Around the Web

It has only been in the last couple of months but I have become an AVID pinterest user. Well maybe not to the extremes but I can finally see the benefits. I was getting bogged down in all the negatives and the ways that people don't really use it ethically and forgetting the benefits. Soooo I have found the benefits and one enormous one is a great place to store those awesome patterns you see around and all that great information that gets thrown out on this great interwebs.

I have a store of crochet patterns particularly but I have all sorts of yummy stuff to show you today.

Do you like cookies? I know I do but I can be really bad about cooking them I constantly take the lazy route. Now I have a bit of motivation to bake. Cate over at life behind the purple door is having fun this month sharing 31 days of cookies. It's motivating me to actually try baking something. I was awesome over the last weekend and made some shortbreads and I'm going to make these Jam drops very soon. 

As you probably know (though maybe not) I also write for www.andsewwecraft.com and one thing that happens over there is reader tutorials. I have become obsessed with this outfit. I am going to make myself a bohemian kimono dress. I love this design it just makes me happy. 

Also with Halloween just around the corner I just had to share some fun halloween cup cozies over at repeat crafter me. They are so scary :D 

So tell me about any interesting articles you have been reading around the web? Any new project ideas or thoughts? I would love to know what you have found, or are lusting after. 

Happy Stitching, 

Caitlin

It's My Birthday

Yes it's that time of year again. It's my birthday and I'm always excited about it. Last year I started a tradition that I want to keep going. I shared a cross stitch pattern with everyone and I want to do so again.

It's only a little design but I just had to make a cake :D Because everyone needs cake! If you do make it please share photos with me I would love to see what you come up with. I of course designed it with lots of purple in mind. I'm always in search of the perfect purple cake. I could see it looking awesome using gold metallic instead of the yellow... and beads for the flames. There are all sorts of ways you can jazz this up.

I hope you are all having a wonderful day and I know I am going to have a ball.

Happy Stitching,
Caitlin

WIP Wednesday

So what do I have to show for this week. ... Well we went away this past weekend as it was a long weekend here is sunny Queensland. It was a beautiful campsite and was a wonderful night away. We were going to stay for two nights then something happened. Actually lots of somethings ... about 30 million blow flies! They just would not leave us alone. They turned what was a lovely campsite into somewhere we couldn't stand to be anymore. So we packed up early on Sunday and came home after only being there for one night. At least it meant that we were definitely ready for school to go back. 

He wore his shorts :D I was so happy!

And oh gosh I was ready for school to go back! I don't know what it was about this last holidays but the kids were going nuts. Super argumentative and just being plain mean to each other and everyone around them. They would settle for stages and then be at each other again over the stupidest things. I think it's the ages but also the heat. It's only spring here and already it's boiling hot during the day. 

Oh to add to the crazy around here I signed up for another course. This one is a Diploma of Accounting. It's finally what I really need to get the experience and knowledge that I need. It also stops me from feeling so useless. I think I can make a good go of it and I know it is what I really want to be doing. It finally feels right. 

I haven't sewn since last week as we had to get ready and then go camping but I have been drawing and doing some tiny cross stitch. I have to finish this wonderful cross stitch... I will get there! It's the third of my gingerbread men and they have been waiting too long to be finished! It is a big goal for me. 

I was having some fun and created a zentagle art flower. I love how pretty it turned out. I drew the flower and then filled it in with patterns. I will have to work on this and do these more often. It's such a pretty way to do it.

Happy Stitching, 

Caitlin

Moku Skorts

So you have seen a lot around here at the moment, I'm on a bit of a sewing frenzy. Well as much of a frenzy as I ever get as I jump from project to project. But it is something very high on my list because it's both a need and a want.

After finishing 5 pairs of the Scrappy Shorts, my next goal was some more shorts for the girl because she actually needs them right now. (They both do but not as much once they go back to school next week, they have enough school shorts.) I used another pattern from Issue 5 of the One Thimble magazine. (affiliate link) Can you tell how much I love these magazines at the moment? It's more because at the moment they have exactly what I want in them and I find the tutorials easy to follow. I think I love the variety and I know for sure they are both loving the clothes. These shorts are different from the others because they are more of a skirt as well as shorts. This means she can girly while still not showing her knickers. (her words not mine).


I measured her and then had a large dilemma. I talked about this before but she measures as an 8 waist but with a 12 length. So I decided to make a 10 as that is the size she wears of everything else. Ooops. So they fit beautifully but don't have any room for her to grow up.

But I digress I want to tell you more about the making process first.

 The instructions were easy to follow and I had no issue until I came to the elastic. Now I haven't ever attached elastic before and I knew that I wasn't going to cut the amount specified in the pattern. Also after talking to grandma she didn't think that I should start the elastic from the side but from partly across the front so that the elastic hugs the hips. So instead of using the pattern I attached one side of the elastic into the front and then getting Lana to try it on and attaching it to the other side. It worked really well and they sit beautifully on her.

I then traced the size 12s so she can continue to grow with the shorts. I have made her a pair of blue ones in the 12. She picked out this fabric and I love the colour. I should use these to make a scrappy pair of pants as well. Maybe a simple shirt for her too??

Sorry about the slightly out of focus fabric something about this print is really confusing the focus on the camera. It just doesn't see it right.

I need to see if I can find a simple top pattern as I have enough fabric I think to make her a top as well.

She loves them and is so excited to wear them.

Happy Stitching,
Caitlin

This post contains affiliate links. If you end up buying the product I get money but it doesn't cost you any more to do so. My opinions are entirely my own.

WIP Wednesday

Ooops it's Thursday... I had this all written up and I thought I published it but apparently I didn't and now I'm fixing it up on Thursday... oops.

So it's been a week and a half of holidays and the kids go back to school next week. Despite the fact that we are technically on holidays it doesn't feel like we've slowed down at all. that is partly because we go out of our way to get to the park/beach every day that the kids aren't at vacation care. We haven't stopped for very long because the moment we stop doing organised activities the kid turn around and complain that they're bored!

We had a doozy of a storm come through a couple of days ago and we had hail and everything through our backyard. That ice stuck around the next day despite the hot day. It says how cold it stays near my washing line. No wonder it takes ages to dry everything.

 I have been sewing many pairs of pants for the kids. I don't actually have an WIP to show you I do have many finishes.

This is still the scrappy shorts from the one thimble magazine issue 5 (affiliate link). Gosh I LOVE this pattern. This time I made them without the side panels and I'm really excited about the way they turned out. Even better is that he loves them!

I had to take these from the floor of his room so they are a little scrunched up but that definitely says that he likes them as they keep being worn. 

 I do love making clothes when they are appreciated so much.

Happy Stitching,
Caitlin