from the blue shed

spoils from the south

It's been 9 whole days since my last post and I have lots to share from my little world. We have just come back from a long weekend in the south west enjoying fresh country air, beautiful autumn scenery, and family time. I snuck away with my mother in law to this beautiful gourmet food and gifts shop. I started having heart palpitations as soon as we walked in. They have all sorts of imported goodies from around the world. I love the way that the makers of home and hand made preserves bottle everything so beautifully. My MIL even bought a few jars of who knows what strictly for the containers. I definitely sit down and savor food more when you can see how much love has been put into it. If you are ever in Busselton, head to Cape Kitchen in Fig Tree Lane and get ready to salivate. I bought a few treats including these sweet sugars hearts.
  
I am not sure what I plan on doing with them but I couldn't resist. I also picked up a boat load of these muffin cups from the shop next door. I have made them in the past, a rather fiddly exercise. I did not realize that the ones you buy are heated to keep their form. They were practically giving them away so I stocked up. I need to bake something to get rid of the obscene amount of chocolate still in this house. Perhaps some banana muffins with an egg squished into the center? Mmmmm.
 
The most exciting though was this book bought for me, Sewing Clothes Kids Love by Nancy Langdon. The purpose of the shopping trip was to show me this book my MIL thought I might like. Oh, I like!
 

These are just a few of the gorgeous projects;

 
This one might be a bit advanced for my skills. Perhaps one for my mother to make??
  

I am going to keep it simple to start though and attempt these leggings;
 
The start of this nine day break was some of the most fun I've had in ages. It deserves it's very own post though. Back soon on that one. Hope you all had an enjoyable break.

another apron

Ok, so an apron was at the top of the list of projects this weekend. The book had so many brilliant ideas. I decided to keep it simple to start though. I chose to take a little bit of this and a little bit of that to come up with this one. I am giving this to a friend for her birthday. A woman with fantastic skills in the kitchen. I think this simple rectangle is more her style. Can a person have an apron style? I don't know. 
 
I used the technique I learned from the Heather Ross apron (let's call it the HRA) and varied it slightly to make the tie. During my decade in hospitality (that statement has just reminded me of how many years I have actually spent wearing aprons) Anyway, with all of those years donning aprons, I always preferred the butcher style. A bit longer with a lot to grab onto for wiping your hands. 
  
A feature I loved on one of the aprons in the book was this handy little loop for a tea towel. You could probably get a few extra wears out the apron if you had something else to wipe your hands on. On completion of the apron I realized the loop is probably too big. One of the pitfalls of winging it. 
 
With each project I sew. I am introduced to new techniques and my skills improve. For example. I was to use a point turner when turning the apron right side out on the HRA. What is a point turner??? As i wasn't following a pattern for this apron, I still didn't find out. I just asked google and it's a little doohickey to make crisp corners and seams. Who knew? I clearly didn't have one of those so the seams aren't as 'crisp' as they should be. (Don't go checking out the seams now Gee) 

To buy;

milk
bread
toilet paper
point turner
 

aprons

I am becoming a bit obsessed with the apron as of late. Since finishing and using my Heather Ross apron I want to make more. ESPECIALLY since coming across this book;
  
My friend took it out of the library for some inspiration to get the sewing machine back out. I started drooling as soon as I saw it and she kindly let me take it home. Thanks Sal! It is full of so many great designs and styles. Nathalie, the author says aprons have been "liberated from function and elevated to an art form". These pages don't lie. For a brief moment I envisaged myself on that cute moped page 6, scooting around, baguettes under arm in my market apron. 
  
Surely it would be reasonable, necessary even, to have an apron for each day of the week? If you had met me 5 years ago, spending time in the kitchen would not have been on a list of things that would describe me and my pass times. Children though have brought the domestic out in me in a big way. I am loving a bit of baking in the kitchen and this modern day woman is loving the feeling of being transported back in time with my new apron circa 1950.  My husband, however, should not be expecting me to be waiting at the door at 5 o'clock with a gin in tonic in hand. Oh, and of course there would need to be a craft/sewing apron made with pockets for scissors, pen, ruler etc. And one for gardening? No, that would be going to far. One would need to garden for that. 
  
These are the spoils from my latest trip to the fabric store. I have a few projects in mind. I need to finish off one of my side of the road finds. A little present for a friend and perhaps...an apron?? 
  
It's going to be a busy weekend. 
 

Turning 2 ruffles

I was introduced to this great blog last week called Ruffles and stuff. This lady makes all sorts of sweet girly things with such style. She even shows you how to do it here. One of her posts gave examples of extending the life of your children's clothes with a ruffle here and a ruffle there. Today our littlest turned two. Her hand made present was a little more time with one of the dresses she loves.
 
As I have mentioned before, I have never really been into the girly girl fashion for our two. Consider me a changed woman. 

Two more days till the dinosaur party. I am eating, breathing, tripping over and dreaming about dinosaurs.The naked rat dragon cake topper is coming along nicely. One issue I didn't consider was the weight of this playdough creature on top of the cake. Too late now. I have put in a rather stupid amount of time and a couple of late nights making this rather hideous attempt at a T Rex. He's got character though I'll give him that. Besides, I am getting rather attached to the little guy. I think he even wished me sweet dreams as I switched the kitchen light off last night.
 

Heather Ross apron

I had a couple of hours to myself yesterday. It was going to be the perfect opportunity to get a few more pieces completed for my shop. I had just picked up my sewing machine from a long awaited service. I decided to pull the sewing machine out of it's bag and prop it back on my little sewing table. My, it was sparkly and clean. Not only did it have a service, but every nook and cranny was cleaned and there are a lot of nooks and crannies on a sewing machine. Then I noticed a piece of fabric sitting under the foot with all these pretty stitches.
 
Did my machine do that? Does my machine do that??? I had to find out. I put my foot on the pedal and this wonderful low hum started, and the needle slowly stitched across the fabric. My mind started racing. What am I gonna make? What am I gonna make? I grabbed my Heather Ross book and started flicking through the pages. I have a lot of fabric but nothing more than a fat quarter of anything. Then I remembered the meter of Amy Butler fabric that I bought from the sale table a few weeks ago. Yes I know, Amy Butler on the sale table. My eyes fell upon the Sunday Dinner Hostess Apron.
 
 I got started straight away! What a joy it is to sew on a machine that works! I still came across a few construction issues (for a rather simple pattern) Skyping my mum at 2am her time wasn't an option. I made a few "changes" to the pattern, let's call it creative license, and now I have my very own apron.
 
 Oh dear. The jewellery construction will have to wait for another day. I have finally made something for me however. I feel like baking biscuits for the neighborhood!

free with gratitude

Another project in the to-be-completed pile was this gratitude wrap. Amanda at Soule mama very kindly shares her pattern for this on her blog. She uses it to keep cards and envelopes for her letter writing. I love that about her! I've started to use mine to organize all the bits that rattle around in the bottom of my enormous bag.
 
 
Finishing this off has made me realize my machine desperately needs a service (and I need a few lessons) This could be that push that has me learn what my little hand me down machine can actually do. My machine only has one speed. Warp speed. Sewing the corners of the binding was a challenge. It's all done now thanks to a rather pleasant week of quarantine with the girls. We are free now and celebrated with a morning in "the big city"
 
Back to our usual routine. Smashed plates await. 
 
 
 

Martha's reversible purse

I spent a lovely afternoon with the sewing machine and a very clever 11 year old. My friend's daughter celebrated her birthday a couple of weeks ago. She is a very crafty girl and I thought a sewing afternoon in leu of a wrapped gift could be on the cards. We took a trip to the fabric store picked up some cute cupcake fabric (and a couple of fun prints for me) and headed home for an afternoon of sewing.
 

I found this cute reversible purse pattern and tutorial on Martha's website. This proved to be the perfect project. With minimal assistance, she managed to put the whole thing together herself. Like I said, she is very clever.
  

I hope my girls love to craft as much as this one when they get older because an afternoon sitting and sewing with them in the future sounds dreamy. Thank you for a lovely afternoon Telea. 
 

 

making things fancy

When I found out I was pregnant with our first child, decorating the nursery was in the forefront of my mind (that and becoming a parent for the first time of course). I wanted the room to be magical and inspirational (cue birds chirping, a soft breeze and the sound of distant chimes) After culling a few of the wilder ideas we came up with this simple little yellow room. Look, there is even a fresh baby in the cot.  
 Our second child didn't get a typical room. We made up our brick and tile sleep out for her. We did however give her nursery the same love as we did the first one. If only this photo was in focus. 
 
As you can see these aren't very girly girl rooms. If someone had told me 4 years ago I would be "pinking" up my girls room I would say, yeah right! But here we are. Piper wanted a fancy room for her birthday. This is what she woke up to on her birthday morning. I am so glad she sleeps like a log. She would have had quite a fright if she woke up while I was hanging the mosquito net.
Duvet covers (that were made by my mum a few months ago) using fabric Piper had chosen, backed and bordered with some sheets we no longer used. Butterflies on the walls and mosquito nets over the beds.
  
 A shelf for her "precious" things. A few squashed fairies and her jewellery box collection. This room is proving hard for this amateur photographer to capture. 
 
 This put the pressure on to finish the girls butterflies. They just need some antennas. Most likely to stay like this for the rest of time.
  
The girls love their new room. I on the other hand (growing up with the motto "go big or go home") still feels it needs some more frouf. Will keep you posted on any major additions like murals on the wall or a chandelier. Ooooo, a chandelier!

 
 
 

 
 

butterflies

I wanted to share with you the applique butterflies I have been making for my girls and their friends for birthdays over the past couple of years. It's a great way to use the little scraps of fabric in your stash that you just can't toss away (I didn't just say that did I?) I think the result is quite beautiful and it can be as simple or complex as you make it.

Applique Butterfly Tutorial
 

What you will need;

card
pencil
scissors
interfacing
iron
fabric
canvas
staple gun
embroidery thread
needle
 

Cover your canvas with a piece of fabric large enough to be wrapped around the canvas and stapled onto the back side. Fold raw edge of fabric under before stapling.
 

Trace design onto card and cut out template. For butterflies I cut out 2 of the same shape. One for the main outline of the butterfly and the other to cut out detailed pieces for the wings.

Cut pieces of interfacing roughly the same size as your templates and iron onto the wrong side of your chosen fabrics.

Trace templates onto the paper side of the interfacing and cut.

Peel paper off of the fabric and layer your pieces before ironing. 

 

Embellish the wings using embroidery thread, buttons and a few stitching techniques.
simple stitch tutorial  

Once your butterfly is finished, Iron onto canvas. Alternatively you can iron butterfly onto fabric before you staple to canvas. I just prefer the former. I generally choose to do things the hard way though. 

Once the butterfly is on the canvas, I embroider the body on and any other little details I would like to add.
 

Our nephew affectionately know as Vinegar (Finnegan) by my three year old, was born yesterday. We have known for awhile that Finn was coming. I wanted to make him something to hang in his nursery that would remind him (when he is a little older) of us all the way over here in Australia. Perhaps not an Aussie icon, but cute all the same. 

For our new Finn

Welcome to the world. It's a beautiful place.

christmas decorations

A few of my girlfriends and I get together every other Thursday for a night of making, eating and gasbagging. On this weeks agenda; Christmas ornaments. I am going to make a wreath. The first wreath for our family home. One that will adorn our front door and welcome visitors throughout the Christmas season. It's a lot of pressure. I just love the felt birds from retro mama. I am going to attempt a few different bird templates and work them into the wreath. I have stocked up on felt and have my wreath picked out. So far so good.

 Here are a few other Christmas tutorials that I like.

•  From Craftapalooza

    a button wreath tutorial, but you didn't really need me

• From New Green Mama

  recycled magazine holiday bows 

• From retro mama    

    felt birds     

•  Notebook  Magazine

    paper garland                                                                                                             

Will share with you the projects the other ladies are working on tomorrow. 
36 sleeps till Christmas (but who's counting).