Happy Birthday Louisa!

Louisa's birthday is coming up, and my last chance today to organise and wrap presents. Apart from some Belville lego, it's all books (including a lockable diary), so it doesn't look all that exciting. So I've quickly sewn some PJs to add to her presents.

The applique is very rough here. I disobeyed my own 'always use stabiliser rule', but as they're pajamas and not to be seen in public, I'm not too worried. I know she'll love the unicorn fabric.

Anyway, off now to sew some teddy bear outfits for her teddy bear makeover party!

Och aye, what do you think of this wee lassie?

One thing I never realised before I had kids was the number of milestones that would leave you a bit teary. First day of school, sure. When the squiggles on the page suddenly make sense and your child can read, I could have predicted that one. But buying your first second hand kilt? Never anticipated that!

Louisa's been Highland dancing for over a year now and is still as keen as ever. Much more exciting than boring ballet apparently (although her sister would disagree!). So with a competition coming up in July, and many more to follow no doubt, I've bitten the bullet and bought this second hand one. A full dancing outfit can cost hundreds of dollars brand new from a fancy store (I think someone mentioned $900!) , so thankfully our studio organises for the costumes to be sold and resold and resold again second hand.

Now keep in mind we have a few adjustments to do: more elastic on the sleeves so they puff out more, a zip on the vest to replace the fiddly hook and eye, and of course hemming the kilt so we can see Louisa's legs when she's wearing the matching socks. We would have loved a green vest with gold braid and buttons to match to bring out the green and yellow in the kilt, but there were none available secondhand that fit - and I'm not sure I'm up for sewing one. Maybe a project for later in the year anyway?

And just for contrast, here's Lizzie from her end of year concert last year!

Catching up...

I've been a bad blogger, I know. I've been taking some time away from the internet to enjoy the last of the warmer weather and get some projects done. We're contemplating a move (same area,bigger yard and newer home), so we've been trying to fix our older home up to make it a bit more presentable for sale.

The big question is where do you stop? So far we've removed bubbled tint from countless windows :

Finished laying flooring in the study (more credit to DH for that one):
Made various pieces of 'artwork' to brighten up corners of the house (Pooh to the designer on HomeMADE who doesn't like homemade artwork - I don't like his show - so there!)

Not to mention, loads of gardening, oiling of decks, painting, getting various quotes for reno jobs, only to scratch most as being too costly.

I have managed some sewing. Here's some pants for Lizzie:

EB swap

I've been participating in the EB swap and we opened our packages from Faye and Susan today. Wow, have we been lucky in our household! I'm so impressed with the items we received from both swap partners, and the way they both were able to figure out the right items for each girl.

Lizzie was spoilt by Faye with a pink cord outfit (jacket and skirt and hairband) complete with embroidered butterflies and flowers - perfect for her! Also, much to her delight she also got a monogrammed apron which she adores and sent her immediately to the kitchen to 'cook'!

Louisa's outfit from Susan is perfect for her also. She love love loves the dress with the stripes and spots and leggings that match. So versatile and perfect for our climate. The package included an embroidered cord skirt as well. Louisa loves the colours in that so much. Not to mention the horsie themed fabric which it was all wrapped in.

Thanks so much to both very talented ladies. There's only a couple of quick pics, but I promise more to come when the weather clears, also pics of Lizzie's apron and Louisa's skirt to come.

He rocks in the treetops...

Here's a tshirt I appliqued for a little friend's 6th birthday. It took me a long time to settle on an image for an applique. 6 seems a bit grown up for a lot of the applique ideas I have for my girls. Then I ran out of time to do the text in freezer paper stencils as I'd planned, so I resorted to hand embroidery. I don't think I've done much of that since I was in Brownies! Quite relaxing actually and nice and portable. Maybe I'll do a bit more. Hopefully I'll get better at it.

I hope the recipient likes it. If not we did include a Polly pocket present and a lovely book.

A present for a little friend

A little friend of ours turned three, so I made these to go with the two Kelly dolls Lizzie chose for her buddy.