G'day and happy Australia day everybody!! For those of you on other ends of the globe, today (the 26th January) is the day us Aussies celebrate Australia day, our national holiday. It is tradition to have a big BBQ on Australia day but since we already had one last night we are just enjoying a nice day off of perfect summer weather. The rest of the week is set to be scorching so we are enjoying this gorgeous day.
I decided to do a little bit of sewing this morning and since it was a holiday I decided to actually sew something for those around me. It is funny how it works when you do something for a living. You know what they say about the state of a painter's own walls or a mechanic's own car? etc etc. It seems that when you do something as a vocation you tend to neglect that task at home. This sometimes gives me a big of guilt when I neglect to take up my hubby's pants, never make that toy for Little floss or that dress for Baby Floss!! So today was a day to remedy that, even if just a little.
In celebration of Australia day I decided to make this gorgeous "green and gold" dress for Baby Floss which I am in love with!
And then I had to avoid my pride being dented by making Little Floss a Library bag for school. You see, last year when I received the book order list for his first year at school, I saw that they had an option to buy a Library bag or they had requirements for making one yourself. At the time, despite my guilt, I decided to just order one as I know how bad I am at time management and thought that I didn't need another thing to add to my sewing list.
Late last year I picked up all of the books and saw the library bag!!! Now I certainly do not intend to say that there is anything wrong with using this bag as I am sure that it is completely practical and perfect for it's intended use, but it was an impossibility for me as a sewer and lover of colour to send Little Floss to school with it.
The bag did have to meet certain requirements in size, use, etc so I could not go wild as I would have liked but certainly a bit of fun and colour could not hurt??!! So here is a little before and after.
Phew, I feel so much better now!!!
So off I go to enjoy the rest of this perfect day! I think it is time to get back outdoors.
Hoo Roo (Aussie slang for goodbye!)
Baby Floss's dress is absolutely gorgeous. No insult to the maker but how could you send a child to school with such an insipid bag - yours is so much better. Cherrie
Posted by: cherrie | January 26, 2009 at 03:28 PM
You certainly said it all! I, too,have good intentions and a neverending sewing list of projects to make for my family at home or for myself. I'm so glad that I'm not the only one!
I love the cute little dress you made for Little Floss!
Posted by: Sarah Ness | January 26, 2009 at 03:56 PM
Love both projects.
Happy Lamingtons!
Andi :-)
Posted by: andi | January 26, 2009 at 04:11 PM
Happy Australia Day Girls! Baby Floss looks adorable in her new dress, & I love Little Floss's new & improved library bag.
We are cranking up the barbie tonight!
Janelle xx
Posted by: Janellybelly | January 26, 2009 at 04:37 PM
Love the car fabric you used for the library bag! My eldest starts secondary school on Wednesday and no longer needs his homemade stripy library bag- I'm commandeering it as another shopping bag!
Posted by: Trudi | January 26, 2009 at 04:39 PM
I have a feeling that Baby Floss would look good in a paper bag. She's so cute!!! But I have to say, the dress you made her is darling, and the library bag is loads better than the version for last year! I'm sure Little Floss will be the envy of all the other children.
Posted by: Lisa | January 26, 2009 at 05:11 PM
It's a good feeling to finally finish something for the kids hey! I'm a bit the same - we have a number "2" birthday here in a few weeks - so I'm making special things for her! The dress is beautiful! Your own pattern??
Posted by: Maree @ Farmyardcrafts | January 26, 2009 at 06:22 PM
Wow that brings back memories, do you still have to make chair bags? they were a bag that fitted over the back of the child's chair with a pocket. Love the little dress.
Posted by: margaret | January 26, 2009 at 06:39 PM
What a beautiful little dress. Your baby girl looks adorable!! I think there should be a law against library bags like the first one - I hope they didn't charge you too much for it. I would take it back to the bookshop for a refund!!! Your version would certainly be much more encouraging and special for a little one to want to bring home a special book from the library.
Posted by: Leisa | January 26, 2009 at 07:21 PM
I wish there were more hours in the day to do lovely projects for our little ones. Its certainly a lovely feeling when you fininsh a project for them and they actually also want to wear it! I love the dress........ Is the pattern yours? Any hints on where the fabric is from as well? Living in the country, we need all the inspiration we can get!
Posted by: Kim | January 26, 2009 at 07:23 PM
Baby Floss' dress is absolutely gorgeous and she looks so beautiful in that green. I love the new improved library bag which reminds me that I need to do another one for my daughter for this year too.
Posted by: sue | January 26, 2009 at 08:29 PM
Happy Australia Day!That's a gorgeous dress on Little Floss.
Posted by: Christy | January 26, 2009 at 08:30 PM
oh Melly, baby floss' dress is just adorable. I made both my kids library bags too, makes it easier to identify too! :)Kylie
Posted by: Smileykylie | January 26, 2009 at 08:32 PM
Melly your little one is just absolutely beautiful and the dress is just perfect for her.
As for library bags, I made one a couple of years ago for Prep and is beautiful, but now I have seen even better fabric and I will be making another one. You can never have too many bags!
Posted by: Cathy | January 26, 2009 at 08:47 PM
what a gorgeous dress!
Posted by: MsGourmet | January 26, 2009 at 08:47 PM
Good on ya mate!! Baby Floss is looking gorgeous in her sweet summer dress and Little Floss will love his very bright and colourful Library bag. (I'm with you...how could you carry interesting andd inspiring books in that dull thing!!) Cathy
Posted by: Highland Quilter | January 26, 2009 at 10:48 PM
Baby Floss' dress is just gorgeous - perfect for a hot day! The library bag is a huge improvement.
Posted by: Lisa | January 26, 2009 at 11:13 PM
Darling dress. I love the green...Heather Bailey? Well the new library bag is certainly much snazzier than the old! Happy Australia Day! Love the flower photo...reminds me of a protea or bottlebrush.
Posted by: Stephanie | January 26, 2009 at 11:42 PM
Happy Australia Day...I love the fabric you used for the dress and a much improvement with your bag. Now I have to pop back over to Maddy's blog because I forgot to wish her a Happy Australia Day when I was there.
Posted by: Judy | January 27, 2009 at 12:24 AM
I understand.
I also sew as my vocation. In the home decor industry. But since the economy has taken a down turn here in the US, not many people are decorating their homes. Which means I've been home for a month sewing for myself and others and LOVING it.
Posted by: Nancy | January 27, 2009 at 01:11 AM
The dress is gorgeous! And, you're right, that little library bag was REALLY boring. Yours is SO much better.
Posted by: anina | January 27, 2009 at 01:38 AM
Happy Aussie Day. Baby Floss's new dress is AMAZING!
Posted by: Beth | January 27, 2009 at 01:42 AM
So cute! That is such a gorgeous dress on your little china doll-she reminds me of my own children. And the library bag is so much better!
I'm feeling a little inspired to stitch something up for my own cuties instead of for everyone else...
Posted by: Marie | January 27, 2009 at 02:37 AM
Happy Australia day and what a great little library bag. Good thing you replaced the old one. :)
Posted by: christine | January 27, 2009 at 04:17 AM
That dress is adorable as is she!!. I love the library bag - I think this is the year that I finally may make one for each of the girls!! Don't you love the car fabric - very cool!
Posted by: Louise | January 27, 2009 at 07:43 AM