KCWC | Spring Stripes

Did it! Last day today of the Kids Clothes Week Challenge. You should check out the Elsie Marley flickr pool to see what all the creative folk have been making. So, so totally inspiring to see the work of many talented mums sewing for their kids. If only I had the drive to keep this going. Having said this, Friday night DH came home from work and said "geez, glad you don't sew like this every week!". Not sure if you could visualize the mess that our house was/is in (I'm currently trying to get through 6 loads of catch up washing....uuugh). I'm not very good at multi tasking when I have a focused goal. Infact, I have blinkers on and can only think about that one thing - particularly if it is something that I am passionate about!

Anyway, I'm sure the family can cope with it twice a year. Thanks again Meg!

I made these Hipsters from Slimsters pants again for Sach like these and these. He's such a slim fellow and the pattern fits him perfectly. This time I changed it up a little by adding some bits - boy bits - buttons, tabs and a leather panel.

Admittedly, they are way too long but I wanted to allow for those growing legs. They're the kind of pants that look fine rolled up in the summer with a pair of thongs (or flip flops, as you guys in the northern hemisphere call them).

{ this moment }

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments at Soule Mama for all to find and see.

{ this moment }

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments at Soule Mama for all to find and see.

#39 Camp in our tent (at least one night)

If you have managed and/or bothered to follow the haphazard progress of my 40 before 40 challenge then you have done extremely well! It was very random I know. Anyway, this if another task that I can cross off the list. But first, I do need to fess up and be honest about things, you see, I am 40 now. Let that one slide by very quietly - life was a bit hectic with a new baby and all - so effectively the challenge is over. Finished. Completed. Have I reported the results? Nope. But I will! Just humour me for a little longer... you're so kind. Thanks.

So getting back to it. Number 39, Camp in our tent (at least one night). When I wrote this list I was pregnant and to be truthful questioned whether this one was going to happen - hence the "at least one night" clause which would enable the tent to be set up in the back yard for a trial sleep over. So that didn't happen before the end of the challenge, but a couple of months later we got to experience the real deal. It was awesome!

DH and I, in our previous life pre children, purchased a camper trailer and took to the road for 3 months for a super adventure. Not the seasoned campers at the time we learnt a lot along the way and by the end could proudly say we were converted. There is something about camping that leaves behind the stresses of everyday life and welcomes relaxation and a carefree spirit. Back to today and the big question on our lips..... would this still be true with 3 children in tow??

Absolutely! Why did we wait so long?

KCWC 2011 | Unicorn Dress

I did it! Finished Ruby's dress thanks to DH for giving me this morning to spend in my sewing room, while he cooked a yummy hot breakfast. This beautiful fabric has been in my stash for a couple of years in which time 6 year old daughter has been eyeing it off. It was a set of vintage curtains - rubber backed and all! I had planned to use it for toys or cushions but that would have broken her heart. So here it is, in it's glory, re purposed and brought back to life as a pretty girly dress, using the "Dress with Ruffle Trim" pattern from the book Carefree Clothes for Girls.

This was the most technically challenging item of clothing I have made and it taught me a few new processes. I had never lined a dress before, never created ruffles and never cut my own binding. In the past I would have avoided a pattern with this amount of detail thinking I wouldn't have the patience to follow it through to the end. I'm discovering that working from a pattern can actually be fun.

Thanks Meg for organising the Kids Clothes Week Challenge again this year. I (and my kids) are ever so thankyou for your "kick up the bum" every six months to encourage sewing productivity in our house... love yer work :)

{ this moment }

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments at Soule Mama for all to find and see.

#19 quinn's (mid-century inspired) nursery

#19 Decorate the Nursery

# 19 on the 40 before 40 list is coming together. At the moment I would say it is a collection of objects gathered in the room waiting to be styled. Last week I received 4 rolls of wallpaper ordered from UK Wallpaper after researching online and finding they had the best prices and international shipping. I've chosen a pretty Sanderson design from the PomPom range called Obi.

I like the fact that it has a large pattern but the colour palette is soft and subdued, which works well given it will feature on the largest wall in the room.

While this baby is number 3 for our family, she will be number 1 baby to reside in our current house. Lucky for me, this means I have a blank canvas when it comes to decorating the room (which has, for the last 2 years been my work room). The nursery will be made up of existing baby furniture (cot, change table), an ebay purchased single bed, a thrifted wardrobe, existing built in shelves (not shown), my upright piano (which will stay where it is - also not shown) and a yet to be purchased feeding armchair (still hoping to score a Tessa T21 on ebay).

The current plan of attack when baby comes home is for me to sleep in the nursery in the hope that the rest of the family avoid broken sleeps. Sounds good in theory anyway. Consequently we found the Queen Anne bargain bed (my sister and I had matching Queen Anne beds in our shared childhood bedroom) on ebay and plan to give it a lick of paint. I'm thinking glossy black may be the go. This room already has a lot of warm finishes (I promise to show more pics when it's finished) with the wall opposite the wardrobe exposed brick, and the wall behind clad in floor to ceiling timber panelling.

Other bits and pieces I have collected include this 1950's ballet print which hung in my grandparents house. I have always thought it was beautiful and when nobody else in the family seemed interested to inherit it I put my hand up.

This adorable rabbit is a made by Fiona of Hop Skip Jump. His name is Clarence. We first bonded when I shared a market stand with Fiona at Bowerbird Bazaar in March 2010. Seriously, everything she puts her hand to is delightful. Go see yourself!

If only I had the patience to learn how to knit. Mum is the resident knitter and specialises in these cute little booties. Hey, it's never too early for a first pair of moccasins and maryjanes :)

A little handmade bird mobile I received from Beruta while participating in this swap a couple of years back.

While cleaning out some old boxes (yes nesting has set in) I found this hand painted plaque. I felt like I opened a time capsule from the 1970's. This sweet ceramic wall hanging was made for me by a dear neighbour, Mrs Eblen, and hung on my bedroom wall as a youngster. I remember it had an olive green velvet ribbon around the edge (must have disintegrated over the years) so I think I will return it to it's former glory for our little girl to enjoy as I did!

So there you have it - my progress update on the nursery. 9 weeks left to pull it all together.