Happy pottering

Hubby is home. Oh what a difference it makes having him here to help out with the kidlettes. His last two shifts seemed to go forever and he only had two days at home in between them. 

 

As a result, I've spent a long time with just the kids and was starting to need to be admitted to an asylum by Tuesday.

 

He's home and I've locked myself away from screaming, whinging, fighting kids and am in my happy place.

 

 

Continuing on with my clothes sewing for 2013, I've made another top and I have to say it's really light, cool and comfortable.  Amazingly I didn't even have to do a bust adjustment for it!

 

 

 

It was a little low in the front and I hate having a large area exposed, mainly because I hate having the hot sun beating down on any exposed area of skin.  We have a bit of a history with skin cancer in the family (as most Australians seem to), so I like to cover up as much as possible.

 

I added a piece of white ribbon across the front which really finished the top off but it is a little crooked so I may have to unpick it and straighten it.  Then again, this is me so it will probably stay that way forever more.

 

 You may also remember I showed you a piece of canvas my sister had painted on.  Well this is the not quite final result...

 

 

 

It's supposed to be a glasses case but I need to reinforce the bottom a bit more to make it sturdier so that any glasses inside will be protected.

 

I also need to finish the closures on it.  I put in a hidden magnet but it wasn't strong enough so it won't stay shut.  I ended up putting two other pearl clasps on it which I really don't think look right on it. 

 

I'm also having a bit of trouble putting them in.  I think I need to work on my hammering technique!

 

 

 

Just to make my life a bit happier I received my order from Darn Cheap Fabrics the other day.  This is in no way a paid advert for them as that's something I'd never do on my blog but when I get good service I like to tell people.

 

 

 

I've ordered from them before and have my package delivered within 2 business days of ordering (most of the time it's the next day).

 

It's always packaged beautifully....

 

 

 

...and I always receive a free gift with my order.  It's usually only 50cm of some ribbon or trimmings but I love the fact that I get a little gift for free. 

 

So this time I got my order, delivered in super quick time plus...

 

 

 

 

...a free gift of some ribbon.  I'm not sure what I'll do with these roses but I'll put it in my stash and I'm sure they will be perfect for some future project. 

 

 

 

I had thought of making something for Little Miss R with them on but it's a bit too girly for her. 

 

Only a few days of the holidays left so I'm also busy covering books and labelling things.  We're off to buy school shoes on Friday and visit Grandma as she's now back from her Christmas break in Cairns with her other son and his family.

 

Lots to do and with hubby home for a few more days I'll try and squeeze some 'me time' in and a bit more sewing.

 

xx Susan

 

 

Sewing in 2013

I don't usually make new years resolutions, mainly because they're not usually that realistic and I never seem to stick with them so I tend not to bother with the whole process.

 

This year is a little different and over the first couple of weeks I let myself get a 'feel' for the year and decide on a few realistic goals for this year.

 

Sewing forms a big part of my goals and for a few reasons.

 

I want to learn to make clothes and make them well.  Not just slapping it all together and saying that it will do, I want something that I'm proud to wear, that fits well and know that I've taken the time in the construction to make it so.

 

 

 

 

My first attempt was the above tunic.  There's lots of things that need tweaking but it's comfortable and lovely hubby even made a nice comment on it (I was shocked!)

 

When I was out the other day I spent a lovely time browsing at Spotlight and ended up buying four new patterns.  They were half price so I'm thinking of going back to get a few more while the sale is still on.

 

 

 

I then spent the afternoon in my room tracing and cutting out patterns to size so that when I decide to make them, all I have to do is cut out the material basically as the patterns already sorted.

 

 

 

 Unfortunately I got a bit excited about getting in and making things so I now have 3 projects on the go.  One at a time Susan!

 

Today I intend to finish at least one of them and hopefully get another one partly done but that all depends on the kidlettes too.  (Hubby went back to work yesterday so it's just me and the cherubs again for awhile).

 

 

Another thing I'm working on lately is what to do with these......

 

 

 

 

 

They're scrap canvas that my sister has painted on and I'm going to cut them up and make them into something useful.  Keep watching this space!

 

Have a fanatastic weekend.

 

xx Susan