Newest additions

This is little Oscar...born 15th Dec. Olivier now has a little brother and we are proud grandparents once again.....beautiful boy!

My new Gypsy Bandana fabric by Michael Miller....the colours are magnificent. This, to me, was a standout at the Melbourne quilt market and I knew I just had to work with it. I have made bags and prepared kits from this fabric...just waiting on finishing the accompanying revised pattern.

Everyone is back at school and it's very hot...cyclones looming and all the other fun things that happen at this time of year. My friend Bohdana in Prague mentioned it's snowing there and they must wait 2 months for the sun.... what an amazing world. I must show you her beautiful award winning doll "Fire". She is a very talented doll maker indeed.

Another lovely friend, Angela from Brazil has sent images of dolls made from my patterns...they are always beautifully made and look fantastic. This doll is made from a Warm Hearts pattern.



Time for lunch.

Take care

Deb

Crazy rabbit season

Today I had fun making this little rabbit. The fabric has been sitting patiently waiting for me to decide what to do with it....one of my fat quarter buys + some absolutely gorgeous felt. If you would like to make one too I have included step by step instructions & printable pattern sheet.
I have weighted the body with a little sand but you could omit the sand and depending on fabric choice work cross stitches for the eyes and it would make a fun baby toy.


front & back view of crazy rabbit.

Okay...these are the supplies required -10 x 12 " piece of fabric, stuffing, sewing (doll needle optional) needle, embroidery thread to compliment fabric colours, 2 small buttons (if using), matching sewing thread, 1 cup clean dry sand (if using), a turning tool ( stuffing tool or chopstick etc), Fray stop & general sewing equipment.

To make...Cut out pattern & place on wrong side of folded fabric as shown step 1. Trace around pattern (this is your sewing line). Transfer marks for opening on body.

Step 1.

Using a small stitch length sew completely around rabbit - leaving side opening.

Step 2.

Apply some Fray Stop to the outside of seams and allow to dry.

Step 3.

Cut rabbit out with a 1/4" seam allowance and clip into seams around curves...especially between the ears (Step 5).

Step 4.

Step 5.

Fold base so that bottom seam and side seam are together - forming a triangle.

Step 6.

Mark 1 inch down from point and mark.....repeat for other side.

Step 7.

Sew across on line and cut away excess as shown.

Step 8.

Turn body right side out using a tool. Starting at an ear, rub fabric so that it separates and forms a pocket so that you can insert the tool. Roll the fabric over itself gently pushing the fabric inside the body. Repeat for other ear. Pull the ears out through side opening.

Step 9.

You can make a simple funnel from paper or cardboard. Use this to pour sand into base.

Step 10.

Place a layer of stuffing inside rabbit to cover loose sand.

Step 11.

Place stuffing towards ear and push into place with tool. Keep stuffing ears then body until firm.

Step 12.

Stuffing should look overfull. using matching thread neatly stitch opening closed.

Step 13.

From a scrap of wool felt - trace and cut one nose and one tail.

Position nose using image and pattern for a guide.

I used a small amount of glue to keep the nose in place while blanket stitching the shape using matching thread.


Step 14.

Step 15.

Mark mouth using a pencil. Using 6 strands of embroidery thread back stitch mouth.

Whiskers: Using a doll needle threaded with 6 strands of embroidery thread enter one side of nose and exit the other - leave approx 5 cm tails on either side before cutting thread. Separate each tail of thread into 2 groups of 3 strands and knot close to fabric.
Sew buttons or work a cross stitch for eyes as shown on pattern.
Step 16.

Place the felt circle (tail) in place on rabbit (see view of rabbits back). Using matching thread blanket stitch around circle. Leave approx 1-2 cms open and push a small amount of stuffing inside. Complete blanket stitching.

Step 17.

Another crazy rabbit....yeah!!

I'd love to see what you come up with. It would be kinda cute for Easter with a handmade choc egg...yum!

Take care

Deb

A new day

I don't really know where to begin today. Home may never be the same for so many in Queensland after the devastating floods. It certainly is an amazing sight to see so many rallying to help others, it should make us all very proud to be Australians. The stories of survival warm our hearts as much as the stories of sacrifice and loss sadden them. Closer to home - Brisbane and Ipswich at least had warning, I can't even begin to understand the heartache of families in Toowoomba, Murphy's Creek and Grantham.

Even though we are told that it will take a long time to fully recover I believe the amount of work done already by voulnteers and authorities will surprise everyone in how quickly Queensland recovers.

It hardly seems significant in the scheme of things at the moment but hopefully it will brighten some ones day to know the latest Homespun magazine has some fun projects...as always.

I wanted to show you my contribution....at least looking at the picture you can forget all the rain and imagine a normally bright sunny summer on an Australian beach.

Best wishes

Deb

Flooding

Hi,
Just a quick message. I'm unable to get back home from holiday due to the flooding in Queensland so please, if you have ordered and haven't heard from me....I'm stranded! Can't answer emails either...that's what you get for leaving technology behind. Hoping to get back by the end of the week....feeling really lost without my sewing machine. Til then...
take care
Deb

Merry Christmas

Source

Wishing you all a safe, peaceful and joy filled Christmas.

Getting ready for Christmas

Hi,

Well school has finished for another year and Holly and I have taken advantage of our freedom and been busy in the studio making some new collectables for Christmas. I know it is last minute but we only just thought of them. Holly was madly drawing while in Melbourne and came up with these adorable "Christmas Beetles". Exams and all that goes with end of year meant we could only start making them now. Hope you think they are as cute as we do.

Each beetle is approx 10 inches tall to tip of antenna...fully painted cloth and weighted so they stand nicely for display. Butterflies and wabbits to come...stay posted.

Melbourne was loads of fun. Met Helen and Lori from Pattern Press and was thrilled to see my quilts etc up there on display in Helen's beautiful stand. It was a really interesting day with lots of new fabrics ( OMG the new Michael Miller fabric) and lots of inspiration to take home. I picked up some beautiful felted wool fabric and can't wait to start using it....may be better in our winter as at the moment it is really humid and I'd rather be painting.

Some shots of Melbourne I'd like to share...

This is a facinating design journal on display at ACMI and the dress Nicole Kidman wore in Moulin Rouge.....

and a costume that Cate Blanchet wore in Elizabeth 1st.

This beautiful gown was so delicate...it was in 100 years of fashion at Federation Square....Ian Potter Centre.


This is where we stayed (the dark grey building) Breakfree Hotel in Little Bourke St. Everything was booked out in Melbourne so we gave it a try. The room was much nicer than the reception area....such a lovely heritage building but a lot of the charm had been built over inside. Still, a comfortable and well appointed room and certainly a perfect location.

Busy, busy Melbourne...what a great image....bikes, taxis, trams, trains and feet.
Great shot Holly!!


Chicken soup for dinner. It's been raining all week and really humid when it's not so we took a chance tonight and yes, it stopped raining....but we do like soup.

Take care

Deb

special people

Something very special comes with having an online shop. Over the years I have had the good fortune to "meet" some very special people...you know who you are. It's the best part of throwing yourself into the www. On Thursday I received a parcel all the way from Brazil and after eagerly unwrapping - Oh! even the parcel smelt lovely, I held the most beautifully made "Country Seamstress" cloth doll. Angela, my Brazillian friend makes cloth dolls too and I felt very honoured to receive this one....so much detail and so beautifully finished. I really love the crotcheted bag.....and the small cotton reel earrings.......and the little rolls of fabric...everything!!

If you have ever watched "The Castle" you will know what I mean when I say she is going straight to the pool room (Studio). Thank you Angela.

Been busy, school almost over for another year...countdown on now. Can't wait to have full days sewing. Friday 19th Holly and I are heading off to Melbourne (probably mentioned that) we're looking forward to it. It is a trade show so it will be lovely catching up with designers and the lovely people that stock my patterns. I'm looking forward to also showing Holly a little bit of Melbourne.....whatever we can pack into 3 days. Melbourne is a really nice city to visit. Next April there will be a Home Economics trip for year 11 & 12 and as I work in that Dept (as well as art) and helped plan it they can't go without me..yeah!! I have booked a lunch at The Press Club, George Calombaris's restaurant, and the staff have been so nice in arranging a talk with the chef/kitchen staff afterwards, I hope George is there too :)

We have pencil cases and reading/sun glasses cases to make today, so lots of sewing and then I have a party to deliver Holly to. The boys are at the beach collecting worms...that's another story, if you are really interested I will dig up some info on beach worms..ha ha!

Oh! and a bit of wildlife on our verandah..the possum of course looks startled, who wouldn't with the camera flash, and the gorgeous parrots eating the flowers off my Golden Penda tree. The birds are very rough and break branches but the sounds and the flurry of colour is amazing.

Take care,
Deb