Fun with shopping and sewing!

The bank account has been hit hard lately (well not too hard, I'm good at finding bargains!)

The first is Crinkle plastic for toys.
Proper child safety approved plastic, designed to go inside toys etc! It was a great price at only $1.25USD for a 9x9" square. Perfect to put in a few toys.

The second, which I'm waiting for a 'combo' listing to be put up so I can get a few things from the one listing, is Baby Safe flexible mirror sheets. At approx $4.20USD for an A4 sheet, it isn't hugely expensive by any means. I figure half of the sheet can be a mirror for when baby is rear facing in the car.
Something like this Baby Safe Mirror. And the rest will be put onto a playmat, or hanging toys from a playmat.

The third is from the same seller as the mirror sheets, Silicone teething pieces. She has a fantastic selection of colors, and shapes, that you can attach to toys, play mats etc! And at $4.60USD for 10 pieces, is an absolute STEAL!

Then shop-a-holic me decided that I needed some cute, gender neutral fabric to make a playmat with, I figured charm squares will be the best bet, and found this gorgeous Riley Blake range - Life in the Jungle
I NEEDED it then and there, of course, so I can make this. Thoughts and Thimbles Activity Gym tutorial

Of course, there's those great plastic snaps featured on the play mat tutorial, so I needed some of them too!
Cue me shopping at Green Beans NZ where I got 100 sets of plastic snaps, some snap press pliers, all for $20NZD! I'll be snapping things left right and centre

As you can see, I am going to be busy, and the bank account is going to get lower and lower, as the arrival of Squatch gets closer and closer.
Today I got to hear squatch's heartbeat for the first time, very cool!

Sewing with a purpose

My sewing purposes have changed so much now, with baby Squatch due in December.

This weekend, was my first sewing project in a long time!

I have had this Winnie the Pooh cot panel for around a year now, I saw it and loved it. Now I have an excuse to use it.

I bought the Mod Tod Star backing from http://www.fabricfixation.co.nz/, and the binding was just a pale blue homespun, basically to match with the small patches of blue that are on the quilt. We do not know if Squatch is male or female, I just wanted to tie the binding in somehow to the rest of the quilt.

Every character is quilted around (used my Juki F600 and it's walking foot, first time ever using a walking foot, I'm a convert!) and that took a very long time, especially on the caterpillars who are just several circles, nightmare! lol.

The middle is a cotton bamboo batting so a very natural breathable fabric.

Now having done this cot quilt, I want to do a bassinet one, and a floor one! 

 My pretty mitred corner.

 The front and the back.

Introducing......

Baby Snuzal.

Some gorgeous old machines

I know that some of you appreciate the real old machines. We went away to hubbys parents for the weekend, and the local museum was having an open day with all the old steam machines etc, so I thought I'd take a moment to get some pictures of the machines and a couple of garments from there.

V8815 on me

I've put so much weight on lately, think it's since I've stopped some of the medication I was previously on, GREAT! Not lol.
At least I can still look nice.

Vogue 8815 completed

I've finally finished my top V8815, for the plus size pattern fitting and design class from Craftsy.

I am absolutely in love with it. It fits a bit better on me than on the dummy. (affectionately named "dolly")
The lace was some I bought from work several months ago, and I underlined it with a similar purpley blue.

I used several new techniques on this top!
Underlining was a first, and my darling husband bought me a bias taper maker as a surprise (gotta love that man!) so I cut and made my own bias tape using the underlining fabric. I effectively faced the armholes and neckline with the bias tape, and then stitched that to the underlining so as there is no stitches on the lace.
The hem I overlocked and then hand stitched up, I'd tried the blind hem on the machine but with the lace, and the satin, it was a no go!

The zip caued me several issues, I had to unpick it 3 times. I think I finally got it as close as I will ever get it.

 The underlining.

 The back. The zip does do up fully but I didn't do that on Dolly.

Close up of the fabric. It's so gorgeous

Plus Size Pattern Fitting & Design - My Alterations

I got my Vogue 8815 in the mail the other day, and today was the first day I got to actually go through the pattern, and make my alterations.

So far so good!
I think I'll change the neckline to be a lower scoop neck as I don't think the jewel neckline will be very flattering on me.

And seriously, never put white carpet in a house, well, cream. It marks at the drop of a hat! Thankfully marks were not from us but the tenants before us. But still, don't put white carpet in a rental!

Gotta love this fabric.

Some new must have patterns

I just found more patterns I NEED!

Things are really inspiring me to sew at the moment, nice new jackets, blouses, and even a skirt!

Butterick 5891 is an awesome jacket, imagine that in a grey linen. Or lightweight wool. I love the color of this version as well, so am going to keep my eyes open.

 B5891

I adore this blouse too from Vogue, in the Today's Fit range. I've never made a blouse, so I'm looking forward to giving that one a go. Possibly from a silk. This working every day in a fabric store is a dangerous gig!

V1333 

The skirt doesn't do much justice on the model, but fellow blogger Communicating With Fabric made up a version that looks absolutely amazing and I really would like to try it after seeing what she did with it. Check out her version here

 

I also just purchased the circle top from Papercut Patterns. She is a NZ girl (local, originally from where I live) and creates patterns that are "workroom inspired" so they have their own "pattern hook" etc. Shes a great designer so check her out. She also ships worldwide, for FREE!
I thought I might make the circle top in Merino, it only goes up to a size L so I am hoping I can grade it up a bit more to accommodate the chubby arms

Craftsy Classes - worth it!

I discovered the joys of Craftsy.com a few months ago now, and love it.

Last week, they had a $9.99 first class offer, so I signed up for Plus Size Pattern Fitting and Design with Barbara Deckert.
What an amazing class. With the class itself you even get a free Vogue pattern , that alone in NZ is $30 value!

V8815

I spent every night lying in bed watching the videos, the pattern hasnt arrived yet, but it's so great seeing how things are done, and I cannot wait to get started on it. My boss made a top out of this same pattern last year and it looks fab. I didn't think this type of pattern would work for plus size, but all the examples I've seen look absolutely great.

And something that some people don't know, and I didn't know until today - is that when you buy classes etc from Craftsy, you get "points" and by filling out parts of your profile you get more points. 10 points gives you another free class (thats like $60nzd value!)
So today, I earned enough points, to get a whole new class.
This time it's Pant Fitting Techniques by Sandra Betzina and once again, you get another free pattern

V2948

I've just watched just a couple of the lessons so far on the pant fitting techniques, but just seeing the lines explained in a video makes total sense!

I realise I sound like I'm getting commission lol, but I'm truly not, just thought I'd share it for those who haven't been entirely convinced by the class details etc. I learn a lot by looking at pictures on blogs etc, but seeing them done in a video where you can rewind, ask questions to the tutor herself is just like classroom learning. I love it!

I took the plunge.

Not sewing related but I have to show what big step I took yesterday. I've wanted a tattoo for a long time, but it took ages for me to find one I was happy to have my entire life

Here it is. My love heart tattoo

A life update

I'm feeling very inspired lately... why is that?

Well as of late December, I started a new job. At the same store that I currently work at, but I am now a machinist doing alterations for customers! I'm actually really loving it and finding that it really inspires me.

So here is something on my to do list.

Vogue 1291

This is Sandra Betzinas own version of it. 

I adore it and we have some gorgeous fabric at work that will work really well for it.

There is also these pants, and I am unsure whether they will be a goer or not, but with Sewingpatterns.com having Vogues for $4.99 at the moment, it's not going to be a big loss if they don't work

Vogue 1334

We've been married for over 6 months now. Today is valentines day, and I got Roses from his nibs.

Albeit, Cadbury Roses. lol. I'll let him away with it though because it's rather cute! lol

My sewing buddy

We have a new addition to our wee family. She's a small 6 week old fluff ball who we have named bobbin. And guess who loves fabric scraps