Granny Slippers

These are great.  Now that I can crochet the ends in as I go I don't mind changing colours.

There is another pair around here somewhere too.

Visit theroyalsisters.blogspot.com for a link to Michelle's etsy store amd check out some of her free tutorials while you are there.

I really must sew some bikinis some time today.  I have to send 6 pairs to America on Wednesday.  I have 4 already but need 2 more.  How do you get motivated?

Pancakes and Grannies

It's taken me 4 days to make 10 granny squares.   The pattern is from Attic24.  I made a few alterations, but only to technique. 

I don't like to tie knots when I change colours, and I rather crochet the ends in as I go.  What is your crochet technique?  It seems everyone does it differently.

I have finished 2 pairs of Michelles granny slippers.  One more pair and we will get together for a photo. They are a great project that can be finished in one sitting.  They would also make a great gift.

Oh, and guess what was for breakfast.

Here is my recipe for pancakes, not sure what others do, this recipe has evolved since I was a teenager.

2 cups self-raising flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 tablespoons butter melted
2 eggs
2 cups milk

Just blend all ingrediets and then cook in a greased frypan on low.

We like ours with lemon and sugar, jam and cream or maple syrup.

How do you make your pancakes?

P.S. I have been teaching Monet to crochet.  First we mastered finger knitting and now she can hook a mean chain.  Any tips on teaching kids to crochet? What stitch is next?

Granny Slippers

I just purchased this pattern from Michelle at The Royal Sisters.

I am waiting anxiously for it to arrive via email so that I can get hooking.

Photo is from Michelle's flickr stream.  Sorry I can't post links from my phone but you can find Michelle'samazing granny inspired patterns on etsy, ravelry and on her blog The Royal Sisters.

I am still the un-proud owner of a laptop with a cracked screen.  Hope to get that remedied soon.  And I haven't been sewing swimmers.  Something about the rainy weather makes me want to crochet slippers and make quilts rather than sew bikinis. 

Till next time, which will probably be a while.......

Coming Soon.......

I have several pairs of bikinis on the go at the moment, in various sizes from 0 - 10.  I will pop them in the shop as they are finished.

A giant thanks to Kate from foxs lane for the mention.  Sorry if you've popped on by expecting great things, I've had a few hiccups lately.

I am still technologically handicapped with a giant crack in my laptop screen.  I have discovered that I should be able to use the tv as a screen but need the right cable. I am sure there is one here somewhere.....

Bikinis For Little Indigo

I have finally finished an order for the online children's store Little Indigo.
Jo from www.littleindigo.com.au will soon be stocking limited edition MonetPaisley Swimwear bikinis in Amy Butler fabric.
Little Indigo showcases new and emerging Australian designers.  If you have been waiting for bikinis in sizes 0 through to 4, check out Little Indigo for these gorgeous blue swim suits.

A Cushion

I have been busy.....
Some landscaping...... Some  cleaning..... Some thrifting (I got a vintage coffee table for $6)......
And also some sewing.....
Not alot of blogging, as you can probably tell.
My computer is offline till I can replace the screen, apparently I can fo it myself and save a bundle, here's hoping........
I miss you all sooo much....... Hugs and kisses...... Smiley face!!!

My Creative Space

Well, it's been a long time.......
My sewing machine broke...... But now it's fixed, yay!
My computer broke...... But it's not fixed yet :-(
This won't be much of a post because I am using my phone, and well, who knows what this will look like, especially the photo.......
I have been knitting......
There has not been much else I could do.......
I am knitting an eden vest by georgie hallam out of some lovely corn flower blue bamboo.
I have already finished paisleys and she wears it all the time.
Hoping to be able to fix my computer myself, also hoping to have some more stock for the shop soon.

A Rather Productive Day....

This quilt top only took an hour and five minutes to cut out and put together.

It's not perfect but that's the nature of my quilting.  Superfast and none of the seams meet up.

This one is for my little hubba bubba.

I also made Monet a pair of pants.  I didn't use a pattern.  I just drew on the material with a pen....

And surprise, surprise.....

They fit pretty perfectly!

Paisley asked for a skirt of course.  I made this a little larger than needed so it fits her for longer.

Boy I hate sewing ruffles.

In other news, I won this book in a giveaway on Miss Posie Patchworks Blog.

Signed by the author, Tania McCartney.
This has replaced Belle and Boo as the current favourite bedtime book.

I think I might go and sew some bunting whilst dinner is cooking.

Some Gorgeous Amy Butler Fabrics Are Heading My Way

I have been a little bit quiet on the Blog front these last weeks.

Life, however, has not been so quiet.

My Mum has been in hospital,

 My husband has been working every day because they are short-staffed,

I have been madly cleaning so we can put the house on the market this summer.

I have decided not to do any more markets at this stage.

The relief was overwhelming once I made this decision.

They take me away from my family too much.

and because tween girls are such a small segment of the population

I am not reaching them effectively at markets.

I would have to spend hundreds of dollars on fabric

and countless hours sewing

just to stock a stall

and may have only one or two sales!

Just not worth it.

It was fun though.

I still have my etsy store

and will continue to sew bikinis for this

at my leisure.

I have ordered some Amy Butler fabrics online from this Etsy store.

This fabric is to be made into sizes 0-4 bikinis

Part of a wholesale order going to

Little Indigo, an oline store for children.

This is to make bikinis for my etsy store.

This is also to make bikinis for my etsy store.

If you would like a bikini in a girls size 0-12

made from the above fabrics

let me know and I can make a custom listing for you

in the size you desire.

Until this fabric arrives I have plans to make

a baby quilt

some bunting

a paper crane mobile

some summer skirts, dresses and shorts for my girls.

This is my new baby nephew Jayden
Isn't he just scrumptious
I hope you can all see the photo
And Sara, I hope you don't mind
I pinched it of Facebook.

I Made Myself A Bikini

It's okay, don't panic!  There will be no photos of me in my bikini!

But I did it..... I fixed my sewing machine and bit the bullet...I made my self a bikini!

I even wore it to the beach this afternoon.  It's been a few years since this tummy has seen the sun and boy did it feel good.

Let's set the record straight, I am not small.  I have had three children and each time I find new lumps and bumps where there were none before.  I am somewhat comfortable in a size 16.  I am not entirely happy with being this size but I am not going to miss out on a whole summer because I ate too much chocolate over winter.

I just wanted something to wear around home.... Something that I could throw a kaftan over and feel a bit funky and fresh.  So this morning I set to measuring and cutting..... sewing and snipping.... unpicking and recutting.... and sewing some more....  Until....

I tried on the bottoms and was so happy that I needed a top to match.  I was trying to channel Grace Kelly in High Society, even though I cannot remember what she was wearing.  The top looks good but needs a little more work to be comfortably worn all day.

When I showed my husband the finished product he was like WOW!  It is quite surprising how flattering they are.  I don't look like other girls on the beach but I felt like a bit of a fifties pin-up girl in my new bikini.  My new vintage cotton bikini looks better than all the lycra one-pieces and tankinis I have bought over the years.  Well I think so anyway, and so does my husband, and well, the rest of them can go jump.  I am over the moon.

A little bit of summer sun and a splash of fake tan and if you want to find me I'll be at the beach.

So stop worrying how you look to other people and wear what makes you happy.  The happiness will shine through and you'll be better off for it.  Enjoy what you've got and if you don't have enough money for one of those suck-it-all-in pairs of bathers that is the must-have this summer, do what I did and make your own!

This is the fabric I used for my swimsuit.  The one picture above is a girls 10, mine is a ladies 16.  I also added a tie in the middle of the bust for some added shape.  I made the back of my top tie with strings rather than the chunky knot that is on the kids bathers.  Less tan lines that way.

Bring On Summer! I am ready......