identify

In a sea of green bags at school it is important to be able to identify yours. This is even true when there are three in the car. To combat this I have had this idea tumbling around in my head for a while

With my favourite material of the moment - vinyl I was simply going to do this on the embroidery machine - but 2 layers of vinyl, it does not like, so I had to defer to more manual methods.
I printed out the kids initials from the computer and literally traced them onto the vinyl. Witht the black I left the paper on and sewed through it. I experimented with different stitches and stitch lengths, but a simple straight stitch at 2.5cm seemed the best. My freestyle sewing got better as I went along, but I have to say I wished I had named them all with straight letters - I, L T?
The finished project - a tag to hang of their school bag and a few other simple bags - and colour coded for the twins.

I bought the vinyl for lunch bags. I didn't want the commercial style insulated bags and having bought sandwich boxes decided to make my own. Essentially I wanted like a fold over paper bag style.
With the pattern made (not a ruler in sight!) I transferred this onto the vinyl and went for it. I was concerned about the wide sides folding out, so I put a little tuck in the sides.

They still need velcro but I am pretty happy with them...

Together

Today has been lovely - like one of those days you see in a sitcom about happy families. We mucked around and all had breakfast together and then headed out for a ride. With the twins now both of training wheels, we can travel at a decent speed and its fun. We actually did a 10k circuit today, punctuated with the obligatory icecream - but it was great.

Home all sweaty and we blew up a paddle pool and the kids had great fun in that.

Xandy and I made Lego he got yesterday and we sat enjoying slurpees watching a movie.

My only request - more days like this.

Getting ready....

With my little boys starting school in 2 weeks, I need to get a few things ready. I have all their books and uniforms but it is the little things - and I know from last time that these are the things that can take some time. Today I spent my time printing and ironing on labels and sewing smocks and library bags for each of them.

The boys will be in the same class this year and to help the teachers I am trying to colour code them - it will help a litlle. Spencer is red and Benji is blue.

I got this fabric from Spotlight. The gingam style print is a drill and contrast sleeves are from a lighter poplin or similar.

At our school there are quite strict rules on what the art smock can be - no plastic, no shirts, full back - which essentially means home made. There are some you can buy at school but they aren't very nice. The front is usually rubber backed curtain fabric to protect their clothes better. This time I didn't do that - drill will do. There really were no fabrics that were going to work for twins, and also to have longevity of school life. Alexander is in a pirate one which at 8 is already a little juvenile for him. Even though his is now looking way to small, it seems I have no inclination to remake him one - but more focus on the real need at this time.

I decided not to put elastic in the sleeves as I found they balloon out and end up in the paint - but instead I folded them up 3 times and did a couple of stitches. This should hold til the end of the year when no doubt they will need to be let down.

The library bags are simple drawstring with the left over fabric. I bougt 1.5m of the drill and 70cm of the plain and there was ample down the side for the bag. I appliqued this on using double sided interfacing.

They look cute here but I just know they will find a way to get dirty!!

ride

Alexander was at a party, so the twins and I went up to Mum and Dads. They have a great bike path behind their house so Poppy came on a ride with us which we all enjoyed.

Really really early

I am really early for next christmas. I cant be late for the one just passed as I only just bought the fabric - on sale of course. Rather than my usual trick of putting it away as fabric until December when everything goes mental - I made the intended projects and will put away three christmas pillow cases until December and then the boys can fill their dreams with the Christmas spirit.

This is simple christmas cotton that Spotlight is throwing out for $2 or $3/m. I got 1.5 to make 3 pillowcases. The Christmas print is the full width of that fabric so I needed a contrast fabric. I had bought this one for table cloths but didn't use it so cut up a bit for it here. It is doubled so I would have probably used a metre to make the three.

Now just to put them somewhere where I will remember......

make

This is a rocket

This is the driver

Complete with passenger they had a lovely time.

Sometimes it is magical to watch these two at work.

Games

As you can imagine after yesterday, we are all a bit over ourselves and lying around today taking it easy. Alexander has been playing with his new things - pouring over science books but he pulled out this great game that will surely be a favourite. It is called Labyrinth and is a board game by Ravensburger. Essentially it is a strategy game where you need to collect treasure in the maze - but the maze moves each turn. Some pieces are fixed which makes it extra tricky. We played it with 2 of us, but you can play up to four.

There is no reading required so I think the twins could also play - but it does take strategy and the ability to see patterns and paths - both for where you want to go and where you want to stop your opponent from going. This is the kind of game anyone can win - and it does make it hard to cheat to let the kids win, which I think is a good thing too. Highly recommend.