HUGE Christmas Sale, 50% OFF Storewide....

Hi everyone, I'm going to have a 50% off Sale in my shop starting at 7pm tonight (26th November).

It will run all week and finish this Sunday at midnight.

There are some great stocking fillers and lovely gifts for everyone! Grab a unique handmade bargain while you can.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MyShabbyCottage?ref=si_shop

Please use coupon code HAPPYCHRISTMAS in the checkout in paypal for your discount.

Happy Christmas!

Kathryn. xx



Sewjourn Part 2, tops and skirt....

 Yet another Simplicity 2599, plain with no ruffles or frills.

 And another, this time I added a Peter Pan collar, just at the front.

And a cute pleated skirt.

I used Nicole Mallalieu's A-Line skirt pattern for the yoke, then added pleats and the fake pockets at the front. I really should have ironed it first before taking the photos!

Dresses to come next....

I started my Christmas shopping yesterday, and I think everyone else it Ballarat was doing the same thing.....silly season has well and truly started!

Kathryn.xx

Sewjourn Part 1...

What a wonderful weekend away I had with a fab group of girls at Sewjourn.

Yes, it seems like no time at all since we were all there last time in May.

Where has the year gone?

Lot's of sewing was had, of course, along with plentiful amounts of laughter, eating and drinking!

Sew....on with part 1 of my Sewjourn Sewathon....

This is another option on New Look 6803, the tunic top.

I started this one but didn't get to finish it until yesterday and I am wearing it today, hence it gets first showing.

 I have had this fabric for a couple of years and didn't quite know what to do with it - too much going on for a dress I thought, but this top seems to cope with the pattern.

 It was very easy to make although, I would make some changes if I were to make it again; 

I would put the pockets a bit further down, they seem a bit high,

 I also had to put 'splits' in the side seams as it was a bit tight around my hips.

The front facing actually turns to the front to make a really nice feature, however it was very low cut so I have had to put a few stitches in the lower opening so I don't flash everyone!

It would be nice in a contrasting colour too.

Overall, I am really happy with this top and it is really cool and comfortable. Just right for a spring day.

I am finally designing my wardrobe today, after 3 years with 'make do' hanging and bags of clothes in our WIR, it will be nice to be organised. Any tips for me?

Kathryn. XX

I made a skirt....

 Yep, I made a skirt and I love it.

I used 'New Look 6594' and tweaked it for me.

 I used some of my gorgeous new 'tree' themed fabric from this post, I only had 1 yard, so I cut it in half and used each half for a front and back piece, then added the black linen along the bottom for a bit more length.

Then gathered it all up and added the waistband (which I made shorter).

I love the colours in this fabric, something a bit brighter for winter don't you think?

Now, onto the dresses....

Kathryn. xx

Just a little obsessed by......

TREES!

Yes, I am a little in love with any fabric that features trees. I have lot's of clothing plans for these fabrics which are on their way to me.....

Dress.....(from here)  (A bit Like this one)

Another dress.....(from here)

And another one.  (from here)

I thought this would look amazing with a red cardigan for Christmas!

And it reminded me a little of the scene in Twilight when Edward takes Bella up into the trees.....pathetic aren't I.

And this last one, I will make into a skirt with a black waistband....(from here)

So, there you have it, my obsession with trees and landscape fabric.

I think these will be projects for my Sewjourn trip in November, if I can't keep my hands off them until then that is!!

Kathryn.

Tunics....

Here are a couple of tunics that I made at Sewjourn last weekend (see previous post)

 I used one of Rachel's patterns from Ottobre which was actually a 'Top' pattern.

I made it wider in the centre front to make my gathers/pleats for a bit of interest, and just made the hem longer and a bit wider. I think they both turned out really well. I wasn't sure about the slinky fabric in the photo above, but once made it feels great.

 Rachel gave me this textured black knit fabric (gee, I'm a free loader aren't I?)

She didn't like it, I really liked it. But it turned out much harder to work with than I imagined. I had to unpick the arm and neck bindings umpteen times to get the fit right.

But, overall I am very happy with it, you can see the texture in the pic above.

Kathryn.

Front room progress....

 Our Front room progress since we moved in, in 2010.

 We finally put some furniture in, in January this year.

 There is the footstool from yesterdays post.

 The furniture was from Early Settler.

 There is the front door and stairs. Yes...the walls are still not painted in our entry yet.

 This is an old 'money box', from the family's 'Wool and Skin' business that the O'Beirne's had many years ago, that we saved from the family sheds out at Linton.

And some gorgeous out of print 'Fragonard' fabric that I will make into some cushions.

So, there you have it - so far!

We still have to do the architraves around the window, hang curtains and pictures and we are waiting on our joiner (again) to get a display cabinet/bookshelf made for the far wall.

Slowly but surely.

Kathryn. xx

Mother's Day gifts....

Mother's Day is coming up and I thought I'd dust off my pin cushion pattern.

(and raid the scrap bag - sometimes I curse that scrap bag but it really does come in handy at times)

I'll be making lots of little gifts for giving and they will be available in a 'Mother's Day Sale album' through my Facebook page.

Kathryn. xx

Our Kitchen, finally finished after 2 1/2 years....

 Yes, finally our kitchen is finished.

This is what it looked like when we moved in October 2009.

 Very 'unfinished' in a lot of ways. We bought out kitchen through 'Kitset', we would not do that again for a number of reasons.....

 So, we had a joiner come onboard to complete the look we were after.

 Mantle over the stove, decorative panels and corbels on the bench and moulding above the wall cabinets..

 The tiler came and Greg painted.

 Does anyone else's fridge look like that? Covered in magnets, postcards and school stuff....

 We are very pleased with how it ended up looking and the colours we picked out.

We used a special 'grout sealer' on our white grout to stop discolouration.

 Now, to finish our pantry....we have stuff all over the floor and stored in an old bookshelf!!!

Bit by bit.

Kathryn. xx

Hipitty Hop....

....into the Easter Spirit!

You can see I've been making good use of my new 'Ruffler' foot can't you!

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend, Kathryn. xx

New face

My Website will be getting a new look over the next week or so. I have needed to streamline it for sometime now as it is so time consuming to list items.

I will be having a 'home' page with a link to my Etsy shop. Etsy works for me in so many ways. It is easy to list, cheap to run and it has great 'search' rankings. So stay tuned.

Also, having a new face is this 'Bella Doll' that I am working on.

It's the first embroidered face that I have done on a doll and I am unsure. I think she needs pupils?

Any comments welcome!

Kathryn. XX

Dala horse

Our Shabby Cottage version of a Swedish Dala Horse.....

Take 1.

 Take 2.

More available soon in my Etsy shop here.

Kathryn. XX

1000 fans and a giveaway.....

Our Shabby Cottage has hit over 1000 'fans' on Facebook and to celebrate I am having a giveaway! Just go to the Our Shabby Cottage Facebook Page and leave a comment on the giveaway post.

This cute little Matryoshka Doll and a $20 voucher are on offer!

You have until tomorrow night 8pm. Good luck and thank you to all my 'fans' out there!!!

Kathryn. XX

Creating Vintage Charm......

Our Shabby Cottage has been featured in the latest issue of Creating Vintage Charm! I was so excited to open my parcel from Sonia!

 Not just one photo but two whole pages!!! Thank you Sonia.

This is a beautifully laid out mag and is full of inspiring creativity from contributors from all over the world.

Please pop over to their blog Creating Vintage Charm and leave a comment for your chance to win one of three prize packs with their fab giveaway!

Yeah! Kathryn. XX

Mental.....

After a new customer suggested I should set up a Facebook page for Our Shabby Cottage, I did.

I have never been so busy. I had two orders to stock shops in Sydney and 8 other orders. I have never made so many Princess Cushions!!!

It's keeping me out of trouble and away from the blog.....but I'm not complaining. Thank you Jodie, you are resposible for all of this!!!!!

So, you can find me here on Facebook, please come along and 'LIKE' my page to be part of the fun!

Right, back to the sewing machine for me.

Hope you are all keeping busy too? Kathryn. XX

Sebastian, Grandma's Fox.....

Ok, so I couldn't make my Dad his favourite animal and not make my Mum hers now could I?

So, I'd like you to meet 'Sebastian', he is a little stunned about being put forth into the public domain.

 He is a Sagittarius and likes to have his tummy rubbed non stop.......

 And he likes to be told that he is handsome fox!

 Turn around, don't be shy.......

That's better, now I hope you two get along because you are going to be spending a lot of time together from now on!

Pay it forward tomorrow....

Kathryn. XX

Etsy overhaul........

Last Saturday's 'Buninyong Makers Market' was another successful day. The sun shone, customers were out in full force and all of the stall holders had a great day. We had raffle prizes and stall holder prizes with lot's of fun and festive spirits!

With Christmas fast approaching, and holidays looming, I spent today overhauling my Etsy shop in readiness.

I was very pleased to find that they have added a feature so that you can list your items in your chosen currency, finally. So, now all of my Aussie customers can pay in Australian dollars!

Go and check out my new look shop with lot's of different goodies added.......in Aussie dollars!

Kathryn. XX

Vintage style brooches.....

 This actually happened by chance.

I was trying to make a fancy thing for a bag, instead of putting a button on it, and these brooches just kept flooding out.....I am still to make the right 'thing' for the bag mind you!

All are in the shop now if you are interested.

Sunny here today, finally!

Kathryn. XX