Ellie Bag (Christmas 2011 Backlog!)

I made this nearly 6 months ago, but I wanted to blog it. And am still on a blogging roll from last week. I made this Elephant handbag for Jemima for Christmas last year. She is from Hillary Lang's book which is as awesome as can be.

Ellie bag is very sweet, but she doesn't hold much more than a few lip balms (which is all a 5 year old girl needs anyway!)

I discovered I love sewing with faux fur even if the fibers end up everywhere!

Ring, ring!

I was lucky enough a little while ago to test a pattern for Pepper from Pepper Stitches!

I really enjoyed testing this pattern for an animal phone because, 1) it is an animal phone! 2) I realised that I make a great pattern tester, not because I am awesome, but because I make really obvious mistakes unless you tell me not to!! This pattern was great to start with, but now I am sure that it is fool proof.

Check out this link from her blog for where to buy her new patterns and other really lovely things.

My kids love this phone, even though the phones they have always known look quite a bit different. An animal iPhone wouldn't be as cute I don't reckon.

Happy weekend to all!

Hope Softies

Like everyone else, we watched the TV in disbelief at the flooding in Queensland. I can't imagine what life is like now for those affected, particularly those who lost loved ones.

I'm sure you've all been across to Toni's blog and seen and bid in the auctions to raise money - a LOT of money as it turns out!

And you have probably also come across Steph's initiative, "Hope Softies", over at Mon Petit Poppet to provide handmade softies to the little ones who lost everything in the floods.

Here is my humble contribution. Pattern from Craft Schmaft. He looks sort of menacing, but has a heart of gold. He'll begin his journey north tomorrow.

It was not good for Ralph to be alone

So I made him a companion.

They enjoy pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.

And taking walks around the garden that we have managed to keep alive for about a month now. Perhaps we have found our inner Don Burke?

Craft Schmaft

So, I didn't take much convincing to not do the vacuuming! Meet Ralph Blue the baby sock owl!

I bought the "Toot sock owl pattern" from Claire of Craft Schmaft yesterday at the show. I hadn't ever been across her blog before, but I spent a lot of time there when I got home last night. So much fun over there. The little round owls captured my heart and I had to have the pattern so I could fill my life with them. He is, actually my first owl ever. A bit slow on the whole owl uptake over here.

I love him and been carrying him around the house with me all day (a little strange, yes). He is a very satisfying little hand sewing project and fits in the palm of my hand all soft and plump-like.

I will never look at a pair of socks in the same way again.

Another bunny

A very shapely little bunny made from a free pattern by Hillary Lang of Wee Wonderfuls.

My blog is fast turning into a little hero worship of the whos-who in crafty blog land. But aren't they inspiring? Yes they are. That's what you are thinking.

I'm so amazed about how generous folk are out there sharing free patterns online. I have made a heap of stuff (that I have been posting here) without having to buy a pattern. Every little project has taught me a new crafty/sewing skill. So thanks to everyone who has ever posted a tutorial. I hope I soon have the skills to post one of my own.

Are you going to eat that?

This is Shifty-eyes Bunny eyeing off Caleb's "egg in a hole" (egg fried in a piece of bread with a circle cut out.) I made this little guy using the Black Apple doll as a starting point. His eyes are shifty because Caleb does great shifty eyes on command. 

Shifty-eyes might be a little misunderstood. He may not be shifty- he just might be a bit nervous as his head keeps spontaneously splitting open. Yes, he does look a little freaked out.