Birthday shopping

Today was a dangerous day. Mum was over to look after Jack, Harry was at school and I was at the local shopping centre looking for my birthday presents. Usually when I buy things for my self I am practical. T-shirts that don't need ironing and shoes that are very comfortable and easy to look after. But when it's birthday time, all this goes out the window. It's girly shoes for me. These ones even have that 'Wizard of Oz' red shoe factor.

So here is a peek at what Steve and the kids are giving me.

Cards

So here is a little look at the cards I have been working on. Just a few more to make and they will be sent off into the world.

Two more bears

These two girls went to the local gallery today with the chocolate bunny. I hope they find happy homes soon.

Chocolate

Today's post is chocolate themed. I can't seem to get it out of my mind after eating the most delicious mud cake created by Jenny last night. Happy Birthday Ruth!

Here is my salute to all things chocolate today - another bunny.

PS. Hi Kim.

Bunny cards

Tonight I have been thinking about Easter Bunny cards. I've hand sketched a few ideas and then worked up an idea in Illustrator. I don't know if this is the long way around when it comes to designing, but it is fun. The round circles will be pieces of my printed fabrics handsewn on with a button in the centre.

Zip ends

To answer a question left on the comments page, here is how I stop slanty ends on the zipper. A piece of fabric sewn at each end that wraps around the zipper. This is the first thing I do before sewing accros the top of the zipper to each panel. Then the last step is to sew the sides and bottom. Hope this makes sense?!?

Recent crafting

These two were made a few days ago, and I just got around to taking a pic this morning.

But for the cutest bunny ever, take a look at what Fiona has created.

Canvas

Here's something I worked on today. I've made a few of these and still don't own one myself. But that's also the way it is with my bags. The good ones I sell and the mistakes get to live with me.
This will go up for sale in my shop this week.

Setting up shop

I'm in the process of setting up an online shop for all those encouraging people that have visited my site and asked about buying things. So that means organising Paypal and madly sewing more products. I'm hoping to have something here this week.

Workshop

My very lovely arty pals came over today. We workshopped our different styles of painting and touched on ideas for an exhibition next year. I'm trying to develop ideas for fabric print designs with more botanical forms.

Coin purses

This is a quick project that gives me a good amount of satisfaction when I don't have much time.

Complete

They may have looked like road kill to start (thanks Nichola you made me laugh this morning), but now they have some life. With a few amendments to the ears - here are the little guys hanging out in our "secret garden".

Two bunnies

These two guys will be made into stuffed bunnies today. But you never know what will happen with a little one around.

Yesterday was all planned out - Steve, Harry and Jack were off for the afternoon. That was until Jack came down with the runs. So change of plans, Jack stayed home. Hopefully he is OK today.

2 bags ready to go

These two bags are going to stay in Sydney. A lovely girl that works for the company that prints my fabric ordered these the day I picked up my prints. She is very passionate about fabric printing and I hope we can do a large scale project one day.

3 years in the making

This quilt has been at this stage for 3 years now. My goal was to have it finished for Harry's bed for his 4th birthday. He is now 6. So the reason for this post is to come clean and get motivated to finish it. Another 6 months should do it?

Dress project

I have been patternmaking this morning. It takes me back to my college days. Lets just say many years ago. The smell of the cardboard brought back memories.

Penelope

I've noticed that bunnies seem to be a popular thing to make at the moment, so here is my first attempt. This was made of the same fabric as the jacket for my niece. Now she can't be sad that I didn't give her a toy! A friend's little girl named her Penelope.

Project day

The day started with all these projects in bags. Having so many to get through often makes me feel frozen! So there's nothing left to do but plunge right in.

The bag on the left was finished today and the one on the right I finished last week for a friend (M - I promise I haven't used it YET).

And this bag is half way through to being completed. Hopefully this small dent in the project list will keep me motivated.

1234...

Hi-5 was the biggest thing on the kids agenda this weekend. They put a one-off charity concert for the Humpty Dumpty Foundation in Sydney. So we trekked out to Parammatta for the concert at 9.30am Saturday morning and that wiped me out for the weekend. No sewing, just surviving the weekend with energetic kids.

Flowers from next-door

Harry was very sick yesterday and my lovely neighbour brought these flowers over from her garden. My wonderful Mother looked after Jack for a day and now we are all back to normal.