All spooked up

As a child my 3 sisters and I  lived in rural England with few immediate neighbours and trick or treating at that time hadnt really crossed the Atlantic...Halloween was about dressing up as witches or cats, heading to friends  in the dark spook evening of All Hallows for parties lit with carved pumpkins to bob apples play murder in the dark or sardines, drink ghoulish drinks, eat worms and fly jelly and party until the bats got up :) My mum and her friends really made All Hallows Eve amazing!





Its very different here (firstly its warm and sunny!) and these days I think...much more commercialised and the heart of it all seems to be the trick or treating or the avoiding it completely ;)

 Last year my husband was home (he rarely is for events) and so we prepared a pumpkin, filled bowls with sweeties for visiting children, and the older children drew designs for tshirts we could make together as apparently the costumes in the shops here just didnt cut it ;)

A Halloween Cat

GHOSTLY DESIGNS

 Our eldest then 12 drew a cat which she chose a pretty purple to applique it in, the middle 2 chose ghosts and the youngest boy asked for a pumpkin to match the one he helped to carve :) It was all very exciting and the fun and laughter we had that night...though very different from my memories is one I will remember for years to come...this year my husband is away but I am hoping to have a witchy visitor from England to help make a spooky night of it all :) and the children are already planning just what Mummy is going to sew for them ;)

Over the Moon in his Ghostly Tee designed by him!

So I thought...rather than trying to frantically sew a bat or 2 or a ghost or a spider for sale I would make my children theirs and suggest that you do the same...use hands upside down to draw around to make a ghost :) or cover their feet in fabric paint and get them to stand on a tee ;) also two hands touching the base of the palms with thumbs up to make a bat...or free draw or trace from a spooky book...or let them design themselves...its so much fun :)

image from Pinterest

I would love to offer 1 lucky follower a spooky pack containing a sheet of iron on adhesive (and instructions) some white,black, orange fabric, and a plain white or black plain tee so that you too can make your Monkeys spooky and over the Moon this Halloween...simply comment BAT before midnight tomorrow (21st September) and I will randomly pick a winner :) <3

BOYS

BOYS...

those little balls of energy...who never seem to stop, who love worms and all things grubby...or who like things to be just so and clean...there really is no in-between! Their smiles melt you, their tantrums and escapades confound you, they can always out run you but at night when they sleep as angelic as can be and you can shower them with the kisses they wipe off all day...that is when you thank heavens for little boys!

Now...I have been told my boys designs are pretty alright...that I manage to mix funk with cool and make your monkeys over the moon (as well as you too) but...this Upcoming Market Night I really want to make it just right for you all...to ensure there is something for more little boys...

I need you...that's you! to go to our photo albums below and to tell me what designs you think would be cool that your monkey would think would rule and chuck in a size (0.2.4.6.8.10.12) and even a colour tee if you like :) and I will be trying to make sure at least some of them appear (as well as a couple of newbies!)

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO GALLERIES:  Boys Designs

AND HERE TOO: Older Boys Design Ideas

And what do you get as a treat in return I hear you say ;) well...as a Mum of a Boy I know how hard it is to a) find boys clothes you like b) that are what they want to wear too and c) that are good value for money (see our previous post!) so everyone who comments below will get $5 off any boys purchase at Market Night and...one lucky randomly picked commenter will get 50% off any purchase on Market Night :) All comments must be made before 12pm 6th October :)

So if you like...go help me out and I will try my best to make your Monkeys Over The Moon and hopefully you too! (YOU MUST COMMENT BELOW TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE $5 VOUCHER AND 50% OFF GIVEAWAY)

Everlasting Monkeys Over The Moon - Time to Upcycle!

So...I havent blogged for a bit...life and work has been crazy here :) but I just have to share something that my friend and I came up with to recycle or even just revamp/add depth to applique tshirts...

So the gorgeous Applique Design Tee you ordered is a favourite and makes your Monkey Over The Moon...he wears it to playgroup, to the library, on the trampoline, in bed infact getting it into the wash is um...impossible...but NOOOOOOOOOO the nasty tomato stain on that white tee background hasn't come out...or worse still the ants have nibbled holes in the shirt (food attached) as it sat on the laundry floor...all that love and $$ spent and the favourite tshirt is RUINED (child has lip touching floor and..mummy pulling hair out)
 ...but WAIT...
How about you simply cut the applique out of the tee and pop onto another...new tshirt, new life and the 24/7 adored design is back in business :)

TO DO:
Draw a shape Square/Circle or freehand style onto some Iron On Adhesive (brands Vliesofix and Applifix are good if you sew or Heat and Bond have a no sew one in Spotlight ;) )

Cut it out and place on the back of your tshirt applique design (making sure that the applique fits in the shape with about 2cms around) Iron On...I find with all of these papers no steam and holding firmly a med/hot iron for about 10 secs longer than they say works best ;)



Cut around the paper shape...giving you your new applique

Then choose a new tee...vamp it up by popping on a contrasting colour or even stripes...or match with original tee then use contrasting stitching if you are sewing ;)

Position your applique peel off the paper and iron on to the new shirt (again 10 secs longer than they say and press firmly (I suggest through and applique mat or a pillow slip if the applique has buttons or embellishments)

You then can if you are into stitching hand or machine stitch around the applique on the 2cm border...or if you have used the no sew ;) it is done :)

Voila YOU have made your MONKEY OVER THE MOON ;)

This way our designs or anyone's will be even more loved, more value for money and last forever ;) well ;) you know!