Diet For A Year : :

I solemnly pledge to DIET for the whole year of 2014.

No, not a food diet...but a fabric diet! My fabric stash is getting to the point where I really need to use more of it! (please, lets keep nasty words like hoarder, obsessive, and addicted to ourselves).
I buy fabric (when its cheap or on sale) and have every intention of making quilts, clothes, bags etc...but I don't do it. I just put the fabric in my cupboard. Its not that I don't want to make these new things, I just really don't have the time!
So...being the new year and all that...Ive decided I'm going on a......

A Christmas Surprise : :

First of all, I just wanted to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope you all had a lovely holiday season!
We just got back from camping with friends for a week at Eden. It was so nice to be able to get away and hit the beach everyday!

Now onto what I'm REALLY excited about.....

Guess what Mr Handsome got me for Christmas???

A Christmas Stocking Tutorial : :

My sister has been pestering and pestering me to make up this tutorial, and I have been meaning to do it for a little while now, so here it is (just in time for Christmas).

A CHRISTMAS STOCKING TUTORIAL: 

Firstly, you will need to gather your supplies! 

To make one stocking you will need:

A Foxy Little Fellow : :

Another Christmas present done!! (It feels so good to say that)

This little guy is a present for Little Mr Z. 

He is made from a really good quality wool felt. I have never really used felt before, but I actually found it better than cotton. The felt can be stuffed really firm, and it was a breeze to sew. 
I am DEFINITELY going to make more felt toys. He is just too cute! 

I don't know if Little Mr Z is going to love him. He will probably be much more interested in the wooden car I have for his stocking, and not to mention all the wrapping paper that's going to be floating around on Christmas morning.

But *I* think he is really cute. And I know that Little Mr Z's sisters will want to play with him, even if he isn't terribly interested. 

I got this pattern from the craft show that I went to this year. Its called 'Bandit' by Simone Gooding. The pattern is really good with really clear instructions. I finished sewing this little guy in about 2 evenings (not including cutting), and that was taking my time.

Now all I have to do is make two dolls for the girls. I have about 2 weeks to do them, so hopefully I can get them done. I want to get them done quickly too because I have a baby carrier pattern that I would LOVE to make them to go with their dolls. I just need more time! (story of my life)

Jessica

Oliver & S Lazy Days Skirt : :

Summer.
Just this word makes me think of the beach, ice-creams, seagulls and thongs (the kind you wear on your feet!).

The girls need some new summer clothes, and I'm in the process of making them some new skirts, shorts, and dresses.

I've had my eye on the free Oliver & S pattern, Lazy Days Skirt for a while. (I love free things!)
So I let the girls choose some fabric from my cupboard, and we whipped them up.
These were SO quick! Seriously, 1 hour later and I had two cute skirts made.

The fabric they picked was Michael Miller's Bella Butterfly. Its been in my cupboard for a while, and these skirts take so little fabric, I still have heaps left!

Little Miss E wanted to help me sew, and since these skirts are easy-peasy, I let her sit on my lap and help me feed the fabric and press the reverse button.  Then of course Little Miss I wanted to do the same thing...

Instead of adding the ribbon around the hem like suggested in the pattern, I used a strip of fabric that I double folded. I didn't have any ribbon but I really liked the contrast around the hem.

I also found some 1/4'' crochet trim to add around the bottom, then I got creative with a few decorative stitches on my sewing machine.

I really liked how quick these skirts came together. The inside seams don't even need any finishing as you just use the selvedges to save time!

They are perfect for lazy hot summer days.

Jessica

P.S Some exciting other news is we have picked the colour paint for the outside of our house! We are renovating, as you can probably tell, and I cant wait till our house looks beautiful from the outside at least! (Still a few more walls to pull down on the inside!)
We are picking the paint up tomorrow! Ill be sure to take a before and after picture!