My Little Quilting Helper

After the success of my first quilt I am now making a bunny rug quilt with some left over fabric I bought for the embroidery hoops on little ones wall (which reminds me I still need to write that post!). But I couldn't make it without my little "helper"!

My First Ever Quilt

This week i finished my first ever quilt, and i must admit I am just a little bit proud and already planning my next one.
It went from this:

to this:

to this:

Small confession - i didn't do the actual quilting myself as i couldn't justify a quilting foot for my machine when i hope to get a new machine mid year - so a quick google search led me to Kim's Quilt's who can quilt your quilts for you - and better yet - she is only 30 mins down the road from me!

I used a few excellent tutorials along the way including Diary of a Quilter and Retro Mummy (who I also bought the charm packs from at a market in sydney). If you ever wanted to make a quilt - charm square quilts are the easiest ever - just start and you will be done in no time.
If you are feeling inspired and want to check out some other creative spaces - head over here

Pinspiration - Shirt Sleeve PJ Pants

Inspired by this tutorial by indietutes:

Imgage from indietutes

 I made these quick and easy PJ pants for my little man:

They were so easy to make - you only need to sew 3 seams. I didn't follow the tutorial exactly (I got confused) - but they seemed to turn out alright. And i love that they are made out of my husbands old business shirts which are nice and soft from lots of wear. When they run out i may have to hit up the local op shop.
What have you made or done that was inspired by Pinterest?

Pinspiration - Bunny Onesie

For all those Pinterest addicts out there, here is a question for you: How many pictures have you pinned of things that you want to make or do and how many have you ACTUALLY made or done? My answers would be hundreds, and less than 5 respectively! So today I am starting what I hope to be a regular feature on my blog - "Pinspiration" - that is, things i have pinned to my DIY boards and Sewing Inspiration boards and ACTUALLY made or done.
First off the ranks is an easter appropriate onesie.

Inspired by this tutorial by Finley and Oliver

Image by Finley and Oliver

I made this:

Check out Finley and Oliver for the details on how to make a bunny onesie, and check out my Sewing Inspiration for Kids board on Pinterest to see more things I hope to make.
Have you ACTUALLY made anything that you have seen on Pinterest. I would love to see it - leave a link in your comments below to your blog post.

Etsy Love - Creative Thursday

I am a little obsessed with "Creative Thursday" on etsy at the moment - i keep finding myself going back to the shop to check out the beautiful prints - only problem is I have limited wall space to put them. I did purchase some of the "Meet the Gang Fabric Bundle" with the intention of making a quilt - but I am too scared to cut it up so I am working on another way of using it (to be revealed soon I hope). Be sure to check out this beautiful shop and if something catches your eye - she just happens to be having a 5 year anniversary sale with 15% off store wide until 11.59 pm Thursday 8th March (I assume this is US time). Just enter the code "anniversarysale" at the checkout.

 (All images from Creative Thursday Etsy Store)

My Creative Space - Summer PJ's

My creative endevours this week have branched into the children's clothing realm - PJ's to be more exact. It was time for the flannels to be retired (both because they are now too small and it was way too hot) so i whipped up some PJ's for my son. When i say whipped up - i mean i read a bunch of tutorials online, books, consulted with my mum, and eventally came up with my own pattern from another pair of his shorts - and here are the results:

 

I have to admit I am a little chuffed with myself! I am even considering making some summer shorts for him to wear outside the safety of our house.  For more Creative Spaces - head over here
(PS - self promotion - i am having a 48 hour facebook sale (end Friday) for some new gift tags i have been working on - you can check out my facebook sale here)

Sewing Inspiration - Bibs, Shoes and Pinafores

Some sewing inspiration for any budding sewers out there (or people like me who just like to look at what I "could" but never find the time too!)

Quilted bib pattern  and tutoria by Sew She Sews

Little Man Shoes by Schwin and Schwin

Pinafore Dress Pattern by Smashed Peas and Carrots

Have you come across any great sewing tutorials lately which I can add to my ever growing Pinterest board dedicated to sewing inspiration? Leave me a comment below with a link!

Sock Toys by Craft Schmaft

Apparently these sock toys can be made by kids from 8 years and older - so there is at least some hope for me. Created by Craft Schmaft (a fellow sydney sider)- these great patterns are available to purchase as a PDF instruction booklets - so they are great to have on hand for when those inevitable odd socks end up in the washing basket.

With Christmas coming up these toys would make some great presents for nieces and nephews.

PS - if you get in quick the Sausage Dog and Lil' Monster Patterns are on special for $9 (usually $16).

DIY fun - Serving Pink Lemonade

Thanks to the wonders of Pinterest (thanks Janette of My Sweet Prints for pinning this one!) I have discovered the wonderful blog of Serving Pink Lemonade. This great blog is the brainchild of Jeanine and Amy - two sisters who live on opposite sides of the country - but share a common love of activities to keep the kids busy and happy. And best of all - they offer great tutorials on how to make all the stuff too. And don't be fooled by the name - there is stuff for the little boys in your life too.

Some of my favourites (but there are way too many to list them all):

Travel car mat

Mini Take along barn

Dinosaur play mat

Felt Tools and Toolbox

and the best for last - Quiet Books including full templates and tutorials.

If you have kids and are crafty inclined (or have a granny that is!!!) - i cannot recommend enough that you check out Serving Pink Lemonade. And best of all - you don't need super fancy sewing abilities to do these tutorials.

Sewing Inspiration - Floor cushions and Pouches

My trawling though Pinterest this morning lead me to these great DIY sewing tutorials and they are now high on my (very long) list of sewing projects to try.

Floor cushion DIY by "Living with Punks"

Sarah Jane's use of the tutorial. Thinking maybe one for the floor in the my son's new big boy room

iPhone pouch DIY by "made during quiet time". I am forever struggling to find my phone in my bag - this could be the answer.

Zipper pouch tutorial by twelve22. I am a little scared by zippers but this easy to follow tutorial makes it look super easy.

What creative projects have you got planned for the weekend?

Craft Storage - Pegs

Looking for an easy way to store your yarn and embroidery floss? Pegs are a super cheap, yet super effective option. And if nothing else - the pictures are pretty!

Image via Heather J's Life

Image via Cosy Memories on Flikr

Image via Travel Food Art and Design

I do have a soft spot for pegs!

My Creative Space - Baby Toys

Well I have had a bit of a break with the "My Creative Space" over the last few months, I have been playing with some things in the background, but nothing I have actually had a chance to photograph and write about. So when I had a baby shower coming up and got my hands on "Simple Sewing for Baby" by Lotta Jansdotter, I whipped up a few little projects to add that handmade touch to our present.

A Baby Giraffe Rattle (minus the rattle as i couldn't quite work that one out)

A Taggy Blanket.

As the book suggests, this is simple sewing, that even an amateur like me can handle!

For more creative spaces, or to play along, head over to Our Creative Spaces

A 39 nine year old machine lives on

So on Wednesday night this week I went to a "get to know your sewing machine" course at my local sewing centre (Chatswood Sewing Centre). After getting over my initial embarrassment that everyone had fancy new machines where you press one button and out pops a quilt, and I had my mum's Bernina circa 1970's - i got into the swing of things. We learnt everything from how to clean you machine, to changing needles, to filling bobbins - basically your ABC's of sewing machines. BUT - at the end of the class I was able to finish a row of sewing without a tangle in my bobbin case and i learnt how to heam a pair of jeans, a very important life lesson in my eyes! Only downer was the guy from the shop said if I used my machine again it would effectively blow up and never recover - so I had to leave it in for a service. Fingers crossed I can remember everything when I get my machine back.

Some projects I have my eye on once i get my machine back:

A quilt inspired by Alphabet Monkey - but i am thinking with fish and boats instead of clouds

Fabric Beach Balls by the purl bee

reversible bag - tutorial by very purple person

Cloudy Day Applique Tote Tutorial  by Craft Snob

Watch this space for more sewing goodness to come! (you can also check out my pinterest board of sewing inspiration )