Pretty, pretty

Perhaps it's spring, perhaps it's just a phase, but my mind is turning to our house, and how to make it and the things in it reflect us. We've been in our home for over a year, but have made fairly minimal changes so far. But I am very keen to do a kitchen reno to begin with. It hasn't been touched since 1989. It still looks okay( Tassie Oak is fairly classic, I guess) , but I'd love an update. Deep drawers instead of poky cupboards, new appliances that actually work properly, bench tops that aren't stained laminate, you get the picture. Still lots of planning and getting our heads around all the options, so I'm starting very small. With a dinner set.

I've always loved blue and white, even if that is a bit predictable when it comes to kitchen ware. I have a little collection on display with bits and pieces from all over the place. Bits of Spode I've picked up in DJ's sales, minature tea pots, Wedgewood cups with no saucers and a tea pot without a lid. The latter I picked up from a funny little junk shop I loved when teaching in country SA years ago - the OKMart at Cobdogla. I wonder if it's still there. Anyone know?

Anyway, I found a set that, while thankfully not in the price range of Spode Blue Italian that I love, is pretty, and blue and white - and has birds on it. Oh, and proper tea cups. Our last set had straight cylinder shape cups which I never liked. Never liked the whole thing really, but I won it in a magazine giveaway and put up with it for over a decade. I'm very happy to be passing it on.

Some shorts

Here's a little pair of shorts I made for Lizzie. Not hugely exciting, but pretty and almost the same blue as her eyes. I bought a bag of fabric scraps at a local op shop - and it was the only thing I could make with that amount of material.

Excuse the mess in the play room. We're so lucky to have this space for them, and they do love to spend as much time as possible in there.

I've been tagged

I was tagged by Karen so here goes...

A. Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves.
B. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed.
C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog...

1 I failed year 8 Textiles!! Mainly due to the fact that I neglected to hand my applique project in. I was quite studious and considered sewing to be quite trivial compared to Maths, Science, etc. How times change!
2 My dad and one of his sisters are fraternal twins.
4 My mum and dad still live in the house where I grew up - but not for long. They're currently building a new single storey home, more suited to doddery old senior cits (ie. no stairs)
5 I taught at School of the Air in Port Augusta for my first year of teaching
6 I am terribly short sighted. -8 in both eyes. But I wear contacts because I'm really really vain.
7 I dropped Art in year 8 when we had to choose between that subject and French, and I've never done any Art studies since, something I regret.
8 I studied French to Year 12, but have never been to a French speaking country. One day...

Looks like we've run out of tag-ees!

Yet more fabric!!

Yes, more fabric. I think that's enough now!

The first collection is from Fashionable Fabrics who are holding a nice little sale. I have no real plans for any of these fabrics yet. I really love the bottom one and wish I'd bought more.

The second photo is my little purchase from our local clearance shop. It has a lot of quilting fabrics for $6 a metre, so I thought this one would be quite popular with my pink loving eldest daughter - and I was right. Some cute little buttons I couldn't leave behind either, plus the ribbon I actually went there to buy. Does anyone ever leave a fabric shop with only the item they went there to buy?

Lemons and limes!!

Okay, so it has just occured to me that what I thought were apples on my new fabric purchase are actually lemons and limes!! I blame sleep deprivation, which I've been experienced for about 4 years or so. Acording to this article, sleep deprivation can not only make you a bit dippy, it can lead to heart problems, diabetes, "burn out", road accidents and even cancer, so I think I better go have a lie down!

What to make first?

These are my latest additions to my stash and pattern collection. I love these patterns and can't wait to start on some summer clothes, mainly for Lizzie. The apple fabric is already cut out to make the cute dress in the middle. The MM christmas fabric will be for gifts for Christmas. The party fabric was on clearnace and I thought it would be great for decorations for someone's party next year.

And yes, that is some heavy weight denim there. I really want to make a denim pinafore for Lizzie, as ridiculous as that might sound at this time of year as we head into spring. The main impetus behind this is the Fifi iron on we received as part of our magazine subscription. We've also got a headband, so the pinafore would be part dressup and part actual dress, if that makes sense. If you haven't discovered this sweet character yet, check out the website. I particularly love the Fizzy Lemonade song.

Reversible Pinafore Dress

Here's the latest knit pinafore dress shown both ways. The hem is straighter than it looks in the photo. It was a bit windy on the day. The brown side isn't quite as well finished as I simply turned up the hem and sewed it that way. I couldn't think of a way to do the hem that was reversible. If anyone has any ideas, let me know. Louisa will no doubt be wearing it her favourite way - with the pink stripes of course. I didn't topstitch the bodice as I did with the green dress. I tried it, but this fabric stretched and looked afwul, so I quickly threw that away and did a new bodice which looks fine without it.

Louisa's craftiness

Fathers' Day weekend

We took a lovely drive up to the mountains on the weekend to celebrate Fathers' Day and to take Peter's new car out for a spin. Very nice! Here he is with his biggest fan (next to me, of course)Here's big sister trying to show her affection for her sibling, but as you can see, Lizzie wasn't sure what to think!

Here's a very sweet looking Louisa. People have been saying lately how much alike we are - I wish!

A knit pinafore dress

I made this pinafore dress with no pattern so very pleased that it turned out so well. I think it must be super comfortable too as Louisa hasn't stopped wearing it since I made it (save to go to bed last night!). I think the green really suits her colouring as well.

I'm also happy to use some of this knit fabric I've had for ages (3 and a half metres in fact!). I thinking of making some leggings to go with it. Louisa has also put in a request for gathered pockets on the next dress, so looks like I'll be making another one.