Oh I do like being a pattern tester for Nicole Mallalieu Design!  The pattern for the Puff purse arrived in the mail on Wednesday - by Thursday night it was finished - I just couldn’t help myself.

The outer fabrics are from the ones that Ravenhill sent me.  I’m really enjoying using them; thanks again!  Other supplies, including the frame, interfacing and wadding, came from Nicole Mallalieu Design - oh, except the seed beads.  They were in the stash but I think they were originally from Spotlight.  The lining fabric was from my stash.

And guess what - there is a larger, hand-bag sized version of this pattern coming up soon as well - I managed a sneak peek today when I dropped in to Nikki’s studio to pick up some more frames and other supplies.  Fingers crossed that I get to test that pattern too!

I can see many more of these little purses in my future.  They fit into the palm of your hand, and are a terrific way to feature small pieces of fabric.  It took me about two and a half hours to make from start to finish, albeit in half-hour bursts fitted in around the kid’s activities.  I think that this pattern is about ready to roll off the presses, so keep an eye on Nikki’s blog or website if you would like one.

It has taken me a couple of months but I finally finished sewing up Simplicity 3786, in View D.

The fabric is a light cotton from Spotlight.  I like the style and the details such as the tucks on the front and the gathered sleeves.  I made my usual alterations to make the proportions better for my short figure, by folding out an inch or so through the body and from the sleeve length.  For once I included the gentle elasticated gathering at the back that gives the top a little more shape - I usually leave back ties and shaping out, since I don’t have much of a waist and don’t like my clothes to be tight around it.

I’ll make this pattern again, but probably in a less busy fabric - take another look at that first photo and the shocking job that I did of misaligning the design placement on the front.  I really should have cut each front piece individually.  I think that I’ll consider this top to be a wearable muslin (since I am actually wearing it today).  There are lots of nice design options in this pattern, and it is comfortable.  The finished top looks pretty much like the design photo on the front of the pattern envelope, which is always a good sign!

You all know what my absolute best op shop find is - the Golden Hands series that I found a couple of weeks ago!  My other favourite op shop find isn’t quite from an op shop - it was from one of those second-hand/bric-a-brac/”antique” places - but it was still a bargain (around $5 around ten years ago) and I love it.

Yes, it’s an ash tray, and no, I don’t smoke - but I love objects made of glass.  It has a lovely weight, and the gold flecks inside are a gorgeous contrast to the red and clear glass outside.

I had a theory at one stage that I was going to collect heavy glassware.  The collection hasn’t really grown past two pieces, mostly due to lack of room (and finances) but I do also have a divine Kosta Boda bowl that I bought in Sweden many many years ago that was extremely bloody heavy to cart around in a backpack, let me tell you!  Thanks again to Angela for hosting and to Lino Forest for this week’s theme.

A little while ago I was lucky enough to be a test sewer for Craft Apple’s latest pattern - the Car Organiser.  Here is my effort, in the front passenger seat:

although it usually lives between the booster and infant seats in the back.

It has a flap pocket on one of the short ends which holds pens/pencils and a mobile phone, and a large pocket on one of the long sides.  On the other two sides I put a flap that closes around the seat belt, so the organiser won’t fly off the seat when you brake suddenly (great idea hubby).

The fabric is from the Nigella range by Amy Butler - sadly, I have now used it all up.  It’s a great pattern, especially in its final completed and tweaked form.  Linda has done a terrific job designing it!

The Timtex took a bit of wrestling, and I did manage to break one jeans needle, but overall it wasn’t really difficult to construct.  Thanks again Linda for letting me be part of the creative process!

They’re finished - and it’s not quite the end of June!  In Bendigo Woollen Mills 8 ply Cotton in Fennel:

and in Heather:

The pattern is Lacy Granny.  Simple and effective - although don’t look too closely at the Fennel one; it’s not quite perfect.

Now just to do that last multicoloured one and sew together the little doll blanket, so I can get rid of that awful acrylic yarn and never have to crochet with it again.

At Brown Owls last night we took three hours to do by hand what would have taken half an hour by machine.  A completely hand-pieced patchwork pincushion!

Kirsty planned this lovely little project for us.  Despite my initial scepticism regarding hand-piecing, I have to admit that not only was it very satisfying to get something finished in just one evening (well, except for sewing on the buttons) but it was also strangely satisfying to piece by hand!  The fabrics on the front were some that I won from Ravenhill a little while ago.

The fabric on the back is from the Birdseed range by Alexander Henry.  Thanks again to Pip and Kirsty for a delightful evening.

Thanks also to everyone who left me such lovely birthday wishes - I got a real buzz from reading your messages!  My husband bought me this gorgeous clock by Betty Jo for my birthday - I’ve always wanted a cat, but hubby is allergic to them - so this is the closest that I will get to my own feline.

To celebrate turning 40 I got my hair cut short.

At the back it is REALLY short!  I am quite happy to be turning 40, maybe because I am very happy with where my life is at.  I am a bit stunned that I have been an adult for over half my life, and also a little stunned that I am possibly half way through my life.  But overall - it’s great to be 40!  Happy birthday to me!

This satchel was finished late Sunday night, barely in time for Stella’s first day at her new childcare centre on Monday.

I used a highly modified verson of Nicole Mallalieu’s Large Tote and Satchel pattern.  Many thanks to Nikki for letting me pick her brain about how to alter and construct the bag with an interior divider!

The main fabric is dark blue cotton twill from Spotlight, left over from making Clare’s school pants. The front flap fabric is from Amitie’s Blog VIP mailout, and the fabric for the back pocket (below) is from Retro Mummy.

The interior lining fabric is a mixture of the Amitie and Retro Mummy fabrics, with some Heather Bailey for Free Spirit fabric thrown in for good measure!

The flap is covered with clear PVC, and bound in bias binding.  It closes with a magnetic snap, covering the zippered pocket that I inserted into the front of the bag.  The inside divider has fast-to-fuse in the centre to keep it stiff.  Interfacing probably would have been adequate though.

There are two drink bottle pockets on one side of the interior, and a simple patch pocket on the other.  There is a key leash, as per usual, and I didn’t forget to include a thornberry label!

I used the same technique to make the hard covered base as in the Beach Bag pattern.  It’s so straightforward and gives such a great result!  The bag feet and all other hardware, including the strap rings and slide adjuster, come from Nicole Mallalieu Design, as did all the interfacing and fusible wadding.  Almost all the fabric in this bag has been interfaced, and the outer fabric also has a layer of fusible wadding.  The single strap is adjustable in length and is fully topstitched.

I was very chuffed to be able to work out so many modifications and changes myself (with some suggestions from Nikki) and to construct the bag just as I wanted it.  Stella seems to like it!

Michelle thought that this week we all needed to have a look at the spaces in which we create.  Here are some photos of mine, which will be familiar to many - I’ve posted pictures of my sewing room before.  This is how it looked on Sunday night:

The ironing board in it’s permanently up position, waiting for me to actually do some of the ironing that is piled up beside the overlocker.  The dress on the mannequin (thanks Nikki for lending me Dolly) is waiting to have the waist seams let out.  I bought it to cut up for the fabric, but other than the waist it fits really well so I will eventually alter it.  You can just see the edge of my tiny old portable TV that I watch when ironing.  It’s right next to hubby’s old couch from his bachelor days (which badly needs recovering).

And here it is from another angle!  I was very lucky that when we renovated our house a bit over a year ago we included a nice large sewing/craft room.  It makes such a difference to have a dedicated space to leave all the works in progress (and the never-ending ironing piles).  It is relatively kid-friendly - Clare does lots of craft at the pine table, which my Dad made for me many years ago.  He’s a great wood-turner and has made most of the furniture in our house.  I also have a couple of boxes of toys for Stella, but she prefers to play with fabric scraps and tape measures.

The chair in the front of this photo was the first chair that Dad made; Mum did the upholstery.  And look, more piles of ironing (incidentally, the ironing piles are now double the size, still waiting to be done).  And there is (some of) the fabric stash in the cupboards at the back.

The other space in which I create is my lounge-room corner.  Crochet, hand-sewing, embroidery.

Thanks again to Michelle of Quilting Mick for this week’s great theme and to Angela of three buttons for hosting this meme!

When in need of some instant satisfaction, try crocheting a scarf!  I started the Mossy Cowl on Friday, finished it on Saturday.  Apologies in advance for the dodgy photos; the best that I could manage today unfortunately!

This is a great alternative to a scarf - it doesn’t fall off, yet provides that nice warmth around the neck.  It’s crocheted in Yarn Barn kid mohair (two strands held together), using a No.8 bamboo hook.

It’s quite difficult to describe the colour of this yarn accurately - none of the photos have it right.  It is mostly brown, with flecks of teal, red, and other colours throughout.  The stitches are super-easy and effective, with combinations of front post stitches.  I hadn’t done any of them before, so it was good to add another type of stitch to my repetoire!

I’m running a little behind with this week’s “this is”, but will get there eventually!  Too much to do this evening and too little time.  Must dash - goodnight all!