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.

Lovely fabrics and swap stuff!

These fabrics were purchased at Spotlight yesterday. A nice little collection, although I'm not sure what I'll be doing with them. Obviously the Christmas fabric will be used for something Christmassy, but whether a gift or something for our table on Christmas Day, I'm not sure. The transport fabric I have no idea, but I loved it so much I couldn't not buy it! And the spots will be something for Lizzie for summer.
I was also lucky enough to score some great goodies from IngridK in our EB thrift shop swap. Loads of patterns, especially useful will be the rash vest pattern with long sleeves! My little Queensland water babies need lots of sun protection.
This fabric she sent is just beautiful. Lizzie in particular loves it being such a little bird watcher and has taken to stroking it and saying 'pretty birdies'. She's a big cutie, that one.

So a big thankyou to Ingrid for all my goodies.

The last twirly skirt

I promise I won't bore you with many more of these, but I do love them. I especially love the potential for mixing fabrics. This one was made using that fabric: also used here, here and here.
And here's Louisa modelling it's 'twirling' properties:

A cherry on top! (Well actually it's on the bottom)

Another twirly skirt, made for a mums group friend who likes to twirl! I'm loving these skirts.

(Not loving my photography at the moment. Not great at the best of times but we're having dull grey weather and my husband has taken the better camera on a motocross adventure!)

This skirt has a bit of a thirties feel to me, or is it just that it's something my late Grandma would have liked? Sad to part with it, but happy that the party girl will enjoy it.

A twirly skirt

I made this beautiful skirt for Louisa. The photos simply do not do it justice.

I knew as soon as I found this fabric that I wanted to make a twirly skirt, but where to find a pattern? Andrea from our EB sewing thread gave us this link. Suddenly twirly skirts were everywhere: here, here , here, here and here- and I'm sure I've seen other great examples. It did take me awhile to finally finish it, but now I have and realise how quick they are, I'm determined to make two more before the weekend's round of birthday parties!

My little ragamuffins!

Here are my girls - complete with breakfast still on their faces, unbrushed hair and ill-fitting dress-ups! Aren't they cute? And here's a visitor to our backyard!