merry

Merry Christmas! Thanks for hanging around and reading my ramblings this year.

Christmas garland a gift from the lovely Mel of Paperklip.

last minute sewing

Purchase Matryoshka doll embroidery kit here.

new

School is over for the year, most of my fabric orders are sent, freelance jobs done and the house has been cleaned (mostly). This finally leaves me some time to work on designs I've been thinking about for months. First on the agenda is a boys yardage print. My little guys are now 6 and 9 years old. Their teddy bear and puppy dog curtains just don't cut it anymore. So with this in mind I decided to tackle a print for their age group. VERY tricky. Most of the stuff they are into is licensed products. So they were no help when asked for suggestions. We did a quick trip down the south coast yesterday and as I was driving back the street lights, wires and overhead bridges seemed like a recurring theme. I suggested these things as an idea to Harry, but he was in a bad mood and gave me no joy. I'm pressing on ahead regardless. Here's about an hours worth of designing... maybe about 3 or 4 more hours playing around with proportions and different elements and I should be done.

another

Again, click on the image and print out for colouring in fun.

colour me

Feel like a bit of festive colouring in? Here you go, click on the pic and then print.

thanks for the comments

And finally the announcement for the 500th post giveaway...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

3 

Timestamp: 2009-12-06 00:30:41 UTC

Comment number 3!!! That's you Belinda. A long time supporter of my designs, and a gorgeous Mum of two kiddlets. Thanks to everyone who left a comment, reads my blog and keeps me going.

finders keepers

All packed and ready for the best market ever. Starts tonight 6pm - 10pm and then again on Sat 10am - 8pm.

heart

I was just wandering through blogland and came across a favourite fabric blog of mine. I love Anna Maria's bold use of colours and the detail in her sewing. It got me thinking about a present I needed to make for a gorgeous little 2 year old tomorrow. From my scrap box I pulled out all these left over hearts. I have never known what to do with them, but couldn't throw them out. 

This is what evolved from some hearts, spotted bias tape and a red on cream canvas Christmas tree panel.

500

500 hundred posts. How on earth did I get here? 

It started with stumbling across the very first blog I had ever set eyes upon. Karen Cheng's 'Snippets of life'. From there a whole new world opened up. Fiona of 'Hop Skip Jump' was enormous help as I tried to find my feet in blogland. Fast forward almost 4 years later and here I am in a creative life totally different from the start. 

To celebrate I'd like to giveaway some of my new products. Christmas tags and postcard set, an advent calendar kit and a Christmas tea towel (so new I haven't picked it up from the printer yet).

Thanks for reading, encouraging, supporting and coming back to hear me constantly babble on about my designs. Please leave a comment and I will choose a winner next week.

hot

While I do think this dress is hot, the blog post title refers to the weather today. 42 degrees celsius. Unfortunately a little too warm to wear mid-weight linen, so this little number will have to wait until another day for it's first outing. They (forecasting powers that be) predict 21 tomorrow. Can't wait.

hummingbird fabric available at Kelani Fabric Obsession.

shopping

Tonight I ventured over to Randwick to catch up with a few friends selling their amazing handmade products. 

Belinda: paperklip design

Lisa: the red thread

Cath: prints charming

And on top of that I made some new friends: HI to Felicia & Mara (I can't believe I remembered!) Mara's business is Printspace and I could have quite easily bought one of everything, maybe tomorrow.

I'm very excited about going again tomorrow and meeting the very talented Mandy of Belle & Boo.

cushion

For Naomi and the family. Thanks for a great meal and time together!

I've just noticed that this is my 495th post. As I slowly edge towards 500, I'm thinking a giveaway is about due. Stay tuned.

red again

Seems I just can't stay away from printing things in red.

in the shop

There's a few Advent Calendar Kits available here, now.

EDIT: Sorry, they sold out quickly. I'll be loading more into the shop on Monday night. 50 this time, so no one should miss out. I'll also be selling panels of the top part of the Advent Calendar (without the numbers) in red.

i heart

anne black ceramics.

pyd day one

The first of two days at the PYD design markets is over. Here's a few pics of my stall and also Bettina's. And what do you do at the end of a long day... a cocktail party of course. Put on by the pyd organisers, a brilliant idea to chill out, eat, drink and catch up with other designers from the day.

this weekend

It was all systems go for a busy week preparing for the PYD design market this weekend. That was until I rolled my ankle at basketball on Monday night. A few days of not being able to walk put a stop to most of my plans. But I have learnt to sew with my left foot. So you've got to see the bright side of things, right? And my pal Jodie has been madly sewing robots for me - yah. I pick up my Advent Calendars late tomorrow, just in time. 

PYD design market (alongside the Danks Street Festival)

24th - 25th October (Sat & Sunday)

10am - 4pm, 197 Young Street, Waterloo

Danks Street Festival

When: 25 October, 11am-4pm

Where: Danks Street, Waterloo

Website: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/whatson

raspberry and chocolate

A blanket made up from 'Hummingbird' in a few colourways. Raspberry and Chocolate a new colour that will only be available at Kelani Fabric Obsession very soon.

thanks

My advent calendar has gone off to the printer today. Thanks so much for all the feedback about the pocket issues I was having. I finally decided to print a separate panel of pockets that you can cut up and sew below the tree design (or not, if you choose). To start off I have ordered 25 of these kits and they should be ready in a week or so.

edit: hurry up and go and visit Sarah - don't forget to leave a comment!

felting

I tried out wet felting for the first time this weekend. Something I've always wanted to do. I was at a Christian Music Festival over the long weekend and in between seeing some fantastic bands, listening to some challenging talks about poverty and a few rounds of soccer in the rain... Sarah and I went to a little tent set up and ready to do a bit of felting. I didn't think something so simple could give me so much joy. I will definitely do this again. In fact I'm planning a little workshop with some friends at my house (Monique, Jodie, Ruth, Kim, Sarah, Alison, Caro - consider this your invite!).

island life

Nicole and her family are moving house soon. Not just anywhere, but to an island! No cars. Riding her bike to school everyday with 3 kids will be a challenge. I made this for her last night with visions of it slung over her shoulder, kids in tow, making her way up the hill to school.

thread

I'm loving this new variegated blue thread. Four backstitch patterns later and I still enjoy using it.

Available in the shop now - x10 fabric sample packs.

colours

I love it when the postman delivers a little parcel full of strike-offs. Here's one I can share. It's been approved and will be printed this week.

Sky blue & olive "hummingbird' on stone cotton/linen.

selvedge house

Have you seen this new blog? I'm very excited about this new venture for Ellie, Sam and Danielle. They will be opening a store in Brisbane very soon.

pockets

Brainstorming some ideas with my friend Monique, got me thinking about a printed fabric advent calendar. But now I need to place the pockets on, and am having major issues. I think there's a bit more work to do.

around

There's few things around the house making me smile at the moment. Just small changes. My house is lacking in space so moving furniture is really not an option. But little groupings changed often keeps me happy.

The top pic is a new set of shelves bought second hand from Justine - thanks! Next pic features a few bargain Ikea gems and my favourite green Bison milk bottle. Below a lino print, a gift from my friend Caro.

jodie sews

I hope I'm not stealing her thunder, but look at this dress that Jodie made! For an adorable little two year old. Perfect over jeans or tights. Made from my Hummingbird print on 100% cotton. Available at Kelani Fabric Obession. I do have a very funny story about Jodie sewing up this dress and some comments made by 2 boys. But will have to check with Jodie first before I share that one. 

And another customer sent me this link to a product made with winter nest. Thanks for sharing girls, you have made my day!

blue

New! Blue robot fabric panels available in the shop.