Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Snug as a bug

I often find that the desire to get stuck into some sewing comes as Easter approaches - the weather begins to turn, leaves start falling and last year's winter clothes are looking a little shorter, tighter and just worn!!

I made winter nighties two years ago for Sarah and Alice as an Easter gift with their eggs.  I made them quite long so so they are still wearing them and Hannah and Ruby think they are rather nice! As girls who don't like to wear trousers, unless I use very persuasive language (or a very pretty top), they liked the idea of having a winter nighty too. I like it too - no buttons for getting dressed, one item to put on, one item to wash, one item to hang on the line and less space taken up on the airer in winter. Two pegs instead of the four demanded of pj's. (When there are four little people every little bit helps!)

We are well past wearing summer nighties here. The only winter nighty in the right size was the very first one I made (ie. a not very well-made one covered with pink hippos and known as the 'hippo nighty'!) We had many disputes over whose turn it was to wear the nighty and who had to be deprived and have to wear pyjamas. So for the twins it was winter nighties for Easter. Everyone is now happy and after a few nights in their nighties they are happy to wear pyjamas 'just for a little change'.



Sarah and Alice didn't miss out. I made them flannelette pyjama bottoms and bought a fresh long sleeve top from Big W (they are sooooo handy and cheap!) to go with them. This was an idea I got from the very productive and clever Mel - makes it a quick and easy project, and still a good price! However, when taking these photos, the older girls were dressed for school and their pj's were in the laundry with a little dinner stain and toothpaste on them. Next time!

Friday, April 16, 2010

Bon voyage little friend

Earlier in the week I finished off my pin cushion for the swap organised by the clever Kate at Fox's Lane. It was great fun coming up with an idea, suitable colours, materials and design. Even better was being able to finish a project so quickly as it was nice and small and straightforward. I'm sure it's got nothing to do with having a deadline looming and there being someone, somewhere, expecting it to arrive soon!!! Pink and green was the first decision I made - the rest came over a few cups of tea. (Hence the photos in front of my tea and coffee canisters - I wonder how many cups of tea each of my projects represent?) Now it is flying high over land and sea to it's new home. Hope it's new owner likes it!




While I was hand stitching the opening, my new pin cushion arrived from the US - very pretty and sweet, Trish. My, what a lot of work you put in! My girls just love it. Thanks to everyone involved - it was lots of fun. I'm already looking forward to my next swap!

Today was a home day for the twins and I; boy do I wish we had more of those! School trips to and from, but then every other minute spent playing and resting at home. Just what 3 year olds are supposed to do, at least a few days a week. We pottered, planted, dressed up and played, enjoyed a lovely storytime and lots of chatter! In between there was lots of washing (I got to the bottom of the peg basket!) and a good kitchen scrubbing.

We took out the last of the petunias from under the clothesline - it's time for pansies now - and the girls saved the last flowers from the spindly little bushes. Amazing how healthy the flowers were on such weak, shrivelled plants! Hannah wanted to use an empty plant pot she found outside as a vase in the kitchen - we decided the holes were a problem (!!!!) and used one of my cute jugs instead.


We have an exciting weekend planned - a lovely school friend coming for a play, an aunty from the North of Tassie visiting with a special friend (!?), and an invitation to lunch for the older girls on Sunday with a family from church. Plenty of homebased goodness!! Quite a bit of baking, some gardening and a little sewing thrown in, I trust.

Be sure to enjoy your weekend - hopefully there will be plenty of homebased goodness at your place too!
x

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Sunday flowers



Just a quick share today with a few flowers - it seems so much of what I have around the house has flowers on it! I'm guilty of being rather partial to all things botanical!

I made this bag some time ago for the girls' rubber collection which is steadily growing. The back is made with dark navy blue cotton - pink and navy blue, or denim, would have to be one of my favourite colour combos. I wonder how old my girls will be when I can no longer dress them in a short or long sleeve pink top with a denim pinny? The older girls are loving their rubber collection and are keen to keep collecting. My 33 year old sister still has her collection of 100 plus rubbers circa 1985 and the girls love playing with them when we visit. My late grandparents were jewellers and travelled a lot for international conferences and tours during those years. They always brought back rubbers - many from Japan, France and Hong Kong. Hopefully, the girls can collect a few special ones too!

Sunday afternoon was a very relaxing affair this week. The girls are always fairly tired after church in the city and a late lunch so they enjoy some quiet time doing some craft, playing board games or reading. This week Alice took herself off outside for a wander on her own, scissors in hand, to cut some flowers for the table. The weather was not pleasant but she rugged up and was so happy out there chatting away to herself!

Sarah wanted to paint a rock we had picked up on our walk along the river at Taroona on Friday. So she got the 'painting okay' from Mum (which is not always forthcoming!!!!!) and set herself up to paint away. She came up with a lovely design, with a flower, and it has been on our dining table ever since. Needless to say, Alice wanted to paint when she got inside, but she did hers on paper. By the way, the twins were having a sleep while all this was going on! A late Saturday night out was the culprit and the result a very quiet afternoon! It's been quite a while since their last one - they are generally too busy having a party in their room for day sleep!

Here's the result of the girls' little activities. Rather pretty, I thought.



I've been busy finishing off my pin cushion for Kate's swap and will share photos tomorrow. (Pink and green would have to be one of my other favourite colour combinations!!)

PS This wasn't as short as I thought it was going to be! Not like me at all :-)

Friday, April 9, 2010

An Easter blog break




How wonderful it's been to have everyone home for the Easter holidays. No rushing, no long days at work and school and no lunches in the morning!! We stayed home for a change and have spent lots of time gardening, bike riding, dog walking, sewing, crafting and playing. The kids have spent long spells outside - on the trampoline, in the apricot tree and on the bikes. We went for a lovely walk along the Taroona Foreshore track today, seeing the Derwent from a different perspective and it was just gorgeous.


The weather here has been wonderful, only a little rain, and so nice to have the sun not so strong and hot. Very pleasant gardening weather - fruit tree planted, japanese maple planted, pruning and hedging done, giant liriope divided and planted, orchard weeded and pea straw spread. Is there anything more fulfilling??? My dear husband bought the best authentic, recycled railway sleepers (complete with huge steel pins) for the edging around the swing set. Half the price of new sleepers and look twice as good.  Just how good is that? Now we just have to top up the fine pine bark.


The highlight for the older girls was their first trip to the Theatre Royal here in Hobart. Their Easter treat was going with Daddy to see The Wizard of Oz on Easter Tuesday. (Thanks Grandma and Grandad - a good use of your gift, we felt). They were absolutely enthralled, taking in everything from beginning to end. They have never reacted to a movie, performance or outing like they have to this one. As a music teacher, sometimes Pete's standards are fairly high but he was very impressed. So much so he said I had to go myself. He felt guilty that I wasn't there on Tuesday. How sweet is that? So I did and it was great. What a talented bunch we have here.

With all our busy-ness, I haven't been taking photos of our sewing and activities and now the Easter present sewing is in the wash! But tomorrow I will be getting back on track and will show off our creative pursuits.