Another Jane Green pouch

Another Jane Green pouch, originally uploaded by MandyMade.

My Aunt bought a camera, and naturally needed a pouch for it to go in. Jane Green again but this time with flowers on it. That's her kitchen table in the background!

Pattern by Keyka Lou - Pleated Pouches
Handmade by MandyMade

Finished already

I finished my weekly goal already. Nothing like Little O sleeping for 3 hours, I got some sewing done!

Zip Pouches

You can see here I'm playing along with Keyka Lou's goal of the week challenge and that I wanted to make her zip pouches in all 3 sizes. I've had the pattern a little while and have been hanging out to make them. I cut the fabric out last week then sewed them up yesterday.

Inside the small Zip Pouch

I was hoping the medium one would be big enough to fit the families prescriptions in so they wouldn't be floating around in my bag, but it's not quite tall enough. I think I'll try making another with the width of the medium but the height of the tall, I can do that, surely. The small one is perfect for excess cards so my purse isn't so fat. The tall one doesn't quite fit my phone but I think it would fall out too easily when its opened up anyway. I'd like to make some for our next market. I think the small would be the best seller, what do you think?

Now onto a different topic. You may have noticed a difference in the 2 photos, or not. I'm very grumpy with flickr and picnic at the moment. Picnic for closing and flickr for picking such a bad replacement. I did my best with aviary, the replacement, but it doesn't have the 2 tools I rely on for my "look", rounded edges and the text I used for my watermark. You can only do rounded edges if you also use a filter, the there is only 1 font for text, so I'm grumpy. The bottom photo I tried using a free download on the iPad, pixlromatic. It does the rounded edges, but not much else. Maybe I'll try combining the two or actually start using photoshop!

Have you finished your weekly goal?

TTFN

New Keyka Lou Pattern

Super Padded Pouch, originally uploaded by keykalou.

Have you seen? Keyka Lou has a new pattern out. It's a new Padded Camera Pouch and comes in 4 sizes. I'm hoping the extra large one will fit a dslr. Use the keyka lou button on the top right side bar or click here to pop over and have a look at the pattern yourself. I'm sure you would like to buy one, I do.

Finally

I'm back on the sewing machine. It's been far too long. I've just been too busy.

Curvy Wristlet

Roses are Red, Tractors are Green. That is what is printed on this fabric. Not my usual fabric choice! There is a very complicated story to go with this wristlet!

My sister's mother in law found this fabric, fell in love, had to buy it. They moved to the country a few years ago along with my sister and her family. She doesn't sew, at least I don't think she does, I do know she knits and makes very nice jam (has her own business). Anyway, she gave this fabric to my mum with the request of making some pj's for my nieces, which she did (sorry don't have any pics, very cute though). Mum had some fabric left over so asked me to make a purse or bag for my sister's MIL. So last night I finally got the urge to make it. I hadn't tried this pattern yet. Wish I had tried it first on something else. The fussy cutting I did on the flap didn't end up being in the right spot, you can kinda read it. I'm pretty happy with the bag. I think though to make it look it's best it would have to be full. Maybe I needed to use some thicker padding in it to give it more structure.

Curvy Wristlet - back

It was gifted to her today at a festival she had a stall at. She had no idea it was being made, I think she was happy. Not sure if she was showing off the material to everyone or the purse!! I think it was a success.

Curvy Wristlet - inside

This is the inside, it has a small pocket you could put a small mobile into. I didn't get a chance to try it!

This is made from a Keyka Lou pattern (click on the button on the right sidebar for more of her patterns). There are two smaller sizes in this pattern too. I think they might be better suited to have a wrist strap, I'm not sure if the large size needed it.

I think I'll make a few of these for our next market, not sure when that will be.

I've got a few softies on the to-do list next, birthdays coming up. I'll be getting the Melly and Me patterns out I think. It's been a while since I made a softie.

There have been a few softie pattern writers that, in the past week, have decided to let people sell softies made from their patterns (not in a mass produce way), which is pretty exciting for me. I would love to make them to sell but just don't have the time and brain space to create my own. We'll see what happens.

TTFN

Edit: This pattern is from:

Michelle Patterns, formerly Keyka Lou. 

(Affiliate link)

Camera Case Wristlet

Camera Case Wristlet, 

originally uploaded by MandyMade.

I've gone a bit crazy buying Keyka Lou's pattern's lately. Last week I bought this one, the Camera Case Wristlet. It came together quickly, but I am use to her patterns now and a lot of the construction is the same. This one will be gifted and I can see quite a few being made this year, either for gifts or to sell. I'm very glad I bought it. Can't wait to try out her latest pattern but have a few other things to sew before then.

TTFN

Back to work

You know, the work that actually pays you for doing something!! It's been just over a year, it had to happen one day. The time has just flown. With going back to work Little O had to start childcare, and you can't do that without a spiffy new hat. So I knocked up this one.

Little O's childcare hat

I love that I can do that now, something is needed, whip it up, yay. I used Nikki's kids hat pattern, he's grown out of the baby hat :-(. I used Kid's Hat Size small, second size brim, brim without binding. I didn't even need to follow the instructions as I went, I've made so many of the baby hat now I just made it like the baby hat, yay.

From the top

I wanted to make some shoes to match but didn't have enough fabric left over, might still make some patchy ones. I'm in the process of making him a backpack but haven't quite got that finished yet.

I'm only working 2 days a week at the moment. I started back on Monday. It was strange going back and I remembered a lot more than I thought I would (I program a bit). It didn't all fall out of my head this time.

Can't wait for school to go back now to keep the other one occupied. It's now got hot in Melbourne, the I'm too tired and hot to do anything kinda hot.

I also made these pleated pouches to go in the Ditto Crafts MadeIt shop.

Pleated pouches Pattern by Keyka Lou

What a week.

TTFN

The missing projects

Well not missing exactly just from this blog. I missed writing about a few of the projects I've been making, for either friends, family or for Ditto Crafts. I thought about writing individual posts for each but, nah. So here goes.

Little A as Captain America

My eldest did drama last year once a week. At the end of the year he had a performance and his class performed a play "Class for Superheroes". He got to pick whichever superhero he wanted to be so he picked Captain America. The movie wasn't all that big here so I didn't know where he knew him from but found out he's in one of the cartoons he watches. I thought a costume would be no problem, especially with a movie out. Nope, nowhere, couldn't find anything so I had to improvise, and in an afternoon I came up with this. (and no the shoes on the wrong feet were not my idea!!) He did a fantastic job and delivered his lines when he should, we were very proud.

This was the first time I appliquéd onto a t-shirt, I'll be doing more of that!! Easy, don't know what I was afraid of. I made the belt separate but ended up using hemming web to attach it to the t-shirt. The pants are from his superman costume and the arm bands are old socks with the toes cut out. The hat is his winter hat and I just tacked some felt wings and an A onto it. It was soooo hot that day I was surprised he wore it. The shield I made of cardboard stuck onto a toy box lid! The entire outfit is now in the dress up box. I may need to make him a new hat this winter!

Colouring Folios

A friend of mine liked the colouring folio I made in this post and asked if I could make some for her girls. These are the result.

Colouring Folios Inside

Again I made up the pattern, this time making it a bit smaller than last time. I think this is the perfect size. You can see by the handles that I was still making it up as I was making them. Nothing like uniqueness. I'll be making a few more for her, this time for boys.

Teachers gift 2011, Notepad organiser

This was a bit of a last minute gift. I had no idea what to make Little A's teacher. Then I saw that Leah had made up a note pad organiser and thought it would be perfect for his teacher. I used this tutorial.

Notepad organiser, inside

I got Little A to draw a picture of his teacher and I stuck it onto a notepad. She's getting married this year so there was nothing like shameless self promotion and a nudge for her to have some handmade somethings at her wedding, I popped my card in!! I was happy with the result but could not get the white background uncreased. I was tempted to keep this one and make her another, alas no time, plus I have more fabric ;-).

Tall pleated pouch - in "Jane green"

This is the last one I promise. A few months ago my uncle was telling me that his wife had lost her phone pouch, and it was in her favourite green, I can whip one up for her, I said. Well next time I saw him I took all my green fabric with me, I was surprised at how much I had. Lucky for both of us I had "Jane green" and this little pouch was born. She loved it. I love it when a project comes together like this, especially when they are secret projects.

We're there any that I missed?

Now for some new projects. I need to work out a balance now between sewing for me and for Ditto Crafts and I'm returning to work next week after a year at home, that's going to be a bit of a shock. At least I'll be able to get some crochet in on the train trips.

TTFN

Baby Gift Set

Baby Gift Set, originally uploaded by MandyMade.

Poor neglected little blog. I haven't forgotten about you. The sewing machine has been getting a lot more attention than you lately but you have still been on my mind. I've been making heaps over the past couple of weeks, heaps of bibs, burp cloths and dummy straps. After we had the stall at our school fete we were approached by another school to have a stall at theirs. So we decided to add a few more items to our stock, yes we have stock now!! The market part of the fete wasn't in the best position, not much foot traffic. Oh well, we live and learn.

Have you sold at markets? Which ones tend to be the best?

Off to clean the very neglected house now, spring is nearly over, gotta get the spring cleaning done!

TTFN

PS. Bag pattern by Keyka Lou , shoe pattern by ithinksew, bib, burp cloth, change mat and dummy strap all made up by me.

200th post

Wow never thought I would get here but I have. 200 posts. Could have got here sooner if I blogged more!!

I'm taking a little break from sewing, after the marathon effort over the last couple of weeks, so I can now catch up on other things that have been a bit neglected. Like blogging and connecting with other people!! (Not to mention house work!)

Lego Box pouch for Billy

A couple of weeks ago I made another box pouch, this time for my cousins now 5 year old. I love this lego fabric, I wish I'd bought more.

This is what I've been busy making.

Lots of tiny shoes

Lots of Pocket Clutches

And a cute little Amigurumi mouse

I think I am now up to date in sharing what I have been making. Next will be for family and friends. It's been a good experience making for a market but I do get a lot more joy out of making for someone in mind. I'm looking forward to taking commissions though, there is a contact and I know where the product will end up.

Until next time.

Happy Sewing

TTFN

Edit: I would also like to thank those that read and comment on my blog, thanks heaps, I wouldn't have got to 200 without you :-).

Can't talk, making

Pleated Pouches and Keychain Clutches, originally uploaded by MandyMade.

I'll be back after the school fete is over, so much to sew so little time left to sew it in. I'm trying to focus on quality over quantity at the moment. If you want to see what I'm making pop over to my flickr page (just click on the photo above).

These are more keychain clutches from the pattern by Keyka Lou and also her Pleated Pouches pattern, these will be great for e-readers, ipods and such.

Have you ever had a stall at your school fete? Any tips?

TTFN

Edit: Also, I've put the We Can Do It Skill Builder Sampler on hold for the moment. I'll start that again in a couple of weeks when I can focus on it.

Addicted to making bags

I admit it I love to make bags and purses. I'm always on the lookout for patterns and tutorials. Here are some I've made lately.

Pattern by Keyka Lou - Keychain Clutch

This is the second Keychain Clutch I've made, this time at the normal size (last one was at 150%). It's very cute and just fits my mobile, but it is the wrong shape for that so its now a coin purse. I've sewn a press stud to close instead of velcro, needs a button on the front.

Pattern by Keyka Lou - Lots of Pockets Tote

This is a very cute bag, just big enough for all the essentials. Great bag to go shopping, or take to the craft show as I did. Can't buy more stuff to put in it!! All the fabric is from ikea, great for bags I've decided. Instead of using quilt batting I used some polar fleece with the lining, which gives it a nice padding but made it too think so sew over around the top so I wont be doing that again. I would interface the outside pockets but not the lining. The pockets on the front of the bag are very handy. I attached a magnetic snap to close but I think it needs to be bigger, next time.

Pattern by Keyka Lou - Pocket Clutch

This clutch is very cute. Would be great for a night out, just need to have one! Would fit my mobile and small wallet with cards and notes.

Pattern by Keyka Lou - Keychain Clutch (small is 100% and large is 150%)

Same as the one at the top just increased the pattern size for the larger one. I've made this before. The point for turning the right way round is at the base, when I make this again I will try to have the turning point at the top, it's tricky to make a nice even closing stitch at the base, especially with this type of material. I used a hammer in snap closure this time, which I had no problem with, I expected to as others have said they are tricky.

Pattern by ithinksew - Zipper Pouch

Another pattern maker I discovered is ithinksew. Very cute baby shoes, which I will save for another post. This Zipper Pouch came as a free pattern when you buy other patterns. This little pouch has the zip behind the broken needle incident. It's easy (if you can sew zips) and quick to put together. I made it for Little A's friend who turned 7 on the weekend. I will definitely be making more of these.

Box Pouch

This box pouch came about after I was looking on the net for a small square bag for little girls. There are heaps of tutorials for a box pouch (still looking for a small bag). I started with this tutorial but ended up changing the construction slightly, and put a plastic base in the bottom. I would interface it next time (thought the type of material would be strong enough) though it does stand on it's own very well. I also made this for Little A's friend.

Well that's it for the bags at the moment. I do think I'll be making these for the school fete.

More Keyka Lou pouches waiting to be sewn up

These are some more Keyka Lou pouches waiting to be sewn up. Pleated pouches in 3 sizes and more keychain clutches.

TTFN

Productive Weekend

It's amazing how just adding one more day to the weekend you can get so much more done!! We got a few things done around the house which was nice, usually we get a bit overwhelmed with what needs to be done then go out for a coffee!! Well you have to start somewhere. So painting Oliver's room is nearly finished, we can now open the front door (the house needs re-stumping) Dad was handy with a temporary fix of one of the stumps, and the window sills to the boys rooms are now underway to getting fixed, yay.

Aidan has decided that he wants to share a room with Oliver and make the other room a play room. So while he is keen to do this we are going to give it a go. With 6 years difference between them I don't think it will last long but it will be nice for a while.

I was handy on the machine too. Aidan and I finally made his belt.

I gave up on the binding maker, the material just didn't want to go through evenly, I think I need a lesson. So I just used the folding method, seemed to work fine. I need to work on my thread tension, so don't look too closely!!

I also made Keyka Lou's Keychain Clutch.

I got the hubby to enlarge the pattern to 150% so I could fit more in. Well you can definitely fit more in! My phone, keys and maybe the correct size version would fit in. It needs a handle though which I thought it might so I added the extra strap. I'm going to give it a spin at pickup today and see how it goes. I don't like taking my whole handbag just for school pickup but still need the phone etc. so this should do the trick. I also want to try and make one attach to the front baby carrier, hmm I have ideas.

TTFN