Orphan/ Apron Dress Costume Tutorial

It has certainly been the month for making costumes and I can foresee that I will be putting my hand to many more in the future. This latest costume has been made for my daughters dance performance at the end of the year (talk about being organised). After coming up with zilch tutorials I decided to make one up of my own so as always I am not a pattern maker and I try to explain things as easy as I can but if you have any queries please leave a message below and I may be able help out.

The pattern provided is for approx 6-8 year old (depending on chest size) but you can increase or decrease as needed (info in pdf file).

Sewing level: easy to moderate

 

Winter is upon us

Oh lordy hasnt it been awhile since my last post. There does not seem enough hours in the day to get everything done on my list. Once I answer emails, send out invoices, facebook and more facebook I am totally over the computer. Today I think I have spent a good three hours photographing and listing items into my madeit store. In saying this now I will be posting more here as the social networking on FB for handmade businesses is coming to an end. An end only if you dont want to pay $5 to $10 to promote your chosen posts. There has been much talk going around and I am not going to go on about it here. Pull up socks and move onto another medium to help get my Mellebugness out there.

So what has been going on in my little sewing nook. Well I can tell you it is mainly sewing, suprised, not really. As the seasons change so do my

Winter, it is here and I am feeling the chill. It is the perfect weather for my Lupin Heatpacks and most recently my newsboy hats. These are made using recylced and new fabrics.

The little fella calls this his ‘Dude’ hat. He is such a dude wearing it, love it.

Now on the lupin front. Boo Bears, Boo Bears everywhere. A little slow start to the season but this time round the boy bears have been flying out the door. This time round I decided to coordinate my fabrics more by purchasing fat quarter packs ensuring that the colours match. Before I was in turmoil guessing to which fabric matched that fabric and so on. Less stress better outcome. Here is one of the bears I have made that comes with its very own baby bear.

Super cute felt bear that takes roughly 2 hours to hand stitch together. Worth it thou as this little combo is just too cute.

Here is another Boo Bear, Sleepy Ray. Racing buddy for the boys.

To anyone new to Mellebug these cuties are Lupin Heatpacks that you pop into the microwave for a minute and they become a warm buddy to snuggle or to help soothe an upset tummy.

This season I have coordinated some of the Boo Bears with cold packs, an all round perfect gift to a child. These cold packs are a great size that fit into a childs hand, are cold enough without having to wrap up and the outside is removable, perfect for any little bloody bonk that happens a little too often in my household.

So my madeit store is stocked with loads of mellebugness some for adults and loads for the wee ones in our lives. Head on over for more of a look at what I have to offer.

‘Any Mash Goes’ Bread

Whether it be pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot, apple or fig mash, anyone of them goes.

This one pictured is delicious Fig Bread that will be going into my kids lunch boxes tomorrow. So yum with a slab of butter on the top, but thats a little naughty.

 

 

Recipe:

• 1 cup of mash.
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 c Oil (veg)
• 1 tsp Baking powder
• 2 tsp Mixed spice
• 1/2 c Brown sugar
• 1 1/2  C SR flour

Its just like making muffins. Mix together the wet ingrediants and then slowly add in the dry. Dont over mix. Pour into a loaf pan or a small round pan and bake at 180 degrees for 1 hour (always check 15mins before end time).

1 down 3 to go…

I have finally got my bottom into gear and started making my daughters school skorts (they look like a skirt but are infact a short). With only a week before school starts I am cutting things fine. I can dooooo iiiiitttttt.

1 made and 3 more to go.

I confess though that they are pretty quick to whip up as all the seams are unfinished. The great thing with working with Jersey as it does not fray.
You too can make one of these using my tutorial that includes a pattern for size 5/6.

Happy Birthday Jack!

Yes my wee man has turned 3!

We had a fantastic day with all of our family and even better the rain did not make an appearance. The day went off without a hitch, plenty of food and the most important thing is that all the kids went home smiling. My 5yr old cousin said that was the best party ever, mwah!

It was planned as a morning tea come lunch event with finger food made by myself, my mum and grandma. I think to ease the stress of feeding many people you must enlist some helpers. As it was a car themed party I made the milky way cars, traffic light biscuits, traffic light jelly cups and the car cake. Took the easy option this year and bought an icing decal, he loved it.

 

As for the decorations I made some racing flag bunting and put up a Lightening Mcqueen panel I had picked up a few years ago that was too cheap to not. I purchased some racing flag napkins, toothpicks and ballons. Not too much but enough.

 

 

 

 

 

I planned some party games for the kids which we played one after the other. I also made it so that that all the kids received a prize for each game and they were to put this into their decorated party bags to take home. Everyone won.

 To start with they decorated their own party bag using stickers, textas and brown paper bags. I big hit with the girls (especially precious Tilly).

We then played pass the parcel followed by a treasure hunt were they had to find a lolly bag each.

 Then they played bean bag toss using the bean bags I made for both Amelia and Jack. Tried making it into a ball shape but not all that impressed with the finish. I did however come up with a colour square one that I may put together as a pack to sell, maybe. All they had to go is see how many they could throw in. Easy! For their efforts they each received a wooden penny whistle I purchased off ebay.

The last game was just musical statues where they all just danced and stopped. No one was eliminated, did not want to see sad faces. They each got a stick of sidewalk chalk and all went off to draw on the driveway.

Lastly they all enjoyed running around popping bubbles as the bubble machine worked its magic. I great addition to any childs party.

I am truly blessed to have a wonderful family.

 

Sew easy…

I am in the swing of making dresses for my Mellebug, with the completion of dress number 2 from the pattern Butterick B4176 “fast and easy”.

I found Amelia rummaging through my pattern box and she declared that this is the next dress to be made, pointing to the pink (of course). She we headed off to the fabric store for her to choose which fabric she wanted. After a few cringes at some ghastly fabric to my suprise she liked one with strawberries on it. Whilst waiting at the checkout I was looking through the remnants bin and found two meters of pink gingham at $1 a metre, bargain, thats what I am going to get.

So with cheap fabric, a secound hand pattern, buttons from the stash and I made my own bias binding it was set to be a super cheap dress. The pattern was as it states “fast and easy”, the only complaint is that it needs to be streamlined as its a bit balloned at the bottom. I also loved learning how to make a button loop, you learn something new everyday with sewing. I found this tutorial that has great pictures and is sew simple. Will definantly be doing that again.

Button Loop

Another success with her liking the dress. I will be going back to get the strawberry fabric to make another one and lucky for me for not buying it that day as tommorow it goes on sale, yeha!. I think next in line will be something for the wee man. Was thinking I would make a tutorial on making upcycled t-shirt pants but I have to get my hands on a cheap tee.

Till next time….

Party Planning!

3 weeks and counting………..

I love a little organising , whether it be a party or friends for dinner. This time round its my sons third birthday. Its the first time he recognises what a birthday is all about so he is super excited about the upcoming event. Well, his concept of time is not quite there yet so almost every day he asks if its coming soon, poor little bugger.

We are having a Mqueen/Race car theme that is on a wee budget. So research, research, research. What can I do to make it amazing for him which most can be done by me. On my quest I have come across some great websites that offer fab ideas without having to go down the commercial route.

So I have found some checkered fabric to make bunting using this easy tutorial:

http://supposecreatedelight.com/wordpress/?page_id=839

Super cool party food ideas as well as party supplies:

http://www.speckledfreckle.com.au/blog/?cat=17

Reasonable party supplier from Aus that I purchased from:

They stock cool build your own race car and car deck of cards.

http://www.partykitnkaboodle.com.au/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=122

Do it yourself party favours:

http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2009/10/homemade-party-favors.html

http://www.tipjunkie.com/do-it-yourself-favor/

Thinking you can just change the picture to a car.

http://www.saltwater-kids.com/2010/10/jack-o-lantern-puzzle-favors-tutorial_29.html

Racing car birthday party ideas:

http://melscraftycorner.blogspot.com/2010/06/lightning-mcqueen-birthday-party.html

http://pieceofcakeparties.blogspot.com/2008/07/race-car-birthday-party.html

Loved these ideas:

http://allisonrdavis.blogspot.com/2010/05/birthday-banner.html

http://www.howdoesshe.com/birthday-wreath

Lastly party games:

 Sock fishing game.

Bean Bag Toss

http://www.freekidscrafts.com/make_a_bean_bag_toss_game-e1164.html

Will continue to search for more games.

Yeha!

It has been all systems go at Mellebug HQ but in the last few weeks it has slowed right down. Not at all  complaining though as I have had more time to spend with the wee ones and make things for them. The really wet weather and the dreaded lurgy has kept us all hanging out inside for the last couple of days giving us time to work on Amelias cowgirl costume.

Its her first dress-up day at kindy next week and she is super excited. The theme is a farmer/animal but apparently that also includes cowboy/girl. What ever makes her happy, right? So her idea was Jessie from ToyStory but in her mind her outfit was not pink enough. She wanted pink pink pink. So with a bit of searching on the internett we or should I say she found something she liked and this is what I made.

The vest is a simple pattern that I drew, easy peasy! The bonus is that it is reversible, check on one side and plain pink on the other (remember pink pink). The skirt I confess is not my design. I saw it one day on FB and looooved it. Thought it would look great as a dress up as well as a nice going out skirt. I am really happy with how it turned out, just beautiful. Have to say thou that it took me quite some time to make and she will have a few years wear out of it as I made it a wee big. Oh well! no complaints from miss Amelia. I have been ordered not to alter it. The idea for the skirt came from Freyja Monkey.

The little fella also wanted in on the action and wanted a woody vest. This was the only photo I have before he dripped chocolate all over it.  It has the brown cowhide drill on one side and on the reverse he picked Buzz Lightyear fabric. So he has the best of both when ever he likes. I will endevour to take another picture once cleaned.

From mellebug1

I am off now to make some curtains to hang in doorways to stop the draft and save on heating costs.  Happy Days!!

My christmas sewing is all but finished..

It has been a long slog to get all my nieces and nephews christmas presents finished when made in between custom orders. I sing joyously as all of the presents have been wrapped, stickered and placed under the tree with many days to spare. Amelia particularly liked the process of wrapping up presents, not so much the noise whirring from my machine as she is trying to watch cartoons.

Here is a collage of the handmade gifts that I am sure all the 11 children will like (I hope!)

I really like the reverse applique of the space invaders for my eldest nephew and will be making some to sell after I recover from christmas. My 13 year old rocker niece will love her Boo Bear (I am sure girls that age will get use from a heat pack). Amelia was disgraced to see that we were giving her a pirate bear, ” thats only for boys..” she adamently states stamping her foot.

On another note I have also been making cushion covers for my 80 year grandmother, she loved them.

I had another go at reverse applique, super easy and I tried boxing in the edges to give them a different look. I said if they were not the right colour thats okay because they would look rather nice on my couch. One day I will get around to making some for myself.

I also made some upcycled shorts with matching shirt for my little fella. He is chuffed that the shorts used to be grandpops shirt. These sets will be made by Amber next year and stocked in our Madeit store. We certainly have had a number of comments out and about, soooo cute!

Well I certainly have had a great year with many changes to come in the following year. Thanyou to all that have visited my site and enjoyed the tutorials I have to offer. I think from memory I have had close on 40 thousand people look over the Barbie dress tut, WOW.

Merry Christmas!!!

I am on Madeit!

My friend  Amber from http://Craftymammas.wordpress.com and I have decided to come together to sell our wares on Madeit. Our store name is MollyDag Made but I am still selling under my tag Mellebug. I have a few things already listed and I wanted to show you my latest creations.

Just something bright and cheerful this summer.

Girls Pocket Skirt

 

 

These adorable skirts are sold on Madeit for $30 AUD (international customers welcome). Click on the MADEIT button on the right to have a look.

I have some adorable fabric lined up for the next pocket skirts but at the moment I have to get some boo boo bears finished so that I can list on the Madeit (there are also some for sale at Millaruby Designs)