Playhouse renovation - the arrival

It's arrived. It's arrived!!!!!

The Zealous Family playhouse! We picked it up from another local family whose children have grown too big for it now. I did hear a rumour that the 16 year old couldn't watch her childhood playhouse being taken away - poor sweetie. 

My children are super excited to start playing in it, but first Daddy needs to find a safe place for it and Mummy.... well she has big 'renovation' plans for it. For the last week I've been adding lots of ideas to pinterest and so far I'm thinking it needs a plain paint job inside (the inside is wooden and tired) and some fun bright coloured furnishing!

At the moment the little house is resting on the trailer, taunting the kids.

I'll be posting the renovation pictures as I complete the playhouse this summer! Feel free to show me your playhouse makeover or give me your awesome ideas :-) 

Until then

Brenda :-) 

Supporting New Zealand Made

If I went around my house and checked where everything was made, I reckon it would be close to 50% made overseas. I'm not proud of that fact but also it's not entirely my fault. It is soooo hard to find things that aren't made overseas (particularly China) and even harder to find Made in NZ products.

I had one of those 'aha' moments a few months back after buying a pack of biscuits from the supermarket. I ate one and thought 'yuck, that must have been a bad batch'. To my dismay, when I read the label, I found they were made in China. Really!!!!! We have food from China. I threw those biscuits out. I can't always control where everything in my house comes from but I refuse to eat food that is 'made in china'.

[Paua Pukeko made by Paua Art in NZ - be in to win this wall art here]

I feel so sad that we are losing so much of the control of products in this country because it's 'cheaper' to send it overseas (well I'm assuming that is the reason). Every week I hear of a new business moving to China/Indonesia. More Kiwis losing their jobs. More products being made with less love, care and integrity. Are some of us so intent on making our million that we put our integrity aside?

[Ruby Sue dress, Made in NZ, for sale here]

Because my 'thing' is sewing. I sew as much of my children's clothes as possible. It's not always cheaper (not often) but they wear unique designs and concoctions that their crazy mum puts together, and they even get input into what I make.

I sell my NZ made clothing at markets and sometimes I overhear people saying how expensive my things are. That makes me really sad as I don't even get close to minimum wage for the time my clothes take to make. But I'm proud to make NZ made products. I'm proud to offer something that you can't find elsewhere and when you buy a Zealous Design you know it's not off a production line, and it has been handcrafted with time and love by me.

Since my biscuit experience, I'm a big label checker. But the best thing that has come out of that experience is my love of New Zealand made. So I go out of my way to buy from small businesses that craft their goods here in our lovely green country. Sure most things are more expensive than the warehouse but when you buy NZ made, you are often buying off a stay at home mum or someone who has put their heart into a product or service. I try to profile small Kiwi business on my FB page from time to time as well to help out other at home mum's trying to keep their family afloat.

If you work from home, handcraft a product or service, let me know!
Sew glad you stopped by

Brenda

Enter my giveaway here (finishes 18 August 2013)

Cottage Mama Pattern Release ~ Skip and Play Pants

Check out these awesome pants by The Cottage Mama's. I couldn't wait to start these cuties, I just love the unique trims. There are so many ruffle pant patterns out these but these Skip and Play Pants/Capri are just adorable and the detailed trims, cuffs and buttons make it a must buy.

It was hard to chose fabric as I wanted the pants warm enough for winter so I chose corduroy again, even though so many of my cute quilted fabrics were begging me to use them. I'll definitely be making these again in spring as capri, so they will get their chance :-)

One of my favourite aspects of these pants are the lean leg. My daughter doesn't trip over the fabric like so many of her wide leg ruffle pants. 

And check out just how adorable the ruffles and cuffs are. Not only are they cute but they are actually very easy to make. 

And just to prove how easy they are to 'skip and play' in, my daughter decided to climb trees and run along the beach at top speed. 

To purchase Skip and Play Pants in PDF form, visit The Cottage Mama's etsy store!
To purchase the pants/capris in New Zealand, contact me at Zealous Design.

Thanks for stopping by!
Brenda

Home Body and Beauty Market

I've been selling at Markets and Fairs for just over a year now and have learnt so much in that short time. I've also had so much fun meeting customers and other extremely talented crafts people. 

With so many of the products around these days 'made in China' and sold by big multi million dollar companies. I am really trying to make an effort myself to buy from local crafts people or make my own things. When you buy local, you are not only helping support families but putting money back into your local community rather than lining the pockets of rich business men. 

I've also recently got involved in helping organise a market in my local area with two extremely hardworking and talented girls. Both run their own small businesses from home like me, who also needed some outlet for their talents and products. (Check out Kathy and Robayne and their awesome products).

I had no idea how much hard work went into organising a market until four months ago, but even though it's a lot of work, it's worth it to bring so much talent and New Zealand made products together in my local country town.

One thing we've found quite difficult is working out how to reach people to advertise this market. Do people read newspapers anymore? Does everyone have Facebook yet? Do signs on the side of the road work anymore? Let me know what your thoughts are... how would we reach you to advertise a market?? How would we reach your mum or grandma?

Thanks for stopping by :-)
Brenda

Cottage Mama New Pattern ~ Miss Matilda

A few weeks ago I was given the awesome opportunity to help test out some of The Cottage Mama's newest patterns. Since we are heading into winter down in New Zealand I chose to make my items 'winter friendly'. In my stash was some corduroy which I didn't have big plans for but turned out to be the perfect base for these items.

First up is Miss Matilda's dress/top (sizes 6 months to 10 years. Isn't this adorable! I love the fun ruffles that spice up the neckline and down the button placket. the big bow ties on the side and gives a gorgeous unique look. Lindsay designed the outfit perfectly and the pattern was so easy to follow and sew up.

Miss Matilda has a lovely full skirt that naturally stands out with the corduroy I've used. It also has the option of being shortened into a top, with or without the ruffles. You could also dress it up with a trim along the border of the skirt. 

And of course there is the twirl factor, an important aspect for my little girl who loves to twirl twirl twirl. 

To purchase Miss Matilda in PDF form, visit The Cottage Mama's etsy store!

To purchase this dress/top in New Zealand, contact me at Zealous Design.

Next blog, skip and play pants also by The Cottage Mama :-)

Thanks for stopping by!
Brenda

Pattern Review: Claire's Patchwork Pillowcase Dress by CKC

PATTERN: This is a PDF pattern by Create Kids Couture (CKC). Actually this was the first pattern I bought from them and my first PDF pattern ever (since this purchase last year I have gained a rather large collection).

WHAT: A patchwork dress in the popular pillowcase style, with a twist. There is an adorable keyhole cut and sewn into the back so the shoulder ties can be tied in a bow either at the back or across one shoulder. The dress is finished with a border of ruffles. I love ruffles.

SIZE: I made a size 2T. This pattern has a large size range at 6months through to 8 years.

FABRIC: I used up a lot of my scraps on my first dress. I also made a few for my friends (see photo near end) which I used Happy Hills and Pretty Little things fabric lines amongst others.

PATTERN PIECES: CKC have a unique pattern cutting method, which I've come to love. Most pattern pieces are given in rectangle measurements and the pattern pieces provided are used to cut off sections of the rectangle which leaves you with the bodice pieces. Brilliant.

ILLUSTRATIONS/INSTRUCTIONS: CKC patterns always have photos for every step, you don't have to read instructions over and over trying to work out what is meant. It is so easy to follow you often don't even need the instructions, the photos are so clear.

SPECIAL TECHNIQUES: There is nothing very tricky in this pattern unless you create your own bias tape. You'll need a bit of time and patience putting all the squares for the patchwork together, but I found it quite fun.

CONCLUSION: What I love about this pattern is, it's going to fit my daughter for years. As a 2 year old it is a maxi dress, but on a 5 year old it will be knee length.
I find Create Kids Couture patterns brilliant. They are always well laid out. You don't have to print a thousand pages. They are well tested and have great support if you have a problem. I would highly recommend this pattern and any of their others. Find this pattern here.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Brenda

Pattern Review: Diane Kimono by Serendipity Studio

PATTERN: Diane Kimono Dress/Tunic top by Serendipity Studio a paper pattern using tissue. I must comment here to say, I'm so used to pdf patterns now that I find tissue a bit hard to deal with now. 

WHAT: Asian inspired dress/top with a tie to cinch in the waist. This pattern could look a bit frumpy with the wrong fabrics, but I'm excited about making a long dress for summer in some funky fabrics. For this pattern review I made a top so I can wear it in the upcoming winter (over a long sleeve top). I did make a few changes, the skirt in the pattern is one fabric, but due to not having enough in my stash, I made a panelled skirt instead. 

SIZE: XXS through to XXL. I made an XS.

FABRIC: I used fabrics from my stash, I decided to stick with the asian theme: For the main fabric I used Golden Garden in grey by Alexander Henry. I used  the Serenity line by Bo Bunny for accents and Textured Basics by Patty Young for part of the skirt. I love how it's turned out! 

I also fully lined the bodice, which isn't in the pattern, just a personal preference. 

PATTERN PIECES: There are about 5 pieces to cut out and use. I transferred mine to other paper just in case I got the wrong size. I didn't want to have to cut out the tissue. The pattern did suggest cutting to the biggest size then folding the bigger sizes away, but I couldn't see how you would easily do that. 

ILLUSTRATIONS/INSTRUCTIONS: There are a lot of hand drawn illustrations to follow in this pattern. I'm used to photos of late so it took a bit of a mind shift but it was easy to follow once I got my head around it. Instructions were full and detailed with extra instructions for different options to make as part of the dress. 

There are two options for the skirt width and options for gathered shoulders. 

SPECIAL TECHNIQUES: Using bias tape and as usual I made my own using matching fabrics. Threading a tie through a specially sewn casing 

CONCLUSION: Awesome pattern, easy to follow and comfortable to wear. I would say a beginner could easily cope with this as there are no zips, button holes or darts.

Sew nice of you to stop by :-)
Brenda


Click to find this pattern online.