17 weeks and counting...There is a lot on my to do list!

Hi everyone :)

Yes, it has been quiet around here...but I have been busy growing a baby:P
This week is week 17 of the pregnancy and here is the obligatory belly shot that I posted on IG the other day...

I have started dreaming about all the things I would like to make before the baby arrives...and so to keep myself accountable, I have decided to share them here - hopefully this will force me to get through as many as possible before August (and the baby) arrives :)

So in no particular order:
1. Make the Big Little Monster his 1st quilt - for his big boy bed :)
2. Make the Little Belly Monster a quilt
3. Make the Little Belly Monster some new bunting - the old one is a decal and it is starting to peel off the wall...
4. Finish my necessary clutch from selfish sewing week (I started this in September 2013!)
5. Make myself a new bag - my Supertote is getting old :P
6. Make 4-6 new cushions for the couch
7. Make a tie dye diva vest for both the big and belly monsters - I think semi co-ordinated would be so cute!

But...I have a few items to finish for my shop 1st though, including a new little mini range that will be released early next week :)

So, who feels like a little competition?

I'm soon to find out the gender of the little belly monster...so who would like a guess?  Is this baby a Boy or a Girl?

Leave a comment on this blog post with your guess, Boy or Girl, and a link to any item of your choice that you think I absolutely NEED to Buy or Make for the little belly monster.
One comment per person and please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!
Entries close Tuesday 4th March 2014 at 5pm AEDST
The winner will be drawn on Wednesday 5th March and notified via email

To be eligible to win you must guess the correct gender and provide a link to an item I truly believe I need for this baby - hence this is a game of skill :)

The prize
A 50% off code to use on any item currently available my shop - the code will be valid for use until August 1st 2014

Good luck everyone!
Emma

A new little activity for the Little Monster, Transport themed Lego Puzzles, and you can make your own too!

Hi everyone :)

A few weeks ago I came across this post while searching for new activities for the little monster.

(Source)

Now, the little monster LOVES lego, and he LOVES puzzles, so what better way to entertain him, that to incorporate both into a fun activity?!

I decided to make some transport themed lego puzzles for the little monster, as he is in a real transport loving phase at the moment - be it trains, trams, boats, cars, or planes :)
I also thought he would find these puzzles a little more challenging as all, except 1, use 3 blocks to make the picture.

Finding and creating this activity for the little monster was just in time too, we took the puzzles I made for him on holidays with us last week and they were a major hit!  Since arriving home he has been busy playing with them too...I might have to make him some more :)

Would you like to make your own transport themed lego puzzle for your little monster to play with?

Yes!

Well, then follow the little tutorial I have provided below :)

Items you will need:
26 Duplo lego bricks (or similar)
Download the transport themed pictures I have used here
Sticky tape
Scissors/guillotine
A printer
A pen

1. Print out your transport images (downloaded from here), and cut each image out.
2.  Choose one image to start with.   Turn your image over to the wrong side, and mark with your pen where the breaks in each of the bricks are.
3 and 4. Cut your image on each of the marks. You will now have 3 separate images (or 2 if it is the "tram" image) that make up your transport picture.
5 and 6. Using your sticky tape, stick each image to a separate block.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until all your images are attached to each lego brick.
8. And your finished!  Repeat the process for all the other transport images.

Your Transport Lego Puzzles are now ready to play with!  I hope your little monster has as much fun with the ones you create as mine had with his :)
Emma

DIY - A decorative (and functional) lace zipper pouch

Hi everyone,

Earlier this week, while the little monster had his nap, I made this pretty lace zipper pouch:

Recently, the sewing machine does not seem to be getting much of a workout - I blame the baby growing in my belly - but for some reason, the other day at nap time, I really wanted and felt like making this pouch.  So, I asked the little monster - while he ate his lunch - what colour zipper I should use...he chose grey, and I'm so happy he did as I think it works much better than the other choices I gave him (which were yellow or blue).

Now, I haven't written a DIY tutorial for my little blog or anyone else's in AGES...so I though I would write this for all those of you that haven't worked with lace zips before - they are so EASY and FUN!

You will need:
4 pieces of fabric measuring 4.5" x 5.5"
4 pieces of light/medium weight interfacing and
1 lace zip

As you can see form the above picture, I went to my scrap boxes for the lining fabric used in this pouch, I wish I had had enough of those cute little birds to make another pouch with them on the outside...but I didn't and I felt like using them ;) now when I open my pouch I get a little surprise and a smile :D

The sausage dogs were perfect for the outside of the pouch, I love them and I will enjoy using this pouch regularly just so I get to see them - the little monster also loves them, he says, "mummy's doggies" whenever he sees it too :D

Sorry...I got side tracked...here is how you go about making your own:

1. Iron on your interfacing to the wrong side of each of your fabric pieces

2. Sew, (right sides together) one of your exterior fabric pieces to one of your lining pieces.  Repeat for other exterior and lining piece.

3. Press seems flat, (repeat for remaining fabric pair).

4. Press fold where the exterior fabric meets the lining fabric, (repeat for remaining fabric pair).

5. Pin your lace zip to the pressed fold in the fabric on the exterior fabric side (see the picture below). Make sure you don't pin the fabric too close to the teeth of the zipper - or every time you open and close the pouch, your fabric will get caught in the zip.

6. Stitch your zip to the fabric (it is much easier to use a zipper foot on your sewing machine for this step :D) Repeat step 5 and 6 for the other side of the pouch.

7. Fold your exterior fabric pieces so that they are right sides facing, and then fold the lining pieces so they are right sides facing, pin and sew (with a 1/4" seam allowance) around the outside edge - leaving a turning gap on the lining fabric side (see image below).

8. Draw a 1" square in each of the 4 corners on the front and in each of the 4 corners on the back - (use the your stitching lines as a guide).

9. Bend/fold the corners so that the lines from your 1" squares match up (see the picture below).

10. Sew along the line.  Repeat step 9 and 10 for all 4 corners.

Once all 4 corners have been sewn, your pouch should look like this:

11. Snip the excess off each of the 4 corners, leaving a 1/4" seam.

12. Turn your pouch through the turning gap so that it is right way out.

13. Sew your turning gap closed.

14. Turn so your pouch is right side out...Yay!  Your done :)

Finished interior

Finished exterior

I hope you have had a great time using and creating with this tutorial :)

See decorative lace zips aren't that hard after all are they?!

I'd love to be able to tell you about the fabric I have used here, however, all fabrics used were purchases from other makers during destash sales or in scrap packs...so if you know the fabrics I've used here, please comment and let me know their names :)

Thanks and see you all again soon!

Emma