Lots of happy-making bits and pieces

There's been lots of fun and happy type sewing, and sewing related, things going on here.  First up I made a sunhat for Islay, using the pattern from this lovely book.  I think there will be quite a few more things made from the book in the future. 

Islay, rather unfortunately, wasn't prepared to model the hat when I asked her to (photos taken last week on another picnic lunch with Miss Awkward and my niece......this week has been somewhat different - incredibly heavy rain most days so far but it is dry just now so we may be lucky when we set off to collect Finn and Angus in a little while).

I treated myself to a little bit of sunshine with a felt buttercup brooch.  Not only is it cheery and pretty it is incredibly well made - as is standard with Beth's beautiful work.

This rabbit is something I have wanted to play around with for a while.  Islay's favourite soft toy is Bun Bun who is a little rabbit comforter (the boys both have favourites too - and they all still go to bed with them - Finn with Bear and Angus with Teddy.....Islay's has a very inspired and original name by comparison!). 

She obviously needs her head sewing on and some eyes and a nose/mouth adding - which will be where some personality can come out.  The body is made quilt style with cotton wadding in the middle, the main fabric is flannel and if I make more I plan that the front of the body can be patchwork quilted or appliqued to give individuality - she has a little tail too. 

I'm not sure whether the body needs to be a bit bigger or not.  I quite like the big-head look but not sure if its too odd?! Any thoughts?

 I had a little voile left over after making my skirt a couple of weeks ago.  I don't really have anything in the way of a pretty bag and had spotted this pattern on uhandblog and decided to have a go.  I love the bag - all I need now is an occasion to use it!

 And my long-awaited superbuzzy order arrived.  This Nani Iro double gauze is even more beautiful than I had anticipated..  I had heard it is very soft and it really is (I'm beginning to realise how much importance I place on texture and feel, I knew that was true of yarn, but hadn't realised I notice it so much with fabric too) - I've just finished making a muslin of a blouse as a test run for making a proper version with my Cerulean Blue.

 And these two slipped into my shopping cart as well.  The spot is another Nani Iro double gauze and the birds and bears is Megumi Sakakibara, Hikari - Pale Yellow .  The simplicity (of design and colours) of many of the Japanese designs really appeals to me at the moment.  Its a shame that there's not that much to be found in the UK.

The last two were bought to finish off my selection of fabrics for a baby blanket - for our baby, yay.  I'm really looking forward to putting this together and think I have found/worked out a design for it.