6 Random Things!

My first ever "tagging"! I have been tagged by the talented Lisa
http://theprincessandthemonkey.blogspot.com/to write six random things about myself.Here are the rules ...

1. Link to the person who “tagged” you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know your entry is up.

So, for those who want to know...

1. I have lived my whole life in Western Australia. I grew up in Kalgoorlie-Boulder until I was 22 then moved with Russ and Riley to Port Hedland. We spent two years there and had Connor then moved to Bunbury where we live now. Brodie and Georgia were born here in Bunbury. We love it here.

2. I married Russ after our third child was born. We just didnt see the need to do it any earlier...wanted our three children to be a part of the day as we were only having three....Georgia had other plans!

3. I love online shopping. I could spend a good chunk of the day spending, spending, spending, thank goodness Im too busy with the kids to allow much time for it. I love the convenience of it and the bargains that can be found. It makes life a lot easier, taking my 4 kids to the shops does not make for an enjoyable shopping experience.

4. I dont have many friends..not sure if its the time factor or the fact we have moved around a bit but I dont have a lot of very close friends. Im very independant so this makes it quite easy to be this way. I like my own company. Its so rare to get time to myself away from the kids that I enjoy the peace and quiet of my own self.

5. Im a self confessed Gymboree addict. I love it. The quality is fantastic and the sales out of this world. With the Aussie dollar doing so well it makes for good buying! My daughter especially has so much gymboree stuff for the next few years, I need to put a self imposed ban on visiting the website....for a little while anyway!

6. I have a mathematical mind. I love figures, sums, budgets, spreadsheets, to me that is exciting. I also have an obsession with filling out forms. My husvband thinks Im nuts but happily passes over anything that needs filling in, I have actually been known to do a draft copy then a proper copy of forms, hmmm, bit obsessive compulsive I think!!

The people I am tagging...I read their blogs, I also a read a lot of other blogs but those people have also already been tagged so dont want to double up!!

1. Gilly from http://sewmuchtomake.blogspot.com/
2. Sarah from http://craftandfood.blogspot.com/
3. Tracy from http://my2girls08.blogspot.com/
4. http://missmoomakes.blogspot.com/
5. http://bettsythecow.blogspot.com/
6. Stacey from http://stashofstufftodo.blogspot.com/

Fairies, Fabrics, Fractures and Fevers

Our nightmare run of sickness has not allowed me anytime for sewing. From a fractured elbow for Master R (hospital said it wasnt fractured on Saturday then I got a call back Wednesday apologising for the misdiagnosis ARGH) and with Master's C and B having fevers in excess of 40 degrees for three days running Im over it! Master C still has an all over body rash and Master B has tonsilitis. Did I also mention that they both have chesty coughs on top of that aswell as Gastro!!! Im feeling like the universe is against me doing any sort of sewing, its really testing my sanity. Hopefully the Antibiotics wil kick in and all will be well.

I caved last week and did a Spotlight order over the phone as I didnt have time to visit my local store and I wanted a lot of the fabric that was on sale. I also picked up some fitted flannelette sheets which were a bargain. Above is a pic of some of the marvellous fabrics I have chosen, the same as a lot of other EB Newbie Sewers, we must have good taste, Im loving the Blue 2 range.

I did manage with the help of my mum (who was visiting to help me with sick kids) to get the Non-Sewing Fairy/Ballerina skirt done. I do want to reinforce it with some sewing so it doesnt unravel but was so happy with how easy it was and how good it looks. Miss G will be having a Fairy Party whern she turns 1 next month so this one was a practice run, I will be experimenting with some different colours over the next month or so.

Some Funky Fabrix

My order from Funky Fabrix finally arrived. The two fabrics on the right are actually for Canvas pictures Im making for our home theatre. Ill post a pic of the finished product in a few weeks, I wont be making them until DH has painted the room first!

Not much time for sewing here...everyone has been sick and Im trying to fight of conjunctivitis again! Now Miss G's eardrums are starting to heal I should hopefully get the machine cranking again as I have so many things I want to make.

Simple Cushions

That gorgeous fabric I posted below was just waiting to be used....so I got to work and within an hour I had made 4 cushion covers for our black leather lounges. I didnt use a pattern and used one strip of fabric per cover. They were easy and my husband was very surprised that I made 4 so quickly!! Im very happy with how they turned out. With the cushion insert included they cost just over $6.00 each.

Edited to add I went back to Spotlight and managed to grab a few more metres of this delightful fabric and whipped up four more cushion covers. They are looking fab, even if I do say so myself. I think Hubby thinks Im now a domestic goddess. Now if only I could manage cleaning.....

Spotlight Bliss

My trip to Spotlight on Thursday night was pure bliss. 2 hours child free, browsing Spotlight. It would have been longer than 2 hours but the store had to close at 9pm!! My friend and I will be making it a monthly thing as it was so enjoyable just dawdling around and being able to touch the fabrics and browse as slowly as we wanted to. There was a severe weather wearning here for that night which meant the store was very quiet- even better!

I purchased so many lovely things and have already put them all away so wont photograph. (Have photographed one gorgeous fabric that I will be using to make some cushion covers and possibly a handbag that was only $6 a metre). I bought several different types of fabric I needed then also some I didnt need yet but were on clearance so too good a bargain to pass up on!

I stocked up on zippers, elastic, bias binding, thread, chalk etc.

I then went into Spotlight on Saturday for a few things I had missed! More elastic and also some tulle and other gorgeous materials and bindings to make some Tutu/Fairy skirts for Georgia. Her first birthday is getting closer and she will be wearing a fairy costume so I want to start practising soon.

Patterns Fantastic

A couple of days ago I received my much waited for Pattern Order from http://www.sewingpatterns.com/ in America.

Here is a selection of some of the things I will be hoping to make in the near future. Im off to Spotlight tonight with a list a mile long, Im meeting a friend sans kids! Nothing better than trawling through Spotlight kid-free. Im sure Ill manage to fill my trolley!

Boys Blankets

I made these blankets a few weeks ago now. It started with Master B who is 2 years old...he just loves Dorothy Dinosaur AKA "Doh-ra-tee Di-o-saw". I managed to get some Wiggles fleece fabric in the clearance section at Spotlight for half price. I sewed about 10cm in from the edges then cut and tied strips the whole way around. I received one as a gift when Miss G was born and really loved it.

Master R (7) and Master C (4) were extremely jealous. So when my Mum and Sister came to visit we went and picked out some plain but bright fleece and 2 car motifs, one each, then us ladies got to work and had them done in no time at all. I am really pleased with the end result. They use the blankets for when they are sitting on the lounge watching TV. Master R even took his in for his news day at school.

I have purchased more fleece in lovely designs for all the upcoming births in our circles of family and friends.

A Dolly named Rosie

Finally, I finished it. The frustration has turned to relief as I finally completed this Dolly. It was a pretty straightforward pattern but the skinny arms and legs were tricky to stuff amongst other things. Very happy with the finished project. She is not perfect but not many things are in life. My daughter Miss G who is 9 months squealed with excitement when she saw Rosie and then roughed the poor doll up by pulling her hair and munching on her face. It was worth it just to see my daughter's face.

Groovy Baby Jeans

Well I made something....denim jeans for Miss G! I followed Burda Start 9708 and the trickiest part was copying the pattern onto interfacing, the rest was relatively easy!! Once finished I ironed on some butterfly motifs and voila! Now onto the next project...a Dolly for Miss G.

A Simple Start

This is my first ever blog.

I am learning to sew. The last time I touched a sewing machine was Home Economics in highschool a long time ago. This could be scary!

I purchased a new Brother NS30 Limited Edition, it does everything Ill ever need plus more. Wish me luck.