ensparkle

Other than slowly plodding along on my knitting, there's not much time for sewing around here. A few little crafty projects that I need proper light to photograph tomorrow that are all for family and friends, but too busy with "work".

Couple of weeks ago the lovely Helen from ensparkle who I have started seeing in a new local craft group asked me to help make her blog and bigcartel shop look the same as her website www.ensparkle.com.

All done and looking spiffy. Head over but watch your keyboard, the cuteness of her bowls and cups and plates may lead to excessive drooling. One of those ceramic "lait" jugs with super cute cows on it WILL be mine.

Now on to the next customer...

Sew It Together Badge Swap

Done and finished... a little bit of linen, embroidery, beading and felt based on the Matroyshka Pattern from Kristen. Off in the post to it's owner. I hope you like it &^%$*!.

In other news, our painting is done! I caved and hired a painter to come in who finished it in about 363 days quicker than it would have taken me. Now to find where all this *stuff* came from and get it back there.

Patricia top in Paula Prass

Another Sis Boom Patricia top, this one is in Paula Prass fabric and I made the shorter sleeves and put the contrast fabric to the inside. Super comfy.

Jump Rope Dress

Bella's new Oliver & S Jump Rope dress in some beautiful Amy Butler Love fabric.

Love the button details.

Also arrived this week in the mail, some gorgeous MissIsa pencils... these beauties are all mine

Craft Expo

Yesterday my Mum and I headed out to Homebush for the Craft Expo. A rare day where she's not working on a Friday when the kids are both in daycare.

So we shopped.... lots....

A beautiful Sublime DK pattern book from Yarns Galore, full of beautiful patterns.

Some Japanese clear bags and fancy ties for Easter treats for the kids at daycare, 4 beautiful hanks of 50% Merino/50% Silk from Lush Yarn down to $10 each from $22, a ball of Sublime Baby Bamboo 8ply all on top of a bunch of new felt squares for car wraps...

and a fabric panel. Mum bought me the super cute Monkey tape measure to take with me to Melbourne.. isn't he adorable!

The Chocolate and Luxury Lush yarns are going to be striped and the single ball of navy Sublime 8ply on the bands for this "Smuggler" Jumper from Liam from the new book...

and Mum's Lemon Pie and Pink Lush Yarn are going towards this for Bella also from the new book

While we were there my lovely friend Sarah delivered my latest fabric order from the US to the show... talk about good delivery!

Valori Wells Urban Flannel, Paula Prass Summer Soire and some Jennifer Paganelli Flower Power...

some Michael Miller dots for the lining for Liam's new wool jacket

and some Heather Ross for the lining of Bella's wool jacket.

Sew It Together 2010

Is it May yet? come on, the year is flying by so quick as it is, it's got to be getting close right?

Can you tell I'm excited? Last week I briefly entertained the idea of putting all 4 of us on a plane plus train trip to the "country" to visit the Parents-in-Law for a couple of days and attend some of Sew it Together.

Common sense and sanity kicked in soon after.

Dean decided he'd rather brave the kids in the comfort of home on his own for 2 nights instead of a hotel room and I would head to Melbourne BY MYSELF.

Within 24 hours I had booked flights BY MYSELF, a whole hotel room TO MYSELF and booked myself into ALL the events. OK that's not by myself but with a whole bunch of other crafty peeps.

Now I'm excited for a weekend doing nothing but crafting, nervous about meeting all the "famous" bloggers I read but most of all very very looking forward to meeting everyone in person.

Since I can't drag my sewing machine and fabric etc etc with me, I'm stocking up on knitting and crochet goodies to take so have been wearing out the credit card over the last couple of days to get these beauties on their way to me.

From Bendigo Classic 12ply Almond for a vest for Bella and Luxury 8ply Stone for a jumper for Liam

Pickles Extra Fine Merino in Milk, Frost, Latte & Granite for a knitted baby blanket

Is it too early to start packing my bags??

Sis Boom Tunics

Sis Boom Patrica Tunic top for me in Anna Marie Horner Voile. Super soft fabric, super comfy top. Must wash it and refrain from wearing it everyday. Or just make another one.

I also bought the matching child's version, the Sophie Tunic. While I wait for some fabric for Bella's to arrive, I had just enough of this gorgeous Darla fabric by Tanya Whelan for a present for a little birthday girl.

Both patterns are automatic PDF download, have really clear instructions, heaps of photos and best thing about the kids pattern is it's from 6months - 12years so I can see it's going to get alot of use.

Both have instructions for either an outer contrasting fabric like my version or the lining on the inside like the Darla version. There is also three different arm styles and a stack of lengths for every one. Great patterns.

Day of Pillows

Temporary covers for new couch cushions (fabric & inserts from Ikea)

(like the back wall?... yep still painting) ... while I wait for these lovely Ink & Spindle fabrics to arrive...

And also a "big boy" pillow and pillowcase for Liam with a wool felt applique.

These two fabrics are two dearest to my heart for my boy. The goldfish (Heather Ross) are the main fabric in the quilt I made him for his 2nd birthday last year and I used the very last of the Organic Dots from Kaffe Fassett which was the very very first fabric I ever bought (even before I had a sewing machine) when Liam was just a couple months old.

Obviously not pillows but a pair of baby Ruffle pants made last week for a new baby cousin Isla in some Patty Young fabric. So tiny and pink and cute.