felt/vinyl pouch

Howdy!
here's a little pouch I modeled after something Neve had. It wasn't as easy as i thought it would be, but I'm sure the next one would be easier, should I choose to make them again.

Bit of felt and a bit of vinyl. I like to sew with vinyl. now that I know the secret of putting tissue paper over it before sewing. yep, it's that easy. A little harder to see when cutting it though. :}

The butterfly was cut out from Quickutz die and sewn on before I sewed the pouch together.


And now some other chit chat....
I spent 2 days going around town to find mohair boucle. I found some hand dyed by FibreArtists at Romni Wools. That place is amazing. I also found some crochet thread that I've been looking for forever. The wool is beautiful for doll hair. I went to my friend's place and she kindly and excitedly sewed it up for me. With the shoulder busted, I'm useless!. Anyhow, it looks just beautiful. I can't wait to see what it looks like all sewed up and the face on. So that's what I'm going to do......
I'll take pictures!
l8r,
Amanda

Ice Treasures

A few years ago, I showed this ice treasure activity here (she looks so small)
During a heat wave like we are going through right now, it's a perfect activity to cool off. Ice treasures...

During the year, I collect bits and bobs with this activity in mind. little picks, brushes, eye droppers.

I also take little things like kinder egg toys, beads, pom poms, buttons, marbles, figurines, you name it and put it in a container for summer. Put them in water in a plastic container and freeze.
It's neat to see them try different methods to try and get them out. Try to have a mixture of floating things, sinking things, larger sizes that they'll have to work at and easier things like buttons and foamies to pick off easily.

I make sure I make up a few extra for when friends come over.

Back to sit in front of the air conditioner.

Ciao,
Amanda

waldorf doll clothes

Recently, I ordered and received a Waldorf doll from Gillian at Ashtabeulah
Let me say that her customer service is excellent. She worked with me during the Canada Postal strike and kept tabs on the news when they went back to work. She had it sent in the mail before I could even tell her to send it. I love the doll, the consistent stitching, the way she stuffed it and the nose. loving the nose.
A little hesitant about finishing the doll, I made some clothes instead.
The patterns are from the vintage doll clothes patterns from my friend's grandmother. I've made the capeand doll carrier already.
Here are some flannel PJs.

It matches the eye mask I made for Neve last year. it's too small, but we discovered it the other day and it should fit her doll.


Here is the doll dress. Same pattern for all three tops, just the length is adjusted.

The bottoms were supposed to be bloomers with elastic legs, but I sewed them up before reading the "add the elastic before sewing the leg seams" part. So now they are bike shorts.

My favorite is this yellow orange suit.

A bit of gold bling to fancy it up.


Much fun sewing these. i bought a new pattern with a fancy dress and pjs and bathrobe. Maybe I'll get to sew them up if I get my husband to cut it out. I don't think i can do that yet with the arm in the sling.
I've been around my hood trying to find mohair boucle, I'll have to go down town. yikes!
best...
Amanda

mushroom pouch

Here's a pouch to house all those mushrooms...

I'm cheating here a little.. i just put the toadstool fabric on top.

I think a smaller size will be suitable for the mushroom match up game.

?this week, we met up with a friend and her dogs. found the perfect clearing for a picnic.

and the walk back.

the kids had fun picking cucumbers. it's bigger than her head and she ate the whole thing!

Himself can always be found watering or eating the produce.


Yesterday, I went on a sewing rampage and sewed up 3 outfits for a new Waldorf doll I bought for Neve's bday. more on that next post. I'm glad I did it, as I dislocated my shoulder this evening and had to go to hospital to get it put back in. It's an old injury from high school, but the last time it came out was 7 years ago. yep, it still hurts when it happens. It only came half way out, so it was awkwardly parallel to the ground. my left arm is hurting from holding up the right. yes, the right. I'm right handed. But I can still hand sew with my arm close to my side. The kids are going to day camp so I should be able to rest a few hours a day. wish me luck.

ciao,
Amanda

Mushroom Match Up!

Here's a matching game I made up? Altered? Embellished? Expanded?

Mushroom Match Up! It has 2 levels. One for the 2 year old who is learning colours. The top of the small mushroom matches the dots and stem of the big mushroom.

As the child grows and begins to count and learn numbers, they can match the numeral and the dots, but still use the matching colours to confirm their answer.

And they look so nice and shiny.

Tomorrow, I will show you the pouch that i made to carry them in. All games need a pouch.

Have a good one,
Amanda

Waldorf Inspired Summer Swap!!!

Remember when I made 15 of these
for a spring swap?No? It was back in May.
you can read it here
So on Saturday, I finally received my swap items! (Canada post strike/lockout tribulations) And what fun it was!!

After supper, I handed the kids one thing at a time to unwrap. it was like Christmas.

A few things got jumbled in the box, so I looked up this One Hook Wonderpost to see what was what.

We had fun admiring the treasures and setting them all up. But sometimes, the bubble wrap is too tempting!

In a heat wave here. DH put in the air conditioner in my attic sewing room. I think I want to live up there. We will find excuses to hang out there during the day. If we ever stay home long enough. Not complaining, but I want to have a day of not watching the clock. It's summer for goodness sakes!

Have a good one!
Amanda

happenings and a pouch

Hi All...
how goes? Many sunny days spent close to water around here. I did get to sew tonight for a short time. This pouch, and 2 others not sewn/shown, have been in my head for a few days.
A little pouch for a boy who likes his Lego mini Figures and has trouble leaving the house without one.

Now it can be safely attached to his belt loop for hands free playing. The vinyl pockets can be for pictures, drawings, some ID. Anything that doesn't risk falling out.

I don't know about where you are, but my succulents are going crazy this year.

Look how tall that chick is. And flowering too.

We've not had a lot of rain or humidity lately. Could that be the right combination?

I think that combo has made my daughter grow too. She grew almost an inch in 2 weeks. Maybe that's why she's been so cranky. :} Good thing it's summer and she's wearing shorts and skirts.
A trip to the Art Gallery of Ontario.

A stop into Lee Valley today. Tonight, I cut and began sewing clothes for little Christmas Elves. Yes, you heard me right. Last year, I swore I would start Christmas things in the summer. It' s a perfect craft for parks, playgrounds and kid watching outside.

And a bit of a swing! I had to get off, it was making me motion sick. Lame eh?


Have a good one!
Amanda

a bird in the hand... and a parcel in the mail

Remember the Sew mama Sew giveaway back in May? Well, I won 2 giveaways. the first from Kickapoo Chronicles can be seen here
The 2nd, from
Oh Angelina! has been trying to get here since then.

This lovely linen printed pouch and crochet goodies were making their way from Australia, but got interrupted by the Canada Post strike. Now that the strike is over, it's starting to feel like Christmas here.
The crochet flower is very intriguing in it's making. i still haven't figured it out. Nice indeedy.
Thanks Angelina for the giveaway. It's going to be used for something special to be sure.

Around the same time, I signed up for a bird swap hosted by We Bloom Here
I finally received one of the birds from Tanja at Watermellish Another parcel from Australia. (sidenote: When I was a papercrafter, there was a community with a lot of stampers from England. Seems this Waldorf inspired, home schooling, creating back to nature kind of crafting has found me a nice community of Aussies. Kinda cool)

Here is her inspiration:
"Tanja (Australia) of the blog Watermellish says of her birds: [They] were inspired by the dozen or more families of Fairy Martins which live under our verandah. I made some wee birds from a modified Spool Bluebird pattern. I shrunk the pattern and changed the shape of the tail. I also designed, knit and felted a little nest for each of my swapees based on the bottle-shaped mud nests these birds create."

After such lovely packages, my son gathered up our little collection of birds sitting about.

I think it's missing a penguin.....

Have a good one,
Amanda

veggin'

Yesterday, we visited our "veggie Garden". Actually, some rows of veggies we were lucky enough to plant in someone else's veggie garden. Thanks Tia!

Much care and manure was given to this allotment. tee hee.
And many weeks later.. growth and food.

The peas were taller than the kids. so sweet and yummy to eat off the shoots.

And the radishes were ready.

We didn't mean to plant radishes, but the carrot seed package said to plant some radish seeds to help loosen the soil around the carrots and that you would see where you planted, because the radishes grow faster. Well, they took over the carrot patch.

And everyone loved picking them. Eating them, not so much.

Silly family enjoying the bounty of leafy greens. Some Calde Verde soup to be made for sure.

Yes, we all dressed in red on purpose. It was Canada's birthday.


have a good one,
Amanda