Frazzy Dazzles

There is a new pdf pattern in the shop.

It’s called ‘Dance with a Dolly’ and I’m really pleased with how it’s scubbed up.

I’ve kept it simple so that it can be quick and easy. You can finish this quilt competely with a few leisurely hours of cutting and stitching. Great for a beginner. Little girls…of all ages will love it.

Leave me a comment and if the random number generator gods smile on you then I’ll send you a copy of the pattern. Easy. I’ll draw it at say…..5pm on 29th August (Aussie time). That’s Harry’s birthday so it will be nice to share the day of giving.

 edit: the giveaway has ended. I decided to give all who left a comment a copy of the pattern. Seemed like the right thing to do to help celebrate Harry’s birthday!

Monday morning sees me packing up my little basket and trotting along to do a bit of stitching. It’s always nice to play show and tell when you get together with a group of like minded people. For this reason I took along this little frock. Made for the sole purpose of flashing this gorgeous fabric about. I’m thinking that the little pinny at the front needs a pocket. The Little Bush Princess loves a skirt with a pocket. There’s always so many little things that need to be taken from one place to another isn’t there?

I liked the skirt fabric so much that I think it needs to be the border on the ‘dance with a dolly’ quilt. It’s just so pretty.

 If you own a fabric store and you see me coming you might want to reign me in when I start pulling fabric off the shelves. I was only in the place for ten minutes and this was the mess that I’d made! It’s fun to be able to pull bolts off the shelves and arrange them in ways that make you happy. If you’re visiting a good fabric store they should let you juggle your options before you buy.

Fabric and the inspiration for how to use it comes from so many places. Fabric is a medium for so many senses. It’s a tactile creature as well as a visual delight. It can even appeal on an audible level. I love the sound of a pair of strong metal scissors cutting fabric on a hard surface. I even like the satisfying sound of fabric being ripped…except when it’s the knees of The Golden Childs jeans!

Not so satisfying then….

I think of fabric as a very feminine thing. Designed, manipulated and shaped by women throughout the centuries. Purposed and repurposed until it could be useful no more. I know it’s not entirely the relm of women…but for me it holds that connection. I think of women through the years who have used it to solve their problems, dressed and warmed their families with it. Tucked their children up beneath it. Kept the warmth within their homes and add colour to the furnishings within them.

It’s a powerful thing.

 I’m rambling now…again!

My next quilt will be one using these funky little Japanese prints and some gingham, spots and stripes. A baby quilt that remains largely gender neutral…I hope! We’ll see I guess.

 p.s….don’t worry I’m leaving the orange out of the baby quilt. It just didn’t work for me…you have to leave something behind for the others don’t you?

I’ve made no secret lately that I’ve struggled with what ‘to do’, how to ‘do it’ and if I even want to keep ‘doing it’.

‘It’ being follow my creative thoughts or let them flow away.

Then I went to sewing on Monday my friend offered me these little beauties to take home and make some eye candy for her store.

Free reign. Do what you like. See what you can come up with….

Penny drops and I start to feel the threads of thoughts start to disentangle themselves and rise to the surface.

Doing ’something’ seems not only do-able but probable!

In one day there was a really simple ribbon or strip quilt (above) hung over a chair. Fabulous for the first time quilter or the stitcher who needs quick results to feed their sewing desires. A pattern that almost writes itself and will be easy to follow. Keeping it company was a bright, girly frock and a fun little skirt.

The quilt top isn’t bordered or even quilted yet (I’ll post some photo’s when it’s finished) but I’m loving the bright rays of colour it’s bringing to our family room. Made all the sweeter that I got put it together while my lovely friend and I chatted and drank tea!

The fabrics are from Michael Miller and Patty Young’s ‘Play Date’ range. There’s also a splash of that gorgeous blue spot of Michael Miller’s that has my heart! Love it!

The quilt top left more than enough for a bonus little spin skirt. No point in wasting fabric when it can be used!

How wonderful it is to be doing ’something’ again!

In an exciting little sewing shop in my town there are some things of mine!

It’s lovely to see my stitches sitting in a room that’s filled with Kaffe, Michael Miller and much, much more.

There is this little kimino wrap (my own pattern design!), some little lounge pants, some felty crowns and a few little girly frocks.

They’re there because I’m going to start teaching sewing.

It’s shocking I know!

I have no real qualifications for it. I’m almost completely self taught and only ever sew using the simplest of stitches but there you go.

Teaching to sew!

The game plan is to make striking and hopefully unique clothes and play things for children that mothers, grandmothers, aunts or friends can make with little to no sewing experience.

 I want the projects to be quick with a lot of spunk.

I want them to be quickly gratifying and able to be finished while your children are sleeping or otherwise busy.

Satisfying sewing with not too much fuss.

I hope to show people that they can bring joy to their children’s faces and find pride in new found skills. After all sewing is easy, it just seems a little intimidating when your first starting out.

At the moment I think I’ve got the girl side of the classes under control. However, I’m a bit unsure of what to sew for little boys. My little boy is nine now and it seems a long time since I started sewing things for him. Back then I was mostly making dress ups, soft toys and super hero capes for him….or bags. Constantly making draw string bags for his goodies.

So if you have any suggestions or if there are things that you really want to make for your boys but can’t find designs then let me know. It’s mostly clothing that I’m struggling for when it comes to the lads.

So that’s my news.

I’m off to be agonise of my as yet to begin classes….’cause that’s the kind of girl I am!

photograph from bamboletta blog

This is Blossom. Isn’t she sooo beautiful?
I can’t begin to tell you how much The Little Bush Princess smiled when she saw this little lady. Neither can I convey how much she begged me to make her ours….I tried…but it didn’t happen. How we wish it did!

I have coveted the work of Christina and her wonderful helpers for a long time now. I’ve also been trying to secure one of her gorgeous creations for….a long time now. Turns out this task is not as not as easy as I first thought it would be. Her work is so popular.

The last upload Bamboletta had earlier on in the week saw the shop loaded and cleared within seconds. No word of a lie. Seconds!

I found myself looking under the computer wondering if the dolls had fallen out. There could be no other reason!

So…while I wait (hopefully not for too long, cross your fingers for me) to try and secure a Bambo of our own I will have to satisfy myself by dressing up my own favourite little dolly in a kimono wrap and jeans. I have no pattern for felt shoes!

What do you think?

It’s one of my first attempts at making my own clothing patterns for her to wear.

I think it worked out well. Very Bamboletta!

More to the point it went a long way towards keeping ‘dance hair’ tidy when we were at ballet on the weekend. The wrap meant nothing had to go over her head and fluffy up her hair.

I’ll keep on dreaming!