Stitching cats ..

In between other sewing commitments I have been stitching these cat themed stitcheries from the Bronwyn Hayes free Catalicious Block of the month. Maya begged me to make this for her, just for the cats. I'm resizing all the blocks so they can be trimmed to 7". After that, I'm not sure what I will end up doing. Well, there are another 10 months to decide...

Ready to go into the post tomorrow is 4kg of parcels ready to post off for Around the Block. Phew. I didn't realize how much work it would be cutting up all the fabric and sorting it into groups for each participant. Looking forward to seeing them popping up on blogland.

And I'm still so excited about being on the Design Team for Quilt Fabric Delights!

Tutorial - Reversible Child's Apron Pattern

Another secret revealed! On Sunday I posted a quick pic of Maya wearing here apron that I had designed for my application for the Quilt Fabric Delights Design Team. I couldn't believe it, but my application was successful and Sarah has posted the tutorial up here. Have a look at the other designers too, I bet you recognise some of their names ..

The tutorial is for a child's reversible apron with appliqued pockets on each side, and ties at the neck and waist. It is made using just three fat quarters and a few scraps. Sarah has a copy of the tutorial available to download right now. I'm looking forward to seeing all the tutorial the design team come up with too.

About a Boy - Make it Perfect Pattern...

This was another secret I was working on a couple of weeks ago. Pattern testing for Toni at Make it Perfect, it's the About a Boy cap and satchel set.

The cap I made was a bit pinker than the "boys" version Toni made, but it looks pretty cute on Maya. The cap is surprisingly easy to make and is adjustable with velco at the back and comes in 4 size variations.

The satchel was made in blue linen and everyone in my family has asked to keep it .. but the strap is a bit short for Matt.. it's sized for boys!

Thanks for letting me be a pattern tester Toni - just love the pattern.

Toni is having a giveaway here for the pattern and a cap. Say hello and let Toni know your favorite Make it Perfect pattern for a chance to win. Good luck!

Photo shoot ..

Today we borrowed Matt's good camera and had a bit of a photo shoot ..

More fabrics for Around the Block ..

I'm pretty happy with my fabrics for my blocks for the Around the Block swap. I've created an inspriation gallery on flickr here, and of course as a natural worrier I sent off a quick email to Lara for advice on how much fabric I should have. Now I have ordered 7 more yards of fabric on etsy to add to this pile, and picked up some more red spot and brown homespun from Ballarat Patchwork. Fingers crossed that I will have enough.

Today Maya and I went and watched Ayden perform at the school "House Music" competition. You would think that a school that is so focused on the academic results of the students would take so much time out for performing arts, but they do. All student at the senior school have to perform, just like in the House Athletics or House Swimming with a themed 10 minute performance that involved music, singing and dancing. Ayden had a nice spot at the back :) but good on him. All the rehearsals have been during study and lunchtime so Ayden will be pretty happy to have those study times back.

Pattern writing this weekend. Knew I should have done it over the Christmas holidays. My deadline from Homespun was a bit sooner than I expected...

Tiny peeks at some of the secrets...

This week I have already managed to finish off some of the secret stitching. Above is the last block from some sample sewing for Ballarat Patchwork, the third block that I have completed for this project. There was a lot of tricky needleturn applique on this one!

This was something a little bit different. Julie from Firefly Design in the USA asked if I would embroider a collar for her daughters Easter dress. I was asked to create something pretty, feminine and springlike, that would match with a soft duck egg blue fabric. This section was designed to go around the base of one side of the collar, and there is another one stitched in reverse for the other side. I have used Crabapple Cottage patterns for inspiration on this one. I just can't wait to see how the finished dress will look!

And a tiny look at the latest pattern tested for Toni at Make it Perfect. Just wait until you see this one! My family can't leave it alone ...

A good wife...

Takes the hint of the work pants drapped over the chair in front of the sewing machine... finally.. and does the two minute mending task... with the quarter inch foot still on...

Secrets are nearly worked through and I'm sure to show something more exciting next post.

And tick, Callums party done! Ten pin bowling for Callum and 10 of his mates, and family. Lots of fun for the boys.

Our 9 year old .. Happy Birthday Callum!

Happy Birthday Callum! What a great way to spend a public holiday with a birthday. Lots of presents, a nice rainbow coloured Smiggle pen that Kane would love to get his paws on. Callum's choice for dinner tonight, leek and potato soup with caramel cake and a birthday party to look forward to.

And maybe a game or two of battleships? Happy birthday Callum. 9 years old xx

Ideas onto fabric ..

With Ayden off for the weekend to his friends beach house and Callum off to his friends farm house, it has been a bit quiet at this monkey house.

The secret sewing continues - my own this time, with my ideas going onto my fabric, before I use someone elses fabric...

Nearly my turn ..

My turn for the Around the Block, flickr blockswap is April. For months I have been thinking of what to do. I have watched everyone in the months in front of me produce challenging ideas and interesting fabric, and end up with fantastic blocks.

I've taken the first step now and this bundle of half yards arrived today from the Riley Blake range called "All Stars". My plan is to suggest bold blocks that can be split to make quilts for Callum and Kane, that match in fabric but vary in design. I'll add to them and I will also be confident that no ones blocks will miss out or end up on the back. Now I just need to go through all my scraps to look for co-ordinating fabrics.

Sewing with double gauze ..

Toni sent me this cute fabric as part of a thank you for testing the Shearwater Kaftan pattern, even though it is always a pleasure to test sew for Toni! Over the weekend between all the other commitments I made this top for Maya. The fabric is actually very light double gauze (I think) and I thought that this long top would be really sweet layered with a pink or red top and jeans for creche.

After a big long day at creche, Maya was such a good girl and put the top on and gave me a very tired smile. I used the Simplicity 5118 pattern that I used as a dress here, but simplified it and made it a little larger, and cute a couple of inches off the bottom to make it tunic lenght. Great basic pattern.