wordless weekend #8

Geninne's art

Let's just say I am quietly excited about the prints I ordered off Etsy...happy (early) birthday to me!! Geninne is the talented lady behind each of these amazing artworks, and I can't wait to have them hanging on my walls.

Don't ask me how I narrowed it down to these three prints, I could have closed my eyes and clicked the mouse on any artwork and been 100% happy with my purchase.

So you really must (right now) pop on over to her blog and Etsy shop for a good dose of Ooo-ing and ahhh-ing.

Enjoy your weekend!

redondo

Another skirt for a little friend of ours, this time it's the 'redondo'.

Ahh...still in love with the rolled hem my over locker so easily does.
Such a neat finish!

And here's what the skirt looks like when you lie it out flat.
One big circle. This skirt is for the girl that seriously loves to twirl.
Looks amazing in motion.

Here's another one I made a while back. Slightly different, I added frills in the seams.
And if you like this pattern you should check out Sara's version of the rainbow Redondo.
So fun!

pink

This singlet is one I decorated for my youngest girl a few months back.
I have had the lace butterfly sitting in the stash for years now, so it was nice to finally put it to use. I also did a bit of beading over the butterfly and around the arm holes to pretty it up.
It's nice to have some hand sewing like this to do while watching a movie, feels like you are being slightly productive at the same time as being entertained.

The skirt was one I made up for a little friend of Maeve's.
No pattern here. Just guessed by using Maeve's measurements and it fitted well.
(thanks Libby for the fabric!)

And for some more pink love, head over to this post on Katherine's blog.

skirt to dress

Here's a dress I put together last weekend, after chopping up an old skirt that belonged to my sister (Cath, remember this one?). It was so easy to do.
I cut off about a 30cm piece from the top of the skirt and turned it into the bodice. Because the skirt was lined, there was enough fabric there to line the bodice as well. I used the bodice pattern from the 'gracie' dress (how appropriate!) by Portabellopixie.

The bodice turned out pretty huge and had a serious plunge neckline going on.
And since I think little girls should be sweet and modest, I added a frill around the V neck for coverage. Looks much better!
I gathered what was left of the original skirt, and stitched it to the bodice.
And the dress was complete- easy!

Here's my pile of left over fabric, zip, tag etc...so as you can see, not much fabric went to waste.

wordless weekend #7

tinkering

We have been doing a bit of much needed organising and cleaning around the house. So when I was clearing piles of junk and paperwork off the top of the piano, I had the sudden urge to pull it all apart and see if we could find out why middle C was no longer working (all after midnight I might add). We found the problem, and with a little felt and glue were able to fix it.
The poor piano has been so neglected as of late, and it was so nice to have a little tinker on it. Its been years since having lessons, but it's amazing what comes back. Sort of like a long lost friend.
And then I felt a little sad for all the years gone by that I haven't played, and the skills that were forgotten. I would be so nice if I could find/make the time to play, especially for the kids. I would really love to be able to play songs they could sing along to.
It's funny the whole parenting thing. When you are expecting your first child, you have such grand plans of what you are going to teach them, the life experiences you will share. And then all of a sudden you find yourself with two, then three children and the days somehow become very full all on their own.
Just to keep on top of the washing, have the children fed, clothed and happy, with dinner on the table every night is a real achievement. And the finer details of parenting, the extra skills and creative experiences you were going to teach have slowly slipped into the background and you realise that these things are no longer as important as you first thought, for now anyway.
I guess eventually we will get there. And in the mean time we will focus on loving relationships and growing together as a family. Its a beautiful thing watching the bond form between the children, how they care for each other, the jokes the older two share. Of course its not all love and laughter, there are plenty of 'moments' to be had.
But I do like how the precious moments between them are the ones I remember and hold on to.

bow

Another new shirt for Maeve to add to her growing summer collection.
I purchased a plain white tee then made a bow from some fabric that use to belong to my Grandma. Stitched the bow on by hand, and voila!
Fresh, funky and ready to go.