Spring has Sprung

With this gorgeous spring weather upon us, I've been inspired to finish off the front garden. We have taken the front back to the start and laid grass, paving and now the flower beds are filling up. Here's some shots of the garden this week. My David Austin roses are coming along very well!

Things have been growing inside too. More stock being crafted for my upcoming markets in November... Prospect Food, Fashion and Wine Affair and Goodwood Xmas Market - see over on the right hand side of this blog for details.

Don't forget about the giveaway I'm running to celebrate the launch of my new venture Sew Vintage!!! Pop over, choose a fabric and be in the running for free fabric!!

Still Feeling Baggy...

More bags for the store. A few of these would be suitable for either boys or girls. I like to offer some options that aren't obviously meant for one or the other gender. More bags on the way next week! Like the look of one of these? Simply click on the picture and you'll be taken straight to the bag on the website!

Feeling Baggy

Been filling up the stash of Silly Gilly stock ahead of next month for my Big Secret Project on the boil. Oh, the anticipation is at the same time delightful and crazy!!

Here's two new bags in the store now. I've lost my lovely green door I used to use as a background for my bag photos as the shed is undergoing some renovations. With a lack of any photogenic backgrounds I'm now trying out a 'product on white background' look. What do you think? I'm also trying out a new name for them - moving from Library Bags to Tote Bags. Logical step do you think?

Done. Finally.

The big mysterious project is finally finished. Mr Silly Gilly very kindly removed the garrulous gremlin from our house for a few blissful hours this afternoon so I could concentrate on finishing off the project.

A couple of sneak peeks this evening and then tomorrow I'll set up a few photos in the lovely sunshiny weather I'm just hoping will appear.

Also, more bags in the Silly Gilly store this evening, made from some of the delicious Michael Miller fabrics I received a while ago from my fabric coop in the US. I do weep a few tears now and then when I think of how I didn't order more fabric whilst the AU dollar was doing so well against the US dollar.

Two more sleeps

Until I get to go to Inspired Stitches for both Saturday AND Sunday of this coming weekend. I feel hideously excited and a little bit curious at the same time as I've never been on one of these stitching weekend getaways before, let alone by myself! Hopefully I'll find some like-minded gals to chat with.

The very helpful Sarah of Quilt Fabric Delights has organised some wonderfully clever designers to come and show and tell us some lovely new designs.

I've already made or started patterns from two of the designers coming along this weekend. I've made Magoo from Melly and Me designs, shown below lounging around my daughter's room... Both Melanie Hurlston and Rosalie Quinlan are coming along, of Melly and Me fame.

And I've started the Little Bluebirds quilt by Janelle Wind. I'm showing you a pic from Janelle's pattern book as I'm not very far along in my stitching and it's a bit embarrassing to show you my work in progress! See that teeny centre block? I've just finished that off this afternoon... so much to still do!

The other designer that will be there is Leanne Beasley of Leanne's House. I love Leanne's work and really am drooling over her fabric choices for her designs. We get starter kits for new projects from each designer so I can't wait to see what's in my goodie bag!!

I have a new bag up in the Silly Gilly store called Penny Patchwork Library Bag. I've used lots of delicious scraps from all of my favourite fabrics in this bag. Looking at it, I can remember all the different projects I've created from those fabrics! Each side of the bag is different and you can guarantee that there will never be another bag like this as it's a unique piece. A boy's version will be coming along soon...

Sewing, sewing, sewing...

I have had the decadent luxury of 24 hours of kiddie-free sewing time. My wonderful MIL has had my daughter for that time and I have managed to get so much done! Who would have thought!!??

I tried my hand at sewing oil cloth and made an apron. Here is the prototype and I'm okay with this one but I have some great ideas for the next version. Oilcloth is a great fabric for aprons as it's a laminated fabric which easily wipes clean.

I am really liking the pinked edge of the pocket but next time will fold over the top edge of the pocket so that little hands don't get poked when they are looking for their spoon!

I've also whipped up a few library bags and will put them in the Silly Gilly shop this evening.

Stop Me Now!!!

I am in one of those flit-between-a-million-projects kinds of moods this week so I thought I might share with you some of what's on my list. In the process, maybe I might manage to focus myself onto something for more than an hour!

Appliqued panels for new library/tote bags.

An Enid Gilchrist winter dressing gown pattern all ready for winter when Adelaide decides it's not summer any more.

A 1977 smock-style top already cut and ready to sew in the lovely snuggly floral cord that you see in the background. I'm making the version that is in green on the envelope.

More flower brooches coming together using some of my friend Heidi's delicious hand dyed wool felt.


And more things on the boil too... knitting my poppet a castle bag and accompanying princess, dragon, king, jester, queen finger puppets.... more stock for the market in two weeks.... machine quilting my poppet's quilt that my MIL very generously basted for me as I couldn't bear to think about it.... repairing Magoo/Sour Cream after a rather unfortunate swing-around-the-room-by-the-monkey-arm incident.... 50+ wet bags.... little handmade gifts for poppet's cousin....
I think I'll stop the list there, even though there's more to add. It's likely I'll self-combust if I keep listing it all!

I was very fortunate last week to win a beautiful handcrafted ring from Chocolate and Steel. Here it is on my hand model. Me. Ever tried to take a photo with your left hand whilst holding out your right? It's a tricky thing. And I never realised how 'liney' my hands are! I like them though, they look nothing like that on a day to day basis... got to love macro. Just don't use it on your hands! Thankyou Christine... your work is amazing and the ring fits perfectly!

Now off to try to ignore the housework just a smidge longer so that I might get a little more done of my list!

Current total so far....

The current total of funds we've all raised so far through the Ebay auctions I have going is $685.18.

100% of that will be donated to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal once all monies are collected.

Can you believe it? I'm so impressed and cockles-of-my-heart warmed by the bidding bonanza. But I will be expecting some last minute bidding frenzies on all items. Pity I will be at the Fringe market selling my wares when half of the items finish! I love watching the bids go crazy in the last hours, minutes and seconds.

And to keep the hours ticking by at a rapid pace of knots here in the Silly Gilly emporium, I've been making a concerted effort to restock the boy's items in the store. I've sewn these bags and thought I'd give you a peek...

Tiptoe Through the Toadstools and Mushroom Munch

Atomic Blocks and I Am Robot

And probably the real reason I'm sewing like crazy is that I'm trying not to think about how so many Victorian crafty gals are at the Stitches and Craft Fair and I'm not there... boo hoo me.

New Lollipop Forest Bag

I've been busy in my literal sweatshop lately whipping up some art smocks for children going back to school. But sweatshop no more... I bought a pedestal fan and am now wondering why I waited so long!!

Now that my custom orders are finished I can start some other items for the store that I've been dying to show you. Here's a bag called Lollipop Forest that's new in store. I just love this fabric and it's come all the way from Japan - my brother who lives there very kindly sent it to me.

I have this print in brown too... perhaps another bag or an art smock might be in order. More bloomers in larger sizes for girls coming soon too!

Sweet Kindy Set

I've been busy sewing for custom orders and have just finished this little set of art smock and library bag in matching fabric for a lovely customer over in WA.


And another library bag is now in the Silly Gilly store - Surfing Safari. I just love how summery it looks!