Unveiling

For the life of me, I can't fathom how blogger can put some photo's the wrong way round and others the correct way round.

Before I go into what many of my Facebook friends have been waiting for I would like to tell you how the gastric band is going. I have finally reached the 100kg mark and passed it. Last weigh in was yesterday and I weighed 98.6kg. I am thrilled. In fact some of the clothes in my wardrobe that I have been wearing for the last couple of years are now a little too loose on me. I am finally being able to wear clothes that I wore 3 years ago (yeah still in fashion too) and it looks like a whole new wardrobe. By the time I get to Melbourne next year I hope to be fitting into clothes sizes that I can buy from any store rather than large clothing stores. Heck I will be sewing my own clothes again soon.

Speaking of sewing that is what my FB friends know I have been up to this last 2 weeks, but you will have to wait just that little bit longer. :)

Just before I started sewing I got some new stamps in the mail from Stampin up. These can be found on page 95 of the catalogue: Artistic Etchings, Notably Ornate, and Music notes mini wheel.

I had some fun utilising them as background stamps and emphasising other areas as well. I haven't really done anything like this before but love how it worked out. I also had two owls I had previously punched out that didn't really go with any of the others but went perfectly here. I am going to make it a book cover, but what sort of book is anyones guess right now.


I tried a new technique that I saw on U-Tube with the shimmer paint. First you put the colour you want on your stamp and then dab on the shimmer paint (campaign mist). I did this with the Eiffel Tower but most of the black stazon ink disappeared. I then restamped over top again with only stazon black but didn't measure it up properly and it moved. I actually really like the effect because it is almost 3D.

Now to some sewing. I decided that I loved the owl so much I punched out a cardboard template and then traced around the cardboard on some visaflex (spelling is wrong I know). I then ironed this on to some fabric scraps and then onto a larger piece of fabric before hand stitching around it. The actual item that has been made is a fabric luggage tag. Seriously when you travel, everyone seems to have the same suitcase so if your name tag is different it will stand out. All I need to do is use a fabric pen and write my name and address on the back of it.

Ok so here is the item FB friends have been waiting for. I have explained to a couple that I have made up the pattern myself here. The model was most unhelpful and constantly moved. Luckily measurements ended up being too large and could be taken in. I will not tell you how many times I had to unpick, resize, and restitch. The photos are also not displaying the best of the stitching as well. After two weeks trying to get it right I couldn't be bothered in the end.

And here is the model.

Isn't she just gorgeous. This type of outfit can cost $70 to buy.

This is the attitude shot.

I have also made two little stuffed birds that are waiting for their tails to be stitched up. I have just been informed that our other dog, Bo, has taken a fancy to one of them. She managed to get it off the table and was throwing it around the room and rubbing her face all over it. Hmmmm outfit for her next. I am thinking a clown suit.