Getting back into it!

After way too long an absence, I'm relieved to be finally posting something.  The last two months have been so hectic, I have barely been able to keep myself in clean clothes (actually, I am still struggling on that front).  But, things are now winding down at work, with me going on maternity leave in four weeks!  Can't wait.




I have managed a little craft lately, currently knitting this cardigan for Strawberry in the hope she will get some wear out of it while it's still winter.  Only have the sleeves to go after this piece, then the dreaded sewing up!

I have to thank Sandra at The Surly Seamstress for helping to pull me out of my non-blogging funk, by setting me some homework with these questions:

Which pattern/vintage style have you been thinking about lately?
My next pattern to make up is this little Oliver+ S dress for Strawberry- aiming to do it for end of winter/spring.  I love the yoke and piping detail, and hope to make use of some old buttons I have stashed.  And I do love vintage patterns and have a bit of a collection of hand-me-downs and Vogue reprints, but they are all completely impractical for me as I have been either pregnant, breastfeeding or both for years now!






What is one place that you really want to visit that you haven't been to before?
Japan- would love to experience the totally different culture, scenery and hunt down fantastic craft supplies!  This is in addition to plans to return to many great places I have already visited!

What are your favourite/least favourite words?  These can be connected to sewing or not!
Favourite word:  awry- I seem to use this a lot at work.
Least favourite word:  gonna- I use this way too much!

If you had to spend 3 consecutive days on the same train, who would you want with you and why?
Not a very creative answer, but my husband.  After having to spend several days away from him and the kids recently, I realised just how much he helps me keep my cool, and shares my interests like no one else.  It was very healthy for me to be reminded what a great choice I have made!


What's your sewing threshold?  As in, what will you let go, and what must you absolutely fix?
I tend to complete my projects, but this does result in the odd item that I would never wear which gets given to a family member or charity shop.  As for correcting mistakes, I will unpick to a certain extent, but if after several attempts I don't get a perfect result, I settle for less than perfect and move on.  And once it's complete, I never seem to notice the imperfections that once seemed such a big deal anyway.  


What's your desert island book/movie and why could you read/watch it over and over?
Love books, but can't commit to a favourite to be reread.  My movie would be Cabaret because: a) I love musicals, b) in addition to being a great musical, the plot is also great, and c) Liza just breaks my heart.  Here she is on an old t-shirt I can't bring myself to throw out...




What garment/accessory do you wear the most?
Not the above t-shirt.  Stretchy wrap dresses with black opaque stockings- none of my current wardrobe is homemade sadly, but it serves a working pregnant lady rather well.


What wouldn't you be caught dead in?
Shoes with ankle straps- no matter how fabulous the shoes, my (otherwise perfectly healthy and strong) legs just cannot carry them off.

So, there you go.  I think I should now be setting this as homework for someone else, but I am that far out of the blogging loop, I have no one in mind- feel free to pick it up if you are stopping by as I 'd love to hear your responses.

Lately I...

... have been quite preoccupied with preparing for what I hope will be my last exams ever, which will all be over in about a month.




... am having fun cutting out a quilt for Strawberry, to (sort of ) match this one I made for Mr F, as they will be sharing a room later this year after the arrival of baby number 3!





... am admiring this beautiful family home (that I first spotted here on the lovely homelove blog)  in Inside Out, as well as my growing belly.




... am quite excited over this mermaid doll kit by Louise Elliot, handed down from a friend of Mum's- such cute design and great loud colours!



... feel determined to get back into making lots of things soon!

Autumn love

Hooray for cooler weather!  Despite feeling bogged down with long hours at work and study, and viruses passing back and forth through the family, I managed to get the needles out for some simple, satisfying knitting.



This scarf was a request from my husband, who wanted a multi-coloured stripy scarf with a bit of a 'Paul Smith' look.  I don't think this is anywhere near as cool as that sounds- it seems more 'clown' or 'Doctor Who' than Paul Smith, but he tells me he likes it.  At least it can be used by the kids if not him.  I'm using up yarn (Cleckheaton Country 8ply) from a frogged blanket for Mr F which just was torture to knit.  There is actually about $200 worth of brightly coloured wool to be used, so this will make only a small dent in that.  I believe there will be more colourful stripy items to come!

You look like gold to me...

I had been wanting to buy some Koigu Premium Merino for ages, and was lucky enough to get some 40% off online at Purl Soho!  In exactly the colour I wanted, despite there being only two colours left by the time I found out about the sale.  Intended for this little girl's dress found at the Purl Bee.  No urgency to make it as it won't fit Strawberry until next year, maybe not even then.  Which is great, as I cannot actually crochet yet!  The yarn does seem every bit as beautiful as the descriptions I had read, and the colour is a gorgeous orangey-red.  Just delicious!

One year old

We had our little party for Strawberry's first birthday on the weekend, which was great.  Lots of girlie looking treats, flowers and paper dolls on the walls, and more little kids than we have ever had before at a party!  Most of whom loved running wild in the backyard.

The cake was inspired by the classic Australian Women's Weekly one, but decorated in a girlie way.  I had to use musk sticks as I just love them and wanted an excuse to eat them!  Just the classic butter cake with buttercream icing (Women's Weekly recipes of course).  I think it's really worth making the cake from scratch rather than a packet mix- it just tastes much better and is still easy.

Can't believe our little girl is one- she still looks like a baby to me- yet she thinks she's a grown-up and says 'bye-bye baby' to older kids!



And no, I didn't end up making her dress- too much deliberating over fabric and pattern choices and too little time in the end.  So thank you Esprit DFO for a lovely party frock for our little doll.  And thank you to the birthday girl herself- what a joy you are for us!

Well loved

Happy Valentine's Day!

My lovely husband gave me a waffle iron (no, he doesn't usually get me kitchen appliances but he knew I wanted one) and so we all enjoyed heart-shaped waffles for breakfast.  I'm yet to perfect the recipe and technique but still pretty good stuff!

I have spent some of today going through my old toys (pretty much dolls) to see if there is anything suitable for Strawberry.  Several of the most special ones are now spotty with rust.  I'm torn between whether to keep them or not.   Especially as I've kept them this long!

Hannah here is the only example left of a doll I made as a child.  I was given this book from Mum when I was in primary school, and loved it.  It was about a little girl making dolls and quilts in the 1800s on the Kansas prairie.  I also did a doll quilt kit from the same range (still have another one not yet made up) and a Christmas cross-stitch.  All very much in keeping with the whole country look popular at the time - I remember tea-dyeing stuff!  So maybe the rusty look would be considered okay?

This is the remainder of her little wardrobe.  The doll and clothes were all hand sewn- pretty apparent if you look close enough.  I love the drawstring on the pantaloons, just the sewing thread!

Last of all are these- Strawberry Shortcake and her cat made from a panel by Mum, a pegasus toy given to me at birth and two Holly Hobbies.  All rusty!  Maybe this will be the last evidence I have of them or maybe I won't be able to let go.  I am tempted to cut up Holly on the left's non-rusty dress for that great 70s patchwork print! 

Plodding, and party plans!

This week I am still feeling a little off and so really am just plodding along, struggling to do anything much outside of work, and feeling like I am falling behind with basic things I have to do- like dropping off dry-cleaning and mending.  That said, my husband has been great, the kids remain charming, and I should be feeling a bit brighter soon!

We have hit our run of February birthdays, which will now include Strawberry turning 1!  So I have been starting to plan her little party.  These invitations by Suzy Ultman I picked up a while back at the GOMA shop, not sure if they'd be used anytime soon, but it turns out Strawberry loves dolls already, so they seemed appropriate.  I doubt anyone loves them as much as I do though!   Such a cute design with gorgeous envelopes and stickers.  Now to plan a cake and party dress!