Sunday Sewing - Pie and Tarts Quilt

While I didn't have my sewing machine I've been planing and catching up on other tasks. Last year I finished a long awaited quilt for Master Little 8 and while I have leftover fabric to make Master Little 2 a quilt I wanted to make something different for Atomic Dad and I. After some hunting on the Internet and asking at my local fabric shops I have decided to do two quilts both of them as Block Of the Months or BOM's.

Pie and Tarts is a hand pieced quilt from Busy Thimbles  and costs me about $35 Aus a month, with everything you need. I picked this to give myself a challenge and I've always wanted to have a handmade quilt.

The second quilt will be for my parents and I will post about it next month once I have done my first block.

So step one was to cut out all the fabric bits, then tack the fabric to the paper piecing.

Sew your pies together as you wish and then sew them to the background fabric.

 Once you have four blocks of pies sewen together you then sew a smaller tart over were they meet.

You spend a bit of time at the ironing board and most (or all if you like) of the sewing is done by hand. The idea of the BOM is to finish each month before the next arrives in the mail, this not only spreads out and gives you a clear time frame, it also spreads out the costs.

Hope you all had/have a great week end I'm off to finish some more patches.

Cloth Labels

While I've been making so many clothes and other things I thought I should put my name on them, after all I am very proud to have made them. So I've been hunting the Internet for just the right label. I didn't want one of the labels that you can iron/sew on as I think they are too hard and my children say they itch. I also had to find someone small as I don't no more then 500, while that sound a lot it's not if you think about it. I made about 1 new outfit per fortnight last year and that doesn't include any of the extra bits I did and if I keep sewing at this rate (family are starting to put orders in) I'll use them in about two years.

So the hunt was on, after a while I wasn't sure about my idea. Then I found Woven Labels Direct and I didn't have to order 500, I could order a lot less. My order of only 50 arrived this week and I am so happy with them.

If you sew a lot I would recommend putting your own label on your lovely work, even if your not giving or selling your items I think it's such a lovely touch.

A Lot of New

Monday

The last few weeks have been strange without my sewing machine. I’ve spent a lot of time planning the things I would like to sew and preparing for things to come. Monday was a day full of firsts and new’s, it was busy but great.


First, first for the day was back to school. Master Little 7 had his first day of year 3, Miss Little 6 had her first day of year 1. Oh and then I had to pull Master Little 2 from the classroom and he walked all the way home, normally he sits in the pram, so a big first for him.

A first for me, I’ve started going to the gym, well I’ve got a personal trainer. I plan to get fit and get that small waist that was the Dior Wasp waist.

Finale got my sewing machine back and also learned to sew an invisible zipper. And I found the Negroni pattern in my mail box and have started reading it to get ready for the MPB Men’s Shirt Sew Along.

Thursday
 
Well I started this post on Monday and never got around to posting it, not to mention that I like Atomic Dad to proof read it before hand. You can always tell when I've not do so, no dought that this post will show it. I'm not going to wait for him to come home today so sorry about the errors.
 
Between Monday and today Master Little 7 turned 8, we had small BBQ and cake. I've got lots of goodies in the mail and will post about them later. Have started the first of 2 Block Of the Months (BOM) and have lost my glasses some were along the way.
 
Our business is still a mess due to the floods but at least Atomic Dad is taking the spare time to rest a bit.
 
Well I think that's all for now, oh and started plans for my fathers 70th birthday and my birthday later this year. We are thinking vintage sailor theme as he builds boats and I like vintage. More on that later.
 
I hope everyone has been having a great week and things are going smoothly for you all.

Week Day Meals - Veggies & Pizza

I know the title sounds strange and we didn't eat them in the same sitting, all tho I have had veggies on a pizza before. No this week saw less creative meals and more of the good old faithfuls, this was mainly due to a busy week and Master Little 7 refusing to eat anything healthy.

Oh and between my forgetful mind and a temperamental camera I was only able to get photo's of one meal but it was the good one.

Monday - Homemade Hamburgers.

You know bun, meat paddy on the BBQ, lettuce, cheese, tomato's, beetroot, salt and pepper and anything else you would like to add. The children always love it because they get to make there own and we love because we can say "you made it you eat it."

Tuesday - Oops I have forgotten.

Wednesdays - Cheat's Pizza & 3 Delish Salads (& Squashed Cherries & Vanilla Mascarpone Cream - that I didn't make due to the Atomic Children not eating there dinner.) This mean was from Jamie's 30 Minute Meals.

This was a not as big a hit as I had hoped, I think it was the vinegars that were a bit too much for the children. It was rather easy and I did do this in 30 min. I think you could almost get away with throuing all the salads into one bowl to make life easier. You could also make more pizzas if needed, as they are real easy to through together, or make them on there own. How ever this has a real Mediterranean taste to this dish so if you don't like Greek or Italian food this dish is not for you.

Atomic Dad's Verdict -
Atomic Children's Verdict - Liked the pizza but not the salads.

Thursday - Snags, mash and veggies.

What can I say, quick, simple and easy.

Well that was this week. Between all the rain and getting ready for school next week it was very busy. Not to mention I still don't have my sewing machine back yet. Hope your week end is a good one.

Sewing Patterns

I'm in the middle of reclaiming my sewing area from under my mess, so while I was at it I thought I should start scanning more of my patterns. Besides it will give me good idea of what I have and could use. Hope you like them.

What I Sewed in 2010

As a bit of motivation for myself I've collected together all the outfits I sewed for myself and my family last year. My favorite would have to be the Black and White ANZAC dress. What is yours?

1 Year Ago

Well it was 1 year ago that I started this blog (1st post & 2nd post) but I started reading blogs and retro- frying my family a lot earlier. Once I started blogging I started sewing like I have never sewen before and how much fun have I had. I've made new friends, been inspierd by lovely people and gotten really excited on more then a few occations for the simple joy of sharing.

I would like to say a big thank you to all the Lovely People that follow me and my lot. Thank you to a the Lovely People that comment your words and support mean so much. I am looking forward to the coming year very much and truly hope to finish every thing on my To Do List, grown my Collection's, make new friends and have a hole lot of fun.

Please join me and my Atomic family as we retrofry ourselfs into the 1940/50's.

Week Day Meals

As part of my To Do List I wanted to better plan our family meals, this was more focused on Monday too Thursday meals as these are the days I always have the most issues with. No matter how hard I trid last year I just never seemed to stay on top of it. I also wanted to try new meals and learn to be a better cook over all.

So this week I picked all my meals from "Jamie's 30 Minute Meals", I did most of the meals in about 45 minute. I did however have to keep stopping to reread the steps and remember what I was doing, I sure you could do them in 30 minutes once you get to know some of the tec-necs better as well as the meals.

Monday - Broccoli Orecchiette, Courgette & Bocconcini Salad, Prosciutto & Melon Salad.

Atomic Dad's Verdict - Ok!
Atomic Children's Verdict - Yuck.

I wont be cooking this dish again, not that it was a bad dish it is just too different in flavours for my lot and the Prosciutto & Melon Salad was a strange mix.

MPB Men's Shirt Sew-Along - Step 1

I have decided to go with the Negroni #1014 pattern as I don't have a men's shirt pattern yet and Atomic Dad was happy with this one. I got an email today telling me it's in the post, so here's to hoping it gets here in time.

Fabric was easy as I brought this great retro style from Fabric Worm late last year and planned to make all three boy's matching shirt's (see To Do List).

Notions are also done. I'm going with white thread, even tho I've been told it's a no no but I think it will work. I've got red buttons as I'm thinking of doing the top of the pocket/s in plain red to contrast from the strips of the main fabric.

If you are thinking of joining us in the Men's Shirt Sew-Along there is a button on my blog that will take you there. If you've never sewen for a man before I suggest this a great place to start, I've sown many a shirt for my little boy's and once you've got a good pattern you can do a lot from there. It's a shame to say but men's shirts really haven't changed much over the years so it's more about the fabric you use then the pattern.

Sunday Sewing - Janome Decor

I thought I would introduce you to my sewing machine, this wonderful piece of equipment was given to me about 9 years ago as a birthday gift and is still going strong. It's an Excel Pro 5124 for those who like details, I just like that is all mine. I have access to 24 different stitches and Button Holes, but I think I've only ever used about 10 of them.

What I love about my Janome?

It's reliable and easy to use, and as long as I keep it serviced it's never fallen apart on me.

What I don't love about my Janome?
Having 3 small children I sew alot of small clothes and can't get the sleeves etc over the end, it's too big. I also wish the right side had more space for those bulky items to fit better.

Machine Feet I own (other then the normal ones),

Rolled Hem,

Button Hole,

Darning,

Even Feed,

1/4 inch seam,

Zipper Foot,

Concealed Zipper,

Machine Feet I would like to own,

Ditch Quilting,

Binder,

Piping,

The truth is I've been sewing for along time using only straight and zig-zag stitch, and for many years straight stitch is all many people have had. So you don't need all those fancy stitch options or machine feet, they do however make it easier, faster and more fun, in my opinion.

I would like to learn some of the finer details about sewing this year so I can get the most out of my Janome. I know there are things it can do that I'm just not sure of or even know about. I would also like to clean up some of that mess you can see to the left, I've still got a lot of stuff from my mother to go through.

Happy sewing everyone.

Dreaming of Sewing

Today I join the MPB Men's Shirt sew-along, this one is for Atomic Dad and all that fabric I keep buying for me*coff* him. I'm really looking forward to this. I have no idea what pattern I'm going to use yet but I can't wait.

I've also been thinking about a new wardrobe for work, as I like the idea of a uniform but since I'm the boss I don't really have one. So I've come up with an idea (will have to add to my "to do list"). New suite from the tweed I got in Sydney, and some other bits to mix and match. So it will be some thing like this.....

1x Jacket,
2x Fitted skirts (1x tweed, 1x ?),
4x different tops (these I've got lost of vinage patterns for),

I'm after a vintage pattern with a nice fitted coat, something lovely but dressy. I haven't finished going through my pattern boxes yet but I don't remember seeing anything of the like. Please, please, oh pritty please let me know if you find anything of the like, as I would love to own the pattern.

Oh No! No Sewing!

I can't sew at the moment, what am I going to do? I'm either going to get withdrawals or lose interest, this can't be good.

Why can't I sew? I've been doings a few clothing repairs, mostly for family, and my machine started to play up. First it would miss the zag in the zig-zag stitch and then it started to make a funny sound. Well it is due for a service and it did get a work out last year but the time away from it!

And so there will be no Sunday Sewing of the sewing kind this week. I will just have to think of other things to do inside, inside as it is STILL raining on and off in my part of the world.

Oh well I'm off to find something to do this weekend, other then house work. Hope you all have a good one.

Historic Village

When we did have a few hours of dry weather on the week end Atomic Dad took me to visit the Herberton Historic Village. It's a real mix of different ages with as much objects as possibly cramped into some of the spaces. Well worth the effort if your into history or if you just in this neck of the woods and are looking for something to do.

Sunday Sewing - Australian Home Journal 7154

This weekend we went to visit my in-laws, since the weather has not been great I knew we would be stuck inside if not all of the time at least most of it so I took my sewing with me. It was a good thing too, we ran out of things to do after a while.

This post ticks one off my "to do list", pants for Master Little 2, but I'm sure I'll need to sew more of these not too far off. Little boys just seem to go through pants. I copied this pattern to brown paper for just that reason, it will last longer that way.

Since the pattern is really simple, just front and back I took out the pocket, I was able to sew two pants in just on evening and finished the third off the next morning. Here is were I've sewn pants together.

 Then zig-zag stitch over 1/4" hem.

 Straight stitch hem over again, 1/4" along pants leg.

 Straight stitch top of pants about 1" and left an opening for elastic to be put in.

The fabric was really cheap but it is long lasting and will wear really well (made for this kind of job). The gap for the elastic makes it easy to be replaced when need at any time, this is a good idea as elastic will deteriorate much faster then your fabric.

And all three pairs of pants, just need to add elastic.

Well happy sewing and I hope it stops raining soon, just long enough to let it dry out a bit.