Severn Suzuki ... ECO ... UN address 1992

FREE PATTERN

I have decided I have too many patterns and as well as selling them I will be giving away a pattern every now and then.

Starting now!

Just leave a comment and your e-mail address if you are not a registered blogger (so I can contact you).
Good luck ... I will use the random number generator to choose the winner ... winner will be drawn Saturday 7th March

Pattern: Simplicity 7150
Size: 2-4
Used, and cut.
Girl's Dress, Top, Capri Pants, Shorts, and Bag.
Pullover top/dress, pull on pants/shorts. Lined bag has drawstring.

Nice simple pattern.

Under The Stairs

I have a second wee etsy store where I sell vintage goods and sewing supplies.
At the moment I am still wading through piles of fabric to load up but I have heaps of vintage patterns in store now.
I will also be filling this place with trims, and other supplies.
Have a visit and check me out ...

Under The Stairs

Tutorial #1:: How to Measure yourself for sewing

So, you have decided to make a garment!

You go to the store and spend ages looking through the pattern books until you find a pattern you like.

You carefully write down the number and brand and size you want, wait patiently for your turn at the counter, ask for your pattern and then

FREAK OUT

when you see all the writing and numbers and weird gobbledy-gook-secret-sewer-speak on the back.

I hope that over this tutorial I can help you

• Choose the correct size for you
• Read the back of a paper pattern envelope
• Learn how to adjust the pattern to fit you better
  

Today we will start with size.

TUTORIAL #1 :: How to Read a Paper Pattern - SIZE

Understanding sizing, measuring the body and choosing the correct size pattern.

Taking correct body measurement and comparing them to the pattern measurements is necessary in order to choose the right size and make a well fitting garment.

Firstly - lets look at how sizes are determined:

1. Misses' and Women's tops, blouses, shirts, jackets and dresses by BUST measurement.
2. Misses' and Women's skirts, pants and shorts by HIP measurement.
3. Men's shirts, jackets and robes by CHEST measurement.
4. Men's pants and shorts by WAIST measurement.
5. Children's by HEIGHT and CHEST measurement.
6. Toddler's by HEIGHT measurement.
7. Babies by HEIGHT (LENGTH) and WEIGHT measurement.

Patterns are most commonly but not always designed for particular heights:

1. Misses' and Women's sizing is for those approximately 5'6" - 168cm
2. Men's sizing is for those approximately 5'10" - 178cm
3. Children's and Toddlers sizing includes a height for each size
4. Babies' sizing included height and weight for each size

HOW TO MEASURE THE BODY

Height: for adults and children, have the person stand against a wall without shoes; place a ruler straight across the head and mark the wall.

To measure a baby, lay the baby on a flat surface, measure and mark from the top of the head to the bottom of the foot.

Bust and Chest: Measure around the back, under the arms and over the fullest part. The tape measure should be straight across the back. Arms should be resting at the sides of the body while measuring.

Natural Waist: Tie a string around the waist to determine the natural waist. Measure around the waist, don't pull too tight, be sure the tape can move around. (Leave the string there until all measurements are taken)

Hip: Measure over the fullest part of the hip, usually 7"-9" (18cm - 23cm) below the waist. As each person's body shape is different, the fullest part of the hip may be higher or lower.

Shoulder and Arm Length: Loosely place the string around the neck (where the string rests is the natural neckline). Bend the arm slightly, measure the shoulder from the natural neckline (string position) to the shoulder joint and continue over the elbow, down to the wrist bone. Note the Shoulder Width separately, the Arm Length separately, and the Shoulder and Arm Length combined.

Back Waist Length: Measure from the top of the backbone (from the string position at the back of the neck), to the Natural Waist (where the string is tied around the waist).

Rise (Crotch Depth): Have the person sit up straight on a flat table or hard chair which does NOT have any curves in the seat. At the side measure from the waist (where the string is tied around the waist) over the curve of the hip to the top of the table or chair.

HOW TO MEASURE FOR FINISHED LENGTHS

When measuring the body, measure for desired length as follows:

Tops: Measure from the top of the backbone to the desired length

Skirts: Measure from the waist to the desired length, Begin by placing the end of the tape at the position you wish the skirt to end, this will make it easier to read the measurement.

Pants: Measure the inside leg from the desired hemline to the crotch.

NEXT TIME: Determining if pattern adjustments are necessary ...

Some Kitty's hate printers ...

Grosgrain: The Conservatory Overcoat GIVEAWAY!!!!

Grosgrain: The Conservatory Overcoat GIVEAWAY!!!!

The Conservatory Overcoat GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!

Click above to go visit the pictorial story of this stunning coat!
I know I have mentioned it before but ...

I LOVE GROSGRAIN

the woman is amazing ... this wee red gorgeous coat is her current giveaway.

THAT'S RIGHT ... G-I-V-E-A-W-A-Y ... holy moly

Proximidade ...You're it!

Yesterday I was tagged by Hayles over at RE-read ... she has some fabuloso stuff let me tell you!

Anyway apparently there is stuff in this blog that someone other than me likes. Yay. So thanks Hayley, now it is my turn to pass the eternal flame of ...

This blog invests and believes in PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships.
These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes for self-aggrandizement!

Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated.
Please give more attention to these writers!

The rules are: This blog award should be sent to your favourite eight bloggers and they, in turn should forward to eight of their favorites. You should include the text for Proximidade (above) in your announcement blog.

Here are my top 8 at the moment:

The Crafty Crow - thanks for all those projects for my kiddies!

MixTape Zine - I just want to fold you all up and put you in my pocket ... not in a bad stalker way

A Print a day - You are fabulous ... I love your stuff

Advanced Style - Way to go! This is the type of pictorial guide I love to see

Hopping through Branches - on hiatus at the mo but back soon

RE-read - One of the first blogs to make me laugh out loud for real not just in abbr.

Nesting Bird Interiors - Gorgeous blog, full of lovely stuff

Vintage Transfer Finds - I love you, what can I say

And the Winner is ....

The winner of February's Giveaway, drawn at random from a bowl by my children for these delicious Lady Beetle clips is...

Bec from Beckybean.

Congratulations, I hope you get lots of wear out of these or have someone special you can give them too!

Thanks to all who particpated, there will be heaps more giveaways here so keep coming back and look in the sidebar each month for the blog titled Giveaway.

Handmade Help Update #1

Hey ...
great response through my etsy store for the Bushfire Appeal.

The Princess Apron has been sold - (Thanks for your help elfnwood)

Remember::
* If the item has Handmade Help in the title, all proceeds will be donated to the Australian Red Cross Vic Bushfire Appeal.
*If you live in Australia, postage is free on these items.
*If you live overseas postage is minimal.

Handmade Help ... Love Kitty Boo Boo

I have posted 4 listings on my Etsy store for sales to be donated to The Red Cross.

I have made postage in AUS free and postage overseas minimal.

The listings are:

1. Heart Skirt

2. Princess Apron

3. Gingham Betty Bows

4. Aeroplane Clippies

OMG ... It's HERE

This weekend passed in a BLURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I didn't post my Shopping List Saturday (sorry ladies)
I didn't post my Shadow Shot Sunday (sorry ladies)

Saturday was BUSY

We had our BrisStyle convention at Pando's cafe at Paddington and it went off. So many lovely ladies and so much lovely craftiness. I couldn't control myself and bought another of RE-read's fabulous brooches. I wanted desperately to buy the teapot and cup and the birds (sure thing) but alas did not have enough cash. Check her out and buy something from her etsy store ... they are so unique and wonderful!

I couldn't get over Betty Kingston's panties ... check here and you will see what I mean!

I loved everything that Beckybean brought ... those girls are so excellent, I only wish I had enough cash to buy all their stock. Their new purses are fabulous. (Blog HERE ... shop HERE)

Edward and Lily are doing an amazing fundraiser for the bushfire survivors so go HERE and check out the deal . They are original Edward and Lily Bushfire Bunnies!

Oh and Hey Harriets canvas fell off the wall and donked me on the head! (It was 'we made a promise') ...

Excellent day even with the newly acquired bruise.

Not to mention Saturday was VALENTINE'S DAY!



I came home to a bunch of sweet roses, a box of chocolate and a cute little softie. This was really excellent but then the keeper of my heart led me downstairs to the garage to the EH. The EH is in hospital. She needs a bit of work bless her gorgeous 179ltr V6 heart.

I thought this was a trick for my love to obtain a make out session in the back seat only to be TRICKED! There in the boot of his beloved machine ... was my beloved machine.
He had snuck into the store and taken off LayBy my Brother NV900. Which I thought was destined to be in LayBy until Christmas!



I am in HEAVEN ...

Such a lucky girl ...

Victorian Bushfire Handmade Help Appeal #2

Further to the post I made on Tuesday ... were you aware that the victims and survivors of the current floods in Northern Qld are among the many Aussies donating whatever money and supplies they have? These people themselves have lost everything and they are still giving.

We have amazing people here in this country and I am proud to call myself Australian. With the exception of a few freaks (young Mr Brisbane fraudulently collecting money) I consider myself fortunate to be born in this country and surrounded by so many people who just want to help when times are bad.

Having been in the storm here at The Gap/Ferny Hills in November (class 2 cyclone) I know what it means to have people care enough to help you out when times are tough. We only suffered minor damage, a few holes in the roof, some broken stuff, no power for three days etc.

I can only imagine how terrifying a Firestorm or massive Flash Flood would be and I struggle to find words to express how much iI feel for them and want to help.

So again I ask you - if you can help please do.

Donate money
Go shopping at Coles or Woolworths on their donate the profits days.

If you don't have money:
Donate Blood and Plasma for the burn victims
Donate clothes, blankets, toys, food etc at a local drop point to be sent to the people who need it most.

If you make stuff try these places here

I heard on the radio yesterday all these massive companies donating money through Triple M Radio to the Red Cross, then two sisters rang and donated $100,000. Amazing.

Donations are now around the $50 Million mark, but remember there are SO MANY towns to rebuild from scratch, Thousands of houses and barns and farms to rebuild, animals to nurse back to care ... they still need more. These fires are still burning and temps are set to go up again next week.

Did you know Koalas are among the slowest healers on the planet? Their slow metabolic rate means they can take up to a year to recover from simple wounds. And now of course entire areas of their habitat have been annihilated.

Just do what you can, even if it's passing these links on in your blog to other people.

Thanks heaps
xoxo

5 DAYS LEFT TO WIN FREE CLIPPIES

If you want to get your hands on these clippies for free you only have 5 days left to leave a comment HERE.

Winner is selected at random.





GOOD LUCK

Victorian Bushfire Handmade Help Appeal

Cindy from Bug and Pop has organised a handmade donation appeal to go to the Red Cross for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.


Are you a maker of handmade stuff? Do you like to buy handmade?

Here's how you can help (and thanks to Pip at Meet Me at Mike's for the body of this blog!)

*If you would like to list a crafty item for auction to benefit the Victorian Bushfire Appeals - then pop over HERE and let us know when you have. You can email Cindy from there.
* If you would like to donate a handmade item for distribution to families in need (when the timing is right, and in consultation with The Red Cross) the go over HERE to find the drop-off points or addresses to post to.
* If you would like to bid on a handmade item to benefit those affected by the fires (which are STILL raging) the go over HERE.
* If you would like to start knitting or crocheting cool weather items for these families (and singles) - then go over THERE and let everyone know what you are up to.
* If you would like to make a quilt for someone who lost everything - go over THERE and let us know.
* If you would like to organise for your business to be a drop-off point for donated handmade items - go over THERE and tell us that too.

This is a long term project with no finish date at this stage. These people will need ongoing support, aid and assistance for quite some time. Many of them have lost everything.

As Pip at Meet Me at Mikes says - If you are in a position to donate money please do so directly through an organisation accepting monetary donations.

Heart Show Art Show

This event sounds fantastic and I will definitely be going. Thanks to Hey Harriet for helping to publicising this worthy cause. I love local art and I love the Pando Cafe so this can only be a winner

About the Heart Show Art Show:
Variety Queensland, a children's charity which supports disadvantaged children will be holding their inaugural Heart Show Art Show fundraising event at Pandemonium Café in Paddington at 7.00pm on Friday 6th March. Art enthusiasts will be treated to delicious tasty treats and funky DJ beats at the 70s retro style café. There will be a cheap cash bar available and the opportunity to get creative by spraying, painting, chalking, drawing, stencilling and decorating the Pandemonium Café car park walls in old school street style fashion! What fun! Entry to the exhibition is $15 and all art will be available to buy for a small cost of $25, with all of the proceeds from the sales of the donated artworks going to Variety Queensland.

Places are strictly limited, so to book, please phone Sarah at Variety Qld on 3368 3321 or email Sarah

Shadow Shot Sunday #5

These beauties were taken at Byblos, a restaurant at Portside Wharf, Hamilton

Great food, outstanding cocktails and what I love most, great ambience and lighting.

Also very impressed with Erin who was fun, kept bringing those drinks and dealt with my brother outlaw with the ease of a skilled 'regulator'. :)

So get yourself over to Hey Harriets to visit all the other SS's this sunday

Shopping List Saturday

Saturday Shopping, originally uploaded by Miss Kitty Boo Boo.

I'm late, I'm late for my first Shopping List Saturday, but I hope I will be forgiven when I say I was distracted by a birthday dinner for my Mother Outlaw.

It was big number and I was tied up yesterday ...

Here we go:
1. ReFashioned Miss Kitty Wool Pencil Skirt - rucycled
2. Kitty Friends - redclover
3. Vintage Style Bubble Charm Pendant Retro kitty with Blue Bow - bbjaynedesigns
4. Cat Lover Mirror - AnnaWadham
5. Pretty kitty Blouse - DevonRose
6. Hand Carved Kitty with Bird Rubber Stamp - craftpudding

Visit these fabulous etsy stores as soon as you can, they all have such lovely items.

If you want to see all the Shopping List Saturday particpants lists jump on over to our hostess' blog fancypicnic

Random Fact: International Mail

International Postal Fact : Ireland does not have postal codes (with the exception of Dublin). To send an item to Ireland one simply completes the address - street name, area or town, County name (i.e. Limerick) and that's sufficient.
If it's a rural area, there may not be a street or road name, possibly just the family name and a townland.
That would also be okay.

February Giveaway

Lady Beetle Red and White 2, originally uploaded by Miss Kitty Boo Boo.

I have had a great day today and after stocking up my little stash of clippies I thought I would see if anyone would like to give a nice home to these little ladies.

It's pretty simple, all you have to do is leave a comment here letting me know why you'd like to take them home or who they might be for.

I've always wondered what makes people buy them so tell me your story and let's see if we can't send you some

If you don't have a google sign in or blog just leave your e-mail so I can contact you ;-)

You wont be judged on your comment, I will be drawing them from a hat, so just make sure you get an entry in.

You gotta be in it to win it - I'll be drawing the winning name on the Tues 17th Feb AEST. So if you live overseas (outside Australia) enter before Mon 16th.

Bibs and Bobs from all over the place ...

Today I had a day without children. With Er-Bear at school and the little man at daycare, it meant I had an entire free day to either carve it up on the sewing machine or do a spot of shopping child free.

Hmmm ... how long did it take you to work out what I did?

First stop was the Department of Transport to renew my license. I wanted a new pic because the last one was taken just after I had Sam and I was a bit post preggo puffy. (Vanity ... oh dear)

Around the corner from the DT is a favourite Thrift Shop and it's only recently opened up again after the christmas break so I ducked in there and found these little pretty bargains

1. & 2. Japanese made Tea cup set of 4 (so pretty)
3. Squirrels
4. Vintage Linen
5. Hand Painted Folk Art Tray
6. Tablecloth with print of England and National Icons
7. Vintage Grooming set - brush and mirror
8. Vintage Hand Painted Voile

I am going to turn the tablecloth into a flip skirt I think

I stopped at a cafe next and had a pot of tea (and read a tattoo mag - for inspiration) and visited the Post Office where I sent off my first ever Etsy sale item. I usually get sales from eBay but I love Etsy so much more and it's so much more affordable!

After the PO I dropped in to Funky Fabrix to have a sticky beak. Of course I couldn't help myself and here are my new lovelies ...

1. Owl Panel from Saffron Craig (blog is here)
2. Sublime Stitching Rock and Roll Embroidery Patterns (blog here)
3. Vintage Fabric pocket Mirror
4. Funky Fabrix Owl Badge/Pin/Button (Funky Fabrix Online here - Funky Blog here)

One last stop before returning home and that was to The Quilters Corner where I purchased this little beauty to make up a derby skirt.

1. Cowboy Fabric from The Quilters Corner

I had so much trouble stopping myself from buying anymore fabric from either of these perfectly gorgeous places ... the fabrics were so lovely and all I could see were things I could turn them into but will power won out!

All in a days work - the new batch ...

A sneak peek at new stuff being listed this week ...

Boredom + Late Night = Flickr Toys!

Hair Clips, originally uploaded by Miss Kitty Boo Boo.

BrisStyle Giveaway ... want to win something gorgeous?

Just visit BrisStyle here and follow the instructions.

This months giveaway and feature is from Edward and Lilly



and is the most adorable scented bird I have seen in a wee while



Visit them here at their etsy shop or here at their blog

Just make sure you visit the BrisStyle blog for your chance to win (yes WIN) this little treasure!

The Lunch Date Blouse GIVEAWAY!!!!

The Lunch Date Blouse GIVEAWAY!!!!

I have discovered this blog through a fellow BrisStyler RE-read and find myself absolutely in love with this woman.

She has style, grace and a bucket load of funk. She is amazing and makes beautiful creations ...

Whilst the giveaway is over ... do pop in and check out her blog : Grosgrain

I love it

Too good not to share ...

I go through phases of being a foody, where all I can think about is cooking or baking and playing with ingredients and then it seems to just fade away while I get inspired with my sewing or other crafty stuff.

This week however was a food week, we had a few dinners based around simple fish and squid and they were so delicious I just have to share them ...

1. Grilled Sea Perch with a Chilli and Lime crispy outer on a bed of Thai Salad (cucumber, tomato, coriander, basil, red onion, rice vermicilli and carrot dressed with a *secret* Thai sauce

2. Grilled Sea Perch with Cajun Spice (homemade) on a bed of mint salad (mint, cucumber, spring onion, tomato and a dressing of garlic mayo

3. Salt and Pepper squid with a crisp rocket salad

4. Can't deny oneself of tea ... so have to top it off with some iced tea and mint!

Yum Yum

If you would like a recipe please comment here with your e-mail address and I will send it to you ...

Shadow Shot Sunday #4

Oh I made it ... it seems that on Sundays especially time gets away from me ... so I often miss posting on Sunday and just can't bring myself to upload one if I'm going to be as late as Tuesday so I wait and cross my fingers that I make it to the following week and get it online by Sunday!

Yay

So here are my Shadow Shot for this week ...

Check out more fabulous shots or participate by visiting Hey Harriet ...