Flashback Friday #6: Raggy Dolls

Many many moons ago I made these two raggy dolls. Inspired by some that Jo at Cowslip Workshops had made, I used her pattern to make my own.

The girl came first, and then the boy so that she had a companion.

She has flaming red hair and brown button eyes and a cute mouth and nose drawn on for me by Jo. I made her a very simple dress with long sleeves and a long pleated skirt, and also a pair of long yellow bloomers with lace hems (neither of which with a pattern, but directly 'draped' onto the doll).

I didn't quite stuff her neck enough so her head is a little floppy.

He has brown hair and green button eyes, and as yet no mouth or nose. I made him a (very rustic) suit, again with no pattern. A yellow shirt, complete with collar, cuffs and buttons, a red jacket (lined with pale blue lining), and blue trousers (with red pockets on the bum!). None of the garments are very professionally finished (or in some cases finished at all, the "hems" are still just folded), but I'm very proud of what I created with no experience of garment sewing.

Lastly, don't forget to enter my giveaway, you have until the end of Sunday (Melbourne time) to comment!

Flashback Friday #5: Australia Photo Album Cover

I spent my gap year between High School and Uni in Perth - a pretty ideal situation really; I got the excitement of a year in Australia, but the comfort of still living at "home" with my parents. I spent April of that year on the East coast, in Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns. This is a photo album cover that I made for the photos that were taken on that trip:

Australia Photo Album, (I think) completed in 2003.

The front cover was pieced with strips of different blues for the 'sea' with the Australian states machine appliquéd on top. It was then stitched to a plain back with pockets added to slip over the hard cover of the album.

It was stitched together at my Grans house using her stash, hence the superb range of fabrics at my disposal!

Flashback Friday #4: Pleated Border Print Skirt

It's been a couple of weeks since my last "Flashback Friday" but since I'm home in time for it to still be Friday I though I'd get back into the swing of it this week.

This week is a skirt I made back when I was in Perth and never actually wore after I took these photos as I didn't find it very flattering and wasn't comfortable in it.

Pleated border print skirt, made Dec 2007

I saw the border print fabric in spotlight and really liked it, so picked out a pleated skirt pattern so I could use the border. However, as the pattern I used didn't have a lining but the white on the fabric was a bit see through I decided to add one... and didn't quite do it right. I added a lining the same as the skirt, pleats and all... which made the pleats very solid and a bit stickey-outey. Mostly though, I wasn't happy about where the pleats started, it didn't feel very flattering on my shape body.

So yes, a project from which I learnt lots but didn't add to my wardrobe. The skirt's sat in the wardrobe at my parents house somewhere now...

Flashback Friday #3 : Embroidered Blue Flowers

Blue Gingham Flowers, made Sept 2005

I had some scraps of blue gingham left from another project, so decided to make it into a cushion cover. I embroidered the flowers on to add some interest.

Flashback Friday #2 : Australian Flag Dress

When I was at uni I went to a lot of fancy dress parties, which in turn required a lot of fancy dress costumes. One such party had the theme "countries", so I chose Australia.

Australian Flag Dress, made ~Nov 2005

I had an Australian flag, which I made into a very simple dress... It turned out shorter than I anticipated as I was limited by the width of the flag, If I were to do it again I'd probably use two flags and make a long dress.

Incase you were wondering, the party was lots of fun!

Flashback Friday #1 : Spotty PJ Bottoms

I have decided to start a new (possibly semi-) regular spot on my blog; Flashback Friday. I thought it would be run to use Fridays to share an old project that I made before I started my blog. So, without further ado.... flashback #1:

Spotty PJ bottoms, made Nov 2006.

I made these pyjama bottoms because my very favourite pair that I'd bought from Primark had completely worn out (so threadbare that I'd worn a hole through the bum!) So, I unpicked the seams and used them to make a pattern. The fabric was bought at Spotlight and they've been worn VERY regularly ever since... sadly they're starting to wear thin around the waistband. The pattern I made has gone missing since, so once they do finally die they'll be unpicked and a replacement pattern made.

Interestingly, the fabric has held up pretty well. Above shows the actual PJ bottoms on the right and the original fabric (the leftovers of which are still in my stash) on the left, they've slightly faded but not too much.