Wooden Spoon Puppet

woodenspoon1

Originally uploaded by Sew Sydney

I found this very cute craft idea in one of the newsletters I received from Kids Craft Weekly which is one of the best kid craft resources out there. You take a wooden spoon, tie some fabric around the neck for a dress and decorate. Sloan loved it and took the creative initiative to make a necklace and crown for her too.

Quilting is coming along well. I don’t think I will finish before Wednesday, but I will be pretty close. Right now the quilt is competing with the book, “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”. I was reading along quite happily and then it hooked me and I am like a drug addict sneaking upstairs to read my “hit”. 

Happy Monday!

What I have Been Doing With My Time

quiltinghoop

Originally uploaded by Sew Sydney

I had lofty goals this summer with a huge to do list of things / projects I wanted to accomplish. On the top of the list was the hand quilting of this quilt. My goal was to have it all quilted before I kicked off my Material Obsession class in 2010. unfortunately I found my goals pushed aside for some much needed summer entertaining in the new house and just splashing around in the pool with the two kids. We had a magic summer and happy that the to do list was derailed.

School is back and I have two days free while my baby is in preschool! In every free moment at night after the kids are asleep I am furiously quilting. My class starts next Wednesday and the reality is I find I only have bandwidth for one project at a time- hence the self imposed deadline so I can start a new project. I only have the last row of blocks to quilt so I am going to sign off now and get quilting!

Bath Bombs

bathbombs

Originally uploaded by Sew Sydney

Firstly, we have a tooth update. He did in fact lose his tooth on Christmas Eve. We were at a friend’s house having drinks when it happened. We gave him a plastic bag for said tooth after he refused to relinquish it into my care. When it came time to leave he could not find the tooth. I cannot explain the drama and stress the ensued for my poor little Virgo and myself at 8PM on Christmas eve.

We managed to get home and pretend that my friend would drop the tooth by later and place it in the pillow. There were many tears to say the least.

The next day all was forgotten with Santa’s visit and a lovely note from the tooth fairy.

We have had a wet Christmas which in a way has been nice. All the toys and books have been played with and read which might not have been the case if the sun was shining.

Today we made homemade bath bombs. They need a few days to set so I will update you on the verdict. Very easy to make and the kids were so into it. They want to use them now! The white things are frangipani petals sticking out of the top. We used lavender oil in hopes it will make them tired at bath time.

Here is the link to the directions.

I am chipping away at the hand quilting of Sloan’s quilt and am up to the border. I feel like the finishing line is ahead, but another quilt needs basting and quilting too. Desperate to try to finish them before February. I have been reading my two Material Obsession quilt books and having fantasies about the next project.

Hope you all had a happy Christmas and here is to 2010!!!

Hanging On By A Thread

tooth

Originally uploaded by Sew Sydney

My little man is losing his first tooth. We made this three days ago because I was convinced that tooth was coming out, but three days later it is still in there. It is hanging on by a thread and it could be any moment.

Visit from the big guy in red and the tooth fairy all in one week? Crazy!

Snowmen

Snowmen

Originally uploaded by Sew Sydney

It was sweltering hot yesterday, but we made snowmen! We had a group of kids over for an all day playdate. I think it is really helpful to provide some guidance for some of the time with activities. Otherwise the house gets trashed with the kids taking every toy out and spreading then throughout the house.

This idea came from the book, “Kids in the Holiday Kitchen” by Jessica Strand and Tammy Massman-Johnson. It is such a sweet book filled with fantastic holiday craft ideas to keep the kids hands busy.

We used toothpicks to spear the marshmallows, frosting to “glue” them and assorted candy and chocolate to decorate.  Big hit!  A lot of eating went along with the crafting!

Christmas Cake

Christmascake

Originally uploaded by Sew Sydney

Can you belive today is the last day of school? I am in shock! So excited to have the kids home and enjoy the house.

Life continues to be a bit of a struggle settling into the new house while co-habitating with builders who are finishing up. We are probably about 85% of the way there and the dirt, dust and mess are disheartening at times.

We are enjoying the house. I had my last Material Obsession class last week. I have two quilts to quilt over the holidays! I am chipping away every night, but find a struggle as I am so tired after having fun all day.

My husband had his birthday yesterday. He got a few little presents and the kids and I whipped up this cake as part of his celebration. It looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it! It needs to sit for a week and a half, so next week we will be tucking into it!

I hope to post some photos of the quilts progress. Otherwise doing a lot of kid Xmas craft and will try to post some photos of our efforts. Crafting has suffered a bit this year, but 2010 watch out!

Design Wall

fullquiltview

Originally uploaded by Sew Sydney

One of the best parts of my quilt class is being able to use the design wall and wealth of knowledge of the teacher.

I was struggling with the last row of this quilt trying to make it “fit” on the bottom. It just wasn’t working no matter what I was trying. I took my quilt in with the pieces made and the teacher suggested putting the last row on the top instead of the bottom. Why did I not think of that? Such an easy fix to a major design problem I was having!

The quilt top is together and now I need to pick out some borders and a backing fabric next class. Over the summer I am going to have plenty of hand quilting to finish the girl version of this quilt and this one.

The move went as well as could be expected. We are in the new house which is about 80% done. We are so close, but so far too. Hoping to see some major progress over the next few weeks before Christmas creeps up.

I just ordered my Christmas cards. Can you believe it is coming up so soon? I need to get cracking on some sewing!

Sneak Peak

quiltlayout

Originally uploaded by Sew Sydney

Here is sneak peak on what I am working on. I have the girl version ready for hand quilting and now working on this boy quilt top. The design is from a quilt is courtesy of Kathy at Material Obsession in Hunters Hill. It has been a lot more work than I intended, but I am loving how it is coming together.

We move into our new house in two weeks. It has taken over a year for us to get to this point. A lot of blood, sweat and tears has gone into our labor of love.

There have been a lot of bumps in the road along the way and sewing, craft and blogging have all suffered this year from lack of time with the house project. I am so grateful I have accomplished the few projects I have this year.

Can’t wait to share some photos of the new house when we get there. I am sure I will be the one to break / scratch something first!

It will probably continue to be quiet in this space for a few more weeks I fear.

Rover

dog

Originally uploaded by Sew Sydney

A few more blocks on the wish list for the boy’s quilt: bus, train and a car almost finished.

We have a big birthday tomorrow….someone is six! Hopefully I can control 15 boys for two hours?

Have a great weekend!

Perfect Circles

I always used to look at quilts with perfect circles and wonder how they achieved the perfect symmetry and accuracy with their circles.

At my sewing class I learned a little trick of the trade for sewing circles. Cut a cardboard template the size you want the finished circle. Cut a piece of fabric larger than the template to include the seam allowance.

Cover the cardboard template with the fabric and cover with a piece of tin foil over the fabric and template and iron. This creates the perfect circle seams so you can then applique down circular seams. Who knew? Apparently a lot of people but not me!

Check out my moon!