November, December and January wrap up - coz I got busy :P

Hi everyone

I got busy! So I'm catching up with a BIG post of wrap ups!

Here are the projects I finished in November:

Christmas t-shirts for T's music class friends

A sun hat for T

A Pencil case and a Tutorial!

Traffic lights for Sew Many Books

This "foxy" cushion

I also made more baby pants for M and a tote bag as a birthday present for my SIL - both of which I forgot to take photos of - oops!

And here are the projects I finished in December:

A bag for my Hexie Secret Santa gift 

This bag is made from my own pattern which I hope to have 

available for purchase in Feb 2015 :)

The Companion Carpet Bag - Pattern by Mrs H for The Bag of the Month Club

I was thrilled to be a pattern tester for the January bag of the month!

A Wedding gift for some good friends.

A birthday present for MIL - An apron (sorry, again I forgot to take a photo!)

This January, I have finished, these projects...

The Cecelia bag - pattern by Clover & Violet

A late (SORRY!) Hexie Block for Jacquie from Pebble Lane Studio

Yep, that was a busy couple of months! Oh, and February was quiet as I hurt my finger :( so no sewing for me...but it is starting to get better, so hopefully soon I will be back at the machine!
Emma

Sew Many Books: The Return

Hi everyone,

It has been a LONG time since I did a Sew Many Books post...for those of you who don't know what my Sew Many Books initiative is, have a look over this post :)

But a lot has happened that has caused many a disruption, my sewing machine broke; and although I did eventually get a loner, I had so much to sew prior to M's arrival my unfinished project form June took a back seat; Then M arrived, and it has been slow sewing around here...But I have missed my Sew Many Books project and so I have decided to bring it back bi-monthy!

Here is a button and please feel free to share it if you would like too...

<div align="center">
<a href="http://blog.formylittlemonster.com" title="For My Little Monster"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3771/13079618975_c4ae82263a_b.jpg" alt="For My Little Monster" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

I have the following books on my book shelf:

More Softies Only a Mother Could Love*

Zakka Style* (PROJECT MADE APRIL 2014)

Stuffed Animals*

Fleece Dolls*

Patchwork, Please!* (PROJECT MADE MAY 2014)

Sewn Toy Tales*

Sew!*

Easy Sewing Stretch Fabrics*
Stop. Go. Quilt. Sew! * (PROJECT IN PROGRESS)
Oliver + s: Little things to sew*
Stitch Zakka*

After having a flip though all my books, I have decided on this schedule for the next few months (incase you'd like to join in):

November 30
(I know its in a few weeks time, but the project that I started and meant to finish in July needs to be finished and revealed).

January 30
I will be revealing my version of the Penguin backpack from Oliver + s: Little things to sew*
T is due to start kinder in February, and he needs a cute backpack to take with him :)

March 30
I will be revealing my version of the shoulder bag from Sew!*
By March, I'll probably want another new handbag - right?! Actually lets face it, I always like and want new handbags ;) 

May 30
I will be revealing my version of Dinosaur from Stuffed Animals*
I might have to make 2 though as T and M will probably fight over it otherwise... 

Feel free to sew along with me on these projects or any project of your choice, oh and you don't have to make your item exactly as it is in the book to join in you could make an "inspired by" project too :)

I'll be sharing my finished project on November 30 and I'd love to share some of your projects on my blog too so please join in!

To share your progress and projects:

Please use the tag #SewManyBooks on Instagram or Facebook

Or join the flickr group :)

If you decide to share your progress and projects via your blog please post a link to my Facebook page, email me at emma@formylittlemonster.com or leave a comment on this blog post as I would love to share your work here on my blog :)

I look forward to seeing all your projects!
Emma

  

Mum's Birthday Bag

Hi everyone

So, I have become a little bag making obsessed lately...I have discovered I LOVE making them and I have begun to draft my own patterns (yay me ;P), which I hope to eventually have available to other bag makers in the near(ish) future - how soon I have them ready really depends on M and his sleep patterns ;)

So, here is a little sneak peak at one of my prototype bags that was gifted as a birthday present to my mum :)

This is "mum's birthday bag"

It is made using recycled suede and zips (thank you op-shops of Melbourne South East ;P).   It has a cross the body strap, a recessed zip and a small external zip pocket and I have included an internal zip pocket too.

A recessed zip.

Back of the bag.

Small external zip pocket.

Interior and internal zip pocket.

The other fabrics used are, black homespun, and an orange and flower print (spotlight) - I'm unsure of the range as it was part of a bundle of fabric my MIL bought me as a gift for Jewish New Year earlier this year - and the red and blue striped fabric in the rear zip compartment is from the country garden range at spotlight a few years ago - I think I have just used up the last of that one, I'm sort of sad to see it go... 

So, that is the 1st of my bag patterns that I have in the works...I hope you like it :)

I'm joining in with Purse Palooza 2014 and Sew Cute Tuesday.

Emma

TGIFF - October wrap up

Hi everyone

I finished a few items in October...and had to hold off showing them to you all as some were birthday presents for the beginning of November :)

So, here they are...

A personal picture made as a gift for a friends wedding :)

A birthday present for my bestie!

The bag is a FREE pattern by Sew Sweetness 

(that I have changed slightly ;P) 

A birthday present for dad :)

I used this FREE foundation paper piecing pattern by Quiet Play

A birthday present for mum - blog post coming soon...
(I just haven't had a chance to write it up yet!)

A t-shirt for the big little monster - he saw this Thomas fabric in my scrap box
and told me he wanted a "Thomas t-shirt now mummy!"...so I had to make him one :)

A baby blanket

I have quite a few projects that need finishing in November too, so I had better get busy and SEW! Can't wait to show them all to you :)
Emma

I'm joining in here today:

WIP Wednesday - the one about the hat...

Hi everyone :)

This one is going to be quick as the baby is screaming and wanting a cuddle ;)

The big little monster needs a new sun hat, its been hot 2 or 3 times already this year and he seems to have grown out of his old one.

I asked him to pick fabric he wanted from my stash, and he chose Batman (of course - he has finally entered super hero crazy 3 year old land :P) and robots (even more predictable - is he ever going to get sick of them?)

I am using this FREE pattern from Oliver+S, and measured his head at 21" so am making the medium (and hoping to dear god, that it fits him as I don't have any more batman fabric!).

I'm currently part way through...

Yes, I know there are a lot of pins for someone who hardly ever pins anything when sewing ;)
(Can you tell I really don't want to stuff it up and have to buy more batman fabric? ha ha).

Hopefully I finish it up over the next couple of days as the weekend is going to be H.O.T!
Emma

Oh, and I'm linking up here:

{ vv For Aussies ;) vv }

September wrap up

Hi everyone :)

Here are the projects I finished in September...

Baby herem pant for my small little monster I used this tutorial to make them.

Birthday t-shirt for my big little monster

A car capsule cover - its working a treat!

The "Emma clutch" - I patten tested this one, its by Ladybugs & Daisy Chains and will be available soon (I'll let you know when) :)

Yay for getting back into sewing :)
Emma

A garland for the Small Little Monster's room

Hi everyone

The Little monster moved out of his baby room a while ago, and I haven't gotten around to fixing up the falling down wall decal...until now :P

This is how the room looked before.

It needed fixing because the wall decal had lost its stick!

So I sewed a whole bunch of felt circles together to make a garland for the wall.

And (sorry for the blurry photo!), here it is in situ :)

I'm so much happier with the garland :) 

and it's not falling down...which is fantastic!

Emma

July (and August) Wrap Up...in September - oops :P

Hi everyone,

Here are some pictures of what I finished sewing in July :)

A vest for the little monster - see more about it here.

A new clutch for me!  

Read more about it here :)

I also finished my poolside tote :)

Read more about how I turned this into a functional nappy bag here.

Toddler (or new mummy to 2 sanity saver) pouch - see more about it here.

A baby blanket for a very lucky newborn boy!

Big Little Monster's Blanket

Small Little Monster's Blanket

Garland for Small Little Monster's room

A sling bag, pattern by "At home with Mrs H"

(This one I actually finished off while in labour, 

I was hoping working on it would distract me form the pain :P)

I only made one thing in August...it was very small and I attached it to something I didn't make...

A pocket!  

I attached it to a pre-bought t-shit.  

And I made it for the Big Little Monsters Birthday 

As I had to make him something, I always make him something for his birthday! 

(But really who has time to sew with a new born?!)

Emma