.More Pretty Necklaces.

So, you can tell when I've been watching TV at night times because there is less sewing and more crafting going on! I can't watch TV without doing something else...usually it is hand-quilting but I don't have one ready to work on at the moment so this week has brought a few more Citrus pOp necklaces to the store.

I'm going to be using my Made It store as the main Citrus pOp outlet. I'll leave what I have on the Etsy store for now, but new items will be listed on Made It. It seems that is the place I am getting more interest and traffic and I don't want to be keeping track of two stores! If you prefer to shop on Etsy though, I'm more than happy to set up a custom listing for you over there for any items you see in my Made It store.

This week I've had a few requests for, and sent out a few wholesale orders to boutique stores across Australia. I wasn't really sure how to respond when I was contacted - I started Citrus pOp as a little hobby because the hairpins and necklaces are pretty and fun to make. I didn't know if I wanted to go down that road but I'll give it a try and can always say no later on if it's not working out!

Anyway, I do love these necklaces and want to keep them all for myself...if you see one or two mysteriously disappear from the shop then it is highly likely that they have made their way into my jewellery box ;)

.she's done it again.

And she thought it was funny until it wouldn't wash off in the bath. Then she started crying and saying over and over again, "Oh Mum, this is terrible! What are we going to do?"

So vain...

.Flannel Slumber Party Jammies.

I think sewing pyjamas must go hand-in-hand with winter! After making a few Sprout dresses I realised how lovely flannel is to sew with and wear when it is chilly.

So, without wasting any winter time I chose some flannel to make Oscar and Lil a pair of Slumber Party Jammies each.



Oscar was cute. After he had worn them to bed, he got up the next morning and told me that they were so warm and comfy that he wanted to wear them all week and then I could wash them. I sewed up a pocket to embellish his top which he has been putting little pieces of lego in to go to bed with!



Lil got a big flower applique on her top. I wasn't sure how well the flannel would applique, but it is great - kind of feels velvety against the stretch fabric for a nice contrast. Its comforting to know that my kids are going to bed all warm and snug.

I still need to share my flannel Sweet Dreams PJs and then maybe I will be finished with my pyjama craze for a little while? Or maybe not...


SUPPLIES:
Make It Perfect, Slumber Party Jammies pattern
Michael Miller, Haul It in Turquoise (flannel)
Michael Miller, Polka Dots in Ocean (flannel)
Riley Blake, Summer Song, White Songbird (flannel)
Riley Blake, Summer Song, Orange Bloom (flannel)

.A little birdie told me... .

I've got a couple of cool things that I'm sure will interest most of my readers to fill you in on today...

#1. Happy Birthday to Patterns Only!


One of my Make It Perfect stockists, Patterns Only, is celebrating it's first birthday. They have heaps of promotions (including free postage Australia wide) and giveaways going on for the month of July so head on over and take a look at what they have on offer.


#2. Janelle Wind's Week of Giveaways!!!

Who doesn't love a good giveaway? One of my favourite fellow Aussie designers, Janelle Wind is having a week of giveaways to celebrate the release of her first book, Pieces of Me. She is only up to day 3 so head on over and enter away (I know I have!). Her book is just gorgeous, I've ordered my copy and it should be here any day!

.Citrus pOp...in my hair.

I am a very visual person and find it hard to picture what things are going to look like unless I have something concrete in front of me to focus on. We were having a play with the camera yesterday and took some photos of Citrus pOp hairpins in my hair. I finally made myself a selection of favourites to wear in my hair so that I am not tempted to open every set in the shop and keep them for myself!

So, if you are wondering what they look like in someone's hair...wonder no more!

Oh, and I have decided to reduced the prices of the hairpins to make them a little more affordable too so take a look!

P.S. Citrus pOp is now on Made It!

.Sweet Dreams winner.

Thanks guys, for your lovely comments about Sweet Dreams.

Congratulations to Skipping Daisies! I don't have an email address to contact you on, so let me know your postal address and I'll send your copy of Sweet Dreams to you!

.For the library.

For once in my life I am organised when it comes to the kids birthdays. After my "I'm sick of toys" episode I realised that another way to be toy-smart is to make sure I plan what the kids are getting for their birthdays AHEAD of the actual day rather than leaving it until the last minute and ending up getting something that they don't need or won't care about in a month.

You can never go wrong with books and when I discovered Book Depository with competitive prices and FREE SHIPPING I couldn't help but stock up for Oscar and Lil's upcoming birthdays. As well as a few to keep me happy also :)

Actually, I'm really impressed with Prints Charming's new book...these girls have style like no other and, thanks to them, I think that we have finally decided on how we want to decorate our bedroom...just have the difficult task of deciding on fabric and getting onto it now!!

Speaking of bedrooms, I decided to get stuck into Tommy's room yesterday and pulled his cot apart and started painting it fire truck red. After 1 coat I just wasn't feeling right about it and now we have decided to use the same charcoal colour as the exterior of our house instead!!! Poor little guy...he slept in a half-painted, barely put together cot last night and we have moved him to the portacot in our room tonight with hopes of getting it finished. I think I am going to be happy with the end result - if not, I don't think I'll be making changes any time soon!

.Sweet Dreams take 2.

I promise this isn't turning into a pyjama blog...but it is such satisfying sewing for me at the moment. Quick to cut and sew and cosy to wear on a cold evening :)


I knew I wanted to use these Heather Bailey prints for the Sweet Dreams cover but didn't know if I wanted to use the blue or pink version. The only way to find out was to make them both! I do love these blue ones but thought the pink shabby-chic look suited what I was looking for in the cover better.


I have also made Sweet Dreams PJs in some gorgeous flannel prints but haven't taken any photos to share yet - will do it soon though because I think you will love them.

If you are looking for some extra Sweet Dreams inspiration, check out my tester's blogs:
Karen
Rachel
Yvonne

Thanks girls - you definitely make my life easier :)

.Pattern Release: SWEET DREAMS.

A brand new Make It Perfect pattern for YOU today! Sweet Dreams.

There is nothing better than popping on a pair of PJs at the end of a long day.


Sweet Dreams pyjama pants are super comfy - ticking all the boxes with wide legs, a beautiful satin ribbon drawstring and cool contrasting trim.


Team them up with the stylish cosmetics purse - featuring a cute bubble shape and handy wrist strap, it is big enough for all the necessities!
Sweet Dreams makes a lovely gift for a special friend.


You spoke and I listened! After repeated requests for Slumber Party Jammies in womens sizes I couldn't wait any longer...actually it didn't take much to sway me towards coming up with a pattern for a comfy pair of PJs!

And talk about comfortable...I can't wait until the end of the day when I can put them on and totally chill out. In fact, I've gone a little pyjama-crazy and have made myself 4 pairs in the last month - a girl can't have enough pairs of cute jammies, right?! I've made mine in flannel and cotton and they are both to die for. I am especially loving my flannel ones now that we are in the midst of winter. I'd live in them day and night if I could...I wonder if I could get away with wearing them when I drop Oscar off at school ;)

I'm finding the cosmetics purse very handy also. It isn't a small "makeup only" size bag. This purse is big enough to fit your makeup as well as a few bigger toiletry items. It is definitely big enough for the average person to fit everything they need in for an overnight trip. And it is pretty too - I think every girl deserves a pretty cosmetics purse!


Isn't my model lovely? This is my beautiful cousin, Emily. She is so much fun and I love her to bits - thanks Emmy...you rock!! Thanks to Fiona also for editing my photos :)

Head over to the Make It Perfect website to see more photos and check out the fabric requirements for Sweet Dreams.

If you have a store and want to stock this or any other Make It Perfect patterns, contact Creative Abundance to place an order.

If you would like to purchase a copy of Sweet Dreams for yourself, they should be popping up in retail stores very soon. Ask your favourite store to get one in for you!

As with each new pattern release, I'm going to be giving away a copy of Sweet Dreams. Leave a comment on this post to be in the running! For a bonus entry, post about this giveaway on your blog, then come back and leave another comment telling me you have blogged about it. Easy!

(Giveaway will close Monday 5th July and winner will be drawn via a random number generator.)

SUPPLIES:
Make It Perfect, Sweet Dreams pattern
Heather Bailey Nicey Jane, Church Flowers in Pink
Heather Bailey, Nicey Jane, Welcome Road in Pink

."Peek-A-Boo" Toy Sack Winner!.

Thanks everyone for entering the "Peek-A-Boo" Toy Sack giveaway!

The lucky winner is...


Congratulations Caitlin! Email me your address and I'll send your Toy Sack and fabric off to you.

I hope you guys have fun with the tutorial...here are some of the cool ideas that were suggested to use the Toy Sack for:

Library bag
Dance class
Hair stuff
Car entertainment
Socks
Underwear
Sorting colorus
Unfinished sewing/knitting/crochet/craft projects
Nintendo DS
Fabric scraps
Lego
Art and craft bits and pieces
Hats and scarves
Suitcase organisation
Church bag
Wool
Collections
Picnic bag
Pool bag
Pantry storage
Camping stuff
PJs & story book
Gift wrapping
Beach supplies
Classroom oragnisation
Sand pit toys
Overnight travel bag
Toiletry bag (plastic lined)
Suitcase organisation
Aeroplane "fun" bag
Guess what's in the bag game
Baby stuff
Day trip
Park bag
Footy gear
Ribbon storage
Fabric
Books
Daycare
Playdough tools
Stationary
Hide from the kids ;)
Odd socks
Groceries
Pet toys
First aid

If you make a bag or two, don't forget to include it in the Make It Perfect Flickr group :)

.New Sprout.

Winter has really set in here. We have been lucky so far to have mostly sunny days even if it is crisp outside, but the mornings are becoming noticeably colder (this morning our pipes were frozen and we had to run the shower for about 5 minutes before they thawed out and the pressure picked up!)

I was determined to make Lil another Sprout dress sooner rather than later so that she could get some good wear out of it and knew that she would be happy wearing it on cold mornings to church.

Last night I made this for her:


It took me awhile to decide on the fabric for this one but I am really happy with how it turned out. Pretty red with a splash of aqua is a stunning combo and she looks very Little Red Riding-Hoodish. (I haven't finished with the Ta Dot fabric yet and couldn't resist it in flannel!!!)

The side pockets are a hit - especially as they are lined with flannel and keep her hands toasty and warm.


Seeing her wear this today made me think seriously about an adult version that many of you hinted at when the pattern was first released. It would be so super comfortable and warm - especially teamed with a pair of winter boots.


Cheeky smile! It is so hard to get an un-posed photo of Lil at the moment...she insists on screwing up her nose poking her tongue between her cheeks. Full of mischief - love it!!!


SUPPLIES:
Make It Perfect pattern - Sprout
Patty Young, Flora and Fauna, Blossoms in Red
Michael Miller, Ta Dot in Ocean

.Tops for Lil.

It was only a matter of time before I sewed some of my doilies onto a top for Lil. I love how it turned out. The white doily was sewn on with the sewing machine but the pink and green ones were a little too "lacy" to hide the stitches so I hand sewed those down. Do you think I could get away with a top like this for myself?!!


I was browsing Flickr one night and was inspired by this cute top. I thought I could do something similar with some circles and hand stitching. When I started digging through my scraps though, I ended up choosing a heap of solid colours and loved the way they looked together. I played around with having the buttons sitting on different colours and it looked really funky but decided to go for a more subtle approach with the buttons hiding on similar coloured circles.



I often get people emailing me asking where I get my plain long-sleeved and short-sleeved tops from. All of mine come from Target or Kmart. Depending on where you live and how well stocked your store is will depend on how easily they are to come across. They seem to be around more often than they were a year or so ago though. Because we live in a country area, our stores are quite small and not well stocked. Every time I go shopping (which isn't very often!) I look out for plain tops and always buy two or three in various sizes or colours. Now I have a plain top drawer that is VERY well stocked ready to make tops for my kids or presents for friends.


Check out how big my baby girl is now!! She will be 3 in one month and every day seems to be that little bit older - much easier to get along with and reason with now and slowly emerging from her ratty 2-year old stage :)



P.S. I'm more than happy for you to use any of my applique ideas for your own personal use!

.Tops for Tommy.

This seems to be a usual, seasonal occurrence. The weather changes and kids need new clothes and I struggle to find tops that aren't smothered in licensed character images or trashy slogans and pictures that are much to old for my small-fries.


So I go the el-cheapo option of buying plain tops for less than $5 each and dressing them up with a bit of applique. I particularly like this because the tops are so cheap that I don't mind them being worn as play clothes but they don't look daggy!



Once I've settled on a design (the part that takes the longest for me!) the actual applique only takes a very short time and I managed to make 3 for Tommy and 2 for Lil one evening this week.



Tommy is s..l..o..w..l..y starting to get more mobile. He has recently worked out how to pull himself to standing whilst holding onto furniture and thinks he is SO clever :)


P.S. I'm more than happy for you to use any of my applique ideas for your own personal use!

."Peek-A-Boo" Toy Sack Tutorial.

Giveaway now closed - feel free to still leave a comment though!

{Thanks for the Toy Sack-love :) If you need an introduction to these toy sacks then read my previous post here.}

This is a long tutorial...stick with me...if you keep scrolling all the way down to the end, I've got a toy sack to GIVE AWAY! So if you aren't a sewer or want a toy sack without any work, now is your chance to enter :)

"Peek-A-Boo" Toy Sacks Tutorial!!!

To make a "Peek-A-Boo" Toy Sack, you will need:
One 10 3/4" x 12 1/2" rectangle of fabric cut from exterior and lining for front of bag
One 2 1/2" x 12 1/2" rectangle of fabric cut from exterior and lining for front of bag
Two 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles of fabric cut from exterior and lining for front of bag
One 16 3/4" x 12 1/2" rectangle of fabric cut from exterior and lining for back of bag
One 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" rectangle cut from tablecloth plastic for window
One 1 1/2" x width of the fabric (40"-44") strip cut from contrast fabric for drawstring
One 2" x width of the fabric (40"-44") strip cut from contrast fabric for casing

FYI:
* Exterior fabric is blue/white zigzag
* Lining fabric is white
* Casing and drawstring fabric is red
* Plastic window is clear PVC "tablecloth" plastic - this comes in 3 thicknesses (from Spotlight), I use the middle thickness because it is strong but thin enough to use your regular sewing machine needle on.

Step 1.
Take one of the 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles of fabric cut from exterior and lay on the table with right side facing up. Take your rectangle cut from plastic sheet and lay on top of exterior fabric, matching up short edge of plastic strip with long edge of exterior fabric. Take one of the 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles of fabric cut from lining and lay on top of the plastic sheet with right side facing down. Match up raw edges (the plastic sheet should be sandwiched between the exterior and lining fabrics). Using pins on the plastic sheet will make holes, to hold in place, use a few paper clips along the raw edge.

Sew together along paper clipped edge, using 1/4" seam.

Repeat to attach other 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles of fabric cut from exterior and lining on the opposite short edge of plastic sheet. Fold fabric out so that wrong sides are touching. You can't iron near the plastic sheet, so firmly press seams flat with your fingertips.

Step 2.
Take the 2 1/2" x 12 1/2" rectangles of fabric cut from exterior and lining and attach to the bottom long edge of the plastic sheet and side pieces of fabric in the same way you attached the side pieces. Match up raw edges and pin or paper clip into place. You can use pins where you are joining fabric to fabric.

Sew along pinned/paperclipped edge using a 1/4" seam. Open out fabric so that wrong sides are touching and firmly press seams flat using fingertips.


Step 3.
Take the 10 3/4" x 12 1/2" rectangles of fabric cut from exterior and lining and attach the top long edge of the plastic sheet and side pieces of fabric in the same way you attached the bottom piece. Open out fabric so that wrong sides are facing and firmly press seams flat using fingertips.

{Exterior of front of sack}

{Lining of front of sack}

Topstitch about 1/8" away from the edge around the entire window.



Step 4.
Make a hem at the top of the sack by taking front of sack and folding the right side of the top raw edge of exterior and lining fabrics under 1/2". Take the 16 3/4" x 12 1/2" rectangles of fabric cut from exterior and lining and fold the right side of the top raw edge of both pieces of fabric under 1/2".

Take lining back piece and lay on the table with right side facing up. Place front of sack so that exterior is facing up and front lining is facing back lining piece . Take exterior back piece and lay on top of the stack with wrong side up so that right sides of exterior fabric are facing.


Match up top folded edges of all four layers of fabric so that they are perfectly aligned (this will ensure a neat finish to the top hem of your sack.) Match up raw side and bottom edges of sack and pin into place. You should have four layers of fabric pinned together.


Sew together around pinned edge using a 1/4" seam. Trim bottom corners off sack, making sure not to clip your stitching.

Turn bag right sides out, pushing lining fabric inside exterior. Match up top folded edge of sack and pin front exterior and lining pieces together and back exterior and lining pieces together. Sew around pinned edge, close to the folded edge of the fabric.


Step 4.
Take strips cut from contrasting fabric for casing and drawstring and make a center fold by folding in half, length ways, so that wrong sides of fabric are touching. Open out and fold both long raw edges of fabric in towards the center fold.

A much, much easier way to do this is to invest in a couple of bias binding makers...they are GREAT! Very affordable (I think about $10 each?) and make light work of making binding. The two I used for this project are made by Clover. The pink one - 18mm is used for the 1 1/2" wide strip of fabric and is the size I use most often when making clothing. The blue one - 25mm is used for the 2" wide strip of fabric. (Nicole Mallalieu has a great tutorial showing how to use these cool gadgets on her blog).

Set thin drawstring strip aside for now.

Step 5.
Take thicker strip for casing and fold one short raw edge under about 1/2". Press.

Align folded edge of strip with side seam of sack. Position strip so that it is sitting about 1/2" from top edge of sack and pin into place. Continue pinning until strip has made it's way around the entire sack.


When you get back to the side seam you started at, trim the strip so that it overlaps the beginning of the strip about 1/2", then fold short raw edge of the end of the strip under 1/2" and align folded edge with the side seam of the sack. There should be an opening between the two folded ends of the strip, this is where you will insert your drawstring. Pin into place.



Sew around the top and bottom edges of the strip, close to the edge to secure strip into place and form casing for drawstring.


Take thin drawstring strip and fold in half, length wise once again so that raw edges of the strip are enclosed. Sew down opened edge of the strip, close to the edge to secure.


Attach a safety pin to one end of the drawstring and thread through the casing. Tie a knot at each end of the drawstring.


Snip stray threads and you are done!!

If you make a "Peek-A-Boo" Toy Sack, I would love to see it! Send me an email or add your photo to the Make It Perfect Flickr Group.

Okay - for the giveaway...

To win THIS "Peek-A-Boo" Toy Sack (made from Paula Prass, Summer Soiree, Chevron in Aqua) as well as eight 10" x 12" squares of Ta Dot fabric (used in my toy sacks) leave a comment on this blog post and share what else you could use a toy sack for besides organising toys...

For an extra entry, become a follower of my blog and leave a separate comment to tell me that you follow. If you are already a follower, leave a separate comment telling me so and you will receive an extra entry too.
The giveaway winner will be draw randomly next Monday evening, 28th June and is open to everyone :)