playing catch up

After spending a lovely afternoon catching up with this super lovely crafty-lady and her hubby, I feel all inspired to do my own bit of catching up in the teacups world. Mr Monkey has been finished for a couple of months now and is the secret to mummy getting up to a good three hours quiet time during the day. I'm very pleased to report that Little Mr Teacups has grown very fond of his little friend but I have been warned to make Mr Monkey the 2nd in case of emergency! Lucky for me there is enough fabric in the stash to do so, but finding the time... well that's another story.

some new additions

Introducing Little Mr Oliver and Little Miss Maya. Both of these cuties are on their way to new homes where they will get lots of cuddles from their new little owners. The Baby Chibi Doll pattern is by the very talented Jhoanna from One Red Robin... Can you tell I'm trying to finish all projects before my own bundle of joy arrives?

my very first finished quilt

With my due date fast approaching (less than a week now!) I thought I better show the finished baby quilt before time truly gets away from me. I'm really happy with the finished result and was even able to make a matching pillow and lampshade with the remaining fabric... looks like baby is taking after mummy's co-ordinated ways already!

baby quilt progress

I'm finally making some progress on my baby cot quilt. It's been sewn, appliqued and all that is left is a very good iron and quilting. I'm a bit scared about the quilting part but as a quilting newbie I'll be crossing my fingers and toes!

super-simple quilt

I've always admired patchwork quilts but never been game enough to give one a go... until now. My very first baby project is a cot quilt. The design is super-simple with strips of fabric and if all goes to plan some circle bits too. Currently in progress but hopefully not for too much longer.

summer sewing

This is one of the projects I completed over the Summer break. It was a Christmas pressie for Little Miss Jenna, who isn't so little anymore! I didnt have enough fabric to make it into a dress so opted for a singlet top instead. It was made on my very new and exciting sewing machine. Thanks for your advice a little while ago, I did decide on a Janome in the end and luckily Santa (aka Mr Teacups) complied.

i'm dreaming of a crafty christmas

I've never had the pleasure of a white Christmas, so this year I'm planning on a crafty one instead. These decorations are the first of a few projects I have up my sleeve. They are for a friend and her family. And I even learnt to blanket stitch in the process!

one finished dress

This is my very first item of clothing I have sewn! Much help was needed from my craft-master mum but it's now all finished and ready to wear. The pattern was just a cheapie from Spotlight but the beautiful Amy Butler fabric came from the delightful Lisa from Duckcloth (sneak a peek at her website featuring a new logo by yours truly). Now I just need an occasion to wear it, but with Christmas not too far away there is sure to be a shindig or two on the cards.

a tweety tag

I've been tagged by the lovely Shellbells and ever-delightful Handmade Romance.  So here are 6 random tweet-delights about myself:

1.  I refuse to wear heels even though I'm a shortie.

2. I can't bite into icy poles.

3. Any conversation remotely scientific makes my eyes glaze over.

4. I firmly believe it is a man's job to take the bins out.

5. Mr Teacups doesn't agree with the above but does it for me anyway.

6. I have successfully taught Penny the puppy to "sit" and now have proof.

In other non-tag related news. I finally sat down to begin (and finish) my Birdcage Kit from this amazingly talented blogger AND a big, huge, ginormous thank you to Claire for awarding me my very first "Love Your Blog" award!

tote-alicious pin-cushion goodness

These are my latest sewing creations! A tote bag I made from my "Simple Sewing" book by Lotta Jansdotter, and next to it is the hand pieced pin cushion I made at Brown Owls last night. As usual an owly great night was had by all and under the careful guidance of Pip & Kirsty our flat seams were perfected! 

I'm very happy to say I'm back on the sewing bandwagon too. I've had to take a back burner in the last few weeks, namely because I thought I broke my mum's sewing machine. Lucky for me my aunty was on hand and it was sorted very quickly... turns out my newbie sewing skills need some threading lessons! Oh well I guess we learn from our mistakes and since then the machine has been running hot.