My Creative Space

An oobee from Maze & Vale scraps, and the diy oobee

I really couldn't resist. I'd had in mind to wait until Emerson's first birthday in February to make up the diy oobee kit I brought. Her first handmade softie for her first birthday. But I couldn't wait. Her first handmade softie for her first Christmas? Absolutely! 

So last night my sewing machine sat on the dining table and while Cohen played Lego and Emerson crawled around the legs of the chairs, squirreling away scraps of fabric, I cut and stitched these dear little oobees. Leslie had been so kind as to include some large scraps of hand printed fabric. I stitched them together to make one piece of fabric and it was the perfect size to make another oobee. I finished him off with a mustard coloured felt face (but forgot to remove the pencil marks on his face before taking these photos!) This sweet scrappy oobee will being going to live with a little boy who has just turned one.

I love how they have turned out. I don't think they could be any cuter. And I love having another handmade gift to wrap and place under the tree.

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Joining in with my creative space.

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Four more softies have joined this little guy in the post today. Soft and cuddly, with long ears for little hands to grab. Perfect for little ones I should think. They are now on their way to visit Steph, who is kindly taking them to meet their new families.

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The monkey and the rabbit softies were made up as I went along, inspired by the many beautiful softies I have seen on the web over the years and the ones I used to make. Although the original pattern for the monkey seems to have been packed away, they are very simple patterns to draw up, if you are so inclined. The little teddy softie pattern is by Crafty Carnival and can be found here.

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I'm still struck by the news coverage of the flooding and clean up. And I'm so proud of the 50,000 volunteers who spent their weekend making such a huge difference, my husband amongst them. 

The clean up sites are no place for a two year old. So Cohen and I have stayed home, baking for the volunteers and making softies for children in emergency shelters. If you are handy with a needle, perhaps you would like to make a softie too? The lovely Steph has organised 'Hope Softies' and I think it is such a wonderful idea.

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Hi, my name is Ethan. I'm really super in love with puzzles and building forts under the dining table with sheets and blankets. I really can't wait to meet up with many, many other softies before finding my one true home. I'm super excited about that. 

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Ethan is my Softies for Mirabel contribution. 'Softies for Mirabel' is a project organised by Pip, in order to give a handmade gift to children who have been orphaned or abandoned, due to their parents drug use. You can read more here and there is still time to make a toy and donate it, as toys have until the 7th December to make it to 'Meet Me At Mike's' in Victoria.

This is yet another project of late that has been stitched madly while the toddler slept. The pattern is Jodie's great Kinder Boys sewing pattern. Ethan is sporting a pair of green undies, tie up board shorts, a velcro shirt and removable hat. I hope that he will bring joy to the little person that takes him home with them.

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My second attempt at my first babushka doll, now finished except for the addition of a little bell. I closely followed the directions for the first attempt and wasn't completely satisfied with the resulting doll. I started over and assembled the pieces differently and I'm much happier with this sweet little doll. Perfect for little arms to hold and little hands to rattle.

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I have long admired this lovely Babushka doll pattern by Blinking Flights and now I have the perfect excuse to make one, for a friend who's little one is due soon. Some more hand stitching and I should be able to share the finished doll with you soon.

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Thanks to all those who have already added their fantastic quotes and words of wisdom and entered the giveaway. It has been so good reading through them all. Lots of lovely and timely reminders. If you haven't entered, you still have until Monday to be in the draw.

My Creative Space...

Piles of cut out doll parts.

Ten bodies, ten heads, twenty legs and twenty arms...

The beginnings of a pile of felt hair...

Making gifts for Christmas begins.

Am I too early? Have you started any Christmas presents yet?

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More creative spaces and lots of red work over here.

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Don't forget the give away!

Super...

Hi, I'm Super Cohen and I like to go on super adventures and cheer people up. See my super cape? Helps me fly...

I'm really good at packing and never forget a thing...

I always wear my seat belt. Safety first...

I like walks along the beach and trips to the country...

I care about the environment and animals. Here I am at Obi Obi Creek in Maleny...

I love to catch up with my friends at Baroon Dam...

And I will always be grateful to Laurel for letting me come and live with Cohen and his family...

Thanks to the lovely Laurel, who made and sent this gorgeous teddy to Cohen so he would get better super fast. Super Cohen, Cohen and ourselves had a wonderful weekend at Maleny.

Where is that yarn needle...

The beds are not made and

the dishes are not put away.

Our rosy cheek baby is teething.

There have been little wet tears sliding down those rosy cheeks.

The homeopathic teething tablets help take away his pain, but not mine.

Hugs and playtime take precedence over everyday chores.

Colour is creeping back into our garden.

Delicate peach blossoms have begun to appear and I'm watching, waiting, for the whole tree to be engulfed in colour.

I am trying my hand at a Black Apple doll in stolen minutes while the baby sleeps.

Step by little step.

Picking the fabrics. Cutting the pieces. Pinning. Sewing. Pinning.

At night I curl up with my love on the couch and crochet the night away...

Eye Spy... Something I made for a little person.

Jack Wabbit... With thanks always to the meme masterminding Cindy at Bug and Pop,

and to Mary-Jane at Sweet Emmelie for mastering this weeks theme.

First signs of Christmas...

There are signs that Christmas is on it's way again... 1. The shopping centres have hung their decorations already and are stocking their shelves with all things Christmissy. 2. Those Christmas Hamper ads are back on tv. Groan... 3. Summer is gearing up to offer all the joys and discomforts essential to an Australian Christmas Day. 4. But most importantly... the first Christmas beetles are here!

As a child I knew Christmas was on it's way with the arrival of these un-coordinated little beetles. To celebrate their coming to my flyscreens and window ledges I decided to make my first ever felt decorations.

Hello cookie cutter, felt, buttons, ribbon and thread...

With your powers combined... funny little gingerbread man decorations!

And while I am show-and-telling, they say good things come in threes... and here are another three finished softies as promised...

This is Blossom the Piggie... I now want a dress like this myself! Fabric purchase still being put to good use...

This is the softie I will be sending to the Mirabel Foundation, as she has no buttons or chocking bits, she is all machine and hand stitched up...

And she has a cute Japanese print skirt...

This is Sweetie Kittie. She is feeling very summery and is thinking about going to the beach with her other Kittie friends...

Not sure that she will get in the water, being a cat and all, but I'm sure laying in the sun is on the cards... There are still five more softies waiting for attention...

Last night...

I was busily cutting out some new softies. A pig, three cats and four... what can they be? You will have to wait and see! I decided to change the prices on my Etsy store too, once I realised that the conversion I had worked out wasn't right!! Softies are now USD$23. If you are in Australia and are interested in a softie you can email me, as they are not all listed on Etsy. I also found at the library yesterday a very cool and kitsch Textile Design book - hours of inspiration...

Where do I get this fabric!

Etsy store updated... new softies

As promised, here are a few new softies, freshly added to my new Etsy store too. I love this one...

Anna Cat... Mr Scratch... And Miss Oink...

What do you think? Any suggestions?

I made this...seven softies

Sunday was overcast and rainy and perfect for reading and crafting. As I am supposed to be taking it easy in my 35th week of pregnancy, I spent most of my Sunday sitting behind the sewing machine and on the couch making these seven softies...

Arms and tails...

I managed to get all seven stiched up and stuffed, although two little piggies are still without arms. A quick trip to Spotlight and I have the required felt so piggies can have arms. I also managed to buy some discounted fabric...

I started hand stictching their faces...

Next step - clothes for them. The start of a skirt...