12 Month Challenge - For Me

is completed! And I am very happy with the result. I chose the Farbenmix Valeska skirt, some gorgeous soft denim fabric and an embroidery that I did on felt. It was also my very first applique embroidery - and so much fun!


I did modify the skirt a fair bit. It is meant to be an elastic waisted skirt, but I wanted a fitted waist, as I figure it would've been more slimming for someone with good childbearing hips like mine ;). So I started with the size to my measurements, and brought the seams in until it fit how I wanted. Seems that I then needed the smallest size. Which I lengthened to the XL size so it wasn't indecent :)


I put an invisible zip in the side seam - though I must say, I did botch it a little - but it is all on the inside, the outside of the zip looks pretty good. I finished the pocket edges and the bottom hem off with some bias binding I had made a few months ago. I think it gives it a nice touch.


Next time, I will use slightly wider seam allowances on the sides, as it is a bit loose still.



So my challenge for January is complete, but I have many more ideas of what I would like to sew for myself - a new top to match my skirt is just one of them.

Cheers!

A 5th Birthday Present

For a little friend. The tee is #29 from Ottobre 3/2009 again - such a gorgeous little tee and easy to put together.


The embroidery is from Katalina's Magic Mushrooms from here. So cute! And it looked gorgeous on the birthday girl :)


My neckline bindings are getting better - as they say, practice makes perfect! lol


I also made her some headbands, the same as my DD's here - and they suit her perfectly!


It is hard to believe that my DD will also be 5 in just over 5 weeks! I really must get started on something special for her birthday.

Cheers!

Up-to-date...........

On my current projects. The ones that have been cut out so far. Hang-on, I might of been forgetting some Christmas outfits that I have cut out...... Ok, I am up-to-date with the projects I have been working on. Hmm, still doesn't sound very convincing, so I will just show off what I have been doing.

My mum gave me a shirt she no longer wanted. I new exactly what pattern I wanted to use it for - the 3 way dress in Otto 3/2009. So I did. But of course I modified it a little....... I did the full sleeve version, and attached them completely to the body, but I didn't use a different fabric for the bottom panel, as I wanted to use the existing hem on the shirt. That didn't work out quite as I planned it, so I ended up doing a rolled hem at the bottom, and also on the sleeves. The ruffles and button placket were existing on the shirt, so I left them for detail. I did add a gorgeous little turtle embroidery though - just at the hem.




I think it looks more like a nightie than a dress, and it is a whisker too short, so it will be great as a nightie for summer.


Working on some Christmas presents reminded me that I needed to make some soap - for Christmas presents. So last weekend I whipped up a batch of Very Vanilla soap. This smells absolutely scrumptious! And because the soap dryer is under the BBQ, when the house is open, the scent wafts all the way through. I can't wait until it is ready to try, though I may have trouble trying not to eat it :)



Friends of ours just recently had a baby girl and I wanted to send them a gift. I already had burp cloths made up (I need to, just to keep up with my sister buying them from me!), but I wanted a little more to go with them. So I dug out this baby pattern from Farbenmix for ideas. I used the dress/tunic top and combined it with some baby leggings from Otto 4/2004. Both of the items were rather simple and quick to do. I made the bias binding myself so it matched, and even that didn't take very long. Sadly though, I only have scraps of the butterfly fabric left. It was the most gorgeous fabric, and I wish I had bought more.






With the burp cloths. Makes for a lovely present I think.


So that is what I have been doing. I still have many more projects to do, especially was Christmas is fast approaching. Though I may not be able to share all of them until Christmas has been and gone :)

Cheers!