Little A's encounter with a craft market

Originally uploaded by MandyMade

We went to Northside Makers Market on Saturday. It was great. I got to meet up with the lovely Sandra again and finally give her her prize for winning my first blog comp. Apologies again Sandra for how late it was. All the stall holders expected rain so had these big umbrellas to protect their wares, but then the wind started, all the umbrellas came down and everyone was concentrating on keeping everything on their tables. I found a few things I wanted to get but I always go all the way around a market first. We met up with another crafty friend and had lunch at the cafe in the middle of the market, sorry can't remember the name, the food was really nice. After lunch Little A was getting a bit tired of the market so decided to climb the tree in the middle. (I was off powdering my nose!!) don't worry the hubby was watching him! Next thing I know very family screams were being heard across the market. He had fallen out of the tree, or more precisely, the branch he was holding onto decided it didn't want to be attached to the tree anymore!! Everyone was lovely, a first aid guy was called over, all wounds were patched and this ace badge made for him. So a big thank you to the organises of the market, and I am so sorry for all the commotion. Needless to say we then left and unfortunately I yet again didn't buy anything.

This is the clutch I made for Sandra

TTFN

Spoiler Alert!!

Patchwork Ball
Originally uploaded by MandyMade

Spoiler alert!! If you're my cousin (or in law) and have a son that has a birthday soon you may not want to read on!!

I have been wanting to make this patchwork ball from Anna Maria Horner's book Seams to Me for a while, and I finally had the opportunity. It's been sooooo hot here in melbourne so I haven't been doing much sewing and this project was perfect to keep the sewing itch at bay. It came together very quickly. The time consuming part was fussy cutting the fabric (from lincraft). I hope to make more of these.

With Christmas not too far away, I don't even want to think about how soon now, I'm busy thinking of and making gifts. Hopefully this weekend will be a bit cooler to work on them. I may or may not write about them, don't want to have to put out too many spoiler alerts!! My aim this year is for part of everyones gifts to be handmade (even if its not from me) I may have needed to start a few months ago. With fire season in full swing, work is really busy so I will need the de-stress somehow.

TTFN

Ta da

Doll Quilt 2
Originally uploaded by MandyMade

Blog upgrade finished. For the moment anyway. May add some pics later not going to rush this!!

I can now tell you about my second dolls quilt now, the gift has been delivered. I made this doll for my cousins daughter for her birthday last year, and while looking at the photos again I thought, this doll needs a blanket, so out came the same fabric and I whipped!! up a blanket for her. I used the same pattern from the sew mama sew tutorial and the one I made for my niece. I think I may have made the binding too wide as the corners didn't quite come together as nicely. I'm now thinking of a bigger quilt but we'll wait and see!!

Quilt pattern from the doll quilt sew along on sewmamasew Handmade by MandyMade

Under construction again

Please excuse the wonkyness of the blog at the mo. Will have to get stuck into after a weekend away without any computers!!!

TTFN

Mandy

Pencil Roll - before lines sewn

Pencil Roll - before lines sewn
Originally uploaded by MandyMade

The lovely Brooke made a comment on my pencil roll post regarding my straight lines!! So I thought I'd let you in on a little secret.... Masking tape. If you get the not very sticky stuff it works perfectly as a straight line guide. And I just happened to have some exactly the right width for the pencils. It comes off really easily and doesn't take any fabric with it. Just don't sew over it, not that easy to get out of a seam!!

TTFN

Mandy

Ok, I'm over it!!

I'm over this blog look, doesn't feel like me, feels like it's someone else. Do you have an opinion? Please let me know or I'm going the all white look I think, till I get a fantastic idea to design myself.

TTFN

Mandy

Pencil Roll

Pencil Roll
Originally uploaded by MandyMade

Another one of Little A's friends turned 5 over the weekend. I made this pencil roll for her. The original pattern had a caterpillar applique on the front and Hungry Caterpillar material. Well, I didn't hunt too hard to find that material and I had these wonderful pieces in my stash. So this is my version. I sewed the lines for the pencils from the front instead of the back as I was still a bit unsure of how my tension was going on my machine. I ended up not having to worry, a good clean does wonders!!

I can see many more of these being made, I even went out and bought basting spray. Anyone had any bad experience with basting spray? I would like to hear about the good or the bad.

TTFN

Mandy

Pattern from Australian Homespun Vol 9.12. I'm a Hungry Caterpillar Pencil Roll, design by Lynne Power. Handmade by MandyMade

Olivia's birth present

Olivia's birth present
Originally uploaded by MandyMade

I know it's been a little while, been really busy. Not to mention reading everyone else's blogtober fest blogs!! I don't know how you all have done it!!

I made this little friend for new born baby Olivia. It's from Homespun Vol 10.9 Designed by Louise from Audrey and Maude. The majority of it is hand sewn. Yes the hexagons are hand sewn. It's the first time I have sewn this technique (I think its called American piecing) and I must say it was very relaxing. And it came together very quickly.

I was so impressed with it that I am making another, but for who, is a surprise still to come.

For more pics please go to my flickr page.

TTFN

Mandy

Tickle the Turtle, Design by Audrey and Maude, in Australian Homespun Vol 10.9, handmade by MandyMade

Erin's Birthday Present

Erin's Birthday Present
Originally uploaded by MandyMade

This is a birthday gift to one of Little A's friends who turned 5 last weekend. I ended up making up the pattern as I had bought crayons and a little diary but no pattern that I found would fit my idea!!

So I made it up. I measured the diary for one side, then how the crayons would sit on the other. I made a very basic mockup in calico. Long story short, I whipped it up in about 2 hours, would have been quicker but as you may notice from the pic I had heaps of problems with the under bobbin thread catching, I had a few goes and this is the best I could get it. Lesson learned, never sew under pressure, giving the bobbin area a clean didn't even occur to me!! So hopefully my next project will turn out a bit better, sorry Erin :-)

A bit under construction

Well I decided I had enough with the old look and now I've taken on a new. Which of course means I now have to add back all my buttons and links etc cos they didn't follow through? So what do you think? I've just used a template, don't have enough time to muck around with these things. I will one day make something unique I promise :-) Until then please bear with me.

TTFN