.Thanks Amy!.

Not surprisingly, she's done it again.  I'm a sucker for Amy Butler books (and fabric and patterns...) and am very impressed with her new book, Style Stitches.  

I'm pretty picky when it comes to bag patterns and find it quite difficult to find ones that suit my needs.  They need to be big (I have tried small bags and they don't work!), a bit stylish - not too "cute", easy to carry, a big pocket or two and quick and easy to make. Previously, Amy's Nappy Bag and Birdie Sling patterns have been my "go-to" bag patterns.  But after a few years of using these bags, they are turning up everywhere and I have been ready to try a new bag pattern for awhile.  Enter Style Stitches...a book full of BAG patterns!

It really is a great book - there are at least 4 patterns I am very sure I will be trying out, which is a good indicator of a worthwhile purchase!  Just after I received the book, I got an email from Quilt Home with a newsletter special of 40% off their Home Dec fabrics.  A few of the bags I wanted to make specified Home Dec fabric, so I made the most of the special and purchased some.

There has been a bit of a sewing-lull around here lately.  I've got a lot of projects on my "to-do" list but the motivation just isn't there.  I get like this from time to time and just have to wait for the desire to resurface - not so good when Quilt Market is just around the corner though and I really need to get designing some new patterns and sewing some new samples for it!

Last night a little window of desire surfaced though...Jaron was out at basket ball, the kids went to bed (AND sleep) early and the house was mostly tidy so I pulled out my sewing supplies and spent the evening sewing the Reversible Everyday Shopper.

I was very pleased that this bag only took me two hours from the time I traced and cut out the pattern pieces to the end!  It was very simple to sew, gotta love an instant-gratification sewing project!

And, yep, it ticks all of the boxes...big (in fact, it is massive!), stylish, easy to carry, pockets and quick and easy to make!  My intention for this bag is to carry all of the "kid stuff" that goes with me from day to day.  They are a bit old for nappy bag attire now and I find that my bag is stuffed with 3 lunchboxes, 3 drink bottles, 3 hats, 3 jumpers, some wipes, a nappy as well as my essentials.  My bag is always overflowing, but this one is definitely going to fit the mould!  It will also be perfect for taking to church and filling with colouring books, pencils, books, snacks and bits and pieces to keep the kids quiet.

Other Style Stiches projects that have caught my eye...

Cosmo Bag (another good, big, carry-all) - I've selected my fabric for this one already and am looking forward to making it: 

And the Blossom Handbag.  This one is really cute - roomy, but less "Motherly" than my other bags!  Good for when I am going out without all of the kid paraphernalia!!  I want to make it using Home Dec fabric so that it is nice and sturdy so will have to keep my eye out for the perfect fabric to use:

And, I'm happy to say that I think the sewing-bug is slowly creeping back - phew!

SUPPLIES:

Amy Butler August Fields, Fresh Start in Tangerine

Amy Butler August Fields, Graceful Vine in Grey

.#5 Birthday Boy.

Happy Birthday Oscar J! 

 You have filled the last 5 years of our lives with much laughter, surprise, fun and happiness.  From one obsession to the next...we've had trains, Duplo, Lego, inventions, experiments...always making, making, making!

 And the birthday cake request this year proved to be a near disaster...how has the pinata cake worked perfectly for others?  Perhaps it is because I used a plastic bowl instead of metal?  We had to re-melt the chocolate, line the bowl with glad wrap and go for take two which ended up in a crinkly, plastic-laced, chocolate shell!

 And no hammer to smash it with (except Dad's dirty one in the shed!) so we went with a big metal spoon instead which worked a treat!!!

 The other birthday cake request has been "Freckles" - our fictitious Lego man who stars in all of our made up Lego stories!  Printed out, laminated and stuck on the top of a black forest cake - yum!

We love you little buddy! 

.New Make It Perfect pattern...A+ SKIRTS!.

With the weather slowly making a warmer change here in Australia at the moment, it is with much excitement that I introduce my newest pattern to you...A+ Skirts...

"The classic A-Line skirt is a staple to every skirt lover's wardrobe.  A+ Skirts gives you the classic A-Line plus a range of fun variations to create beautiful, one of a kind skirts for everyday elegance.

Sized to fit "tween" girls to the larger woman and with easy, peasy instructions for zipper insertion, A+ Skirts are a beginner-friendly pattern that you'll find yourself making again and again."

You can't go wrong with a good A-Line...it suits so many body shapes and sizes and the waistband on this pattern helps to make it that little bit more flattering.  

One of the things I especially love about this skirt is that you can make up as many as you like and because the design is so simple, you can let the fabric shine and each skirt will look totally unique.

I like to think of the A+ Skirts pattern as a "drawing board" to help you custom-make unique, one-of-a-kind skirts...the pattern offers 4 variations, and with a little creativity you can easily sew up a skirt like none other before.  Try joining fabric in a patchwork-style before cutting out the patten pieces, embellish the skirt with ribbon and buttons or try your hand at a bit of applique to make a statement!  The possibilities are endless.

Lets take a look at some of the variations offered in A+ Skirts...

VIEW A = No-Frills, Basic A-Line Version.

"Ideal when you want to showcase that special fabric or if you just want to make a more subtle skirt.  Use this design as a "drawing board" to create funky skirts by adding ribbon or lace embellishment (see View D) or jazz it up with some cool applique!"

VIEW B = A-Line with Pockets.

"A funky, retro-style A-Line with deep-set pockets and contrasting fabric detail."

VIEW C = A-Line with Buttons.

"Made with a "fake" front opening so that you don't have to worry about your skirt flying open and revealing all!  Buttons down the front add a bit of extra fancy detail for a hip skirt!"

VIEW D = Lace Embellished.

"A twist on the basic A-Line, add lace or ribbon to the skirt for a classy, feminine look."

I have had so many requests from Mothers asking me to create patterns for their "tween" aged daughters.  You know, that stage that girls go through when they are a bit too old for kids clothes, but not quite mature enough for store-bought women's clothing.  I thought this pattern would be perfect for these girls...as you can see from the pictures I have shared, the fabric used really gives the skirt a different feel so you can easily make a "younger" looking skirt just by selecting fabric that your "tween" feels comfortable in!

To see more A+ Skirts pictures and check out the fabric requirements, visit the Make It Perfect website.  My lovely model is my cute little sister, Filipa - she is the best, with her twiggy legs (yes, I am jealous!) and crazy poses!!! Thanks Fatty :)
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 A+ Skirts for yourself, they should be popping up in retail stores very soon. Ask your favourite store to get one in for you!

It has been awhile since I have released a new pattern, so I'm excited to be having the regular give away! To win copy of A+ Skirts, leave a comment on this post to be in the running! For bonus entries you can:

• Post about this giveaway on your blog and leave another comment telling me you have blogged about it.
• Become a Make It Perfect follower and leave me another comment telling me you are (or already are).
• "Like" Make It Perfect on Facebook.

(Giveaway will close Sunday 10th October and winner will be drawn via a random number generator.)

SUPPLIES:
Make It Perfect, A+ Skirts pattern
View A - Saffron Craig, Bird Tree, Bird Trees in Magenta
View B - Saffron Craig, Bird Tree, Bird Spot in Green 
              Pink homespun
View C - Saffron Craig, Bird Tree, Blossom Patch in Green
              Saffron Craig, Bird Tree, Bird Trees in Magenta
VIEW D - Grey Cotton Drill

.Vote for Lisa's photo!!!.

My cousin Lisa is a very talented photographer (although she will tell you that she doesn't have a clue what she is doing, I beg to differ!)

Because she is so good, one of her photos (above) has been selected in this year's Smile Photography Competition and she is in the top 100 best national photographs!  In order for her to win she needs as many votes as possible...I really want her to win, so PLEASE click on the button below and vote for her photo!!!  You don't have to be an Australian to vote, but if you are, then you have the chance of winning $2000 for yourself!  It will only take a second to vote, so head on over now :)

I'll leave this button in my sidebar until the competiton is over, so if you don't have a chance to vote now, do it next time you check out my blog!

.October Cool Shops! BEADLES AND PINS.

Wrapping up our Cool Shops! for October is a lovely little Etsy store, BEADLES AND PINS...

Beadles and Pins is based in Australia and offers a range of cute and funky hand crocheted and knitted gifts and accessories.

Have you ever seen an Apple Cozy before?  Well, I am now the owner of this gorgeous chocolate brown cozy and it is the cutest thing ever!  

What do you do with an Apple Cozy?  Well, an apple cozy is designed to keep your apple clean and from bruising in your bag.  There is nothing worse than pulling a piece of fruit out of your bag only to find it has bruises and scratches from being prodded by pens, books and other sharp objects! 

Apple Cozies also make great teacher gifts...perfect for beginning or ending the school year or just to say "thank you" at any time.

Beadles and Pins Apple Cozies come in a range of different colours and designs. I particularly like the ones with crocheted green leaves on the top!

And there are plenty more things you can cozy-up, from bananas to mugs...

 

If you are looking for an adorable knitted soft-toy, you'll find a whole range of them like this super cute Knitted Elephant Doll - LOVE!

Beadles and Pins have some great offers going on at the moment...All scarves, baby items and plushies are 50% of the sale price.  

And Make It Perfect readers can get 20% off the price of any Apple Cozies...send Beadles and Pins a message and tell them about this offer and the price will be adjusted for you!  Then when you make the purchase, simply type "blog review" in the message to the seller!!!

Important BEADLES AND PINS links:

Etsy Store 

And that wraps up our Cool Shops! for October.  Hope you have had fun exploring with me and have some new fun shops to add to your favourites :)

Remember you can view ALL past Cool Shops! here.

.October Cool Shops! WHISKER GRAPHICS.

Cool Shop! #3 for October is one that I have adored for a long time, WHISKER GRAPHICS

Whitney Beard is the creative genius behind Whisker Graphics, a super cute store well known for their stunning selection of Divine Twine.  Divine Twine is not your regular bakers twine...it is made from 100% cotton, so is soft to the touch, bio-degradable and earth-friendly.  Divine Twine comes in a large selection of mouth watering colours...you won't be able to choose just one!

I first experienced Divine Twine last Christmas, when I bought some of the cherry colour to wrap Christmas presents with.  I used simple brown paper to wrap my presents in and tied them with some cherry Twine and they looked just lovely.

Now, I am excited to be the proud owner of not one, but all eight Divine Twine colours!  They are almost too pretty to use!  For now, I have decided to display them in my studio wrapped around some wooden dolls I have had for awhile. 

They are adorable and make me smile every time I walk into the room!  Being on display, it also means that they are easy to access and use to dress up presents and crafts.

Whitney has made things easy for you and created a whole bunch of adorable printable stationary for you to customise by simply adding text, printing out and cutting up!  So now you can combine your Divine Twine with your very own customised gift tags and stationary for a totally unique look!!

Some of my favourite printables... 

Birds Recipe Card Set:

Scooter Notes and Labels:

Bicycle 2" Squares:

And if you are not keen on printing yourself, you can also order a whole array of pre-printed personalised stationary, stickers and labels like this funky Dress Form Mannequin Flat Notes & Labels:

If you haven't visited Whisker Graphics before, then I suggest you hurry over there now!  And if you are already a Whisker Graphics fan, then spread the word and tell your friends about this sensational shop!!

Important WHISKER GRAPHICS links: 

Webstore

Etsy Store

Blog

.October Cool Shops! PRETTY & PREPPY.

I'm so excited to introduce our second Cool Shop! for October with you...PRETTY & PREPPY

I first fell in love with Pretty & Preppy earlier this year when I discovered their Etsy store and found myself really, really, REALLY wanting one of their designer fabric Water Bottles.  Pretty & Preppy (owned by mother and daughter team, Janet & Jennifer who make all of the products in store) also have a web-store where you can find more products and variety.  The thing that I love best about their store is the clean, fresh and easy to navigate design.  After going a little fabric crazy, Janet & Jennifer decided that they should just go ahead and open a fabric store as well, and Lola Pink Fabrics was started.  Once again, this website is a breeze to find your way around and they stock a delicious range of designer fabrics and patterns.


Of course the water bottle is what I am going to be reviewing today!  The only problem I had when selecting a water bottle was trying to just choose one, so I ended up solving that problem by buying a couple more!!!  Easy fix :)


I have never seen anything quite like these funky water bottles, they are perfect for any fabric-lover or someone who just loves pretty and unique accessories.  (Yes, I am calling my water bottle an accessory...that is how cool it is!!)  The water bottles are made from stainless steel, so that your water stays cold all day long, and you can choose from a whole range of different fabrics to suit your style.  

I couldn't go past the Monaluna Monaco Scooters in Pink for myself.  It is such a funky fabric and definitely a good conversation starter!  

My friend, Jayne (who is also our awesome tax-lady) is blue-crazy and the Leanika Gemstone in Sapphire had her name written all over it so I had to buy that one for her!  And being the green girl that I am, I needed the Flora & Fauna Dandelion in Lime for a bit of variety ;)

Pretty & Preppy also stock a whole range of beautiful gifts and accessories, all made from gorgeous designer fabrics such as this Monaluna Starburst in Orange Travel Mug:

 And this Beyond The Sea Sand Dollar Sports Bottle with Wrap:

 Cool Key Fobs to keep your keys looking stylish, this one is Amy Butler Tumble Rose in Blush:

And they even cater for the little people in your life with a selection of super cute Baby Bibs:

I think you'll agree that Pretty & Preppy is a sensational store!  The perfect place to visit if you want to spoil yourself or are looking for a unique gift for a funky friend :)  Thanks to Pretty & Preppy for being a Cool Shop! this month - you guys rock!!!

Important PRETTY & PREPPY links:

Webstore

Etsy Store

Blog

Lola Pink Fabrics 

.October Cool Shops! BLUE GINGER DESIGNS.

Woah!  October already...I must be getting old because time is flying by ;)

The good thing about it being October, means that we get to welcome four new Cool Shops! to the blog.

First up for October is BLUE GINGER DESIGNS.

I originally discovered Blue Ginger Designs on Made It, but they also have an Etsy store featuring a range of similar and different items for all of you Etsy lovers out there.

Kylie, the creative hands behind Blue Ginger Designs and a fellow Aussie from Ballarat, specialises in handmade and hand printed eco-fabrics, homewares and gifts for the modern home decorator and crafter.  Her style is very funky and unique, lots of unreal silhouettes and eye catching designs.

Being the fabric-lover that I am, I chose one of her quirky Handprinted Cat and Mouse Craft Panel to review.  I have to admit that I'm not usually a cat lover, but these cats are fun and funky and the addition of a cute little mouse scattered throughout just makes me smile!  It is a lovely, natural fabric printed on 100% eco-natural linen.  I'm not sure that I can bring myself to cut into this panel yet, but when I do I'm thinking a little bag for Lil would look superb!

Some of the other funky bits and pieces you will find at Blue Ginger Designs...

Moose Zip Pouch:

This adorable Dandelion Scatter Pillow:


Beautiful Linen Embroidered and Screen Printed Zip Purse:

And I have to make mention of this men's Box Thorn Design Linen Tie!  How hard is it to find a decent handmade gift for a guy - this would be perfect!  There is a cool beetle design to choose from too

Blue Ginger Designs are celebrating their first birthday with a sensational sale!  

A huge discount will be offered 4 days starting today, Friday 1st October to Monday 4th October.

First 5 orders over $25 will receive a FREE mini zip coin purse valued at $15. 

(*orders must be at $25 after discount otherwise they are not entitled to free purse.)

25% Homewares range including cushion range
30% giftware range including purses, brooches, bags etc

Gift Vouchers also available at $25 or $50 from 1st October. 
(*these customers will be entitled to a free mini zip purse as well if they are within the first 5.)

So what are you waiting for?  Head over to Blue Ginger and get some Christmas shopping out of the way early, or perhaps just treat yourself to a special little something!

Important BLUE GINGER DESIGNS links:

Website

Blog

Etsy Store

Made It Store