Stashbusting 2013: A year in review

When I signed up for a stashbusting challenge earlier this year, I didn't have high hopes of using up much of my stash, but thought if I was documenting it then I'd have some incentive to try. My pledge recorded on Tumbleweeds in the Wind was a bit wishy washy,

"I, Andrea, commit to using as much of my stash as possible during 2013 when other work permits me the time. I also commit to not buying new fabric for my personal use during 2013 (unless it's an absolute bargain!) AFTER my trip to Paris in March."

So how did I go? Well, as far as not buying more fabric goes, I didn't buy any for myself (technically), but was given some fabric from both my mother and my mother in law. (Okay, so the stuff from my mother I actually went through some fabric she was given and picked out quite a lot of stretch off cuts that I haven't used any of yet). I did buy some fabric which I earmarked for making a dress for my daughter (still to come), so not really part of my stash. The only other fabric I bought was for curtains. The first of these was bought in Paris for our library, and the second lot will be for our lounge room. I'm sure I'll be showing them off when they're done!

Lego Sewing Machine

I recently saw a picture of a Lego sewing machine on my Facebook feed, and asked my 8 year old son if he would like to make me one. I think he was still too busy playing with all the new Lego that he and his sister had gotten for Christmas, because he wasn't interested. I'm nothing if not persistent though, and a few days later I created a Pinterest board with various Lego sewing machines that I found.

That got him hooked! He made me a machine without any guidance from me, complete with 2 reels of thread, 2 bobbins (you never know when that extra one might come in handy), and 2 presser feet (more is best apparently!)

Christmas 2013: Taco Seasoning!

Merry Christmas to all my readers!

We have started a bit of a tradition of making something for Christmas presents every year. I come up with an idea, (the earlier in the year the better) and start working on making it happen in time for Christmas. We then give our closest friends and family the same gift. Last year I blogged about the Christmas macarons that I made and packaged for gifts. They were a real hit!

As with last year, this year also involved a lot of experimenting with recipes and trying them out on my unsuspecting family members. We ate a lot of tacos, nachos and potato wedges coming up with this recipe. I think the kids were getting a bit sick of them. It's a wonder I didn't put them off tacos forever with the first batch, or the second for that matter!

My attempt at making a Christmas Tree from jars of Taco Seasoning

Stash Busting: Sun Dress

I had another reason for making myself a white slip. My White Christmas post was all about the slip I made to go under a dress that I bought a few years ago. The actual reason that I made it now and not in another two years time, was that I needed it to go under a different dress that I planned to make.

Don't ask me why, but I seem to be attracted to sewing up all my fabrics that have either cut out or transparent sections at the moment, meaning they either need lining or a slip. I think this is the last of them though, although both this and my navy sorbetto top still have enough leftover fabric to make something else from them.

Sewing Machine Review - Pfaff Hobbylock 4870

What brand and model do you have? This machine is a Pfaff Hobbylock 4870

Sewing Machine Review - Janome Memory Craft 300E Embroidery Machine

Here is my next sewing machine review on my embroidery machine, a Janome Memory Craft 300E

What brand and model do you have? This machine is a dedicated embroidery machine, a Janome Memory Craft 300E.

White Christmas

No, I'm not heading to the northern hemisphere for a white Christmas, I'd just like to share with you the story of a white dress that I bought a couple of years ago, and is still yet to be worn.

About two years ago when I was looking for a Christmas present for my father in Industrie (I bought him a shirt that year in case you were wondering), I stumbled across a dress on the sample rack that I couldn't resist. I tried it on, and apart from being rather transparent, I loved it. You can't really tell on my dummy, but the slip underneath the dress is really see through. It's made of the same chiffon as the dress itself. "No worries" I thought, it's not like I can't make myself another slip!

The Dress Before