Senna's Summer Set

Here's a set I made for a little friend who turned 1. Although Lizzie's much older at 2, they're quite similar in size, so I tried to get Lizzie to model it for me, but she was a bit reluctant: I used a Cotton On singlet top and added a birdie applique, the design of which I must credit to Lauren Child, as I copied it from a Charlie and Lola online activity.
The skirt from Burda 3/07 has pants underneath, so is great for playing around in but looking pretty at the same time!

Oliver's Whale Hoodie

Here's a present I made for a little friend of ours. What to make a 4 year old boy who lives by the sea? A whale design from Free Applique seemed perfect!

The hoodie was so easy to make. No ribbing or zips or buttons or snaps to worry about. I wish I'd known that before winter! I would have made them for the girls. I still might make some light ones, with the 3/4 rolled up sleeves I used here.

Excuse the dark photo but I had a young girl insisting on helping me wrap it before she went to bed last night. She thinks Oliver will love it, so that's a good endorsement!

Butterfly Pinafore Dress

You've got to love the pinafore dress. Such a simple construction but with a lot of impact. All you need is lovely fabric such as this one. I have a theory about good children's clothes - they need to appeal to the adult in a child's life, but the kids have to love them too. So an easily identifiable image, such as a star, flower, heart, or in this case butterfly makes the world of difference to how much a child connects with a piece of clothing. Add to this the universally loved pink, which is Louisa's FAVOURITE COLOUR IN THE WHOLE WORLD!!! And you're on a winner.

Here's Louisa modelling it. It's a little big, and I'd probably place the trim a little higher next time, but I still really like it. She'll probably still get some wear out of it next winter.

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!

Here's the lovely birthday girl, quite impressed that her bikkie is now a 'moon'. She's quite taken with the moon and the stars that she looks at most nights after dinner with Dad. So much so that when her 2nd birthday was approaching and I saw this moon shaped cake, I knew it would be perfect.
To counter her very plastic, commercialised Fisher Price Little People parking garage, we also gave her this (photographed here before the second coat of white gloss). I found this at St Vinnies, looking tired and unloved in cacky pink and blue paint. I also made I think what's called a cheater's quilt? Well, all I did was sew the fabric together with some pink gingham for the back, and the wadding, turned it the right way around and voila! It's hard to see in this picture but I then just sewed along the lines in the pattern. Too easy!
And just so it's not all about the birthday girl, here's her very lovely older sister.

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!