Life of a busy crafty mum/ lazy blogger

Well I have officially lost my sewjo!  This also coincides with me picking up the knitting needles and attempting more than 1 project at a time!

Tikki Raibow dress for a baby girl

BWM Rondo

Ravelry here 

Paprika by Elena Nodel

yarn Mosaic Moon Worsted

Ravelry here

 

mmm Little Plum yarn! what will this become? 

Along with this crafting is my quest to become the perfect wife and mother with the perfect crafty life balance- with a little bit of work thrown in there so I can afford the perfect school and support my habit.

So I took up Karate...

learning to put on the belt - there is actually a method! 

Still trying to lose some weight too- I think since I have turned 30 (a few years ago) my metabolism has changed and this doesn't happen quite as easily as it used to.  But my health has changed thankfully!

karate has given me a chance to connect with 2 of my kids though- they are both further in grading then me- so tonight my 8yo is teaching me the Kata!  Feeling very unco at the moment

 

On this beautiful sunny Melbourne day we:

Today on this beautiful sunny day we were blessed with some new toys:

Something special is under this tarp:

An industrial sewing machine!  I have no idea how to use an inductrial sewing machie, and I have to get the techy man to come and get it set up first, so it wont be getting a work out for a couple of weeks- but oh so excited.

Also a cutting table, its bigger tan a ping pong table.  And of course it makes a great dancing table!

A few vintage machines that just need a little scrub.  And they still work too!

the pre teen boy not wanting a smooch


and a photo for gran'ma

The boys getting up to boy things

and girls washed their daddys car as well as their bike with.... baby wipes.

thank you to the generous family who gifted me with these things.

EB kids clothing swap.

Emma made this for our buby girl! I am just so impressed!

I found out later than the ruffles are meant to be at the front, I think i was following what I did on the feliz.  

Look at the detail!  So very impressed! And a perfect fit on her too! 

Thank you!

beautiful girls

I took these photos the other day, and apart from the new hair ties, I dont really have a theme or anything to write.  But they are  pics of my georgeous girls colouring in pictures.

buttons from Tessa Ann Designs

beautiful fabric!

So what do you do with your favourite fabric?

take pictures of it?

wrap yourself in it and stroke it?

throw it in the air and dance in it?

or wear it as a hat?

fabric campan knit from Crafty Mamas and Banberry Place

MIP Afterglow in gifted fabric

On my doorstep a few weeks ago was a parcel.  I bolted inside and ripped it open.  Inside was some georgeous fabric from the lovely supermum Karen.  She saw this and thought of me and my girls.  I tell you what, when someone thinks about you like that, it makes you feel like a million bucks! 

Then a few weeks later I received a parcel from a shop which I frequent- Crafty Mamas!  Inside was the new pattern from Make It Perfect- Afterglow.  Thank you Mrs Crafty Mama!

Saw the pattern, saw the fabric, the 2 were perfect for each other.

This pattern was a little more tricky to do than I first thought, but now I have had a go, the next one will be easy.

The placket at the back, sew the facing on BEFORE you cut it...

The pletes, well I think the next one will be easier

I did cheat and use ready made bias, home made bias and me dont tend to get along.

Then we added a little feature hem at the bottom just coz I could (well my sister did it, I cant take credit for that part)

So I very cute, and easy play dress.  Perfect for any woven cotton fabric that you want to show off! 

Some people just know how to press your buttons!

And today its in a good way!

Crafty Mamas July swap was share your crafty passion.  I was fortunate enough to be hooked up with Sara from Willow and Moo fame.  And the results, well my stomach is doing back flips!

I hung it up on the wall (its a bunting), and the photos really don't to it justice.  The room is quite dark and needs a paint.
Ellise ran up to me skipping with a massive grin "thank you mummy!" and Lily was equally excited!

And this one is for me! :D 

journal cover and a key fob.

what do you do when you go shoe shopping?

I went shoe shopping looking for a pair of boots.  I don't own any boots.

I came home with 4 pairs!

I couldn't choose.  I had a little man with me, and making a choice out of the 4 was harder than I expected. 

They were all on special.

And 3 of them will be returned.

Just a couple of pointers if you do the same... 1) make sure your husband is sitting when you tell him. 2) have his favourite meal prepared.  3) make sure you can return them with the receipt, and its not just a credit note.

Now I still have to chose!

Now edited to show off the actual boots!

now before you all say "they all look the same" well yes they sort of do....

The ones on the far left I have returned.  They were too high.

the 2nd pair are Colorado.

The 3rd are another Williams brand

The 4th are Portland.

I am tending to lean towards no 4, the other 2 are, well, after consulting 3 girlfriends they recon that no 2) is too chunky for my leg. 3) doesn't fit properly, and 4) does it!

I Love the Colorado ones, and am hoping to either a) let my DH keep both (whats the chances?!) or b) live through my sister and instead of pitching in towards the camera for her birthday give her these boots or c) get a refund and never think about it again.  I don't want to keep them on their own as they are more funky than most of my wardrobe.  I would love to be funky, but its not happinin!  Don't get me wrong, I'm not baggy and daggy, just not funky. 

Did I tell you all that I got an...

Embroidery Machine!

I have actually wanted one for ages, but of course its a want not a need...

Its  a Janome 300e.  I bought it from a friend, so I know its history etc... So far I have discovered that I really have no idea what I am doing!  Its like learning to sew all over again.  I think the harder part is figuring out the program, resizing, changing colours and merging designs.

I actually committed to buying this machine just prior to finding out about Mitchell's teeth, not sure if that's a good thing or not.  Another good friend reminded me that we will always find money for Mitchell's teeth, but would never find money for an emb machine.  That advice really helped ease my guilt.

Anyway, more importantly, its not the emb machine that matters, its the packaging!

And also what other purpose the threads hold.

Ahoy there!