Lots to do and a little done.

It's not often that I get to shop on my own. When the girls are with me, visits to Spotlight and Lincraft are 'dash in, get what we need and leave' before they dismantle the button displays or wander off lured by some sparkly ribbon. So last weekend, I left them home with Dad and managed to buy up big. Most of the fabrics were on clearance so not as big a dent in the bank balance as it appears.

I'll need to make the pretty butterfly cord into some dresses pretty quickly before the weather starts to heat up too much. The pink flower and ladybird fabric is destined to become a very simple quilt for Lizzie's doll cradle she's getting for her birthday next week. The spotty fabric is to finish off the top below. The red circle fabric I think will be a twirly skirt for Louisa for summer, with maybe a skirt for Lizzie too if there's enough left over. I have no idea what I'm going to do with the strawberrries and the colourful butterflies, but they were on clearance and I was therefore compelled to buy them. The black paisley will be another attempt at the tunic top - in the right size this time!
I have thankfully finished one present - this bunting will go to a little mums' group friend who just turned one. Only another 5 presents to make before the end of August!

Work in Progress

No completed sewing to talk about at the moment. I've been busy with visitors so this is all I have to show. Unfortunately I underestimated my size (how embarassing) and I can tell it will be too small if I complete it as is. So my plan is to add another strip of the black and white dotty material to the back before I put in the zip and hem it. Hopefully that should be just enough extra width. I just hope it doesn't change the shape too much. I'm really happy with this, and cursing myself for not making it the next size up! The pattern's from Burda 3/07.

Dress up swap

Here's the items we sent to Kylie's Amelia for our EB dress up swap, modelled by the petite Elizabeth.

We hope Amelia has lots of fun playing around in them!

Swap Tease

My EB dress up swap parcel has been sent. Who is it for? You'll have to wait and see!

No sewing to report...

I haven't any sewing to report - the only sewing I've been working on is top secret swap stuff. I do feel very bad about not updating my blog lately. I just haven't had anything to say! But here's some things:
A visitor to our 'backyard'. We often have ducks on our canal, and water birds, the occasional pelican, but this is the first time a black swan has come to visit! I was a bit wary at first, having memories of being bitten by one as a child on a trip to Ballarat (or was it Bendigo?). He only stayed for a day and then was off on his adventures.
We have a fireplace in our home, but it hadn't been cold enough to use it until now. So one chilly night recently we did. I don't think we'll do that again - too smoky despite the chimney working well, and too stressful watching the girls every minute. I quite like the atmosphere of an open fire, but at a pub/restaurant or someone else's house. I'd like to get rid of the fireplace to give us an extra wall to put furniture against. And here's the girls enjoying their babychinos and raisin toast at our favourite bakery/cafe. We're there pretty much every weekend.

Not much of a post, but something.

Finally some sewing!

This thrifting thing is great. You buy things you may never have considered before - and they become a huge success. I bought this lighthouse fabric at my local op shop for $1. I've never really got into the novelty type fabrics before, mostly because I wasn't sure what to do with them, and also I'd be scared of ruining the pretty pictures.

I'm happy with this top for Lizzie. I made it a size too big so that she can mainly wear it on its own in summer, but I can also see this worn over a red skivvy with jeans.

I also love these love heart buttons I bought at our local quilting store - so cute.

Happy Birthday Louisa!

Louisa had a lovely birthday party in the park with several kindy and mums' group friends. A chilly, but sunny day by the water.

She wasn't keen on cutting her butterfly cake, so her friend Lucinda helped:
Here's her butterfly cake, decorated in her two favourite colours!