Getting started...

I havn't yet finished an item but this dress is looking so cute I just had to share the progress :D I have now threaded multiple times... feeling very confident with that now! I have also changed the presser foot twice & used the elasticator foot to make these cute sleves:

<3 Turtle & Roo xo

My new Overlocker :D

Yes... it's true... I now have an Overlocker :D

It's a 2nd hand Bernina 1200MDA & is in beautiful condition! She is 2 years old but has had very little use yet... hopefully I'll be changing that!

There seems to be little information specific to the 1200MDA, though from what I can gather it's the model between the 1150MDA & the 1300MDC... or more precicely it's the 1150MDA with a computerised screen added. http://www.berninawa.com.au/popup-fF-n5-i7-sEN.html

I got her on Sunday afternoon & have been spending my time studying the instruction manual & looking up info & instruction videos as I havn't used an overlocker since I was in school! I finally braved setting her up on the table this afternoon alongside my old Husqvarna Viking Daisy:

Yes... the dining table has been converted into a sewing table... for now!

So... that's the main set up ready to go... now to get started. I still need to collect more fabrics, threads, buttons, zippers, etc... all the little bits & pieces. As all I have is white thread... to start with it's fabrics which need white thread.

Test sew number 1:

Looks pretty good! A little bit of tension adjustment & a few more test sews before I was happy with this set-up:

More to come...

<3 Turtle & Roo xo

Is there anyone out there? out there? out there? out there?

It's true... most of the time I feel like I'm all alone... who cares that I'm writing here? Will anyone actually read this? Possibly not!

It's hard just getting started. No one out there really knows what I am capable of & until I can show something... does anyone even care? I'm dreaming that I have a legion of fans out there somewhere... they just don't know it yet :D

Right now I'm standing at the edge of this huge uncharted gorge of which I have to make it down into before trudging my way through & discovering all the beauty to behold... all of it just out of my reach... reach.... reach.... reach...

But hey... I'm sure there is going to be plenty of fun along the way & great beauty to behold!

And I know I'll gather support as I continue this journey... even help with my burdens along the way. I know I already have the support of my family... especially my parents!

Then somewhere down the track... when I think I have had enough of the trudging.... when I'm thinking of giving up... I'll turn that one more corner & find the most beautiful deep pool to swim in for a while...

And I'm sure I'll find when I continue the journey that somewhere further on I'll find another pool to swim in which is equally spectacular... though different again!

Note: All above photos are from our Jan 2011 trip to Karijini National Park.
In order from top:
Dales Gorge from the top.
Dales Gorge from the bottom (near Circular Pool).
Hamersley Gorge near the Spa Pool (Blossum being carried by my Dad).
Circular Pool in Dales Gorge.
Fern Pool in Dales Gorge... there is no signage to this pool, just a track that dissapears into the bush... if you notice it is there when you stop admiring the beauty of the Fortescue Falls (Or someone brings your attention to the path)!

To finish off... an official update as to where things are at: I currently have 10 items in various stages of preparation as well as a bunch more waiting to get started... awaiting an overlocker. I am looking into 2nd hand or lower end brand new overlockers.

Sneak peek into my creations:

Ok... I admit... a lot of them are size 1... though that is because I have the most gorgeous inspiration and model who is currently a size 1 ;) There is also a size 0, size 2, size 4, & size 6. Oh & yes... they are all dresses & shirts. I think the boys side of the market will be more of a challenge... hmmmm :)

I'm actually heading down to fremantle this afternoon to check out a 2nd hand Bernina 1200 MDA which is looking very promising!

I am accepting donations of business/dress shirts & flowing skirts... Please email me at turtleandroo@gmail.com if you can help out!

Oh & if you ARE out there! out there! out there! out there! can you please send me some encouragement... an email... a comment on one of my posts... 'like' my Facebook page... share one of my posts... 'follow' my blog...

Thanks for your support :)

<3 Turtle & Roo xo

QR Codes

Have you discovered QR Codes yet? I've recently discovered these nifty little pictures since obtaining an new mobile phone which operates on the Android platform.

So... What is a QR Code you might be asking?

A QR Code (or Quick Response Code) is one of these little squares that you might have noticed starting to pop up around the place:

This particular one will take you to my Facebook page.

According to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_Code:

A QR Code is a specific matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code), readable by dedicated QR barcode readers and camera phones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded can be text, URL or other data.
Common in Japan, where it was created by Toyota subsidiary Denso-Wave in 1994, the QR code is one of the most popular types of two-dimensional barcodes. QR is the abbreviation for Quick Response, as the creator intended the code to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed.

So now, thanks to these guys, all I have to do is open my scan program on my phone... hold it over the QR Code in question... my phone takes a picture & within seconds it's taking me to the encoded web page, sending me a special message, loading a phone number, or loading an SMS ready for me to contact the other party! Very nifty :)

Oh & it is simple as well as easy to make your own! I made mine with http://qrcode.kaywa.com/ :)

And to finish off today... a special message for those who can read it:

Sorry to those who don't yet have a QR scanner... I still love you guys too! Thanks for dropping by :)

<3 Turtle & Roo xo

Holidays - Northampton to Tom Price

Wow what a big day yesterday! We left Northampton at 6.45am & Mum, Blossum& myself promptly went back to Sleep! I think it was around 9am before we were all awake again. Please excuse any writing errors & oddities as i am typing on my phone :)

As we got up nearer to Canarvon the roadside was looking greener & greener & spots of water were more & more frequent. We drove through a few spots with water still over the road & in 1 place the road was diverted onto a dirt path off to the side.

Right on the outskirts of Canarvon there was patches of road which had obviously been recently resurfaced where off to the edge there was a lot of fresh mud & mess including pieces of the old road surface.

In town it was noticeable where the main stream of water had washed through with mud & rubbish left in its wake.

A couple of service stations were washed out & crops of bananas, mangoes, & pumpkins were visibly destroyed. When we reached the Gascoyne River there was nearly 4m of water flowing where is usually none!

More resurfaced roads on the way back out of town & the water noticeable became less the further we went.

About the most interesting part of the rest of the drive was the 180km dirt road through to Tom Price. The most of the road itself was in good condition but there was a few hairy spots where streams of water had washed across & chopped things up.

It was 7.45pm before we made it into Tom Price. With some heavy rain, wind, thunder, & lightning going on... we decided to pay the extra for a cabin for the night. Nice enough 2 bedroom cabin with ensuite, kitchenette, aircon, & tv... which didn't work very well.

9.15am this morning & we are on our way again! A short drive this morning & we will be setting up camp in Karijini :)

Holidays have started... Northampton

A bit of a hiccup to the start of our holidays... Dads car had to get some work done as the air-con decided to play up. With temps in the high 30's it's very needed! We finally made it out of Perth at 6:15pm last night & arrived in Northampton at 11:30pm. The Blossum & I both slept in the car (She more than me!)... tg for not being the driver :D I love being a passenger. Although... I have come to appreciate being a driver more in recent years than I used to :)

With the flooding around Canarvon blocking the road through to Warroora we've decided to spend today with my sis & family here & head to Karijini National Park tomorrow morning... that's a 10hr drive... & we will stop in at Warroora on the way back instead.

The Blossum is enjoying playing with her cousins & I'm loving that she is using her cousins' MCNs instead of the Eco-Disposables that I've brought along for camping. Planning on plenty of nappy free time when we are out in nature :D

She hasn't used sposies in about 9 months. When we are at home she is nappy free 90% of the time. She even wakes up in the morning dry more often than not. The old terry cloth nappies do get a workout mopping up the misses though ;) I'm so glad I don't have carpet in most of our place. I put MCNs om her when we are out & about & overnight. MCNs are so cute on those little bums :D

As a bonus... MCNs also make good head support for when 4WDing :D

I use BBH Petites most often as I love how they fit on her slim bum & I have never had a leak or poonami explosion out of them. Also I like being able to match the different colour to whatever outfit I want to put on her. I do have a few pretties too... including some denim bizzy bumz, a holdens landing, a Christmas cushie tushies, & a Very Hungry Caterpillar... All of them All-in-2 style MCNs, I'm not keen on stuffing liners in pockets.

I had a lovely surprise awaiting me at my sisters' when we arrived last night... a Genesa Forge MCN with a gorgeous peacock embroidery on the bum :D I'm looking fwd to putting it on her when we are back home!

Do you use Sposies, Eco-sposies, Cloth Nappies, or MCNs? Which type & why?

Back on topic of our trip... I'm glad for that extra sleep I did get in the car as it was very broken sleep overnight on a single mattress on the floor. I was very conscious of the Blossum next to me & not letting her roll off in her sleep :/ Oh & then there was the rooster crowing in the first light before the ruckus of 4 noisy girls playing in the early hours of the morning lol Here's to children who DON'T wake up early!!! I love that we usually stay in bed until 8am or so :)

I've always been a night owl myself & thankfully the Blossum has fallen into a similar sleeping pattern to myself. For her it's usually down for the night around 8:30-9pm. She has a couple of breastfeeds before 1am & another in the early morning around 6-7am then back to sleep for another hour or 2 :D

What is sleep times like in your household?

Pay It Forward: 2011

Thanks to Milky Mumma for this one... what a great idea :D

I promise something handmade to the FIRST 5 people who leave a comment here. However, to be eligible, you must repost this message, offering something handmade to 5 other people. The rules are that it must be handmade by you, and it must be sent to your 5 giftees sometime in 2011. Ready, set, GO!

<3 Turtle & Roo xo