Time is of the essence! It's a saying my mum used to use so many times when I was a child. She'd say it to make us hurry up if we were running late or to finish off something so that we could move onto the next task of the day (or evening).
I am currently using it because it is just so precious and I seem to lose time where ever I go these days.
Take for instance the sudden realisation that it has been SIX MONTHS since my last post! Honestly! This was not supposed to happen.it wasn't intended, yet it did! How on earth am I supposed to keep people coming back to my blog if I let the time lapse?!
It isn't all my fault.
We had a dreadful season last year. Our harvest started very early - October is early! We had so many breakdowns it was not funny! And we averaged very poorly. With only 110mm for the growing season, it was a miracle we had anything harvestable! Yet we did and for that we are very grateful.
In November, I had a few trips to the city with my children, to prepare my eldest daughter for boarding school.
We had the end of the year and my 40th birthday.
And then my husband had an accident three days after! So we spent a week in the city by his bedside, meaning the biggies had to take that time from school.cAnd while we were there, Chloë took her first steps!
We do not have supportive family members living near us so I had no choice but to take all three of them with me. I couldn't leave them even with friends!
Bottom line is he is alive and his arm is healing, although very slowly. I still have to drive him around but we hope to have him legally driving again as soon as we can get to see an occupational therapist.
With that, Christmas came and we had visitors in the form of my sil, bil and niece. They came for another reason and this was to inter the ashes (finally) of my fil who passed away from Bile duct cancer in November 2014, six weeks before Chloë was born. This happened the day before our baby girl turned one year old. I still haven't made her birthday dress but we managed to have a little celebration for her with our guests.
January brought lots of trips to the city to ready our eldest for her life away from home. I was too busy to stop and think and process my feelings, until the week before we had to take her to school. I cried and cried! I was happy and excited for her and all the opportunities that she would be exposed to. But at the same time I was grief stricken. My thirteen year old was going to be away from me and I would only see her periodically. It saddens me still to think about it even though her schooling will improve because they actually care about her wellbeing and her education. It is the best place for her to finish her education at.
So February whizzed by and here we are now in March.
We have just enjoyed long weekend which was also the midterm break for Imogen. So we stayed in the city after being there for the week anyway, seeing as Murray had another appointment to attend.
Noah had a work pack to complete by his teacher to try and keep him up with the schoolwork and we managed to get to have some family time also.
So we are now brought up to speed and so now we can possibly continue on and catch the time before it runs away again.
Thursday, 10 March 2016
Tuesday, 15 September 2015
A puppet show at playtime
This wasn't meant to happen! Two really great patterns but basics in some ways were put together when it wasn't really intended.
I made the playtime leggings a while a go, in a 6-12 month size because Chloë was beginning to move around and she needed something simple to wear. These were just the thing. I made a few in plain colours (mostly shades of pink) and then I found a remnant of Hilco stripe I had in the stash for a little while. I couldn't resist!
The intention was to make a playtime tunic to match but as yet it hasn't come to fruition.
The Puppet show tunic on the other hand, was started just prior to the Monochrome project challenge being organised on the Oliver and s forum. I thought it a perfect piece to crack on with and include with a pair of shorts in black. Alas, the top is the only piece in that duo that is actually done! It is made using cotton with a raised windowpane type pattern. It was horrendous to sew the buttonholes onto but it is just so pretty, I couldn't help myself!
So, the pairing of these two items of clothing came about due to a lack of washing being done! I hide my head in shame! But let me justify my actions by saying, three kids with illness and running around after a very busy husband had me behind the housework ball and consequently, I dropped it. I had to drop something and it wasn't going to be the kids!
So with nothing decent to wear and with the weather a bit warmer, I had to put the two together. It's cute and practical but in my opinion slightly mismatched. One day I will team them with their proper partners. But for now it will have to do.
I made the playtime leggings a while a go, in a 6-12 month size because Chloë was beginning to move around and she needed something simple to wear. These were just the thing. I made a few in plain colours (mostly shades of pink) and then I found a remnant of Hilco stripe I had in the stash for a little while. I couldn't resist!
The Puppet show tunic on the other hand, was started just prior to the Monochrome project challenge being organised on the Oliver and s forum. I thought it a perfect piece to crack on with and include with a pair of shorts in black. Alas, the top is the only piece in that duo that is actually done! It is made using cotton with a raised windowpane type pattern. It was horrendous to sew the buttonholes onto but it is just so pretty, I couldn't help myself!
So, the pairing of these two items of clothing came about due to a lack of washing being done! I hide my head in shame! But let me justify my actions by saying, three kids with illness and running around after a very busy husband had me behind the housework ball and consequently, I dropped it. I had to drop something and it wasn't going to be the kids!
So with nothing decent to wear and with the weather a bit warmer, I had to put the two together. It's cute and practical but in my opinion slightly mismatched. One day I will team them with their proper partners. But for now it will have to do.
Monday, 14 September 2015
A quilted bedtime story
Chloë uses a sleeping bag to sleep in but it is not easy making sure she is warm all night without a few changes during the night.
When it gets below 18 degrees celsius, she is supposed to have a sleepsuit with padded arms. We don't have one of those!
I had always wanted to try adapting a pyjama pattern to accommodate padding in the sleeves. So after making a pair of bedtime story pyjamas and finding them very straight forward, I decided this was the pattern to use in my experiment.
I used some left over battig from some finished quilts to make the sleeves. I used the flannelette print for the top and another plain colour flannelette for the underneath and sandwiched the batting inbetween. The sewing was just straight lines, nothing fancy.
The result is a warmer pair of pyjamas!
When it gets below 18 degrees celsius, she is supposed to have a sleepsuit with padded arms. We don't have one of those!
I had always wanted to try adapting a pyjama pattern to accommodate padding in the sleeves. So after making a pair of bedtime story pyjamas and finding them very straight forward, I decided this was the pattern to use in my experiment.
I used some left over battig from some finished quilts to make the sleeves. I used the flannelette print for the top and another plain colour flannelette for the underneath and sandwiched the batting inbetween. The sewing was just straight lines, nothing fancy.
Because the sleeve is basically a rectangle it was very simple to put together.
The result is a warmer pair of pyjamas!
Sunday, 13 September 2015
Dressing up baby!
We went away for the weekend at the beginning of August, to a place called Narrogin. It took seven hours to get there and the kids all travelled really well. We were expecting it to be colder than it was but thankfully, we packed appropriately for the weather.
It was a great excuse to dress up the baby!
It was a great excuse to dress up the baby!
Catching up
It's been a while since I last checked in. So let me fill you in on what's been happening.
Firstly, it finally rained.
This is the view from my sewing room. Perfect sewing weather doncha think?
Secondly, we expanded our taste sensations
Chloë is tasting avocado in this photo but unfortunately, we suspect an intolerance due to an ezcema flair up. We are yet to try again.
Thirdly, we became a sitting up and moving around baby who loves to pick up threads and play with the ironing board wheels.
Firstly, it finally rained.
This is the view from my sewing room. Perfect sewing weather doncha think?
Secondly, we expanded our taste sensations
Chloë is tasting avocado in this photo but unfortunately, we suspect an intolerance due to an ezcema flair up. We are yet to try again.
Thirdly, we became a sitting up and moving around baby who loves to pick up threads and play with the ironing board wheels.
And lastly, I have been sewing
and sewing
and having a grand time!
Friday, 26 June 2015
Kids clothes week days 3 and 4
And so it continues, my frenzied but favoured and very much looked forward to time in the sewing room. This week I am on a high with the commitment to join in sewing Kids clothes for one hour a day for the whole week.
I cannot, I confess, sew for just one hour! If I am in for one hour I am only just getting started and would be most displeased to be pulled out of my creative zone before another hour is up. This is why I decided that seeing as I finished off the pants I had started on Wednesday, I would bog myself down and finish from the start, another item of clothing. Enter the Afterschool shirt!
I apologise sincerely for the less than professional photos! I didn't "do" photography at school and perhaps I should have!
I decided to follow the "travelling" theme of the week and use some rather precious fabric I had saved from the Children at Play fabric line by Sarah Jane. I had intended on making my son some sketchbook shirts with this but he has grown so significantly that the pattern is now too small for him and at age almost ten, the fabric looks a little too babyish for his tastes now (unfortunately!) So, I felt a little guilty cutting into it and a tiny bit reminiscent of the fact that it was once Noah's choice and I am not sewing for him. But look at the result though. A very cute little shirt!
Once I had finished the shirt I felt ready for something else and was actually starting to panick a little also. Along with kids clothes week, there was also a sew along on the Oliver and s forums which allowed one the chance to enter and win two pdf patterns. So I decided to jump headlong into making the butterfly skirt and it took me all of an hour from scratch.
So all in all a good day's worth of sewing! Chloe has a whole new outfit and I feel like my creative time has been well used!
I cannot, I confess, sew for just one hour! If I am in for one hour I am only just getting started and would be most displeased to be pulled out of my creative zone before another hour is up. This is why I decided that seeing as I finished off the pants I had started on Wednesday, I would bog myself down and finish from the start, another item of clothing. Enter the Afterschool shirt!
I apologise sincerely for the less than professional photos! I didn't "do" photography at school and perhaps I should have!
I decided to follow the "travelling" theme of the week and use some rather precious fabric I had saved from the Children at Play fabric line by Sarah Jane. I had intended on making my son some sketchbook shirts with this but he has grown so significantly that the pattern is now too small for him and at age almost ten, the fabric looks a little too babyish for his tastes now (unfortunately!) So, I felt a little guilty cutting into it and a tiny bit reminiscent of the fact that it was once Noah's choice and I am not sewing for him. But look at the result though. A very cute little shirt!
Once I had finished the shirt I felt ready for something else and was actually starting to panick a little also. Along with kids clothes week, there was also a sew along on the Oliver and s forums which allowed one the chance to enter and win two pdf patterns. So I decided to jump headlong into making the butterfly skirt and it took me all of an hour from scratch.
And here she is!
Wednesday, 24 June 2015
Parachute pants for play
It's Kids clothes week and I have decided that it is high time I joined in. Not that I don't sew, like, all the time! But I just thought it would be fun to actually make sure I made it into the sewing room everyday.
So I made a pair of Parachute pants from the new Oliver and s pattern and I have been using them on Chloe quite often. I felt that more pants were needed so, seeing as the first pair took only two hours to make (including cutting), I decided I would make some to start the kcw experience off.
All three were in the same size as the first (6-12 months) but this time I went without the ties. It wasn't that I didn't like it. I do think its cute! I actually ran out of the ready sewn bias I used in the first pair. So that's why it was omitted.
This pattern is a great way to use up scraps. I bought a metre of the pink fabric and have some still left over even after using pieces to make all four pairs!
So without further ado, here they are!
And here's the pair I made first!
So I made a pair of Parachute pants from the new Oliver and s pattern and I have been using them on Chloe quite often. I felt that more pants were needed so, seeing as the first pair took only two hours to make (including cutting), I decided I would make some to start the kcw experience off.
All three were in the same size as the first (6-12 months) but this time I went without the ties. It wasn't that I didn't like it. I do think its cute! I actually ran out of the ready sewn bias I used in the first pair. So that's why it was omitted.
This pattern is a great way to use up scraps. I bought a metre of the pink fabric and have some still left over even after using pieces to make all four pairs!
So without further ado, here they are!
And here's the pair I made first!
Friday, 24 June 2011
Dance pants and new Pyjamas!
I've been going crazy at the sewing machine since the speech competition is over, trying to make up lost ground on the sewing front. I've become used to hiding in the sewing nook that my poor children have almost forgotten they even have a mum! Until that is when I emerge from the nook proudly showing off my new finished project.
Hopscotch dress size 12 made in Modkid/ Michael Miller interlock and to be used as a winter nightie.
Ottobre #301 t-shirt view B and Sandbox pants made into Thomas pj pants (only because I don't have a pj pattern) minus the pockets and in a size 8.
The children needed also a decent pair of stretchy pants to dance in when they have weekly classes on Monday. So I used the Nature Walk pants to make these "dance pants" out of stretch fabric.
Team these with the Ottobre #301 top view B in Red and the Hopscotch top in red and we have our winter dance uniform covered.
Now maybe I can get on with other things on the list, like more t-shirts for the boy and the much needed Sandbox pants in corduroy for the boy and in black tracksuit fabric for miss 8 for school.
You'll have to forgive the lack of photos as my computer doesn't like doing as it is told at the moment - the photos come out sideways when they have already been flipped to the correct position.
Hopscotch dress size 12 made in Modkid/ Michael Miller interlock and to be used as a winter nightie.
Ottobre #301 t-shirt view B and Sandbox pants made into Thomas pj pants (only because I don't have a pj pattern) minus the pockets and in a size 8.
The children needed also a decent pair of stretchy pants to dance in when they have weekly classes on Monday. So I used the Nature Walk pants to make these "dance pants" out of stretch fabric.
Team these with the Ottobre #301 top view B in Red and the Hopscotch top in red and we have our winter dance uniform covered.
Now maybe I can get on with other things on the list, like more t-shirts for the boy and the much needed Sandbox pants in corduroy for the boy and in black tracksuit fabric for miss 8 for school.
You'll have to forgive the lack of photos as my computer doesn't like doing as it is told at the moment - the photos come out sideways when they have already been flipped to the correct position.
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
She won! She won!
Tickled pink and smiling from ear to ear today as my girl made her speech in front of parents, staff and students at our little school. She did really well but was met with some very stiff competition. We were tipping a second but she came FIRST! by one point! The judges said it was because she knew her topic and came across as very knowledgeable - and of course the costume stood her in good stead also.
I had made my version of the Family Reunion Dress as a back up just in case the mind was changed and she wanted to be Minnie Mouse instead but as it turned out she was happy with the Dorothy costume. Never mind, she has a new dress for when the weather warms up now. It will give me time to do the buttons.
Making up for lost time
This week has been rather hectic in our household. I've had a sick child with Impetigo staying at home because he is very contagious.
Thankfully, we have him on stronger medication that will now end the fortnight long sojourn at home and he can go back to Preschool and see his friends. Both he and I are looking forward to that day when he will no longer have unsightly looking marks on his beautiful face.
I have been pottering along with the sewing. I've put aside the first top and sewn the warmer version for miss 8 who has in desperate need of some warm gear. Unfortunately, I don't see it fitting her for long. I made it in a size 12 but the fabric is quite thick so maybe this is the difference.
I will endeavour to get on with the other three when I have the time to do so. There are other things more pressing though from the list and some that weren't included at all.
Miss 8 has been chosen to be in the finals for the year 3 speech competitions at school. Her subject is "Dress-ups" and she has asked me to make her a costume so that she can be "Dorothy" from the Wizard of Oz. Easy fixed! I will just use the Music Class blouse in white cotton and the Music Box Jumper in blue and white gingham and we'll have our costume.
Thankfully, we have him on stronger medication that will now end the fortnight long sojourn at home and he can go back to Preschool and see his friends. Both he and I are looking forward to that day when he will no longer have unsightly looking marks on his beautiful face.
I have been pottering along with the sewing. I've put aside the first top and sewn the warmer version for miss 8 who has in desperate need of some warm gear. Unfortunately, I don't see it fitting her for long. I made it in a size 12 but the fabric is quite thick so maybe this is the difference.
I will endeavour to get on with the other three when I have the time to do so. There are other things more pressing though from the list and some that weren't included at all.
Miss 8 has been chosen to be in the finals for the year 3 speech competitions at school. Her subject is "Dress-ups" and she has asked me to make her a costume so that she can be "Dorothy" from the Wizard of Oz. Easy fixed! I will just use the Music Class blouse in white cotton and the Music Box Jumper in blue and white gingham and we'll have our costume.
The Eagle has landed
We have Wedge Tailed Eagles living on our property and occasionally we see them in and around the yards. They generally keep to themselves but when they are hungry .... they will sit and wait and wait some more. This morning I found one particularly large character making a perch out of our little chicken coop in the backyard. Needless to say, the chooks and myself were not impressed.
I did attempt to take some shots but with this marvellous hearing capacity these birds have, he wouldn't have a bar of my light footed tip toe-ing closer to get nicer pictures. So as soon as I was within enough distance, he was off!
I have finally managed after a whole week of running around, to start on the much needed Nature Walk tops. Miss 8 has grown out of everything so of course is in desperate need of something warm to wear when out and about. I started on one of her tops first.
I'm hoping to finish this one and another by the end of the weekend.
I did attempt to take some shots but with this marvellous hearing capacity these birds have, he wouldn't have a bar of my light footed tip toe-ing closer to get nicer pictures. So as soon as I was within enough distance, he was off!
I have finally managed after a whole week of running around, to start on the much needed Nature Walk tops. Miss 8 has grown out of everything so of course is in desperate need of something warm to wear when out and about. I started on one of her tops first.
I'm hoping to finish this one and another by the end of the weekend.
Thursday, 9 June 2011
A creative side to life
I think everyone has a creative side to them. It is just a matter of how you express it, that makes us all unique.
Some people like to dress themselves up in flamboyant clothing while others like to do fancy things in the garden. For me it is stitching and sewing beautiful things, mostly other people's designs but I make them my own with my choice of fabric and embellishments.
This year I have decided to embark on a project that I thought I would have attempted years ago, but as many say, time didn't permit and priorities fell elsewhere.
Well I have finally started this project and that is to make my children's clothes.
Why? You ask. Well simply for the challenge and also to be able to have some control over what they get to wear without having to pay for overpriced, not so good quality garments that could last only one wash because they shrink.
I have an ever growing stash of fabric that up until now, grew and grew and didn't shrink as much. Because of this project, I get to use this fabric that I have collected and very appropriately make beautiful clothes for my children.
Here is the list so far ...
Miss 8
5 Sandbox pants (Oliver + s ) in black for school
2 Sandbox pants in corduroy
2 Sketchbook shorts (Oliver + s) lengthened to pants in denim and corduroy.
4 Music class shirts (Oliver + s) long sleeved and in a size 12
3 Music class skirts - 2 in corduroy and one denim
2 Hopscotch (Oliver + S) skirts - one corduroy and one denim
and at least 5 Hopscotch tops all in Stella Knit fabric with the exception of two in Moda City Weekend interlock.
Nature walk (Oliver + s) pants in black for dancing.
And Nature walk tops as jumpers - 2 of those
Pyjamas which will probably be a Nature walk and Hopscotch combination in Stella knit - probably purple.
The young master (age 5)
5 Sandbox pants in black for school
4 Sandbox pants in corduroy and denim
2 Sketchbook trousers in some sort of winter fabric to which I haven't decided yet.
3 Sketchbook shirts at least
and an abundance of shirts made using the t-shirt pattern from Ottobre Design
Nature walk tops as jumpers - 2 at least
and probably a pair of Nature walk pants to dance in also.
Pyjamas will be a combination of Nature walk pants and Ottobre tops but also using a pants pattern to accommodate some much adored Thomas the Tank Engine fabric.
Some is already done but others are still way way down the wish list. As I progress I will fill you in and share and show the finished (or in progress) products.
Some people like to dress themselves up in flamboyant clothing while others like to do fancy things in the garden. For me it is stitching and sewing beautiful things, mostly other people's designs but I make them my own with my choice of fabric and embellishments.
This year I have decided to embark on a project that I thought I would have attempted years ago, but as many say, time didn't permit and priorities fell elsewhere.
Well I have finally started this project and that is to make my children's clothes.
Why? You ask. Well simply for the challenge and also to be able to have some control over what they get to wear without having to pay for overpriced, not so good quality garments that could last only one wash because they shrink.
I have an ever growing stash of fabric that up until now, grew and grew and didn't shrink as much. Because of this project, I get to use this fabric that I have collected and very appropriately make beautiful clothes for my children.
Here is the list so far ...
Miss 8
5 Sandbox pants (Oliver + s ) in black for school
2 Sandbox pants in corduroy
2 Sketchbook shorts (Oliver + s) lengthened to pants in denim and corduroy.
4 Music class shirts (Oliver + s) long sleeved and in a size 12
3 Music class skirts - 2 in corduroy and one denim
2 Hopscotch (Oliver + S) skirts - one corduroy and one denim
and at least 5 Hopscotch tops all in Stella Knit fabric with the exception of two in Moda City Weekend interlock.
Nature walk (Oliver + s) pants in black for dancing.
And Nature walk tops as jumpers - 2 of those
Pyjamas which will probably be a Nature walk and Hopscotch combination in Stella knit - probably purple.
The young master (age 5)
5 Sandbox pants in black for school
4 Sandbox pants in corduroy and denim
2 Sketchbook trousers in some sort of winter fabric to which I haven't decided yet.
3 Sketchbook shirts at least
and an abundance of shirts made using the t-shirt pattern from Ottobre Design
Nature walk tops as jumpers - 2 at least
and probably a pair of Nature walk pants to dance in also.
Pyjamas will be a combination of Nature walk pants and Ottobre tops but also using a pants pattern to accommodate some much adored Thomas the Tank Engine fabric.
Some is already done but others are still way way down the wish list. As I progress I will fill you in and share and show the finished (or in progress) products.
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