Holiday list - part 2

Ed: Just popping back again quickly.

I've just found a draft of the last post I worked on in early 2011. It seems I never finished it but I think it's still worth sharing, despite being 11 months old now!!! What a lot of growing these girls have done since then. 

Then today Alice had her turn in choosing an outing. She requested a picnic at the Botanical Gardens in Hobart. It was just the thing. Lots of space, warm weather, peace and quiet, things to look at and exercise to wear us out. It was our last day of holidays before school went back. Daddy has just gone back to work to get ready for his little people returning to school. It was a great way to end the holidays (and wear 3 of Mummy's summer dresses again before the warm weather ends). 

The girls took notes on the names, colours and flowers of the plants they saw. Trust my girls to turn it into a literacy exercise. Just love their creativity and passion to learn new things.

Then it was time to throw leaves in the air and cuddle your sister.

Ed: Looking forward to more summer days like that one.

x

Loving Summer sewing

Maybe it's the feeling of a new, fresh year that inspires. Maybe it's the pleasure of indulging in my favourite things after the busy-ness of getting ready for Christmas. It's quite likely that it's all about school holidays - the desire, time and opportunity to get lots of craft and gardening done.

Today was all about getting out the machine and a WIP from last year. I'm determined to get it done, and soon. It's a great project to use up the scrap heap and the kids just love seeing all the fabric strips and remembering where they all come from and what they were used for.

I came upon this string pieced quilt pattern in blog land about 12 months ago and knew I'd have fun with all the colour and the chance to use up lots of leftovers.

I found a tutorial on a string quilt over at loft creations and set to cutting oodles of strips from the scrap stash. Then I bought myself a white sheridan sheet for a few dollars at the op-shop for the squares that the strips are sewn onto.

This is the progress to date. Sadly, each time I get it out, I iron the strips, make a few squares and then it gets packed away.... too well packed away because I forget about it and get busy with other things. Sound familiar?

But, with weeks of holidays still ahead, it's not going to happen this time. It will, at least, be a completed quilt top in the very near future. At the moment, I'm aiming for 14 more squares, and then I'll see if I'm done with it or not.

Hope you're finding a little time for the things that make you smile.

x

Parties and pretty dresses

We're in for a big weekend here. But, thankfully, a pleasurable one.

Unlike my in-laws in Ingham, in far North Queensland. They spent Thursday night huddled between mattresses in their bathroom.   They were among some of the more fortunate in that there's been no damage to their house or yard.

But with no sign of power being reconnected and now rising flood waters, they are far from comfortable. The 2009 Ingham floods isolated them and flooded under the house, reaching levels a long way up the back steps. The decision some 43 years ago to build a high house has certainly paid off. More than once.

We are praying that things improve, and soon. And for all those who've lost so much, we are also praying that they get the support and assistance they need. How can we not be moved by such devastation?

But on a lighter note I thought I'd share some photos and sewing with you.

It seems it's a season for milestone birthdays here. First, my father in law's 70th birthday which we celebrated here in Hobart. The girls all got a new 'Mummy' dress made in time for the party. We enjoyed a lovely meal at Mures Upper Deck on the wharf. If you know Hobart, you'll know it's quite the position for celebratory dining.

Hannah and Ruby got a little peasant style dress with Mummy's first shirring around the chest. Thanks to Julie at Narioka and her shirring tutorial, I was brave enough to have my first go.

This photo was not staged. They were taking in the scenes of boats in Sullivans Cove. Cute.

Alice's dress is a pattern from Corrie at retromummy, and Sarah's was made using Corrie's pattern for the body, and little capped sleeves from an idea I saw in my travels.

In the days after Christmas, Hobart is just a wonderful place to be. The Sydney to Hobart yachts were still coming in during the night, and the Taste of Tasmania was about to get underway. After dinner we went to inspect the yachts. Can't believe how small (and how huge) some of them were!

My cheeky monkeys.

And here's Mummy and Daddy. Now that Sarah and Alice are taking photos, we actually get photos of us together every now and then.

Well, now for this weekend. My Dad's turning 60 and there's quite the celebration, let me tell you. All my sisters, partners and family together. Everyone's excited but there's still lots to do so I must be off. 

Will fill you in soon.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend. And for all those who have been so affected of late in Queensland, let's take nothing for granted. Power, water, mobility, food. Just to think of the amount of food lost from people's freezers and fridges is bad enough, without even beginning to contemplate the destroyed homes. For us, it's a chance to renew our perspective on our every day life. And for those of us who believe, to pray. Bye for now. x

The finished product(s)

 So here's a little selection of what I worked on in the lead up to Christmas. Deciding to make the majority of Christmas presents for those on my list was easy. Coming up with the right ideas and the right amount of time to get it all done was less so! But it was so much fun and kept me from falling asleep in front of the tv night after night.

These bags are for one of my sisters. She travels quite a bit for work so the idea was to use these for packing all those small essentials of clothing and toiletries to make things a bit easier to find. I just love making these bags - hopefully she'll be able to use them.

Are men difficult to buy for, or what? This document wallet is for one of my brother-in-laws, who in fact is an AFL (Aussie Rules football) Essendon supporter, hence the black and red. My Collingwood-mad children are unlikely to forgive me for this for some time. They could not believe I would encourage support of the Bombers in any way!

The two black pockets are for keeping anything special in one place. I thought maybe upcoming event tickets, vouchers, train passes and so we added a cinema voucher tucked away inside. The pattern is from the very clever Anna Maria Horner. I'm sure I'll be making another one, one day.

This little bag was lots of fun. A great way to use up scraps (and that's always good!). It's a little sewing kit for my sewing-keen sister, set up with everything she might need for a session with needle or machine. Again, I found the pattern online at Mackville Road, a great little sewing bag tutorial. I used a few different fabrics for a bit of interest and used wool felt to make little pin and needle books stitched inside the top flap.

New cottons, tape, pack of pins, needles and embroidery scissors and it's all set to get to work. I dare say, that even my non-sewing-keen sisters could do with one of these! This year's birthday present, I wonder?

This toiletry roll was for another sister, and was based on the pencil rolls I made for my girls and their school fair a couple of years ago. It's basically just a pencil roll with dividers for tubes and lipsticks rather than pencils and textas.

As she has lots of client lunches and dinners straight from work, I thought this would be a handy little bag for her to have at work. It's got nearly all the essentials a girl could need to freshen up.

Now this one was very easy.  Two pillowcases for my grandmother, in her favourite colour, to go with her gift (my sisters and I bought her a slow cooker, which it seems she is very happy with). She has just had a bedroom makeover done, so fresh pillowcases seemed just the thing.

And this is what took the most time, but as quilts go, it was rather quick! One pack of charm squares (with two squares added from my own stash) and fresh, white borders to set it all off. It was lots of fun putting it together, and although it's not perfect, I was pleased with it. Mum loves it, which is the main thing, and the colours and prints suit her house and garden rather well.

Somehow though, in all the busy-ness that is Christmas, I've missed out on getting photos of at least 4 things I made: three different bags and pyjama bottoms for my brother in law. Never mind though, they are settled with their new owners now, hopefully earning their place!

Oh, and if you were wondering, no I didn't knit the white blankets laid out in these photos. They were made by my grandmother for Hannah and Ruby when they were born. I just love them and can't imagine not having them around and using them, no matter how old the girls are. When they're made by your great grandmother, I guess they're not your ordinary baby blanket, are they?

Three, or four, bags full

Just a little more Christmas present making to share with you.

More little bags. These are small, simple bags using up a few scraps I had. Love it. They've got chocolates inside for now. I'm sure one day soon they'll find a new purpose in life.

These are a Christmas and farewell gift for the twins' Bible Study teachers on Tuesdays. The girls will be at kinder next year on Monday and Tuesday so won't be going back to our CBSI group. Thanks so much to Mrs A, Mrs W and Mrs A. You've taught the girls so much and they've loved every minute of it.

And a little Christmas and thank you gift for Sarah's piano teacher. Her effort and creativity is just wonderful and Sarah loves her time with her. This leftover music fabric seemed just the thing.

There's been a flurry of creativity from the girls here tonight. Think paint, brown paper and fun.

Will share their efforts tomorrow.

Take care till then. x

Let the festivities begin....

And so begins the month of Christmas! Our first year using our advent calendar in full. Last year I only began making it around the 1st of December. It saw a couple of weeks worth of December but we're excited about giving it a full workout this year! Saw a few versions like this on line so set to making our own. Think I need a number or two in the last couple of lines, though.

With the 1st of December arriving it was out with the Christmas tree and all our little December treasures last night. Daddy was at school late for a production so it was serious 'girl business'. Christmas music up loud, decorating when we should have been eating dinner, eating when it was the normal story time.

We deserved a leisurely evening! Since 2.45 this afternoon we had done 10 single, one way trips in the car around our town plus suburbs - supermarket milk run, school pick up, piano drop off, home, piano pick up, home, Guides drop off, home, Guides pick up, home. We certainly missed Daddy helping out tonight! He was home in time for cuddles though before bed at 8. I had a chat with Daddy while he ate our homemade egg and bacon quiche (it was good!), washing in, fed dog, a shower, then down the road for our gospel community gathering for church. Pete normally goes but justifiably needed some home time. I was just happy not to have to drive far.

Off now for a little Christmas shopping while the girls are at school and Puddleducks. Hopefully, that list will get a few ticks today!

Being a little sustainable

There's been another couple of finished projects here this week and I'm feeling very happy with them. I've finally started using the vintage sheets I've been collecting and came up with some summer pyjamas for Sarah and Alice. We went with 3/4 bottoms for the many mild Tassie evenings but we've talked about making a pair of shorts as well for variety and hot nights. They chose the fabric they wanted and the shape of the applique. Rather thrifty too - the plain t-shirts were $4.80 at Big W. You've got to love that!

Now, ignoring the creased t-shirt, I think they look rather cute. Sarah told me she is so proud to have such a sustainable Mummy! (Science has been her favourite this year!)

Now ignore the weeds in the paving - aaahhhhh!

Alice is enjoying our Pierre de Ronsard rose now that it's flowering - how cute does she look?

Alice's applique you might ask? Well, she wanted a love heart and that's what she got, but at this time it was sporting a tomato-based stain from dinner. Will share that another day!

Now that we're having some lovely, warm and sunny evenings the girls are loving going outside after their bath or shower. This was a favourite thing for me growing up. The promise of a play on the trampoline in a nighty has worked wonders getting the twins into the bath! And a play before dinner, or between dinner and bedtime, is working wonders in burning up the last of their energy before bedtime.

Oh, I do love summer and daylight savings!

So too, I love realising that all the girls are wearing 'Mummy made' clothes in this photo.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

x

Two little peasant tops

Well here's an achievement for little me - two sewing projects finished in two days. And what makes it such an exciting achievement, you might ask? Two more items of clothing sewn by Mummy without any need for a zip or button hole! Do I need be so fearful of such things? Please tell me that once I try and do it alone I'll wonder what all the fuss was about!

After seeing many little peasant tops and dresses in my blog travels, I've been wanting to make a couple (or maybe 4!) I considered trying a tutorial, buying a pattern online or just making one up when I found...........a neglected pattern in my plastic pattern box - Simplicity 5695. It's actually a pattern for little dresses but I just missed the gathered frill off the bottom to make a top.

I didn't have enough material for two complete tops but the different sleeves serve a very useful function!

The girls are happy they can both wear this floral as they just loved it. Everyone else is happy because they know that rubies are red so - pink sleeves Ruby, green Hannah. Mummy is happy cause she used up more scraps!

   

And the added bonus? It seems that with a pretty new flower top that 'sticks out like a dress' we are happy to wear our jeans.

But now there's a challenge. I have two older girls asking for a peasant top, but this is a size 2-4 pattern. Will I be able to make it in size 7 and 8 without ending up with some very wonky lines and shapes???? A job for another day.

In the meantime, Sarah and Alice have their own treat this weekend anyway. I'm taking them to the ballet at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night to see The Nutcracker. Dressing up with Mummy and being out late for a special night will keep them very happy, I think.

 Here's hoping you all have a lovely weekend too.

Summer sewing

Well the girls and I are off on a little adventure today. No doubt there'll be some serious peace and quiet for Daddy.

 Here's a little of what I've been up to lately - some summer sewing for my big girls. Thanks to Corrie at Retromummy I've been able to make up her sun dress pattern that appeared in Notebook recently. You can still get the pattern on line and it is sooooo easy!

The girls both asked for a swing top first, and they've worn these with a white top underneath and jeans and they look so sweet.

Soon they'll be wearing them on their own with denim shorts - very cute.

The purple floral was material from my Nanna's stash. She made mum a long sleeved 'blouse' back in the 80s with it. Round, self frilled collar and little mother of pearl buttons. You can't quite see the material of the ties - a patchwork style floral/gingham from Spotlight - but it complements the floral so well.

Sarah then wanted a dress in the same pattern. She chose the green trim for the ties. The girls love being able to contribute their own ideas to our sewing. Wearing something they were involved in gives them such a buzz.

Well, there's one more load to hang out and some packing of the car to be done. Have a lovely weekend. Here's hoping it will be a good one for you all.

x

Weekend wonders

A busy but lovely weekend - lots of fun for all our girls

Alice went to Parliament House for a Guides reception, met the Premier, had a chat with him and then ate and enjoyed lots of his food!

Sarah was at her Guide unit's camp Saturday and Sunday and had a ball. They made tables out of sticks and rope at the beach then used them to eat their lunch from. Both girls enjoyed a Guide day on Sunday also, cooking damper on sticks in the campfire. Apparently the hole made by the stick is then filled with jam! Yummmm!

The twins got to wear their new skirts on Sunday and picked flowers after church for the dinner table.

The simple things

I just love the concentration on Ruby's face here - arranging the forget me nots and lavender sprigs in her hand!

How wonderful to find such delight in the simple things!

x

Guides and apples aplenty

Another busy week is wrapping up and I have a decent list to get through today. We've had family visiting, dinner out for me, Daddy out singing in a concert and again in an eisteddfod, Sarah in a piano duet at the eisteddfod, Alice having an xray on her sore neck (which was all clear) and an evening with the pastor from our new church. Throw in all the usual weekly activities and you've got a full diary!

We've had the lawnmower at the doctor, as well as my sewing machine (but at a different doctor!). In it's absence I've been learning to use my mum's machine which she kindly brought south on the weekend. The twins should be in a new skirt each by Sunday.

This weekend is all about Guides for our girls. This afternoon Alice is heading to Parliament House for a reception with the Premier to commemorate the centenary of Guiding in Australia. She was chosen from her little guiding group so she's very excited. How is it she is old enough to eat canapes and drink chilled orange juice with the Premier, and not need her mum or dad? When did she get so grown up?

Sarah is off on a Guide camp tomorrow at the Guide Hall so she is very excited. I need to get out that list and start collecting all the goodies she needs to pack. Alice is off for a play date tomorrow with one of her lovely friends from school.

Then on Sunday all the Guide groups are spending the day at the Hall for a 10/10/2010 'Flying the flag' day so Alice will meet up with Sarah and have the day together. Wow.............I think there'll be an early night on Sunday for a few little people here!

Friday has become the day for our fruit and veg trip to Merediths at Margate. The prices and largely local produce are terrific! I picked up some overripe bananas for 50c so the twins and I are making our favourite banana cake. Royal gala apples were $1.50kg, bananas $1.50kg, pears $2.00kg and 1kg bags of carrots $1.95. I also grabbed this box of granny smith apples for $2.50 - there's heaps in there so I'm pulling out a few apple recipes this weekend. Should be fun and yummy!

Have a wonderful weekend, whatever you may be doing.

I'm off now to get through that list!

x

Dorothy and Goldilocks

For weeks now, the characters for this year's Book Week have been chosen and planned - fabric bought, props chosen, styling decided on. Since seeing The Wizard of Oz at the Theatre Royal over Easter, Sarah was set on being Dorothy. Alice was keen to be a cute Goldilocks, her costume being copied from a favourite version of the well known tale. 

And so it was that I started sewing on Tuesday afternoon, just in time for Thursday's Book Week assembly. I'd spent the morning at Bible study, the twins and I had lunch and then I started cutting in to lots of blue gingham. To earn this little sewing session, I had to have empty dirty washing baskets and everything was to be on the line drying. After two evening sessions of sewing, the girls had their costumes finished and ready for one of their favourite days of the school calendar.

I didn't have a pattern for either the dress or apron so it was a case of trial and error and being a little creative here and there. (ie Sarah's bib has no button holes - the straps are sewn as in the apron and the buttons are 'for looks'!) One day I will overcome my fears and learn to make button holes. Alice's apron was a little big and the bib too wide but Thursday morning was too late to do anything about it! At least she can wear it for some baking for the next few years.

For the first time I did rag curls and thankfully they came out well. I followed a tutorial from Mel using freezer bags and it was easy. Having said that, the last batch of curls I tied were better than the first few. I think Sarah wants to try it for a bit of fun one day soon, so they should get even better!

Now the weekend is here: one girl to a birthday party, a Saturday night spent babysitting for a family in our club and Sunday morning church. Hopefully some early spring cleaning and tidying, a walk with Jack our four legged mate and a little resting too.

Have a lovely weekend, hopefully with a rest here and there.
x