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another dress for sunday

October 31, 2009 By corrie 17 Comments

uh oh I’m setting a dangerous precedent of making new dresses for keira to wear every Sunday! I used a vintage pattern (Style 2652)

vintage inspired quilting fabric and my mum’s very vintage machine because mine totally packed it in yesterday and isn’t working!

Keira loves her new dress and doesn’t want to take it off, always a very good sign! And Finn wanted to get in on the action too!

Best of all, I used a zipper as called for by the pattern. Those vintage patterns love to put a zipper in the back of dresses and rather than make ties (which I would normally do) I put the zipper in!

thank you everyone for your lovely comments on the dress! There is no prize for best dressed little girl at mass but I’d like to think if there was one she’d win. I’d also like to think if there was a prize for getting there early with 3 children under the age of 4 I’d win that too!

Filed Under: sewing, vintage

trick or treat

October 31, 2009 By corrie 7 Comments

Well halloween has been and gone for another year. We make a big fuss here about giving away the lollies and I’m happy with halloween as long as we can keep this little arrangement. Keira picked her own outfit, a toss up between cinderella or a christmas fairy.

We had lots of lollies to hand out and a steady stream of visitors to our door.

However, after a few too many of the ‘scaries’ coming to our door, Keira lost interest and insisted that only the nice fairies come to visit us and no more scaries. I’m just glad she’s happy to hand out the lollies!

Filed Under: everything else

one for the boys

October 30, 2009 By corrie 1 Comment

Ok the good news is 22 bolts of cosmo cuteness should be at my house by the end of next week! I can’t wait to share them with you! The bad news is that I’m still waiting for Flower Sugar and Grandmothers Garden to arrive and have no date advised……patience Corrie, patience!

But then the good news is that this new fabric bolt arrived today, taupe with red, white and blue, so perfect for boys. I’m thinking some cute shorts and a bunting for my Finnie! In the store now!

Filed Under: everything else

hello kitty cuteness

October 29, 2009 By corrie 12 Comments

I moved craft rooms over the weekend (I’m not ready to show you yet as I’m still tripping over things) but in the process was discovering lots and lots of cute little craft things I’ve picked up in Japan, still wrapped in plastic and waiting to be used.

So I consulted Keira and we made little brooches with hello kitty buttons….an extra large yo-yo, a little button and a little brooch is all you need. Sadly the little pack is now all used up but someone has accessorised their outfit for playgroup just perfectly.

And someone is looking very tired because they stayed up late and wouldn’t go to bed last night!

Filed Under: hello kitty, japanese

counting is fun!

October 28, 2009 By corrie 7 Comments

I made a quick batch of keira’s cookies with 1/2 cup of smarties yesterday (most delicious)….and of course was asked by keira for a little plate of them…..but she didn’t eat them, oh no she spent a looooong time organising them, counting them, re-organising them…

and after what seemed like hours had passed, she finally started to eat them! And after all that fuss I made over Keira being given worksheets at pre-school, I say who needs a worksheet to learn counting when you have smarties!!

Filed Under: everything else

dreaming of gingerbread houses

October 27, 2009 By corrie 16 Comments

Oh dear, I can’t stop thinking about this super cute gingerbread house in the latest issue of Crochet Today. The issue hasn’t made it out to Australia yet but don’t you just love it!

so cute and deliciously sweet without a calorie in sight! I’m wondering if I have enough time (or the skill) to whip it up before Christmas as I haven’t stopped thinking about it and its cuteness! I might need my mum, queen of crochet, to step in!!!
Picture source Crochet Today

Filed Under: crochet

in love with Love

October 26, 2009 By corrie 13 Comments

as soon as I saw the sneak previews of Love by Amy Butler, I knew what I wanted…and I wasted no time in acquiring 4 yards to keep me going for a while. I just love these designs and on a navy background, well I’m in heaven!

I’ve found it hard to get navy quilting fabric for myself but this is a winner….I’m thinking a simple sleeveless top with ties and a skirt for myself and a few little dresses for my little misses too.

Filed Under: fabric, shopping

bloomers and bargains

October 25, 2009 By corrie 6 Comments

I haven’t made bloomers since keira was a baby but now that tillie is moving everywhere I thought it was time to whip up a few….I used a vintage pattern and it is soooo much easier if you hem or decorate the legs before you sew them up (why didn’t the pattern say that!). I was on such a roll whipping them up…..and then I ran out of elastic…..

and I’ve added more bargains to the clearance section of my store….we’re nearing the end of october and my new fabrics should be here very very soon so I’m quickly clearing the last of the old stock out…..expect free fabric in your orders too!

Filed Under: sewing, store

A little retro dress

October 24, 2009 By corrie 11 Comments

One of the many lovely finds yesterday was a japanese craft book from 1984….in english! Oh what a difference to have english directions. So I grabbed some new fabric and whipped up this little twirly dress for church today

The pink is oh so pretty and girly and of course very popular with keira…she even stayed up late just to try it on. The only problem with all that gathering of fabric is the loose threads someone needs to vacuum up off the floor

Filed Under: everything else

a gorgeous garage sale

October 23, 2009 By corrie 26 Comments

Wow, I am just home from the most gorgeous garage sale I’ve ever attended. Where to start……there was the smocking pleat maker in its original box that I almost walked past….

the box of ric rac

the overflowing boxes I bought of vintage lace, crochet trims and broderie anglaise including this dear little deer trim……

the overflowing bag of patterns…this is one of my favourites, I’m thinking a sweet Christmas Day outfit for Keira…

the crochet pattern books

and a modest pile of pink and patchwork fabrics including this gorgeous floral…..

I parted with $70 and secretly think the lady was glad to see the back of me as I was like a woman possessed! There was a rival mummy there but she just wasn’t fast enough for me and my honed eye but she did get some real gems of patterns before me! We were trying to be civilised over the pattern box…..ok time to breathe normally again…..

Filed Under: everything else

cute new fabric

October 23, 2009 By corrie 6 Comments

3 little lonely bolts of fabric arrived today…..up in the store now

and yes I have a special night out tonight…I just found out my gorgeous husband organised my sister for babysitting and dinner reservations at a fancy nearby restaurant……what a surprise, what a husband!!!!!

Filed Under: everything else

new stock

October 21, 2009 By corrie 1 Comment

no….its not fabric I’m afraid…we’re still waiting, patiently! But I’ve added 15 new books and patterns to the store today …..

will let you know as soon as the new fabrics arrive on my doorstep!

Filed Under: store

tillie’s koko kimono

October 20, 2009 By corrie 14 Comments

ta da…all done! This was a very easy knit but I’ve become such a convert to seamless knitting that it took a bit of time putting it all together and doing the i-cord ties….but its cute and sweet.

Koko Kimono pattern from this book, Harmony yarn in wisteria from here, model from my house (ha ha)…..

This is the largest size and I would definitely make this again in the smallest size for a new little bub too! It just needs a little wash and press but I’m off to enjoy the day and take a break from knitting……

And thank you for all the cookie love yesterday….better try a few more recipes from the book as there are no more cookies left!

Filed Under: everything else, knitting

raspberry rings

October 19, 2009 By corrie 23 Comments

so its tuesday and I went to the cookie jar to find it empty………which can only mean one thing….retro daddy found them last night! So I got out my CWA cookbook and found an easy new cookie recipe to try….raspberry rings! The best thing about this cookbook is that it uses ingredients you are guaranteed to have at your house which is important when you can’t just pop out for something!

Raspberry Rings
1 1/2 cups sifted plain flour
1tsp baking powder (recipe says 1/2 tsp bicarb 1tsp cream of tartar)
1/2 cup sugar
2Tbsp butter
1 egg beaten
milk
raspberry jam

Combine flour, baking powder, sugar and rub in butter. Combine egg and enough milk to make a stiff dough. Roll into flat sheet and spread with raspberry jam. Roll tightly and cut into 1cm pieces. Place on lined baking tray and bake in 180 degree oven until nicely brown. Delicious!

Filed Under: baking, recipe

easy advent calender

October 18, 2009 By corrie 12 Comments

Don’t you just love the advent calender in this months BH&G….I think I can do this before December 1….

Filed Under: christmas