Pencil skirt kitty

.this one is a real easy peasy one to make...

1 Cut out both the pieces keeping neatly to the outside cutting line

2 Pin both pieces together with the printed side facing inwards.

3 Sew around the edge keeping to the printed line as best you can (you can see this through the fabric). Make sure to leave the flat space in between the two ears unsewn . (You will need to leave this open to be able to turn the right way and stuff later).

4 Carefully snip around the curved edges of  the seam (making sure not to cut into the sewn line). 

This will give a better finish and prevents bunching around the seam when you turn it inside out.

5 Turn the Pencil Skirt Kitty the right way around and stuff.

6 Hand sew up the opening.

and here she is... Miss Pencil Skirt Kitty.

She is a bit of an oddity- maybe thinking she is too spindly for a nice big fat comfy cushion, 

And she looks a bit like a big spanner... not sure if i will go full steam ahead with this one for my etsy shop.

Hmm... but maybe she would be good with a tv remote pocket on her skirt (it would be exactly the right shape for that). A tv remote storing cushion... too gimmicky or a brain wave?

McBabby Rabbits

hey there yooall,

i managed a small slice of time to rustle up a couple of fine McBabbys.

again, there will be a few tweaks. but think these will  be fun as one has a squeaker in, (Squeaky McBabby) and one had a bell in (Dingaling McBabby).

1
Cut out all the pieces keeping neatly to the outside cutting line.
2
Make 2 piles (one for Squeaky McBabby,and another for Dingaling McBabby)and follow the instructions below for each one in turn.

 3
Pair up the matching pieces so that you have 2 legs (the longer pieces) and 2 arms (the shorter pieces). Pin with the printed side facing inwards.

4 

Sew around the edge keeping to the printed line (you can see this through the fabric). Make sure you don't sew the flat edge at the top of each arm/leg. (You will need to leave this open to be able to turn it inside out and stuff later). 

5

Carefully make little snips up to the seam around the curved edges of each limb(making sure not to cut into the seam). This will give a better seam finish when you turn it the right way).

 6
Turn both arms and both legs inside out (so now the printed side is on the outside).
7
Stuff both arms and both legs (making sure not to overfill as  will need some space to be able sew onto the body later).

8

Carefully place one of the stuffed arms inside the pinned body with its unsewn edge visable outside the hemline of the body pieces (angling arm down slightly so that it hangs better).  Then sew down one side of the body from neck to bottom corner.

9

Carefully do the same for the second arm. 

10

Place both legs inside the body with their unsewn edge poking out the bottom of the body piece. (This is a little fiddly as the body gets a bit full at this stage) Then slowly sew both legs into position in the body.

11

Continue sewing around the rest of the McBabbys head- making sure to leave about 8cm unsewn at one side of the head.

(oops sorry i forgot to take photos of 9,10 and 11... my naughtey 2 year old dropped my camera and the one i borrowed is way to fancypants complicated!)

12
Turn the McBabby the right way around and stuff the head and body. (For Squeaky McBabby add the squeaker at this point, for Dingaling McBabby add the bell).
13
Hand sew up the opening.

Dah dah!

ps my eebee calls all rabbits "Babbys, so that is why the name in case you are wondering!

"Goldilocks and just the one Bear" advance copies!

yee-ha - so what a lovely thing to arrive in the post this morning! 

...my advance copies for my first (of many i hope) books with the superduper Nosy crows.

also squeezed into the envelope were a couple of the greek edition. and may i say what a splendid job they did on the hand lettering.

 Thank you Ikaros books!

I dedicated this book to my brand new shiny nephew elliot. he is a real beauty,
I do hope he likes this little bear booky surprise!

just as an after note- this was a tricky book for me as i had a big trauma half way through it. my stupid rubbish hard drive malfunctioned with ALL my artwork on (oh, and a year of my little girls baby photos...don't ask, that is a whole different kettle of fish).

 so i had to start all over again. this was really really hard, but worth it as i am really pleased with this book. actually, i am doubly as proud of myself as i have worked twice as hard. so my plea to you all out there is BACK UP YOUR WORK/PHOTOS/ANYTHING PRECIOUS- as sometimes clever technology is utterly stupid and unreasonable.

 anyway- the book is out in march.... i really hope you will like it too

ps, thank you nice big green sofa so looking so nice in the backgrounds of the photos.

don't dip chips book

ooh lovely, have a look at cupcakesforclara lauras blog post about her top 10 childrens books. she was guest blogging for spooky sisters. caryl hart and i are lucky to be featured amongst very wonderful company with our chips book. thank you laura!

more little babies are here!

cards for two new shiny little baby girls....

how to make my russian dillydolly cushion.

cut out all the pieces



match the pocket pieces up (inside out)and pin.



sew around the edge keeping to the printed line as best you can (you can see this through the fabric).

make sure you don't sew the flat edge at the top (as you will need this open to be able to turn it inside out).

carefully snip around the curve (this makes a neater finish when you turn inside out and prevents bunching and crinkles around the seam)




turn inside out so that the 3 pockets are the right way around.

fold the unprinted seam in on itself and neatly sew. (It might be easier to hand sew the 2 smaller pockets as is quite fiddly)



sew each of the 3 finished pockets on the correct size dillydolly.
(again, the smaller pocket may work best if hand sewn)


pin both pieces of each of the 3 dillydolly together inside out.


sew each of the 3 dillydolls, making sure to leave the flat edge of the bottom open (again, this will be used to turn them inside out).

carefully snip around the curved edges into the seam (making sure not to cut into it). again, this will give a better finish and prevent bunching.


turn all 3 dillydolllies the right way around.


stuff each one then turn in the seam and neatly sew up by hand.

it works best if you do each one in turn, starting with the smallest.

make sure not to overstuff the smaller ones as remember they have to fit snugly in the pockets!



and here they are awake!

sorry about the not so great photos. light was not good.
also, may i recomment that you use good scissors not rubbish blunto ones that i used.
(where have my good scissors gone?!)

hope you like, this is just the prototype.
have a few tiny tweaks to make before i send off for the real ones!
exciting!

wonkybutton prints

also a lovely selections of prints
am so pleased with the quality and the paper.