for 'baby doll'...

My youngest is very in love with her little doll so I thought I'd call on my bag making skills (from a previous life) and make a little doll's bassinet. I was surprised at how easy it came together. I made this one without a pattern and fudged my way through it but since then I've looked online and there are some great tutorials out there for some super cute bassinets. Most of the tutorials put my very rushed attempt to shame but my daughter certainly doesn't know any different.

This would make the perfect girl for a little girl. I may even have to make one for my older daughter and attempt to fancy it up a little.

to pink, or not to pink...

My daughter, like most little girls, loves pink. I'm not a pink person, never have been. When she was born, I avoided purchasing any pink. Until now!

As soon as they can dress themselves, they all of a sudden have this new amount of control of what they wear & they love it. All of a sudden my creations in her closet were not pink enough & not princess enough. So that's when the twirly t-shirt dresses became her favorite item of clothing. Which has been fabulous, but now with the onset of cooler weather. My daughter is still attempting to get around in dresses & the mere sight of anything else is causing her distress. So when I told her that I wanted to make her a vest to keep her warm & she could choose the fabric...we created this...

It had to be pink, fluffy & floral. So here it is. I even made a matching hair clip (I think she's converting me).

Yay...new fabric

I'm almost all out of nearly everything, so it's time to restock the shelves.

a tomato distraction...

Yes, I sew but I am also rather partial to all things a bit 'hippie'. I'm a bit of an organic's and permaculture fan. I attempt to live a less wasteful life and attempt a bit of sustainable living. I love a bit of 'Gardening Australia' and think Peter Cundall is a super star. Yes, I am a dag!

So at the end of summer when the tomatoes are in abundance I get really, really busy. I'm lucky to have a rather large vegie garden and family members who also have large vegie gardens so most of my tomatoes are home grown. Though I have been known to purchase the odd 10kg box here and there to supplement any tomato growing disasters (which happens a lot). I'm not a big fan of buying tinned tomatoes. There's a whole lot of 'extra things' in them, there's all those tins to dispose of and tomatoes are just super cheap at the right time of year, so buying a large tin for $3-$4 just doesn't stack up against doing it for yourself.

I do whole tomatoes, passatta, sauces and some semi dried. All in all, a lot of tomatoes. The jars are those I've accumulated over the years from friends, myself & family but I've also indulged in some beautiful Vacola jars. I just buy new lids each year from Green Living Australia.

My tomato preserving is almost finished but there are still some super cheap tomatoes out there and plenty of info online on how to do it (including the Green Living Australia website). So give it a go!

i'm loving these...

I know I'm biased but I am loving these. Pinafores are one thing but this little creation has become my new favourite thing.

I'm not sure that my daughter will have anything else in her wardrobe soon. I'm rotating through a couple of them during the day...one gets dribbly, I dry it out whilst she wears another & she looks clothed the whole time & super cute. Beats the boring old bib!
They also look like little waistcoats on boys which I think is adorable. Time to get some more fabric I think, so that I can make even more. Speaking of fabric, what takes your fancy?

another little sneak peak

I have two girls. You'd say that is just perfect for someone that makes clothes, but not in this house.

My youngest hates being dressed. Actually she doesn't just hate it, she detests it. You could be excused for thinking I was murdering her whenever I attempt to get her dressed. She is also the messiest, dribbliest little thing I have ever seen.

So we have a battle. I don't want her to look like a doll but a little less grot would be nice. So I've designed up something similar to those 'baprons' that I have seen around. It covers them up, catches all the goo, easily changeable & reversible plus I think they look super cute (almost like a pinafore).

I'm busy making some up for the shop but I quickly threw one together for my grub & guess what, it's the blessing I've been waiting for. Now to make them in oodles of fabrics!

i'm back baby...

i've been out of blog land for quite some time now but a little clothing line has inspired me to start babbling again. so the low down is, i'm selling children's clothing over at www.facebook.com/byreneehall & on etsy but if you've checked me out on those then you're only getting half the story. i plan on using this blog to give you sneak peaks into new designs and fabrics but be warned, i do get sidetracked easily & could throw in a bit of general chit chat too.

as far as the clothing is concerned i have started to launch my 'basics' range. this range offers affordable handmade childrens clothing (generally by custom order) with fabrics purchased in small lots to ensure the individuality of your purchase & a high turn over of styles. the current fabric range & product range is showcased on the facebook site. i am however, about to also launch a 'boutique' range offering a designer fabric range with sustainable fabric choices.

i am super excited & anxious about receiving my order for these organic fabrics:

sleeping animals by Rebekah Ginda

grey birch by Jay-Cyn Designs

whale watch by Jay-Cyn Designs

i have a limited amount of fabric & so any custom orders will be first in best dressed (pricing for the  'boutique' range will be uploaded on facebook shortly. but i have a couple of special jacket designs that will feature these fabrics just in time for the cooler weather.