Linaloo

Built by nervous

Not really refashioning per se, but made from some of the fabric I bought for the big red and white quilt which barely got used. 

And guess what? It fits!! Yay! 

I am still ever-so-nervous about sewing clothes and I figured this top was so simple that I couldn't possibly screw it up ( I did end up sewing the first sleeve the wrong way around and unpicking it - but every good project needs some seam ripping right?!).  I would definitely make this again, the elastic neckline helped me avoid the gaping-at-the-bust, snug-on-the-hips look which I too often achieve with clothes sewing (I'm a classic pear shape). I might even be so adventurous as to add some darts on the next version

A good solid confidence boosting start I'd say.

I'm thinking of a Barcelona skirt next and I would be ever so grateful for any other simple pattern suggestions that you might have.

Camping

This weekend was our first camping trip of the year.  It rained.  A whole lot the first day.  I've never camped in conditions like it before, it was damp, cold and muddy and well, er, wet. My first thoughts were that it was a disaster, especially when there was a huge rainstorm in the middle of erecting our tent (I scooped out almost two buckets full of water that had got in before we managed to get the fly sheet up properly).  But we soon realised the children weren't complaining and that to them the downpour was all part of the adventure.  

It's amazing how viewing life from our childrens' eyes with a bit of tweaking expectations and going with the flow can make a huge difference isn't it?  Day two was spent exploring the campsite, catching bugs and frogging at the river bank and squeals of delight when we almost caught a few! 

Of course there were the ubiquitous s'mores around the campfire in the evening too.  She's a big fan.  Her top three best things about camping are "marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate".  Check out those finger nails!

Day three, the sun came out and there was a trip on the river in a canoe followed by a bit of swimming (ironically only the recently converted hydrophobe really wanted to venture into the murky cold water..) before heading home, tired and content, for hot baths and several loads of very muddy washing.

 

Apart from being eaten alive by mosquitoes, we had a very good time indeed. 

Giddy

 

When I'm thrifting for fabric, every once in a while I catch a glance of something that makes me giddy with excitement.  Last week it was this pillowcase that made me gasp.  I know it's not everyone's cup of tea... but to me it shouted "summer top"!  I used this excellent (and easy)tutorial from Betz White  to turn into a totally wearable item.  I even wore it this weekend to a bbq and my son's soccer match without worrying that someone would recognize it as their old bed linen or a piece of dodgy homemade clothing.

 

It's usually these kinds of thoughts and self consciousness which make me shy away from making clothes for myself, it's just a confidence thing...but I really want to keep going.  So I just happened upon Nikki's wardrobe refashion blog recently and have now taken the pledge to refashion, renovate and recycle preloved items for myself for the next 6 months.

Wish me luck...I'll be drowning in the deep end!

Scorching

It's suddenly very hot here.  Feels like 38C with the humidity factor.  We're spending most of our spare time here: 

 

It's a hard life I know.  Be back soon.

Cracking the code

K2, SSK, K2tog, K3 YO K1 YO K1 WTF? 

Slowly, very slowly, I'm beginning to crack the knitting code.  Pattern here.

Almost summer

 

I can feel it. The weather's hotting up, the pool opens tomorrow and school finishes next week.  We're planning a bit of camping and a whole lot of relaxing this summer.  After dinner tonight we compiled a family wish list for the holidays, here's what we came up with:

• Make lemonade and popsicles to sell in our own stand to passers by
• Learn to play tennis
• Eat s'mores around a campfire
• Go to the beach
• Have 13 picnics
• Swim every day
• Stay up late until midnight
• Go camping
• Learn to read
• Look at the night sky with one of Daddy's telescopes (um, he has 3)
• Have a pedicure
• Eat Boston cream pie in Boston on my birthday
• Play with my invisible pet roadrunner (of course!)
• Canoe
• Take lots of long bike rides
• Pick strawberries 

What's on your list?

Square eyes

 

Thank you for your healthy snack ideas...seems that frozen grapes and smoothies are universal favourites!

So here's Tommy's quilt so far. Not perfectly pieced but I'm sure he won't object.  I don't have a never ending fabric stash, but I do reuse everything I can and that's why the only new fabric for this quilt will be the backing (and even then it will likely be a thrifted sheet if I can get my hands on something suitable).  One of the reasons it's been hard to piece is the mix of different weights, from denim to flimsy gingham and left over curtain fabric to old pillowcases, but I'm happy with the overall effect.

I love how reusing fabric breathes life into a new project.  For the record this quilt is made from:

• 2 Laura Ashley remnants picked up over 6 years ago in the UK
• 2 of my husband's old shirts
• a dress that my husband bought me shortly after we met for my 25th birthday (um a UK size 8, no way I was ever getting back into that!)
• 2 pillowcases,
• some denim scraps from tote making
• canvas from a curtain sample book bought at a neighbourhood garage sale last year
• left overs from the roman blinds I made for Tommy's room when we moved in 2 years ago
• and gingham remaining from Ruby's Dorothy dress.

Not quite heirloom quality, but lots of love and good memories are going into this quilt and that's what will make it special. 

A random list of thoughts

For the whole of June and July I am soccer mom...I don't like that I'm this van driving cliche but I am.  It's ok though, my children are really loving soccer this year. I'm trying to come up with some new healthy snack ideas to counter the amount of junk food tempting us this time of year.  Too many hotdogs and popsicles people!  I'd love to hear your ideas. I'm sewing Tommy a quilt.  I'd said I'd have it done in time for summer..only two weeks to go. This article from Florence written for Sew Mama Sew about feet for sewing machines is very informative and delightfully charming, as all her posts are.  OK totally unrelated picture I know.

Finally, thank you Donna and Sara of Kindred Crafters for my recent awe-summm award. Right back at ya girls.  Their blog is beautiful, go check out Sara's new etsy shop and 100th post giveaway. In return I must tell you seven things that make me awe-summm.  Hmmm.  How about just seven things? Of course I'm supposed to seven more people yada yada yada...feel free to join in dear readers, for you are all awe-summm.  Please can I stop saying that now?

1. My children are children, never kids, for they are baby goats.
2. My part time job has been a bit full time lately.
3. I am the last person on earth to discover Flight of the Conchords.  Oh how these guys make me laugh.
4. I lied to my children about being allergic to dogs.  I just don't want one.  Overheard:  Tommy to Daddy "Daddy, when Mummy dies can we get a dog?"
5. My last name has 15 letters, thank you Greek husband.
6. My children learned to spell their last name by singing it to the tune of "Sur le pont d'Avignon".
7. I have danced on the real bridge at Avignon and nearly passed out shortly after with heat stroke.

Have a lovely weekend!

Summer sewing - made by mama

 

My girlhood memories of summers in the seventies often feature homemade clothing. My mum was a good sewist who made my sister and I dresses, partly out of economic necessity but also because of the enjoyment and satisfaction gleaned from making something for a loved one from scratch. Perhaps this is why I have felt compelled to make a simple summer dress or skirt of some description every year for Ruby. (Tommy however is sadly neglected in the made by mama department for which I have yet to make amends).

As each summer passes I am acutely aware that this may be the last year she accepts my offerings, before casting them aside with embarrassment. I remember when I made my mum knit a sweater for me aged 13 and snubbing the final result, it must have broken her heart. But I accept that making our own choices about clothing is an inevitable part of growing up.

 

I'm usually ruthless when it comes to decluttering but I will treasure these little outfits, despite their amateur construction (several of them have required more than one mending session!).  This year's effort is a shirred sundress made using Erin’s tutorial. From a thrifted pillowcase (I think this kind of goes without saying) which could be best described as "Pacman meets apple circa 1982" I'm thinking.

Another FFO

  Finally finished object that is.

I'm not sure what happened here - Typepad ate half my post - see original post below!

I started making this as a Christmas gift for Ruby’s kindergarten teacher, and here it is completed all most six months later, in time for the end of the school year in just a few weeks.  Back to my old favourite red and linen combination.  I’m suddenly uncertain about whether to give it to her or not (not because I don’t like it, I’d happily keep it) but am thinking that maybe Ruby should have made her something instead of me.

 

I’m sure most teachers simply appreciate being appreciated.  If I were a teacher, I think a simple note of thanks from a student or parent would mean more than anything,  so I wonder do they really like receiving more “stuff” to clutter up their lives?

Oh well, I guess it would always make a nice classroom decoration!