pigeon pair

Ban(d)ana Cowl...

2012-01-19T23:09:00.000+10:30

I currently have far too many incomplete projects on the sticks & while I do plan on finishing them I really needed a quick knit, enter the Purl Bee Bandana Cowl.

I didn't have a 12ply on hand (& I'm attempting to knit through my stash this year) so I decided to knit with two strands of this beautiful wool I had been gifted & unsure what to do with.

It's far from perfect, but it is so soft & snugly, although I can only just get it over my head because my cast off was too tight!

I'm crazy about this colour, looking forward to breaking up my usually black attire with a bit of yellow this Autumn.

Ravelry.

Make...

2012-01-13T23:13:00.000+10:30

Making my first quilt for the year.

Wondering if I'll have a niece or a nephew.

Looking forward to all the joys of a new baby...

without the broken sleep.

Helping....

2012-01-11T14:44:00.000+10:30

She's all about the helping at the moment, I hope the novelty of setting the table doesn't wear off too soon...

Berries...

2012-01-10T14:28:00.000+10:30

Today we took the kids berry picking.

I had planned (but forgotten) to take the kids this Summer, luckily a friend's visit jogged my memory. Unfortunately after a long drive punctuated by cries of 'are we there yet?', from both the kids & myself, we were greeted by a friendly farmer who informed us that their season had ended & the farm was closed. We were however welcome to wander & pick & eat whatever we could find.

Luckily we found quite a lot & we have lots of beautiful fresh berries to enjoy, while they last...

It's Friday...

2011-09-16T13:47:00.000+09:30

I'm in love.

Lucky Hand Warmers...

2011-08-25T12:39:00.000+09:30

A pair of very cosy hand warmers made using Bendigo Woollen Mills Alpaca & the Purl Bee pattern.

I used larger ply then the pattern called for, so they are nice & thick & I lengthened them by a few rows for good measure too. A gift for a friend who shared an amusing hand warmer tale with me, I thought it apt.

For all the details check out Ravelry.

Baby Elephant Quilt...

2011-08-15T21:11:00.000+09:30

Finished, one cot sized quilt.

I can't completely take the credit for this one, my sister & I worked on the top together, rather impressive for her first quilt I'm sure you'll agree.

I really like the colour palette, modern, gender neutral & fresh. I even happily parted with a little of my Elephant stash for this quilt. I think I will need to track down some more of the red fabric though, it's a new favourite.

I used 100% wool batting as I prefer natural fibres & like more loft than the Bamboo provides. I quilted it reasonably close together in organic lines à la Kate, Jacquie & Leslie. I was a bit nervous about trying the organic quilting lines but it didn't take long to get the hang of it & I adore the texture it creates.

The binding is machine stitched on & the quilt is backed with the grey & white polka dots.

All the fabric (bar the Elephants) was from Patchwork on Central Park. Glad this quilt is heading to a special home, I'm a bit sad to farewell it.

Basting...

2011-08-12T12:02:00.001+09:30

A sweet little baby quilt, can't wait to finish it.

Wizard Craft...

2011-08-01T12:43:00.000+09:30

Harry Potter fever has hit the house & I am quite enjoying starting right back at book number one with the six year old.

On the weekend he went to a dress up party as Harry complete with a hand knitted Griffindor scarf. Naturally the scarf was deemed too itchy to be worn for more than 5 minutes, so it would appear to have been knitted in vein, oh well.

He did look rather cute even though I think the glasses made him look like the kid from Jerry Maguire.

More details over on ravelry.

A Lesson...

2011-05-17T22:20:00.000+09:30

In perseverance.

I have cast this cowl on 5 times & frogged it 4. That is over a thousand stitches that I have cast on. In hindsight I am amazed that I kept my cool rather than throwing it up against a wall, but I am very glad I persevered.

As it turns out, that pattern isn't hard, (although quite hard to fix if you make an error, hence the frogging), but it is very slow going. I am completely smitten with the wool which I have loved since a friend used it & I think it is a perfect match for this pattern.

Loving all those teeny tiny fishbones.

Done & Dusted...

2011-05-16T09:39:00.003+09:30

The hot water bottle cover is finished & in circulation. I only used one ball of wool so I didn't have enough to do the rollover neck, but I still like the result.

It's a super easy pattern & the result is lovely & snuggly.

At least one of us is ready for Winter!

Winter Knitting...

2011-05-07T12:02:00.000+09:30

I'm taking a break from the slow burn projects right now. The stars have been put back in their box, as have the granny squares, which at last count stood at a grand total of 48.

I need a super quick project on the sticks & with the weather turning chilly I found just the one.

The cable detail keeps it interesting enough & I should have this little baby ready for action by tomorrow, or tonight if the kids make themselves dinner & put themselves to bed!

The fit is perfect & it looks so snug I think I will have to knit how water bottle covers for the entire family.

Easter Craft...

2011-04-08T22:05:00.002+09:30

With Easter falling at the end of the school holidays we had a flurry of last minute crafting before school ended.

I had the excellent task of blowing out the eggs, by number six I was getting pretty efficient at it, but a syringe would have been handy. After I dried them in the oven, the kids did a wonderful job painting them.

Each egg had a tiny Eater note hidden inside, so some instructions were in order in the form of a little Washi tape & toothpick flag.

All wrapped up & ready to go.

Progress Report...

2011-04-03T19:00:00.000+09:30

I'm still working on the slow burn craft, it turns out the blanket I'm working on is appealing to my inner control freak.

I'm working in groups of 24 squares. Of each group of 24, no two squares are identical. I start by crocheting six circles in each of my fours colours & work from there.

I have been holding off on sewing my first block of 24 squares together because ( I have no idea what I am doing &) I'm a bit worried that the hot pink is a bit overpowering. I definitely prefer the blocks that contain the softer pink, white & grey.

I will have to sit down soon & work out how big I would like the blanket to be, how many squares I need to do & how much more wool I will need to buy!

Slow Burn...

2011-03-07T20:04:00.000+10:30

That's how it's been on the crafty front lately, but just like Aesop's Tortoise I will get there in the end. Just don't be expecting to see a finished Afghan around these parts anytime soon!

The pattern I am using is from Attic24 & I am using a combination of Zara Merino & Wool. All the centres of my squares are grey, white & pinks & they are all bordered with Charcoal.

I'm sure I will be well & truly sick of this colour combination by the time I have crocheted enough squares to make anything of substance. The End.

Made With Love...

2011-02-23T07:45:00.044+10:30

Over the weekend we celebrated my Dad's birthday & the kids & I created some handmade (& practical) gifts to give to him.

Pa is always prepared with a hankie in his pocket so we decided to make him some extra special ones.

I gave the kids the design brief & they set to work. Ryder drew his designs straight on the hankie with a water soluble marker & Willow drew her design on paper which I then traced.

Ryder was very decided about colours to be used, by which stage Willow had lost interest in the project & was playing with her Barbie dolls. In case it isn't clear Ryder drew a Melbourne Football Club jersey & the number 18 next to Pa's name. Willow drew a picture of Pa. I used a simple backstitch to stitch the designs on using 2 strands of embroidery floss & them soaked the hankies in some cold water to remove the marker.

I don't know if Dad will actually use these or not, but I think he was chuffed by the gifts & the sentiment behind them.

Happy Birthday Dad x

Something For Kate...

2011-02-21T07:47:00.035+10:30

It's still very painful to watch & I have a habit of trying to knit with the crochet hook, but I am slowly starting to get it.

After many attempts, this is the first one that comes close to looking like a granny square.

Mant thanks to Kate, for making me try something new, Kirsty for being a very patient teacher, Shannon for not heckling & Pip for writing a book with fantastic instructions!

Finding...

2011-02-19T15:35:00.000+10:30

Half finished projects.

A box full of very colourful hexagons, some even sewn together.

I was about to send them to the op-shop but I decided to hold onto them just in case. Not really sure what to do with them, so at the moment they will join the large assortment of incomplete projects that are neatly organised in old shoe boxes awaiting some spare time. I am estimating that may be in the year 2025...

My Creative Space...

2011-02-10T17:32:00.000+10:30

My creative time has been a bit limited of late, life has simply been getting in the way. I have been trying to eek out little bits of time, waiting for school pick-ups or during the kids after school activities. Those moments of unproductive time are perfect for stitching, so that's what I'm back doing right now.

Today I have been stitching & cutting out lots of beautiful little Liberty diamonds.

I don't dare count how many hexagons I have completed or how many (hundred) more I will need to complete a full sized quilt, I think if I do I will simply give up. However, I am adamant that I will finish this quilt this year, although I have a long way to go.

More creative spaces on display over at Kootoyoo.

A Sea of Silk...

2011-01-22T20:22:00.000+10:30

This year I am trying to finish some projects that I started (read: though about/purchased fabric for) last year. During some recent tidying I came across a shoe box full of fabric that I had been collecting for a quilt. The quilt was inspired by a trip to Kyo on a girls weekend away. It made me think about a Japanese inspired quilt, a soft pallet of greys & pinks using a mixture of cotton & silks.

I started collecting some Liberty & Nani Iro prints (from Patchwork on Central Park) & made the trip to Ziguzagu for some vintage Japanese silks.

I'm determined to start this project while I'm still excited about it, that way it may actually get finished this year.

Ready for Bed...

2011-01-20T16:34:00.017+10:30

Complete. I lovely lace trimmed, monogrammed Linen nightie. The pattern is from this Japanese sewing book, in fact it is the dress shown on the cover, minus the pockets. The arm holes are huge & they gape, but for a nightie I'm not fussed. I had to admit that I cheated & used store bought bias to finished the neck & armholes & I'm glad I did, it certainly made for a speedy finish.

And because poor Poppy has been in need of a nighty too, I made her one to match, monogram & all!

This pattern was super simple, getting a photo of it on the four year old was more challenging. I did my best.

Pattern from Basics for Girls.
Cotton Lace from Patchwork on Central Park
Cross stitch Patterns from bag! bag! bag!
Poppy Doll Pattern from Hop Skip Jump

Starting...

2011-01-14T18:37:00.000+10:30

a new year.

a new project.

on my to do list.

& just plain starting sewing again. It's been a while & my stitching is kinda rusty, but I'm going to call it rustic.

Farewell Noel...

2010-12-29T08:13:00.001+10:30

Christmas is over for another year. The tree is looking dry & forlorn on the nature strip whilst the decorations & stockings have been boxed up once again.

The weather has finally warmed up so I am going to get outside & enjoy it & I will be back in the new year.

Many thanks to everyone who has stopped by this year, I shall see you on the flip side!

And so this is Christmas...

2010-12-25T23:51:00.032+10:30

As days goes, it was a good one.

In no particular order there was beer on tap, Champagne on ice, cricket in the park, an afternoon stroll, Mum's famous pudding, so much good food, homemade bon bons.

The Potato's were roasted in duck fat, the Turkey was wrapped in Panchetta & the Pork crackling was a triumph.

Most of us snuck in a kip at some stage & nobody had to rush off anywhere.

The kids played with their new toys, did chalk drawings on the pavement, blew bubbles in the park & when it got dark (& it was way past bedtime) out came the sparklers.

It was a long, lazy & indulgent day surrounded by my favourite people - a Merry Christmas indeed.

Better late...

2010-12-21T16:49:00.001+10:30

than never I guess.

I've managed to be pretty kind to myself this year & keep Christmas rather stress free. I haven't worried about the things I haven't had the time to do or the lack of handmade gifts for the kidlets or friends & family.

One thing I haven't let myself off the hook with this year is Christmas cards. As a school fundraiser this year we could order the kid's designs are Christmas cards & they have been sitting in a pretty pile for weeks & weeks now. Tonight I will write them, pop them in the post & cross my fingers they get delivered tout de suite!

Christmas Making...

2010-12-07T21:59:00.000+10:30

Today we have been putting together some gifts for the last day of school.

Lots of little candy canes are labeled & tied with teeny tiny bows.

And the kids have been working on some beautiful Christmas cards.

The kids have had a lovely year are school & feeling rather melancholy as it draws to a close, although I can't say I will miss ironing uniforms or packing lunchboxes!

Advent: Day 1

2010-12-01T16:34:00.001+10:30

Yesterday our freshly cut tree arrived & today I managed to find last years handmade Advent calendar & the box of Christmas decorations.

We are lucky enough to have two Advent calendars this year, the newest addition was made by Ryder.

I love his calendar & I can't wait to see a new picture everyday.

I think we will save the tree decorating until Sunday when we can do it as a family, so it doesn't look like Christmas just yet...

but it's a start.

Little Ted...

2010-11-17T07:08:00.023+10:30

How do you photograph a newly completed softie, with the help of a fairy-dress-wearing almost 4 year old?

Do you bribe, direct, plead...

or just give up?

My first knitted softie is done & dusted. He was actually very simple (& quick) to knit & he is nice & soft & squishy.

He has a rather serious, & lopsided look on his face, possibly he is contemplating whether or not I sewed his body the right way up. I'm still contemplating this question myself...

I'm not sure where this little guy is headed, possibly I need to knit him some buddies & keep them all at the ready as baby gifts.

If you would like to make yourself a serious Ted (which I highly recommend), his details are on Ravelry.

My Creative Space...

2010-11-11T07:57:00.021+10:30

I have picked up the sticks again, attempting to knit something I haven't before- a teddy bear.

I suspect that he will be a bit on the wonky side, given that I keep losing stitches mysteriously along the way, but hopefully that will add to his charm.

For more creativity head over to Kootoyoo.

Baby Gift...

2010-11-10T15:16:00.000+10:30

A quick baby gift for a new baby girl.

Obviously not a girly girl fabric, but that pandas are pretty cute.

And I couldn't resist throwing in a taggy ball too.

My Creative Space...

2010-11-04T13:18:00.000+10:30

Trying some random patchwork, something new for me. Cut, sew, iron, repeat!

Completely out of my colour comfort zone too. I'm not sure if this project will make it to completion, but it feels good to be making something.

Lots more creativity to be seen over at Kootoyoo.

At Sixes & Sevens...

2010-11-03T16:07:00.000+10:30

Today I...

Put a load of washing on the line just in time to get rained on.

Pulled all the kids clothes out of their wardrobe & draws to sort through & left them sitting in a heap.

Took about 10* different types of vitamins in an attempt to alleviate a sore throat.

Stood up two beautiful friends.

Realised that we were out of apples (Willow's food of choice) & that the market is closed.

I also had a bit of an epiphany.

For the last few years I have thought that my little crafting dalliances were a bit of fun & indulgence but I have recently realised that crafting is something that I need for my equilibrium. So I have to set about finding some balance & hopefully I will have some creations to share with you soon.

* This figure is greatly exaggerated.

Tasty Sewing...

2010-10-24T17:51:00.000+10:30

I didn't quite mean to take such a long break from this space, & I would love to have lots & lots of crafty goodness to share, but unfortunately that's not the case.

I have been missing my sewing machine, so I managed to find an excuse to use it- sewing menu's!

If you want to hear a bit more about our new venture then you can hop over here, follow us on twitter or of course there is always Facebook.

Gone Fishing...

2010-09-27T16:18:00.000+09:30

Well not quite, but I'll see you in a week...

Inspiration...

2010-09-22T13:26:00.000+09:30

Sometimes a come across a fabric that I fall in love with even though it isn't a colour or print that I would usually be drawn to. This Liberty print was one such fabric. I love all the the animals & am looking forward to the challenge of working a bit out of my colour comfort zone. I hope that with the addition of some shot cottons & a spot or two i'll have the makings of a modern baby quilt.

That's generally the way I plan (& I do use the term very loosely) a quilt. I find one fabric I love & work from there. I wonder if other people work in a similar way or have a system of their own? How do you plan a quilt?

Wrapped Up...

2010-09-18T16:30:00.000+09:30

A pair of microfibre toweling flannels for a friend who's baby is arriving soon. I'm not sure if it's a boy or a girl so I tried to keep them neutral.

More machine sewn binding & I promise it isn't as hard as you think.

These are all wrapped up with something nice for the mum-to-be too.

Ticking Boxes...

2010-09-16T13:22:00.001+09:30

I'm slowly ticking boxes & crossing things off lists, which would be great if I didn't keep adding to said lists too.

This is my completed offering for the Down Under Quilt Swap, organised by Kate.

It was feeling a bit bland so I added a red boarder & binding, which I think sets the linen & neutrals off nicely. I machine sewed the binding on too, a technique I am starting to feel more confident with.

The finished quilt is long & skinny so it is more of a table runner than a quilt, something to brighten up your kitchen table, if my partner is so inclined.

Edited to add: If you want to try machine binding, Rita's tutorial is great, although I reverse her technique so that I catch the binding on the front & (hopefully) stitch in the ditch on the back.

In The Kitchen...

2010-09-13T21:39:00.000+09:30

Not my natural environment, but occasionally I get lost on the way to the sewing machine & have some success.

This recipe comes from by gorgeous & gastronomically talented friend Mish & it was easy enough even for me to pull off. I do love Lemon Slice, so this won't last long in our house.

Pssst.... if you're in Melbourne & want to see Mish in action, you can do so at Prahran Market at 11am.

Round & Round We Go...

2010-09-10T08:45:00.020+09:30

Well, it's been one of those weeks & certainly not a creative one. After everyone took turns being sick, our dishwasher died & I have spent a week on hold to a major phone company in a vain attempt to get them to connect the phone lines for our new business*- and these are just the highlights of the week! All my to do lists (creative &otherwise) are so long it's simple overwhelming.

Here is what I am working on this week, (when not listening to elevator music) some scrappy patchwork. Like the rest of the week it isn't working out as planned, but unlike attempt numbers one & two, it has avoided the bin...

so far.

*More on that another day...

Waffle Placemats...

2010-08-31T06:59:00.003+09:30

Some functional sewing for a change, a set of placemats.

Very simple, beautifully soft cotton waffle bound in linen.

This is the best they are ever going to look, pretty soon they will be covered in pasta sauce & breakfast cereal, but that is the job they are made for.

Until then they look very pretty with my new new linen napkins.

PJ Pants...

2010-08-30T11:18:00.002+09:30

I often save old clothes to up cycle into something new, but rarely to I actually get around to using them. This time when a grown up pair of PJ pants were destined for the bin I got enthusiastic (having recently made a pattern block) & got started.

I salvaged the pocket, which I repositioned once I had cut out the pants & to save time I used the original leg hems.

Ryder is pretty happy to have PJ pants just like Dad's, not happy enough to model them for me though...

Tea & Sympathy...

2010-08-27T16:21:00.002+09:30

After a week of Tonsillitis, I'm finially starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel....

Chalkin' It Up...

2010-08-24T15:13:00.005+09:30

The kids' table was looking a bit worse for wear, so when scrubbing wouldn't fix it I decided it was the perfect project for the chalkboard paint that I had squirrelled away.

After sanding the table I did one layer of undercoat & then two of chalkboard paint, letting each coat dry overnight.

The finish isn't perfect, but it does the job & the table is quite a novelty for the kids right now.

Lots of detailed little drawings being completed.

And chalky mess being made.

Nani Iro Scarf...

2010-08-18T13:54:00.004+09:30

This was so quick it barely counts as sewing.

I bought 30cms of Nani Iro double gauze. Folded it lengthwise (right sides together) & sewed up the sides leaving a gap to turn it the right way. Then I simply clipped the corners, turned it right way out & hand stitched up the hole. The whole process took about 10 minutes.

It's isn't big enough for me, but it is the perfect size for a child & being a double gauze it is lovely & soft.

Another One...

2010-08-17T19:22:00.004+09:30

My all time favourite baby gift, again, although this time with a beautiful chime inside rather than a bell.

Made for a beautiful doe eyed boy, albeit rather late-opps!

I love putting these balls together or at least chooseing the fabric, great scrap busters.

Avoidance...

2010-08-15T14:49:00.006+09:30

I have been doing a bit of trying up in my sewing room this weekend, something that I generally avoid. The upshot has being seeing just what fabrics I have in my stash & getting inspired to use them, but it is rather depressing to remember how long ago I purchased some of the fabric & the fact that I never got around to using it as I had planned.

As a distraction I sewed up a small quilt top without so much a trip to a fabric shop. I enjoyed using what I had on hand & I think the result is rather sweet, & surprisingly pink!

I also found this cute flannel scrap so I rounded the corners, sewed on some bias binding & it's currently in Willow's pram keeping one of her charges warm & snug. Waste not want not!

I have to get back to the job of tidying now, at least until I can find another excuse to sew some more.

Scarf + Hood...

2010-08-13T07:40:00.005+09:30

I made this piece a few weeks ago, but getting a shot of it in action proved more difficult than sewing it was. It is simply a scarf attached to a hood, but it is pretty darn cute & the hood hangs really well when not worn on the head.

The wool is from Tessuti & it is so soft, no complaints from the girl child about the scarf being scratchy. With a bit of creative cutting I even managed to get everything cut out of 40cms of fabric.

This pattern is from this Japanese pattern book, but unlike the pattern I chose to line my hood & I'm glad I did, although I'm not so sure about my lining choice.

Finished Knitting...

2010-08-11T15:25:00.003+09:30

Ok, just so we are clear I have not finished my simple pullover however I have managed to complete another, much smaller scale knitting project.

I started off with the Purl Bee's Rabbit Sweater Pattern & altered it to fit Poppy, as her Princess dress isn't really cutting the mustard in the Wintery weather.

I added a nice big button to finish it off & overall the fit is pretty good, although next time I would make it a bit more snug around her neck.

Ok, I think I need to sew her some pants now...

Library Bag...

2010-08-06T06:18:00.004+09:30

A long overdue library bag for Ryder.

Basically a boy version of Willow's library bag, with the felt letters appliquéd on. It was certainly a lot more labor intensive (& wonky) to appliqué on the block letters, but much more masculine!

The Echino fabric was the perfect weight for this project & I love that the graphics are quite stylized & grown up.

My Creative Space...

2010-08-05T15:48:00.002+09:30

A few projects in the works right now.

A long overdue patchwork ball & the beginnings of a Rufus after a friend kindly parted with some Doctor's flannel. I have plans for the little porcelain pot too...

Lots more creativity over here, thanks to Kirsty.

A Quilt For Willow...

2010-08-02T12:46:00.003+09:30

So Willow's pink quilt (that I started a while ago) is finished & has even been through the wash (& in the dryer) twice in an unsuccessful attempt to remove a strange black splodge. The upside is that it is now nice & soft & crinkly & I'm sure the splodge is just the first of many.

If nothing else this quilt has helped me conquer my aversion to pink.

The back is a Liberty print & as the quilt is 125cm's square I didn't have to join/piece the back which saved me time & fabric. I did however embroider a label for it.

I quilted it in graduating squares & it took me two goes & lots of unpicking to get the quilting finished. I'm still not completely happy with my quilting, but I guess it is all practice.

A spotty binding & it is really for snuggling.

Willow said: I'm so proud of you Mummy.

My Creative Space...

2010-07-29T10:44:00.002+09:30

I've spread my creativity around the house today, as per usual. I'm basting Willow's quilt (for a second time) on our family room floor.

300+ pins later I'm about to start quilting it & all things going well it will be finished & off my to do list this week.

I'm also still plugging away at my simple pullover, but the monotony (& the fact that I still have to knit another 6 inches before things get interesting) is getting me. I think I need to cast on another project so I can alternate between the two.

Thanks to our lovely host Kirsty, you can see lots more creative spaces over here.

Is There a Doctor In the House...

2010-07-28T13:46:00.006+09:30

Willow loves imaginative play & I realised recently that for the child of a mum who sew's, her dress up box is rather lacking.

So when she started playing Doctor the other day I decided a costume was in order. The result is a bit wonky but it was a quick to sew & a huge hit.

Together we set up a surgery complete with waiting room (sans old magazines- sorry toys) & Willow happily spent the afternoon administering medication & sage advice.

She took her role very seriously & I think she looks quite the part too. In case anyone wants to make their own scrubs, I used this pattern.

On The Sticks...

2010-07-19T22:00:00.000+09:30

Over the weekend I cast on a plain & simple pullover for myself. It took a fair few attempts to get started, but I am now knitting up a storm in a desperate attempt to prove that I can knit an adult garment (in less than a year) using 3 ply yarn!

Wish me luck...

The BIG Quilt...

2010-07-18T12:36:00.001+09:30

I started this quilt a while ago. I was pretty nervous in the beginning & overwhelmed by the thought of sewing something so big without a pattern. I certainly learnt along the way that planning is key, as is unpicking sometimes too! Finally it is finished, back from the long arm quilter & after a few nights by the fire the binding is done & dusted.

This quilt was a labour of love, made as a (belated) wedding gift for my sister & her husband. It is times like this that I am so happy to be able to sew & create something that is truly unique appreciated by the recipients.

The finished quilt is not quite as big as I would have liked, but big enough for a Queen bed. The solids are all from the Kona range, the backing & binding are Kona Ash (a firm favourite of mine) & all the prints & shot cottons are from Patchwork on Central park. On the back I have embroidered the date of their wedding & a couple of lines from the song that Dani walked down the aisle to & I even managed to work some of the silk from her Wedding dress into the quilt top.

I think this project have given me the confidence to plan a few more big quilts & given that I was rather sad to see the quilt head to it's new home I think one for us is in order now!

Poppy for Evie...

2010-07-12T12:18:00.004+09:30

Over the weekend I finished a Poppy doll for a little babe named Evie.

After finishing her I realised that I really should probably increase our Poppy's wardrobe, since Willow was quite taken with this new version.

Fiona has done such a great job with this pattern, I am particularly taken with her 3/4 pants & love how they turned out in the linen.

Noticing: Houses...

2010-07-11T11:57:00.002+09:30

I am a bit late on the uptake, but around our house I have been noticing houses. Houses made by the boy child & often found in odd (five year old height) locations.

Stuck to walls & doors, happy little surprises.

I love that each one is different, the tiny one with the wonky orange roof is my favourite I think, although I do like the folded roof technique!

Thanks for the inspiration Kirst.

Alice Quilt...

2010-07-08T13:37:00.003+09:30

Finished, my Alice in Wonderland cot quilt & my very first split nine patch. It was also an attempt at a neutral baby quilt, which I'm giving myself a fail on & crossing my fingers that our friends have a baby boy!

In case I'm not the only one who hasn't made one before, the process is pretty simple.

Make up your nine patches, I made five of them.

Chop each one into 4 blocks & then lay all your blocks out move them all around until you are happy with the arrangement before you sew them all together.

My finished quilts is 4 x 5 blocks, backed with tiny Lecien spots & the binding is natural linen.

Apart from the linen for the binding (which I already had) all the fabric was from Patchwork on Central Park.

Taking A Break...

2010-06-28T22:28:00.002+09:30

From the frigid Melbourne weather & enjoying some warmer climes.

Away for the distraction of sewing projects I even managed to finish a whole book & sitting in the sunshine no less.

My Creative Space...

2010-06-17T08:37:00.002+09:30

I've broken out the stitching to finish Willow's quilt...

and of course there are some freshly pressed stars on the ironing board. The star count is at 13 at present & I've yet to calculate how many I am going to need to make a Queen sized quilt.

Better keep stitching!

Making Lunch...

2010-06-07T12:07:00.005+09:30

With two small kids, lunchboxes have become a big part of our daily routine. Filling them, putting them in school bags, making sure they get removed from school bags. Cleaning them & putting them away, only to start all over again.

Unfortunately we are still on the hunt for the perfect lunchbox & I thought I would post about it in case anyone had already found it. I do have a few requirements that must be met, which rules out the trusty old Decor lunchbox that served me though out my school career & I believe is still in mum's tupperware drawer!

They must:

Be BPA free.

Have the ability to hold a sandwich/roll + snacks/fruit

Not require the food to have any other wrapping, plastic wrap etc...

I don't think that's asking too much!

The first lunchboxes I got for my kids were the laptop lunchboxes. In a lots of ways they were great, nice & sturdy with four little containers for food. They were great for snacks, but just not enough room for a big lunch, in my opinion. I also wished all the containers came with lids, not just one (& the tiny dressing container) & given the cost of the lunch boxes I was disappointed overall.

Next we found the Smash (Nude Food Movers) Lunchboxes & I fell in love. The price was right, there was room for two (!) sandwiches or a roll/bagel, plus separate compartments for snacks & room for a small apple or mandarin, thus protecting the fruit from getting squished in the bottom of the school bag. The added bonus was the two removable containers that were perfect for yoghurt or dip. The big problem with these lunchboxes was that they just weren't built to last. We didn't even get a year out of these which is beyond disappointing, especially given that in every other way they ticked all the boxes.

We are presently trying out a couple of Sistema lunch box styles. The first was nice & solid, but was lacking in compartment, the second was nice & compact & whilst it did have some compartments it wasn't quite big enough. So today I purchased two Sistema Quaddies & I shall report back on their performance. They feel nice & sturdy, they have some compartments for snacks & enough room inside for a roll/sandwich & fruit. I think I will need to make a reusable sandwich wrap to go in them though & the nudie containers will be used for yoghurt!

So my question is, have you found the perfect lunch box & if so what is it? If not, what are you looking for in a lunchbox?

The Pink Quilt...

2010-06-06T07:24:00.002+09:30

I spent most of the past week working of Willow's lap quilt, I had seen this technique over at oh fransson! & was keen to give it a try. In retrospect the technique is designed for a small scale quilt so using the block size that I was (4") it ended up being a bit of a pain, & less of a shortcut then I had planned.

I started off trying to plan this quilt but I the end I cut up lots of squares & lay them out on the floor, moving them around until I was happy with the layout. All I knew was that I wanted to the quilt to graduate from pinks & reds to white.

Thanks to Kate, Tam & Kristine I had lots of pink liberty to put into this quilt which makes it extra special & oh so soft. The rest of the prints are from Patchwork on Central Park. Half way through making the quilt I wished I had used an off white rather than a stark white as my solid fabric but I was impatient to finish & it was what I had on hand. Now I just need to choose a backing fabric so I can quilt & bind it.

Making Plans...

2010-06-01T13:36:00.000+09:30

Not my usual style, but I'm hoping that planning will save me some headaches.

Progress...

2010-05-31T16:31:00.004+09:30

So all that chopping (& sewing) turned into my first ever full sized quilt top. I would love to show you a finished quilt, but it is waiting for it's turn at the long arm quilter.

I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product, although realistically once I wait to get it back (& then find the time to bind it), that will be a fair way off. In the meantime I am playing with some fabric to make Willow a lap quilt, as you can see there will be lots of pink involved, a colour I struggle with, but she loves. Hopefully I can create something that we can both live with.

Inside & Out...

2010-05-23T18:33:00.005+09:30

I've lost count of how many of these balls I have made, I started this one in December when a friend had a baby boy, so when I found it in my to do pile recently I though I had better finish it before he graduated high school!

It's a mixture of cotton & linen scraps with a couple of little ribbon tags & his initials crossed stitched onto one of the sides.

Inside it is full of wool roving & a little cat toy.

Making a Start...

2010-05-15T21:41:00.003+09:30

I spent this afternoon chopping up lots of fabric for a special (albeit late) project.

Hopefully I have something to show next week.

Just Because...

2010-05-14T23:13:00.003+09:30

It's not my birthday (or any other special occasssion) but today this beautiful quilt was gifted to me by a very generous & talented friend Kate.

It's a beautiful mix of blues, greens, grays & browns, really modern & fresh.

It's super soft & snuggley & I plan on spending many hours drinking tea & knitting or stitching with this quilt on my lap. Thank you friend.

Seeing Stars...

2010-05-13T13:41:00.002+09:30

I am constantly seeing stars right now, I am hooked on making them & I take my little shoebox full of supplies everywhere I go.

I am making slow but steady progress on my hand piecing & it's nice to finally work with some fabrics that I have been saving for a while. So far I have 5 finished blocks & four more that are halfway there.

I think the blue poppies are my favourite block so far, but there is some stiff competition.

The Dress...

2010-05-03T15:24:00.006+09:30

Recently my sister got married & I was charged with the very important job of making Willow's dress for the occasion. I think the scariest part was cutting into the silk, it was certainly the most expensive fabric I have ever sewn with & as it was left over from my sister's wedding dress I had a finite amount to work with.

Once I got over my initial nerves (& the zip was in) I really enjoyed making the dress, especially hand sewing the lining in & the hem & I'm glad I didn't send it off to a dressmaker.

I also made Ryder a black linen tie to wear, (using the purl bee pattern that I have used before) & lined it with a scrap of dress fabric.

For the bride I made a garter with the silk & some antique lace I had on hand.

It was such a special night but unfortunately Willow got a tummy bug on the day & ended up missing the wedding completely. After all the build up it was heartbreaking, but she happily enjoyed the buffet breakfast at the hotel the next morning in her dress, so at least it got an outing!

Hand Piecing...

2010-04-21T13:44:00.001+09:30

Earlier in the week I went along to a hand piecing class at Patchwork on Central Park with Kate. I love hand stitching & the idea of hand piecing a full sized quilt is something that's really appealing to me.

Over time I have been collecting pieces of blue Liberty fabric & squirreling them away in a tin. On Monday night I cut into the first piece & began working on a six point star. This is a long term project, so don't expect to see the finished quilt anytime in the near future, but if you would like to get an idea of what I'm working on have a look over here.

Bubbles...

2010-04-18T15:04:00.005+09:30

Perfect Melbourne weather.

Simple pleasures.

And lots of giggles.

Happy Hen...

2010-04-17T15:13:00.004+09:30

Afternoon tea for the sweetest hen I know.

Teacups that were my grandmother & great-grandmother's.

Lots of paper lanterns & a paper doily garland.

It was the perfectly lovely afternoon that ended in an evening of dinner, drinks & dancing. Perhaps not as civilised as the beginning, but lots of fun!

Ending & Beginnings...

2010-04-16T18:01:00.001+09:30

I know it has been a bit quiet round these parts, but that's because there have been some big things going on. I'm not quite sure what the next year will hold for us, a situation that is simultaneously petrifying & exciting, but I am looking forward to embarking on a project of our own.

Meanwhile, in the midst of some most welcome family time I have finished my stormy weather wurm cowl, something that I started to knit for myself, but apparently now belongs to my husband.

Knitting Bag...

2010-04-02T18:42:00.001+10:30

Of late I have been leaving a trail of wool & half finished knitting projects in my wake. I like having a few different things on the go but I find myself getting grumpy when I can't find the things I need & especially when someone steals the pencil I'm using & I need to mark where I'm up to on a pattern. My solution was to make a knitting bag that would hold all my current knitting projects & the accompanying bibs & bobs.

This bag is nice & big & has three pockets inside. One divided pocket for my needle gauge, pens/pencils & small needles, a second pocket for my circular needle set & a pattern or two & a very small third pocket to hold my stitch markers & cable needles.

The patchwork strip includes some appropriate Aunty Cookie scraps, the lining is furnishing weight fabric from Ikea & the bottom & handles are linen. Thanks to some thick interfacing & a layer of wading it stands up well on it's own & the handles make it easy to tote from room to room.

Unfortunately this was one of those projects where everything went wrong. I sewed the patchwork strip on upside down (& that's how it remains), I forgot to sew in the handles, the lining is a bit too big, my quilting is very ordinary & my sewing rather wonky. But even with all those flaws I love this bag & it does just what I wanted it to.

Dish Cloth...

2010-03-29T21:12:00.000+10:30

A cotton/bamboo dishcloth of my own design.

If you want to make a dish cloth of your own you can download the pattern here.

Pincushion...

2010-03-28T12:27:00.002+10:30

Here is my finished pincushion a lá I ♥ patchwork.

I used cotton, linen & wool fabric, a porcelain escargots dish (from the essential ingredient) & pure wool stuffing.

And because this pincushion is for a good friend's birthday I couldn't resist a bit of cross stitch. Happy birthday Kate, I hope you have a lovely day today.

Easter Gifts...

2010-03-26T16:10:00.005+10:30

Little brown shredded paper nests made using this tutorial, thanks for finding it Jenna!

The perfect home for a chocolate egg.

And with the addition of a stamped & handwritten tag, a cute little Easter gift for Ryder & Willow's teachers.

Blue + Bamboo...

2010-03-25T13:01:00.002+10:30

Lots of blue, my favourite colour...

Cotton + Bamboo.

More bamboo...

Japanese linen + Porcelain.

Working on some new projects & planning lots more...

Perfect Day...

2010-03-21T18:50:00.003+10:30

A family trip to Marysville to eat meat pies, stock up on sweets & watch the footy in the sunshine.

A spot of successful fishing.

The perfect afternoon refuel.

Now I need to go to bed as I am perfectly exhausted!

Now We Are Three...

2010-03-19T20:02:00.001+10:30

Finished, my set of three washcloths.

I actually finished them a few days after starting them, but they have been floating around waiting for me to weave in the ends. I'm not sure which pattern I like best, but I do like seeing the different textures together like this. I think I need to procure some more cotton so I can knit a bunch of these to have on hand as emergency gifts. They are the perfect project to have on hand when I am waiting in the car to pick up the kidlets from kinder.

Happy Accident...

2010-03-16T08:18:00.001+10:30

Six weeks ago I started a beginners photography class, a class I should have taken two years ago, but better late than never I guess. I am slowly learning to use my camera properly & taking the time to have a play with settings in different circumstances to get my camera to do what I want it to. Last night I was snapping some photos of Willow in the fading light (& trying to get the exposure right) when this happy accident happened. I love this shot. I know it is overexposed & I'm sure there are a million other things wrong with it but I love it anyway.

Tea Towels...

2010-03-13T20:05:00.002+10:30

A pile of patchwork linen tea towels.

Each with a cross stitched detail, because I do love a bit of cross stitch.

Fingers crossed they stand up to a bit of wear & tear as they are all headed to new homes thanks to Sooz's tea towel swap.

Love & Marriage...

2010-03-12T12:25:00.000+10:30

My sister is getting married & I am excitedly plotting a special wedding gift for her & my soon to be brother-in-law. I can't give anything away yet but I am trawling the internet for good quotes on the subject of love and/or marriage.

Any suggestions?

Back In The Swing...

2010-03-11T15:47:00.006+10:30

Somewhere along the way I lost my creative mojo. This year has been speeding by & I haven't found much time, or enthusiasm for craft. I guess that's life sometimes. With the distinct change of seasons this week I made a conscious choice to start a small knitting project, something easy to snuggle on the couch with. I remembered Jo's dishcloth & though that would be just the project.

This is the first of three washcloths & you can find the details & patterns over here.

It was a super quick knit & the cotton/bamboo blend was lovely to work with, all that's left now is to do is test it out. Oh & if you think my sink looks shiny it is because of this site, which I found via Kristine's blog.

Sew Darn Cute...

2010-03-03T16:52:00.005+10:30

Edited to add: thanks for all the entries, the winner is Julia!

I love sewing books, so I was pretty excited when a new one arrived in my mailbox recently.

Sew Darn Cute by Jenny Ryan is full of lots of lovely sewing patterns, my favorites being the appliqué glasses cosy & the simple cot sized quilt.

There are lots of great (& quick) gift ideas & plenty of eye candy too.

Given that I currently have a bookcase bursting with sewing books I though that this one deserved to go to a good home so it's giveaway time! If you would like Sew Darn Cute to land on your doorstep simply leave a comment on this post & I will draw a winner On Tuesday 9th of March. If you want some more sewing inspiration, check our Jenny's blog.

Neutral Shopping...

2010-02-19T13:29:00.002+10:30

Plastic containers annoy me. Our recycling bin is constantly full of them & I am quietly skeptical about just what that are being recycled into. This year I have made a conscious effort to remember to take my own shopping (& fruit & veg) bags with me when I shop, but I find it hard to avoid a certain amount of packaged products.

I think that's why I got so excited when I discovered a new shop at Prahran Market where you can bring your own containers & fill them up with natural cleaning products. I have started using their dishwashing liquid & laundry powder, which are both great so I am keen to give more of their products a try. It's been good to reuse some old containers & I like the idea that it means a couple less bottles in the recycling bin. I really wish I could buy more products this way.

If you are in the area check out Shop Neutral at Prahran Market.

Same But Different...

2010-02-12T13:16:00.001+10:30

A friend very generously friend gifted me this beautiful liberty fabric. I planned on making the same pattern as the gingham top that I made recently, however after a few goes trying to get the gathers even I cheated & added front & back pleats.

This top has been an excellent lesson in fabric selection & the fact that sewing the same pattern in two different fabrics will result in very different finished garments. The liberty fabric has a beautiful drape to it, but this also means that the pattern needs some alterations to make it work for me.

Basically I need to unpick & start again, which of course I am putting off. I may need to tidy up my sewing room to find my unpicker first.

Felt Appliqué Tutorial...

2010-02-10T09:02:00.003+10:30

A few people asked how I did the felt appliqué on Willow's library bag, I used same the technique for the merry cushion last year so here is a quick explanation of what you need & how to do it.

Firstly you will need:

a computer & printer

sewing machine

wool felt

sewing thread that matches your felt

a needle & scissors

some newspaper

a sharpie marker or similar

basting spray (505 or similar)

fabric to appliqué your felt to

Optional:

a ruler & water soluble marker

The first step is to print out the word you want to appliqué. I used the brush script font, but you could use any font you want. Cut out the word carefully, this can be quite fiddly, but take your time.

Place the word face down on the felt & trace around it with a pen. You can use a marker (or anything else that is easy to see) as you are going to cut the pen make away. Be extra careful cutting out the centre of letters & don't forget any i or j dots!

Once you have cut out your felt place it (still face down) on some newspaper & give it a light spray with some basting spray.

Whilst it is tacky, place it in position on your fabric, you can gently adjust it's position until it is right. If you are worried about getting it straight on your fabric, use a water soluble marker & a ruler to mark a line for you to position it on.

Now it is time to head to your sewing machine. Thread your machine with thread that matches your felt & line up your needle so that it is about 1-2 mms in from the edge of your felt- it doesn't matter where you start. Very slowly start sewing, making sure that you try to stay 1-2 mms in from the edge of the felt. Take your time. Stop sewing, raise your presser foot & adjust your fabric, especially when going around tight curves. The slower you go the less likely you are to veer off the felt. Once you get back to where you started, cut your thread, leaving a tail about 10cms long. Now go back & repeat the process for the inside of any letters that you need to do & any j or i dots.

Once you have finished all the machine sewing take a hand sewing needles & pass all the threads through to the back of your work, tie them off & them cut them so the back of your work is neat & secure.

Now flip your handiwork over & admire...

I hope this tutorial was helpful, i'd love to see any felt appliqué you do.

Library Bag...

2010-02-09T16:40:00.003+10:30

I have been putting off sewing Willow a library bag for the past 2 months. Given that she needed her library bag today, last night I started sewing. I tried to keep it simple, using my favourite elephant print, some printed pink cotton & cream wool felt. Everything I needed to make this I already had on hand, & once I had sewed on the name, it was a fairly fast project.

It passed the test today, transporting home with Willow's very first school library book.

On the Treadmill...

2010-02-04T13:38:00.004+10:30

This has been a huge lack of crafting around these parts, i've been too busy labeling uniforms, meeting teachers & trying to remember gate codes, sports days, school hats & to slather the kids in sunscreen before we leave the house. So far I have remembered most things, due to a complicated series of lists, calenders & reminder systems. No doubt everything will fall in a heap by week 3 when I shall return to being completely disorganised & therefore the mother of the sunburnt kid at swimming without goggles.

It's been a big week with both kids starting kinder, an especially big milestone for Willow. So far everyone is happy & we are getting used to getting up & out of the house early, rather than slothing about. I am looking forward to the dust settling & having a bit of time to myself in the midst of all the drop-offs & pick ups. I have a list a mile long of things I want to do this year, hopefully some of it will pan out.

Here is the one thing I have managed to sew over the past week, a pillowslip for Willow to sleep on at kinder. She chose the fabric herself, originally to be made into a skirt, but I had other plans so it become a princess pillow. Yesterday is actually slept on it so I think it's a magic pillow!

In The Bag...

2010-01-21T13:04:00.000+10:30

I haven't been sewing much over the past few weeks & I currently have a backlog of things I want or need to make before school starts back. With both the kidlets in kinder this year I am trying to be as organised as I can, my new family organiser (thanks kirst) is keeping the family schedule in check but one of the other things I want to do is be more organised when it comes to shopping.

Reusable produce bags have been on my 'to do' list for far too long, in fact the other day I saw these & almost bought some thinking I would never get around to actually making them. I have Martha's post to thank for inspiring me to make some after all.

In the end I found some broadcloth that I thought would fit the bill (although I was after muslin) & here is produce bag #1. I added a tie in case I want to keep the fruit or veggies from escaping & they appear to be sturdy enough to be filled with apples or oranges. It's pretty large too, about 35cms square. I didn't prewash the fabric, so I want to give them a good wash to get rid of any chemicals on them, prior to their first outing but in the meantime I can cross one thing off my list!

Vale...

2010-01-15T19:19:00.002+10:30

Edna Ethel Fowler 1924-2010

Last Thursday evening my mother in law, Edna passed away passed away peacefully with her eldest son Roger by her side. Edna was an amazing, smart, funny & determined woman who had lived with MS (& was confined to a wheelchair) for more than half her life, until a number of strokes finally took their toll.

Edna's life is the stuff of novels & movies, although I am sure given the choice she would have happily avoided much of the drama. She was a child of the great depression, she served in the Army during WWII & lived outback of south west Queenland on sheep & cattle farm during years of drought. Later in life Edna single handedly raised her two sons on a shoestring budget while coping with her own health issues, those of her youngest son & dealing with the prejudices that came with with a disabled, single mother. Reading some of her letters I can tell that it broke her heart not to be able to provide better opportunities for her boys, but she certainly provided them with lots of love.

Edna could be frustratingly stubborn but I think a large part of her personality can be attributed to some of what she had to endure during her life, perhaps if she hadn't been so strong she wouldn't have turned out two lovely sons. Due to her failing health, she spent the last 7 years in a nursing home. Roger & I would often leave a visit with his mum laughing to ourselves about something that she had said or done, after living a very insular life for many years Edna's view of the world could be quite skewed. When she first moved into the nursing home she was in a shared room & one of the other residents was very vocal, shouting out day & night. Edna didn't have much patience for this & one day tipped an entire jug of water over the other resident in order to shut her up. At the time Edna was completely unapologetic about her actions, a classic quote from her at the time was (& I am paraphrasing) 'I don't care if they send me to jail!', she was very tough to reason with.

Edna wasn't very happy with our choice of name when Willow was born, I can distinctly remember he saying 'you named her after a tree!?'. Over the next few weeks when we visited Edna referred to her new granddaughter as 'Wattle', I know it wasn't a deliberate jibe, although I wonder if it may have been a subconscious one. It makes me smile to remember that now, although I don't think it did at the time. Edna never said so, but I think she really enjoyed having a granddaughter after raising two boys & I have a feeling we have her to thank for Willow's stubborn streak.

It's funny how when someone is gone the things that drove you crazy when they were alive are suddenly the things that you miss the most. Recently, as Edna's heath deteriorated I found myself missing her complaining about things, I think it was a sign that she wasn't well, wasn't herself. Being quiet & accepting wasn't Edna's style, she'd had to fight too hard all her life & I daresay acceptance was a luxury she couldn't afford.

I wish I had had a proper chance to say goodbye, even though she was unwell it never occurred to me that it could be our last visit. Although we didn't get to see much of it recently, I will miss Edna's wit especially & that mischievous sparkle in her eyes. Some funny things happened at the service, it's as if Edna had a hand in it. Perhaps in death she is taking charge of some things that were out of her control whilst she was still with us, I like that idea a lot.

Sewing For Me...

2010-01-06T17:47:00.004+10:30

I always plan on making clothes for myself. I buy patterns & fabric, but somehow I never get around to the actual sewing. That is something that I want to rectify this year so I guess there's no better time to start than the present.

This top is based on a pattern from my newest Japanese sewing book, & naturally I made a few alterations. Next time I make this pattern I will use a slightly narrower bias, gather the front & back a little less so the straps sit further apart. Aside from those modifications I really like this pattern, super simple to sew up & oh so comfy to wear in warm weather. I am thinking my next version may be a nice Liberty floral, but I have a few big pile of fabric in my sewing room to sew through before I make any new purchases. And yes Willow & now have matching tops, but she refuses to wear hers so there isn't any danger of us looking like a Comptoir des Cotonniers catalogue gone wrong.

Baby Hat...

2010-01-05T15:47:00.004+10:30

Despite the warm weather, I am back into knitting again, spurred on by a recent purchase, Vintage Knits for Modern Babies. This book is so lovely to look at & some of the projects actually go up to a size three or four, so I may even be able to knit up something for Willow this Winter.

My first knitting project for the new year isn't from the book though, it is a simple little newborn hat. A friend recently had a baby boy & when I saw one lonely ball of gray wool in the discount basket at Sunspun, I knew what I wanted to do with it.

Can't wait to see this little number on a wee babe & for an excuse to knit some more of these.

Nightie, Night...

2009-12-30T19:14:00.003+10:30

I have suddenly discovered the nightie.

Perfect Summer sleeping attire for the girl child now that she has gone all girly on me. I find myself wondering why it has taken me so long to put Willow in nighties, but I think having a boy child first (& a drawer of hand me down PJ's) had a lot to do with it. The best part is that nighties are so simple, cheap & fun to make. This little number started out as the sundress pattern, but I added some pleats & button detailing in the front & once again ommitted the shoulder ties.

The cotton fabric has the tiniest of pink dots on it & is quite soft, making for a sweet & comfy nightie.

I know Willow doesn't really need anymore nighties, but I am fairly certain this won't be the last nightie I will make for her this Summer...

Framed...

2009-12-29T13:31:00.004+10:30

I have finally gotten my little cloud quilt framed after months of it sitting around & gathering dust.

I am in the process of getting a few different prints framed to go on a blank wall in Willow's room & this will be part of the group.

I will post a pic once they are all up, but given how long it has taken me to get this framed I wouldn't hold your breath!

Advent Day 23...

2009-12-23T13:48:00.000+10:30

Activity: Make Plum Pudding with Grandma.

Black & White...

2009-12-22T16:55:00.003+10:30

I was supposed to be tidying up my sewing room (a task I have long been avoiding) when I allowed myself to get sidetracked & whip up this little summer top for Lo. To save myself from a sewing the kind of sewing disaster that occur when I try to make something without a pattern I thought I would use the Oliver & S popover dress pattern & simply adjust the length.

Unfortunately sticking to a pattern is not one of my strengths so by the time I had finished the top the only pattern piece I had ended up using was the yoke. I ditched the ties on the straps & instead of the body of the piece being A line I made it square & added a big fat pleat at the front.

I still need to hem the bottom but Willow tried to rip it off when I put it on her to check the length, so I still have no idea where to hem it. The upside is that it looked super cute on, the downside is that Willow doesn't really want to wear anything I make her right now unless it is pink, Pink, PINK (!) & preferably sparkly & garish. I had planned to make her a bunch of cute shirts & shirt dresses for kinder next year, but I wondering if I should bother, it's really disheartening.

I have lots of gingham left so I think I may just make myself an adult version, at least I won't have to worry about us wearing matching outfits...

Advent Day 18...

2009-12-19T12:29:00.003+10:30

Activity: Have a picnic in the local park, listen to the carols & watch the fireworks.

Tonight our local council put on it's annual carols. Luckily the weather was perfect, so we loaded our picnic basket in our trusty cart & headed out.

The night finished with a spectacular firework display, that some of us enjoyed more than others, but overall it was a really special night out with the family.

Now We Are 3...

2009-12-12T13:07:00.003+10:30

Today we celebrated Willow's 3rd birthday. It's quite amazing how much she has grown up recently. All the brown haired baby that I birthed has gone & instead we have a pink loving, aryan, hurricane of a girl.

Today was a very feminine affair, with lots of little girls running around playing with the sea of pink balloons, colouring in princesses & making sparkly bracelets.

Everyone enjoyed some morning tea & Willow was completely spoilt.

I kept the lolly bags simple, paper doilies stapled to brown paper bags & stamped with each child's name.

I can barely remember life without my little girl & although our tempers often clash (& I do not share her love of all things pink & sparkly) I am very excited about what three will have install for my Lolo.

Happy birthday baby, you are a funny, enthusiastic, iron-willed food lover who is far too smart for your own good!