Soldier Boy

Last winter Edward got so much wear out of this little jacket that I picked up from my local op shop.And so I decided to make another, slightly more older-boy version.



My favourite part of this little coat is the Japanese soldier fabric.



When I started to make the coat I wasn't too sure what I would use to line the hood but my friend Bec was making a quilt from the fabric and suggested I use it. It is perfect as it has almost all the colours that he wears; red, brown, blue, khaki and black.


I also love the little star buttons. I bought these from the Button Lady, at the Camberwell Markets, when I was pregnant with Kate (and convinced I was having a boy).


I adapted from this pattern from the Winter6/2008 Ottobre magazine.


I found it easy to trace the pattern but a little trickier to assemble.You do have to have reasonable dressmaking skills as the instructions are a little vague. I added the cuff and shoulder trims as I wanted the jacket to look a little less baby-ish.



I lined the jacket with a polar fleece and as it wasn't a particularly thick wool I also used flannelet. I used it almost as an interfacing in the body to create another layer and provide more warmth.

I am so pleased with the result. Often when I sew, I cut corners. I really tried to do a good job on this coat and pay attention to detail. I do love the beautiful buttonholes that my Bernina sews.

Big Girl Camping

Today my biggest baby went on school camp. I know to all you seasoned mothers out there that this probably isn't a big deal. But first time round IT IS! A lot bigger deal than I imagined.

I have a saying that "I don't do clingy kids, it isn't my style". And it isn't, so they are well used to sleepovers with grandparents, cousins and friends. And I am fine with that. But school friends and teachers, in an unknown place, in the frezing cold (why did winter have to arive in Melbourne this week?). Right now, I'm thinking I am not fine with that.



I know she will return in two days time, safe and sound and even better than before.

And I will just keep telling myself that.

School Holidays, Mail Swaps and Free Postage

Today we are

:: Lazing about enjoying the first day of school holidays.

:: Creating lovely packages to send to our Mail Swap friends.



:: Filling the orders from my shop that are coming in from the little promotion (free postage on orders over $30, until 10th April).



:: About to walk to the post office to send our packages off.

Ahh, holidays!

Picture Perfect

Last weekend I had a photoshoot for the winter range of my website. This week I have been busy updating it with new designs and lots of new colours.

As my girls are getting older I needed to include a new little four year old. Charlotte's mum helps me out with production of the ribbons and her little four year old is the most beautiful child.

I love taking photos but lack in the technical skills. I am can relate to Sarah Jane's comments about hoping for happy accidents.

I love this shot of Kate and Charlotte.



Black is so beautiful against her white hair and fair skin.



Isn't she just gorgeous!

Catching Butterflies

Well, cabbage moths really.





Not as romantic,




but far more practical.

Three

He is as pleased as punch that he is now three.


He certainly is character! The other day he strode, or should I say galloped, into kinder doning his cowboy hat and that cheeky grin. Of course he was met with applaud and laughter by the teachers....such an introvert.

As far as he was concerned, cake, cousins and candles make a party.





As for me and as per usual, I feel a little sad that my baby is getting even bigger. But I am ever so grateful he came in to our lives. He certainly holds a very special place in our hearts...that boy of ours!

And You Think You Know Them

One of my WIPs that I MUST finish this year are the quilts for Ella and Kate's beds. As their doona covers are the same I thought it would be nice to have the quilt covers matching, but different. I started off using the some of the same fabrics in both quilts and then tailoring one quilt in the blue/pink/red direction and the other in the pink/orange/yellow direction.

To me it was obvious that Kate would have the blue/pink/red combo as I have always seen these as her colours. They sit well with her darker hair and lighter skin and match her personality which is a little more direct, and intense than her sister's.

Ella has always looked lovely in soft creamy tones and has more of a spring colourings. These colours also suit her more gentle personality. In my opinion!


Well, clearly they thought different because when I layed out the quilts the other day they both wanted the pink/blue/red. Nothing I could do would convince either of them that the orangey tones were lovely. I am torn. Do I combine the blocks and have all the colours in each quilt or stick to my guns and hope that when they are finished one of them will appreciate the orange/yellow tones. I really would like the quilts to be slightly different as their beds are the same otherwise.

I need your help here folks. What do you think?



Either way, I am going to need more fabric, so it is just as well that Amitie is having one of their grand sales this Friday. I will be making the most of my kiddie-free-time Friday morning and giving the girls a visit.

The Luckiest

Last year I posted about a simple little gift that I made for the girls and for which I was awarded the title the best Mama in the world. Well after this little gift, I felt like the luckiest Mama in the world.

With school starting back we have had information evenings for each of the girl's classes. Each parent sits in their child's chair while the teachers explain about the curriculum and plans for the year. In Ella's class every child had written their parent a note. At Ella's desk was a note and this beautiful arrangement of follage that she had picked at lunch time. All beautifully presented in her own little 'vase'. To top it off she had kept one of her jam drops from morning tea for me to nibble on. How proud was I, especially when the teacher pointed out her creation. "That is Ella" is what I replied.

And honestly, it's Ella through and through! That girl's kindness, thoughfullness and creativity are inspirational. She has the sweetest heart. In almost all of her classes, each year, she has managed to implement some act of kindness that the whole class then adopts. Be it notes of encouragment to classmates, flowers for the teacher or the such. In this world that places such value on material acheivements I feel so privledge to be the parent of this child who places such a value on people.

Almost Famous

On top of my list of things to do today was Write a Post! Three weeks without posting, what is going on? Even my mum emailed me this morning and asked the same question.

Well not a whole heap of anything and certainly no sewing, I am sad to say.





We did enjoy a little bit of feeling famous last week. All three of my little birds were in the Herald Sun; Kate was on the front page and Ella and Edward on page 14. We were at the right place at the right time (they needed models for the new Bushfire Appeal wristbands) and the kids were very excited to be celbraties for a couple of days.


I am planning a few more posts in the next week or so, so stay tuned. And, I am off to check out all of the excitement at the Stitches and Craft show this Thursday with my gorgeous friend Bec who is my partner in all-crafty-crimes (and a production machine when it comes to helping me out with my Ella and Kate proucts). We might see some of you there!

Sew Sweet

My mum came out from England at the end of last year and spent December with us. If was so lovely to have her with us again. She brought these gorgeous books for the girls. How delightfull!



I have seen these books around on blogs, but when they actually arrived they were so much nicer and larger than I had thought. I was also thinking that they might be a little too young for my girls, especially Ella. Actually they were perfect for their ages; eight and six.

Here is a little preview of Look and Cook



Strawberry Shortcake - a favourite in our house (we call it Strawberry Shortkate)


And See and Sew






There is also another one in the series called Sow and Grow but it is written month by month and is for the Northern Hemisphere. They are all by Tina Davis and would make a lovely gift for any little craftsters you know!

Next Time...

Next time I make a quilt...


I will think twice about hand quilting


I will use Pearl cotton like everyone else


I will make myself finish it within twelve months


This time...
I took way too long to finish it - two years too long!


I was so excited to start that I didn't take the time out to get the proper thread


But, I did enjoy every stitch.
And I do think all that love is appreciated

The Art of Taking Tea

This story all begins with Alison from Lark. Allison used to live in Cambridge, England, near where my parents now live. When chatting to her at Magnolia Square about our then planned trip to visit my parents, she said we must go to the beautiful town of Stamford, and make sure we visit the George Hotel.




Well Stamford was a beautiful town, as you can see from these photos, and The George was a magnificent hotel. The most lovely I have seen. We had afternoon tea in the lounge, by the fire. The girls sat up, using their best manners, eating lovely treats and sipping their hot chocolates.



After this lovely experience I so wanted to take the girls again to a proper afternoon tea back in Melbourne. Finding such a place proved difficult. The Windsor and such hotels do a high tea but I thought that this was a little too much for two chilren. Recently, I discovered that Chateau Yerring serves tea in their beautiful lounge room. So, last month when my mum was visitng, we went to morning tea again.



The story now ends with yet another afternoon tea that we enjoyed whilst on holidays last week. Once again at the recommendation of Allison. This time at Miss Kitty's Emporium in Red Hill. Having a Kitty ourselves we had to visit this place, and it was all as lovely as Alison had said; the wares, the china tea cups and the scones and jam and even old fashioned lolly jars. A little boy even enjoyed it! Thanks Allison

Its a wrap

For 2008 at least. I know there is still a little bit more time before the end of the year, but for me, it's a wrap.

This afternoon I was taking photos of the girls' little beach tops that I have made and when I was finished my camera just kept on shooting. I couldn't resist taking pictures of my three little chicks as they dug and explored around our backyard....how many hours of there life has that garden absorbed! This is a sight I have seen so many times before and yet each time brings great gladness to my heart.



As I walked up the back steps to come inside I was reminded of the photos I took at the beginning of the year on their first day of school together. Here I am snapping away on their last day.



Tomorrow we are off to the beach for a couple of weeks. Thank you to all my crafting friends reading this now, thank you for all of the lovely comments and conversations throughout the year. I look forward to my first post for 2009 when I know I will be brimming with ideas and inspiration.


little beach tops to match their bathers
Take care all xxx