one down ...

Well, here is the result - after fiddling with it all morning. I had to re-measure and then re-cut several of the fabric pieces as it was too large for the basket. But I think the finished product looks quite good. I can just see this hanging off Hannah's bedpost, filled with her special little treasures. If she had a bedpost, that is :)

project

Spent all day measuring and cutting these fabrics for an upcoming project. I think it's definitely time to invest in a rotary cutter and cutting mat :)

drawstring-less bag

I really need to go to the shops soon. I made these bags today but they're not quite complete. You see, they're drawstring bags - sans the drawstrings. They're all lined with three pockets inside - one big pocket for a book, etc (A4 size) and two smaller pockets for other things.

first day

Oh dear. How time flies, eh? One minute she's a little mewling and the next she's all kitted out for her first day at school.It's an exciting new beginning for her - one of many, I'm sure. She's all happy and settled in when I last popped in to bring her lunch. Now it's just Emma and me. I feel a little lost, to be honest. Now I have to remember what I used to do with Hannah when it was just us during the daytime.

fabric rose

I did a fair bit of sewing yesterday, mostly from the Tilda book - it's completely addictive! I made a bag with wooden handles and it turned out beautifully. I've had that spotty fabric for a while now and it looks great as a bag. Later on, I made the fabric rose - that took a fair bit of figuring out. I also made a letter/thing holder for the door to Sean's room. I think the fabric used is very appropriate as he is an IT geek. Initially I wanted to make cushions using the fabric but he thought it was a bit too much. I know, a computer nerd commenting on home decor - what next?!

strawberries

I managed to get my hands on Tone Finnengar's book, Sew Pretty Homestyle - Tildas Hus in Norwegian - for $1. I have made myself the promise that I would buy more books for Hannah, Emma and myself this year in place of clothes.

drawing strings

I made this simple drawstring bag for Hannah to use when she goes for sleepovers. It has a large pocket inside that allows for (colouring) books and the like and a pocket on the front for her toiletries, etc. The bag itself is a quite big since she still sleeps with her special toy, Oggie - short for St. Augustine the Hippo - and thus has to be included as part of her 'things to bring'.

Such a simple bag should have taken no more than half an hour, no? It took me two days to complete. The reason is those bunnies on the front pocket. They require so much extra work. They're lovely, though I won't be making them again any time soon.

bella

After much help from members at flickr and much scrounging around on the web, I managed to find the pattern to make this snail. It was created by Tone Finnanger, a Norwegian lady, and can be found in the book: Sommer i Tildas hage. I think that loosely translates to Summer in Tilda's garden.

This snail's name is Bella and she's a working snail. Her job is to pull the cart. But as you can see, the cart has no wheels so poor Bella is not getting anywhere at all. Just as well, or we wouldn't be able to find our keys ;)

nappy bag

I'm feeling a little proud of myself today. I managed to finish painting the two sets of drawers I bought a week ago. They'll go in my cupboard so that I can take the set of shelves out to put against one of the walls in my room. I'm reorganising, you see. At the moment, my room is so messy with all my projects lumped all around, on top of and under the sewing table. I couldn't bear to look at it anymore - I got a big blanket to cover the mess. Out of sight, out of mind - at least for the moment :)

I also sewed a new (nappy) bag for myself. I found some exquisite broderie anglaise or cutwork fabric at the op-shop sometime last year and I promised I would make it into a bag for myself. I wanted the bag to have a big circular base so that when I put it down, it wouldn't fall over - merely slouch gracefully . The fabric is white so I had to get some plastic over it so it wouldn't be easily soiled. Last Friday, I got my hands on some and so, after months, finally completed that project today. It's not as tight as I would like it to be - sewing with plastic is an interesting adventure - but I'm quite happy with it.

sock doll

Helped my in-laws mix cement to make the walls for the rooms downstairs. They're coming back today to do more. Hopefully they'll get much more done today. One of my flickr contacts is a lady by the name of Anat Divr. She makes the cutest sock dolls and sent me the tutorial to make one. http://www.flickr.com/photos/anat_dvir/657630545/
I managed to complete one yesterday. It's not as cute as hers, but Hannah still liked it.

sunny days

Okay, so it's not exactly sunny - in fact, it hasn't been sunny for nearly three weeks now. The garden's overgrown with weeds about as high as a two-story house and the ground can now safely be certified as swampland, nevermind that we live on a hillside.

Right, NOW I'm exaggerating. Just a little bit. As much as I am thankful for all this rain, it is getting a little laborious. Would be nice to have a little sun every now and again. You know, just for a little variety. So, as a result of all the rain, I haven't been able to finish the treasure chest before the new year because the paint took that long to dry in-between coats. I was also having trouble with the silver paint for the trims. For some reason, the paint dried quite clear, not silvery at all. I have given it at least three coats but it's still not looking good. I went and bought some silver spray paint today and will give it a shot tomorrow. Wish me luck!