it was meant to be quick

... but took a lot longer than I imagined.  I picked up a beautiful piece of silk(?) velvet in a deep royal blue/purple with an almost dimple effect from the op shop and thought it would look great as a neck warmer with some silk like scraps pieced together.  

The fabric seemed to have a will of its own and wanted to move whenever I sewed, so after a session unpicking I had to resort to tacking the two pieces together before sewing.  I would normally topstitch something like this around the edge, but I don't dare.

when cats go bad

looks as though butter wouldn't melt eh?

On Friday I had planned a full day of sewing - including putting together a quilt, making some headbands and bears.  I am very high tech here and instead of a design wall there is a design floor, for working on quilt layouts, with a sheet laid down and a stool to stand on so you get a good view of a quilt layout.  This was all done the night before - with strict instructions that children were not to walk on it.

I forgot to tell one cat that she was not to have a party on it.

I arrived in the downstairs living room on Friday morning (aka sewing room, playstation den and hang out zone) to find quilt pieces in chaos. 

(This was after I pulled the sheet back to reveal the mess she had made and tried to place a few blocks back).  The evidence - a few extra "pin holes" that had been left in the blocks. 

Under interrogation she said she was sleeping...

and that she had witnesses...

I did get some sewing done, but not as much as planned.

P.S. - I will have Sherbet Pips fabric (that Alley used as a dance floor) in store in about 2 weeks - cannot wait.

never judge a book by its cover

It's true!  Otherwise you might miss out on this....

or this

and the cover that I saw at the op shop minus the 50 cent price tag...

I ♥ vintage books

The illustrator is Barbara Cooney and with a bit of internet research I was able to find out that she won the Caldecott Medal twice and in her acceptance speech in 1959 she said...

I believe that children in this country need a more robust literary diet than they are getting. … It does not hurt them to read about good and evil, love and hate, life and death. Nor do I think they should read only about things that they understand. “…a man’s reach should exceed his grasp.” So should a child’s. For myself, I will never talk down to—or draw down to—children.”

sewing for the kindy kids in Japan

Today was my first opportunity to do some sewing for the kindy kids (this is an appeal for handmade clothes and toys for children affected by the tsunami - you can read more here)...

Not the best photo ever but the lighting today is not very good.  Don't you like the masking tape?  I got that clever idea from Melissa at Tiny Happy.

The skirt is made from a baby needlecord and is very soft.  I used the pattern from the simple skirt tutorial from Dana over at MADE (great sewing tutorials over on her blog - I will add her blog on the sidebar as a reference point as well!)

As for the t-shirt - yes it is store bought, but the elephant has been sewn on.  I made Miss M a t-shirt like this when she was little and it was an all time favourite.  I hope Japanese girls like elephants as well.

I am not the only one who has been sewing - you can check out what Lisa has been doing over on her blog.

If you are able to help the kindy kids please leave a comment or email me.

Japan Disaster Relief - Fukudamachi Kindergarten - Can you Help?

Handmade Clothes and Toys Needed!

A Photo before the Earthqauke and Tsunami

Today I was approached by one of my customers, Yumiko who is coordinating disaster relief for a kindergarten in the Sendai region of Japan, asking if I could help.  Yumiko now lives in New Zealand, but her family is from the Sendai region and her cousin teachers at the Fukudamachi Kindergarten. 

Following the earthquake, the staff at the kindergarten have been working hard to clean up and are now ready to welcome the children back.  Whilst almost all 200 of the children are safe, some have lost their homes, leaving them without clothing, toys and basic necessities.  Many of the children will be traumatised by the disaster.

The head teacher of Fukudamachi Kindergarten has welcomed an offer of a care package of clothing and toys which will be distributed to the children in need.  NZ Couriers have kindly donated free shipping to the kindy (from a single point in New Zealand).

Here's where we come in -  can you help with a donation of handmade new items with the following considerations:

The children are aged 3-5 years

• Clothing items are required more than toys
• Clothing can include skirts, shorts, tops dresses, polar fleece, hats etc
• Japan is heading into spring, but it is still very cool in the mornings and evenings in this part of the country (it is still snowing!)
• Please consider weight and bulk.

It would be helpful if you included the age/size and if relevant gender for the item you have made.

And if you'd like to....

•  take a photo of you/your family/group and your item and email it to hapachica@gmail.com as soon as possible,
• including the names and ages of those in the photo

 As the kindergarten wants to create a photo montage of all those who have helped.

Yumiko has organised for items to be dropped off on 28 April 2011 in Paraparumu.  I am happy to act as intermediary collection point and either drive or courier all the items I collect to Yumiko on that day.  If you would like to donate please leave a comment with your email address or email me and I will send you my address for delivery.  I will need to receive all items by 27th of April in order to make the delivery deadline of the 28th!

Fellow bloggers if you could also let others know I would be extremely grateful.

Whilst many of us will have given in a variety of ways I am sure, this is an opportunity to see something you have made with love go to help those in direct need in Japan.

Thank you in advance!

P.S If you would like you can see more photos of the adorable children at their kindergarten here

80's Nostalgia - the Original Poi-E Video

For those of you non-Kiwi's this was a number one hit in New Zealand in 1984 for 22 weeks.  It is all about taking pride in who you are and a slice of '80's culture.  Just thought I would share.  Happy Sunday.

PHEW! We made it....

Wow that was a wild ride - and which one of you ducks farted in the box!!

All toys have been released from the box and have been asked not to play with the bubble wrap.  We are happy to be the Wellington outlet for Golden Bay Toys.  (Don't tell them they will have to go into a box tomorrow, ready for a market).

the changing of the seasons

Autumn means apples from our baby apple tree

The last of the monarch butterfly caterpillars and a very scrawny looking swan plant

Rosehips instead of roses

NZ's Hottest and Youngest Home Bakers?

The Twinkies - my youngest niece and nephew turned two this weekend.  Their Mum put in a request for two aprons.

Made from Traffic

Made from Babushka Dolls and Cat (one of my new favourites).

Now these would look heaps better with models wearing them, but unfortunately they do not fit anyone in our household.

I made a similar apron for their older sister a couple of years ago, based on a pattern that I made up - but do you think I could find the pattern, so thanks Uncle Robbie for giving me all the vital measurements based on the original, over the phone.  I will have to ask Aunty Sooz whether she will take a photo of New Zealand's Hottest and Youngest Home Bakers to share with you (they are super cute!) 

Happy Birthday Sam and Maya!