Too many clothes? Time for a bag...

So what to do when your children have more clothes than they can wear? Start making bags! 

My inspiration for this design is a dinosaur footprint. Both sides are the shape of the footprint, joined by a 2.5 inch strip and then completed with a single handle. I had planned on using interfacing to help the points stand up firmer, but could only find pellon in the house. So, it's all padded with pellon, but if I make another it will also have interfacing to stand a little firmer. As is it stands more like an open basket. Although not entirely the shape I wanted, Ella responded with a wide-eyed "WOW", and proceeded to play with it non-stop. That's the most important thing!

Note the very well loved Rah-rah in the bag...

Three year old cooking! 

Today Ella made chocolate chip cup cakes! I helped with the measuring, melting butter and using the oven, but she did the vast majority of the rest. I was quite proud that we actually had enough mixture to go into the patty pans, and that she hadn't eaten it all first!

A girl can't have too many clothes...?

Another pair of Oliver+s PJs for Miss Ella. These are a size 3 length and size 2 width, though the elastic in the pants pulls them in quite a lot. I love this pattern, have made it five times now!

Ella modelling her other pair of Oliver+s PJs, had to wait for a night cold enough to put them on her! (In the second photo she is pretending to be an aeroplane!) These are so soft and snuggly on that I will definitely be looking into more Robert Kaufman flannel next season.

This skirt is made from stretch cord, and another attempt at making clothing without a pattern. The front and back panels started out the same size, then I tapered the front so the band would sit flat on her waist and then flare slightly. There is elastic through the back of the waistband. Pockets are quilting cotton with bias binding edge. They are very small pockets, for show more than use (although apparently stones will still fit).

I was a bit worried that it was too short after I finished it, I was aiming for knee length, but it ended up being exactly what I had envisaged.

Aw...and big news!

So this dress looks cute on the hanger, but I love love love it on Ella! She wore it to a party last weekend with a lot of positive comments from people who don't know that I sew. Was great to get the feedback because I plan on making this dress into tops to sell. 

Aw....

Another pair of Oliver+s PJ's. I love this flannelette, it's Robert Kaufman and so soft.

Our big news. We have sold our house, and bought another! So in less than two months it will be good-bye to Canberra and hello again to Melbourne. We'll be living quite close to my family, and will be only one day's drive from Dave's family where we are currently two day's drive. Our new house is in a quiet court location with a reserve and playground in the middle of the court (how excited will the kids be!), and it has a big yard. It's four bed, ensuite and good sized living areas. We were so lucky to get the first house we put an offer on! I also love that it's walking distance to both local shops and a major shopping centre.

I'm so in love with owls!

Ella might not *need* another dress, but this pattern is so cute that I couldn't wait to try it. It's a size 2 and quite wide so hopefully as she grows it can turn into a top eventually. I am hoping to also modify the design to make tops also.

Bias binding around the armholes, much quicker and easier than making bias tape from the main body fabric!

Gorgeous bow to tie the dress up

Owls and flowers, so cute!

Will try and find a model to show the dress properly tomorrow ;)

Gorgeous fabric

My first fabric order from etsy certainly didn't disappoint! Stunning cottons...

Such cute owls!

And divine flannelette to make some PJ's for Ella using my favourite Oliver+s PJ pattern. I haven't chosen a trim fabric yet (she doesn't even need another pair this coming winter, but couldn't pass up such lovely flannelette!) so it may sit in the fabric box for a little while. 

Headband for Ella

The fabrics used in this headband match one of her shift dresses. It's double sided (blue with little birds on the other side), made from moda fabrics and joined with elastic at the back. 

It's time for PJ's!

The nights are getting cooler so it's time for some nice cuddly winter PJ's for Billy.

The first pair of PJ's are a size 3 (the smallest size that the pattern comes in) and I think they will have to be put away for next year. I absolutely love the puppy dog material, and have extended the arms with dark green to make them into warm winter PJ's.

Good old trusty Oliver+s Kimono style PJ's. Ella already has two pairs of this design and I just love it. This material is flannelette and has planes and helicopters on it, the trim is quilters cotton. They are a size 2, so hopefully he'll get a couple of years out of them! I have some frog material ready to make another pair soon also.

My cheeky monkey model!