mamGhomemade SHOP on ETSY

Finally it's happening. I have opened up shop online and will be listing new items daily for most of this week. I will continue to showcase a lot of my designs here on this blog, as well as much of what inspires and feeds the process. It's early days yet but I am very excited about this new direction for mamaGhomemade and invite you to join me on the journey.

Hip Hip Hooray!

Follow the link and see you there!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/mamaghomemade

orders out

A simple PJ top

Winter tights

Orders trickling in and out. Boxes ticked,

Bows tied. Warm kids and happy Mums.
Publish Post
SHOP OPENS MONDAY! watch this space x

kindy bag

I made "The Big Kindy Boy" a backpack to cart his Scooby Snax and spare undies around in.

I added a cool car to it as a clincher and hopeful insurance against the likelihood of some bad ass little snots out there suggesting to him homemade ain't so cool.

The straps pull through drawstring style and there's a simple front pocket I divided into two, where he can stuff his stolen crayons and crusty play dough projects.

I have sewn from this book several times since buying it.

Very straight forward, easy to follow and jam packed with sweet ideas.

But then Lotta is a total talent babe and oozes all that Swedish Scando style.

He doesn't usually look like a ghetto kid, least not from the front! And he doesn't really steal crayons. That was me.

the perfect glider

This is why I want a better camera...

and maybe a lighting kit...

This Paper Plane was apparently designed by the Chinese.

I can't say there is anything obviously Chinesey about them (I might of guessed Japanese since they invented Origami) But to their credit they do fly fairly directionally...

I would love to have a go at a German or Italian designed one. I might google search that!

Perhaps this is the beginning of a new hobby...

All from this book. Another Op shopped find I've had tucked away for a rainy day- as was today.

Happy Paper Plane-ing.

This site is fanatical

and this one is pretty good for basic variations.

merino sneak peak

mamaGhomeamde has been working on a new merino style for all the girlies out there.

It's going to be called a cow bell top> I think.

Being that it has a cowl neck and gathered bell sleeves.

(EErrrm... maybe that's a bit abstract... I'll keep working on it)

Anyway, I LOVE it on my wee lass and she LOVES it too.

The sleeves don't get in the way at all yet they look girlie and sweet and make a nice change to the usual ribbing and turned up hem sleeves you see all the time.

The cowl neck provides more warmth without getting into ugly skivvy territory

I have also played around with making it a little longer in the length to absolutely make sure there wont be any kidneys getting cold in winter.

I'm really enjoying the versatility of this top. It looks just as great with a pinafore or a vest over the top without losing sight of the interest in the neck and sleeves. And its not too bulky in the sleeves to wear a cardigan over the top if need be.

I think I may try a dress version of this style as well.

I am currently pattern drafting in these all sizes (new born-6yrs) and hope to have them added to MY SHOP which will also we coming VERY soon. VERY EXCITING!!!

I am having one problem tho... I'm noticing how quickly it is that those once-were-chubby-little -baby-hands are all too fast starting to look all grown up. It's hard letting go off the fact that they are never the same for long enough and that it all passes by so quickly. Bless.

wrapped up

I get so much pleasure from the process of gift wrapping. It's emotive and soothing.

It's not because I'm a stickler for folding exact sized corners down perfectly and placing perfect sized pieces of sellotape in all the right places (like they do when they gift wrap in department stores or at the mall leading up to Christmas).

Quite the opposite. I'm a rough hewn wrapper.

I like to use beautiful old wallpapers that hold their folds. Thick corners turned down and held together with embroidery thread.

It's this part of the giving that means the most.

Something handmade and sent on it's way. Delivered to its destiny. Departed. And gone with it the joy of how good it felt to give.

we see red

Some of the tomatoes we grew this year were seriously as sweet as strawberries, but we never have enough. So, every Autumn we go and pick ground tomatoes from 'Pataka' down Marshlands Rd.

The kids get very excited about who is first to fill their bucket and I have to keep a careful eye on what goes in so we don't come home with any that are bruised or unripe.

Then begins the mad tomato frenzy which temporarily takes over the kitchen, where by I have to chop, roast and simmer every last one of them. The stock pot, every other decent sized pot and all the roasting dishes I can find are filled fast.

This year I froze quite a few whole in bags to use in pies and the like.

The rest we roasted and made into a pasta sauce with garlic and fresh herbs. 

Heaps were eaten like this when they cooled down having just come out of the oven. Delish on pizzas or just straight on toast.

I also made a tomato sauce that I thought would be a classic for fish and chips etc but it ended up turning out quite relishy, so I am using it that way with cheese on crackers. I think it's the allspice and the cloves that lend it in this direction. Luckily for me the kids are not complaining about it being too spicy. I'd be loathed to buy it from the supermarket if they did!