My Sewing Corner

I treated myself for Christmas with a new sewing machine - I had been borrowing one prior to this and wanted something more permanent. Pre-Christmas sales made the decision easy. I got this 'Brother' machine which should see me through from my current novice stage to when I am able to sew with much more flair!

As I am only just learning to sew, I knew I needed to have the sewing machine accessible at all times - if it was tucked away I might never be motivated to practice! I set it up in our kitchen along with some material shelves and boxes that I picked up in our local opshop for $10. 

In our house, we have very limited space. I needed to find a home for my material stash (which is growing weekly - have you ever searched for 'vintage fabric' in Ebay?). A friend of mine was selling a TV cabinet of theirs for $80 which fits nicely into our loungeroom...

...and the best thing is, when I'm not sewing, I can hide it all away!

So that's my sewing space. It's small and cosy, but it works for me.

Under The Christmas Tree

I went to a Learning Ladder party a couple of weeks back at a friend's house. Learning Ladder is a 'home demo' business that sells children's books and educational games. On the table there I saw something I have been thinking about buying for the girls for some time - a tub of cotton reels and string for threading them onto. As a teacher, I know that threading is fantastic for developing fine motor skills and those early pre-writing skills. However, I could not justify spending the $20 this tub of plastic reels cost.

It occurred to me that I might be able to make my own beads (See? The whole not-buying-anything-new thing is already starting to kick in!) Nath and I experimented with cooking some beads shaped out of pink playdough that my mum had made with the girls, but only a few turned out usable. I then remembered that I had a cupboard full of old jewellery that I no longer wear (having little babies with grabbing hands cured me of that obsession!) So I spent the girls' nap time today cutting up my motley collection of necklaces and bracelets and saving the beads for Miya.

I found an old basket that would be great to hold them in, but the gaps in the wicker were too big for some of the beads. At the local markets the other day, I picked up a bag of material scraps for $2, and in it was a lovely pink scrap just big enough for me to make a lining for the basket. Onto the sewing machine I hopped, and half an hour later I had a lovely ribbon-edged lining for Miya's bead basket. I'm pretty proud of myself!

She will love this little homemade/upcycled gift, and hopefully, with some beading wire and string from my old short lived beading hobby, it will provide her with hours of entertainment.

Shopping Day

Market Day!

My favourite day of the fortnight these days... I love coming home and filling the fridge with fresh, local produce, and I am lucky to live near a fruit and veg shop that has a great range of organic, WA fruit, veg and dairy.

Material Girl

I dropped in at an op shop today to look for some material... my mothers' group is having a sewing evening (I know, how CWA!) this week to make 'softies' for our little ones. I don't have my own stash, and didn't want to buy new material, and was lucky enough to find a terrific range today at a fraction of the cost. I'm looking forward to dusting my sewing machine off and learning some new skills.

Some creative play...

Miya and Eden were so proud to show me the beautiful peg 'flower' they worked together on. They remind me in so many ways what is important in life, where I should be looking for joy and beauty, and what my greater purpose is. The learning we can do as a family before Miya goes off to three-year-old kindy next year will hold her in good stead for the rest of her life. I need to stay focused on fostering these precious souls' sense of wonder, and providing them with some treasured memories of their early years.