Christmas Day!! (and other christmas photos)

Well... what a frantic day - and then some!!!!

We actually cheated, and gave Hannah the first of her christmas presents on christmas eve. Due to the HUGE rush that we had on christmas day, and our desire for her to play on it when she first received it, and the fact that she does not understand christmas yet...

So she had a lovely 30 minutes playing on her gym before the freezing Melbourne weather headed us all back inside.


Oh - and according to Hannah, this is how you go down a slide:

She is a little too impatient to use the steps, but we are working on that. Once the weather improves it will be going out onto the grass, as I would really rather that she was not going to take the knees out of all her pants, or else the skin off her knees.

Hannah woke at 11.30 Christmas eve, and refused to go back to sleep. Poor thing got stuck, and woke up hysterical... it took 10 minutes just to calm her!

So after a lengthy failed attempt to settle her, we gave up, and she came out and (as it was now well past midnight! and hence officially christmas day) was given a present to open. That worked a treat, and kept her entertained while we continued to wrap other presents and get everything ready for the next day.

About 1.30am we finally got her back down, as were able to resume preparing for the next day uninhibited... which for me included finishing her christmas dress!

4am I finally finished and got to bed!!!

Christmas day, the alarm goes off at 9am, and DH and I quickly exchange presents, before Hannah wakes at about 9.15.

Hannah joins us in bed, and has a great time ripping open all the presents!

Amongst other things, she received a couple of books (The Very Hungry Caterpillar is in the picture), some blocks, some clothes, a toy drum, some little rubber cars, a pair of sunglasses... and a few other bits.

Once presents were unwrapped (during which time I had control of the camera) I handed the camera over to DH with the daunting task of taking a photo of Hannah and ME!

I am VERY thrilled to say that he did an amazing job... and, although I did remove a few blemishes with photoshop, I am very happy to have the shot displayed at the top of this post!

FINALLY now (at about 9.45) it is time for Hannah to put on her dress!!!


At just after 10, we went to my mothers, where we met up with a family friend, and after a bit were joined by my 2 bothers and SIL.

Hannah looked like she should have been in with the presents, between her dress (which matched our wrapping paper rather well!) and her bow... lol. But she is at an age where that is just lovely and christmassy.

After a bit, we dumped Hannah there for half an hour while we went home to pack the car, and then we picked her up, and went on to my aunts (one of my fathers sisters) to see my father.

Quick nibblies there, and we were off again to christmas dinner at another aunts place (this time one of mums sisters) for christmas dinner (got there at about 1pm)

Roast Lamb, Roast Pork, Chicken, Veggies... YUM!!! All perfect for the FREEZING weather (top of about 13.5 degrees for the day!) Then Kris Kringle/presents (Ellie got the pants from her PJ's - we did not get the top finished in time, so she can have that later), quick desert... and we were off again!

We managed to get out the door by about 4pm, and off to MILs place (2 hour drive).

Poor Hannah was asleep within minutes of leaving, and had to be woken at the other end! She was absolutely perfect all day! Not a single grizzle (despite the 20 odd people at my aunts!) and gladly entertained everyone! It was really nice, as this was the first christmas without my grandmother, and Hannah did a really good job (as the only person under 13 there) of filling that void.

SO - MILs about 6pm. Just in time to see MILs partner for about 30 seconds before he left for work, and MILs partners son, DIL and grandson (same age as Hannah) for about 5 minutes before they left!

So more presents (including a furry blue vibrator from my MIL!! lol - actually a small furry blue vibrating homedics massagy thing), then more food (including some roast Lamb that MIL had set aside from the night before JUST for me, as she knows that I do not eat ham, and I LOVE lamb - which I thought was amazingly lovely!)

Hannah went down to sleep at about 11, then we stayed up until 1am with MIL, BIL BILs wife (2 month old niece was there for some of it too) and DH playing trivial persuit (I was the only person who knew that a collection of eggs layed in one sitting was called a clutch).

Hannah decided to sleep in my bed half the night (meaning I didn't), so about 8am Boxing Day morning I kicked her and DH out of the room and went back to sleep for another hour, then DH and I left Hannah with MIL while we went to spotlight, and got some fabrics. DH even picked one out himself for me to make something for Hannah with, which was fun!

We got home again about 10 last night, to face a house left in complete disarray! Ah well - it was worth it for a lovely Christmas!

Retrooooo

Hannahs latest dress. The fabric is a corderoy... but it is much lighter than standard corderoy.

I did not really like the break in the pattern from the seam between the bodice and the skirt, so I added some brown ribbon (stitched with orange cotton) to break it up, also using the ribbon as a tie at the back of the dress.

I am really pleased with the outcome. This was my 3rd re-do of the pattern, and by far the best finish/fit.

My only wish is that Hannah had darker hair, so she was better able to pull of a dark dress - but it hides the dirt and stains!! So it is worth it either way.

Dresses

The latest additions to Hannahs wardrobe... which will likely end up set aside for next summer, when they should fit perfectly.

These are a design that I am adjusting for a customers order, so here I was experimenting with different changes. The top dress is made to the original pattern, where the second one I made with a facing, instead of bias binding (which is why the neck is a little wide - I did not allow for the extra for the seam - oops) and the buttons only go down to the top of the skirt, not the full length. It is also a little shorter.

She has another one made to the original pattern in a blue striped cotton.

Going back to the first photo - she is riding the bike that her Pop got her as an early Christmas present (he lives interstate, and does not drive at the moment, so he would have had trouble bringing it down for her at Christmas, even if he himself makes it). She is totally in love with the bike! (Although she was not so keen on the hat that her uncle bought for her... lol)

Overalls!

This fabric was love at first sight!! I was planning to make some overalls to list in my shop, and this fabric was perfect!!!

I very vaguely based it around a Burda pattern... vaguely in that the shape/proportions/design is all completely different. But I wanted a guide for the height.

I did not really want buttons/clasps on the front, so I put hidden buttons under the waist band. (Hannah would try to bite them off if she could find them!). I also changed the shape of the front, and added a band under the front chest peice.

I also changed the design so that it has studs through the inner leg, which much to my delight worked out PERFECTLY! I added a facing, which I doubled over and sewed into place, so the fabric for the studs is 3 layers thick, so it will hold well.

I have had a request for some for a boy (these were a trial/excuse to make something for Hannah), and I am thinking I will do them in a similar colour set... his and hers. lol.

Spotlight sale!!!!! :D Some is for orders, some is for new items, and some just because I fell in love with it!

Our VIP night was a big flop - the demonstrator was sick, there was hardly anyone there... all the better for me to shop! At least I would have likely covered most of their extra wages for the night... oops!

I could not resist slipping up a couple of photos from todays shoot...

Brown dress

Couldn't keep you waiting any longer... Here is the dress!!!

It is vaguely based around the simplicity pattern that Novy suggested, but at the same time it is entirely what I set out to make... if that makes any sense. The skirt length and shape was taken from the pattern... and the straps, but only for convenience... I could have told you in detail what it was to look like before I knew the pattern existed.

The really exciting bit (for me) is that the finished product is EXACTLY what I envisioned!!


While I think of it, here is Hannahs jumpsuity thing (not quite a jumpsuit, as it does not have feet). It is too big, as being just pre-summer I wanted it to fit next year as well. The aplique was an afterthought, as the plain white/cream was a bit boring.

As you can see, I was not all that fussy about the finish. All the edges are just rolled hems. I was more just keen to have something warm enough to put on her that night (HA! less than a week later, and it was 32 today, and will be 36 tomorrow!)

Some of last nights efforts

Please excuse the bad photos. My proper camera is out of action.

She was not too happy about being made to try on clothes... she is just tired and grumpy in general, really.

But this is my fabric challange outfit. I am still not entirely happy with the skirt, but I am quite pleased with the top. I am not big on blue, though, so I am not sure if my discontent with the skirt is the skirt or the colour.



These are the pants I made. Again, not the best photo. I will try to post better ones later.

The fabric is corderoy, and it has ribbon and stuff running down it. The fabric was $17.95/m but it was worth it! I have some more of it, and I need to work out what I am going to do with it... (I made a skirt from the scraps as well, but I did not manage to get a photo before Hannah got sick of the whole clothes thing).

Boys outfit!!

I have my first boys outfit for my shop!!! I had to pre-make one, not having a son to sew for myself... so I hope that it sells.

I cheated a little on the applique... I saw a similar design somewhere else, and thought it would be perfect for this outfit.

Overlocker, and stuff.

Firstly, Hannahs new christmas outfit. I am hoping that this one will be a bit of a seller, but we will see how we go. I am not convinced about the design on the front, but I can fix that up later. The top was a little big, but it was one that I was playing with (converting from a crotch button top to a t-shirt, as I can not find any plain white t's, and these are $7 for 3). I might try the tee again with a top that is the right size for her.

These jeans were made from leftover fabric that I found when I was digging around in the cupboards recently! It has been sitting there for about 3 or 4 years, but it is PERFECT for pants for Hannah. The embroidery is little flowers, which circle around the leg with a few strays floating above it, and they have a raw edge at the bottom.

The elastic in the waist is a bit loose though, so they are a little loose on her, but thankfully the nappy helps keep them up.

The top that she is wearing is one that I made ages ago. Well - a couple of weeks ago, anyway. It is odd to look at the change in what I am making now that I have started to find my groove.

I have had a few people ask me if I make boys clothes, and so this is the first installment in my attempt to make something "boyish". I have over a meter of the fabric prepared, and with the overlocker, it took no time at all!!! After spending days preparing this stuff in the past, I am stoked to be able to make it so quickly!

This is not overlocker stuff, but these are the pants that I made for a recent order (also to go with it will be a "love" set, same as Hannah is wearing somewhere else in my blog.

It near killed me to cut into the fabric! It was so beautiful! But the pants turned out nicely (they look a little crooked in the photo, but that is just the way they are laying).

I think that has me close to caught up... I have a heap more work to do getting this boys line happening, and Hannah running around without a nappy... so I will have to end it hear for now anyway.

Hannahs new... PJs??

Yes, another outfit for Hannah...


I was going to have a bit of a play with the brocade last night, whilst taking a break from sewing fabric strips for a pants order... but I got a bit carried away.

I finished the top, and then realised that I had been so busy sewing that I had not checked to see if Hannah had any decent clothes clean for church... Draws full of day to day wear, but nothing nice that was not really light summer, or too small.

So I decided to whip up the pants as well so she could wear it this morning, thinking, church, indoors, carpet... she will be fine.

About half way through the service, Hannah made a run for the door out to the fellowship room (off the church hall). DH followed her out, while I stayed in. About 5 minutes later DH comes back with Hannah and points out to me a number of pulls in the fabric... She had walked off out the door to the carpark, and DH had not bothered to pick her up until she had CRAWLED half way down the CONCRETE ramp! MEN!!!

I was going to just replace the pants, but she managed to get a small pull in the top as well (not sure where that one came from) so instead it is going to be downgraded to PJ's. I might do something different with the front (maybe press studs or valcro) so that it is better for sleeping in. I must admit, I am not entirely disappointed... I forget to leave a gap in the seam for the ribbon to pass through, and when I went to do an oversized button hole instead it got a but mucked up... so while it was not a major problem, it bugged me a bit.

It was a beautiful outfit while it lasted though!!!

Whiped up present, and pin cushion.

This is the pants and top that I made in 2 hours this afternoon (making us an hour late leaving, by the time I dressed and all that as well... but Hannah was asleep, so it worked out better for her). I did remind DH that they would have been faster with an overlocker...

The heart on the top is a bit crooked. I was really rushing by the time I got to that... but other than that, they worked out fine.

This is the pin cushion that I made a few days ago. My old one was thin and if you squeezed it the pins wound stick out the bottom... not that safe with a child obsessed with getting her hands on it. So this is what I came up with to replace it.



I am starting to wonder where my brains were at the time... a bright pink pin cushion with shapes appliqued on the side, made because I had a child wanting to play with my old one... *slaps forhead* but it is actually a lot easier to use than my old one, and kinda fun to just throw around when you get bored.

Wrap around top!

Hannahs newest outfit!!!

This is the same pattern as the last one, with a couple of minor alterations. I used a thick ribbon (it was called bow tie ribbon or something), which in hindsight was a bit too thick (little mistake number 1) - it makes the front warp out a little if it is not carefully positioned.

I did a couple of patches of shirring in the back (about 2 inches across, 4 rows at the top, 6 at the bottom) to pull the fabric in a bit, and help it bunch in the right areas.

The pants are the standard pattern that I use for all of my pants. I put the ribbon on the bottom to give them a better finish, and then I used normal satin ribbon in the front half of the waist (the back has elastic - little mistake number 2 - elastic sewn in when it only goes around half the garment does not give it much stretch).

Overall I am really happy with the outcome, and very excited about having a new item for my shop that I have actually created from scratch!!

Busy, busy, busy!!!

This is my latest semi-flop. Well, it isn't a flop exactly... actually I am stoked with how it turned out... save that it is too big!!! By the time she grows into it, it is likely to be too short.

BUT other than that, I am really happy with how it came out! The pattern I drafted myself (using a pattern for another top to get the sholders right). I was a bit unsure of the neckline, as that I had drafted from scratch, but it worked perfectly!

So, now I know the adjustments that need to be made, the next one should be perfect! I did do a trial run, but the fabric was a lot lighter, and I was too lazy to put the sleeves on... so the extra width across the sholders was not really obvious.

I LOVE the colour of this one - it matches Hannahs eyes really beautifully (although for some reason they always show a little browner in photos) but unfortunately that was all that I have of that fabric (it was from the reminants bin at SL). I do, though, have another fabric that I am going to use for the next attempt...

If anyone is interested in the pattern, let me know, and I will be happy to send some off! (we have a photocopier, so I might cheat and photocopy it).

THE QUILT!!!

It is done... it is gone!! WOOHOO!!!!!!!! I love being able to give something so special to my new niece, same as I did for Hannah, and will for any other children... but I really wish that I had started sooner!


The writing in the hearts read...

"Bless our little angel"

"Sent from heaven above"

"Miraculous and sweet"

"To fill our hearts with love"

Then the other letters spell out LOVE.

It was longer than I had originally planned, and ended up quite thin, so I used some left over fabric from the back (which is all green) and used that to add strips to the side to make it a bit wider. It was still a little slim, but it will do well as a throw for a single bed once she reaches that point.

It was going to have a thing sewn on the back with her name and birth details and all that, but I ran out of time...

Hannah and Holly had a test run on it today... Hannah literally running over it, and Holly christening it with a little puddle of chuck... lol.

Welcome Holly!!

This spot is reserved for a VERY big happy birthday to my new niece Holly!!!! Born at 4.40 this afternoon weighing a healthy 9lb 5oz!!

Hannah is very happy with her new cousin. She was very happy to give gentle kisses and cuddles.

Jacket!

Hannahs new jacket (which has gone from having two pairs of pants to match to none!! *sigh*).

I had to bribe her with some apple to stay still... which is also how I distracted her to get a shot with the hood up.

I am really happy with how the jacket came out, despite all the pants disasters. That said, I am even more determined to get an overlocker... I have come to the conclusion that knits are just never going to work with a normal sewing machine to finish the edges.

Just to show my stupidity, I thought I would also add a photo of my beautiful pocket. Maybe I should make the pants up anyway, and just start a new fashion - completely useless upside down ankle pockets??