 minutes away which is very nice, but yesterday i found a strip of sandy beach between the rocks right at the bottom of our hill. it has crystal clear waters and quiet a shallow stretch....Perfect!
This is Georges bay beach...ooops really should have cropped the Lady's bottom out at the top!

It has been 21days 8hrs, 34 mins and 17 seconds since i last used my sewing machine...but lets not dwell on that!( sobs uncontrollably for 10 minutes! and wonders WHY OH WHY did i leave without it!)
I have however found a sewing supplies shop within walking distance (down hill!...but have to go up hill to get back home again!)
And THE BEST FABRIC STORE EVER....We went looking for throws to protect the leather sofas from sun cream and found HEAVEN in the name of JB Stores....Unfortunately i didn't have my camera that day but it was 4 floors, floor to ceiling of every type of fabric you can imagine......I have told Neilyboy he has to drive me there at least once a week so that i can stroke the velvet and fluff the taffeta or i will never have sex with him again!
I bought some DORA THE EXPLORA fabric to make curtains for The Whirlwind room as i was SOOO NOT enjoying the 5am sunrise wake up calls!!!

These are a total cheat on the curtain making front. All i did was do a large hem at the top to push the pole through and hemmed the bottom all using wonder webb ( bonda webb) and the sides are selvage edge so no sewing required at all. I do however have enough fabric leftover to make a pillow case so that may require a needle and thread!
As its a rented apartment there's not much i can do decor wise, but I really want/need Roo's room to have a bit of her character stamped on it, so there is a danger i will go soft furnishings crazy in there!

There's not going to be much craft talk round these parts for a while, although i was given the number of a woman who teaches crochet/knitting classes which i am quit interested in finding out about.
I will however try to keep up frequent posts as this country is so beautiful and has such fantastic buildings. It is a Catholic country which = lots of stunning churches and cathedral's everywhere. Walking around feels like being in a time-warp as even the newer builds have a very Gothic feel, so i hope to take lots of pretty pictures to share!

x K

Seriously! Does she really need any more?

2010-06-21T22:13:00.000+02:00

In the last 2wks i have made The Whirlwind 8 new dresses!
I cant seem to stop!
I made the most recent 2 last night.

From KitchyCoos 'Smocky top' pattern

I love the pattern.....not so sure on my fabric choices! I started off thinking it all looked a bit 70's housewife! But now I'm thinking Retro Boho chic!......Anyway this time i went for the 3T-4T size and yes it is a bit big but she will definitely get 2 summers out of it. ( I think i will add some side ties to bring it in for now.)

'' I cant believe your taking my picture, when you haven't even bothered to brush my hair today mummy''

I love the yoke on this pattern and got it into my head that it would look lovely as a sleeveless dress. So a bit of fiddling and tweaking about later.... (Hope you don't mind the butchering of the sleeves Amanda!).....

I also took the smock in slightly and lengthened it.

Again I'm not 100% on the fabric combo, but i think i will add a big pocket to the side in the pink polka to bring it all together.
Notice the funny tan lines made by her sandals on the Whirlwinds feet! hee hee.

At the top of this post i said i had made 8 dresses....I just remembered a 9th!
I bought this 50p charity tee last week. Now I'm not normally one for slogans or writing on clothing, but lately The Whirlwind keeps telling me she is a princess!

So during yesterday afternoons nap.....A snip here and a bit of elastic there, and we have a cute little halter number.

I don't think Id put her in this to go out, but its a cute little piece for when we're lounging around our new apartment trying to keep cool in the 37 degree heat!

I really need to focus on sewing some other things now, but i cant promise there wont be more dresses!!!

x K

2 weeks to go!

2010-06-18T22:28:00.000+02:00

Neilyboy has been warming up the new apartment in Malta for 4 wks now. The Whirlwind is definitely missing him, as am I. He will be home with us this time next week, and then the following week we all fly out together to start our 9 month adventure.
I am starting to get quiet excited now, mostly that our little family will all be back under one roof. Skype has been a total Godsend as it has allowed The Whirlwind to see her daddy at least a couple of times a week and have endless babbling conversations where she talks him through an entire episode of Dora the Explora without the fear of an extortionate phone bill!.I must say that it has not been as much of a strain as i thought it might be, mostly because we have kept ourselves as busy as possible. This afternoon was the first time we have stayed indoors and did NOTHING for over 2wks, (I didn't even unbolt the front door from last night!)
The evenings have been the hardest for me, as that's when Neilyboys absence is most noticeable....Who would have thought i would miss being ignored whilst he watches the world cup footie, soooo much!
So to keep myself occupied in the pm i have gone in to a bit of a dress making frenzy! I have sewen up 2 since Wednesday evening and have cut the pieces out for 3 others.
I blame Amanda from KitschyCoo! She has a sale on at the moment and i just 'HAD TO HAVE' 2 of her patterns......The Mini Mod dress and the puff sleeve smocky top, (the smocky top pieces are what are on the cutting table, though i have lengthened them to make dresses)

The Mini Mod Dress....Red brushed cotton (gives a velvety feel)

Michael miller farmers market print in the box pleat...( this is one of my favourite prints but i have never used it in clothing before...I love it!

The Whirlwind doing her best 'wicked man' hand flick.
The dress size is 18m-2T...Now Roo is quiet a chunk so Amanda's patterns are quiet generous as this fits her nearly perfect! Not only is she a chunk, my baby is also tall, so its just a fraction of a bit shorter than i would have liked.....basically i should have taken Amanda's advice and made it in the 3T/4T to give growing room. but although i am aware the Whirlwind is big for her age, subconsciously i hate to add years on my baby (she is only just 26mths remember!) so continually make things up in a 2T instead of a 3T and then have no room for growth!

The dress will easily last her through the summer though (with the addition of some leggings), but doesn't it make the most perfect Christmas dress! I will just have to make another one for December( red cord or velvet???) in the next size up.

Now for more shirring......Using some of the gorgeous fabric i got from my friend in the U.S ( not that you cant get it here, just she got it cheaper!)

I seriously love these little sundresses. They take about an hour to make, so are like a quick 'fix' if your addicted to making girly dresses like i sooo clearly am!

The Whirlwind loves them tooo. She told me this one was her favourite.

I have 101 projects on the go right now. I think that i am starting to panic at the thought that i probably wont have a sewing machine for a while when we move...GULP!

I have finished up the sun hats, although one She refuses to wear, the other I finally managed to wrestle off her and put in the wash, as that one she refuses to take off, and it was far to grubby looking to photograph, so next time! Also im planning on making some shorts.....Oh dear, my list just keeps getting longer!

Happy weekend and sewing folks!
xK

Dresses!

2010-06-10T23:14:00.000+02:00

I have been working on The Whirlwinds summer wardrobe!
First up?....Dresses.

Pleated tunic dress....Heidi and Finn pattern

Daddy's old work shirt revamped..... (tutorial here)

I made this one up as i went along, but its basically an adaption of a pillowcase dress.

This one is my favourite.....I had fun with the trimmings.

......It look me a while to get the technique right, but now i think that i have mastered it, i am going to be smocking/ shirring everything in sight!

I have also been working on a few sun hats, so they will be up for show next time.

I had a lovely visit from some old work friends this week, one of them now lives back in the U.S. and was over here on holiday, I cheekily asked her if she would bring me some fabric as it is a fraction of the price there that it is here. She bought me a lovely selection of Amy Butler, perfect for more dresses! ( 8yrds cost me just under £50...would have cost me at least £80 in John Lewis here!!!!)

Can you believe i never realised that she has been living 2 minutes from L.A's fabric district for the last 3yrs!...Well i know now and will be making regular orders!

I have a busy week ahead with lots more visits planned. Only 3 wks till the big move, so I am planning to see as many friends in that time as I can!

x K

Travel accessories!

2010-05-23T22:16:00.000+02:00

I made a few little bits for my mum to take away with her when she went away last wk. They had to be simple light weight things so i made a passport cover and a travel file to put all her documents in.

I got the pattern for the file from last months SEW magazine and enlarged it slightly. For the Passport case i created a pattern myself and i am really quiet please with the result.

My mum does like her bling, and chose the gold fabric from my local shop last time she came to stay with me. I have already made her a shoulder bag with it. The floral lining is from a set of Ikea pillowcases i bought in a thrift shop for 50p. i love it.
I am considering doing a tutorial for the passport case if anyone would be interested?
I also made her an eye mask so she could try and get some sleep on the plane. It was made with the same gold fabric on the outside but i used a mushroom colour velour on the inside for softness against her eyes. Somehow i managed to delete the pic for it!

Lastly i put together a little photo album for her to take and show off pictures of our little family here in England. It was such a shock to the system finding out how much it costs to get your pictures printed at a store these days! I can't remember the last time i didn't print them myself but i normally just do it onto shiny card stock. I wanted proper photograph paper for these.......£16 for 36 6x4 prints!
After that i decided to buy this cheepo photo album for 99p

and recovered it with some more Ikea fabric, No sewing involved with this but i got to use my glue gun, which is just as much fun.....I do love glue guns!!!

Hope your all enjoying the wonderful sunshine we have been having this weekend. I made my first attempt at Sheering/smocking this afternoon, Ive not finished it off yet though so will have to show and tell next time.

Neilyboy left for Malta today, I have 5wks on my own (i wanted to wait till my mum came back) then he comes back to get us and we all leave in 6 wks...eeeek!

xK

Homeward bound!

2010-05-20T23:50:00.000+02:00

''My mum went home yesterday!''

Now this may not sound like any major news, but when i say 'home' i mean BELIZE......The country of her birth...The home she left behind 30 years ago, and has only been able to go back and visit once before in all that time and that was 15 years ago.
So its quiet a major statement!

''My mum went HOME yesterday.....''

It was no easy feat either. Flying from the U.K to Belize. Her Plane left 6.30pm Tuesday evening UK time, and a hop, skip, and a jump, involving 3 planes and an 7hr wait at Newark airport later, she finally touched down on Home soil at 10.30m local time (3.30pm UK time) thats 21hours of travel. This for a woman in her 50s who suffers from fibromialga (achy joints!) and packed enough stuff in her suitcase to cloth all the woman of central America ( seriously! $50 excess fee!!!)

A BRIEF HISTORY OF MY MUM

Dorla Marjorie Broderick (nee. Gentle) was born in Belize in 1957.
She is the eldest daughter amongst 12 siblings, 6 boys, 6 girls.
Her father was Pastor Alvin Gentle, of the local Pentecostal Church, Esperanza village, Cayo.

I wouldn't say my mother was a 'wild child' exactly but she certainly (and still does) had a very playful spirit. She gave birth to my elder brother and sister when she was in her late teens. Their father was a longterm romance with a local boy. That relationship did not last and my mother soon discovered that she quiet liked the look of the white English soldiers who came for training in Belize's rainforest's during the 70s. They were exciting, they were blond, blue-eyed , and liked to flash the cash at the local girls. My mum was young, very pretty and looking for adventure (aren't we all at that age!)

My mother had many admirers... but only one she was in love with. He however ,decided after he had got her pregnant, that he really didn't have the balls to marry a local black girl with 2 other children and ship her all the way back to West Yorkshire....I guess we have to remember that it was the 70s, interracial relationships were still a bit 'taboo' in the North of England!!!, Anyway he swiftly disappeared into the mists of the rainforest's, never to be seen of again.......Thanks DAD!

Step in admirer no2. He courted my mother for 2 years and had been back in England for nearly a year when my mother received a telegraph ( Telegraph!!!) that he was on his way back to marry her.
They were married by my Grandfather in his church.
My brother Eldon was 6 by this time and my sister Lynette was 4, she had had a serious case of meningitis as a baby which had left her severely brain damaged. The plan was that I, the baby, nearly 3, would come over to England with my mother to live at my 'new grandparents 'house and once we were settled and given family quarters my brother and sister would be bought over as well.
We moved from Belize to England to Germany, and then back to England. During this time my younger brother David was born and my sister sadly died back in Belize.
My mother was devastated, she had not seen her daughter for nearly 5 years . My step dad did not offer to fly her home. She had no money to go herself.

The marriage lasted 6 years.

Once they were divorced, my seemingly devoted stepfather wanted nothing more to do with any of us!
My mother was quiet literally left in a strange country, entirely on her own to raise two young children.

In 1995 my mothers closest sister died. She went in for a routine operation ( i forget what for now) but something went wrong and she never recovered. I had just turned 18 years old and i was able to cash in the money which had been put in trust for me after the divorce. I was happy to use all of it to fly the 3 of us to Belize for a 'holiday' . By this time my older brother had moved to the U.S.A so we didn't get to see him. ( My mother flew out to Chicago to visit him and his family a few years later.)
We only stayed for 3 weeks but i fell in love with Belize! The people, the food , the country. I have no memories of being there as a baby but i remember now, how much i wanted to stay then. I had to quiet literally be dragged kicking and screaming onto the plane back to England.

So flash forward 14 years to last summer, when sadly once again someone we loved died without my mother having the chance to say good by. This time it was my grandfather. My mother was once again devastated and home sick. It is an expensive journey flying to Belize. Fortunately some scrimping and saving and a lucky tax refund has meant that this summer she was able go home again.

''MY MUM WENT HOME YESTERDAY!''

This time she is staying for 6 weeks, during that time she will celebrate her 53rd birthday, the 1st anniversary of her fathers death and the 25th anniversary of her daughters death.
I'm sure it will be a very emotional trip for her, there will be a lot of joy, laughter and a little sadness.

I guess i have shared a lot here about my mothers and my life, and i have done it because i want to share exactly how PROUD i am of my mum. She was left with nothing, and she worked so awfully hard to give me and my younger brother everything. Back in the early days she could have given up this English life and gone back to the bussom of her family, but she stuck it out for us, she believed the opportunities would be better here for us and to a certain extent she was right. Theres no denying England has a better education system, a lower crime and drug rate, lower infant mortality rate. Better social and health care!
I often used to wonder about the things that we missed out on.
The reason i fell so in love with Belize when i was 18 was because it was the first time in my life i felt i was somewhere i belonged, I was amongst people who looked just like me, and i don't mean just the color of their skin ( although growing up i only had one other black friend and she was mixed race too!) but the shape of their eyes the contours of their cheeks.

I was amongst kin!

I was amongst faith!

My Grandfather was a Preacher after all ,and i spent more time in Church those 3 weeks than i have done in the years since, I was mesmerized by the love i felt just setting foot inside his church.

But i am glad for the life my mother gave me, i m grateful for her sacrifice. I Have that sense of belonging once again, I have a man i love and am loved back (blond and blue eyed....I'm just like my mum i guess!) We have a beautiful daughter and a happy home. I have friends who have been my surrogate family for the past 23years.

I hope that my mother has a truly wonderful time and that it wont be another 15 years before she is able to go back to Belize again, because next time i want to go with her and take my daughter too.
I want Ruby to know that although her mothers family may seem really small (uncle David, cousin Kienan and Nanny) It is in fact huge....Enormous even.
Seriously! If you ever find yourself in Belize, just ask anyone if they know Pastor G's family. I guarantee the answer will be yes!

xK

Happy Bloggiversary to me!

2010-05-17T21:42:00.000+02:00

Now it has to be said that I am not the most consistent blogger! But I am pleased to say that i started this little blog a year ago today. It has been quiet a fun little ride, I have had the pleasure of meeting ( all be it cyber ) some wonderfully funny and talented people. Thank you to everyone who has read my nonsense, indulged my need to show off my makes and left flattering and encouraging comments.
As i announced in my last post, this next year is going to be an exciting one for my little family as we embark on our adventure in Malta and i look forward to sharing as much as i can right here!

I also promised in my last post that i would show off some recent makes as i have been a bit slack at this of late, so here goes........

This little dress was made for my friend Kate's daughter Marriella as a 1st birthday present. Kate spotted the Alice-in-wonderland fabric in my stash and dropped several 'subtle' hints that she wanted to wrap one of her girls in it!
It ties up with ribbon at the back. The pattern is Wholegrainbaby.....remember The Whirlwinds Apples and Pears dress from last year!
I found this cute little shrug which i thought matched if perfectly!

Another friend asked me to make a set of mice skittles after she saw Roo playing with them.
This time i made a little bag to put them in.

Cute! No!

More birthday gift's. These ones for Neilyboys Aunt Gillian. She always sends The Whirlwind lovely Christmas and Birthday presents so i wanted to make her something nice for her birthday. Unfortunatly the pics for these are really rubbish as i took them at about 1am and had to pop them straight in the post on my way to work the next day.....
A lavender bird sachet (my one and olny make from one of Cath's books!) and a scrappy Card.
This is actually an oven mitt and matching tea towels in my 'all time favourite' Cath Kidston fabric. I wish id taken better pictures because i was really pleased with these, they came out really well. I made the pattern up by tracing round a mitt i use and used double layers of batting and quilted it all, so hopefully Aunt Gillian doesnt get burnt hands!

I spent the end of last week making up some bits for my Mum to take with her on holiday tomorrow, but i want to do a whole blog post about that in the next couple of days because i think she deserves it!
Also I have a few additions to The Whirlwinds Malta wardrobe to show off, but i am going to have to fit it all in around the joyouse task of sorting out and ironing all of Neilyboys clothes for him to take with him this sun. I can not begin to tell you exactly how much I HATE IRONING.....

x K

On the Move!

2010-05-12T18:11:00.000+02:00

Sorry I've been away so long. Things have been very busy round these parts, but i wont bore you with the Mundane stuff, so let me just get straight to the Juicy, exciting stuff instead!

We are Moving...........

........To Malta!!!( but only for 9mths!)....Told you it was exciting!

Picture's of St Julians bay which is where we will be living.......

Neilyboys work need him there full time for this project he is working on, so he leaves at the end of this month, and we fly out the first week of July.

I can not wait! We have holidayed in Malta before and i think it is a lovely country, everybody is so friendly and they all speak English, which is a bonus so The Whirlwind and i shouldn't get into too much bother whilst daddy is at work.
The Apartment we are renting is bigger than our house! We will have a spare room (although i doubt it will be unoccupied for much of the time, telling by the list of friends and family who have put there name down for a stay!)
I have already informed Neilyboy that i shall not be going anywhere without a sewing machine so my first job over there will be tracking down the nearest fabric shop and acquiring myself a new baby!
Malta is very famous for its lace, so surely there must be a craft scene out there, although i have been trying to find a good Malta based craft blog, but so far i have only found tourist orientated ones!.....Anybody know of any????

There is soooooo much to organise over the coming few weeks......Most importantly, what clothes am i going to have to make/buy/try and squeeze myself into. and how exactly am i going to super glue my mouth together, because that is the only way that i can dream of gaining a bikini body in time (YES! I am thinking of it as one loooong summer holiday!).....My Gym card died a pity full death 2mins after i got it and is collecting dust somewhere!
Also there will be 6 long weeks of single parentness for me between Neilyboys departure and our arrival!.....I feel that i will be consuming a lot of alcohol in that time!

I shall be back later in the week with a photo montage of all my recent makes as i have popped out a few that i am quiet pleased with in the past few weeks!
xK

I Bet You Did'nt Know!

2010-04-16T23:25:00.000+02:00

Seven things about me!
1. I once played clarinet live at the Albert Hall in front of Prince Charles.
2. The sewing machine i use is called a Delta and is an Aldi own brand!....I seriously need to upgrade like YESTERDAY!
3. I have been with Neilyboy for 7 and a half years but we broke up for 5 months and The Whirlwind was conceived the night we decided to get back together!.....Thats fate for you!
4. I have a belly button phobia!....I CAN NOT STAND anyone touching my belly button. I spent the last few weeks of my pregnancy having panic attacks that mine would pop out!.... Just thinking about it makes me feel sick!
5. I had my ears pierced when i was 9 days old!
6. I was born in Belize CA , moved to Germany when i was 3 and didnt move to the UK till i was six year old (army brat!) I have only been back to see my homeland once and that was 14 years ago....this is my saddest confession!
7. I am a serious SI-FI / Fantasy geek......Oh BUFFY how i miss you!....And don't get me started on Lost!

Thanks to A Modern Mother for tagging me

and now i tag 7 others.....
Sewscrumptious
Pickeled wheasel
Made with love
Little birds fly
Dont play with the dog bowl sweetheart
Living the spacious life
Simply B

Can I just say that this week has been 'THEEEEE SLOWEST WEEK EVER!!!!!' Neily-boy has been working away in Malta since Sunday, and was due to come home tonight, but thanks to ........'That Damn Volcano' .....His flight has been cancelled till late Monday night!
It has been Easter break which means that all the yummy mummy's who would normally frequent my shop (virtual workplace!) have funny enough! Not fancied popping in with their 10billion offspring! This has all resulted in long boring empty days ,followed by long boring empty evenings!
My Neighbour who i love....Lisa you rock!..... moved house today...Not so rock'in!.... So now i feel totally on my own!....On the plus side....Mussels in garlic sauce for dinner tomorrow!

xK

Fish supper!

2010-04-13T22:08:00.000+02:00

Neilyboy DOES NOT. WILL NOT eat fish. He cries like a baby when i even attempt to cook it in the house, because apparently even the smell of it makes him want to hurl....... Although he has no problem polishing off a packet of prawn cocktail crisps or eating prawn crackers!...go figure!

Neilyboy is away with work till Friday!

This is what The Whirlwind and I will be having for dinner for the next 2 nights!

Grilled Salmon, garlic new potatoes, asparagus tips and baby stem broccoli
Yummy, yum, yum, yum, yum!
Good times!
x K

The Girls!

2010-04-10T15:19:00.000+02:00

I have a group of friends....The Girls!.... There are 9 of us, Some i have known for 12yrs, some for 25yrs. Some live 2min's down the road, some 2hrs, and 1, Dutt's.....well she went and moved all the way down under.

Its not very often....in fact its so rare that i cant even remember the last time, we were all in the same room together? Was it in 2007?, last time Dutts was home? Before that who knows! Hen-do's, weddings, and baby showers tend to be the only dates that most of us are able to coordinate time together.

Dutt's came home from Oz for 5wks, and can you believe that sadly we still were not able to all get together in that time. We organised 2 dinners, one I was the only one absent for and the other Ali was the only one absent, so very nearly a full set!

Ginge & Me

Nina & Kate

Sarah & Sarah aka Dutt's & Bish

Sam & Kerry

I love these girls, all of them! Some i speak to everyday, some once maybe twice a year when we get together. They know all about me, all my dreams, all my drunken 'Oh My God did i really do that?' stories...most of them were there to spur me on at the time, downing the shots with me at the bar, reminding me exactly what the random bloke i gave my phone number to looked like! Its thanks to them that i have ended up 'married' to one (Neilyboy xx), although they did nickname him Boris as none of us could actually remember his name at the time!

They have laughed with me, at me. Seen me cry, and cried for me. Hugged me when i didn't want it, Held me when i needed it.

I have loved growing up with these girls, watching them fall in love, get married, get pregnant, have babies......Not always in that order, and not all of them have done all of those things yet! Some don't want to, some are desperate to, and some just need to cut their ties and move on!....(you know who you are!) and i look forward to seeing how it all turns out, for all of us.
We are all so different in so many ways and all lead very different lives, yet we always slot right into stride with one another when were together.

Dutt's and her family flew back home on wed, and over the Easter weekend before they left, her parents invited us all over for a party. 5 of us are mummies now and so far we have 9 children between us.

There was an Easter egg hunt for the kiddie winks.

New friends- Roo and the Aussie boys

A smoking room for the 'Men'....so they could bond over football and stuff!

Lots of gossip for the girls

A 1yr old girls birthday to celebrate

9, soon to be 10, and hopefully much more, beautiful baby's to enjoy.

And 5 Yummy Mummys (+Ginge x)

I LOVE THESE GIRLS. and i cant wait till next your home Dutts (another 3yrs?) because next time 'WE WILL ALL' get together in the same room at the same time!

xK

Spring Coat

2010-03-31T20:39:00.000+02:00

This is The Whirlwinds new spring coat that i made her for her birthday. Its another Heidi&Finn pattern 'The Chic Everyday Coat'

I have to say that normally these patterns are more on the generous side. This coat has come up a bit snug, but then again Roo is quiet big for her age!

Still the next size in the pattern was 4-5 and that would have been enormous!

I think the problem lies with this seam, and inverted peat at the back. It makes the top of the back narrower than the front and bottom, which makes the fit a bit tight under the arms.

Of course it could all be in my stitching, and the fact that my daughter is a chunk!

It isn't really too bad, it just means that it probably wont last as long as id have liked, and she cant wear it with any jumpers underneath.

Over all though i love it! And with thin layers underneath, it will do fine as a Spring/Summer coat (when the sun finally arrives!!!)

It is slightly unfinished as there is a strap bit that goes across the back, but i haven't sewn it on because i need buttons for it.

Anyone know where i can find big pink plastic buttons x3 in 1" diameter and x2 in half inch as I'm not happy with the fabric covered ones on the front either? I really think shiny ones would look much cooler!

x K

Red, White and Blue

2010-03-29T21:47:00.000+02:00

Firstly , did we have a wonderful time celebrating The Whirlwinds 2ND birthday last week?...Well yes we did! We spent the day at the Zoo, had a picnic and sang happy birthday round a Peppa pig cake in the evening.

Did i finish the kitchen???....NO!!!! but i will! (I have to, i have a zillion cardboard boxes in my kitchen)

I did do lots of sewing though, I will show you over the week, starting today with this dress which wasn't even for The Whirlwind, but for my good friend Sarah's daughter who was born 3 days after Roo, We actually stopped to show Roo off to her and her husband on our way out of the hospital as they were about to go into the delivery suit to have Jess. I cant believe our girls are 2 already,it feels like only yesterday they were born!!! Unfortunately we don't live near each other anymore so ">the girls don't see each other as much we would like!......... (dont know why this picture is cut off!)

I'm quiet pleased with this dress , perfect for spring/summer and I'm sure Jess will look gorgeous in it, Sarah has promised to send me some modeling pics.

Luv you Bish! xxx

xK

TWO!

2010-03-23T11:06:00.000+01:00

Ruby, Ruby,
The girl with curly hair.

She likes to twizzel, twizzel everywhere,

Round and round she goes,
On her tippie toes,

Dizzy little,
Silly little,
Ruby.

I CAN NOT BELIEVE she is TWO!...... HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL xxxxxxxxxxxx

x K

Not what im supposed to be doing!

2010-03-19T16:11:00.000+01:00

Its been a good week this week, the weather has been wonderful and we have spent a lot of time in the garden, The Whirlwind even had a playmate over ( very rare as our house is the size of a shoe box but the garden gave us the extra room!) The only downside is that my hayfever has well and truly kicked in! It only seems to irritate me mornings and evenings, which means i have woken every morning feeling like i have the hangover from hell without the thrills of the night before! and early nights as it just tires me out. Needless to say i have not done much sewing this week. I have a half finished gold faux leather bag which is my belated Mday present for my mum...Luckily i wont see her till tomorrow, and its just the strap that needs finishing. I have about 400 cardboard boxes stacked in the corner of my kitchen in preparation for this little project! But i have resigned myself to the fact that it probably wont be done by The Whirlwinds B-day . She will be 2, is she really going to notice! and my sew along skirt still needs amending. So with all these outstanding projects what did i decide to start at 10.30pm last night (couldn't possibly go to bed early on a Thursday before watching Greys and Bones!).......

from this.......

I blame Neil for telling me this shirt had a hole in the sleeve and he was going to throw it away!
.........to this
And i blame Dana for posting THIS adorable dress on her MADE blog yesterday which reminded me that i always wanted to do one of these refashions!

Its not perfect, but its cute and wearable...More of a long shirt than a dress.I will definitely be raiding Neils wardrobe for a few more shirts!

Now!

Back to my list!

x K

Mothers Day.

2010-03-14T20:53:00.000+01:00

A big thumbs up to all the Yummy Mummys.

xxx K&R

Meh too!

2010-03-13T21:16:00.000+01:00

So i finally stitched together my first muslin. I haven't done any finishings ( eg. zipper, waist and hem) as i want to get the fit right first before i start with all that palava (I'm a bit scared about the zip fastening!)

I have cheated here a bit because originally the skirt was way too big around the waist and hip, but i thought it was because i drew up a 1cm seam allowance but only sewed 1/4''. So i stitched another seam another 1/4'' in from the first seam (it looked like it needed more than the 1cm!) but it is still a bit too big on the waist and my darts are not central either so i think my measurements were just off!

Also i have found it a bit tricky to get each dart the same length, one is slightly longer than the other both front and back, it doesn't really notice but i know they are and its annoying. Any tips for even darts?

I shall go back to the drawing board for the pattern, i think i can probably save this skirt by fiddling a bit, but i want to get the pattern right so i wont have to mess around in the future. Which is kinda the point of learning to draw my own patterns right!
All in all so far i like the length and the cut has been really flattering on the other ladies who have shown off their muslin's in the flicker group.
I'm quiet enjoying this whole process, it really makes you think and look at all the fine detail. With kids clothes you can get away with errors from 'winging it' but not so with grown up clobber!

This is what i wore at work today, i thought i would share with you because if you look back through by blog, every other picture of me on here has me looking like a dork...so this is just to show i can look cute!
x K

Can you tell what it is yet? pt1

2010-03-09T19:29:00.000+01:00

IT appears that something i have suspected all my life is indeed true......I HAVE NO HIPS, or is it no waist...either way i am straight as a pencil round the middle...
I mean Ive checked the measurements several times and yet my skirt pattern still looks like half a square!
I have my first 'muslin' cut and ready to stitch up...here's hoping that once the darts are in place it will show i have a little bit of curve!

As for my march list...Well it seems to be getting longer by the day! so far i have completed, One Bag, purse and brooch set for my neighbour, A pair of baby shoes for a friend, A dress alteration for my neighbour, and a camera case....NON of which were on my list!
From the list i have made, one T- shirt for my nephew who in fact turned 7 not 6 at the weekend (somewhere i missed a year!!) and cut out the pieces i need for my sister-in-laws birthday gift (which was on Monday!).

So things are going well as you can see!

As for the Kitchen...... I have looked at the plans. But that wont get started till next week, Luckily my in-laws own a printing business so they have cardboard coming out of their ears, I do however seem to have misplaced my glue gun. I do LOVE glue guns, and staple guns for that matter!

x K

The Month of March.....

2010-03-03T16:02:00.000+01:00

Is a busy one for me, both socially and sewingly, and thus consequently.... financially!
So this is the plan....

Date	Occasion	Make
5th	Nephews 6th B'day	Appliqued T-shirt
8th	Sister-in-laws B'day	Ruffle clutch purse
15th	Mothers day	x2 bag & purse sets
20th	Sarah Visit	Something suitably boyish!
21st	Father-in-law B'day	????
23rd	Whirlwinds 2nd B'day	Cardboard Kitchen!

I fear that there will be a lot of late night sewing! Add to all this the fact that Neil is going away with work for over a week so muggins here will have to iron all his stuff, and i made a camera case sale on folksy last night so that will all have to be done by the weekend!
There will be a lot of trips down to my mothers in Kent too! The best of which will be a night out with the girls to celebrate the visit home of a good friend, who married a kiwi and emigrated to Oz about 10yrs age. Last time Sarah was home i was only 3 months pregnant with Roo, she had a 5month old Oliver and Carter was only a twinkle in his daddy's eye, so i can'not wait for that catch up!

As for the Cardboard Kitchen ,it is a fantastic creation by forty-two roads. ( yes i REALLY AM going to try and this!!!!)

I just bought the pdf pattern in her Etsy store, Im soooooo excited as i really wanted to buy The Whirlwind a wooden kitchen that costs £150! but this looks like it would be fun to build.......Seriously! how hard can it be?

Best pull my finger out! I don't think i shall be getting any sleep this month!
(not forgetting the Sew along!)

x K

Bubble Butt!

2010-02-26T21:13:00.001+01:00

I got my resident I.T project manager to tinkle with my laptop last night and it seems that it was a good idea to agree to bare his offspring after all! Photos are still slow to load , but they always were and as this little computer is an Acer and thus the software is shit ,i cant load picas as was recommended to me by the lovely mad about bags. So as much as i would love to show off all my makes over the last couple of weeks, i just don't have the patients to load the zillion photos. Lets just say i was a busy bee and most of it was phone cases , zip purses and valentine related. I actually sewed up something for my Mr Man, so maybe i will show that off at some point!
One thing i am going to show off thou is that i did manage to concoct my own little bubble skirt design. The first attempt was a bit fudged. I used a jersey lining and a soft grey knit outer. I didn't really think through how to do the waist band and ended up adding on an extra bit of fabric for the casting, which was really messy to stitch on and added too much length to an already too long skirt for the whirlwind! Lucky though it does mean that i have the room to correct it at some point! I also made some matching leggings in the blue jersey to go with this.

My second attempt was much more of a success. I used 2 light weight poly cottons for this and added a bit more puff in the skirt. This time i folded the lining over the top of the outer fabric to make a casting for the elastic waist. Cute don't you think!

Time for some modeling.....I bribed her to stand in the corner with the promise of chocolate buttons! She lasted there a good 3min's or so, but still wouldn't actually stand still, so the pics are a bit blurred!

I don't know why shes trying to look all demure.......I know better!

......Starting to get bored now!

So now on the topic of skirts, i have joined a group (....No not AA!) I am now a member of 'The Cool Girl's club' . Our pack master is the lovely Amanda from KitchyCoo. Our Bible is this wonderful new book called 'Design it yourself Clothes'. The plan is to work our way through the book and come out at the other end as Stella McCartney! Our first project is a skirt and the assignment is due in on the 20th of March. We have a 'show and tell' flicker group where we can all Pat ourselves smugly on the back at our fantastic creations!! And of course you can come along and tell us how great we are too!
I'm quiet excited about this as i have never made any clothes for big girls before other than the easy peasy elastic waist summer skirts!
click on the pic below to link to Amanda's blog for full details and to join in......c'mon you know you want to. (Also her blog is ACE so go visit her anyway, and you too will have a big girly crush on her within about 2 minutes!)

x K

simply frustrating!!!!

2010-02-24T22:45:00.000+01:00

I have been having serious problems with blogger this past week!
I can't seem to load more than one picture at a time and its taking bloody ages, and then it wont save anything automatically like it normally does, so i have lost 3 attempted posts now. This evenings was a really long one as well to make up for loosing the others, but now that's gone because my battery went and yet again it didn't save.
So I'm giving up now and going to eat a custard slice!
x K

Something Truely beautiful!

2010-02-09T19:36:00.000+01:00

My overlocker and I are finally at one! Just look how beautiful these seams are!
I have pretty much bought all of the patterns from HeidiandFinn children's wear now! Seriously if you haven't tryed them before, they are super easy to follow, and all reversible!

This one here is actually the wrap dress but i shortened it to a top for the Whirlwind. I bravely decided to use my overlocker (we have had MAJOR issues in the past!) because i didn't want to line this, as the fabric i used is quiet a warm knit, It looks like fleece in these pics, but it actually looks and feels more like Cashmere. Its soooo silky soft i love it.

During this construction i discovered the 'Flatlocked hem'....... OMG! Why have i not discovered this before, so easy and gives such a professional look if i do say so myself! I will be using it for EVERYTHING from now on.....Just look how neat and tidy the inside is...LOOK!......

It may not be the prettiest or most exciting wrap top to look at, but i love this sooooo much because making it has made me realise how BLOODY BRILLIANT i am at sewing now! Seriously! It was my 'Eurica' moment. I think i could make anything now...ANYTHING i tell you! (Well....anything little people size that is!)

By far my favourite H&F pattern so far is this pleat pocket pinafore.
I used the last of the gorgeous purple babycord and cotton stripe for this one. i did originally buy this fabric combination with a shift /ruffle dress in mind but i managed to get 3 bags and this top out of 1.5 mtrs so not bad!

The whirlwind is going to have a closet full of these for the summer ( with matching knickerbockers i think!)

It looks so smart from the front.....

And just totally adorable from the back

And did i mention that it is reversible!

I have a couple more clothes making projects from my H&F raid planned over the next week. A lovely little pleat dress and a spring coat. The only pattern i haven't bought that i really want to get into is the bubble skirt. I love them and they are everywhere right now. But on my 'I can sew anything' vibe this week i have decided to 'figure it out myself' ....Seriously! How hard can it be!

x K

Mirror, Signal, Maneuvour

2010-01-28T21:00:00.000+01:00

The Whirlwind really, REALLY wants to drive Daddys car!

x K

work in progress

2010-01-26T18:18:00.000+01:00

We have lived in our little house now for just over 18months, and about 90% of the walls are still bare, I find this highly depressing, but i just don't seem to know what i want to put on them? The only room that has any real decor is The Whirlwinds. Slowly but surely i am filling her walls with mommy made items and bright colours.
This is the latest addition i made last night, and i just love it.

I think This little house sits nicely with the potato stamp heart canvas and the fabric applique pictures that i did well over a year ago, but only got round to painting the box frames with white gloss just before Christmas.

The little mouse in the middle is my favourite!

There is a bit of space on the wall to the left of the ensemble (before the bookcase) to fit another something. This next project is going to have an 'Owl and the Pussycat' theme as this is The Whirlwinds favourite nursery rhyme.

The opposite wall still needs a lot of work to fill it as it only has bunting at the moment. I have a 'work in progress' canvas with applique and oil paints with her name, but I'm not really liking how it is turning out so have abandoned it for now! You can sneak a peak at that here. It has actually advanced a bit since this picture, but as you can see it was supposed to be done for the Whirlwinds 1st birthday so I've been picking at it for about a year now!The back wall has a selection of prints, but there not framed so i shall show you those when i get round to that job!
I love that these are all things i have made, and i hope that she will treasure them as she gets older and not cover them over with horrendous boy band pictures!

x K

Thriller!

2010-01-25T12:42:00.000+01:00

Back in spring last year i spent approx 3hrs online desperately trying to get concert tickets for arguably the worlds greatest performer, 3 months later Micheal Jackson tragical died, and I will now tragically never get to see him perform live in concert :-(
For Christmas my in laws bought myself and daddy whirlwind tickets to see the Westend musical 'Thriller live' and yesterday afternoon we set of in the car. Now we live just outside of London, it is only 30mins drive to the city from where we live (Over an hour by train! Go figure?) and Daddy is quiet experienced at driving uptown, HOWEVER we forgot about SUNDAYS....all the shops close at 6pm on Sundays, which means that every F***er and their backpack is out on the streets and as it is a no toll day so every goddamn 4x4 is on the road.....don't even get me started on the buses and we all know cab drivers are the Devil incarnate! It took 2hr to get parked up in Leicester square (£15 for 4hrs parking!!!!!!) The show started at 7.30 and we were given money for a meal as part of our Christmas gift, so with an hour to spare we decided on Angus Steak house ( Was least crowded looking) My lord! £18 for a bit of steak with a few leaves ( chips were extra!).......It was BLOODY LOVELY though, so hayho!

(Daddy trying to look uninterested because he hates having his picture taken)

(Me looking unimpressed at the price of our bill!)

7years i worked in the Westend, I did enjoy driving round recognising all the old haunts, venues, my old stores, For a split second i almost missed my old life! London is so buzzing and really is a very exciting city, Just don't ever try driving down Regent street at 6pm on a Sunday! Why we thought it would be a good idea i don't know! and I'm annoyed i couldn't take any picture driving round, but i was chief navigator and daddy kept telling me off for even trying to get the camera out ( you'll be pleased to know the charger issue is now resolved!)
Anyway the show was FANTASTIC. It was basically a tribute show with performers singing and dancing their way through MJ's vast career. The performance that stole the show was defiantly Smooth Criminal....they actually did the lean! and although the 4 main singers ( 1of them female) looked nothing like Jaco, they all kind of had his sound! However the main dancer...well if you didn't know any better!!! He had the moves down to a tee...his Moon walk was superb!

Needless to say after the stress of driving down we had a really entertaining evening. Only problem is that now I'm even more gutted we will never get to see the real man himself!
I so love going to the theatre. I love the old buildings and the Lyric theatre was really beautiful, i managed to get a sneak pic of the stunning chandelier , and the wooden griffin engraved panel above the stage before the mean usher told me off.

(Stunning)

(This one is blurred because the usher tapped me on the shoulder as i took it.)

The next show i really want to see is 'Wicked'

x K

A Little Bit of Sunshine.

2010-01-21T21:02:00.000+01:00

I had rather a quiet week last week, well in terms of blogging, i don't think its actually possible to have a quiet week when you have a toddler in tow! Anyway you will be please to know that i have finally given up the ghost on the camera charger and gone and bought one on e-bay,so that should turn up any day now and i can start having some fun again.

A big thank you to Fairly Girly who passed on this sunshine blog award to me last week.

The Sunshine Award, is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspires others in the blog world.

The rules for accepting this award are:-
-Put the logo on your blog or within your post,
-Pass the award on to 12 bloggers,
-Link the nominees within your post,
-Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog,
-Share the love and link to the person from whom you have received this award.

Well i am very honoured and gladly accept this award. I am however only going to pass it onto 5 other bloggers, because i think all the great blogs i love have already received it!
AnyHoo they are....

Sewscrumptious
Pickeled weasel
Kitchycoo
Knucklebaby
A little red ribbon

All fabulouse blogs im sure you will all agree.

xK

New buttons!

2010-01-13T21:55:00.000+01:00

In the side bar....Look!
You can now follow me on twitter, and /or become a fan of sugarmouse on facebook, but please excuese the work in progress on my facebook page!
I have also listed some custom camera cases in my folksy shop.
Have a look tell ,me what you think!

x K

Its OK! I've calmed down now!

2010-01-12T20:29:00.000+01:00

I well and truly threw my toys out of the pram yesterday over this bloody camera charger. I cant find it anywhere, my mum cant find it at hers either, so Lord only knows where its got to.
I am going to stop looking for IT now and hope that IT finds me! in the mean time I'm off round my in laws tomorrow in the hope that her charger will work for me as they are the same brand! Then hopefully we can get some decent pictures of my recent makes for the shops!
In the mean time here are some great giveaway links

Sew Scrumptious is giving away a fleece buggy blanket, perfect for this snow fest were currently being subjected too here in Ol' Blighty!

Tiny white daisies is giving away some fantastic goodies for both knitters and sewers

and Crystals Creations is giving away some gorgeous earrings.

I wont wish you all good luck because i want them all for myself!

xK

Someone WILL die!

2010-01-11T21:29:00.001+01:00

If i dont find this F'IN CAMERA CHARGER GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

AND THE WINNER IS!

2010-01-10T20:44:00.000+01:00

I hope i haven't left you all in suspense tooo long! Today has been one of those days where everything happens and nothing goes right!
Anyhoo i tallied 152 entries and Random.org gave me the no 71, which was............

......Windycindy, who said...... Happy New Year! Your bags are very lovely!
I carry tic tacs, a small hair brush and cash
in my purse. Many thanks, Cindi.

CONGRATULATIONS to you. I have no idea where you hail from Cindi, but have sent you an email so cant wait to find out exactly where my little parcel will be winging its way to.
For those of you disappointed that you didn't win these goodies, I will be listing x2 identical bags and a whole new shop update in both my MISI and FOLKSY shops this week!

Once again THANK YOU every one for making this soo much fun.
I shall be back tomorrow with some show n' tell fun with red fleece!

xK

How time flys when your having fun!

2010-01-09T20:54:00.000+01:00

My! How quickly this week has gone!
Thank you all for all your lovely comments, i have really enjoyed hearing about all the bits and bobs we ladies MUST have in or handbags. And also really enjoyed looking through all your blogs and having a poke about.
I hope you will all come back and visit me here as i have a lot more exciting bloggy things planned in the near future.

There are no more goodies today as i had 7 planned including the brooch on the front of the bag, but you've already seen that, so that's the lot!
I have started compiling every ones names for the draw so hopefully i will be able to do that tomorrow afternoon, then post the lucky winner.

The giveaway is still open till midnight tonight so still time for some late entries.
click here for full details of 'The big, bag giveaway'.
Fingers crossed ladies

x K

Snow! (Giveaway pt7)

2010-01-08T20:55:00.000+01:00

As with everywhere else in the UK right now, there is an awful lot of snow here.
Might as well make a mini snowman i say!

(The reason he is sideways is because i cant get the bloody stupid picture to flip round....New camera charger is still MIA and i hate, I said HATE this old one!!!!!!!!)

And an absolute handbag essential to keep your pout smooth and moist in the harsh cold (or heat!) is a good lip balm.

In MY opinion this is THE BEST LIP BALM EVER!
Into the bag it goes.

Click here for full details of 'The big,bag giveaway bonanza'

x K

My Favourite Photo! (Giveaway pt6)

2010-01-07T16:20:00.000+01:00

The lovely Louise from Sew Scrumptious has tagged me to show my Favourite photo!

Like Louise i have actually chose 2 because i cant decide which i love most (but they are both from the same shoot) The story behind these pictures is that when The Whirlwind was about 6months i got suckered into one of those Pixifoto sessions (I think that's what their called) that they had on at my local Boots store. You know! The ones that draw you in with a promise of a free photo session and a beautiful 10x12'' professional photo for £4.99. But then you sign up and the photographer i some 12yr old schoolgirl, on work experience. The £4.99 pic is only a head shot and the worst of all the pics that were taken. So you have to spend £150 to get copies of the others, as you cant bare the thought of anyone deleting a picture of your precious first born! Even though you don't really like ANY of the Pictures, because the lighting is all wrong and your beautiful olive skinned baby looks as red as a tomato!
Anyhoo as soon as i got home from that lovely experience i decided i could do much better!
And i did!

How BEAUTIFUL is my little Whirlwind? C'mon tell me, i don't mind hearing you say!
She IS, isn't she!....... Really though!.... She is! Just look at that FACE!

And those chubby arms. And those fatty fingers. And don't get me started on the button nose....SERIOUSLY i could gush ALL DAY! I
Sometimes i really cannot believe how lucky i am that she is mine!

These pictures were taken on my mobile phone! And thanks to my Kodak home printer, they have pride of place on my bedroom windowsill. Whilst the crappy Pixifotos ones are still in the box stuffed under my bed!
But you live, you learn!

I am now going to tag The Pickled Weasel to share her Favourite photo too. She has a lovely little blog and her Munchkin looks just as cheeky as mine1

Today's goodie is this pair of polka dot hair ties. I confess i didn't actually make these (I never can get the fabric that neat on the button!) They were bought at a craft fair in the summer, unfortunately i cant even remember the name of the seller to credit them!
Into the bag they go.

Click here for more details of 'The big,bag giveaway bonanza'

xK

Just Typical! ( Giveaway pt5)

2010-01-06T20:59:00.000+01:00

As i may have mentioned before, i got a new camera for Christmas (the last one met with a nasty accident courtesy of The Whirlwind!) Its not the digital SLR that i was lusting after, but i knew Santa's budget couldn't stretch that far this year, so i had selected a nice Lumix compact.
Ive had it 2 wks now.
First of all i left the memory card at my mums, so was limited to 6 pics a time before needing to download! (very frustrating!)
Then the day i get the memory card back, the battery goes flat!
When was the last time i charged it?....
At my mums
Where did i leave the f'in charger?.....
At my mums
Typical!

So the picture for today's goddie is taken with the lopsided camera, that struggles to focus (Funny how that is also an exact description of me after a couple of vino's!) So apologies for the rubbish picture!

Well the majority of you guys all agree that this is an essential in every handbag.....Loving the stylish design on the packet!

Into the bag it goes.

Click here for details of 'The big,bag giveaway bonanza'
x K

A little ditty! (Giveaway pt 4)

2010-01-05T20:52:00.000+01:00

I am seriously aching all over this evening, who would think a half hour workout could ache so bad!

The old man is still off work this week, which means I'm way behind on my sewing schedule as i i cant get to my work space (The kitchen table!) as he is always in his office (The kitchen table!) or planning my day for me and by the evening I'm knackered! Roll on next Tue when he goes back!

I did get chance to wip up this little ditty for the giveaway. It is a card made up of fabric scraps. This is my favourite way to use up scraps, as you really cant go wrong and the results are always pretty.
find the tutorial and loads more inspiration from the wonderful Dana over at MADE

Click here for full details of 'The big, bag giveaway bonanza!'

x K

Time to get in shape! (Giveaway pt3)

2010-01-04T19:37:00.000+01:00

So one of my New Year resolutions is to get in shape! prior to having the Whirlwind i was always very slim, even at times skinny! ( i actually once owned a pair of size 0 jeans!) Anyhoo lets just say that I'm twice the woman i used to be! I guess i cant really blame the Whirlwind completely, i mean i really am not as active as i used to be. The most amount of exercise i get is walking to work and back at a brisk pace ( less than 1/2 a mile each way! and only brisk because I'm always late.) I eat 'way' too many take aways and drink FAR tooooo much alcohol! I know running around after a toddler does save me from being a complete sloth, But The time has come for action to be taken.

So!.....

I joined a gym......Yes, that's right i actually did it!
Today was my induction day. This is how i looked....

Ok! Ok! i admit this is how 'I WISH' i looked, and how I WILL look by the end of the year!!!!!!
So to spur me on here is a picture to shame me into shape! This is not good!
Trust me by the end of the year chins 2 & 3 will be long gone! and i will no longer be considering Waynetta Slob as my style icon! (why didn't anyone tell me i had a big stain on the front of my vest!)

So as i am going all out in the fitness and slimming department it doesn't help to have x2 multi packs of bueno in the house. Now I'm not saying that I'm giving up chocolate completely....why that would just be ridiculous! !!! But i am prepared to give one up for the giveaway...and i promise that all other chocolate in the house will be gone by the end of the week( if not sooner!) and i will only eat it from now on, on days ending in 'y'

into the bag it goes....enjoy!

To enter the giveaway you can find the details here!

xK

Dont forget your keys!.....Giveaway pt2

2010-01-03T19:28:00.001+01:00

Wow! I really cant believe the response i have had so far for my little giveaway! I am really enjoying reading about your essential 3 items you all keep in your handbags!

This is my current handbag! Its a fake leather one from Primani! but i love it!....

Isnt there a saying ''A tidy home is a tidy mind!''.......

What do you think the contents of my handbag might say about the state of my mind!Having a spare pair of the Whirlwinds gloves is OK, but i don't know why there is a pair of socks in there!
You will notice my mobile is missing, this is due to the fact that i gave it to The Whirlwind to
watch Peppa Pig on YouTube, so she would stay out of the way of my photos. Don't you just LOVE the way mobile phones have advanced! ( daddy has the football on so couldn't use the TV!)

Any way the first little goodie to add to our big giveaway bonanza is an essential to every handbag.......A keyring for your keys,
I am ALWAYS leaving my keys behind when i go out especially if i change handbags! (just read through this old post to see how much of a clux i really am!) But as you can see from the contents of my handbag my keyring is pretty unnoticeable.
Well this Cath Kidston fabric wonky star ( purposely so, as her stars are always wonky!) will definitely stand out
ensuring that you never forget your keys!
Any NEW ENTRIES to the giveaway please click back to the original post ''The big, bag giveaway bonanza'' and leave your comments there, otherwise i will start to get confused!
Thanks
x K

BIG BAG GIVEAWAY BONANZA! (CLOSED)

2010-01-02T18:59:00.000+01:00

****GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED****

First of all, apologies for not launching this giveaway yesterday as planned, but our New Years eve (after several bottles of Cava!!!!) turned into an impromptu karaoke session at 1in the morning till 3am, and yesterday the Whirlwind decided she was going to play diva all day, so a hungover mommy didn't get anything done!

Anyhooo, Welcome to my first sugarmouse giveaway!
One lucky reader is GOING TO WIN this gorgeous reversible weekend tote...Hand made by me in a beautiful plush purple baby cord, with what I'm calling a 'raggedy scrap' removable brooch ,
And a gorgeous green/purple/blue/pink stripe cotton on the reverse..... 2 bags in one!
The photos really do not do justice to how gorgeous the colours of these fabrics are. The bag measures approx W30cm x L28cm with a 30cm straps that fit perfectly on the shoulders....
AND it gets better......The giveaway is going to run for the next 7 days and i shall be adding a goodie into the bag each day until then! so make sure you check back each day to see what has been added.

The giveaway is open to everyone and there are a few ways to be in with a chance of winning, you can do one or all of them! The more ways you enter the more chances you have of winning!

1. leave a comment telling what 3 things you always keep in your handbag ( mobiles and purses are a given!) mine are a pair of tweezers, a mirror, and a clementine. the first two because i have eyebrows like Noel Gallagher! and i am an obsessive plucker! and the third because the Whirlwind LOVES clementines and they keep her quiet whilst I'm plucking my eyebrows at the bus stop!

2. Become a follower!

3. Mention my give away on your blog and make a link from yours to mine.

4. Mention my giveaway on twitter/ Facebook. .

Entries for 1 and 2 are pretty straightforward, but if you do 3 or 4 just leave another comment stating so. and don't forget to leave details of either e-mail or your blogs so i can contact you if you win!
Closing date for entries is midnight UK time, Saturday 9th January. And draw will take place Sunday 10th.
I hope that's all clear for everyone, and i look forward to hearing from you all.

I am really excited to be hosting my first giveaway and i hope you all will enjoy it too...Check back tomorrow to see what will be the first little goodie to add to the bag???

x K

hello to the teenies!

2009-12-31T20:37:00.000+01:00

Well can you believe its all over! Months of preparation and anxiety, weeks of late nights glued to the sewing machine ( OK so in my case 3 evenings up till gone 2am, as i left everything till the last minute!) and that's it....Christmas come and gone in the blink of an eye!

I just want to share with you this 'very' last minute make ....
A new camera case to go with the new camera we got my mother in-law. This bad boy took me from 10pm till 2.30 am the night before Xmas eve to put together ( In-laws went away early Xmas eve morning). I broke 3 needles stitching the x2 layers of cotton, 3mm thick quilt batting, and interfacing so stiff, it is practically corrugated iron! I can honestly say it was the most challenging thing i have made so far, especially as i made it up as i went along! But it is bloody brilliant if i do say so myself! And even though i also received a lovely new camera for Christmas, i am in absolutely no hurry to make another one for myself!

Well i hope everyone else enjoyed the festive celebrations as much as we in the Conner/Gentle household did. It didn't take long for the Whirlwind to get a hang of all the unwrapping and was soon turning her hand to opening everyone else's presents.
So now here we are on the eve of not only a new year but a new decade. (I heard that this one will be known as the teenies!) and in keeping with tradition i have a list of New Year resolutions that i want to 'put out there'.(and in keeping with tradition i will no doubt have abandoned half of them by the end of January!)

1. Blog at least 3 times a week....I really do enjoy blogging and now my computer is fixed and i have a camera that works and takes excellent pics, i have no excuse. And create a bit of interest with monthly giveaways, and themed posts!...watch this space!
2. Get serious about my little online shops, this means adding new stock and better self promotion....activate my sugarmouse page on face book (which i set up about 9months ago!)
3. Do at least 1 craft fair...i chickened out on the one i was supposed to before Christmas!
4. learn to love my overlocker!!!!!!!!
5. Join the gym......DONE! (Last minute New Years eve offer!).......go to the gym, ( induction on Monday!) and take the Whirlwind swimming at least once a week....twice in the summer months!
6. Become a better housewife. i.e move the sofa to hoover under it ,instead of just round it! Don't leave the clean washing in the washing machine for 2 days so that it smells....( admittedly i only ever seem to do this when it is full of Neils clothes! never mine or Roos!)
7. Stop hording all of The Whirlwinds outgrown clothes and put them on e-bay. By the time babbie no.2 makes an appearance, He WILL be a boy, and so well behaved that he will allow me to whip him up a new outfit every nap time!!!!! ( and NO im not pregnant for those whose ears suddenly pricked up!)

Well i think that's enough to keep me going for the time being. And to kick things off, check back tomorrow* for my first sugarmouse giveaway!
Me and my bottle of Cava wish you a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

*Giveaway will now launch on Sat.

xK

A game of Cat & Mouse

2009-12-18T22:28:00.000+01:00

Remember this book! I got it for my birthday a few months back...

It is packed full of loads of fun, cute and most importantly, easy projects! There are about 4 of the projects on my Christmas makes list , time will tell if i actually finish them ready for the big day! But at least one is done......

As you may remember from a previous post ,The Whirlwind is obsessed with playing skittles and we have been using empty water bottles which always looks like someone emptied the recycling in the middle of my living room floor! So this was just perfect to make for my little monkey!
I have to say i really enjoyed making up this little project, it was about 90% hand stitching so i was able to do it whilst i was at work, (it really helped to pass the time when things in the shop were quiet.)

I'm really pleased with how it has turned out, There are 6 mice and I'm amazed how round i managed to get my little cat ball .....Roo is going to love it!

I do have just one little thing to finish for this....a bag to store them all in!

x K

Lady Gaga

2009-12-11T20:41:00.000+01:00

I couldn't help it!
I got my little computer back from the fixit man this week ( its been M.I.A since Sept!) and the first thing i did was look in my bookmarks, find all the fabric shops i had saved and spend money i should be using to buy Christmas presents! This is the first batch of quarters which arrived this morning from Gaga fabrics. Yummy!

So instead of finishing off my Christmas makes i decided to have a play.

Now look at the case for my laptop.....How boring!

Dull, black, faux leather sleeve........Snooze!

1/2 an hour after the postman arrived.......... Pink, red , Apples and ribbon!

Now that's much better!......... Hello my little friend!....Welcome home!

My how I've missed you!

x K

snazzy new phone!

2009-12-07T17:30:00.001+01:00

I got a new phone the other day, It's an all singing and all dancing kinda phone! So what better excuse to play with some scraps and make a case for it!

I do love my new little gadget (Nokia N97).......and I'm sure i will love it even more when i figure out how to use all the funky apps, other than just make phone calls!

My o/h got an iPhone the same day, so not that we are competitive!!!!!! But were both on a mission to make the other regret their choice and wish they'd picked the same! He is currently feeling smugly in the lead having downloaded all his music from his iPod. I haven't quiet figured out how to do that yet!.......but I now have a funky case whilst his will get all scratched up in his pocket!

x K

Helping Hands!

2009-12-04T22:31:00.001+01:00

Today was The Whirlwinds Nanny's birthday. The lucky lady received a cozy pair of Cath Kidston P.J's and a hand/kitchen towel with Ruby'roos hand prints appliqued on them. This one pictured was not the one given to nanny, hers was done in a Midwest modern print and a blue bias trim, and i embroidered 'Ruby 20mths' underneath the hand prints. but in my haste to wrap all the pressies up this afternoon i forgot to photograph it ( and the P.J's!) This pink one here is going to be a Christmas pressie for the other Nanny (my mum) and will also have embroidery.

Just look how diddy Whirlwinds hands are!
We went out for a little lunch with Nanny and daddy's sister-in-law, where Roo provided the birthday entertainment, by literally redecorating the nice posh restaurant in Neapolitan pasta sauce! (Note to self...... NEVER order a sauce dish for her in a restaurant EVER AGAIN!)

I have been a fair bit busy on the sewing front the last few weeks, (hence the lack of blogging!) To start with i have sold 15 pairs of baby shoes, since last we spoke, both online and through friends including my very first folksy sale on tue! Yay me!
And i have started on my list of Handmade Christmas pressies, which are all works in progress, but some are very nearly now at completion, so will have lots off piccies to show you over the coming week!!!!!!
I cant believe Christmas is only 3 wks away!!!!!!
Looking forward to putting the tree up this weekend, I wonder how long it will take for the Whirlwind to knock it over?
Sweep stake anyone?
x K

A sense of mortality!

2009-11-18T13:39:00.000+01:00

Isn't it funny the way which having Children change's us!

I'm not just talking about the head on collision with gravity ( boobs, bum and tum!)
The inability to drink more than 1/2 a glass of wine without feeling smashed!
The loss of all sense of time! I only gave birth yesterday, so she cant be 20months already!....Yet haven't i known her all my life!
Nor the complete loss of marbles.....
Supermarket cashier - '' that will be £65 please madam''
Me - ''Bollox I've left my purse at home!''
'' Shit and my door keys!''
'' F**k AND my phone!''
And I'm not even going to mention the complete lack of fitness and the near coronary attack after walking 1/2 mile up a 90degree hill to wait 20mins in the cold with a bad tempered baby for Nanny to come home with a spare key!

No!
I'm talking about an inability to watch horror/ disaster movies without balling my eyes out and having nightmares for a week!......even if the film is really crap or supposed to be funny!
Because i do not want my baby to drown in a tidal wave, get eaten by a vampire or turn into a zombie!

x K

N.b This post was inspired by Sundays 'Doctor Who' and yesterdays viewing of '2012'

Vintage smock

2009-11-17T11:32:00.000+01:00

Ive had this vintage fabric for a while now, I think it must have been a bed sheet at one point! It is my experiment fabric!....you know, when your just trying out a new pattern and you don't want to risk the 'good stuff'!

I'm not sure the colours quite right for The Whirlwind, It makes her look very white!Good job she looks like me, else people might think i stole this baby!

I think i may need to loosen the elastic round the bottom of the sleeve as they keep getting stuck half mast up her chunky arms.

This is The Whirlwinds favourite spot to watch T.V. It drives me mad! I mean seriously you could watch our TV from across the street its so big, but she is only happy unless her face is right in it and her greasy paw prints are all over it. We even bought her a cute chair from Ikea to sit in, ( you can just see it in the previous pic!) She does love this chair and will happily sit in it whilst munching a snack, but the moment Yojojo, Deli and the gang come on screen that's it, shes off to kiss the screen!

Admiring the new fishies!

Thanks to Louise at sewscrumptious for the link to that fab zip tutorial, by flossieteacakes (scroll down to the 2nd tutorial) Haven't had a chance to try it out yet, but went out and bought a hand full of zips in preparation, hopefully one eve this week will give itself up to me!

x K

Boxing day dress

2009-11-13T17:06:00.001+01:00

Another shift dress i know, but they are just so easy to sew up during nap times! I found this wool check in my local fabric shop, it instantly shouted 'Christmas' to me! The picture doesn't do it justice as you cant see the silver thread sparkling through it!

My demented overlocker (yes still having issues!) actually came up trumps doing the ruffles, they were so much fun to do. I have also left the bottom flatlocked for now, still deciding if i will hem it or not, but at the moment i think i like the flatlock detail.

I think it makes the perfect Boxing day dress for the Whirlwind, teamed with a long sleeved red tee and some black tights.

I loved the way this looked so much, i couldn't help thinking that it would translate to a really cool bag or purse. So of course i had to give it a go.......

This was my FIRST EVER attempt at sewing a zip, and lets just say this 10cm purse took about 50hrs longer to make than the 2T dress!

Next time i will definitely have to look up instructions! Anyone know any good zipper tutorials?

Not toooo shabby for a first attempt. I feel there will be lots in the making for Christmas.....only 6wks Arrrrrrrrrrrrr!

x K

R.I.P Boris!

2009-11-12T13:11:00.000+01:00

This week our goldfish died!
He was 5yrs old...Yes that's right FIVE!......Surely this must be some kind of goldfish survival record?
Neil bought him for me as a house warming when we moved into our first flat in October '04. I remember him ringing me at work to tell me he had just bought me a gerbil!!!! WTF!
Needless to say i was more than relieved to find he was pulling my leg and he had in fact bought 2 goldfish.
Boris had many mates join him in the first 3yrs (all named Buffy) but none of the others lasted more than 6months.
We always bought different colours/ breeds of goldfish so as not to confuses which was which! some for ridiculous prices considering how long they lived, yet Boris only cost us 50p.
It was very sad, we could see he was 'on his way out' when he started swimming lopsided, and then bloated out like Marlon Brando!
Finally on Sunday he dropped to the bottom of the tank and bellied up!
Gone!
The Whirlwind keeps going up to the empty tank, throwing her arms in the air and shouting ''Gone, ish gone, ish gone bed, byebye ish''
We took her to the pet shop on Mon to pick out some new fish.
We have decided to go tropical this time so only bought the heater to convert the tank, and will go back at the weekend when it has warmed up.
R.I.P Boris
xK

what a difference a year makes!

2009-10-26T20:44:00.000+01:00

I made this little fleece jumper for Ruby exactly one year ago! I was so impressed with myself doing it, as i had no pattern....just copied a dress i loved, bought from Tesco! and i had no sewing machine at the time so it is all hand stitched. I loved it, and the whirlwind wore it loads last winter. I cant find the original pics of her in it but you can see them on my facebook here and here

Today i found a secret stash of the same fabric that i never even knew i had! so obviously i had to make a new one for this year.

This time i just went for a plain shift jumper, with a front pocket.......i must have been sooo brave last year doing those button holes!

Isn't it just the cutest though!I bribed her to sit still for all of 5 seconds by letting her have ago on the hair drier!......And the green bottles all over my living room floor are homemade skittles, a game which the Whirlwind is currently OBSESSED with!

I also figured out a way to use all of last years tights that are now to short in the leg....Just cut the legs off about an inch from the crotch seams and voila....Knee length sox with matching pants......
Complete the look with one of Daddys beanies!

xK

Pattern testers r us!

2009-10-13T14:27:00.000+02:00

I had a very exciting project at the weekend! I basically put myself forward to test a pattern for the lovely, amazing, wonderfully talented ( can you tell i have a huuuuge girly crush on her!) Amanda from Kitchycoo.

Amanda makes the most amazing, cute, cool kids clothing, using the maddest kitchest most fantastic fabrics ( Seriously! I want to be her, be her best friend and be her child all at once!)

After much begging and pleading from her committed group of fans...or is that fans who should be committed!...She has finally dipped her toe into the world of Adult clothing, by recreating her famed toddler reversible asymmetric coat into big girl size....yayyyyyy.

PICK ME! PICK ME! i shouted when her call went out for testers of different shapes and sizes to do trial runs for her.

I tested the 10/12 pattern. I used two shades of poly cotton, for the test, but i have every intention of making up another in a bold print....the hunt for the perfect fabric has commenced! I have yet to sew on the buttons so have just used a couple of brooches for now.

Can i just point out how bloody impossible it is to take a decent picture using the self timer function....i have about 10 pics of the back of my head, and what the hell are you supposed to do with your hands????

This is a really versatile jacket....i added a belt in the last two picks for a dressy look...i think it works!

I look like a right dork in these pic's, and most alarmingly.....I really look like my mother!

Amanda YOU ROCK!

x K

Swine flu V's Man flu!!!!

2009-10-11T12:36:00.000+02:00

IM STILL HERE! (she screams!)
My computer is still broke!
My' camera is sill broke!
And after a VERY late night, at a party with Alexander O'neil and Jakki Graham! ( love a bit of 80's soul!) ....i am feeling decidedly 'Broke 'myself' today!

Any-Hoo i shall be spending my afternoon Whirlwind free as she had a sleepover at nanny and grandpa's last night and they are showing her off at friends today....yayyyyyy!
I will be stitching up a storm, trying out a pattern for (the mad as a hatter) lovely Amanda over at kitchy coo.
I will be back tomorrow for a show and tell of the results!

Oh and the reason for my looong absence? My o/h has been struck down this past two wks with what started as swine flu....but definitely turned into man flu the last two days....anyway he has had his laptop glued to his abdomen.....whilst lying in a constant horizontal position for 12 days, demanding about a thousand cups of tea a day. He mad a miraculous recovery for the party last night!!! and football this afternoon!!!! and thank god he is back at work tomorrow, Call me heartless but once he was on the home straight, looking after two demanding 'children' was well!!!!!!

x K

Electronic meltdown!!!!

2009-09-25T00:33:00.000+02:00

Why is it that when one thing breaks down it acts as a catalyst for everything else to go belly up!

Last week it was my camera....now sporting a lopsided lens which i need to physically pull out to make it work and then it truly is a case of pot luck as to weather its in focus or not!

Now this week my laptop has decided the stop working...Yup!.... Just stop!.... It doesn't want to play!
Oh it teases you!.......For about 2 minuets......The exact amount of time it lakes to boot up, and just as the wifi connects and Internet is about to launch.....it switches off!
One minuet it was humming along nicely, feeding me my blogg/ facebook/ ebay addiction, happily distracting me from fulfilling any house work duties, or giving undivided attention to the Whirlwind (well Macca Pacca and co' are such great babysitters!, She hardly even notices me!)
The next its all.......
''computer says No!''

The only conclusion we can draw is that the battery needs replacing. In other words ......
''Its quiet literally knackered! ''
I have actually worn out my 9month old laptops battery! Is that 'normal' ???? Surly not! And it will now cost me £50 for a new one!!!!!!!!!
What is the point in it having a plug i ask?..... why does it need a battery 'and' a plug?.....Am i the only one who doest understand why, if the battery goes, you cant just plug it in!!!!

And then there's my sewing machine! It has started making some scary banging noises!....I don't want to think about it too much!......I'm hoping that if i ignore it, it will just go away!!!

On the plus side i am having a new phone delivered tomorrow, yippee! Its a Nokia N( sumatorother!) It has a 8mp camera.....that's almost as good as my proper camera......in fact it is a proper camera, which is the main reason i chose it, and it has wifi (coz lets face it, i don't actually need a phone, as no one ever rings anyone anymore, its all windows live and facebook right!)
So hopefully by the end of day tomorrow i shall be all multimedia'd up and wont have to wait untill gone midnight of an eve, to get my mitts on Neils hardware......oooh eerr Mrs!

In between tearing my hair out over hardware, i have been stitching up a fair few pairs of shoesies this week. These ones ( for a gorgeous little lady named Mai) are my favourite......

I love the bright contrasting colours of pink and orange and the way the flowers soften the effect of the stripe. I have started lining them in felt again, and today i bought some fleece to try out as it is much softer, although i am wondering if it will make them too bulky?...... We shall see!

x K

Sleeves Glorious Sleeves!

2009-09-19T19:17:00.001+02:00

I just LOVE LOVE LOVE This swing coat i made for the Whirlwind. it is another wholegrainbaby pattern (remember the dress) i must say Varenias patterns are so simple and easy to follow! This was my first ever attempt at sewing on sleeves and they are PERFECT even if i do say so myself. The only issue i had was i made if in the 1/2T size but it is a little on the snug side for Roo who is 18mths, so I don't think she will be in it for long! That obviously means i am probably gonna have to buy MORE FABRIC to make another!..... oh what a shame!

The action shots..........

And The great thing about it is its reversible!...2 jackets in 1!....... love it!

Please excuse the grainy pictures! The whirlwind has broken my good camera...to be fair she had had to suffer me shoving it into her face for about half an hour, and she finally lashed out knocking it out of my hand and breaking the lens! Im gonna have to start dropping some subtle hints for a digital SLR in time for Christmas, although i may be pushing my luck having just been treated to the overlocker for my birthday!

On that note! I finally got the tension sorted, so she is sewing like a dream now.........

I whipped up this little top in the week and the seams are all perfect! ......

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Adventures in overlocking. Part 2

2009-09-14T18:23:00.000+02:00

Take one 50p top form the local Oxfam...........a few snips and tucks...........a few snags!.......Try and get over the fact that your new overlocker hates you!!..............
And Voila.....................One sleeveless smock top for the Whirlwind.......Lets try and forget it was supposed to be a sleeved dress and just praise ourselves for frankly getting this far!!!!

A couple of action shots to model........

The problem I seem to be having trouble overcoming is the tension..........My stitches still seem too slack, no matter how much I tweek the overlock thread! Oh and how do i secure the ends of the stitches? on the sewing machine I just go back and forth to secure the ends, but I have no idea with the overlocker, so the Whirlwinds new top will probably fall apart after about 5 mins!....But i have a book on order........'Sewing with sergers: The complete handbook of overlock sewing'. I'm hoping this will help!.....Feel free to leave any advise or pointers!

x K

Adventures in Overlocking! Part 1

2009-09-11T13:15:00.000+02:00

So The big day came and went on Wed. I am now 32 years old!.........How the hell did that happen??????

Well I cant complain too much as i did get THIS LITTLE BABY from my lovely man..............

I have been lusting after an overlocker for aaaaaaages now, I have a thousand and one ideas/creations bursting to get out....Just need to figure out how to use it first!.....Surprisingly it was not as difficult to thread, as i had been led to fear it would it! I just need to practice a bit more with the tensions and widths before i brave it for proper use.

I was also treated to a trip to Ikea, where i was actually allowed to hang out in the soft furnishing section for more than 5 seconds, and got to choose these treats.........

The whirlwind already has impeccable taste and produced these for mummy........

Neils mum also came up trumps finding this lovely fabric.......

I was Quiet spoilt really as there were lots of other lovely treats from friends and family...... Oh and flowers

Now i just need to pull my finger out and get creating, I have some shoes and squeakers going to a baby/toddler sale tomorrow in our local church hall. my name is going down for a few school Christmas fairs and i have signed up for the big Christmas Craft fair on 29th November in the Castle hall, so i am going to be very busy! I'm really looking forward to it all as its about time i really threw myself into the whole thing......Cath Kidston watch out!!!!!

The Neighbours will think we have mice!

2009-09-08T17:23:00.000+02:00

Finally! A few supplies i ordered eons ago have arrived!
New labels.....
50 squeakers.....

So finally i can Finnish making these.... they have crinkly ears and squeaky tummy's :-).....

And These.......

They have squeaky heads!....

Am working on a lot more, and a few more new items for the shop!

xK

On yer bike luv!

2009-09-03T22:17:00.000+02:00

No 17month old should be without THE LATEST fashion accessory of the moment!

''who me!''

Wear it at 8am in the morning whilst prancing around in your pants!

''Sorry I'm just not dressed for this photo shoot!''
Whilst watching TV..........

'If i ignore her and focus on Timmy..........She will eventually go away!''
And at the breakfast table!............

''You do realise i have a mouth full of weetabix!''
''Ok, ok, I'll say cheese just this once!''
''Right that's enough pictures now mum!''
''Seriously!''

x K

Lets NOT count the greys!!!

2009-08-27T12:38:00.000+02:00

It is my Birthday in just under 2 wks!!!!.....I shall be 21 again ( OK!..... + 11 yrs!)

I have compiled myself a 'wish list' of Birthday treats from folksy and misi......

Hot stuff coin purse by Me plus Molly £25 Every thing in this shop is beautiful!!

Mother and child by Amour & Stitch £39 .Didn't everyone have a Klimt poster on their wall when they were a student!

Purse by My latest obsession £12, If only this statement were true!....Id be married to Keanu Reeves right now!

Hair slide by Cooper crafts £6. A little something to distract the eye from the fact i have not had a haircut since.....urrrmm January!!!!!!!

Wine bottle slip by Cotton Potter £40......This one was my ultimate fav...but it has already been sold :-(......but this one will do instead........

.......or in fact ANYTHING in her shop as i want ALL OF THEM!

Right off to link this post to lover boy in the vain hope he will get the NOT SO SUBTLE HINTS!!!!!
x K

Poor Nanny!

2009-08-25T21:14:00.001+02:00

Rubys Nanny has not been well for a couple of days....she has an infection which has caused her face to swell up! So yesterday we bought her some flowers and I a made a vase slip (there is a pint glass in there as a vase!) to cheer her up. Unfortunately i didn't take a pic with the flowers in, but they were a bouquet of red roses with little blue thistle like flowers!....I really have no idea what they were called, but they were very pretty!

xK

10 Reasons not to take a toddler to a wedding!!

2009-08-24T20:45:00.000+02:00

1. She will think it is great fun to run up and down the isle saying ''ello'' to EVERYBODY including the nervously waiting Groom.

2. Once locked in the seat booth...made toddler proof by wedging your ONLY pair of grown up shoes in the gate!...She will stand on the seat, pull faces and try to grab the order of service booklet out of the hands of the people in the row behind you!

3. When the Bride glides down the isle to the wedding march, your toddler will reach out to try and grab the bouquet/ Vail/ bridesmaids, and the clap and cheer excited when the music stops....and all else is silent.!

4 .Your toddler will continue her loud appreciation of of music and singing at the end of every hymn.....well the first 2....before you decide it is best to vacate the premises before she goes ''uh oh!'' during the vowels....which you know is more than inevitable!

5. You will then spend the next 30 mins chasing your toddler round the graveyard, trying to forget the fact that you are in Pluckley village!....The most haunted village in Kent.!!!!! If not England!!!!!!And your in THE GRAVEYARD!!!!!!!!

6. All you wedding pictures will be crap......backs of heads! because your 'beloved partner' is unable to join you till the evening reception and you have no one else to chase your toddled round graveyard whilst you try to line up your Bloomsberg shots!
7. Your toddler will decide she can take better shots than you, and she is a full 5 steps away before you notice she has stolen one of the official photographers cameras!........You put it back quickly hoping no one noticed!

8. EVERYBODY at the reception will know your toddlers name, and have a beautiful picture of her on their cameras ,as she enchants them all with her ringlets and cheeky smile, as she says cheese on Que into the cameras.......EVERYONE except you, who will only get bored, eyebrow raised glares or, get out of my face expressions!

9. Someone starts calling her 'reckless Ruby' and it sticks! You try not to feel a bit peeved.....My daughter is not reckless she is mearly VERY confident and loves to explore!......She is 'MY' Whirl Wind!

10. Your toddler will sleep for approximately 45 mins, thankfully during the speeches, which were bloody hilarious! But will wake very hungry...(..even after eating her own body weight in canapes!) and in a foul mood, that she has finally been restrained in the pushchair!.....well at least till mummy finishes her dinner, then its off to accompany the brass band on the piano! and tear up the dance floor with the bridesmaids!

All in all it was a lovely day ......The Whirl Wind totally enjoyed herself (Finally zonked out for good at about 8 o'clock!) And i also had a great time.......( although next time i will rethink the outfit choice, as the length of my dress was not really designed with 'toddler bending overness' in mind!).....Especially when Daddy finally turned up and i got to make good with the champers!
The bride was STUNNING....I'm sorry i didn't get any decent pics but i really did just give up on that front! The weather was perfect and it was great to see some old school friends i haven't seen in years.

We have another wedding in a couple of weeks......I am quiet pleased that this one will be a kiddie free event!!!!
x K

Meet Chip!

2009-08-17T19:54:00.000+02:00

Who lives in a house like this????

One of The Whirlwinds little friends is two on Tue. The inspiration for this prezzie came from this fantastic creation by mollychicken. Mine is a bit on the wonky side, but I do think he is rather cute and Chip squeaks if you squeeze his tummy!

xk

Apples & Pears!

2009-08-15T13:28:00.000+02:00

I bought this gorgeous Japanese fabric on ebay last week , I wanted to make a dress for The Whirlwind to wear to my friends wedding next week! ................

A couple of weeks ago i saw this dress made by sew scrumptious, and pattern by Whole Grain Baby, so then of course i had to have one like that for The Whirlwind, so i bought the pdf pattern in the etsy shop, and this week i finally got round to having a play. The pattern was very easy and simple to follow, and would only have taken a couple of hours to complete........ however it did take me about 4 days to decide what colour yoke i wanted....pink, green, blue, yellow, orange1????? I actually made one in each colour and pinned the dress to each and still couldn't decide! In the end i went for the pink, but I'm still thinking maybe i should have done, yellow!...or green!

I really wanted a pink with white polka dots for the yoke, to match the pink strawberry's on the dress fabric.....but you can never find anything when you bloody want it can you! So i cut out a few flowers from the remnants and stitched them onto the plain pink,. The idea was to link the fabric's together and break up some of the pink! I used a zip zag stitch and its a bit messy if you look too close! and don't really think it was necessary in the end! but its OK!

The button!......I stitched the elastic too loose, so the button serves no purpose at all! Nice decorative feature though!

All in all i do LOVE IT.......Its not perfect but only if you look really closely!

Of course to get the full impact of how fab this dress is, you need to see it being modeled by the little madame!..........But she's not called The Whirlwind for nothing!!!!.....so their not the best shots!

Im not sure she will be wearing it at the wedding yet!........It depends on the weather, as we have no cardies that will match! and also no shoes! ( I don't think white flashing trainers or gold sandals will really work!) ...Still! ... There is a week to go!....Maybe i will make one in more light pastel colours!
x K

Picnic in Hyde park!

2009-08-12T21:08:00.000+02:00

Have you ever spent the day grazing on snack food, drinking fizzy wines, watching the roller bladers and the people on the pedalo's...( I personally don't do floating vessels smaller that a ferry!) playing bat and ball.......realising its easier when you play it on holiday in the sea, where diving for the ball is less painful!!! Chatting with old friends you haven't seen in aaaaages! Getting excited that one of them will be getting hitched in 2wks time!........You haven't!.....Well then i thoroughly recommend it!

The beautiful bride to be......With straight hair!!!!!! I'm still freaked out!.....And rather envious that my hair NEVER goes that straight! .......and cant believe she got away with not having to wear any silly bride to be paraphernalia covered with willies!!!!!

x K

No strings attatched!

2009-08-06T15:07:00.000+02:00

So as promised. Here is the bag i made for The Whirl ind to take to nursery. i WAS quiet pleased with it until i went to collect her yesterday......the day after making it and first day of using in! .....Only to be told by the 'stooopid' nursery nurse, who has been handed Roos old tatty rucksac (an old linen one of mine purchased from Gap over 10yrs ago and never seen the inside of a washing machine! EXACTLY THE SAME DESIGN AS THIS ONE!!!!!but they all said was lovely!!!!!) twice a week for the past month!!!! That the under 2s AREN'T to have DRAW STRING BAGS as they pose a hazard as the coat hooks are within reach in their classroom and they might wrap them round their necks!!! As soon as she told me i knew exactly who's neck I'D like to wrap it round!!!!!
.........Back to the drawing board this weekend!........Isn't it just lovely though!.....Perhaps i can add handles and turn it into a tote!

Bella is I'm afraid, still awaiting rescue from The Whirlwinds toy box.....i shall be mounting a rescue mission on Sunday!

x K

An awfully long time!

2009-08-05T13:27:00.000+02:00

It has been a while now hasn't it! No real excuses! Had a bit of a creators block i guess you could say. You know when you have a million and one ideas but don't know where to start .....so just.... don't!.....or is that just me?

Anyhoo, My mojo came back at the weekend and i managed to tick a couple of projects off my (very long) List.

Introducing.......GINGER .....(aka Ginge!!)

Ginger is a leggy red head who enjoys the finer things in life!, She has a per'chant for red wine and Turkish delights!

A bit of an international jet setter, she can often be found soaking up the sun on the south of France, strolling through vineyards or cruising along the Med. She never leaves the house without a large pair of sunglasses and factor 50 ( one must take care of a redheads completion!)

Ginge is ever the singleton.....Her heart was stolen many years ago by a Mediterranean prince, and no other has ever matched up to that romance.....though many a brave man has tried!
I really enjoyed making Ginge, she was really easy as i just used scraps i had laying around. The hardest bit was the hair, I thought the idea of stitching the wool onto the head was a bit messy! so each strand is sewn in and knotted at the top, which wasn't actually difficult at all really..... just time consuming!
When done she really reminded me of my good friend Amie, who I'm sure will get a get a tickle out of her, especially when she sees The Whirl wind swinging her round by one leg like a lasso!

Once i finished Ginge, I felt the need to do another, I thought Ginge needed some girlfriends to share the 6 o'clock giggles with.......(the 9-5ers will appreciate that it is at this point the after work fizz would have well and truly started flowing!!)

So using The Whirl winds fave dolly ( a mamas&papas creation i think?) as inspiration........

.......I came up with Bella.....She is still a work in progress as the whirlwind snatched off my work /dining table and i have so far only been able to rescue her long enough to take this pic! I think it is the squeaker i put in Bellas head that has Roo hooked!

Anyway she still needs some hair , some shoes and a face! I am going to leave the hat so that it comes off as Roo has an obsession with putting hats on at the moment! (except when i actually want her to wear one that is!)

Let me leave you with some bunting! It is hung in Roo's room in an attempt to decorate the very sparse walls!!!! The decorating of the whirlwinds room is an ongoing project a year after moving in!!!

Be back tomorrow hopefully with a finished Bella and a funky new school bag for The Whirlwind .

xK

Secret treasuer trove!

2009-07-16T13:12:00.000+02:00

How excited am i!?.......VERY!

Yesterday on my way to pick the Whirl-wind up after work, I decided to try my luck at what looked to be a short-cut down a side street! I still don't know this town very well and I have lived here a year now, but it looked like I was going in the general direction! Well to my delight I found myself walking past an interior designers shop, with a lovely table display of fabric in the window, and a sign that read....Wait for it.!.......'Remnants £3 a meter'. Oh how I swooned! Luckily it was still opened so in I popped. The lady who greeted me was lovely, she explained that she had only put the table up that morning as she had found her remnant box was starting to explode. All the fabrics, were designer quality with regular retail price £25. Seriously, I was like a kid on a candy store, I felt the need to touch everything ( Why do we do that?) There were linens, duck cotton, muslin, taffeta, silk, canvas.....oh the joy!

As they were remnants they were not all solid pieces, some were l-shaped, some cone, etc but I managed to come away with this little lot for a mere £7........Oh the joy!

My favourite has definitely got to be this 1/2 mtr called 'Saga', by a Swedish designer called Sandberg. Don't you just love all those fairy tail castles!.....This will become storage bags for the whirl-winds toys.

And then this 1/2 cone scrap of retro kitch ( 1/2 mtr at wides point, but only 30cm at narrowest, but about 1.5 mtrs in length so still a fair bit!) This one is called 'play time picnic' by Tilley & Marr. ( please excuse the dodgy hand shadow taking the pic!) Not sure what i will do with this yet but i HAD TO HAVE IT!

And finally 2 cotton pieces, one with embroidered multi coloured dots, and one blue with yellow embroidered squares with flowers at the joins ( make sense?) I think these are bags waiting to happen!

........Oh The joy!
Apologies again for dodgy, shadowy pic's ,but photographed them late last night in a very excited ''cant wait to share my good stash'' kinda way!
x K

Blogalicious!

2009-07-11T12:36:00.000+02:00

Its official...I have a LOVELY BLOG......oooer get me! Thank you Madam Salami

I am going to wait to pass on the award, There are so many great blogs out there i am gonna find it hard to choose!
x K

Ruffels, Bows, and Bibs!....and finally something for mamma!

2009-07-07T12:03:00.000+02:00

So i actually pulled my finger out this weekend and did some sewing. And i have to say i am most pleased with my little creations. They are all gifts for the numerous babies we know that have been born within the last 2/3 wks ( seriously! one friends wife had a little girl last Mon, and his brothers wife gave birth to twin boys the very same day.....only 2hrs between them all!) In total i have 2 girls and 4 boys to sew for, so I'm half way there!

This was my first attempt at sewing ruffles! I must admit i found it very fiddly!.... Oh how i long for a serger!!!....In the first one i made the ruffles from remnants of one of my favourite prints which has served me well on about 10 different projects and i have just enough left to do another set of ruffles.....I'm thinking knickers for Roo!

For the second i used an embroidery Anglais trim and gingham bias, which you would think would be easier!!!! but stitching on to knit is a real beeeatch!....I love them though, I will defiantly be making more, and adding them to my shop in the next few days.

The third one is a boys set with bib and shoes, i think the set looks lovely together. I have been meaning to do gift sets for a while now! The other 3 boys gifts i have to make will be a set in the Cath Kidston mini cowboys print and the grey mini stars.....I'm all out of blue now unfortunately so will have to have a look see what suitable boy fabrics i have for the last one......I have primarily girly prints, as im sure does everyone else, but they are soo much more fun!

And then i finally got round to making my (first of many I'm sure) Lazy summer day skirt and i just LOVE IT, I am seriously going to have to buy a tun load more of this fabric as i have visions of a matching halter top, a dress, maybe a hat for roo.....I made the skirt early Sat morning and have worn it every minute since......really should introduce it to washing machine now! it is so versatile, i wore it high on the waist (or at least were my waist used to be before giving birth to The Whirl Wind!), with leggings to see my boys on Sat ( Take -That put on the BEST SHOW EVER!) and down on the hips ( again ....where once they were!!)with a little vest the rest of the time.

I am thankful that my 8mp camera does not show up my decidedly stubbly (Yes and stumpy!) legs in the last picture!

The whirl wind has her first day at nursery tomorrow! I'm not sure they are ready for her! ....she had an hour settling in session yesterday and they all commented on how 'confident' and......'loud' she is......That's my baby!......Don't know where she gets if from! Am going to make her a little drawstring school bag now with her name appliqued on it to put all her gumpf in.

x K

I might actually have to do some work!

2009-07-01T16:36:00.000+02:00

When I'm not at home being a dedicated 'Domestic Goddess, Model mum and Creative Genius'!......Oi! Stop snickering at the back! I actually have a lovely little part time job in a local children's designer boutique.

I only work 2 days a week, 10 till 5, and if you read my last post you will understand that is is a far, far cry from my previous life as a Merchandise manager in Gap's London flagship store (The largest gap store in Europe I'll have you know!)

No, Boutini is a very lovely little independent Aladdin's cave of gorgeous treasures for your little ones......But it is designer stuff , Kenzo, Catimini, Noaddedsugar, to name a few, so it ain't cheap! And it is generally quiet, VERY quiet! And in these recession hit days i often wonder how it is Jane (the owner) managers to keep afloat? but the business has been going for a year now and she says she does alright! I guess the days when we only sell one £20 item get made up for by the customer who comes in the next day and spends £400 in 5 minutes (Oh to be so frivolous!) Jane is no longer working in the shop now as she is about to have her 2ND baby, so she employs 2 of us to run it for her.
That's Me and Lucy.

On the days that we work we are on our own in the shop, but can you believe that after 3months working together, or should i say in the same shop, Lucy and i only actually met today!! ( Yes i am currently at work now...Thank goodness for wifi and the smallest laptop known to man!). We have spent the past few weeks communicating vie post-it notes! But today Lucy popped in to say hi, she 's much taller that i imagined!...Very tall,....and we have such low ceilings! Anyway she is lovely!

So the point of my little story is that Lucy tells me she (with a friend) is setting up a new business. Can you believe i have forgotten what their calling it ( You can!...What!... Dipsy! ....me!) The idea is that they will be staging a second hand children's designer/vintage clothing and equipment event, A bit like a 'bring and buy' i guess you could say! They are going round collecting up peoples goods and wears, and will be selling them on at the event, giving folk a 40% return on their profit. They have hired Heartford castle hall on the 5Th Sept to stage the event, and although I'm a bit vague on exactly how it is going to run, the bit that did get my attention was ''would you like to advertise, maybe have a stall or we could just sell some of your shoes for you!.......Hello........Now what kind of fool would i be to pass up the opportunity! I have not done a craft fair before, its not really a Craft fair i know, but i make baby shoes...there will be people shopping for babies! And there will be other independent local producers of children's goods, and all being well they are going to make it a monthly/ bi monthly event!

So i guess i best dust the cobwebs off old Mabel ( poor sewing machine hasn't seen sunlight for a few weeks now !) and start building up some stock.

Why don't i sell my shoes in the shop i hear you ask?....Jane has suggested i bring them in, but i guess to start with i was too nervous about pitching my stuff next to all those labels.......maybe if i get a boost of confidence at this event i might just take her up on it1.......Then i really would have to do some work!

xK

TAG! Your it!

2009-06-29T21:16:00.000+02:00

Whilst i was away last week i was tagged by the lovely Madam Salami.

The rules are:
1. respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention, add one more question of your own (don't feel obliged as it's quite long already!)

2. Tag eight other people.

so here goes…………

Introduce yourself and tell us a little about who you are and what you do:
I'm Kym, and i am...Ahem ....31 yrs old ( I trust this information goes no further!) I live in Hertford with my gorgeous partner and our beautiful 1yr old daughter Ruby (a.k.a The whirlwind!) Since having Roo and making the decision not to return to work as a retail manager in London west end ( honestly it took no persuasion, i just have to think of boxing day on Oxford street and i know i made a wise decision!) I have found that i have been able to take a little indulgence in my love of all things crafting. Sewing is my particular passion, and i am having great fun using Ruby as my muse! I recently opened a shop on misi
where i aim to sell some of my creations, at present i only have a few baby shoes listed, mainly because i keep making things in Rubys size and then not want to part with them, and instead of making more, i move onto another project....Ruby size!........As you can see i am really just in the hobby stage, but when i get my arse in gear i would like to take it a lot more seriously and actually make some money!

What is your current obsession?
Ohhhh where to start.........Shoes, handbags, little girls summer dresses, Cath Kidston, watching trashy American Si-Fi shows ( oh how i miss buffy! But Dollshouse is good) Facebook! Bibs, stitching perfect curves with the sewing machine ( is it actually possible!!!) Take That ( wembley 4th July here i come).....The list is endless!

What is your greatest achievement?
My Ruby'roo monster.....as if anything i ever do could top her!

Coffee or Tea?
Coffee....but only decaf, Im more of a vodka lemonade kinda girl if given a choice of drinks!

What’s for dinner?
Today was like the hottest day ever! So i threw a few chicken skewer kebabs on the barbi, with roasted corn on the cob and spicy potato wedges.....deeeeelish!

What are you listening to right now?
Take That!....Have i not mentioned my date with the boys this Sat!.....Oh and Micheal Jackson (but who isn't right now...R.I.P.)

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Im not really a big ice cream fan, but id sell my soul for a scoop of Hargendaz pralines and cream!

What do you think of the person who tagged you?
I know Madam Salami from misi, She work's wonders using recycled materials. I particularly like her 'pop my cherry mini dress' sadly i fear the dress would not like me! and her fairy skirt is on Roo's wish list. She has just been asked to submit a piece of work to the 'Made in Worthing' festival and I am quit looking forward to seeing what she will get up to with her free hand machine embroidering, follow her blog here and don't forget to check out her misi store here

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Belize....The country of my birth and where all my Mothers family are....It is truly the most beautiful place on earth!

Which language do you want to learn?
Spanish! In Belize everyone speaks a little Spanish its like the second language (after English) which makes sense as it is in central America and Mexico is right next door!

What’s your favorite quote (for now)?
''Take care of the luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves''
.....Dorothy Parker.

What is your favorite colour?
Pink....Not plastic Barbi, but bright fuchsia..... and Turquoise....Both together whenever possible.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
I used to work in one of the biggest clothing stores in London....I had a very nice wardrobe with lots and lots of favourites!........These days , post baby and nada monies to replenish the old stock, anything that doesn't make me feel fatter than i am is a firm favourite, and must go with jeans!

What is your dream job?
Set designer......I always always wanted to be one when i grew up......Im obviously still waiting to grow up!

What is your worst habit?
Starting something and not finishing it....and making a lot of mess along the way!

Describe your personal style?
Coor that's a hard one! Id like to think I'm a bit Boho and eclectic....( no i said eclectic NOT eccentric!) But really I'm just messy! I couldt live without my jeans and a pair of flip flops or pumps.....I DONT DO HEELS!

What are you going to do after this?
Bring the barbecue in and make some baby shoes for one of other-half's friends who's wife had a baby girl today.......scrap that, ive spent far too long doing this so now im just gonna go to bed!

What is your favorite fruit?
Mango, watermelon ( both kinds), pineapple, anything tropical (or all ingredients in a pinacolada is another way of looking at it!)

Your favorite book?
Orlando, by Virginia Wolf.....I have read it a thousand times over and each time i love it more. And more recent is The book Thief by Markus Zusak and The time travelers wife by Audry Niffenneger ( which comes out as a movie at the end of this summer so hope its good!)

What is your favorite smell?
Chrome by Azzure.....otherwise known as Neil Conner .my beautiful gorgeous blue eyed babe.

What are you most proud of?
Neil and I making Ruby!.......Our beautiful little family!

How many times do you press the snooze button before you get up?
No longer have a snooze button, but have learnt to snooze out Roo's early morning singing and babbling for a good half hour, but now she actually shouts mum mum mum mum mum mum....shes not as easy to ignore!

What's your 'claim to fame'?
Served Tom Hanks when he came to shop in my store a few years back, also David Beckham, Posh, Jude Law, Alison Hannigan,
Played clarinet solo at the schools proms in front of Prince Charles at the Albert Hall when i was 12.

Complete the following.....
Love is… picking up your other half's dirty pants off the bedroom floor! and looking at his bum when he tells you he has an itch! All be it grudgingly!!.......Ohhh i hope he doesn't read this!

What would you like to make next?
Id like to make myself a skirt, as i have this fabulous fabric which is kind of brown with a pink flur'de lis pattern just itching to become a summer number!

Phew, So now that's all done i hope you enjoyed reading all about little ol moi!
I'm only gonna tag 4 people coz i don't know that many bloggers that haven't already been tagged so

Jean at talking beads
Jo at jolicious
Tracy at Mad about bags
Amanda at Uniquely snowflake

Enjoy reading their blogs
xK

Sangriatastic!

2009-06-26T16:00:00.000+02:00

So as you can see we did eventually book ourselves a holiday! Not the original plan of a Villa in the Algarve, but an apartment in Majorca, and it was wonderful.

The whirlwind enjoyed every second. Mummy is convinced she was a mermaid in another life, and boy oh boy is she a little flirt, she had her own fan club everyday round the pool, and the maids bought her Spanish biscuits and cakes every morning, she obviously has her mothers charm.

We had 10 wonderful days of brilliant sunshine although on one day the temp reached 42 dgrs which was a bit much!

This is my favourite pic from the holiday......Roo definitely looks like her daddy from the back....they have the same bubble butt!

I had never been to Majorca before and never realised what a beautiful and colourful island it is, I was like a Japanese tourist on heat snapping away at all the lovely scenery.

This is definitely a place we will be visiting again....only next time we wont be booking it at 10pm Fri night and flying out 12 the next day!
xK

VERY Last minute!

2009-06-10T22:03:00.000+02:00

OK so today is Wednesday and we are supposed to be going on holiday on Saturday...yes THIS Saturday! Now you would expect us to have it all planned by now, the flights, the accommodation, car hire, clothes sorted and ironed, ect, etc!

Do you think we have done ANY of that??????......

......NO!!!!!!!

We have absolutely NOTHING booked! Yet my darling other-half is still convinced we will be going on Sat!

So I am off to look at Last minute villa deals for the 10000th time this week. I'm hoping that the right one will just mystically appear before my eyes for about 50p for 10 days!!!!!.....If you don't here from me for the next 2 wks i will, with any luck, be laying on a beach with Pinacolada in hand.....Then again, we are taking the whirlwind, so more than likely i will be buried up to my eyebrows in the sand!

x K

Daddy's finally home.!......Yipeee

2009-06-02T10:50:00.000+02:00

Well it has been a busy past couple of week! I have been out and about visiting family and friends whilst daddy has been away, and after 3 wks living life as a single mum, ( i honestly don't know how those ladies manage...much respect!) he is finally home Yayyyyyy! And first thing on the list now he is back is to BOOK OUR HOLIDAY!...... Cant wait, Sun Sea, Sand here i come!.....although i have a dreaded feeling that holidaying with the 15mth old whirlwind is going to be a somewhat altogether different experience than last years hol's when she was only 3months old...... and couldn't move!!!!! But Bring it on anyway!

So in honour of the impending hols, i have made a start on The Whirlwinds wardrobe. Starting with a pillowcase dress (although not actually made from a pillowcase!) Needless to say she wouldn't keep still, but i think i managed to catch most of the detail. I am not really that pleased with it, i don't think that it hangs very straight! But its not bad for a first draft.

I need to shape the armholes and loose the pocket on my next attempt, but it is a quick and easy enough design for me to whip up in an hour or so. I have a feeling Roo's suitcase is going to be full of them!

And how cute does she look in her hat!

I also managed to get a few shoe and bib orders done last week.They turned out really well!.......After a few mishap's with my dodgy curved stitching on the bibs! Will definitely be making square ones in future!

x K

We love flutterbys

2009-05-19T20:26:00.000+02:00

Every little girl needs a flutterby skirt, don't you think!
I made this one for Roo a couple of weeks ago. I just adore the blue butterfly fabric, unfortunately is was just a piece of castoff remnant from the fabric shop and they haven't had anymore back in yet, but i will be creating a whole summer wardrobe for the whirlwind when they do. This is her modeling it, ( mummy did iron it eventually!) works well with her new obsession with walking on tippie toes.

So since then i have had a play round with some more girlie skirts.

This one is too big for Roo but would fit a 3-4 yr old... Think i will add it to the shop this week. and plan on using yesterdays fabric to make a few more.

Can i just tell you how die-hard my daughter is!....she had her MMR jab today and she didn't cry or nuffin! Mind you if looks could kill , Roo would have stopped the nurse dead in her tracks after the second jab!

Heres a little something from Birdie to make you smile! There really is nothing funnier than a toddler discovering new flavours!
xK

The Postman always rings twice

2009-05-18T13:05:00.000+02:00

The fruits of my ebay splurge arrived this morning....

......I feel a patchwork coming on!

And I also recieved an invitation to one of my oldest friends wedding in August. That gives me aprox 3months to stress out about what im going to wear!

After chasing the whirl wind round her room this morning, i finally managed to get a picture of her face up, and standing still! It was to send to Daddy. He feels sad he hasnt seen her for 9 days now!

Isnt she just the cutest!

xK

Well here goes!

2009-05-17T15:20:00.000+02:00

So I have decided to join in this whole blog thing! I thoroughly enjoy reading others, such as Soulemama, and Houseonhillroad , although i doubt mine will be half as good. And i guess it is a great way to promote myself and what i do....( Provided anyone reads it!)

So here is a snapshot of my life as it is today.. (just so you get a sense of me!)

I'm sitting on my sofa, in an over sized Primark tee and trakki bottoms! I'm not wearing makeup nor have i bothered with my hair today.

I'm not looking my best!

Good job my gorgeous man is not here. He is working away in Moscow for 3 wks. (1 down, 2 more to go!) Last time i spoke to him ( about 10pm last night here, and 1am there) he was sounding very merry in a bar watching Eurovision and being interviewed about it by the Russian press!

I would just like to say that i am not normally this much of a scruff, but being stuck on my own for a week with a 1yr old is beginning to take its toll!

Said 1yr old is of course looking her beautiful gorgeous self. (I don't mind slobbing it, but draw the line at having a slobby baby!) Luckily she is quiet a chilled baby, not hard work at all...darn! there goes my excuse for being lazy!

Well i haven't been completely lazy!.....I have been doing a bit of sewing!
This Fri is my mothers birthday, so i have decided to make her a bag!
This was yesterdays creation......

But I'm not sure i love it 100% for her! so i have started a new one today, This one is going to be more of a summer satchel. I prefer the fabric, and i have some lovely green stripe webbed ribbon that i am going to use as a strap, long enough to go across the shoulder.

if all goes well you may see a few in my misi shop next wk! I really do need to add more stuff, Im getting bored of looking at those babyshoes now!

xK