Apricot paisley summer top.....

I know,
 I say this every few posts...

But,

this is my new favourite outfit.

 I started with my old strapless sundress....

 After about one hour of cutting and sewing... it turned into this beautiful summer top.

 Miss 8 loves the oversized bow...

 I have a few small scraps of material left.... I might applique something onto a handbag tonight.

 We had a fun afternoon.

Fish'n'chips at the beach and then we went for a swim.

You can see master 9 in the background of this photo.

 Hope you're having a good weekend :D

Love Nikki xx

Animal print cardigan.....

I bought this animal print cardigan a few years ago.

 It was on sale for $2.50.

 It's an adult size small.

 I originally bought it for the buttons {I was never going to wear it.... it's not my style}.
 But, I liked the buttons.
I was going to cut off the buttons and use them for something.

So, I put it away with all my craft stuff.

 Last week I was looking through the Myer catalogue when I saw this animal print cardigan, it made me think of the purple one I bought which was sitting in my craft box.

Myer animal print cardigan $55.... my Cotton On bargain $2.50.

Miss 8 tried it on and it's a perfect fit. 

 Miss 8 loves it!  Can't wait for winter.

I worked four shifts this week... which didn't leave much time for sewing :(

Looking forward to a weekend with the family and some sewing.

Love Nikki xx

Outfit #12.....

 is a dress for Miss 8.

Before....

 After....

Love Nikki xx

Upcycled Pumpkin Patch....

 Good evening,

Tonight I thought I'd share my {Miss 6's} new idea.

Anyone who knows me in real life, knows that I love Pumpkin Patch clothing {and have ALOT of it}.

Over the years I've spent so much money.... I really should be a share holder.

Anyway,

I've never sold any of my kids clothes etc on ebay, instead I store them and give them away to family and friends. 

Most of the old clothes goes to my brother in New Zealand.

Yesterday, Miss 6 was going through a bag of old clothes.

She came downstairs wearing this yellow dress. 

It's a size 4 Pumpkin Patch dress.

This yellow dress was one of her favourite 'going out' dresses and it still looks brand new. 

Miss 6 asked if I could change it into a top. 

Who cuts up a $40 Pumpkin Patch dress?

But, it made me think.... maybe it was a good idea.

I had a little play and thought it would make a cute skirt.

 It took less than 15 minutes to change it from a dress to a skirt.

 Miss 6 loves her new twirling skirt...

 Thanks for the great idea Miss 6....

 More Pumpkin Patch upcycles coming soon :)

My heart goes out to everyone in Christchurch, New Zealand.  This morning the city of Christchurch was hit by a devastating earthquake.  65 confirmed dead many more missing.

The images on Tv are shocking!

I don't have family living in Christchurch.... but I have a few friends living there, who are all ok.

Love Nikki xx

Mummy's dress.... Inspiring creativity ;)

Today, Miss 8 got bitten by a spider on her big toe :(  

 She's ok {it wasn't a red back}, but we spent the afternoon at the doctors.... so, no new photos to share.

 I thought I'd share these photos of Miss 6.

 I was sitting on the couch early one morning, when Miss 6 came downstairs wearing this.....

 She was so proud of her creation... I had to take a few photos.

  I recently received an email from Beth.... Hi Beth :D

Who asked several questions.  So I'll quickly answer them here...

Are you a professional photographer?  No, I'm a registered nurse who does a bit of photography on the side.  I went to New Zealand to photograph my cousins wedding... I might add some here when she gets back from her honeymoon.

How do you light the shots?  I prefer to use natural light.  I do my before shots in 'Mummy's corner' against my white {now grey :(  } wall and white furniture.  It has awesome lighting all day. 

I do most of the location shots around our property.  We live on 10 acres so we have lots of great backdrops for photos. 

 I {almost} always shoot the photos late in the afternoon at around 5.30pm.... about an hour before sunset.

Do you take pictures at your house?  Yes, see above.  Thanks for the compliment :D

 Beth also said the kids are beautiful and they should model.  So, I thought I'd do my proud mummy thing and add this photo of master 9.  He won a nationwide model search here in Australia. 

 He was in the Target catalogue just before Christmas.

Miss 6 gave me a good idea this evening... so, stay tuned for my {ok, Miss 6's} new idea.

Love Nikki xx

I'm back.....

 Sorry, I didn't get around to posting while in New Zealand.... I was enjoying spending time with family and friends and didn't want to waste too much time on the computer.

It's good to be home.

I took the above photo of Miss 8 this morning.... notice anything different about the room?

While I was away my husband decided to do some painting, I loved this wall white, but now it's grey... oh well!

Anyway, this morning I changed this top into a dress for Miss 8.

 I just took in the sides and hemmed it again... looks great with some leggings....

Here's a few photos of Miss 6 in some of her upcycled outfits while we were away.... 

On the plane.... Miss 6 being silly :D

 Miss 6 wearing the top I made for Miss 8....

Miss 6 loved meeting her little cousin.

 On the plane to New Zealand...wearing the sundress...

 Waiting over an hour for our bags.....

So good to be home.... although next time I go overseas remind me to tell my husband not to paint anything while I'm away!

I'm heading off to the taping of Australia's got talent... catch you tomorrow :)

Love Nikki xx

'You've been featured'..... #1

I've had a few emails from people sending me photos of their upcycled childrens clothing.

For the first 'I've been featured' post, I've choosen one of my friends Julie-Ann.

Julie-Ann's first outfit is a blue flower skirt.  Julie-Ann was given the skirt but never wore it because she couldn't find anything she liked to go with it.

 Julie-Ann down sized it to fit Miss H.  

 Julie-Ann also made a little bag to match as well as making a felt blue and white flower clip.

Before....

After...

 Miss H looks beautiful!

Matching handbag.... I love matching handbags!

Julie-Ann's second outfit is a wrap skirt she bought a couple of years ago at a market.

Julie-Ann wrote....

Unfortunately cause it was a wrap skirt (and the fact with wrap skirts you seem to wrap and wrap and wrap around your body but it still never sits tightly enough) it drove me crazy the one time I wore it, that it then stayed in my cupboard until now. I couldn't bring myself to throw it out cause I loved the fabric piece on the front, so I decided to recycle this one too. I unpicked all the panels and basically re-created a normal skirt using the pink fabric & the black pin strip denim. I then sewed on the pink circle fabric on the front. Cause of it's thick material it would work really well in winter with knee high boots (you will have to excuse the no stockings in the photo's I took of Holli in it, it was a warm day this arvo and I couldn't be bothered putting her in stockings to take a few photo's. I also made a matching headband going by the designs that you use in your girls clips (which I also love).

Miss H before....

 Miss H after.  I love this outfit!

Well done Julie-Ann... keep them coming!

If you've upcycled any clothes lately... send me a few photos.

mummysdress@hotmail.com

Tomorrow morning, I'm flying to New Zealand... I can't wait!

Will post a few photos...

Love Nikki xx