Matching Pegs

Here is a look at Amelia’s current project, her name stitched out for her reader bag, for school. She chose the variegated thread from a couple of packs of DMC threads that she won as part of her prize. She chose the background fabric as well, and after I selected a pile of related fabric choices from my stash, we have a vague plan for how her new reader bag is going to look. In order to decide on the font, I wrote Amelia’s name in about 8 quite different fonts in an Illustrator file, and she chose the one she liked the best (the curliest of course). My selection were all ones that would look good as an outline. While this is by no means an ambitious project for Amelia, the deadline for finishing it (school starting) may be. I think I will be stitching quite a bit of it. Both Amelia and Rory have done some stitching today. After spending all morning, and some of the afternoon buying school shoes and clothes for the start of school in 18 days, they were both tired when we got home. Amelia picked up her sewing and Rory asked me to find his as well. He has not done any since about November, being far less interested than Amelia. Rory did about 5 miniutes stitching, finishing the head of his alien, before going outside to jump on the trampoline. Amelia lasts a little longer, but tends to do it in little bursts as well. She just picks it up far more often.

I must say I am very taken with Rory’s little alien, he has a very friendly face. The planet in the background has a flag on it just like one of the planets on the quilt I designed and made for Rory when he turned 2.

What do you get when 2 designers have a child – a young designer of the year.

Our daughter Amelia has been announced as the winner in her catagory of 11 years and under for the Homespun Magazine’s Young Designer of the Year Competition, an Australia wide competition. She is pictured in the current issue (Vol 9 No. 1) and was also profiled as a runner up in the prior issue.

We were told of Amelia’s win way back in September, but due to publishing constraints, it has only just been printed. She won such a haul of stuff, (including a sewing machine, digital camera, printer, lightbox, crafting books and lots of fabric, buttons and sewing related notions) that we have only just managed to find places for all of the stuff in our little house.

And here is the work that won her the prizes – “The Ladybird Queen”. Amelia drew this back on the 18th of March 2007, when she was 6 and a half. I transfered it the same day, and she started stitching straight away. The hand stitching – which took 4 months – was all done by Amelia, and I stitched it into a wallhanging.

Amelia’s drawing was done with no suggestions from an adult regarding subect matter – she has an amazing imagination. While there were other things on the page, you can see her backwards tick in blue (she is left handed and often draws them this way) indicating that this figure was the one she wanted to stitch.

Here is a quote from the Editor, Bianca Tzatzagos, regarding judging Amelia’s entry; “I thought this project was truly charming – the drawing was whimsical and sweet, and the stitching was simply outstanding.” Apparently the judges decision was unanimous.

Needless to say, we are extremely proud of her wonderful achievement. Since winning the prizes she has designed a doll that she would like to make (from drawing many possible faces, to the details on the clothing), chosen fabric from her brand new stash to make a lap quilt, and is currently stitching her name out for her reader bag. If only Mummy had more hours in the day to spare for making things together. Rory is determined to enter this year with a stitchery of a drawing he has done of an alien in a rocket ship. I think he is convinced that if her enters, he will win – after all Amelia did.

Many thanks to the lovely people at Homespun, particularily Catherine Sanchez (Managing Editor) and Bianca Tzatzagos (Editor) with whom we have spoken several times on the phone to organise photos etc. Also thank you to the many companies who supplied prizes for the competition – our little girl is well and truly inspired to keep creating – this will not be the last you hear of her talents!

Here is a peek at one of my current projects – new cushions for our couch (sofa, lounge suite, settee etc. depending on where you learnt your version of English ). The beautiful “cup of tea” fabric is actually called “coffee and tea” and is made by Yuwa Fabrics, and I purchased it while on a holiday in New York City from Purl Patchwork. I can’t even believe that I can say “while I was on holiday in NYC” but I actually went overseas to Canada and the USA back in September for 2 weeks. I went to attend a very dear friend’s wedding in Northern Virginia, and to visit my Uncle and Aunt in Toronto, with some touring on the side. Purl was on my must visit list in NYC – the only non-tourist place I had to get to.

I am going to make three of these cushions (each with different binding) and then three smaller cushions to sit in front of them (one for each of my kids), with other fabric purchased from Purl Patchwork, as well as some from my stash.

Yesterday we spent the morning at the park enjoying cooler weather before the very hot weather of today and tomorrow – 42 and 41 degrees C (106-108F). I was hoping to sew in the afternoon while Michaela slept and the other two amused themselves – it wasn’t to be. Instead I found myself co-opted into drafting up stuff for my eldest daughter to sew and then cutting hair for the rest of the afternoon. Amelia is embroidering her name to be sewn into a reading bag for school (like a library bag but for her daily reader).

Rory needed a trim for the hot weather, and when Michaela woke up she insisted on a turn in the hairdressers chair.

This is Rory’s before and after shots. There seems to be no quicker way to age a child than cutting thier hair – they look older straight away.

Michaela

Amelia (whose hair I do not attempt to cut – she wanted a photo too).

I am very pleased with the results, even if I do say so myself.

Mostly I like stitching or creating work that I have designed myself, but sometimes I see a piece of work that is so lovely I just have to make it for myself.

I fell in love with this design by Nancy Halverson of “Art To Heart” (called Family Matters) and started stitching it way back in March 2006 on a family holiday – our first as a family of 5. I love the little people as well as the sentiments expressed by the quilt, and particularily loved that fact that the family on the design was of the same composition as our family. Our youngest daughter, Michaela, was 7 and a half months old at the time, our son Rory was a few months shy of 4 and our eldest daughter, Amelia, was 5 and a half years old.

I modified the design, which was meant to be made up at half the size and the applique was meant to be just fused on. I made it as my first try at needleturn applique. I also inserted a train in place of the dog that was in the original, as we do not have a pet, but Rory was mad about trains.

It has taken me a long time to make, mainly because I decided to have a go at hand quilting, another technique that I have never tried before. I have been taking my time because I would like it to become a family heirloom, because more than anything else, Families are Forever.

Tomorrow we are heading back to the same holiday house where I started this quilt, for a two day family holiday. I hope I can manage to have a swim in water deeper than my knees (while someone else watches the little people).

Somehow the first day of the year seemed appropriate for the first post on my brand spanking new blog, Matching Pegs.

Since I first saw Loobylu’s blog listed as “website of the week” in the paper, and discovered the world of blogging about 3 and a half years ago, I have wanted to have a blog of my own.

My husband set up this blog as a Christmas gift, (wonderful man that he is) and this year does seem the right time. As of the last day of January, I will have 2 children at school and only my youngest at home with me, so I may get more time to sew, create and have a little more me time (in theory).

So this blog is primarily a place where I can document my design and craft, and share general creative endeavours amidst the usual background chaos that is life with young children.