winter and summer

Two cushions made from my 'winter nest' fabric. A commission for my friends Julie and Dave (the actual tree is in their front yard).

While at their house dropping off the cushions I ducked out the front and took a few photos of that same tree. I was so pleased to see the nest tucked away safely amongst the leaves.

Sling bag

I sewed this yesterday for a friend. Amazing what you can get done with the kids away camping. I've been on 3 bike rides, one walk and sewed like crazy.

I was inspired by Jodie's amazing selvedge creations to leave a bit of text on this project.

Bye Fern

Fern and her family are leaving this week. They are moving 3 hours away. It's going to be hard not seeing this angelic face most days.

Fern wearing a dress in 'dragonfly garden'.
Please excuse the brick wall background - it's hard to catch this little one standing still.

sewing bunnies

The boys are off camping (insert shouts of joy mixed with tears the moment they left). So I have listened to many crafty podcasts, gone for a walk, a bike ride and now it's sewing.

Colours

I tested out the Spoonflower site. I totally ignored the warnings about colours. I'm now paying the price for that. My beautiful red mushrooms are now almost fluorescent orange and squirrels a murky dark brown. So I took their advice and downloaded the photoshop colour palette and am giving it another whirl. I also have doubled the size of the design and changed the background to blue. I found with a small, fine design the detail doesn't show so well. My squirrels are now about 3 inches tall.

I do know

Technical things I do know:
How to use my PC - all over that one.
How to create complex documents ready for printing.
How to start a blog.
How to design and have fabric printed.
How to use my digital camera.
How to turn on my TV, DVD and set top box using 3 different remotes.

Technical things I have had a MAJOR issues with:
My iPod. Downloading songs. Downloading podcasts.

It all started a few years back when an iPod Nano entered the house. I successfully put 8 Kylie tracks on, 3 from Incognito and even a few podcasts. All good. Then I hit a speed bump in my technical knowledge and the iPod and I had a major falling out. I went and bought myself a 'walkman' with AM radio and was happy to listen to ABC local radio on my walks.

Recently, my 8 year old son saved his pocket money up and decided to buy an MP3 player. I tried to talk him into buying many other things, but he had his mind made up. It was time to face my fears and attempt to load songs on for him. An hour later we had success. The triumph and relief was great. That was a few months ago.

Today, I dusted of my old iPod and tried again. Easy. Podcasts galore. I will have to walk all afternoon just to listen to them. What was I worried about, or has technology just caught up with my limited abilities?

More boys

Two new colourways for 'drummer boys' went to Kelani this week. Red/Choc (pictured) and Choc/Blue. They are exclusive colourways printed just for Kelani and only available there.

and the winner is

There were a stack of lovely comments that made me smile and wish I was giving away more. But this time the fabric goes to comment number 74 - The Crafty Librarian!

Apples

I've bucked the system at my kid's school. Instead of throwing in cash with the other Mums to buy a present for the teacher, we are doing handmade.
I chose these apples from a book called 'pretty little pincushions' I picked up from Jules Craft Shoppe. The first one (rear of pic) turned out more like a tomato. The second I made a bit smaller and paid more attention to the shape as I was finishing it off. I'll add a matryoshka tote and a ladybug notepad to each parcel and we are done. Mum baked some shortbread last year (because she is definately the wizz in the kitchen) and might be persuaded to add a batch to the gifts again this year.
Thanks for all the comments on my giveaway post. Keep them coming, I'll draw a name out on Friday afternoon.

Give

After 3 years of blogging, I finally got myself a stat counter 2 weeks ago. It has blown me away that so many people drop by my blog each day (and I have been slightly?? obsessive about checking it - must break that habit soon). Thanks for taking to time to follow my crafty pursuits. In the Christmas spirit, I am having a little giveaway. Just leave a comment and I'll draw out one blogger to receive 3 small scrap packs of 'dragonfly garden'.

Get sewing

Feel like sewing with the kids this hols? Well, if you want it all ready to go - stop on by JoJo Sewing Kits. Australian designer fabrics all cut and ready to sew with all the extra bits included. (Above: kids apron featuring Sproutdesign fabrics)
You guessed it, I'm shamelessly promoting another friend's product. Jodie had this fabulous idea earlier this year and it's been fun watching her gather fabrics, test patterns and the most tiresome of all jobs... writing instructions.
It would be remiss of me not to mention a few other sites that make great kits too:
http://www.sewyourown.com.au
http://www.clothkits.co.uk/
http://www.inkandspindle.com.au

done

Well that's our baking session for the year. What next?

the universe

I have been sent a message this week. You know when things come from unexpected places/people and all point to the same thing. So baking it is. Umm, Mum you can stop laughing now.

Cookie cutters: mini whisk

Kids sized rolling pins: hand made by my next door neighbour

introducing

My old pal Carol (we've known each other for 18 years - too scary) has started blogging. So nice to have another Sydney girl on board. Above is her first prototype/concept for something we've talked about.

Christmas sewing

Starting to work on my handmade gifts for this year. Felt: Winterwood. Fabric: Shop

I also have to mention this girl: one blue wren. I bought a few of her cards on the weekend at the Finders Keepers Markets and they are just gorgeous.

by the metre

New fabric!! I'm sooo pleased with this. I have changed printers for yardage printing and couldn't be happier. No stress, no problems and fantastic quality. Can't wait to whip up a skirt with this. You can buy it in my shop now.

ticket to Denmark

I would really love to hop on a plane and visit Dorthe in Denmark (maybe one day...). So just looking at the new Garn-iture blog will have to suffice. If you squint your eyes and look really hard you can see my 'bird tree' print for Sproutdesign in the middle of the top picture.

Drummer boys update: I have sold out in my shop, but you can pick up some from Kelani.

Digital

Having a little Spoonflower fun. Thought I might dip my toe into the world of digital printing with a kids print.

Strike-offs

Woo-hoo! I have received my first strike offs for a new full width yardage print. It's been a long time since I've had something printed by the metre (not since last Dec). There were a few hassles last time and just printing panels this year seemed the best thing to do. But now I'm forging full steam ahead with some new designs and this is the first. I can't wait to make some skirts and dresses.

I like both these colours (deep red and light pea green on cream) but don't know which to print first. The printer has one roll of fabric and is waiting for the go ahead while I decide. Once I'm happy with production, I will print the other colour. Not such a bad dilemma to have really.

friends

One thing Amy Butler expressed last week that hit home with me is how important your friends and family are when building a business. Often my Mum or Dad will pick up fabrics from the printer's, Monique helps me pick colours, Molly & Frizz have both done collaborations and Caro and I talk endlessly about fabrics and designs. But there's one person that has come back into my life lately that has taken a huge load off... Jodie. My trusty pal who started sewing bags for me a few years ago. She and her hubby (and 2 kids) headed off on an adventure to Perth then Melbourne. After a few years, they came back to Sydney. And now Jodie has come back on board sewing again. Things have changed here at the Doran household, but nothing has changed with her sewing. An absolute perfectionist she is. We laugh at our different sewing techniques constantly. Jodie measures, irons, pins, tacks... I don't.


Some bibs sewn by the fabulous Jodie.
Also I wanted to mention a new stockist in Melbourne CBD - ArtLife (118 Lonsdale St). Thanks Tina!
And a new shop in France: Suppléments d'âme (12 rue Victor Hugo, RENNES). Thanks Eve!

Copyright by badskirt

Amy over at 'badskirt' has put together a great list of information about fabrics and copyright. She also has a post about sewing patterns that's worth a read too.

This weekend

I've agreed to do 2 markets over the weekend. Small markets with handmade craft. That's all for me this year, no more packing the car way to early in the morning to stand behind a table for hours on end. Please drop in if you are in the area. I'll have all my fabrics and some sewn stuff too.

Working on

My next craft panel - work in progress.

I live under a rock

Help me here people. Amy Butler was in Sydney last night... and it took a phone call from a Melbourne girl (Elissa - thanks!) to find this out. So a few frantic phone calls, one awesome Mum to babysit the kids and I was in the city for a fantastic night with Amy (and 100 other crafty gals).

My Sydney friends asked me if I lived under a rock for not knowing it was on. Apparently I do.

Introducing

Even after spending many hours in emergency on friday night with Jack and then a fairly restless night sleeping beside him and checking constantly, I sewed these up Saturday morning and then went back to bed. Priorities right??
Thanks for the well wishes for Jack, he is happily back at school today. Stitches come out this friday and I'm sending his Dad to do that job with the doctor, I'm done.

a little sewing

very soon

Once I have recovered from the dash to emergency with little Jack last night, I will put this in the shop. He's totally fine now, but has 8 stitches in his head.

Cushions

A commision for a friend. 2 long rectangular cushions.

in the mail this week

A few things have arrived on my doorstep this week (and one at a neighbours, who kindly called me to pick it up).

This book illustrated by the very talented Claire is so stunning I really don't want to hand it over to the kids.

An this beautiful hand dyed felt from Winterwood. Pictures do not do this felt justice. I will never buy felt from anywhere else again.

And from Suz of Cocoon, a little 'k' hairclip.