Jo-Jo Squishy!

 These little squishy 'pouch' type thingees are used for all manner of young critters- mostly marsupial babies. The two in the first photo on the left and right were the examples I was loaned. The one in the middle is my prototype, created with the help of my lovely neighbour, Adrian, who has a more engineering minded brain than mine- with a bit of a sewing bent as his wife of forever is a keen sewer and quilter.

Mine are the perfect size for a supermarket insulated bag. With a wildlife specific heat pad added they provide long-term warmth for the critters when their carer needs to be out and about. I think I made about 16 of them in the end. Recycling stuffing from Op-shop cushions. :-) I have to say they are really nice and soft to put your hands into. :-) And feel cosy and warm without a heat pack.

At the shelter they often refer to the kangaroo joeys in care as 'the Jo-jos' That's why I have called my version of these Jo-jo Squishys. :-)

Sewing for Wildlife

While I was volunteering at the shelter I ended up doing a whole heap of sewing- it was great to do it and be reminded that I do have a bit of skill in this area. :-)

I repurposed some old bags for doing rescues...

 

And what super cute rescues they were!!

 

 

I made some full size Joey Bags for when our Marsupial Carers Joeys get super big... 

 

 

 

Finally I made a big set of curtains for the hotboxes in the Hospital at the shelter.

Little Doll

 

 

 ♥

Woven

So I have a bit of a sentimental attachment to the kids baby clothes. Woven into the very fibres are my memories. The size of their little bodies. The softness, the smell and so many adventures. Specific items bring to mind certain babies- even Saskia is in there. I have got a least one key outfit  in each of their memory boxes- a item that just screams "Will" or "Kieran" or.... And I did manage to move some of it on to the Op shop. But the stack above remained. I don't want to hold onto too much stuff so I came up with a plan, and on my recent day off I started to execute it.

When I went through the stack there were a few more items I realised I couldn't bring myself to use for this project so these went in their memory boxes as well.

Then I cut the rest up.....

  

And now I have a pile of what was the largest square or rectangular piece or pieces I could cut from each item. And some time in the not too distant future I'm going to sew them all together and make myself a quilt. So long after my babies grow up and leave home I'll be able to wrap myself up in the memories of them that I cherish.

♥

Introducing Thunderbird: Will Tracey

 Some of my creative time in April went to creating this Thunderbirds Costume for a rather obsessed Will. The bigger part of the effort on my part was to create the Hat, Sash and Utility belt. The rest was a matter of already owned boots and two great finds at the "Salvos'.

♥

Dr Watson I presume-

 

This boy recently got a large magnifying glass and decided he needed a Sherlock Holmes style Detective hat to go with it. The next day after a strange series of events including an early morning drop off in the central city, temperatures at 9am over 30 deg, a fountain, and a minor 'I can't sit in my wet undies' melt down I found myself dashing past the hat box at an Op shop. I spied these two little gems and a plan fell into place which meant that for the rest of the day at varying intervals all I heard was: "Have you made my hat yet Mum?" I think I finished it around 7:30pm, just in time for a quick modelling session and then bed.

 

 

♥

Miss Vienna's Bunting

I have had this idea in my head for a really really long time so was rapt to get the chance to finally execute it recently.....

I love it! I hope Vienna does too some day.
♥

Taggy Blanket

I was talking to Jozlyn recently as she was holding Kellan who was busy tucking into the tag on blanket. Joz said he was totally into the tags and could find them with particular skill- I said that they actually made a baby toy blanket with heaps of ribbons around the edge acting as tags- she was interested and went looking- before she had a chance to buy one I knocked one up at home- I thought it may be a little fiddly but it's not so much....

I haven't provided measurements as you can do whatever you want size wise....

1. Loop the ribbons and pin them to the 'good side of one piece of fabric so that the rough ends line up with the edges.

2. Place the second piece of fabric 'good' side down (so the good sides are facing) one your ribbon pinned piece and then pin them together.

3. Choose a spot on a side where you have a decent gap between two ribbons and then stitch around leaving that spot open.

4. Pull the blanket through the unstitched section being careful not to impale yourself on the pins.

5. Remove the pins and ensure the corners are all pushed through.

6. Top stitch around the whole blanket to finish it off and close up the hole.


As you can see I used a satin on one side and fleece on the other and a mix of satin and a more woven textured ribbon- some fat and some thinner- I wanted Kellan and his tounge and gums to have some different feelings from the 'tags' and also the skinny ribbons are a bit harder to manipulate.

The look of sadness on Kieran's face when it saw it was classic- he thought I had butchered one of his cushions!

I had some fabric left over so made a couple of smaller taggy's as well- that way Joz has something when the big one is so gooby it needs to go in the wash. (I had intended on attaching a plastic toy ring to the triangle one so it could be attached to a pushchair or car seat but I totally forgot until after I had sewed it up. :-) )

I could see these being a go-to baby gift- easy to make personalised, quick to make and cheap- and a great way to use up ribbon brought with poor judgement for scrapbooking (duh!).
♥