IT'S FLOWING >>>

This is a pic of the Loddon River at the Benjeroop Bridge, near where it meets the Murray River...it is the highest I have seen it in YEARS.


AND it's FLOWING...I think in 10+ years of living in the area, I have never seen it flowing towards the Murray...usually it goes up and down with the Murray as the water flows up into it BUT this time the water has come down the river from good rains in central Vic.

We have even been warned to check that our levee banks are water tight as they are expecting it to flood a little too...

We live in the area between the two rivers, we own land on both and it's FANTASTIC to see all this water flowing past...The Murray River is also the highest it has been in years, lapping at the top of the banks...

Oh My Goodness...has it really been that long??

Oh Dear, it's been nearly two months since my last blog post...WOW!
I guess I have been busy sewing for Squeeky Cheeks and trying to get my site organised and stocked! Check it out @ www.squeekycheeks.com.au !! I am still working on the site as I'm not yet 100% happy with it. I have a new logo for my business now, so I need to update the site with it.
I have also been spending WAY too much time on FaceBook...that place is addictive!! I have set-up a fanpage for SqueekyCheeks...Check it out and become a 'liker', I'd love to see you there!! www.facebook.com/squeekycheeks

Sewing wise, I have been sewing Crayon rolls for a Charity called 'Backpacks 4 Aussie Kids', here is just a few of the ones I have made so far:

they are so easy to make so are great to do when I don't feel like thinking too much!!

Anyway, that's just a fraction of what I've been doing, I will post again soon with some more pics of my creations...

A Quiara for Ella

Yesterday, I made up this top for Ella. My first ever 'Farbenmix' pattern. I wasn't too happy with it while I was making it and I was sure it was going to be WAY too big for her. BUT, now it's finished, I am happy(ish) with the finished article.

The fabric is from Spotlight and it's not good quality at all.
Ella is delighted with it though and that's the main thing...
It is a very nice pattern and easy to make up, I will definately be making more.

Please excuse the blue pants, pink gumboots and scruffy hair...she had just got home from school!!

This is what you get when you stuff up an embroidery!!

Doing some embroidery yesterday and was going great till I got this one off the machine. I had caught the 'wing' of this nappy cover underneath and it got sewn onto the bottom. I was so disappointed and just had to laugh or I would have cried! Luckily, I was making it for Harry anyway, so was just going to bin it and start again.

Anyway, Mum is visiting at the moment and when I showed her, she said why not just cut it off and add a bit on...SO I did.
I'm actually really pleased with the finished product.

I'ts kinda 'tacked on' but I don't think it looks too silly.

So...Do I jump???

Saw this little guy in the overflow of our tank last night...I wonder how he got up there!
It's only about 2 metres from the ground!

May Sewing Challenge

I'm going to have a go again at the 12 months, 12 sewing challenges challenge for May...I missed a couple of months.

This month is ZIP month. I really have no idea what I'm going to do. I have Hubby's Jacket that needs a new zip put in AGAIN! I replaced it last year and now it's gone again...grrr...AND it's not just a little one, it's 30 inches long, open ended! I'm not sure though if that will qualify.

Maybe I will make a knitting bag for the knitting I have in the car. At the moment, it's just sitting in the console. I have it there as something to do when I have to wait for the bus in the arvo after school. It's just a dishcloth but it's something I can simply pick up and away I go, I don't have to think about it much. A nice little bag to put it in would be great.

Locusts...

EEEEEEWWWWWW!!! They are disgusting.

Walking across this paddock, the noise is amazing, they flit up and woosh they're off...millions of them...They are doing damage too. There are patches where they have eaten it down to bare dirt.

Knitted Dish Cloth

My dishcloth had enough the other day and has now gone to where all good dishcloths go, to that great dishcloth Heaven in the...ummm...well, let's just say it's gone (Don't want to go upsetting anyone!!)
So...I decided to make a new one...I'm really pleased with the end product and will be making many more, I think!
I'm no pattern composer, but, the pattern is simply:
Cast on 46 stitches
Knit 3 rows
k3, (k5,p5) rep until 3 sts remain, k3
Repeat for 5 rows
k3, (p5,k5) rep until 3 sts remain, k3
Repeat for 5 rows
Keep alternating in rows of 5 until desired length is achieved.
Knit 3 rows to finish and cast off.
There you have it.

Now it's a shame to have to use it, but that's what I made it for isn't it!!

A pair of Pants...

This one is not very exciting, but since I haven't posted for a while, I thought I'd better post something.
Wow, kids grow well over summer! Al has barely any pants that fit him, so I have set about making some for him. These were made using a very old NewLook pattern that was discontinued well over 7 years ago as it's one I kept from when I had my shop. It seemed to take forever to make, next time, I don't think I'll put all the pockets on the outside and I will be doing the waistband differently too.
I went to Spotlight yesterday and bought some corduroy to make another couple of pairs for him...He should be right then.

KF Everything Wallet

Here is yesterday's achievement...


A KF Everything Wallet. My first ever Etsy purchase, and I literally had the pattern in my inbox minutes later...all the way from the US. Wow...modern technology eh?


I'm quite impressed with the finished wallet, the fabric I had in my stash, left over from my Shop.
The pattern is so easy to follow with nice clear instructions. I did however manage to stuff up a bit though, my own stupid fault. I miss measured some of the pieces and didn't cut enough of others so got a bit confused a couple of times. It's a great pattern, I highly recommend it.

I have a few thoughts for 'improvements' for my next one but I won't tell you about them until I've tried it out!! It might not even work!

I've done it this time!!

Phew!! I picked up my overlocker this morning from the courier depot and got stuck into my challenge project. It didn't take long once I knuckled down and got into it. I would have been extremely disappointed in myself if I failed to finish this one too.

Here's the finished top. I'm hoping it will look better on my model but she's at after school daycare at the moment. I will post more pics another time.

It turned out ok, I probably should have used contrast fabric for the neck band, but didn't have anything here that would match properly.

By the way...my overlocker has never sewn so smoothly!! Amazing what a 'grease & oil change' will do. It hasn't been serviced since I bought it about 8years ago...naughty me!! No wonder it siezed up on me!!

Aaarrrrrggggghhhh...

...my Overlocker seized up, and I have had to send it away to be fixed. I won't get it back now till late next week. Really, it was only a matter of time, it has never had a service, and I have had it nearly 8 years.
Seems I'm just not meant to commit to any challenges! I only have one reliable overlocker...unlike my sewing machine collection...so I might just have to try and do my 'something in knit' all on the sewing machine...now that will be a challenge. I don't often use the overlocker but I do rely on it to sew knit fabric.
I do have my old 3 thread Elna Contessa here, it hasn't been used for many many years...I wonder if it will work?

How Cute is This?

Here's the finished hat I was talking about in my last post. This is so cute.

I had no hope getting Harry to model this one...even though it does have the John Deere Logo on it!!

I've 're-discovered' a goldmine - AND - It pays to make your kids wear your creations!!

When in town last Saturday, I dragged the kids to the local patchwork shop "Miss Sampson's Drapery"...WOW...I haven't been in there for ages, trying to be good!! She has so much fabric in there, all the designer names, including Michael Miller, Saffron Craig and more. They have the biggest range of 'John Deere' prints I have ever seen - craft cotton, flannelette and polarfleece and in PINK too. She said they had just got that lot in direct from the US.
Anyway, I will be going there now before I look on the net for my craft cottons and if she doesn't have what I'm after, I'll be suprised.

AND... while I was there, I got talking to her about the kids hats I make, Al & Harry were wearing theirs, she was very interested and wants me to make some for her to sell! I bought a couple of gorgeous Michael Miller prints to make up and said I'd bring them in next week to show her. Then we decided the pink John Deere fabric would make up nicely so she gave me a piece to make up for her.
I'll post a pic when I've finished it.

February Challenge

I just recieved my parcel from CraftyMama's. Now I have no excuse at all for not getting the February Challenge done for the "12 Months 12 Sewing Challenges". The February challenge is "Sewing with knit fabric"

I'm going to make this top for Ella from this material.

Oil Cloth Swimming Bag.

I got inspired this afternoon by some other clever ladies who posted pics of their swimming bags they have made on their blogs and the craftymamas forum, . I have had some oilcloth here for a while and have been meaning to make it up into a bag for Ella...well, I needed to do something today that I didn't have to think too much about so this was the perfect project.


I simply sewed up the sides, boxed the bottom, hemmed the top and added handles...and there you have it!!
I had grand plans originally of adding a zippered pocket to hold things like shampoo, hair brush, ties etc...but I didn't have enough fabric and just couldn't be bothered at the moment to mess around with that...maybe the next one!!

I'm off now to find some more oilcloth to make a couple of boy bags...

Ok, I'm gonna try harder this time!!

I just signed up for the February challenge...Sewing with Knit Fabric...Lets see how I go with this one.

Not sure what I'll have a go at. I do have a pattern here for a cute top for Ella...will just have to find some gorgeous fabric to make it up in. So maybe, I'll have a go at that one.

Oh Dear...I didn't quite get there...

Well, I had good intentions and I almost got there...Here is my 'Something for Me' for the '12 months, 12 Challenges' Sewing challenge...
I got stuck into it on the last day of January (Nothing like leaving it to the last minute eh??) But unfortunately, this is as far as I managed to get. We went away for a couple of weeks in January and by the time we got home and I got my mind back into 'home' mode (as opposed to 'Holiday' mode), I simply ran out of time. I will finish it soon and post some pics...promise!!

Our Beach Holiday!

We went to the beach for a week recently, here are my two boys watching Dad make a sand castle...much easier watching than helping!! I'll be posting more pics soon...I'm in a hurry right now!!

2010 Sewing Challenge

I just signed up to have a go at a Blog Sewing Challenge (the link to it is on the left). Should be a bit of fun. I might not get all 12 projects done but I'll give it a go anyway!

The first challenge is "Something for Me"...I have been going to make myself a top for ages and I'm thinking now is the time. Stay tuned for updates!!