Lots of stitching and a giveaway

Last Saturday I took my beautiful Mum in to work and we had a brilliant day finishing off some quilts we were making for the shop. This is one of them, Designed by Zan Taylor this is the Alpha Beezy Quilt lots of applique but this is a really great fun and pretty easy quilt to make!

 I've been telling you about the kids school holiday workshops that we are holding in July, well this is one of the projects that the 7 - 10 year olds will be making. Its a little pincushion that is also a bracelet. The kids can take the pincushion part off if they like and can just wear the bracelet.

 They will also be making this needlebook, they will learn to gather ribbon to make a flower, they'll be sewing on a button, they'll do some hand stitching and will even have a go on a machine! Should be a fun day!

 These are both of the kids projects, perfect for beginners too, they give you a taste of lots of different styles of stitching, we'll be putting kits together soon.

Valerie at My Patch (my work) is having a giveaway on her facebook page. If you'd like to win 4 Fat Quarters of my favourite range, Sunkissed by Moda, (the fabrics I used in the cushion in the picture) head over to the My Patch facebook page and click 'like'. When we get to 65 likers Val will do the draw.
Don't forget to tell her I sent you :)

Hugs Paula

A sneek peak and the kids workshop project

I have been working away and have almost finished my next pattern, YEAH!!!

So I thought I'd give you a little sneek peak.

Huge Thanks goes out to Nan (my mum) for doing the amazing embroidery!! She is so incredibly talented!

I've also been working on the kids workshop projects, this is what the 11 and ups will be working on.

I made this gorgeous little cushion with the amazing Sweetwater range from Moda. I am so addicted to this range and I think I really need to make a quilt for my bed with this range, it is just so stunning.

Anyway if you or your kids are interested in joining in a workshop on the school holidays give Val a call at the shop on 02 4455 4087.

Hugs Paula

PS. I'm looking for some test sewers of my next pattern. If you have young kids (0 - 2) could you please email me or leave a comment on this post with the age and gender of your kids and I will get back to you soon with the details. paula.storm@gmail.com

My first Workshop!

I'm so excited and also totally terrified at the prospect of hosting my first workshop!

On June the 2nd in conjunction with My Patch Fabrics in Milton NSW we will be having a Softie workshop where you can choose any of my patterns and we will take you through the construction and more than likely finish the project of your choice.

I'll be giving you hints and tips to create successful softies, not just my patterns but others as well, you can even make a Sit Me Up Donut if you like, so if your interested please give Valerie a call and book in on 02 4455 4087 or email her, the cost is $40 plus pattern and materials. There is limited spots, so please book early :)

Another exciting piece of news is I will also be hosting a school holiday program for kids! I'll be working with the kids in two serperate workshop sessions. The first with younger kids 7 - 10 year olds and the second with 11 and ups using their machines. I'll be posting pictures in the next few days of the projects we will be making. The cost is $25 and includes requirements.

We have stacks more workshops going on at the moment too, Sheena Chapman is hosting a Kaleidoscope workshop on May 21, just email Valerie and she will send you a workshop programme. Or join the My Patch Facebook page for regular updates.

Hugs Paula

My Babys 5th Birthday Hello Kitty Cake.

One of my gorgeous baby girls celebrated her 5th birthday today, She just adores Hello Kitty, so I had a bit of a google search and found a cake that I liked, I changed it a bit and this is what happened.

 Emma adored the Fairy bread :) 

 Chloe and her 15 friends yes 15, had an awesome day! 

The cake didn't last long though, isn't it always the way, you spend hours and hours decorating and in minutes its gone.

Happy Mothers Day to all the mummys out there, I hope you had a more relaxing day than I did :)

Hugs Paula

Sewing and spending :)

It's been a long while since I last posted, but it's because I have been extremely busy. What has kept me the most busy is my new job at Val's shop in Milton NSW, called My Patch Fabrics, (also on Facebook) I absolutely loooove that I can grab a pattern and some fabric and just get sewing with no designing decision pressure!

One of my favourite patterns at the moment is from 'One Red Robin', the Baby Chibi dolls are just too cute!! I've been wanting to make them since the day the shop opened and I finally got to them this week, what do you think?

 I love the little lady bug buttons in the shop so I added one to the flower on my girl Chibi.

What else is going on, well my Mum who I told you about a few weeks ago is now selling Baby Gap clothes on Ebay as well as the hand embroidered t-shirts. This embroidered Owl shirt is one of my favourites!! The stitching is very very well done, what you expect from Baby Gap and at just $12.50 its a bargain! Luckily I get mates rates :)

 My sister also has an ebay shop with stacks of Baby Gap Pyjamas and clothes, she has also just gotten in some wall stichers, We had a birthday in my house yesterday and my 2nd born was very pleased with 2 gorgeous pairs of pj's and some gorgeous heart stickers for her bedroom!
The love bird jammies are my favourite!

Jack looks sooo cute in this outfit! It has a really nice weight to it, with the shirt over the top of the suit (they are attatched), just beautiful quality and they look adorable with jeans!

This outfit though is my absolute favourite!!! My little supermodel looks so rediculously gorgeous in this Carter's outfit! I'll try and get a picture of her in it, just adorable!

Anyway, back to the sewing room for me, I have so many projects on the go, I just need to finish one and I'll be happy :) wishful thinking I think hehe.We are working on some new patterns for kids sewing classes at the shop, got to get to them early ;)

Hugs Paula

My big news!

 I hinted at some really big news a week or so ago on Facebook and the time has come to spill the beans :)

I was contacted a couple of weeks ago by the extremely talented Helen Stubbings from Hugs and Kisses, shes the creator of Colourque. Anyway she is also the owner of Pattern Press.

Pattern Press is the distributor of patterns by amazing artists like Monica Poole of Moonshine Designs, One Red Robin, and heaps more! Anyway Helen offered to distribute my patterns for me!!

Can you imagine!! Anyway I laughed and cried and was shaking for hours!! Before I replyed rather quickly with a big fat YES! :)

So the last week has been filled with redesigning my pattern covers and instructions which will now be in a booklet format, I think this will be great for people like me who constantly loose pages of patterns that I'm working on.

So heres a look at the new covers:

       

The next piece of exciting news is that Helen will be taking my patterns to Spring Market in Salt Lake City next month! I'm just so overwhelmed with how quickly this has all happened, but really really happy too :) so back to the sewing room to stitch up some more samples...

So keep a lookout for my patterns in your favourite shop, and if they don't have them ask them to contact pattern press, The patterns aren't up on their website yet, but can be ordered by emailing the Pattern Press team orders@patternpress.com.au or by phone on +61 362787507.

In other news I started my new job at My Patch fabrics in Milton yesterday, it was sooo much fun, how can you get paid to work in such an amazing shop!! I was totally exhausted at the end of the day, but it was a heap of fun too :)

Hugs Paula

My Patch Fabrics Grand Opening!

Ok get ready for a marathon post with tons of pictures!

One of my gorgeous friends who also happens to stock my patterns is Val, Val has been running an ebay shop for some time but has also decided to take the leap into a Bricks and Mortar shop. YEAH!!!

My Patch fabrics opened its doors this morning and it is AMAZING!

 Located at the top of the hill in Milton NSW, My Patch is choc full of the most beautiful fabrics patterns and samples!

These chairs are so beautiful! I just love the fabrics!

Here my Twiga the Giraffe pattern in yummy Amy Butler Love fabrics

I was getting a bit artsy with my new camera hehehe, this is Heather Baileys Effie

My little supermodel hard at work :) Emma is sitting in Vals Sit Me Up Donut Sample.
How cute are those fabrics! Also available in pink shades.



This is Val.



I nearly bought this pattern(sorry this isn't on the online shop yet), but I went with this one from 'Make it Perfect' instead
(I love Toni's patterns), I'm going to make hats for the whole family :)



This is a tower of Fat Quarters folded in triangles. I want one of these instead of a Birthday cake this year! ;)

Heres my Sammy Seahorse Pattern made up in the Sunkissed by Sweetwater fabrics, I love these sooo much! I have some meterage of these, might just be a new pattern coming out in these soon :) The swirly print in my absolute favourite!

 

Heres another arty pic. This quilt is amazing! the hand quilting is soooo gorgeous. I'm not sure where the pattern is from but Val you did an amazing job on it!



A big basket of yummyness (I don't care if thats not a word hehehe it fits)



Heres Val, my Mum Lesley and Emma who we put to work immediately! ;)

This is Dot Swoope (right) who brought in the first quilt top to the shop for show and tell, Dot made this amazing quilt at a workshop run by Val and taught by Sheena Chapman. This quilt is made without a pattern and is totally freeform! It is just stunning! Well Done Dot!



Here's the display with my patterns and samples. I must admit it brought a tear to my eye when I saw that my patterns where alongside my idols Melly & Me and books by amazing artists like Amy Butler, Heather Bailey and Material Obsession! Thanks Val!

If you want to contact Val, her shop number is 02 4455 4087 or check out her shop on ebay.

One last exciting piece of news, Val offered me a job! Now to decide, do you think I could cope with being around amazingly gorgeous fabrics, patterns and samples all day long and being able to sew when I'm not busy.... hmmmm such a tough decision ;)

Hugs Paula



My clever Mummy! Get your shopping fingers ready :)

I have a very clever Mummy! She is my rock and is always there when I need a hand or advice or a shoulder to cry on, basically the best mum in the world. So Mum has been busily stitching and decided to give ebay a shot to sell some of her work.

 Heres Emma, the usual perfect super model, modelling one of mums gorgeous T-shirts. The shirts are pre-made, but mum has hand appliqued these gorgeous little cupcakes and Teddy Bears on them.

 It says 'My Little Cupcake'

 This one is my favourite! The teddy is just gorgeous and I love the ribbon on her head.

 These shirts are gorgeous too with the big ruffly (no idea how to spell that) neck. She has these varieties up to a size 2, but she has more coming so if you are after a bigger size, just let her know! Theres is also some cute Giraffe shirts for older kids.

 She also has these gorgeous book covers, that include the notebook too. Go and have a look at the pink one, I just might have to pinch that one ;) or at least get her to make me one hehehe hint hint mum!

And these are the coolest thing, if you know a card player they are an awesome gift! They are really good to help teach kids to hold their cards or for people with arthritis who have trouble holding their cards. We like using them too because you can easily put your hand face down and you don't have to keep faning your cards out every time you pick them up again.

Anyway if you want to have a look, this is Mums shop there is also some japanese friendship dolls and even a Magoo softie made by me :) So go and check out how clever my mum is! She is a perfectionist and you won't believe how cheap her prices are!

Hugs Paula

Oh I almost forgot, I have some awesome new stockists of my patterns, (check out their shops at the links on the left,) and one of them has just started a new swap, its for a zippy purse, so why not whip up one of my humbug bags and join in! Click on the picture and it will take you to the spot where you register. Hugs P

My New Camera!!

As some of my net friends know, I have been saving and saving for my dream camera for quite some time, so when I finally scraped together the last few dollars I needed for my new camera I was just so over the moon!
My new baby arrived this afternoon and I just can't stop playing :)
Here's Princess:

My Super model:

Oh and I have done a little stitching :)

Have you caught the Vignette bug yet? This is the Stitchery in Leanne Beasleys new magazine called Vignette. I decided I didn't have the time to commit to the full quilt, but I really wanted to stitch something, so the 'pin board' project seemed perfect.

I love the design and its been so nice to do some no pressure sewing for a change (plus I've been very crook and my brain was not working well this week, apparently you can develop Asthma at 35, who knew).

The cosmo threads are just a dream to work with, I love them and I have been using it for some time now, but If you haven't used Parlan to back your stitcheries, I highly recommend you try it! Its like stitching through butter, is super cheap and I don't know if I'm imagining it, but my threads seem to tangle less. I get mine from Under the Mulberry Tree, the link is at the top of my blog under stockists.

I'm sure I'll be back soon with more pics ;) until then, have a good one.

Hugs Paula

20% off Sale

Lets have a sale for absolutely no reason at all :)

simply enter '20PERCENTOFF' in the checkout on my etsy site and funnily enough you'll get 20% off all the patterns in my store. Inluding all my new patterns! (doesn't include quilt)

Happy shopping :)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/sewlittlefabric

Oops forgot to mention, the sale ends Friday the 25th at noon. Thanks everyone for your support!

Sit Me Up Donut free Insert Pattern

As you know, I recently started publishing my own patterns. The most popular of these by far has been the Sit Me Up Donut, modelled here by my gorgeous girl Emma.

When I made this pattern I always had the intention of making a round cushion to fit inside it, so that as your kids grow they can still use the donut, So today I got busy and made up my insert and even got time to write the pattern too! (wonders will never cease) :)

I got the cushion finished this morning and each child who has walked into my house today has headed straight for it. :) Jack had a great time 'reading', I didn't have the heart to tell him the book was upside down hahaha.

Anyway as a thank you to all the amazing people who have bought my patterns I have put together a free PDF Tutorial for you, you can download it from here.

Just to let you know my insert looks a bit bigger than the donut. This is because the stuffing in the donut has compressed a bit from everyday use, the insert will level out too over time and will be even with the top of the donut.

I'll be putting together some of the pictures that I have been sent of others donuts too, so if you have already made one, please send me a picture I love looking at each and every one!

 My blog is also getting a bit of an overhawl in the next few days, so please come back often :)

Hugs Paula xxx

New Patterns available now!

I'm very excited because today is the day that I have released my new patterns.

First up is my Pin the tail on the Donkey Wallhanging Game.

 My kids have had so much fun playing with this game, its definately not just for birthday partys! They love putting the blindfold on and spinning each other around.

 The Donkeys tails are actually weaved together. My girls have had a great time weaving the donkeys tails, but they also used the same technique to make friendship bracelets for their school friends!

 The blindfold also has little ears, so cute.

 Next up is Twiga, Twiga is the Swahili word for giraffe.

 The Twiga pattern also includes the pattern for a baby twiga chew toy. These toys have been my biggest seller at my market stall. Babys just love to chew on these little cuties. Their legs and neck are the perfect size for babys to grab hold of.

 Why not make a whole bunch! They make great baby gifts!

Twiga has legs that stay upright, so they won't splay out to the sides. He is just adorable with cute little ears and horns.

All my patterns include full size pattern pieces and following my Sew Little Fabric motto, I make sure to not over estimate fabric! I hope you love them as much as I do!

Patterns are available now from my etsy shop or visit some of my awesome stockists! The list is at the top of my blog on the left hand side.

Hugs Paula