Teacher Gifts

How do you say thank-you to teachers that have been amazing?  I don't know if a gift can really let our 2011  teachers know how much of an spectacular impact they have had on our children, our family and how much we appreciate them for that.   If there was a gift that could say all of that I bet it would be hand made.  So I have been making bags this year for our special teachers.

Teacher gifts

These are my two favourites and I think the fabrics will suit each 

teacher really well.

This one bag has a green chevron and blue chevron side.  

The bags are fully reversible with a contrasting
patterned fabric for the lining.

They also roll up and are secured with a ribbon,
very handy to keep stashed somewhere for when you
 need an emergency bag.

I am working with my I.T. department (me) to get a pattern/tutorial posted soon as these are really easy, no one can have too many.

Herbs Upon Herbs

Aunty L is the herbiest girl around and is always adding a bunch of herbs here and a bunch of herbs there.  She makes all sorts of herby goodies her Pesto, Olive and Mixed Seed Sour Dough Bread recently won first place at the 2011 BOGI Fair.

As my garden is heaving with herbs at the moment I am taking a leaf (no pun intended) out of her book and adding herbs to everything I can.   Here is tonight's Spagetti Bol.

Two types of parsley, Thai basil, thyme, rosemary and Bay

And some zucchini (corgettes).  It will take the kids ages to pick all that out!

How To - Boy Shorts

This is how I make shorts, I hope these pics can make it look as quick and easy as they are.

Choose your fabrics

Pick a pair of shorts that fit well and have a shape you like,
fold in half like so, and lay out on baking/pattern paper.

Trace and cut  around shape leaving a 1.5 cm seam allowance or larger
if you are wanting to size the shorts up.  Make sure you stretch
out the waist band as if there was no elastic when you trace.  Leave an extra 1.5 cm at the bottom
 for turning up the hem and an extra 2.5 cm at the top for turning over the waist.You should now have a piece of pattern the shape of half a shorts leg. 
  You will need to cut two of these on the fabric fold.  

Place your pattern piece onto the fabric fold, pin and cut.   ( The long straight side of the  pattern - without the curve, goes onto the fabric fold.)

Because I am using up fat eighths to make these shorts I have
 had to patch two fabrics together so I have enough. (This is my use up scraps technique.)
  Place your pattern piece on the fold and cut the next leg. 

You should then have two pieces of material cut out (on the fold)
that will make the two legs.

Turn the fabric the wrong side out, pin and sew the inner leg seems.
Overlock or zig zag the seam edges.

Sew both leg inner seems, wrong side out so you have two leg tubes.

The tricky part now, I am not sure if this pic shows it well - 
 Sewing The Crouch Seam.
  I put one leg tube inside the other making sure the right side of the
 fabrics are touching each other.  

Pin and test that your seam will be on the inside of the shorts when sewn
and that your leg tube fabrics will both be the same fabric side in/out.
(I am trying to say check that one leg isn't inside out and the other the right side out.)
Sew the seam.  I always do a double seam as this seam has to work very hard.

Turn up and hem the legs to the desired length.

Turn over the waist band by about 2.5 cm, leaving a 1 cm 
opening to allow elastic to be threaded through. 
 Thread elastic to desired size and sew elastic ends together.

One pair of Boy shorts

Easy Peasy Boy Shorts

Master B is nearly 4 1/2 now and has had a growth spurt, which means it's time to make some more shorts.  I use the same method every time, it is really quick and lends itself well to either a baggy or a neater look.   I like big floppy shorts that protect the knees plus offer extra sun protection by covering more skin.  It is also great way to use up lots of lovely fabric bits and pieces, they wear well and are around long enough to be handed down.  These are the ones we have made this week.

You can do yoga in them

Or stand at the naughty wall - not that Master  B is every naughty

They come in orange 

Orange with bikes!

(This is the same pattern cut down a bit for a tidier look, plus
 I didn't have as enough material to make them bigger.)

and green swirly stuff.

I will post some How-To pics in the next few days.

To see what other talented Craftsters are doing or load up
 what you are doing go to Our Creative Spaces

Craft is my Drug of Choice

Yesterday was one of those days...  I had such high hopes for all the things I was going to do and accomplish but it was hijacked.  I was down in the dumps, all before the school drop off.  After I had got people to school and done a few essential Mummy jobs, I knew that I had to can all other plans and head straight for home to self medicate with a good dose of crafting.  It can be so hard to get started when you don't quite have the twitch but I forced myself into a project.  Before I knew it I could feel the Makin' Endorphins surge and happy days were here again.

I have been wanting to make a pillow case out of these beautiful fat Q's.
I have had them for ages and it was high time they were used.
Side A

Susie from Flower Press has an excellent pillow case tutorial that I used.
Side B

The fabric is in a lovely soft Sateen, perfect for Miss M who is
very sensitive to texture.  The only pillow case she will sleep on is a
17 year old Sheridan slip that came from Mr Daddy's bachelor pad - scary.  

Looks much better, I think.

Fabric from Linny and Mr Important

I don't usually buy fabric from Linny Lincraft as I am not a huge fan, I pop in from time to time for supplies like elastic and pins etc.  When I was in the other day I saw this fabric and felt that creative zing, you know that feeling when you have to race straight home, neglect your family and make something?

Not sure what the fabric is other than very synthetic and slippery with a great print.

Feeling so confident about the last Dress A as a top I made
I raced into making another....

Lets just say the Bias Binding was not as successful as the last time.

I needed to cut the bias binding wider as I got a bit caught out.
Consequently I don't think this top will survive it's first wash.

Mr Daddy begrudgingly took a side shot for me,
I had to make do taking the rest myself.
I was interrupting his very important work because  he is very important!
They were his words not mine.
I think you are important sweetheart.

Got That Festive Feeling

I'm feelin' it, Christmas is just around the corner so it's time to get crafting!  There are teacher gifts to make, a house to decorate, friends neighbors and family gifts to create, what fun.  I wanted to put the Christmas tree up on the weekend but Mr Daddy said no - how mean is that.

I managed to snatch a moment to turn my hospital sticheries into Christmas Tree decorations.  I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them but am really happy now.

The B side.

Desperately Seeking Some Craft Time

I have no spare hours or minutes, I don't know where they have gone - there is no craft.    I have lots of ideas running around in my head, a beautifully tidy work space, some great fabrics and even greater plans for them.   But it's just not happening and I can't see that it will for a good few days yet.  So instead I will just enjoy looking at the fabric and perhaps even pat it....

This is my plan for a summer skirt.

The latest offerings from Ikea.  Miss S has requested a quilt cover set.
(How cute is that for a little gardener.)

More from Ikea, we were thinking Christmas sack for Master B

I did buy this with new cushions in mind, thinking it was iconic and not too provocative.
As soon as it arrived Master B wrapped himself in it and ran around the house
giggling.  So there is my answer - way to raunchy.

Stitcheries

Miss M and I have just been for a short sojourn to hospital, so that Miss M could have her tonsils out.  I quite like a little break in hospital (there have been so many hosp stays this year between our three children.)   Although I wouldn't recommend too many trips to hospital,  I do find it a great time to catch up on little stitching projects, read a good book or become addicted to new Apps, with the added bonus no cooking or cleaning :)

Relax

This trip I took Natalie Birds' Tis the Season Christmas Stitchings and got down to business.  I am a huge fan of all things Natalie and find stitching to be like Zen meditation for me.

The Book

My version of Natalie's Partridge, I am not sure how but I  ran out
of room for all the text and just managed to squeeze in the words "Pear tree."

I then tried a hand at my own design, a little Housewife Babushka

Me as a Babushka all Zenned out.

Miss M has made a wonderful recovery and we have lost count of how many
 ice blocks she has eaten today.  I have returned to my Housewifery.