Donate a Doll

A few days ago I lent my support to the Facebook page TSL Dolly Drive 2013. Their goal is to provide 1000 dolls/softies to children around Australia who are currently spending time in hospital. This page quickly gathered support from numerous handmade softie and doll makers as well as people who were keen to take up the craft and make their first cuddly creation.

Image courtesy here

I plan to make two softies. The first will be a doll from a pattern by Revoluzzza. I bought the book, We Make Dolls, several months ago but haven't had a chance to make anything from it so this is the perfect motivation to do so. I also plan to make a boy friendly softie, I'm still deciding between my Spaceboy or perhaps a little ninja.

Do you want to help? Well, it's easy, simply offer your support through the TSL Dolly Drive Facebook page, find a pattern and get sewing. You'll find additional information on their page as well as some patterns to get you started. My advice for making a doll/softie for this drive is:

1. Consider the boys. Let's ensure there is an even dolly-superhero ratio.
2. If you are making a softie intended for a young child, remove all potential choking hazards including buttons and small felt/fabric pieces that may come loose. Use fabric that can be surface cleaned with ease and won't shed (ie fur)
3. Double stitch all seams for strength and durability.
4. Perhaps include a little note with your softie telling the recipient a little bit about their new friend.

If you are keen to make a dolly, here are a few of my favourite free online patterns to use:

1. Ruby Doll courtesy of One Red Robin
2. A Gingermelon Doll
3. A Black Apple Doll
4. A simple Matryoshka Doll by Snipsnaphappy

And for the boys:

1. A  Superhero doll from Shwin&Shwin 
2. Pirate doll from One More Mushroom
3. A Lorax Stuffie from Crafty Kitsune
4. A friendly monster from Revoluzza

Happy sewing (and stuffing) !

Brushing up my sewing skills

I bought some gorgeous Japanese linen/cotton recently without any definite idea for it's use. I originally thought it would look great attached to a canvas and hung on a wall but yesterday I dusted off my Year 9 sewing skills and revisited the dreaded zip. I found this tutorial  on inserting invisible zippers which I had never done before. The finish is neat and professional and I am in love with the finished cover. I now have another 3 panels cut out and ready for their zips and while I was planning to take them to market with me, I think I'll be keeping one for myself.

Progress Report (& some tutorials)

Over the last few days my enormous pile of fat quarters has turned into organised pattern pieces. I feel pretty ok about my progress this last week in preparation for the upcoming market. With only three weeks to go I will need to work each night and squeeze in some sewing during nap times to complete what I set out to make. Hopefully I won't have to resort to late nights this time too.

Also on the agenda this week is seeing a performance of Play School tomorrow at the Fremantle Town Hall which Michaela is looking forward to very much. After receiving the latest IKEA catalogue last week I'm planning a quick trip there which will inevitably end up being a much more expensive trip than first planned. And time permitting I have a couple of tutorials ear marked- this one is an adorable way to re-use baby's shoes and this one about printing on fabric could have many uses.

Let's Get Stitching

I'm on a bit of an embroidery kick at the moment. I have designed and made a couple of little hoop designs recently and am really happy with them. They make for cutesy wall art and there is no limit to the design and stitches you use. I'm down with the running, chain and satin stitches and french knots but there are more to learn and practice and lots of helpful blog posts out there. I recently came across this post which shows a variety of ways to finish your embroidery hoop off neatly at the back. There are also lots of design tutorials available and here are a few of my favourites.

Ombre Stitching courtesy of Design Sponge

Button Embroidered Hoop

Toadstool House courtesy of Lark Crafts

Mug Rug courtesy of Wild Olive

The Week Ahead

Today I begin some paid work, nothing fancy, but the first 'work' I have done in a few months. Unfortunately I won't have much time or energy to spend in my craft room. I have some unfinished projects and some new ideas to put onto paper which will just have to wait a week.

I finished this babushka softie on the weekend, she is the first one of this pattern that I have made in over a year. Theses babushka dolls were my most popular softie at my first markets and it was nice to dust off this pattern again.

What do you think of my new header?! I had been thinking about getting a new header for a while now so with the help of PicMonkey I put this one together. A very easy (and free) site to use so I can replace it whenever I fancy.

Finally, I'm not sure how much time I will have to post this week so I thought I'd throw some project inspiration your way today if you're keen to get crafty this week.

1 Babushka embroidered pin cushion from Wild Olive
2 Crocheted seed bracelet from Cut out and Keep
3 3D Heart Shadow Box from Smashed Peas and Carrots
4 Mod Shift Dress from Craftiness is not Optional

Get Crafty This Weekend

I hope you have a lovely weekend planned. And if you're a Mummy, there is some scheduled pampering and general fussing over time on the agenda for tomorrow. Being a mother is wonderful, difficult, emotional and everything in between and I am so grateful to my mother for showing me over the last 34 years how to do this job well.

If you are able to squeeze in a few minutes to yourself to be crafty this weekend, here are my picks from my travels around the blogosphere recently. Make a terrarium (indoor gardens are so hip right now!) or jazz up some simple paper lanterns with ribbon for your next party. 

1 Terrarium from Meet me at Mikes
2 A Toddler Scarf (using socks) from Living with Punks
3 Apple design tote bag from Craftstylish
4 Ribbon Lanterns from Martha Stewart

Get Crafty This Weekend

With the rain pouring down outside, it's the perfect weather to stay indoors and do some creating. Here are my four picks to make this wet weekend.

1 Plush Fox Doll from A Beautiful Mess
2 DVD Colouring Case from Stacy Vaughn
3 Felt Cloud Mobile from Bugs and Fishes
4 Heart Brooch from Bee-inspired

Where Have I Been

Oh dear, it's been a week since I last posted. I had been trying to be pretty regular with my posts these last couple of months but I fell off the wagon.
So, I'll try to sum up where I've been and what I've been doing this last week......

Last Saturday was a friend's daughter's first birthday party. There is nothing nicer than a party in the park (except when you come home sun burnt!)

Harper is cutting teeth left, right and centre. Her first six teeth all within 3 weeks.

Swimming lessons with Michaela last Sunday. This is her first term of lessons and it's lovely to see her enjoying being in the water.

Jon left for a school camp on Monday and so began my first few days as a single parent with two.

I did a little bit of crafting this week. A phone pouch and a pillowcase for Pillowcases for Oncology through Handmade Cooperative.

My very generous husband gave me an iPad2 for my birthday the other week so I've been exploring the world of apps and learning how to use it. I've also had my head buried in Design Sponge at Home which provides great food for thought for redecorating and savvy DIY projects.

I had a lovely walk and chat with a friend around the river yesterday while Michaela was at Pre Kindy (only to turn an even brighter shade of red last night- I obviously didn't learn my lesson!)

I did promise a couple of tutorials too, a LOVE tshirt applique and a cloud brooch so I'll do my best to get these to you soon. Until then, have a wonderful Friday!

End in Sight

Crazy heat wave here these last few days. 40C + for almost a week which has forced us inside and under the air conditioning. There is nothing more uncomfortable than breast feeding a baby when you're both perspiring. Today is set for 42C and then we have a reprieve so hopefully this is the longest stretch of high temps for this summer.

One good thing to come out of being house bound is that I've started a few projects. I appear to have started about 5 but have only finished one. I tend to flit from one thing to another when I have a new idea. Not always good practice as I consequently have half a dozen piles of fabric and patterns strewn across the table but it is nice to be busy.

After receiving some new felt in the post recently I've been playing around with a few brooches and ornaments. I made this little felt cloud brooch yesterday. I am going to make a couple of changes before creating a tutorial to share so you can make one too.

This is also the beginning of a new softie. He/She has started off similar in head shape to my Spaceboy but I'd like to vary my use of fabrics with this one and find some linen and or kokka to suit his 'style.'   

Whatever you have planned, have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks for visiting Little Cloud Factory- check back in next week for the Silver Lining Cloud Brooch pattern.
x Penelope

Make It Yourself - Santa Sack

Just a couple more sleeps until the big man in the red suit drops by. Preparations are still in full swing at our house and I can't wait to fall in a heap celebrate our first Christmas as a family of four.

I managed to finish the girls' Santa Sacks just in time. You could honestly make one of these in half an hour but I chose to do some hand stitching which made them take about one and a half hours each. Michaela is well chuffed with hers and despite it being empty!! Here is a little run down if you would like to make one yourself.

Materials for one Santa Sack
The completed sack is approximately 52cms x 70cms

Fabric- 80cm x fabric width (110cm)
Ribbon/ Trim/ Ric Rac- 110cm
Cotton Twill Ribbon - 100cm
3 sheets felt
3mm cord -160cms
Embroidery thread and needle

1 Cut fabric to dresired length (I chose 80cms)

2 Fold down top edge approx 1cm (as per pic below) and iron flat. Fold over again so that the raw is concealed. Stitch in place.

3 Place ric rac on right side of fabric 5 cms from top edge and pin in place. Stitch.

4 Fold over edge of twill ribbon (to prevent fraying) and pin this in place 5 cms below ric rac. Ensure that this ribbon on centred on the fabric. Stitch along top and bottom of ribbon.

5 Now fold the fabric in half, carefully lining up the edges and pin securely. Stitch the side edge (selvedge edges) and bottom to create the sack. The selvedge edges will not fray but I chose to zig zag the raw edge of the bottom seam. Turn right side out.

6 I decided on a simple initial for each of the girls' Santa Sacks. I printed the letters before pinning and cutting them out from the felt. I blanket stitched the red felt letter onto green felt before tracing out a large circle on the green felt and cutting it out. The hand stitching was obviously more time consuming, you can machine stitch the felt initial in place of course and use a fancy machine stitch. The 6 strands of embroidery thread does stand out nicely on the completed sack though ;)

7 Pin the green felt circle in the centre of one side of the sack. Stich in place, again I blanket stitched this but machine is fine.

8 Thread cord through the 'tunnel' created with the twill ribbon. Tie each end with a knot to prevent fraying (I also used some Fraystop)

9 Leave under the Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve for Santa to fill with presents!!