One - Hour softie

This idea has been kicking around for ages, so this morning it was out of the sketchbook and into the real world. I figured it might be a nice tutorial to share, because it is such an easy project

I have put all the pattern pieces over on scribd as a PDF, you can download them or print them straight off. All you need is a felted jumper and some good quality felt scraps !

Actually you could use pretty much anything for the background fabric - I was just going for a cosy woolly feeling.Cut two bodies from your felt jumper or other fabric.

Cut out the pieces for your character and pin them in place

Pin , Pin , Pin, Pin , Pin

To sew your pieces on, line one edge of your sewing machine foot up with the edge of the felt and then move your needle position ever so slightly to the left. (See photo above)

Sew everything down. This really doesn't take long at all - changing threads for the different colours is a pain but you don't have to do that unless you really want to - or are an anal librarian like me. Add a few embroidery details like eyes and a mouth.

Tie your threads off at the back, pin your front and back sections together with right sides facing and sew around (leaving a gap for turning)

Turn him out the right way and stuff stuff stuff.

Sew the turning gap closed. Don't be too stressed about neatness - wool is the most forgiving fabric ever!

Ta - Dah...... A cute softie in just one hour !

So if youwant to , you can go and download the pattern for this guy and his friend the nurse...

(They are so quick and easy you might even consider making one for the
Softies for Mirabel campaign,
now in its third year and going strong !)

and just because I am a total boof head...I left out a pattern piece for the face. The faces are simple circles measuring approx 8cm or 3 inches across....

(slaps own forehead)

With Bells On

I have been chained....literally chained to this computer since Friday.

At Loooong last I put my pattern-writing head on (ugly technical beast that it is) and have been working on two new patterns.

(Yes I know all you elephant lovers have been very patient)

I also got word that I will be having a stall at Daylesford Makers Market on Saturday November 28th. How excitement is that ???

I know its a long way off but we'd love to see you there.....

In fact, we'd ALL love to see you there.

Stayin' Alive

Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk

I'm a woman's man.

No time to talk.

Music loud and women warm,

I've been kicked around since I was born.

and now it's all right, it's OK.

and you may look the other way

We can try to understand
The New York Time's effect on man


Whether you're a brother
or whether you're a mother



You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Feel the city breakin'
and ev'rybody shakin'



and we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
AH

AH

AH

AH

Stayin' alive ........

One.......

One little message-bot

sitting on the shelf

with a teeny tiny message

that she sent to herself !

Looking for ..........

Looking for some hot love baby, this evening...................

Looking for some hot love baby tonight.......

( actually I'd be pretty thrilled with a bit of hand sewing on the couch and a wee glass of wine !)

Hot pink Hello's

School concert, which has occupied almost every waking moment for the last ten weeks is over. By all accounts everything went well and the kids had a ball. Even though I loved every minute of it, I must say I am so glad it is all over.

I am taking a leaf out of my friend Annie's book and I am making a new dressing gown these holidays. Then I am going to put it on and go into the sewing room....... I plan to spend as much time in there as possible working on about half a zillion things.

So pop in by all means, just don't get too distressed by the HOT PINK chenille former bedspread gown , bed hair , bra-less bag lady look I am currently working will you ?

When my baby smiles at me .......

When spring is springing all around you , what else can you do but get into the garden

take a moment to sit on the grass

and blink into the sunshine

climb some fences

and do a spot of power-walking

closely followed by a bit of power-jogging

Is it just me or does Eddie have a touch of the Peter Allen showman about him?

Sanity is an unaffordable luxury at this point

So when things reach that stage of headless chicken type crazy

and you know that you are a teensy bit manic

You simply need to outsource....

delegate.....

hire some help.....

Trust me ...Do NOT base your employment decisions on looks alone, if it is sewing help you need then opposable thumbs are a must !!

In fact any kind of thumbs would be helpful at this point.

In the frontal lobe

Thinking about elephants again , I got out the gloves (this time) and dyed some gorgeous Doctors flannel to just the right shade of pachyderm grey.

I worked some more on a toy-ish kind of robot. Each different colour fabric represents a different version of the same part so this is a conglomeration of attempts 1,2,3,4,and 5 !!!


I put the book and the fabric in the same spot, and given my dislike of sensible(actual clothes type) sewing that in itself is a pretty good start!

and just so you know, if I were a girl turtle I would so fall in love with this guy.
His name is Ernst and he has that slightly heavy-hearted, wistful little man-turtle thing going on ....and (I'm just saying) its working for me...

in a girl-turtle kind of way of course

In progress....

It starts with the little kernel of an idea, half-formed but persistent

and if you are lucky to have some time

and the right materials to hand

someone might just slowly take form and rise from the scraps and rubble.

A wee favour.....

Hey guys, I was wondering if you might help me out a bit ..... In Sydney I met the awesomely fabulously talented Kate and was thrilled to find she is just as wonderful as her blog suggests. As an added bonus I also met her husband Mr Banshee.

Mr Banshee is totally husband-tastic ! He even came along to my little talky thingo and allowed me to make lots of jokes at his expense - what a guy !

( How gorgeous is this quilt pattern of Kate's?????)

Now, it would seem that Mr Banshee has written (a guest blog post) about how he found the Stitches and Craft show. He has some great man-ideas for improvement as well. Now I may or may not have promised Mr banshee that if he managed to write a guest post I would ask people to pop over and read it.... so if you have a few minutes why not pop over and leave him a comment - tell him Jodie sent you ........

(In fact add Kate's blog to your reader while you are there - you will not be disappointed)

In local news, Daylesford Makers market is looking for stallholders. This market is awesome.

It hosts great local (and Melbourne ) talent and is really impressive.

The next market is at the end of November so get in and apply if you want a stall -

Actually it sounds like the perfect place for a blogmeet ??? A bit of morning market shopping followed by a bit of lunchy / cafe time..... yes????

and me? Well I am doing the one and half weeks from performance craziness that involves lists and touch-ups and finishing off ......... and some total costume disasters.

So if you have a minute, pop on over to Mr banshee's post and give him hell !!!

Psst...... and one of my favourite places is having a giveaway ...