All Finished!

After my slight miss-calculation on how long these would take to make I found myself up at 4.30am on Monday morning finishing off the binding. There was no point in trying to go back to sleep because all I could think about was all the things I had to get done over the next few weeks..........trust me I'm paying for it now, I feel like putting my head down on this keyboard and having a big sleep, the late nights and early mornings have caught up with me!

Beside the fact that I'm tired I think the two Advent Calendar's I made turned out just as I wanted them to.
I'd like to try a few more in different colour schemes and see how they go..........when I have time that is!

Both of these calendars should be in Shop Handmade tomorrow, providing the post man is on time.

I'm off to Little Athletics with the kids this afternoon, I do have some hand stitching to do but I think I might have to use the time for a little nap! Lucky I have tinted windows.......maybe no-one will notice!

Blogtoberfest day 31.

OMG! when I started this little project yesterday afternoon I thought I could knock it over in maybe 4 or 5 hours. How totally wrong was I!!
I decided to make two advent calendars........I still thought I'd get them finished before I went to bed. This is what it looked like at 11.30 last night.......

This is what it looked like at 9am this morning........

I truly had no idea how much work these things were, I tried hard to get them just right.....not too fussy or overdone and by 2pm this afternoon I was ready to start stitching down all the pockets! Two hours later and all I have to do is stitch the binding down on the back. Woooohooooo!!!

I think I'll have to leave the last bit of stitching til after dinner because at some point you just have to stop having that love affair with the sewing machine and clean the house! What a trail of destruction I have left from the bedroom to the dining table.......I think I'm going to need the next 2 days to clean it all up! Blah!

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Blogtoberfest day 30.

I made it back just in time for the last couple of Blogtoberfest Posts......I think I should have posted ahead a few more days than I did. I didn't miss those couple of days because I couldn't be bothered, I missed them because I had to duck down to my mother's last weekend as she was in hospital for a bit of a procedure on her tummy. Everything is fine now and she made it home yesterday and is now resting.

I did take a bit of stitching with me, I made it around a few pears but that's about it. I did have plenty of time to think about what project I was going to tackle next, it involves numbers........ 24 to be exact!
I only started the first one a little while ago, there is losts of measuring and stitching, then I think I'm going to tackle it like a scrapbooking layout........see how it goes!

I've moved my sewing into the dining room this afternoon right underneath the air conditioner, I'd better get back to it and get as much done as I can before the table has to be cleared for dinner..........see you all later!

Blogtoberfest day 16.

It's been real busy on the miniature owl front the past few days! I have about 60 on the go at the moment, all at different stages, some need wings, some need eyes and feet, it's a huge job but hopefully early next week the majority of them should be done!

This little box of 18 miniature owls will be in Shop Handmade next week, so if you live near by call in and say hello to Julie, Rachel and Jennie (Posie) and grab one while you're there!
Starting to get slightly stressed about my first Christmas market, I have only 4 weeks to get ready and one of those weeks I have to go away! I have two huge tables booked and I have so much I want to make so my display will look inviting.

My little shopping trip to get more supplies to add to my already bulging stash yesterday was a success, I'm hoping I don't have to go back for a while. If I thought I only needed 2 rolls of something I took 4 or 6, and I ordered a few hundred buttons so hopefully they'll be in soon..............now all I need is time!

Talk soon.

Blogtoberfest day 15.

Can you believe we're up to day 15 already! This could be some sort of hump day for the month!

Today because it's raining outside I'm going to share something with a little sunshine in the background. I made these little fabric boxes last week, I think the highlight for me was using some of the Aunty Cookie fabric as applique on the front!

These fabric boxes are approx. 15cm square and I'm beginning to think that they might be a little too big.........standing them up filled with goodies isn't a problem, but when they're empty they tend to be a bit floppy! If anyone has any ideas please let me know.......I'd really appreciate it! Now for two very excited little kids, they went to their first Little Athletics meet on Wednesday and had the best time ever! It looks like this might be something the kids want to do as seriously as some of the other kids.......Megan is quite the little sprinter/runner, and Ryan is a bit of an all-rounder. The meets run into the evening so the club puts on a BBQ for dinner.......there's nothing worse than getting home late then having to cook so that's a winner for me! I was going to shoot across to Tamworth yesterday afternoon and pick up a few badly needed supplies but something came over me and I felt awfully sick, so that's where I'm off to this morning after I get a coffee to go.

Thanks for stopping by.

All packed up!

Today I've packed up some sewing so I can go and spend the day with friends! We are having a crafty sort of day, there will be sewing, scrapbooking and loads of laughter I'm sure! I'm really looking forward to this as we haven't been able to catch up for a while.
I plan on making a few more of these for Shop Handmade, as well as finishing off some pear orders.

Hope you are all having a crafty sort of day too!

My Creative Space.....More goodies for the tree!

Almost every branch on my display tree has something hanging off it now, something super sweet for Christmas, or something that can be hung on something like a door knob all year round!
I love these gorgeous little linen and gingham hearts, I've done them with three different gingham ribbon colours......red, hot pink and navy! I see these colours in a lot of the new seasons fashions, they look great together so I thought I'd go with that.

These hanging ornaments are only $6 each ...... if you want some made up just let me know via email.

I had plans to take the kids to Tamworth today but my husband came home and asked if I could play the part of his assistant at work today ( Julie is on holidays ) as he has an important meeting with a client, so it looks like I'll have to put a skirt on and pretend to look busy! I wouldn't dare start messing with anything Julie has going on in the office........she is so good at what she does, very anal about having things just right! So it looks as though I'll be pretending to work hard when I'll actually be doing a bit of blog surfing!

I wonder if I could sneak some stitching in under the table? Maybe not this time!

If you want to see more creative spaces head on over to kootoyoo and say hello.

Thanks for visiting.

Time to get moving!

Apart from a load of other things going on around here at the moment it's time to move into top gear and start preparing for some Christmas markets!

The past few days I've woken with a massive headache.....it's my own fault because I'm already stressing about having enough stock and it's only September ( for a few more days anyway ). I have some lovely ideas I want to get to but I'm only going to make one thing at a time so I don't lose myself in all the mess it would create.

I've been making a few more miniature owls the past few days, I generally make six at a time and it's working really well, they are so cute I'm going to find it hard to part with them!
I've even set up my big tree in the house ( it's weighted down in a big silver bucket full of bricks ) and on this tree I'm starting to hang a few bits and pieces I've been working on ( more of that later ) ready for a huge Christmas display!

The owl population around the base of the tree is growing by the day........these little cuties are only $15 each if anyone wants one.........just shoot me an email.

I'd like to know why it is that throughout the school term I have so much trouble getting the kids out of bed and ready for school, now that it's the holidays guess what time they get up and start playing...........6am give or take 10 minutes! I guess it's a sign that daylight saving is almost here, which means all those lovely long afternoons smelling the cut grass, time for a walk after dinner and before the sun sets.........the best time of year!

Have a great day!

More Miniatures!

I got my camera back so now I can show you what I've been up to.

The cuteness factor on these little feathered friends is off the scale!

I really had alot of fun making these.........I'm going to do more in all sorts of colour combinations.
I might even turn some into hanging Christmas ornaments!

Oh the possibilities!

Here they are having a little rest before being packed in a box ready for Shop Handmade.

I got a big linen order in yesterday........so excited! Now I can create, create, create til my hearts content.

What are you up to?

Little Hoot!

Yesterday afternoon I was playing around and thinking about things on a smaller scale. What could be more cuter than a miniature owl!
Some of the details are slightly different.....to keep the costings down. I think I'm going to sell them for $15 each.

This little sweetie way too cute for words!

My work desk is a disaster and it's driving me mad, it looks like a cyclone has hit! This week I've had 4 -5 things on the go at the same time and I think it's time to just clear the crap and start fresh in the morning.

Going to try something new out of my Donna Hay book tonight........I'm not a chef so this could be interesting!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend planned.

Bird Brooches.

This morning while the kids were outside building another cubby house I made a few more little bird brooches, some which are going to Shop Handmade and some have just been listed in my madeit store.
These little brooches are so cute and sweet........and only $7.95.

Right now they are having a little rest in my bird nest.......while waiting to be shipped to their new home.

I'm off to do something with a few aged banana's for morning tea..........hope you are having a lovely day!

Tweet Tweet!

I just wanted to share one of the cute little bird brooches I made this morning. I only had enough time to get 10 done ready to pop in the already bursting box for Shop Handmade which is going in the post this afternoon.
I figured that the shop might get a bit busy as Floriade is about to start..... so I'm off to work on some more goodies to get in the post.

Thanks for stopping by.

Today.....

I made a few of these cute little owls.
I took a few pictures before I shipped them off to Shop Handmade so I could list them in my madeit store.

Out of all the little owls I've made I think this one is my favourite.

Now at Shop Handmade.

This is what I sent down to Shop Handmade this week.
Little birdie brooches and a stack of gorgeous kids belts. The belts range in sizes from as little as 25 inches long ( small enough to fit a baby ) to 34 inches long, they are only $21.95 each.

For something super sweet I also made these cute little birdie brooches.

These little feathered friends are only $7.95 each.

When I get a few more orders out of the way over the next few weeks I intend to list a few of these goodies in my madeit store, but if you really want one before that please just send me an email at redstitchdesigns@bigpond.com and I'll see what I can do.

Thanks for stopping by.

What's going on!

It's been quite a busy week this week and having the kids back at school gave me the opportunity to get back into some serious sewing! I have a few more things to show when I get the chance to take a few pictures. This is just a quick shot of some of the gorgeous kids belts stacked up ready to go.
I know I've talked about this before, but my daughter will pick up anything.......and here is just two things she caught this week.......

This afternoon it was this giant caterpillar.

It kind of creeped me out but she didn't mind at all, in-fact she wanted to keep it as a pet!

Just like the little willie wag tail she caught a few days ago.......straight out of the cats mouth! She thought it was injured when she brought it inside to show me, then it flew out of her hands! It found a nice little perch up on top of my Yardage Design tea towel, I was just hoping that it didn't poop all over it!

It took a good half an hour to hunt it out an open door.

So there you go........never a dull moment!

Just for you.....

....Posie! I had only been thinking about changing the words on my pears early yesterday as I was cutting out another batch, I was thinking of four letter words........one or two which would be funny but not quite suitable, I was then thinking of "HOME" for my next pear. Jennie over at Posie Patchwork must have been channeling me or something because within the hour she sent me a message suggesting "LIFE" , "HOPE"and "HOME".

So here you go Posie..........

These three sets are just about to get packed in a box and sent to Shop Handmade in the morning, but I will be listing them ( when I get a minute ) in my madeit store. I've had the madeit store for a while now I just never put anything in it until a week ago.......I thought it would be much easier to list things in Aussie dollars as most of my customers are Aussie's!

Ok I must be off, I have a cushion that needs to be finished. Thanks again Jennie!

Pears are in season!

Apart from a huge weekend with Ryan and his Rugby all weekend there has been some serious pear production going on at my house!
It looks like pears are in season thanks to the article in last weeks Canberra City News, and a Shop Handmade display which the lovely Posie put up at the markets on Saturday ( Thanks Jennie ).
I was able to get a box in the post today and hopefully there'll be another box in a day or two..........all destined for Shop Handmade.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Handmade Success!

Look who's "Love" pears made it onto the cover of "Canberra City News" with the lovely Julie and Rachel!

How exciting, it's more great exposure for the shop and all the designers involved. You can read the entire article here.

I think I should make some more pears!

Edited: There has been a little bit of confusion about myself the Handmade Markets in Canberra this weekend. Unfortunately I will not be having a stall this Saturday......I wish I was, it's something I would love to do in the future! If there is something you need or want just send me a message and I'll do my best to help you out!