Slow Sunday : Lamb and Veg slow cooker soup

 4 litres water

2 onions chopped

2 cloves garlic chopped

2 large carrots chopped

2 ribs celery chopped, throw in some of the leafy ends whole

1 chunk of pumpkin, about as big as your fist- diced.

1 lambs neck or shank. ( or both!).

1 x 375gm packet of Italian soup mix

1/4 x 375gm packet of pearl barley

1x 400gm can condensed tomato soup OR

400gm jar of pasta sauce OR 

a 400gm tin of tomatoes

Place all above in slow cooker. Cook on LOW about 8 hours, on HI about 5 hours, til meat falls from bones.

Remove meat from bones, throw out bones, shred meat and return to slow cooker.

Add either the soup or pasta sauce, salt and pepper, then allow to cook on LO for another 30 minutes..

Serve with fave homemade pizzas or crusty bread.  

Notes; you can also add some small pasta if you like. 

This make a LOT of soup. We generally freeze half and the other half feeds us twice as an entree or for lunch.

Enjoy!

Farbenmix DANAI Hoody Sweater review

Farbenmix DANAI

The DANAI is an adorable hoody pattern. It sews up very quickly and although it is in German, with the online tutorial- DANAI is suited to beginners that have sewn with knits before. 

Best fabrics for your DANAI will be snuggly ones, so Nicky velour, sweat shirt knit, polar fleece etc. 

I left the bottom band off this one as I ran out of my hand dyed Nicky. ( and I can't remember what brew I used for this purple!). DANAI is sized very generously.You have the option of  kanga style front pockets, or the very much on trend at the moment - cut out circular pockets that are trimmed with rib.

The hood is very clever in that it has a lower section that keeps the child's neck warm. Love it. 

You can grab a DANAI here from Crafty Mamas Fabrics and choose from our beautiful range of snuggly fabrics here and here.

New pattern release: Crafty Mams FRIDA!

Have you seen our gorgeous new sewing pattern??

Our beautiful FRIDA dress/tunic is a pattern you will live in all year long! FRIDA is inspired by the colourful Mexican dresses of Frida Kahlo, with sweeping ruffled hems and burst of glorious colour and fun!

FRIDA DRESS is in ladies sizes XS-XXXL.  The Frida Dress is designed for knit fabrics with woven fabrics for an accent.  Jersey, interlock or rib knits may be used (recommended for the Front Side pieces and the Back Bodice pieces).  Quilting cottons or other lightweight woven fabrics can be used for the Front Center pieces, the Puff Sleeves, the Skirting and the Dust Ruffle.  For best results, I recommend high quality knits from us!

Crafty Mamas patterns are designed by me, and professionally drafted and graded by the very talented Jodi Jean Baird of Jocole patterns.


Grab a PDF version instantly here:
Or a paper version here!

Farbenmix XATER- A review and a little translation for you....

There have been Farbenmix  XATER tops popping up in the Crafty Mamas forum of late, and I have been dying to get one sewn up! That's the troube with being the shop keeper, you order all this gorgeous stuff in and never have time to sew yourself. But I staggered it out- in bits..traced one night, gathered supplies the next, cut another- then embroidered and sewed. I'm loving XATER and can see many more in my future.

Details:
Fabric is from my stash ( trying to deplete!) some 100% cotton knits..not Tamarama, thicker...can't remember the name. Anyhoo, Lil does not like STELLA - so I'm always looking for 100% cottons for her.

Ribbing is Hilco from the shop, in orange/turquoise

Applique is a machine embroidered ZNOK Deers star. Embroidery was from Huups...I think. Just a simple star that you can do nifty stuff with!

Farbenmix XATER is available in my store, Crafty Mamas Fabrics here. 
It is in German, but Farbenmix kindly provide a full step by step with pics! to hold your hand all the way. 
But having said that, it's a very easy pattern to sew. Here's a few tips to help!

XATER comes in two widths, the skinnier version ( Schmale Version), or the wider cut version. (Weitiere Version) I used the wider for this one, it is brilliant for kids with tummies).

You can make XATER with a hood or without ( if without, use my easy tute to apply a neckband  ).
XATER gives you the options of short sleeves, long sleeves, or short over the top of long- so heaps of variations here.

For the Skinnier version: Schmale Version
Pieces you will need:

1. Vorderteil (front)
2. Ruckenteil (back)
*note these are on the same pattern piece on the sheet, so you need to trace off the front, then the back. 
3.Armel - lang ( long sleeve)
4. Armelbundchen  (armband for your sleeve - cuff)
5. Kapuze ( hood)
6.Armel kurz, ( short sleeve)
7.Armelpatch ( patch for arm!)

For the Wider version ( Weitiere Version)

8. Vorderteil (front)
9. Ruckenteil (back)
 *note these are on the same pattern piece on the sheet, so you need to trace off the front, then the back. 
10. Armel - lang ( long sleeve)
11. Armelbundchen  (armband for your sleeve - cuff)
12. Kapuze ( hood)
13. Armel kurz, ( short sleeve)
7..Armelpatch ( patch for arm!)

The placement of the arm patch is not indicated on the sleeve piece, so you'll have to eyeball that  one.

Happy Sewing!

Lisa 

New release: Crafty Mamas " Off with the Pixies Dress/Tunic" Ladies version!

Why should the Kids get all the good patterns??  Just hit the shop, The Off with the Pixies for Ladies sizes xs-xxxl.

Only at Crafty Mamas Fabrics, grab your copy here and you too, can be Off with the Pixies ;)

Ladies " Off with the Pixies" Dress/Tunic - new pattern!

As promised!! The Grown Up version of our much loved Crafty Mamas " Off with the Pixes" Tunic/Dress! 

As you can see, Miss B  is quite chuffed with her custom black and purple tunic!

Pdf  pattern out tomorrow, only at ...

CMF

Farbenmix Clever Design Ideas ( or how to NOT sew BORING!)

I love this idea, simple strips of jersey are included in the seam of a HILDE top ( but use in any!). So effective!
 Check it out over on the Farbenmix site

Reverse applique always looks awesome too! From Farbenmix again!

And how amazing is this Chenille effect??? AWESOME ! Team Farbenmix again,  Check it out here!

Farbenmix products are available in Australia in our store, and we also handle wholesale orders!

The Homemade Pencil case

Life is just far too crazy around here, with Summer Uni, the kids home, Crafty Mamas Fabrics, C-R-A-Z-Y.
I start the day with huge lists to do, and it just gets longer as the day goes on! I miss my sewing machines so much- but I'm trying to get back in there! I have sewn a very little though!

I have been making a new pencil case for Miss B, ( who is 13 next month- how did that happen??) ever since she started Prep. She is now in Year 8. Lot's and lot of pencil cases!!! The previous years get a good wash up, and are often used to just stash things, or passed to the younger sibling ( who gleefully accepts half used textas, worn down pencils and blunt pencil sharpeners!).

There is something enjoyable about making  a pencil case.... something soothing about no brainer, straight line and insert zipper sewing ...and I love that Miss B instigates the creation of a new pencil case each year. I guess one day, she won't want one..(sob!). The size of the pencil case is always determined by what she has in mind on the day, and the fabric design.  Here's a look back at a few of our pencil cases!

The LONDON pencil case... for 2013!

 

Ottobre Design Magazine 1/2013 Giveaway!

We have a Winner folks!!!

zofia said...

I would have to try those undies, very cute!
And how gorgeous are the chevron leggings?

Zofia, congratulations!!!! Popping your Otto in the post now!

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It's here!! Ottobre Design 1/2013!

It is always exciting when the first Otto for the new year arrives at Crafty Mamas- and 1/2013 is a beauty!

As always, we have several of the fabrics you see featured in the mag in store ( how could we not??)

Crafty Mamas has now been stocking and acting as agent for Otto for almost 9 years- that's pretty amazing in itself, but they just keep getting better and better! We offer subscriptions, back issues and Creative Workshop patterns, as well as stocking lots of the current issues for non subscribers.

Ottobre Design magazine features full size sewing patterns that you then trace off ( our Swedish Tracing paper is perfect).Otto patterns are fashion forward, and designed with comfort in mind. And the best part? They always work. ( life is too short to sew up dodgey patterns- which is why we only offer the best!).
 There are several tutes here on the blog on using your Otto patterns.
This issue is full of fun designs!

 I have ONE issue to Giveaway this week!

Simply leave me a comment, telling me which pattern # you would sew up first from 1/2013!


Winner announced next Mon!





 Lisa

Lillestoffe Giveaway Winner is...

ZoeH said...

Got to say 'Firemen' - my little boy's favourite game! They're all lovely though.

10:29 PM  

 

Congrats Zoe, you have a metre of Lillestoffe Petrol Owls heading your way!

Have I got your postal details in the store? Please contact me...

 

 

Thankyou everyone!

 

Lisa 

Some tutes I love...

Here's some of my fave tutes doing the rounds at the moment- I thought I'd share with you guys...

Pyramid Wrist Bags over at A Splendid Assemblage

Side split top by Cotton and Curls

Tshirt rug by The Creative Homemaker

The Raw Ribbon top over at Made it on Monday

Cool Arm warmers to make over at I Am Momma - Hear me Roar

That ought to keep you guys busy this week!

Lisa :)