Peach Patterns

Hot air balloon mobile

A few months back the lovely Claire of Craft Schmaft was looking for pattern testers for her new "Hot Air Balloon Mobile" pattern.  As I've always had a teensy bit of a "thing" for hot air balloons I immediately put my hand up and said "Pick me! Pick me!"  Well, it's taken me a while to post pictures of my finished mobile but here they are finally:

The girls think this mobile is very cool and also, of course, can't resist any opportunity to jump into frame.

             

Reasons why this pattern is so fabulous:

• If, like me, you normally "stuff up" when stuffing, this is the pattern for you as there are no small, awkward nooks and crannies to fill and the balloons take shape so beautifully.
• There is a lovely balance of machine stitching and hand stitching and the latter is not too challenging (the cute little baskets just call for an easy running stitch).
• The mobile is perfectly adaptable to suit either a boy's or girl's room.
• The little clouds and the teeny-tiny bunting are probably some of the cutest things you'll ever make.

So that's my 20c worth!  Hop over and check it out!

Roxy Longsocks

Lisa of theredthread recently asked me to test a new doll pattern & kit for her and as a result we have two new members of the household.  

I tried to keep this little duo under wraps for possible inclusion in the Christmas stockings but Roxy Longsocks is no shrinking violet and she made herself (all two of her!) known around the place:

 

Although it looks here like Miss Wink has claimed both the Winter and the Spring Roxy, this is not the case.  She has graciously agreed to surrender Winter Roxy to her big sister.  But it was a perfect Sunday afternoon to play with both new friends in the garden.

 

As usual, Lisa's pattern and kit is a delight to make.  This one had comprehensive and beautifully laid out instructions plus some excellent tips on stuffing (I finally managed to make a softie with no crinkles around the head - yay!) and a clever little tute on invisible ladder stitching.

Highly recommended as a super-duper handmade Chrissie gift. Go Roxy!

Apple pincushion in DS Quilts fabric

I headed to Spotlight last week to check out the DS Quilts fabric (link via trueup) and came home with a sample of two of the smaller scale prints.  For some reason, these two together said "apple" to me (funny how fabric talks to you sometimes).

 

And because I recently bought Nicole of Craftapalooza's Apple Pincushion pattern I thought I'd make it up in those prints.

This is a really cute and quick pattern which is available as a PDF via Nicole's blog.

Hope you are having a happy Monday!

Birthday Ooshka

Here is another Ooshka we made for a recent birthday present.

 
For this one I used a couple of Heather Ross prints teamed with polka dots and, after adding a few felt flowers, she was ready to go....

 

Here she peeping out of her package. (There was no way we were going to get out of the house sans the sparkly butterflies and sequins applied so skilfully by young Cee Cee.)

 
If you haven't tried one of these kits from theredthread you really should!  They are a truly fabulous and easy to make gift. 

From all accounts, Lisa will be one busy lady this weekend on the market circuit (see her blog for details) so, if close by a venue, you can pick one up in person!

Handstitched Owl Pals

I'm asked from time to time whether you can make my little Owl Pals without a sewing machine.  The answer, of course, is yes! These were made entirely by hand over the course of several "sofa stitching" sessions in front of the TV using only felt and 3 strands of embroidery floss. I cut the bodies, eyes, head details and beaks from my own felt stash but the little flowers and circles were purchased pre-cut.

 

 
To do them in the way I have here, you need to master the French Knot.  My French Knots were more like "French Nots" until I found this link on the blog "Stitch School".  There are extra details here that seem to be missing in most explanations of this stitch and the photos really helped.

 

The smaller Owl Pal, which was created by shrinking the original template to three-quarter size looks very festive.  I'm thinking of making a few more of these with ribbon loops for hanging on the tree.

And here they are demonstrating their original purpose as little pincushion pals.   

Sorry about the pins guys!

Little houses with no stuffing

I made some little houses using various fabrics in my stash that feature little houses.  I started to stuff them and they looked wonky but not in a good, charmingly handmade way.  More in a kooky, twisted way.

 
So I unstuffed them and thought I might use them instead for applique or framing.

 
I never have been very good at softie stuffing.  Maybe it's the polyfil?  Must explore some of those other "quality" stuffing options I've read about here and there.  Any tips from expert stuffers are welcome!

Happy Mother's Day

Hope all mums are enjoying their day today.

A nice little surprise for this mum was to see my "Owl Pal" included on the fabulous Kid Independent blog amongst this gorgeous little collection of stitchy gifts:

Photo credit: Kid Independent

I've had a great day (the weather has been just divine) and I'm hoping to round the evening off with a bit of stitching myself...
 

Hello Ba-birdy!

This is "Ooshka" the Babushka and the "Hello Birdy" Pillow.  They're samples I made from fabulous new patterns and kits by the lovely Lisa of theredthread (posted about here).  The patterns and kits will be available at LIsa's stand at the Stitches & Craft Show so if you're in Melbourne and dropping in to the show you'd definitely want to check them out!

Both patterns were such fun to make.  Easy and yet totally customisable so you can go to town choosing fabric and adding bits and pieces to make them unique.  Also, unlike smaller softies, the larger size of these patterns makes those usually tricky curves a total cinch to sew, stuff and close.  They make a great impact in a room as well.

Don't you just love the way Lisa styled the pattern cover for the "Hello Birdy" Pillow?  Move over Amy B!
 

Mother & Baby Owl Pal Patchwork Kit

A new kit is in the shop. It's one for the nursery or kiddies room. It comes with the original Owl Pal pincushion/softie pattern and additional wool felt and fabric to make two softies (mother and baby owls) and also a little coordinating mini-quilt or cushion cover.

  

The pink and green colourway is really sweet and includes owl, leaf and an assortment of coordinating abstract prints. 

French house cushion (et mon anniversaire)

This is a cushion and softie rolled into one.  The fabric, trims and button were just asking to be put together:

 

Also, it is my birthday today and I'm in a give-away kind of mood.  Leave a comment and I'll draw a winner for a little kit to make one yourself. (The one in the photo has been appropriated already: "Hey, is that for me?" and put on the bedroom chair).  I don't have a pattern as such but will give you the general directions (v. easy) on how to make it.

We're away for a week from tomorrow but I'll mail out in a week's time to the winner.  After that I might put the remaining fabric, trim and buttons in the shop in kit form.

Hope you're having a lovely Wednesday....