Friday treat lunch

To celebrate DangerB's first full week in school. The novelty of a lunchbox hasn't worn off yet!
Ham salad, strawbs, honey sanger, sausages, breadsticks, apple berry muffin and a chocolate bar. Lucky girl.

I have an apple for my lunch. Bad planning.

Explain like I'm 5

Much fun had today when I made year 8 talk me through a subtraction sum like I was 5.
'put a line through that 2'
'why?'
'because you need to put it there'
'why?'
'it has to be bigger than that 4'
'why?'
'oh miss, that's so annoying'

No, really?

I like it though, they really had to think through what they were doing (and why) and prompted a good discussion with very little input from me. Excellent.

Bender Bending Rodriguez

So, I found this pattern to make a Bender Ami doll from Futurama, and as PrincessB is going through her 'robot' phase I thought I might give it a go.
MrB did his bit by putting Futurama on so she became suitably obsessed with him, and then he turned out like this!













I added poly pellets to his bum, feet and hands so he sits up.

and he can dance...










and he is being looked after properly by the Princess

Pirate Pants!

I have been meaning to make Petchy's 10 minute pants for awhile now but I knew I had to when I saw this fabric!












These were for (yet another) birthday, 2 yr old boy this time, but I modelled them on DangerB as she is about his size












I felt a bit sorry for her as she didn't want to take thme off, so I made some shorts out some scrap fabric I had lying around.

Sock Bunny House!

Another birthday present, this time for a 1 year old. I have fallen in love with sock bunnies after seeing them around on crafty sites so I decided to make her some but then I couldn't work out what to do with them.
So I made them a burrow!










They are attached by a short length of ribbon










so she can pop them in, and out, and in, and out, and in......

My Ami fami...

Since starting to crochet I have been sitting on the sofa every evening while MrB xBox's with a DVD playing on the pc and a crochet hook in my hand.
Here are what I have made so far, mostly either from the Lion brand website or from Ana Paula Rimoli's fab book 'Seriously Cute Crochet'
I made an octopus to start with, you can see he's a bit gappy!


then a fishy still a bit gappy!


then it was valentine's so I made these for DH


Mummy and baby fish, getting better...


Jellyfish (made this one up myself)



Easter bunny



All these are more of less the same size, 3 or inches high.
Then it was a good friends son's 2nd birthday, and he loves penguins, so, a little bit late, but II just finished this



DangerB holding it for size


Next job is an ami picnic set...watch this space!

Car/Playmat Bag!

You will need a FQ size of your playmat base plus a backing fabric (I have used Michael Miller's Merryville and some plain black cotton)
One square of outer bag fabric 14" by 12" ish.
Sewing machine and pins!



Cut the outer fabric in half and one half in half again so you have the shapes here.



Fold the larger part of the outer fabric in half and sew up the sides.



Fold the edges of the 2 strips in and then fold in half. Press and sew down side to make 2 straps



With right sides together sew playmat and backing fabric together all the way round leaving a gap where my fingers are here.
Make sure this gap is at the top of the fabric if it has a pattern!
Turn to right side



Now for the tricky bit. Insert outer bag into the gap you have left in the playmat. Fold the edges of the mat and the bag down and pin together starting at the outer corner to make sure it is level.


Insert the straps on both sides as you are pinning round

I am missing a pic here as my camera battery died but you then top sew around the playmat and bag, backing up over the straps and sewing over again so they are secure. The tricky part is the inner join of the bag and playmat. The easiest way to do this is to sew from the inner join on the back all the way round stopping just at the edge of the bag. Then add the backing fabric under your needle and topstich over both layers of playmat and backing from the very edge of the bag insert all the way round.

If you wish you can sew over the playmat to make sure it doesn't bunch up. I have sewed lines down the roads before now but didn't have time for this one!



This is your bag unfolded. Fold in in three from the left towards your bag, and then fold up from the bottom. Reach into your bag, grab the bottom of the bag and the playmat fabric and pull. You should end up with this!



I hope that makes sense, let me know if it doesn't, thanks!

I am making these to sell at school fairs so would be grateful if people only make these for personal use or gifts. thanks!
(This it my first ever tute, be gentle!)