Saturday 28 June 2014

The local shopping strip.....



 
When a pattern comes with a warning that "you might get carried away" it would be wise to take heed of the warning. Especially if the project you're starting is for a birthday present and you're just three days out from the birthday party.
But for me, fusible web has this enchanting effect, and I just can't help myself.....
 
The West side
 
My work colleague's baby is turning one and what better excuse than to sew another project from the Little Things To Sew book . I decided to make the veterinary clinic where we work and some of the other buildings and shops in our local strip.
 
The East side
 
OK, so a wine store may not be an appropriate playtown block for a one year old but he can't read and I know it was one of the shops that couldn't have been left out for his parent's sake.
 
I haven't a clue what the real meanings of the inscriptions on the church across the street are, but I hit up google translate for a Russian alphabet version of the baby's name to handstitch onto the church front. And in doing so I apologise to any Macedonian church going blog readers who recognise the church and are thinking Што кур??  (that's WTF? according to google :) ) I tried his name in Macedonian first, I promise, but it looked exactly the same as English!
 
 
While I'm apologising, that tree appliqued on the side is where we take dogs for a walk if we need a wee sample!

I had to take a bit of licence with the arrangement of signs and logos as to try and fit things exactly where they should be was going to be impossible. However, I'm happy to say that the colours are all quite correct, and everything came from the scraps bucket. I even found a little dog for inside our back door. It's not easy to see but he's wearing a party hat and carrying a birthday card! 

 
I'm always pleasantly surprised at how nice it is to do some handsewing. I sewed my Wine Store name whilst on the train into the city and the Deadly Sins gargoyle was sewn while playing squirrels at the park with my daughter (it's amazing how "go find more nuts" can count as play when you're trying to multitask!)
 
 
Then there was a couple of late nights overworking the small zig zag stitch on the sewing machine and I was done. Just in time to take a few pictures this morning before the party this afternoon. Phew.
 
And that leaves me with only the Bias-Trimmed Apron and the Bear Puppet Bath Mitt left in my challenge to sew this pattern book from Cover to Cover. Have you joined in? Only 2 months to go!
 
 


22 comments:

  1. I love these! Very well done and also hilarious :) I'm sure the parents will love them, as will the little one.

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    1. Thanks Bernadette, I had confirmation at work today that indeed, the whole family was playing with them!

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  2. These are so cute! I am sure the parents will love a personalised present :) what a timely reminder, I better get going on my next LTTS project.

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    1. Thanks. What's next for you? I can't believe I haven't made the bias trimmed aprons yet, they would actually be quite useful!

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  3. Excellent. And fun to see that you're in the neighborhood.

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    1. You know I really deliberated about putting these on the blog at all because they give away my location and I am usually quite private about that kind of us (geotag off, alias used etc etc). Still, I thought they were too cool not to share too, so thanks!

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  4. I adore these - and so beautifully made, too.

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    1. Thanks Marisa, I put them off, and off, but then really enjoyed myself once I finally got started.

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  5. This is fabulous - such a great gift, I'm sure if will be treasured. This was one of the few projects in LTTS that didn't really appeal but after seeing this I'm thinking about how I could make a local version.

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    1. Thanks Suzy, it would take a bit of a rethink of the pattern but I'd love to see an Opera House version!

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  6. The details on these are so adorable! What a fantastic gift!

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    1. Thanks Elizabeth, this project is all about fusible web and getting carried away!

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  7. I love all the details you added and how you personalized the shops!

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    1. Thank you. It was a project that I was somewhat dreading but then really enjoyed once I finally got started.

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  8. Oh my goodness!! I LOVE that they are based on the neighborhood where you work! I could totally see getting carried away by this and as someone who works in city government, you have hit me at one of my most vulnerable geeky buttons - CITY PLANNING! Love!

    I might know about this "getting carried away" biz as I am working on a doll bed with bedding for Maggie's birthday (on July 9) and I seriously made her a mattress and hand quilted a quilt and I'm working on sheets and a pillow case. Even though we don't even MAKE THE BEDS in my house, and Maggie sleeps with Steve and I. So her doll will officially have a nicer bed setup than anyone in the house. But I can't stop! I've gone over the deep end.

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    1. Oh I get it. You know I almost made a felt playmat for the blocks to go on with the street marked, the footpath, the pedestrian crossing etc and blank spaces for the buildings in-between the ones I made!
      The dolls bed sounds awesome. I did a handsewn quilts for A for Christmas 2012 and you know we're smart cause dolls cradle quilts are much smaller than kids bed quilts!

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  9. This is so adorable and I know I would love it!
    Excellent work!

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    1. Thanks Nicole. And thank you for persisting in trying to leave a comment. I don't know why it plays up sometimes. Curiously it happens to me on other blogs and it occurs across all blog hosts (wordpress, .coms, blogger etc) so I know how annoying it is!

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  10. Woo hoo, my comment loaded!

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  11. Super cute!! I'm not sure I'll be able to get another LTTS project done for your contest deadline, but it's been loads of fun and I'm still hoping I can get the bento box carrier done before Froo starts school this year. 1st Grade! When did that happen??

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