The post I was meant to post on Monday

* Funny how this post is about not finishing things. I started this on Monday.


On my quest to becoming a better (and more organised) Housewife/ Domestic Goddess Woman, my weekend was spent cleaning/ arranging/ sorting/

chucking/ organising. Inspired by a Pinterest photo (from this amazing lady) I cleaned out my pantry and then my linen cupboard. For the linen clean up I put sheet sets into the pillow case, a tip I heard somewhere ages ago, and it seriously rocks. Try it. Go on. You know you want to...

 

My Dad used to call me "the un-finisher" when I lived at home. He said I never finished anything. If my memory serves me right it was because I would always leave my drinks of juice or whatever with an inch left in the glass.

 

These days, I am "the sewing un-finisher".

As if the pantry and linen cupboards weren't enough, I began the mammoth task of organising my sewing and craft space. Again. I stopped counting at 9 unfinished projects and 7 un-started projects (not counting the hundred I've seen on Pinterest!). Today there is no "I made it" because I haven't got a single thing finished to show you this week. Totally my own fault, I start projects then I don't finish them because I stop when something goes wrong, or it take so long I miss the event (ie birthday) for which it was meant, or I get bored with stuff and yeah, I have a short attention span!

So instead of a finished project, I shall share My Sewing Commandments:

Thou shalt complete project thy art sewing upon; begin ye no new projects until then.

Thou shalt measure thrice and cut only once.

Thou shalt not pin. Anymore.

Thou shalt not covert thy friends fabric stash.

Thou shalt spread the sewing love. Do you want some?

Thou shalt not enter such premises as here and here to "just look"

Thou shalt embark on projects more complex than a bunch of straight lines

Thou shalt sew for love not money

(I <3 rainbows!)

Commandments 1 and 7 are strictly being adhered to as I'm now part of a little sewing group. Suzi is good for me! I'm working on finishing the mountain of stuff I have started and this month I'm attempting a zip. Eek! I'm off now to help my big girl choose some fabric for project #6!

Be Happy

M

Monday's 'I made it'

I suppose since the title of my blog is 'Made by Mandi', you'd be expecting to see some of my handiwork, yes? I claim to be able to sew and make stuff, so today I prove it!

I'm now aiming for a regular Monday blog to show off  showcase things I have made. I figure that gives me incentive to do complete projects in a week, finish other ones off and attempt some I've seen on Pinterest. There will be sewing, craft and things I make for my children. Some new and I'm sure some past projects will feature.

I'm solo Mumma this week so I have 6 quiet evenings to get my craft on, once my babies are sleeping. Not a lot gets done during day light hours as there's usually 2 out of three awake and I want to focus  more of my attention to them, not my hobbies. If you're wondering; right now I'm sitting at the table feeding the newbie (typing one handed) while the big two are right here creating with playdoh.

Now, here is where I need to give my amazing husband a heap of credit and thanks. Without him I wouldn't have been able to finish this project on time! I am the Queen Procrastinator and left this project til the day before it needed to be complete. I spent about 4 hours sewing finishing a birthday gift for a gorgeous little boy, while my husband fed, changed, entertained and kept the children busy.

Geez I've just re-read this and I'm sure I don't talk this much in person! Anywaaaay, here's what I spent my Saturday morning making. No tutorial for this one, they're so easy to make. I did go to here to grab some measurements for the size and quantity of the filling (and used the tag idea!).

Rainbow Bean Bags

Choosing fabrics is the hardest part but I got to use up some of my scraps, I used 9 different plain colours and coordinating coloured pattern fabric. Number 10 was multicoloured.

A few ready to fill up. And my photography is getting better!

Felt numbers appliqued onto the plain side,
I was so proud of my stitching on these! 

I'm so pleased with how they turned out (and of my photos)

With these bean bags, the learning value is not only physical but cognitive. I used the ribbons for counting. Small children can recognise numbers but it helps to have something to count to associate to the number they see. There is also colour recognition and sorting ("Which ones have stars? Which one have flowers?")

Next is a set for my children but theirs will be black, one side with a number (in a patterned fabric) and the other side will have coordinating colour circles (eep thats 55 circles to applique!).

Stay Happy

M