Sewing for a Tractor-Mad Little Boy

Good Thursday Greetings dear friends & readers

Before my Grandson Alec ever learnt to say Mummy, Daddy or even "No", the sound he would frequently make was "atta"

When I would babysit him he would climb onto the wooden lid covering the Spa Pool, stand on tip toe, & point his tiny finger over the very top of the hedge to the surrounding hills saying "atta" over & over

My Son pointed out to me that the tiny dot on the top of the very farthest hill, was in fact, the farmers tractor.

This developed into the word "daktor"  ....... always said with such drama & relish ...... "daktoooooorrrr"

Therefore, on a recent shopping trip to my local Patchwork Shop to purchase craft glue, her gorgeous array of tractor fabrics stopped me in my tracks somewhat .... & I immediately thought of little Alec

Though I had not a clue what I wanted to make with them .... some purchases came home with me.  As Alec turns Two this month I thought these fabrics might inspire me to make him some birthday gifts.

The first thing I decided to make for him was a name bunting .  .  .
both my grandsons are blessed with short names, so this didn't take up too much time NOR fabric

I had bought him a farmyard book awhile ago when Paper Plus had a book sale.  This was tucked away in my cupboard so I made up a little Book Bag to pop the book in to ...

I made the bag reversible & used another of the tractor fabrics to line it with 

I also have a couple of tractor matchbox toys hidden in my cupboard which I will tuck into the book bag

At the end of last winter my friend Joyce had given me a large bag of brand new fleece fabrics in very boyish colours.

I remembered about the fabrics & thought I might make Alec a tracksuit that I could embellish with the tractor fabrics.

There was just enough of this lovely soft royal blue polar fleece to make a sweatshirt & I added a pocket & lined the hood with the tractor fabrics.

This bottle green made up into a complete tracksuit which will be cosy & warm for him this winter.

(Often when I am out babysitting Alec, you will find me with the roll of greaseproof paper tracing off his clothing to make patterns)

With the last square of fabric I was able to make a chair pad for this wooden childs chair. I had originally intended to give this to Alec last Christmas but decided he was still too small for it then.

We have a small birthday party planned for this Saturday & I have offered to help my daughter in law make 

an Elmo Cake !!!

My friend Pauline lost her Mother in law recently & inherited a large stash of her doilies & vintage linens.

After showing Pauline the order I did for Pru in my last post she asked if I could make her a runner using up as many of the doilies as possible.

Pauline presented me with the collection of doilies above

I was able to use up all but two small crocheted ones in the vintage runner I made above .... this beauty measured 60 cms x 1.70 when complete.  Pauline has a large (newly purchased) native timber dining table & this runner will look stunning across it.

Poor Miss Pippi has had a traumatic morning .  .  .

It would appear that the Electrician that came out to repair our alarm & security lights left his Van door open & a certain furry ginger being climbed in & took it upon herself to curl up & go to sleep.

Unfortunately he did not notice this until he was nearly back to town again - he was most unimpressed that he had to drive all the way back out here to return her & mentioned that he "should charge me 2 lots of travel fees" !!!

I apologised sincerely, thanked him profusely, agreed with everything he said & offered him a cuppa or something stronger ??!!

Imagine if he had just opened his door & let her go ..... doesn't bear thinking about.

Here she is currently asleep on a freshly folded pile of clean laundry - resting & recuperating from her trauma.

The Mr commented that she will "not do that again in a hurry" !!??

Me ... I am not so sure ... this IS Pippi we are talking about !!!

Thanks so much for your visits today dear friends,

I would love to just share with you the gorgeous photo that popped into my inbox when I went to check emails this morning

My youngest grandson Sid - 6 weeks old now !!!

With much love & friendship to you all,

Julie, Blackie & Miss Pippi x0x0x0x