Mandys Spot - MadebyMandy

A day of sewing for ME.

2010-02-24T02:59:00.000-08:00

I have had a few orders to sew up lately. My uniforms have been popular but I was worried that my sewing for others was going to turn my love of creation into a chore. So yesterday I took a much deserved day off to create something for me.

I needed a new wallet and I knew exactly which pattern I was going to use The KF Everything Wallet. A friend Lissy from Craftymamas made this wallet the other week and it was gorgeous she inspired me.

Well this is my version of this great wallet. This is the first time I've ever made a wallet and it was so easy. The instructions on the pattern were so clear and precise. Excellent for the first time wallet maker.

This gorgeous Fabric I got off ebay and the pattern off Etsy.

Now I'm refreshed and keen to get back into my uniform sewing. Oh and I have another wallet cut out and ready to sew. :)

Until Next time happy sewing... :)

Things change.. My January Sewing Challenge item. :)

2010-01-22T02:38:00.000-08:00

I know that a couple of posts ago, I mentioned Carolyn's 12 months 12 Challenge. I also said that I would be making a top and bag for myself for the January Challenge.

The other day I got a lovely surprise in the mail, I received the most gorgeous bag from Carolyn

This is the bag I was going to make for the Jan Challenge but I'm so grateful to Carolyn for this gorgeous gorgeous bag. What a lucky girl I am.

So since January is nearly over my goodness where has the time gone...and school nearly ready to go back. Yesterday I was thinking about school bags and how I hate spending money only to have the kids wreck them. So this year I'm going to try the mum made it thing to see if they will look after their bags.

I was after a Messenger style bag, and I couldn't be bothered looking on the Net for a pattern. I knew what I wanted and so lastnight I drafted a pattern, and today I made up the bag using some of my Hippy Chicks Fabric and a gorgeous Huups embroidery design. I found both of these things through Craftymamas.

I'm absolutely thrilled with the end result and I have decided that this is my MEME January challenge item.

Now I have 4 more of these bags to make for the kids for school next week. 3 for my primary school kids and my #1 son wants one too. What better compliment can you get then that, my kids want to take their mum's bag to school.

Until next time Happy sewing :)

Baby Carriers.

2010-01-20T04:17:00.001-08:00

It's funny how after you have had your children, you find all these lovely things that would have made your life so much easier. The Baby Carrier ( Pouch ) is one of those things for me.
My friend had her daughter and new granddaughter visit her recently. I can remember being a first time mum, not the easiest thing to have to learn. :)

I was wondering what I could do to help this friend with her baby so off to the internet I go ( love surfing for new sewing projects :) ), and I found this pattern for a baby carrier. So I made up this pattern and fell in love with it. I have to say my friend was very happy with the end product too. :)
So I am now licensed to make these baby carriers. I'm looking forward to sewing more of these very soon.

Gorgeous Rainbows End Studios Mandala Fabric.

2010-01-06T23:41:00.000-08:00

Wow was I lucky today when I went to the post office. Last week I ordered some beautiful fabric from Julie-Ann of Rainbows End Studios . She had created these gorgeous pieces of fabric and of course me with my soft spot ( very soft spot) for fabric had to have some. Aren't they just gorgeous, Julie-Ann you are very clever.

I can feel a bag of some description coming on. I may have to use one of these fabrics for my January challenge. Now that's an idea. :)

Happy Sewing :)

12 month 12 sewing Challenges.

2010-01-04T22:03:00.000-08:00

Wow what an exciting year I have ahead. I love belonging to a group of very Craftymamas. One of these craftymamas Carolyn of My Favourites has organised 12 months of sewing challenges for us to join and have some fun with.

JANUARY'S CHALLENGE

To make something for ME.

This is going to be a hard challenge as I have a list as long as my arm of things I want to make for me. I want pants, tops, dresses and of course bags (that is topic for post all of it's own lol).

But I think I have narrowed my list down to 2 items from my list;

1. The Schoolhouse Tunic from Sew Liberated
2. The Buttercup Bag from Made By Rae

So now my challenge is to find the right fabrics for the right pattern. So'll be keeping you updated along the way. I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I am going to enjoy the creative journey.

Until next time happy sewing.

New Listing at MadebyMandy.

2009-12-01T16:00:00.000-08:00

I've been making My Place* Handy Bags for the last 5 years and have made heaps for family, friends and have had lots of orders so I thought I would give them ago in my store. So yesterday I managed to get one made up and I listed it lastnight. Thanks for looking.

Personal challenge.

2009-11-22T13:33:00.000-08:00

Ok, here we are just a few weeks out from Christmas and it is time to make myself accountable for the things I have yet to do, so I can then get on with the things I want to do eg, sewing for my kids for christmas.

I have a lot of work that needs to be done. I have been trying to get 2 work shirts made for a friend so this is at the top of my list today.

Then this is what I have to do for the rest of the week:

1: Samples made of School skirt and Pants- Draft patterns and make up
2. Oct/Nov Craftymamas Swap
3. Bags for school with Embroidery ( I have to digitize school emblem)
4. Quilt Block for a very talented Craftymama.

These are the things I really need to get done. There is nothing like a personal challenge to get the blood pumping. Time to get of the computer so I can get started..

Wish me luck...:)

Time to catch up..

2009-11-16T11:47:00.000-08:00

Well it seems like ages since I have had a chance do anything with my blog. Time is going so fast who can believe we are at the christmas end of yet another year. But I have to admit that this is my fav time of the year. I look forward to having my kids and hubby home for the holidays, lots of lazy days just hanging out together occasionally getting on one anothers cases but hey that's family life as long as we still love one another at the end of each day I'm happy.

Time for me to share some wonderful little things with you.

Firstly, the other week I was able to purchase a very cute little hat from Gilly the very clever Craftymama who has her own craftymama business Koo-Toor Creations, the pattern she used was the Lazy Day hat and I have to say that all my boys have been loving this hat wishing that it fit them, but little Noah was the one that got lucky.

Along with buying this gorgeous hat I have been able to get in some sewing time also..

It was a special occasion that got me fired up last week, my darling daughter turned 8 in September which meant she was able to be baptised. Now since she is not a dressy girl, I thought that she still needed something nice for her baptism, so off to the net I go and found 2 great patterns from You Can Make This, the first was the very cute Emily Tunic by Sis Boom and the other was Boutique Bottoms from SewSensible. Both of these patterns were incredibly easy to put together. My daughter loved them and she looked great in them and the great thing is that she has worn both garments since her baptism so for her to wear them more then once is a good sign.

This last week has also been a week for trying new things.. I always see so many new patterns and I thing I love that and then I put off making it as I have never made anything like it before for example bags, I love bags and I have seen some very cute and very practical patterns out there but I think I can't make that. Well this week I decided I was going to have a go (I also had the added motivation of making a bag for my swap partner in the Craftymamas November Swap, I don't want to disappoint her). I purchased the ThatDarnKat Coming and Going Bag pattern from once again You Can Make This..( I can see a pattern beginning to take shape here, I need a pattern I go to You Can Make This..).

This is another great pattern and I'm very happy with the way it came out.
The bag is quite roomy considering it's size. The Floral fabric on the outside, I bought to make my mum a quilt but I never got around to it but I think it looks better as a bag. I will be making some more of these for Christmas pressies, if I don't run out of time.

I promise not to leave it so long next time before I blog again..:) I'll be back again real soon with some more creations both sewed and knitted.. Until then Happy Crafting :)

MADEBYMANDY finally is getting stock in.

2009-10-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

Well I have finally bitten the bullet and overcome my fears and put my Owl dress in my Madeit store.
Over the next couple of weeks I will also be adding some Sew Liberated Emmeline Aprons which are sewn under the Cottage License Agreement. These aprons are so pretty, they could be worn as a top over a t-shirt and pants or skirt. I will also be adding some My Place Handy bags, which I have been making for some time, these are such a handy (pun intended) bag for mums to have. I've used them for 2 of my boys and the kids love them.

Besides getting my store stocked, I must commit more time to my poor blog as it has been a bit neglected of late.

Owl Dress.

2009-09-12T01:14:00.000-07:00

Well I have nearly finished my Owl dress. This is an Enid Design a shift dress that I have modified just a bit by adding the floral insert to the front and back of the dress. I was unhappy with the tops of the inserts so with the magic of machine embroidery transformed the inserts on the front and back into flowers which the wise old owl is watching over with great care.

I'll be listing this as my first dress in my madebymandy store on monday.

Milo Vest

2009-08-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

Well I've finally completed my first Milo vest. After seeing this pattern being knitted by some Craftymama's I decided I would like to have a go. So I purchased the pattern from the Ravelry site (another addiction to add to the growing list of places I love to spend my time on the computer). It is a wonderful pattern to start out with. I made the 12 month old size as Noah is nearly 1 and it fits him great. I used an acrylic varigated yarn that I had bought locally here at home, I'm very happy with how it turned out.

The Cable pattern I used for this one is the Aran Braid.

Well the needles are itching for some more so I'm off to cast on another Milo but this time for my 3 yr old.

Beginnings of an Emmeline Apron.

2009-07-18T00:03:00.000-07:00

Well I finally got around to it, my Emmeline Apron pattern from Sew Liberated. I haven't finished yet, but will get to that on monday. I saw this fabric last week and fell in love with it, it is Timeless Treasure Casbar. The contrasting fabric is a chocolate brown homespun.

MadebyMandy is coming.

2009-06-23T21:32:00.000-07:00

The time has come for me to bring to life a dream that I have had for very long time.. I have been truly inspired by a group of wonderful Craftymamas (you know who you all are). I have set up my Madeit store, MadebyMandy (very original I know), here I am going to have a go at selling my kids clothing creations and a few other things that I make eg, My Place Handy Bags, and embroidered towel sets. I just have a few things to do and then it will be up and running. So keep watching this spot...

Exciting find.

2009-06-19T01:28:00.000-07:00

Decided that I needed to clean up my sewing room today. Found a little gem in the process. This is what I found:

This is just a sample of the patterns in the book. They are drafted just like the patterns from the Enid Gilchrist magazines.

This is a cute little peasant top or dress. I'm looking forward to giving this one a go.

Here is another great little pattern just what is needed, now that winter is here. Have to make sure the sewing room is cleaned up now so I can get busy creating, very happy with my find.

2009-06-08T01:02:00.000-07:00

Still a few finishing touches to be done, but I'm very happy with how both dresses turned out. I love Enid.

Jacket and Booties for Emma.

2009-06-05T16:40:00.000-07:00

Emma in her cute little outfit. Her shoes fit her perfectly.

Here are some pictures of the Jacket and Booties I made for my Niece's Naming and Blessing service today.

Enid Sew a Long with craftymamas

2009-06-02T03:27:00.000-07:00

These are the patterns I've chosen to use for the Craftymamas Enid sew a long.
The cute little pinafore that is featured on the cover and the dress with tie. This one I will make to be worn over pants or leggings. Better get the patterns drafted.

First Bizz Kids Dress

2009-05-03T21:32:00.000-07:00

I'd just recieved my new magazine in the post and had to try out these patterns. I love this little dress and I'm really happy with the way it has turned. My niece loved it and that is all that matters.