Welcome to Talia Anne Stillitano

Sorry for the delay in posting, however on 22nd October at 6.05pm we had a bubby girl, Talia Anne Stillitano. Here is a pic of our beautiful girl.


I can't believe how fast the weeks have gone and Talia is nearly 1 month old! It only feels like yesterday that I looked huge and the thought of having a baby in the house was strange. We are now settled in at home and venturing out into the real world with short little trips.


Also just want to say Happy Birthday to my nephew, Austin for today! Happy 6th Birthday!!

Love
Lee-Anne

Bub is due today!

Well today is the baby's due date and now we are just waiting, waiting and waiting. Over the last 2 months I have done heaps of sewing, finished work (which was very busy), had 1 month off work on maternity leave (which I have been busy with appointments, cooking-jams-chutney-muffins-cakes, sewing, relaxing)


Here is a pic from my Baby Shower that my sis organised, it is some of my family who came and spoilt us!

We received loads of pressies and we are very lucky to have been spoilt! Here are some of the cute little jumpsuits we received.

Here is John's favourite, it's a pair of leggins that look like jeans. My sis got them for bub!
Here is an updated pic of my huge belly, it was taken a few days ago. We are all ready (well as much as can be...) and just the last few days have been a bit uncomfortable, so I am hoping bub doesn't need too much over-cooking.....
Over the next few days I plan to take some photo's of the things I have been sewing over the last 2 months, maternity wear, nursery & baby things.... That might keep me busy for a day. Apart from that, it's just playing the waiting game...


Will try to keep updating blog more often....
Lee

Bolero Jacket

I pinched this Bolero Jacket pattern from my mum and it is about 30 years old and I love it! Such an easy pattern and fits perfectly. I got the green speckled 100% wool from a friend, who's mother passed away and she gave me a few boxes of material which had some gem pieces in it! I enjoy re-using and re-creating something out of material that is meaningful to someone.

I matched some karqui green Boiled Wool perfectly and used the speckled wool as a feature for the sleeves. I did exposed seams on the outside and frayed the edges. The jacket is lined with cotton and the wool keeps you so warm. I will definately be using this pattern again and sewing more will Boiled Wool.

Bolero jackets are perfect to use while I'm pregnant and I can also use them afterwards. I have done lots of sewing lately and now I just need to get some time to take some pic's.

Here is a pic at 31 weeks, I can't believe how fast it is going!

Cheers
Lee-Anne

Brown & Cream Jacket

I'm not too sure about this jacket, it might take me a while to get use to... as it didn't quiet turn out how I pictured in my head and something just doesn't look right symetrically about it...
I wanted to create a short waited jacket with some large fur bands around the arms, waist and neck. I tried to create a look with the seams on the outside and some fur braid down the seams.

I used some brown wool/synthetic I picked up as a remenant piece and I have added some soft cream fur to create a feature. The jacket is lined with some lightweight cotton and it is really warm. My mum suggested it needed a large cream fur flower at the top of the jacket to balance the top to the bottom, so I might give that a go. ummmm....

Any suggestions??
Happy sewing, Lee-Anne

Birthday, Birthday, Birthday!!

It is my 32nd birthday today and Happy Birthday to Me! I have not really enjoyed my birthday's since turning 30, but this year I decided that I would have a great day!!! After having the flu since last Thursday, it wasn't looking good.... But on Sunday I decided to make myself a huge big cake and lots of slices to take to work for morning tea.

So here is my yummy birthday cake! I even made a mini version cake for John & I to share tonight.

It is a marble maderia cake mix with vanilla, pink & chocolate and the swirls turned out awesome! I had to quickly take a pic of the swirls before the last of it was demolished at work.

Here was also an updated pregnant pic at 22 weeks.

Cheers

Lee

Lots a circles!

I had cut this top out over 6 months ago and it has always been on the bottom of my "To Do" pile.... I dragged it out yesterday after realizing I need more tops to allow for my growing belly and knew this would be a great pattern for it. The pattern has gathering all up the sides, however I used all the gathering down the bottom half of the top. I really like this material and thought brown bands would finish it off nicely.

I think I might be wearing this a lot during my pregnancy. Now I just need some nice comfy brown cavalli pants to match and also allow for my expanding belly!

Cheers,
Lee-Anne

Knot Top 3

I love making this top and it's so simple! Here is another "Knot top" for someone special, my acupunture lady, Michelle!

Michelle has helped me understand why it was so hard for me to fall pregnant and how my body works. With many months of weekly acupunture she got my body working as normal as possible and now we have success! Yippee!

I think if I hadn't been going to acupunture (and a great doctor!) we would still be aimlessly trying... I can't thank you enough, Michelle!
Love Lee-Anne & John

Knot Top 2

Yippee!!!! I got some sewing done over the weekend and boy it felt good! Here is a birthday pressie I made for a friend.

It is in a Black/Navy stretch net material with a nice wool flower pattern on it. The top has a knot which gathers just under the bust and the front opens out. I have put some nice small sleeves to finish it off and I have rolled hem all the edges, gotta love the rolled hem!!

This is my favourite pattern at the moment and I will be making more.

Happy sewing!

Lee-Anne

My Sewing Mojo!

My apologies for no post and NO SEWING over the last few months.... My sewing inspiration has taken a back seat since Feb! The reason for this, is that we are due to have a bub around October 18th. We are very excited! I have been very tired the last few months and have not had much motivation to sew much. I have sewn a few things, but nothing to report. A few sewing blunders, which are sitting in the corner waiting to be unpicked or fiddled with... My sewing list is very long and I keep adding to it. Hopefully my energy is coming back as I was up at 6am this morning! Yiipppeeee!!! Let's see if I can get any sewing done over the weekend.....

Here is a pic of my 15 week belly and a 12 week Ultrasound pic!

Love
Lee-Anne, John & Bub!

Tutu Dress

I am so excited to post these photo's! I have been waiting for weeks.... I made a Tutu dress for a friends 21st birthday party. Over xmas we went shopping for fabric and picked the light green crushed tafetta up for $10 a metre! I love bargins!!! I have been working on this creation since xmas, hence why there were not many posts in January.

The dress turned out perfectly and was exactly what Lydia wanted, so I was exremely happy with the finished product. So there is lots of photo's in this post!!!

I made a seperate top & skirt, so it can be worn again as the top would look gorgeous with pants.

Here is the back of the dress, which has a lace up back.


Here is some of the handsewn jewels, beads and sequins to make up the gorgeous detail.

After looking at the garment on a dressmaking dummy for weeks, it is amazing to see it on Lydia!

Happy 21st Birthday Lydia! We hope you had a wonderful party last night! It was a pleasure sewing for you!

What a great idea Jutta (Lydia's mum) had, get everyone to sign the calico! FAB!

I hope you have enjoyed looking at these photo's!!

Lee-Anne

Sarong Top

I had seen this beautiful Silk Ciffon material in a georgous yellow and it has a flower sequin pattern on it, but is was over $35 a metre. Everytime I went to the shop I always wanted to buy some and i never knew what to sew in it... I went there the other day and it was all gone!! I always check out the remanent box and I found some down the bottom, about 70cm worth and I knew I could make something out of it! I love remanents!!! I also love sewing with Silk Chiffon, it is one of my favourites and it flows so nicely.

I had an idea to make a top like a sarong, it matched the colour, the flow of the material and something you can dress up or dress down. I wore it to the Cirque Du Soile last Sunday and had a comment from a lady while I was there, so i might put it in my collection....

You can wear the tie to the side or the front

I will also adjust the pattern a bit better, so it can be a versatile sarong skirt!

Let me know if you like this type of top and what you would wear it with?

Happy Valentines Day everyone!
Lee-Anne

Versatile Wrap Top 5

Apologies for not posting in January. I have been busy sewing a dress for a client, today I finished it and I can't wait to post some photo's, but I have to wait until end of Feb..... So I was straight into sewing another top!! It was an easy one, but hey, it got me started again!


Mum bought some of this material and I never really like it until I saw an awesome top she made in it, so I went an bought some and now I love it! It has lots of earthy brown/mustard colours and I will definately be wearing this lots and lots and lots. Mum, I think this material looks great in any style top!
Do you like these Wrap Tops and what would you wear them with? I love to hear other peoples suggestions.......

Hope everyone had a great Australia Day!
Lee-Anne

Recycled Jeans Bag

I love sewing over the Christmas holidays, unfortunately back to work tomorrow. So I was desperate to get some more sewing done! We cleaned out our clothes closet a few days ago and I came across a pair of my favorite (and expensive!) jeans that don't fit me anymore..... I refused to throw them out and had an idea to make a bag out of them!

I used both bum pockets to add a pocket to the front and a pocket on the inside of the bag. I also recycled the front fly zipper, I put this on the side of the bag to create a pocket on the side (fits my phone perfectly!). I also put many pockets and compartments on the inside of the bag. I re-used the waistband & belt loops and put this around the top of the bag. I even re-used the Label!!!

I won't be making many of these, as I have ran out of strong needles and was a bit too time consuming!!! ummm very frustrating, breaking needles.... However, I do have the front pockets and 1/2 a leg of fabric left, maybe a small bag.....

I was very proud of my finished bag! and I already have it packed to take to work tomorrow!! he he he

Happy holidays! Lee-Anne

Knot Top

After sewing Christmas presents, I was excited to do some sewing for myself again.... Selfish, i know.......

I love sewing out of the stretchy net fabric that is out at the moment and it is in some wonderful patterns & colours. Here is a V-neck top that comes down into a knot at the front. I curved the hem at the front, so it did not box me off at my pear shaped hips and it draws the eye up to the knot feature. I added some small striangle shaped sleeves to give the arm a longer look and a tiny collar around the back of the neck.


The stretchy net is easy to hem with a rolled hem and easy to overlock the seams. The net fabric is great as you can create many different looks with different colours singlets underneath.

I love to hear feedback or ideas that you may have!
Thanks Lee-Anne