Is it TuTu Much?

When my lovely daughter spotted some crystal organza in a fabric shop, she asked "Mum could you please make me a TuTu?"
Molly suffers Aspergers and has been the subject of bullying all her life, so I was a little worried at making her something that was so different to what most 13 year olds wanted to wear. My 12 year old just snorted and said "don't you dare make me one!" Molly loves pretty things and just loves to dance I knew the locals at the bowls club where we go to dance and socialize on weekends would be supportive They just love Molly and are in awe of her dancing skills. So for a week I was immersed in mountains of frothy frills while I endeavored to work out how to make this. I found a whole lot of fabric in my stash that I could use including the yellow satin, which I promptly screen printed my butterflies on in blended colours.I had no real pattern so had to work it out as I went .
I adapted the bodice from a 70's dress pattern that I had making it longer and adding the lacing and tulle at the back

The ruffles were made from the organza and some small pieces of yellow tulle that I already had I edged the tulle with satin ribbon to give it a nicer finish.
Thank god for my ruffler attachment or I would never have attempted this! It made life easier!
I made a sash from the organza to go around the hips attached by small loops
Finally I luckily had and off cut of yellow lycra I made the tights with and used some of the yellow satin to make the ties on the legs.

Molly loves it and can hardly wait to wear it to the Valentines Dance at the club next week end!

Reusable 5cm drafting paper

How to make your own 5cm Reusable Drafting Graph Paper

This is a simple idea to make drafting paper that you can write on with a white board marker and wipe clean to use over and over again.

Recently at the oppie I came across a beautiful book Little Clothes for Little People by Lia van Steenderen Printed in 1987 by Exley.

The book cost me all of two dollars and was full of gorgeous children’s clothes patterns

displayed, via 5cm grids.

Now for the dilemma, apart from the fact I could not buy grid paper in that size locally and after paying such a low amount for the book I was not in the mood to pay for a stack of paper. I certainly did not want to go to the bother to draw up a grid for every pattern piece either (Not on my list of favourite things to do!).

So got the old grey matter churning and purchased a roll of contact. I actually bought two, one was marked with squares and numbers and lots of writing on the back; however the other one was marked in red squares only in blocks of 45 x 50 cms Perfect!

Number the small squares across the top and down the sides of the paper It will make it easier to rule up.

5 x5 of these red squares make a 5cm block

Rule up your squares in a contrasting pen colour

Cut another piece of contact 45cm x 51 cm. Allow your self a little extra to line up the plastic with your paper base.

Use a ruler to help adhere the contact evenly to the paper a few small creases make very little difference so don’t panic if your first one is not perfect. Trim any excess contact at the edges.

Draw up your pattern piece

Trace off your pattern

You can use tracing

Paper I actually use

vilene I find it more durable

Wipe clean and start again with the next piece 

These are so quick and inexpensive to make. Make up at least 4 and you can sticky tape them together to draw up larger patterns.

Also they just roll up and store in a draw until you need them

I am going to make up a whole lot of those lovely patterns Hope this helps you too

Julie-Ann

Are You Ready?

Well I have drawn the winner I actually did it at 2o'clock this morning because I could not sleep! I cut up bits of paper and numbered them from 1 to 20 put them in a container......shook em all up.......and drew out.............number 11! Going back to the list of comments and counting...........................MoederKip  !!!!!
congratulations Nat!!!! I will be contacting you shortly!


I wish I could have drawn everyone You all left such lovely comments thank you! Don't feel too sad if you missed out i will have another giveaway in a few weeks


Julie-Ann

Inspiring Blog Award

http://dustyhollow.blogspot.com

http://acmtel.blogspot.com

http://willowandmoo.blogspot.com

http://mandy-mandysspot.blogspot.com

http://littleboozle.blogspot.com

http://sugarpopcafe.blogspot.com

http://madquilter.blogspot.com

These are the recipients of my award If your on the list just copy and paste to your blog and list 7 recipients of your own!

Larger View of Honeyeater Fabric

Making It Sing

Close up of 2metres

Sometimes when you are doing art work drawing, painting printing a piece of work begins to "sing" and becomes something that makes you go "ooooohh!"
This piece of fabric did that for me the moment I lifted the sun print stencil it made my heart flutter I think the gorgeous citrus yellow and orange that it is and the way the sun printed undulated, fading in and out in intensity throughout the 2 metres. The colours don't show up that well in the photo They are rich and full in real life. As a thank you to the Mamas that have supported me so wholeheartedly in my printing ventures I have decided to make this a giveaway. Just leave me a comment I will draw the winner on February 1st. Good luck I will draw randomly. Oh and this is 2 metres x 112cm of Australian homespun cotton.

January Meme DONE! :)

Ok Yay! I have completed January's Meme challenge and made something for myself I really needed a couple of aprons for two purposes One for Sun and screen printing Because I have a very bad habit of ruining my clothes and one for cooking  The printing apron (Blue and white gingham) is made from Mexican oil cloth A plastic coated cloth which I purchased from the Crafty Mamas Shop! Wonderful stuff for projects like this. The pink one is for cooking and is made from two tea towels I purchased a cheap bulk pack of linen tea towels last week and picked the two prettiest I added the circled pattern tea towel at the front because I purchased a wonderful Christmas apron from an op shop that had a tea towel like this I love it It is so handy for drying your hands on or the odd spoon while you are cooking. The ties for this apron I also found an idea from a blog somewhere It is one continuous piece threaded through open ended side seams This is great for me as my girls tend to use my aprons too and tie the neck up in undo able knots (Their busts are not as generous as mine) So this is great! it adjusts to the wearer!