DIY: The clueless girls way to making a quilt

 

 

Seriously I started sewing this quilt when Kobe was still a tiny wee baby in his cott. This is the second quilt I have ever sewn (the first one was in home economics in high school) & I did it all with guesswork, hence my blog title. Now that Kobe is in a single sized bed I have had to triple its length from the original planned cott size. Its far from perfect, some of the triangle points don't quite match & its a tad lumpy but otherwise I think it looks pretty darn cute!

 

 

 

1. I chose this cute vintage space themed fabric with red & blue fabric to match. I cut them into triangles roughly with sides measuring 23cms with a 1.5cm seam allowance.

2. I laid them out alternating blue fabric, space themed fabric, red fabric, space themed fabric then sewed them in rows.

3.Then sewed the rows together. Some of the triangle points didn't match up but I kept on going (eventually).

 

 

 

4. As I used an old quilt which was quite lumpy I didn't want it twisting inside the quilt cover so I topstitched some of the seams down to the old quilt.

5. Then I put the right side (ie. the printed fabric side) of the front & back of the quilt cover together & sewed 3 of the sides together. Leaving the bottom of the quilt cover open.

6. Turn the fabric inside out revealing how the quilt cover will look & folded the bottom seams up inside the quilt. Because the quilt was so bulky (& I broke a sewing needle on it) I had to dodgily handstitch along the bottom seam.

7. I forgot to take photos of the fabric before I cut it up so here are bits of the spaceman print.

 

 

Tada. Lil one testing the finished quilt. Perfect for snuggling in on these chilly Winter nights & mornings. I can only pray that the 7am sleep ins he has been treating us to will continue F.O.R.E.V.E.R :) & he wont revert back to 5am-6am...

 

 

Happy Thursday friends!
Grace

#Sidenote; Im sure there are easier & proper ways to sew a quilt, this is simply my how to version:)

What I wore: bridal shower ladylike

 

When I received the invite to Lukes sisters bridal shower. I was a bit clueless as what is a bridal shower exactly? Baby shower yes, bridal shower no. Its pretty much a high tea with games (with no male stripper entertainment although there was some naughty-ish prizes that were won).

 

 

I thought I would dress the part, Amy is quite ladylike so that was what I was aiming for too. I found this faux fur collar in an op shop a couple weeks back & teamed it with a white vintage dress I have had in my wardrobe for ages. Seriously this dress is probably one of the only dresses I shall keep for life. The shift dress cut & the bow detailing are so simple yet elegant. Timeless. I only wish I could style my hair like this.

 

 

And don't get me started on this vintage beaded clutch. Love love!

 

 

Yes I may of been nominated as a toilet paper bride in one of the bridal shower games. This is the closest I shall get to wearing a wedding dress. I didn't win but the bow made on the back by the talented Sarah was fabulous.

 

 

Amy cleverly had Audrey Hepburn quotes dotted around the bridal shower

"The most important thing is to enjoy your life-to be happy-its all that matters".

 

(What I wore: Vintage beaded clutch & faux fur collar/ thrifted. Vintage earrings & dress/ I had in closet).

Happy Monday friends!
Grace

The road to happiness

 

I recently told a dear friend the road to happiness is never easy. Last year was one of the most challenging trying times of my life. So this year I have been putting the focus on making changes to being happier. Don't get me wrong, everyday I thank my stars for being healthy, having a roof over my head, loving friends & family & this mostly sweet child of mine. But still there were areas of my life I needed to change.

 

 

1.Purging toxic relationships was on the top of my list. Spending less time (or no time) with people who expect me to chase them for every catch up or dump their problems on me without listening in return. By letting these relationships slide, I found I see more of my real friends.

2. Taking me time, this is by far the hardest concept for me to accept as I like to be a very hands on mama for Kobe. I put all my energy into being the bestest damn mama I can be & I try to be there for every milestone. However lately I have been feeling a bit burnt out & wanting some time to breathe & relax. Hence Kobe will be starting daycare for half day once a week, who knows I may even stay in bed for that half day:) Luke is stepping up & having daddy son special time for a couple hours on the weekend. Plus I have started having a sewing night (which sometimes leads into a movie night) to unleash some creativeness with a close friend once a week. Expect to see some sewing DIY blog projects coming up (once I figure out her fancy pants sewing machine, mine's an old school basic one).

 

 

3. Making our house a home; we have been in our house for a while now & it still doesn't feel quite like a home. It may be the piles of  clutter (Im a secret hoarder) I seem to hang onto for no reason but because one day I may use it (eh, not!). Im going thru room by room & deciding what to sell/keep/pass on/donate. Its quite freeing but I have a long way to go. The fun part will be scouring the web for décor inspiration & adding splashes of colour to our space. We have plans to paint the loungeroom this weekend, yippee!

 

 

(He doesnt know it but the lil one is totally flipping the bird in this photo?!?)

 

4. Lastly more exploring, Luke/I suffer from major wanderlust. Funds are tight at the moment so overseas family travel trips are sadly on hold but we are making plans on some local roadtrips exploring Western Australia by car. Coral bay & Balingup we are a coming (some time later in the year).

 

So that's me in a nutshell at the moment, how are you? What are you doing on your road to happiness?

 

Happy Monday friends!

 

Grace

 

*Sidenote; photos taken at this years Bickley harvest festival. 

 

DIY kids dinosaur tail

 

I feel like there are hundreds of craft projects that are girl orientated (flower crowns, necklaces, cute handmade smocks) so I got a little stumped when coming up with something to make for Kobe. Enter George (of Peppa Pig fame) & his trusty sidekick toy "Mr dinosaur" & combine that with Western Australian museum lastest dinosaur exhibit & an idea was born. The dinosaur tail (which girls can happily wear too).

 

 

1. What I used; scrap fabric, felt for the spikes, wadding out of an old cushion & elastic.

2. I basted the spikes along the right side of the fabric (along the top about 0.5cm from the edge).

3. Turn the fabric inside out & sew along the edges except the top opening ( I sewed 1cm from the edge). I didn't bother to overlock the raw edges.

4. Foldback the fabric the right way. Topstitch along the spikes.

 

 

5. Almost done.

6. Stuffed the wadding into the tail (I used a skewer to poke it right in).

7. I folded the fabric down at the top end & pinned elastic at either side. Then sewed along the top.

 

Then tada...

 

 

 

 

 

Ok the little guy really didn't want to wear it when I proudly pulled it out to show him. I even made one for his dinosaur loving friend who also didn't want to wear his, boo! But after 10 mins I asked again (with the promise of a bribe, naturally) & Kobe wore his dinosaur tail around the museum for all of 5 minutes. Yippee!

 

 

Happy Monday friends!

Grace

 

What I wore: My take on the plain white shirt

 

 

 

 I loved loved Witchery white shirt campaign which helped raise funds for Ovarian cancer research foundation. And thought I would do my take on the basic white shirt. The white shirt, so versatile & everyone needs one as one of their wardrobe staples.

 

 

Im not fond of ironing (once washed I try to hang each garment on a hanger on the washing line to reduce wrinkles-ha!) so this thrifted grey vest is perfect for layering & covering up any wrinkles. To give my straight figure a tiny curve I cinched in the waist with a belt.

 

 

 

Im all about mixing textures up; velour belt, faux leather leggings (I totally copied fashionista Chevaun on these bargains last Winter), suede boots. I think it gives a somewhat mundane outfit a bit of cool factor. I have been feeling a tad frumpy lately that I treated myself to a new haircut last week & got a fringe. I haven't had one in years I forget I have to now make an effort to blowdry my fringe every morning (& by lunchtime it still goes all parted, eh).

 

(What I wore: Clutch & Something else vest/ thrifted. White blouse, belt, faux leather leggings, Betts wedges/ I had in my wardrobe). Ring/ bought at Fringe markets years ago.

Happy Saturday friends!
Grace

Sidenote: photos taken on the steps of the Museum of Western Australia where we had a family outing to see the Dinosaur discovery exhibit.