Sew long!

Sorry, I couldn't resist one final oh sew funny pun!

I'll still be reading too many sewing / homemaking / parenting blogs, but my days as a blogger myself are over, at least for the time being. I've had fun with Mama's Sewing Room, but 8 months in I really have to admit that I just don't have time for blogging at the moment. I've completed my Diploma of Professional Counselling but I'm starting the advanced papers soon, and focussing on networking and looking for more volunteer / work experience opportunities. Whatever "me" time is left, I'd rather spend it all sewing!

I have three little projects on the go at the moment, which I will share in this my final blog post :)

Christmas mug rug from a great tutorial by Ryan Walsh; still have the binding to attach, which will be red:

Quilting my quilt; once I'd finished my patchwork I only did 3 lines of actual quilting and decided to quit while I was ahead! The mug rug taught me what else I'm capable of so I went back and quilted all the borders and am in the process of quilting each individual patch:

Toddler nappy wallet with matching change mat, a quick little project using some fun farmyard fabric:

Thank you for visiting Mama's Sewing Room. Happy Sewing!

Cushion covers & note to self re. patterns

Not a great photo but I'm in a hurry to get back into my sewing room before my little girl wakes up! I learned how to make envelope cushion covers several months ago, from Jane Bolsover's Sewing Machine Basics. These have turned out nicely although I forgot about getting the stripes aligned in the first one, got it half right in the second, and in the third it's all good - lesson learned about working with patterned fabric - some extra thought is required! Anyway, they brighten up our much-hated sofa (another note to self: do not buy furniture when heavily pregnant and in a hurry!).

Back, with bunting!

By some miracle I've managed to finish all my remaining diploma units, my final practical is booked for the end of the month, this morning we placed a holding deposit on a lovely new home, and I've already made great progress with the packing!! So, I'm already back in my sewing room! Woot!

I used this tutorial as a guide, but without the applique - saving that for another time! I expected the bias tape to be stitched to the top end of the triangle but here it's threaded through - I had a bit of trouble keeping the topstitching neat at the corners for the first two flags but by the third I'd figured it out and whizzed through the rest. Looking forward to hanging this in my daughter's new bedroom!

Keeping the blog alive...

...two practicals passed and the final one is set up for the end of October. Unit 15 is passed, 16 is submitted & 17 is almost done, which only leaves 18. On track! But, no chance to sew, blog or study in the next 3 weeks as we have to find a new rental home, and move, in that timeframe. Gah! So, once again there will be bloggy silence and no time in the sewing room either. Very sad. But I'm keeping my eyes on the prize - by the beginning of November the diploma will be all but finished & my sewing machine will be set up in our lovely new home - wherever that may be - and my Christmas sew-a-thon can begin!

And so, to bed!

In an effort to become more accepting of the fact that my daughter wakes up at 5.30am every morning I have decided to focus on the positive i.e. more hours in the daytime to put to good use.  However, note to self: do not try to demonstrate this by making fish pie from scratch at 6am. Annabel Karmel you have a lot to answer for, 65 minutes start to finish my a**!!

That aside it has been a good day - playdate mid-morning (by our clock), got through some chores in the afternoon, we all three ate the thankfully edible fish pie for dinner, and this evening I have finished and submitted Unit 15: Client Suitability & Clients at Risk. Will spend the next week or so preparing for the practical assessments which are on 26th September. Then will complete Unit 16: Case Managment asap so I can organise the associated assessment, which is also the final practical assessment. Then....a good long rest from it before tackling the final two units. There is no real rush, and I need to go a bit easier on myself. Am knackered! So yeah....to bed!

The early bird catches the worm

So they say. But I'm not in a mood for catching anything at 5.30am which is when Miss M wakes up every single morning! Husband and I can alternate now as I've started giving the first feed after breakfast rather than as soon as she wakes, which is great, but oh boy these early mornings are a killer even though it's only every second day these days. Cannot believe I think that 7am is a lie in! Anyway. Soon enough she will be a teenager and I'll not be able to get her out of bed until noon and I'll look back and laugh. So they say!

Have been flat out studying since I arranged two more practical assessments for the week after next. Unit 14: Family Therapy came back with a pass yesterday (it's a pass / fail system) and I almost have Unit 15: Client Suitability & Clients at Risk ready to go. It's self-paced so I don't need to go so mad for it but the end is in sight now and I'm just looking forward to taking a good proper stretch of time out once the diploma is finished, before I move on to the advanced units I've elected to do. I do enjoy all things counselling-related very much, but it will be a real treat to have a break from studying for a while. The timing should be great - all being well I'm going to have the months up to Christmas to sew sew sew, with no study hanging over me. Woot!

Only 106 sleeps to go!

I've never been one for the mad countdown to Christmas, but this year I'm starting early. I don't mean writing the cards for overseas or starting the pressie buying already - I'm not that mad (or organised!) - I'm talking about my Christmas sewing plans. Spotlight kindly emailed me another one of those vouchers this week that draw you in and make you SPEND NOW! Only valid for 5 days!! So off I went today intending to buy $15 worth of Christmas fabric (after the $10 voucher)...and I handed over $40. Oops! I blame my daughter, who was not in a shopping mood and was very vocal about it, and I got distracted and confused about the pricing, and then I bumped into a friend, and I got chatting to the lady who was there to do the quilting demos, and then I saw a lovely Christmas panel and then I wanted some red bias tape and then I needed some red thread...a leeeettle more $ than I had intended (as of course Spotlight intended!) but I now have the beginnings of a very nice Christmas stash. Time to get inspired!

Oliver + S reversible bucket hat (again!)

I completed another diploma unit a couple of days ago and it was a tough one, so I'm having a break from it for a bit and I'm very happy to be back in my sewing room at last! Spring has sprung, the sun is shining, and this is such a good pattern that I've made it again! Also, the last one got lost - I'm learning that this is often the way of things with items such as socks & sun hats that belong to little girls! So, I skipped the decorative stitching round the brim and between the sides & crown and I think it still looks good, but it was finished a whole lot faster!  The pattern in the Oliver + S "Little Things to Sew" book comes in three sizes and this is the smallest, so it looks like Miss M will be wearing this style for a few years to come! She was not in a mood for posing for photos (click to enlarge), so I was forced to use another model to show the reverse :) 

Status update...

...am still here, just on a temporary hiatus! Miss M recently started crawling which has changed things around here quite a lot, plus am trying to get a good block of my counselling diploma done with a view to completing it by the end of this year. So, there hasn't been a lot of time left for sewing, and my machine is sadly neglected at present. However, I plan to clear out my sewing / junk room this weekend and get started on my list:

• Bunting for Miss M's room in pinks with travel theme using this tutorial
• Cushion covers for sofa , just envelope style and have the fabric and inserts since months ago!
• 'Mug rug' using this tutorial - want to practice my quilting some more before trying another big project
• New sunhat for Miss M in pinks with travel theme using same Oliver + S pattern as before
• Hungry Caterpillar blanky 
• Christmas bunting
• Fabric advent calendar

So yeah, I really need to get organised...watch this space!

My first quilt!

Finished at last! It's very far from perfect but I'm so pleased with it and it will keep my little one snug and warm for the rest of these winter nights. I've learned so much. Not least that my machine didn't come with a walking or quilting foot - I didn't realise this crucial fact until I was about to finish it this afternoon, which was rather unfortunate...doh! I made do with the regular foot though as I wasn't planning anything elaborate, just a few straight lines, and it's worked out ok (if you don't look to closely!).

I also learned that it is unwise to try and fix my machine by taking it apart when I should be asleep in bed. There were some sweary words not befitting a respectable sewing mama! Plus, I would probably not have had to take it apart in an emergency situation had I not left the dust cover off for days at a time. Lesson learned!

And finally, I've learned that something lovely can be made out of leftovers - I didn't buy any new fabric for my learner quilt. I was inspired by a quotation that I saw in a small town sewing shop in New England whose name I don't recall:

If life hands you scraps, make quilts!

Quilting - borders

The borders are on! Woot! I read a couple of articles  here and here but ended up winging it because I didn't want plain straight borders, I wanted them to be a little different and I didn't have the energy to google any more as by then it was going on 10pm! I'm struggling to explain what I mean here so all will have to be revealed at the end - fingers crossed it works out ok! Next I need to figure out the batting as I think I'm going to have to join two pieces together, and then I'll work out how to assemble the front, batting and back. Sewed instead of studying last night, shouldn't have really, but it's so satisfying to see it all coming together!

Quilting - nestling the squares

I've just finished piecing all 48 squares, done in 15 minutes here and 20 minutes there over the last week or so! I found a really helpful little video clip about nestling the squares, and I also took some more tips from Diary of a Quilter, including "don't have a panic attack if some points are not perfect...especially if this is your first quilt" - I'll go with that! Next step is to read up on adding the borders, which I hope to complete in the next week or so. I've been reading a lot about planning and time management recently so despite the fact that Miss M has recently taken to flipping onto her tummy every waking moment and roaring like a banshee because she hasn't quite got the hang of going forwards yet, and has also decided that afternoon naps are for wimps, I hope to be able to get everything done and still have some sewing time left!

Quilting - piecing , finally!

I can’t believe that more than a week has gone by since my last post! Poor Miss M has been sick with a coughing cold, seems to be doing the rounds here on the Banana Coast. I’ve not been feeling 100% myself but did manage to have a lovely night out with mothers group and also a nice walk in the Botanic Gardens with friends and a belated birthday cake for me (yum!) before we were struck down. Plus I found out that I got published on the Kleenex Mums website as a runner-up in their blogging competition – very chuffed!

Anyways so it’s Monday again already and after a particularly rough couple of days we’re on the mend at last and Miss M has gone out for the afternoon with her Papa, leaving me all alone in the house...bliss!! Several jobs to be done but first I made getting back into my sewing room the priority, and I’ve finally started piecing my squares. Last week I marked them grid-style (A1-H6) with small pieces of masking tape and today I have begun sewing strips of six, following a good tutorial from a blog called Diary of a Quilter.  I hope to have completed all the strips by the end of this week. Can’t wait to see how it all comes together!

Quilting - the journey begins!

Exciting times in Mama’s sewing room this week! I am finally starting my first quilt. A lovely friend gifted me a cutting mat, quilting ruler and rotary cutter for my birthday last month. I’d already bought some batting, which has been sitting in my stash for weeks waiting for me to get cracking, and I’m using whatever I have to hand in terms of fabric so I don’t have to worry too much about mistakes. This is my learner quilt, and I am so excited!

First step is the cutting. I was shocked at the sharpness of the rotary cutter and have read up on safety - blood in today’s pumpkin soup is one thing (ouch), blood on my lovely quilt-to-be is another! I’ve been doing 15 minutes here and there whenever my daughter is napping and I have a moment, and I’ve followed the fantastic cutting tutorial on a great blog called Sew Many Ways. I think I’ll be visiting this blog quite frequently as I continue my quilting journey. With almost 3,000 followers, Karen still found time to respond to my comment and even gave me some technical blogging tips - so lovely! 

I’ve worked out the sizing and basic design and will play with the placement once I’ve cut the rest of my five inch squares. I need about another 20 (63 in total) and I’ll be good to go. It’s taken me three days just to get this far so I don’t expect to make fast progress, but I think I’m really going to enjoy the process!

Pinterest Love!

Pinterest is my new thing! It is soooooo useful. You know those evenings when you're browsing the net and finding all sorts of gorgeous things you'd like to have a go at making, and you start saving pages in the browser that you know you'll probably never get back to, or sending email reminders to yourself that will get filed and forgotten? Or all the great subscription emails that come through from sewing blogs and websites that you never quite get around to reading properly and before you know it there's 150 of them in your inbox and you just end up deleting them and losing all those great ideas?

Pinterest allows a gal seeking inspiration to pin all those lovely pictures of things to sew onto virtual pinboards that can then be perused at leisure. Each picture you pin has a link to its source page embedded within it, so you can return to the related info whenever you wish. The links to all the great tutorials and patterns that I find and read about late at night are now all in one place for reference and sometimes just to look at 'cos those boards are so pretty to behold!

Pinterest is invite only - if you'd like an invitation let me know, then you can get pinning too!

Chair pads

We were given this second-hand wicker seat before my daughter was born and it's made the best nursing chair. The chair pads needed freshening up a bit so last night I finally got around to doing something with another of my op shop doona cover finds. I just made simple envelope covers, which I learned to do from Jane Bolsover's Sewing Machine Basics.

As an aside, I cannot get over the kindness of the people we have met in this town. We have been given so much pre-loved baby and home stuff, all so much appreciated by new immigrants who are also new parents! We'll be sure to pay it forward!

Hot Water Bottle Cover

I got a couple of hours to myself this afternoon so I was able to make peaceful use of my new sewing room (spare room converted - well, just the bed dismantled and my sewing table and boxes moved in - nothing fancy but mine, all mine!). It's the first time I've actively decided that I could make something that I need, instead of buying a new one in a store. I needed a new hot water bottle cover because my (pre-sewing days) hastily bought cheapo Big W one (which I've copied and improved on) is very badly made, ugly and uncomfortable. This one is soft and snugly! I need to work on my hand-stitching, which I don't enjoy, but I did enjoy figuring out how to layer all the pieces (6 in total) so that it all came together correctly. It's not the best picture but I still have a whole quiet house to myself, so I'm in a rush to make the most of the remaining time with a good book and a cup of jasmine green tea!

Reversible Bucket Hat

I finally made this a couple of days ago but it’s not been sunhat weather here on the Banana Coast until today. I’m very pleased with how the brim turned out  - all that topstitching (and unpicking!) took a while but it looks good, and I like the added stiffness too. I’ll probably make another, but next time I’ll not edge-stitch the top in the same way. It’s possible I misread the instructions to be honest, I think I was meant to edge-stitch the crown seam allowances to the side panels rather than edge-stitch the outer join between the crown and the side panels. Or something. Oops! The pattern instructions are otherwise  great, I think I just got a bit confused but never mind, it’s all a learning process. Miss M was happy to keep it on and it protects her well, which is the main thing! And I love the material, which was a lovely gift from a friend - thanks Marieka!

Pattern: Oliver + S Little Things to Sew, Liesl Gibson, 2010 p33

Jean Genie

Random Australian Fact: jeans come in only one length here. Long. No short, no regular, just long. Then you either give the store ten bucks on top of the price of the jeans and they send them off to be shortened, or you take them to a tailor. Or, you adjust them yourself. I wouldn't be happy doing that with a 100 dollar pair, but I have an old maternity pair from last winter (back then I couldn't see my ankles anyway and hence wasn't much bothered about roll-ups for a couple of months!), so I decided to practice on them. Short of travelling to Singapore to purchase regular length M&S jeans, adjusting them is my only future option, and why pay someone else?  They still fit ok as they're the very low rise maternity kind with a stretchy bump panel that I can fold over the waistband, so they'll do me for around the house this winter too.

The nice lady in Just Jeans at the Plaza explained to me how to get the length right a few weeks ago, when I was bemoaning the impossibility of finding jeans that fit (it's due to small population size, apparently - they tried selling different lengths but it just wasn't cost effective to stock them all). The trick is to have the jeans just touch the floor at the back of the heel when in stockinged feet, and pin. I used dark blue thread as that's what I had and they look fine, but next time I think I'll try and find a thread that matches the jean thread. Also I'll do a double-turned hem instead of a single hem with zigzag stitch on inside to prevent fraying. In hindsight I should have done some research first but I only had morning nap-time to satisfy my sewing craving, so I just grabbed the jeans as a quick project, and ran!

Sew anyway...it's already Thursday afternoon and no sunhat! However, hat pattern has been chosen and material selected from stash. Just need some medium-weight sew-on interfacing and I'm good to go tomorrow afternoon - at least that's the plan!

Time Management (or lack thereof)

I haven’t managed to get any sewing done this past week, which makes me very sad. Well, that’s not entirely true, I did manage to sew a cute button on my nappy wallet. But that’s it! I’ve been struggling to stay on top of things on the home front and feeling quite overwhelmed by the chaos and clutter. I feel like I just don’t have time to do all the things I want to do on top of all the things I need to do; where do all the hours go, woe is me etc etc. No more!!! Time to take back control of my TIME! I’ve tried so many different schedules, routines, lists, regimes, none of them work...but I’ve found a new website that I think might just have the answer. Don’t want to speak too soon though so will hold my cards close to my chest for the time being! Meantime, I’ve hunted down some motivational quotes:

In truth, people can generally make time for what they choose to do; it is not really the time but the will that is lacking ~ Sir John Lubbock

Those who make the worse use of their time are the first to complain of its shortness ~ Jean De La Bruyere

The great dividing line between success and failure can be expressed in five words: “I did not have time.” ~ Franklin Field

You will never “find” time for anything. If you want time, you must make it. ~ Charles Bruxton

No idea who these blokes are and no time to google them (hee) but, they make sense. This week I want to make a new sunhat for my daughter, as she’s fast outgrowing the one I made at Easter and although it’s winter now, her little head still sometimes needs protection from the Australian sun. I am going to make the time!