one little Doll

One little doll sleeping in the grass. And she even has her own blankie to keep them warm. I used a doiley for the frill around little reds face instead of sewing lace around and a little button made a nice dummy.

I like making the blankies to wrap the dolls in so they are nice and snug til they reach their new home.

Next on the neverending list is to finish a baby quilt and make a couple of pairs of shorts and maybe if i get time before it's too late there will be some little tiny tree house accessories for the little gnomes to furnish their house with. (I'm thinking a rug and some blankies and maybe some sleeping bags). Am in the middle of trying to draw a reindeer kid for a t-shirt applique so if that works i'll post a pic and let you see!

Market round up

Well, I had my first market stall on the weekend at the baby and toddler market run by the lovely Christine. It was a bit scary setting up and wondering if anyone would like the stuff I make but I got some lovely comments and a lot of "wow, did you make these?" so my confidence got a bit of a boost. The only thing that was a bit annoying was that people seemed a bit preoccupied with looking for pre-loved goods and some commented that they didn't realise there would be new stuff there. It was mentioned on the flyers that there would be a few handmade and new product stalls but I guess people don't always read the details.

Apart from that I had a good time and got to chat with my stall neighbours who were lovely and had beautiful things to sell. I think selling online will be a good way to go in the future as it was a lot of work to get ready for the market and I can just sew at my own pace if I put things online. If there was an art and craft market in our town it would probably be worthwhile having a stall as people would know what to expect but most of them are flea market type set ups so they're not ideal for handmade stuff.

Silly me forgot to take my camera so I only have these pics that I took beforehand of some of the stuff I had.

P.S. if you like softies check out 'theneedle's' blog for some amazing creations!

Works in progress

The latest bunch of things I have started are a quilt for Mr Fish's cousin who is having a baby next year, a new doll that sort of looks like a butterfly (that's what it will hopefully turn out like) and despite having other stuff that I should be doing I couldn't help but to start on the barn house that's made from the same tutorial as the gnomes home 'cept I did it 1.5 times bigger to fit all those farm animals in (they like their space apparently).

The butterfly doll is being made because oldest little fish informed me that her doll called Sabine (that is taken to bed each night for cuddling) needed a cuddle doll of her own so she wouldn't get lonely when she is lying on the bed during the day all by herself. (This actually makes sense to me, I don't know whether to be worried by that or not???!!!) And a butterflyesque doll was picked because Sabine likes butterflies. So there you go.

The barn is coming along nicely and I am now putting the windows on (if only real housing was this easy to build). The animals are waiting in the linen cupboard til they can move in, though oldest fish did find them and sneeks a peek at them when she thinks I am not looking. The barn is for littlest fish so this is okay as she can't actually open the linen cupboard door yet. Plus she is only 1 and doesn't seem to care.

The quilt has been fun to do as it required actual sewing on the sewing machine, which I haven't done much of lately so it was nice to take it for a spin. Anyway better get back to sewing on barn windows!

Some more shirts and a funny softie

Here's some more shirts that I have been busily making, they are getting a bit addictive now. I love this deer applique that is from an ottobre pattern and Stacey actually liked it! And she has already worn this toadstool shirt that I based on Tabitha the toadstool softie. It's quite strange that she actually liked all the shirts I made her as she hasn't liked anything for ages. Maybe the 'I don't like it' phase is over? I surely hope so.

Can you guess which remote isn't real? I really hope so! I finished it the other night and have to say even Mr Fish commented on it and he NEVER says anything unless forced to (except grunting, but thats just a male thing isn't it?) So now I have to keep it safe and try to get littlest fish to not chew on it.

Some new houses.

Here's a couple of pics of what has been keeping me out of trouble lately. I have been busy making some new houses! the toadstool is from a free pattern from here and the tree house is from a tutorial that can be found here . They are really fun to make and I am now wanting to make a little village.

In other news.... my cotton reel holder is done! Mr fish got busy and I have a nice place for the threads to hang out when they are not working. No more tangled threads courtesy of the littlest fish, yay!

And this here is a rather unusual project, I am making a softie remote control for someone for xmas. They are rather attatched to their remote and insist on holding it even when they are asleep on the lounge so no one else can use it so now they can cuddle this one instead!

Giveaway!

I am celebrating 100 posts with a giveaway!!!!!!

( I think I am a bit over but who really cares right?)

This is Willemina the woodland Girl and she is keen to find a new home. She likes playing in the garden and has a habit of collecting strange looking sticks. Willemina gets along well with most people but seems to get a bit cross with people who tell her she looks like a monkey.

If you would like to have Willemina come and live at your place please leave a comment on this post and I will get the random number selector, I mean the hat, to draw a new owner out. I Will let you know in a week or two who has to get another bed organised for their new house guest.

'Super Liam' and 'Monkey girl'

Look, up in the tree. Is it a bird? Is it a Monkey? Is it a Super Hero? Well yes it is actually!

Here are the latest additions to the softie gang all finished and up to mischief already. Super Liam is for a certain little boys birthday that is coming up very shortly and the rest of his pressie is nearly done. 'Monkey girl' (who really does need a better name) is staying at our place as she is the very first one of her kind that has been made so far. Will have more pics of finished things soon and coming up very soon is a giveaway to celebrate 100 posts! Stay tuned peeps!

p.s. I am a bit excited as I have convinced Mr Fish to make me a cotton reel holder to hang on the wall! No more hunting for threads!

Sneeky Peeky

Ok here is a little sneek peek at some things I am currently working on. We have a half completed super hero who will be known as 'Super Liam' (said in a deep super hero voice), a little doll that my lovely daughter told me looks like a monkey, and this other thing is going to be a little cabin in the woods doll house that has a pond and mushroom patch out the front and a garden path to meander along. I have loved working on this and the embroidery is coming along slowly (well slow for me, I am impatient to finish it). I am very reluctant to give it to my kids to play with as a lot of work has gone into it and it feels more like an art piece than a toy. So I thought I'd keep it for me and make the kids a more child friendly version that can get a bit bashed around. When it's finished I will post some pics and show you the details.

I got a parcel in the mail yesterday from E-Quilter in the U.S. with some fabric I ordered and a magazine called 'Stuffed' that I had heard about. It's great and is full of softie makers and ideas and I really enjoyed getting other crafters stories and how they go about creating. If anyone out there is a softie fan you will probably enjoy reading this mag (as far as I know there are only 2 issues out so far and it comes out every 6 months).

Sleepy Sabine is ready

All the sleepy Sabines are finished! They have been stuffed and are now sitting with the pirates, bunnies and kitty cats ready to go. Now I can get back to sewing pants and the million other things I want to make.

It is littlest fishes first birthday in August and we have been finding it hard to think of something to get her as she has all her older sisters toys to play with. So I thought it would be nice to get her something a bit special instead that she can have to keep as she grows up. I found a beautiful print on Etsy by thepoppytree (don't you just love trawling through all the fab stuff on there?) that is called the story tree. it is a tree/girl thing reading a story to all the forest animals and I think it is lovely. So I am now impatiently waiting for it to arrive.

I also found a cute idea off a blog called moonstitches which is an owl banner with a letter printed on each owl to spell whatever you like (a little fishes name perhaps?) So she might get one of those made for her. it is rather difficult thinking of things that aren't toys (like we really need any more to clutter up the house) to get for little kids but I am doing my best to give handmade pressies to everyone this year and I better do the same for my kids too!

This is what I have been doing lately

Besides doing a bit of work in the garden lately, I have been getting a bit of sewing in when I can.

The Babushkas are going to be for a stall that is slowly starting to get a bit of a stockpile in readiness for the day. Stacey has one that I made a while ago for her and these are almost the same, just tweaked a bit. Her doll is called Sleepy Sabine and I was told these new ones are named that too, so there you go!

All the chenille pants have been made over the last few months and I have some more to go yet. I have been sewing some other pants from cotton fabric as well and hopefully will have a decent amount in various sizes from 00 to 3.

It is a bit scary sewing so many pairs of pants and wondering if anyone will actually buy them! Hopefully there will be some chenille lovers out there. We are getting a visit from Nanny Sylvie on Thursday and Stacey is pretty excited as seeing her other nanny again. back to the sewing machine I go!

Some kitty cats and a gardener

I think we are turning biggest fish into a green thumb. We have to go out everyday and water the new plants and check if the vegies are growing. She is on to watering can number 2 as the first one was left out the back and Oscar (the dog) decided to have a go at using it. It is now in about 50 pieces and strewn over the yard. She was just devastated when she found it chewed up and was very cross with Oscar for a few days.

I have managed to make some Kitty cats and am now onto some little babushka dolls. The pants sewing has been going well and i am slowing building up a little stockpile, now fingers crossed that i can sell them all!

Also have to say congratulations to some lovely friends Martine and Aaron who just had a baby girl called Michaela Jade. She is a gorgeous little thing and they are doing well (if a little sleep deprived). Of course she got some chenille pants and also a little doll softie and some other bits of clothing. Well done Mart!

A book, Some Dolls and some crocheting

In the post recently was this wonderful book by one half of melly and me , Melanie Hurlston.

It has some really lovely projects in it and has only just come out so try and check it out if you can.

These dolls are going to live at a friends place in a couple of days (it's her birthday) and hopefully she won't see them before then!

And this came in the mail today! Aunty Jude has been very busy with the crochet hook and has made all these gorgeous doilies for me to use. Also in the parcel was a beautiful poncho for littlest fish and some very clever shopping bags that fold into themselves and button up in a little pouch. Thank you very much for making all these lovely things, Aunty Jude!

Some Pirates, some Bunnies and some stitcheries

We have been in the garden a lot lately, it's lovely outside at the moment (except for the mozzies). But I have managed to get a bit of sewing done in the evenings. The vegie patch is growing well and I am amazed that nothing has died yet. We got so enthusiastic we now have a little herb garden made from an old wheel barrow tray.

Back to the sewing now. I have been playing around making up some softies lately and thought I would try to make a few to sell at the markets along with some kids clothes. So we now have 3 Pete the pirates and 4 little bunnies ready to go. I have plans for a kitty cat and some babushkas next.

Also done recently are some stitcheries that will be put together when the others are finished and made into a wall hanging for little fishes room. It has a bit of a woodland theme going on as the other ones are all mushroom and gnome type ones too. Will post more pics as they are done.

Thanks Alesha!

Just got this in a parcel this morning, it is from Alesha in the crafty mamas alphabet swap. We had to send a parcel with something that started with either the first letter of our name or our user name. Since mine is two little fishes I got ..... two little fishes! aren't they so very cute?

And she says it's her first attempt at amigurumi. I reckon that's a pretty good first attempt.

Thanks Alesha, we (me and the two little fishes) love them. They are playing in pretend underwater as I write this.

Neville the slightly Neurotic Nom.

Hi there, I'm Neville and I'm a Nom. My pattern is by Aimee Ray and as you can see I am rather cute looking. I have been a bit nervous lately as a pirate has moved into my space and he has a sword! I am not too keen on violence so I hope he doesn't find any need to use it. I'm keeping my distance where possible. It's nice hanging out in the garden with the bugs and the birds, i don't think the pirate likes animals so i should be pretty safe out there.

Pete the Pirate and a new vegie Patch

Well, we have been rather busy this weekend doing some gardening and finishing off the vegie patch. Mr Fish wanted to make it out of stuff we already had and managed to get some dirt from work to fill it up. We mixed in the compost from our bin and put some mulch on the top and planted our little seedlings. Stacey was very excited and keeps checking on them to see if they have grown yet. We had to plant some cherry tomatoes as they are her favourite as well as some carrots and snow peas. Hopefully something will grow and give us a bit of food. Mr fish even made a fence and a little gate to keep the dog out too! He is rather proud of his work and stood admiring it for a while.

Apart from gardening I have been playing around trying to make a softie. This is Pete the Pirate and he is rather friendly despite having lost an eye and a leg in a misunderstanding with another pirate. (I think it was over a parrot). He has his own swordy thing and has been told it is not to be used when playing.

His little friend is a sleepy monkey girl that Stacey has adopted as her own. I like her basic design but am not happy with the quilters flannel her hood is made out of, it is a bit stretchy so she will go back for a refit and hopefully come out looking lovely.

Random stuff

I just finished these little projects for some people I know.

the journal cover is for a friends birthday and the Giraffe is for a swap I am in.

On the go at the moment are some pants for 1 of Stacey's little friends.

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.