A child's apron/smock

A friend sent me the link to this tutorial for a child's apron/smock a while ago and as I have a few presents for 2-year-olds to make, I thought I'd give it a go. It was really easy to make, looks really cute and covers the front of the clothes well. The first one I made was a little small (the tutorial is for a size 2T but Matilda at 2 years 4 months was too big for it). So I added cotton tape at the end of the straps where they tie at the shoulder to make it more adjustable. I then made another one but this time made it a little wider and longer in length and also did the cotton tape ties. Both were made with Ikea fabric backed with linen (from a pair of unwanted curtains) and a scrap of more expensive fabric (possibly Cath Kidston - I can't remember!) for the pocket.
Here's the first one, which will be a Christmas present for my youngest niece:

Sling for a doll

Well, Matilda has been asking for this for ages, and this morning we finally found the time. I had to make it in the style of an Ergo as that is what we mainly use (and she loves playing with the buckles). I didn't follow a pattern, just made it up. It hasn't had a thorough test yet, but so far it seems to be a hit. Buckles and webbing were from a brilliant camping/military surplus shop in Malvern called Harpers Bazaar. Fabric from my stash.

I sold some crafty things!

Well, we have had a very busy few weeks getting ready for our two Mummade stalls at local craft fairs over Easter / May Day. The first, at a local fruit farm, was not that successful - we think due to a lack of advertising - none of the other stallholders had a good day either. But the second, at Malvern's May Day celebrations, was much more successful. I sold three cake stands made out of old plates, which I was really pleased about! I'll definitely be making some more of those. Just need to hit the charity shops for more plates - as the car boot sale on Monday was useless. Luckily we have a charity shop in Malvern entirely devoted to crockery. I also sold a felted soap - I forgot the sign I had made to explain what they are so I'm not really surprised more of them didn't sell.

Here are some photos of some of the things I made:

My favourite - this one sold but I have another set of these plates to make another (for me!)

This is the only cake stand I have left. Anything left unsold will be up for sale at our summer residency at a local craft shop/cafe.

I sold two cake stands like this one.

Toddler skirt (designed by me) - upcycled from a pair of adult linen trousers

Toddler dress

Presents for 1-year-old boys

Matilda and I went to a lovely 1st birthday party yesterday. The mum had gone to such a lot of effort - baby-friendly foods (including homemade dips, courgette muffins, cheese straws etc), a music session, bubbles, and just a handful of people so it wasn't too overwhelming for any of the babies. The birthday boy even drifted off to sleep while we adults chatted and the babies played. Matilda had a lovely time - sometimes at parties she doesn't really smile and I wonder if it's all a bit much for her - but she was all smiles yesterday, and because it was mostly people she knew she was happy to join in from the start. Much better than a party we went to a few days ago which was mostly for the adults - Matilda was lost in a sea of grown-up legs!

It was another little boy's birthday yesterday too - he and his mum were at the party too - and as both boys' mums are good friends of mine I had two little presents to make. I bought a pack of t-shirts from M&S and used some of my fabric scraps to create applique designs. I also made cards by sewing squares of fabric onto a piece of card.

I made a sling!

Well, I was beginning to think our babywearing days were numbered. The Ergo waist strap had started to dig into me and I couldn't get it comfortable and I just felt like Matilda was too heavy. Another problem was Matilda was really resisting going in it unless she was ready for a sleep, and then crying in it as soon as she woke up. I borrowed a friend's top-of-the-range Macpac rucksack-style carrier but it was no better - incredibly heavy and seemed to pull on my shoulders. It reminded me too much of carrying heavy backpacks on D of E expeditions at school! Then someone from the village gave us their old Baby Jogger 3-wheel pushchair, which Matilda loves and to be honest it's a joy to push up on the hills (although I don't think I'd dare take it on the bus or to the shops - it's huge!)

At the last Sling Meet I was asking for ideas and someone suggested trying a toddler-size mei tai. No-one had one available and then I remembered I had started to make one ages ago but stopped because I couldn't imagine when I'd use it as I was getting on so well with the much-easier-to-use Ergo. I was looking around on the Natural Mamas site for ideas when I came across Podaegi carriers. As I'd already made the shoulder straps, it looked like a quick and easy make - and it was! I used the dimensions from this tutorial. The top section is padded with a layer of fleece, while the top of the straps have four layers of fleece (cut from an old fleece blanket). The main body and strap fabric is a heavy cotton - similar to denim - while the body also has a panel of gorgeous tree/leaves cotton fabric.

I took it out for a test drive yesterday and I was really pleased with it! Sorry about the pics - they're just taken on my phone - I'll try and get some better ones taken soon. I tied it in a ruck-style carry, using the ends to make a chest strap - that way there was no painful waist strap and Matilda was nice and high so she could see over my shoulder.

More Mummade crafting

The blog has been a bit neglected lately - mainly because in the day Matilda really gets annoyed if I go on the laptop (plus it's been such nice weather we've been outside a lot), and in the evening I've had so much other stuff to do (eg freelance web work, writing stuff for NCT newsletter etc) I've just not had time. On the plus side, Matilda has been letting me do some sewing in the day so I have got quite a bit done in the last couple of weeks. Which is a very good thing as we have our next Mummade craft fair coming up. We're having a stall at the Easter Saturday craft market at Clive's Fruit Farm, near Upton. It's our first proper craft fair so we're a bit nervous! I'm planning to make a load of felted soaps, some cake stands made out of recycled plates, and some children's clothes. So far I have made two pinafore dresses and almost finished a skirt. So lots to do! Picture updates will follow...

An Ergo strap protector

Babywearing in our village is on the rise! While there are always lots of framed hiking baby carriers in use due to the proximity of the hills, there are now also two other sling-using mums. Both started off with Baby Bjorn type carriers but both have since bought an Ergo. Neither mum uses a buggy much either so they are definitely in the babywearing mindset. It's great to have like-minded people so close! We have started going for regular walks exploring the many many footpaths around the area. I made one of the mums (who lives a few doors down from us) a strap protector for her new carrier as her little one was sucking the straps. She likes elephants so this scrap of cotton fabric was perfect. I sandwiched a layer of old towel between the cotton and a piece of fleece backing, then used a strip of velcro for the fastening. My friend was very chuffed with it. I just have to find another spare 15 mins to make another one for the other strap now!

My handmade Christmas

In an effort to use my new skills, save money and give meaningful presents this Christmas, I attempted a handmade present for everyone in my family (I only give presents to my immediate family so it's not too many). In fact, the only person who didn't get a handmade present from me this year is Sam (his present - a log bag - was handmade, but by a Mummade colleague rather than myself!). I don't have a photo of the linen laundry bag I made for my brother and his wife for their travels (they are currently spending 3 months travelling round SE Asia and Australasia) but here are the photos of the rest:

The doll I made for Matilda - complete with a dress that matches hers.

Drawstring playmat for my nephew

Shoulder bag for my sister

Fingerless gloves (made from jumper sleeves and lined with fleece) for my other sister

Baby doll for my 14-month-old niece

Crayon/pen roll for my 5-year-old niece (plus matching roll for her doll)

Wine cork board for my parents (who run a winery). Frame from a charity shop, painted to match the winery colour scheme.

Making presents for everyone was fun (if a little time-consuming!), and they seemed to be well-received - I'd love to keep it up next Christmas if I can!

Mummade - a new venture?

One of the reasons I was so busy in the run up to Christmas was that I was busy crafting away for a trial of a new venture I have started with some friends. We held a 'Mummade' festive fair in a friend's back garden chalet to showcase our crafting talents and to see if we could make enough stuff to sell.

It was deemed an overall success - we each made a few quid (which we didn't think was bad considering we had not widely advertised the event). I made £25 and sold all the felted soaps I had made, but didn't sell any of my bags or Christmas decorations. Our immediate reaction was that the trial was successful and that we would hold more events in 2011 or attend existing craft markets.

The idea is that Mummade is a collective of 'crafty' stay-at-home mums, making things to sell (mainly from recycled or pre-loved resources) and rediscovering some traditional crafts. I'm fortunate to know some incredibly talented mums! I think we all found it eye-opening how much time goes into things like this!!

Here are a selection of photos from our festive fair (mainly of my contributions):

Felted soaps - made by me

Felted bauble - made by me

Bags - made by me

Resolutions

Well it's back to the blog after a busy December (more about this later). The photos are still downloading, but here's a taste - snowy Lake District mountains rising out of the Eden Valley mist.

We had a lovely Christmas and New Year up in Cumbria at my parents' place. Matilda had a great time with her Granny and Grandad and all her cousins, although I think she found all the noise and activity of Christmas Day a bit overwhelming! My mum had done a great job organising everything - it's my turn next year (yikes!), although it will be a much smaller affair at ours.

So aside from planning next Christmas, I've been having a think about things I'd like to achieve over the next year. Here's a list of resolutions for 2011 - who knows if I'll achieve all of them, but hopefully I'll find time for one or two!

1. Master the art of wet felting
2. Try freehand embroidery on the sewing machine
3. Further improve my sewing skills - particularly dressmaking/customising
4. Learn to knit
5. Start playing football again (or failing that, running or cycling)
6. Help get Mummade off the ground (more about this later)
7. Spend as little as possible
8. Buy as few new things as possible
9. Sort out spare room
10. Have another baby!

Winter babywearing

It's been so cold the last week or two we haven't been able to get out walking much. So last night I made a babywearing jumper in a bid to keep Matilda warm on our walk today with our local mums walking group. I bought a size 18 jumper from a charity shop, cut a hole in the back and sewed in the neck bit from a child's fleece. Hey presto, one babywearing jumper! The walk was lovely but Matilda still got cold hands and feet. But luckily she didn't start complaining until just before we got back to the car. More layers required somehow!

Busy busy making things!

It's been a busy few weeks. Much of my spare time has been spent sewing and felting, and finding time to take photos and update the blog has been difficult! I've made lots of progress on Matilda's doll - I just need to finish the hair and make some clothes now.

I'm hoping to have a stall at a local Christmas market, so I've been making felted soaps ready for that, and also some Christmas decorations:

Mama-made Monday - a dress

One of the reasons I wanted to learn to sew was so I could make clothes for Matilda. I recently decided I was finally brave enough to make something from scratch (and without a pattern!) so embarked on a dress out of some babycord I had. I decided on a simple pinafore with buttons down the back and drew round one of her dresses to get an idea of shape/size. I almost came unstuck when it came to hemming around the neckline and armholes, but a quick internet search came up with using bias tape (which I cut from the same material and used to make a kind of rolled edge - I don't know the technical terms!). Anyway here's the finished result. It's not without imperfections but it looks cute and Matilda seems to be comfortable in it. Sorry some of the action pics are so rubbish - it's hard to get Matilda to stay still these days!

Applique t-shirt

For my nephew's third birthday present I appliqued a truck design onto a t-shirt. The applique fabric was old t-shirts I picked up at a car boot sale. The truck was a bit wonky but considering how new I am to this applique lark I didn't think it was too bad!! Here's my lovely assistant displaying the front of the t-shirt:

And the back:

 

And a close up of the applique:

And sitting out on the front step before the weather turned cold: