I decided to make my newest nephew some dungarees for Christmas. The pattern I used was Kwik Sew 3145. I've made this pattern before and absolutely love it (and got really good reviews from the mother concerned). Its time consuming with all the top stitching but not particularly difficult.
The red accent colour was inspired by the really cute buttos I found in my local shop - I'm not sure if you can see in the picture but one is a tiny train and one a tiny truck. The embroidery is the first 'real' embroidery I've done on my machine, by which I mean it involves more than one colour, and I actually made something with it! I love the design, and the words 'I think I can' are just perfect for a one year old with all the things he'll be learning!

So here's a few projects without a lot to say about them, but they're all things I'm proud of so I wanted to share anyway!
Picture 1 is the embroidery I've done for what will eventually be a babies pinafore dress. I started this as a way to explore the things my new machine can do and will probably be coming back to at random intervals.
Picture 2 is the garter I made for my sisters wedding. This was an experiemnt to see how shirring elastic worked on my machine, and the fabric has been in my stash for years - it was the trim on a pillowcase which was so old the main fabric was disintegrating.
Picture 3 is a pair of handbags I made for my two sisters-in-law for christmas, using this free download pattern http://www.made-by-rae.com/2009/02/free-buttercup-bag-sewing-pattern/. This is a great pattern, easy to assemble and the result looks really proffessional. And it nly needs a fat quarter for the outside and another for the lining.
Picture 4 is the waitscoat I made for my hubby for christmas, using a gorgeous embroidered silk. I used simplicity 2895 again.

Having recently bought a new-to-me embroidery machine, I'm feeling all inspired to do some really pretty baby stuff. Fortunately I have a friend whose expecting a little girl at the end of the month, so I have an excuse :)
I had a fun hour or two trying out the embroidery function on my machine, then trying out a few techniques I'd seen mentioned online. The numbers written on the samples are  stitch numbers for my machine, a Bernina 165 in case anyone else has one. Click on the pictures for more info on the samples.
The design I stitched as a sample came out much too large for a babies dress, so I turned it into a thread bag - since stitching I've realised it tells you on the screen what size the design will be, but I can't say I'm too upset to have created something pretty through not paying attention!

Christmas has been and gone, which means I have pictures of my nephew in his Lion costume - isn't he cute?!

I have a 2 year old nephew who loves to growl at people and who went to the zoo and thought every cat was a lion. So his christmas present is going to be a lion costume. Its nearly finished, just need to get more wool to finish off the back of the mane :)