Jungle Ballet

I was so excited that Jungle Ballet came second in the Ballet contest at Spoonflower last week. Thank you to every one that voted and thank you to Spoonflower for the great photos again.

The crocodile seems to be stealing the show so he may have to feature in another design soon. Hopefully I will be able to add a few more designs to make a collection.

The Museum and Popeye

Saturday was the end of the school holidays so we decided to meet my Aunt Gerrie in the city and to to the museum with the boys and take a ride up the River Torrens on Popeye.

First we explored the very old Adelaide Arcade in the city. There are some very interesting stores especially a vintage store and a retro soda shop, however we were a little early and they were not open. 

At the front of the museum.

 One of my favourite displays.

I love the woven baskets.

The brick wall and arch windows look beautiful in the museum foyer.

This is the Popeye (one of them) I remember going on this boat in Primary School.

We got on Popeye outside the zoo and went up the Torrens to Elder Park. The boys loved it and at $5 per adult and $3 per child for this section I thought it was great value.

Mini Hedgehog Tutorial

These mini hedgehogs are part of the new cut and sew animal designs I have just made available for sale at Spoonflower. They have been made from the faux suede which is lovely to hand stitch and here are a few simple instructions on how to make them.

First you will need Harriet Hedgehog swatch. You will also need scissors, a needle and thread and some polyester fibre fill.

The seam allowance is the paler area around the main image, approximately 4mm. You will need to cut on the outside of these areas.

Once all the pieces have been cut out you can place the centre back pieces right sides together and stitch along the centre back. The best stitch to use is back stitch because it is nice and strong.

Next centre the face with the back right sides facing together and stitch together.

The legs can also be sewn together leaving an opening to turn through where they will be attached to the body.

It is a good idea to snip the corners and around curves to have a nice smooth shape when it is turned through, although this is not absolutely necessary on the faux suede.

TIP - a crochet hook is excellent to smooth out the seams of the feet and the hedgehog once they turned through.

Once all the feet have been turned through place the top and bottom sides of the hedgehog together. It is important to start stitching at the nose to make sure the pieces are centred.

 Then stitch around placing each leg in position between the two layers as you go.

Leave the section between the two back legs open so that it can be turned through to the right side.

Once the hedgehog is turned through you can smooth inside the seams with a crochet hook, then fill with polyester fibre fill and stitch shut with slip stitch.

Mini Turtle Tutorial

These tiny turtles with floral tummies fit on an eight by eight inch swatch of faux suede. The cut and sew designs are available in my Spoonflower shop and these are the instructions to stitch the little fellows up.

First you will need your Tiny Turtle swatch. You will also need scissors, a needle and thread and some polyester fibre fill.

The seam allowance is the paler area around the main image, approximately 4mm. You will need to cut on the outside of these areas.

Once all the pieces have been cut out you can stitch the sides of the turtle shell. I started with small stitches near the centre panel then towards the outer edge. Backstitch is a good stitch because it is nice and strong.

The legs head and tail can be stitched leaving an opening to turn through where they attach to the body.

It is a good idea to snip the corners and around curves to have a nice smooth shape when it is turned through, although this is not absolutely necessary on the faux suede.

TIP - a crochet hook is excellent to smooth out the seams and corners on the inside of the turtle legs, head and tail once they turned through.

  It is easier to stitch one side of the tail, turn it through and then stitch the other side. The feet can be a bit tricky to turn through but it does help to use a crochet hook to gently push them through.

The next step is to place the shell and floral tummy right sides together. I put a small amount of fibrefill inside the head and then put it in position between the two layers. Carefully stitch along the outside placing the feet and tail between as you go around the shell stitching them in. Leave the section between the tail and back foot open to turn through.

Once the turtle is turned through you can smooth inside the seams with a crochet hook, then fill with polyester fibre fill and stitch shut with slip stitch.

Mini Owl Tutorial

Recently I have designed some mini animals that will fit on an eight by eight swatch of faux suede. This is a little tutorial for the owl, the printed fabric can be purchased from Spoonflower. I have used the faux suede because it is beautiful to hand stitch.

First you will need your owl swatch. You will also need scissors, a needle and thread and some polyester fibre fill.

The seam allowance is the paler area around the main image, approximately 4mm. You will need to cut on the outside of these areas.

Once the pieces are cut out you can stitch around the owl, leaving the base open, and around the wings leaving a gap to turn through. I hand stitched using back stitch because it is nice and strong.

It is a good idea to snip the corners and around curves to have a nice smooth shape when it is turned through, although this is not absolutely necessary on the faux suede.

The base of the owl can now be attached, I started at the side seam and then along the front of the owl so that the closure is on the back. Then turn through, smooth the seams, stuff and sew shut with a slip stitch.

The wings can be turned through and stitched shut with a slip stitch. It is not necessary to fill the wings with fibre fill.

TIP - a crochet hook is excellent to smooth out the seams and corners on the inside of the owl and wings once they turned through.

The final step is to attach the wings. I started with a small stitch under the wing on the front of the owl and angled the wing up to the side seam and then back down again on the back of the owl. This gives a nice curve to the wing.

Retro Furniture

I was so happy to squeeze in at tenth place in the chairs and tables contest at Spoonflower last week. It was lovely to remember all the furniture my grandparents owned, wish we still had it today!

Sleepy Time Pastels

There are three new colourways of my Sleepy Time design now available at Spoonflower. I think these colours would be great for projects in a nursery.