Ottobre design sewing patterns

Although I can draw patterns for most things and understand the theory behind it; I tend to use patterns. There are so many out there that you can always find what you want; or something very similar that requires a little tweak.

I recently bought an Ottobre design pattern book for children's fashion. I bought a reduced 2009 book as I had never used them before. I have looked through at the designs and love them. 

They bring out four children's magazines a year and with in each there are ranges for babies, toddlers, children and young teans. They use a mixture of jersey and woven fabrics; and everything looks fresh and vibrant. 

Ottobre also do women's patterns, have a blog and a fabric shop. They are well worth checking out if you are interested in sewing.

Here are some of the design from the 2009 catalogue; I am thinking of making the Winter coat for Gladys this year... I'll let you know how it goes.

Our daily constitutional

Everyday, since my maternity leave started, Gladys and I try to go for a walk. We promenade round the village in her vintage Silver Cross pram which I am still using as I love it so much. Gladys loves sitting up high and seeing everything, and is always asking to go out for a walk.

Now Gladys is walking I want to encourage her to jump in and out of the pram, and use her own two feet as much as possible. This is easy to do if we walk through the park as she can stroll in her random way quite safely - on the pavement I really have to have my wits about me.

Gladys is a good girl who wants to walk next to me and hold my hand the majority of the time - but she has Matthew's fiercely independent streak which I can see defining her character as the days tick by. After much thought, and reading of articles and listening to opinions, I have decided to use baby reins (such a horrid name, I prefer the American term 'walking harness' as it doesn't sound like she has a bit through her teeth), and get her used to them sooner rather than later.

I looked on the internet at the ones available and there were really cute little rucksacks with a strap but they would be uncomfortable for sitting back in the pram, and the old fashioned ones that look like dog leads. I did like the vest style ones but they looked so practical - and I hate things that look practical. So I have made my own.

It is a simple bodice, the outer is heavy duty cotton fabric and the inner lightweight cotton print - meaning it is breathable. There is a grosgrain ribbon double stitched to the front and the bodice buttons down the back. The strap is secured in the middle of the back with a vintage buckle I had in my stash box. So she won't trip when we don't need the strap I can wrap it round her waist and hold in place with the buckle.

We tried it out this afternoon and Gladys was happy, so I was happy. Just gives a little bit of piece of mind for me.

Holiday... and a great shop in Bath

Matt, Gladys and I have just returned from a holiday at Longleat in our caravan. We went with Matthew's parents who also have a caravan and it was a lovely family holiday. We luckily found two pitches next to each other so we could pop in and see each other instantly.

Caravanning is a lovely way to go on holiday with family, you can be near each other but as you have your own 'home' you have that all important space at the beginning and end of the day.

Our little caravan is called Wendy and she is an Eriba Pan Familia. She has a little pop up roof and is lovely and light to tow. Here we are on holiday:

One day we went to Bath and I found this great shop called The Makery. It was a little treasure trove of japanese fabrics and beautiful ribbons and unusual findings. They had a great selection of books too. If I am ever in Bath again it is the first shop I will visit. After enquiring I discovered that they are in the process of setting up an online shop, and also run classes. I will be keeping a close eye on this shop!

Taggy blanket

My friends Lesley and Darrell had their baby on Sunday morning. He weighed 11lb 12 ½ oz and his name is Arthur John. Thank you God for a safe delivery and a healthy mum and baby. His big brother James must be very excited.

As a welcome to the new arrival I wanted to give them something; we are on a tight budget and I wanted it to be something personal and special... Something I noticed when Gladys was small was how much she played with the labels on her soft toys so when I saw a baby with her taggy blanket I thought it would be a perfect gift for Arthur.

They are very simple to make. I raided my ribbon jar for a selection of different textures and sizes, and to continue the textures used soft blue fleece for one side, and rough cream linen for the other. As a finishing touch I embroidered bright red stitching, deliberately naive, around the edge and his initial in the middle. I hope he likes it!

Trefoil craft day

Hello everyone. Been a bit manic recently - my business is taking off now, my daughter caught chicken pox, and it has been her first birthday - so sorry for the humungous gap - I will try to do better.

Last time I posted I was about to attend a craft day with the Trefoil guild. The Trefoil guild are responsible for organising the monthly craft night I attend and once a year they arrange a craft day. You can find our more about the Trefoil guild here.

Beforehand the ladies send out forms asking you to pick your top six 'makes', and then let you know in advance which three you are doing. It is very organised, just what you would expect from guiders.

The three crafts I did were beaded Japanese braiding, daffodil bag and thimble pod.

Japanese braiding I have done before; but the inclusion of beads was something new. Japanese braiding was originally used in Samari armour and made from silk threads - now it is used for many things including belts and necklaces. The class was for an eight strand beaded braid - and I was so proud of mine I have made it into a bracelet.

The second class was a daffodil bag, this is also Japanese in origin, and reminds me of origami. The bag is created from two triangles of fabric sew together. Gladys really likes this bag, and I think it would make a great Easter present with some chocolate eggs inside.

The final class of the day was the thimble pod - this was also the trickiest. This is completely hand sewn and each side has two pieces of fabric (red and green), two pieces of plastic milk bottle, and two pieces of wadding. The end result is very clever as it creates a little pod that opens and closes by squeezing it. You were meant to attach the pod to your scissors and use it to keep you thimble in but it would drive me crazy having something hanging off my scissors. As soon as I had finished I could see a frog staring back at me. I added the eyes and nose at home and there he was. I just wish the ribbon was in the middle of the pod so it looked like his tongue.

Which one is your favourite?

Messy church Lent illustrations

Just finished working on some illustrations for our Messy Church service on Saturday. Messy Church is a service our church does on a Saturday aimed at families, it started with games, then crafts and activities linked to a theme (Lent, Easter, Christmas etc) followed by a short, children-friendly service. We then all have tea together with lots of cake!

I have been asked to help out this month. These drawings are going to be coloured in and then each person will take 40 stickers and their coloured-in landscapes home with them. Each day you are to pop a sticker on the landscape that best represents your day.

We chose to represent two 'good' days and two 'bad' days... the beach is a happy, fun-filled, family day; the meadow a calm, tranquil day; the winding road a tiring, long day; and the mountain a tough, hard day... I can see mine having a lot of stickers in the road landscape!

Who's for pizza?

My brother, Joe, loves his Volkswagen campervan and winter has been spent respraying Rhubarb. The first time I was going to be able to give him his birthday present was at DubFreeze where Rhubarb was on show!

Anyone who's even been to a Volkswagen show knows that they aren't like other car shows. I own a Morris 1000 (called Blue) and the Morris scene is no where near as cool as Volkswagens. At a Morris show I feel I fit in; when I go to a Volkswagen show I feel desperately uncool. One thing they really go into at the Volkswagen show is accessorising their vehicles - and this isn't the odd period atlas and old radio on the back seat - each van is done out like a complete room! The tables are laid for lunch with Volkswagen-themed melamine, vintage fabric bunting hangs down, 1950s cool boxes and wicker baskets are on the roof rack, you get the picture.

I had the idea to make some felt food for the table, initially thinking of cupcakes... but Joe's favourite food is pizza. Having a browse on the internet I found Buggabugs have a pizza pattern. I like Buggabugs patterns, they are straight forward and easy to follow, but really imaginative. I used her Pizza pattern; my pizza came out a little 'well done' so next time I would buy lighter felt for the base and the cheese (the perils of buying felt on eBay).