Two More Plans and a Super New Deck

Oops, I missed two more very important sewing plans yesterday!

- I have promised to sew some summer hats and belts for Crafters4Charity summer stalls.

- and (as blogged before) the really big project, sewing my niece's formal dress :-)

I actually got on the sewing machine tonight after days of tracing and cutting fabric, woohoo, feels good, LOL ;-)

Some very exciting non-sewing news is that our new deck is finished, yay :-)!

Here's the before shot of our old wooden deck, worse for wear and falling apart

And our amazing new bigger deck (4.8 x 7.5 metres), now roofed so we can sit outside to watch storms and stay dry, with metal frame and balustrades (so it doesn't rot away in the weather!). We also requested a wide top railing (great for leaning on and putting drinks down on) and the solution reached was to screw a length of hardwood on top, it looks absolutely perfect :-).

Great space for summer BBQs and family gatherings (and teenage parties with almost the same space available under the deck)

Hardwood plank steps, wide and gentle, perfect for easy access for all ages. I was very particular about the step design and love how they feel to use.

My favourite spot at home :-)

DH and I love to curl up here to relax and catch up with eachother

Sewing Plans

I have lots of sewing plans, I'm not sure how I'm going to fit it all in!

I'm participating in a Sewing With a Plan activity with my Ottobre-English group. Here are the first and second completed steps, choosing designs and fabrics.


What else...
- I have a big bag full of penne crushed velvet to make capes for the school's Spring Fair in November.
- I have 3 more Rail Fence blocks to make in August/Sept for a swap with my Quilting For All group.
- I have Pay It Forward gifts to create for two lovely on-line friends, by March 2010, already moving along.
- My 3 kids need new pants to keep them warm this winter (hopefully before spring arrives!). I've traced one pattern for each of them and have the right fabric to make at least one each. J prefers track pants, O prefers canvas pants and E prefers jeans, variety the spice of life :-).
- the dogs still need more bedding.

Now if only work didn't get in the way I'd be set ;-)!

Cloud Appreciation

Totally off topic tonight! I just found the most wonderful website run by the Cloud Appreciation Society. I love unusual cloud formations and this site is full of amazing cloud photos.

Have a look at the spookiest clouds I've ever seen, Asperatus (taken in Scotland) and to make you smile again a Fumulus Snail (taken in Wales).


Thought I'd share two of my own favourite cloud photos.


This was taken at home in Canberra in 2008. I think it is called a tabletop cloud.




I could not believe my eyes when I saw this cloud formation on a trip to Fraser Island in 2007. Now that I have looked through the Cloud Appreciation Society website I think it is called a 'Fallstreak Hole'. Awesome!

Hope you've enjoyed something a little different :-)

Catching Up

I made a skirt for myself recently which I'd like to share with you. The main fabric was given to me by a generous work colleague, leftovers from a skirt she made for herself, a very pretty embroidered fabric. There were quite a few wedge shaped pieces which worked really well for a 10 gore skirt design from Ottobre Woman.




Do you like the fun little secret touch inside, lining remnants! Feels like my own secret carnivale skirt :-). Would you believe DD(16) saw it and asked if she could borrow it and wear it inside out, LOL!!!



I would really love to make this skirt again but without the contrasting hem band. I much preferred the drape of the skirt before the hem band was sewn on, it seems to hold the skirt out making the biggest part of my body look more voluminous!

Spoiling myself - Sewing baby clothes

After spending some time with my mum over Christmas I was inspired to give patchworking a go for a year. I've finally realised 6 months in that I don't really enjoy it at all and I was found myself increasingly avoiding the sewing room (and blogging), sorry to all those fans who are addicted but I found it quite tedious!!

So I needed to get back in the saddle and spoil myself with some fun sewing, what better excuse than sewing for new babies :-)!!

Here's one for two work colleagues who knew they were expecting a baby boy, this one was made for the dad using cute 'Daddy's Little Boy' fabric :-). I made a 'Where's Wally' style baby outfit to make the mum smile, as we joked around about her clothing being in that style, LOL ;-). Unfortunately I completely forgot to take a photo of the finished outfit but he wore it when he came to visit us all at work :-).

I loved the design feature of an invisible zip in the front raglan shoulder seam, and the cute little patch.

I also made a sporty little outfit for my first nephew who is now just over 6 months old. I was lucky enough to see him wearing it yesterday at a family gathering :-). My husband and his twin brother are avid soccer fans so this fabric was just perfect for my DBILs little boy (who has 5 big sisters!).

The only oops in this top is that the zipper is not a separating one, LOL. It was a black chunky zipper in my stash of the perfect length. I only realised it didn't separate after I'd finished sewing!! DSIL thought it was a great idea, so much easier to manage than trying to join the bottom of a zipper up on a wriggling baby. I'll have to remember this mistake, could be the start of a whole new trend :-).

Happy to be back in the sewing room :-)

Inspired to blog again

Look what arrived in the mail today, an awesome Pay It Forward package from Marina!!! We both love Curly's and sew, couldn't find a more perfect friend ;-). First the pretty package.



Look at this beautiful soap sculpture, which came in a cute paw print bag!


and a magnet, what a regal head our dogs have :-)

and beautifully sewn bags in divine fabric, wow!!!

Thank you Marina, you're package makes me feel very special :-)

I owe you one.