The Princess, the Pea and the little Fish.

It's oldest little fishes birthday tomorrow. She's gonna be the big 5! The last five years have really flown by, I can't believe she's at school already let alone turning 5. Anywhoo, as well as getting a bike for her birthday (she's been asking for a big girl bike for ages) I've made her a princess and the pea playset from the book 'more softies'.

She is into pink now. This is the girl that played with Thomas the tank trains and was a complete tomboy until not that long ago. Now she likes pink and princesses and fairies and unicorns and mermaids and especially likes pink pony unicorn mermaids. They do exist, go have a look at the my little pony section in the toy shop.

So we had to have some pink in the mix and for good measure we threw in some green and purple.

The pattern is pretty straightfoward and the cutting out took the longest, once you have cut lots of rectangles out you just sew them up and make a cute princess and a pea. Couldn't be easier!

I found a book with the story in to give as part of the pressie, it was suprisingly hard to find. I couldn't get the story on it's own but managed to find a book of princess stories that included it.

I'll let you know what she thinks of it!

What we've been doing lately

There has been a bit of action around here lately despite the yucky, humid heat we are experiencing. Mr fish was doing not much in particular the other day so we convinced him to build a bird feeder to hang out the front! He did a rather good job of it considering all he was told was 'it has to have a roof and be able to hold a tray for easy cleaning'. He even put a little twig perch on the side for the birds to sit on. And oldest one had a great time 'helping' to build it.

The fishes got a new trampoline for xmas and it has been getting a fairly good workout though Mr fish is not that impressed with having another thing to move around when he is trying to mow the grass (which is quite often at the moment as we have had a bit of rain so it just keeps growing)

Here's a better pic of the treehouse with the elves in residence, we have made them some bedding and a rug and they have some little kitchen type thingies that are called re-ment (it's something japanese that is basically miniature bits and pieces that dolls would like to play with)

And finally we bought some fish. It has been the most exciting thing that has ever happened in the history of the world (according to the chief fish feeder) and they get kissed and cooed over every day. I think they are the most spoilt fish in the history of the world but what would i know! Good thing we kept out old tank in the shed all this time, knew it would come in handy one day!

So that's a bit of a round up of what's been going on here lately, how about you?

The seamstress and the calendar

Just a quick post to show you two things we have at the moment that are lovely to look at. I got an advent calendar panel from Kristen Doran and made it up for the little fishes. We managed to find a 24 piece puzzle and put a piece in each pocket with a couple of xmas stickers (it is waaaayyyyy too hot here to put chocolate in the pockets). So far it has been a success with a bit more puzzle put together each day and a sticker stuck to something in the house. The other lovely thing we have is a print I got for my birthday called 'the seamstress' by thepoppytree which is in the sewing room so I can look at it when I get the chance to sew. Oldest fish and I just made some haybales for littlest fishes barn that she is getting for xmas. We made them out of matchboxes and covered them with some thin pellon and then some hay looking material. Now we have to figure out how to build a fence and it will be all done!

Shirts and some wee little people

Here's some pics of some things that have recently been completed, Christmas is creeping up ever so quickly so I am trying to get everything at least started so I am not sewing madly on Christmas eve!

These shirts are for a couple of boys I know and boys like monsters and robots, don't they? I hope they do as that's what I've been told (my very tomboy like girl thinks they are great, along with dinosaurs and trains) so hopefully the boys receiving the shirts like them as much as she does. (otherwise they will no longer be for the boys!)

The little gnomes have been sitting on a shelf looking at me for a while, waiting patiently to be placed ever so carefully in a box for their long trip at Christmas time to their new home. They had to be up quite high so other little people would not play with them beforehand, despite a few efforts to reach them. Hopefully Poppy Bob has their new treehouse home nearly ready for them to move into or there will be trouble of the 5 year old kind!

On another note, I went to kindy night at my little fishes kindy she is going to next year to get all the info needed for enrolment. I know she is going to love going but it is a bit sad too. I can't belive she is going to kindy already, the time has gone so quickly and she will really be grown up then. But at least there will be chickens to feed and paintings to paint and songs to sing and I will get to hear all about them when littlest fish and I pick her up at the end of each day. (That's a platypus in case you didn't know.)

Noddy and the doll quilts

Over the last few months I have managed to find these Noddy figures at the local op shops. They are soooo cute and remind me of when I was little and loved to read Enid Blyton books. I have no idea if they are just a cheap cereal box type toy or one you can actually purchase but they are all in great condition and I love them for the memories they bring to mind.

These two doll quilts have just been finished, they were super quick and easy to make, I didn't even bother with wadding as they are not needed for warmth. I top stitched around the blocks once they were turned right side out so they look a bit 'quilted'. They are for xmas pressies for two little girls but I won't mention names in case their mums read this.

Market day is tomorrow so wish me luck!

More sneaky peeks

Okay so I might have forgotten to post the picture of the bag I made in the last post, I had a wriggly fish on my lap 'helping' to type and the other one explaining to me where quolls live! (I'm glad someone in this house knows). The bag is from a Janelle Wind pattern called 'Thelmas day out' which also has a journal cover pattern included. It was really easy to make and the instructions were pretty straightforward and easy to follow.

I finished the fabric barn as well, once I got started I couldn't stop so it's all ready to go. I really love this fabric house tutorial as you can turn it into anything you like. Biggest fish now wants a house for her little animals (sylvanian families) so maybe if she behaves herself we might work something out. She loves to help whenever I'm in the sewing room so we may do this one together as a project for when littlest fish is asleep.

Rori's birthday pressies

After a very busy weekend setting up 5 weddings i managed to get a bit of sewing done this morning. One of little fishes friends is turning 2 this week and I thought a cute dolly was a good idea. the pattern is Maisie by Kate Henderson and was in the More Softies book I got a while ago. I haven't made her up before but she was very easy and came together nicely.

I also made a cupcake skirt as her mum likes them and of course had to make a little bag to put her pressies in so they could be carted around.

I also was trying to take some pics of the little fishes in some chenille pants I have been making so I could have some shots of the pants "in action" to put on the Made It website when I get around to it, but alas they were not very model like with their posing. Couldn't resist showing this pic as it makes me laugh to look at it. I had said to her "now, make a pose and smile" and this is what she did. Oh well, we will have to try again later.

I have finished my latest quilt of love except for the binding so will post a pic when that's finished.

I am thinking I might like to make a mobile to hang in littlest fishes room next. There is a simply gorgeous pattern on spool sewings website for a little bird and a few pics of things they have done with the birdies made from the pattern.

No more chair covers to iron (double YAY!) so I am itching to get sewing.