Oh what a feeling

Come on - we've all had that feeling of joy when completing a project.

Satisfaction, happiness and a sense of pride at acomplishing something.

You can see it here in Miss L's face, holding up her first item of sewing. (which she later taped to the window in our study she was so pleased with it!)

I debated whether to ask the 'man in the red suit' to bring the girls a small sewing machine for Christmas but received advice to the contrary from my online sewing buddies.

Instead it was suggested by Cass that I teach them to use my machine properly.

This was met with a sense of amazement from a few of my friends as even they expressed fear at the sight of that sharp needle bobbing up and down and after all my older two girls are only three and half years old.

But with careful guidance (use your hands to guide the fabric, don't push it through or hold it tight, don't drop the presser foot lower it down) and establishing safety rules (never put your foot near the foot pedal until you are ready to sew, only ever use the machine with Mama there to help as it is not a toy) the girls took to it like ducks to water.

I placed the machine on their little table and they sat on their stool to sew so everything was at an appropriate height for them, making it easy to control.

Now I fear only a couple of things, my fabric stash being diminished for doll clothing and not getting enough time on my machine for me!

Wordless weekend

Mushroom magic

There has been lots going on here - some good stuff - some not so good!

It's all been getting in the way of blogging though.

Here's a very little something I made up for a friend's birthday.

We don't usually do presents but I just thought a little handmade gift with some hair ties in it would be nice because she's always so ready to help us when needed.

Like when we have to spend the night at the hospital with a little one we have just found out suffers from asthma.

Yep - that's some of the 'not so good stuff' that's been happening.

The mushroom fabric for this was sent to me by a very kind sewing friend.

It just arrived in the mail one day - the sort of post that makes you smile. Thanks Novy.

Here's some more of the good - but I can't show you much.

It's a sneak peek of one of the patterns I have been testing for the lovely Toni of Make It Perfect.

She has something big in the works, top secret though, you know how it is!

Check out her patterns if you haven't already - every man, woman and child should have a Lazy Day hat for summer I say.

The fabric is from Patty Young's Mezzanine range and the colours are so fresh, bright and fun that I want to get some more.

Wordless weekend

Letting go

Sometimes I am so intent on doing things the 'right way' that I end up not doing them at all.

I've wanted to make the girls felt food for some time as they are really into playing restaurant and kitchen games.

I hadn't done it because the thought of all the hand-sewing involved really put me off. Then a couple of nights ago I had a look around Flickr and Etsy and found all sorts of great felt food that didn't appear to be hand sewn.

Googling 'felt food tutorial' found me lots more examples of food to make and so I decided to give it a go.

I knew what shape I wanted the bread to be so just freehand drew the template then cut out a long strip for the crust. I stuffed them gently with polyfil.

Eggs and bacon were the same - a few rough sketches til I was happy with what I had then cut and sew. Easy peasy!

Each of the girls has two eggs, two pieces of toast buttered on one side and one rasher of bacon ( I ran out of the burgundy coloured felt!).

I sat them on a plate when they came out for breakfast and I have to say I don't think they mind the less than perfect sewing or occasionally choppy cutting.

So I am letting go, understanding that all doesn't have to be perfect, that for some things (and I stress I can only do this with some!) a little wonkiness is OK.