Pretty Package

I couldn't help myself...

This paper bag has been sitting on my kitchen counter for a week. The ice-cream went immediately, but I can't bring myself to throw this bag away.

Its just...so, well, pretty.

I must get some more ice-cream.

In my neighbourhood

This is what I saw at the bus stop the other day when I went to catch the bus.

Now I know about the indie craft movements that leave spontaneous gifts and embellishments in public places in the southern states, but I have never seen it locally, until now.

This gorgeous rainbow is all crocheted. Every last stitch. And it was definitely not there the day before, I have good Intel it was done in the dark of night.

No, I am not the mystery rainbow crochet-er (don't even start me on the subject of trying to crochet - not pretty, lots of knots), but as my parents live opposite the bus stop they are adamant it wasn't there the day before.

It certainly put a smile on my face. 

I haven't forgotten the blogging world

I know it seems like I may have forgotten to post...in awhile.

I haven't forgotten.

It's been a busy time lately.
Uni has been hectic,
I've been in hospital,
My son has had some school behaviour issues,
I've been a little bit down.

Fear, loathing, sickness, pain, mummy-stress, student stress, fear, health problems, bad headspace, taking on too much, fear, not saying 'no' to others...

Yes I realise these are most likely excuses of some grander scheme,
but its the best I can do at the moment.

Forgive me.

Life and Liberty

I completely meant to post last week. Honest to goodness I did.
Then uni kind of got in the way, very much-ly got in the way.

Second year subjects are definitely different to first year subjects. And even though I took one second year subject last semester I really wasn't expecting to be hit full-on one the first day of semester.

Definite Highlight/Shock of the first lecture, first day:

      "Hello everyone. I'm going to be a total bitch and tell you that 25% of you will fail this subject. I'm not trying to scare you, I'm telling you how it is. So, hello again to the quarter of the audience I had last semester."

So that's the life part.

Now for the Liberty bit.

I did in fact finish one more sewing project before uni started. Its the actual shirt I wanted to make with the Liberty fabric (OK so its 'knock-off' Liberty fabric), the shirt I made in the bird fabric to test out the pattern.

My 'Liberty' fabric (bought from Spotlight: Cotton lawn)

And I must say, I'm pretty happy with the results! Bring on the warmer weather I cant wait to wear it.

I'm thinking: skirts and shorts.

The I Love Vintage Show

On the weekend I got to go to the I Love Vintage show and art expo 2012.
I have been to a few vintage fairs that have been put on locally over the seasons, but this was the first vintage show that had space in the Brisbane Convention Centre with sellers from other parts of Australia.

While I enjoyed the vintage part of the show I was a little disappointed at the number of overseas reproductions that were asking near the same price of the originals. While I can understand a genuine 1957 silk and tulle cocktail dress, with tags still attached, can sell for hundreds of dollars, I was a touch disappointed that the repros' thought a similar price could be charged when the quality differed.

Anyway... it was a lovely day out and although I didn't purchase any clothing, I did find a March 1961 Australian Home Journal complete with patterns for a small bust size. (True fact: The myth that after having a baby you have a bigger bust size, was for me, just a myth. I had a larger chest before I had Jackson). Cost = $15.

I also found a Simplicity pattern from 1965 for a cute jacket with hood or collar and for two differing lengths. Cost =$8.

By far the best buy of the day was the Butterick New Sewing Book. Printed in 1953 by The Butterick Publishing Company Limited in Great Britain, this book is a true gold mine. It has everything in it for the home sewer with chapters like; Your Figure and Your Face - How to select a style that will do the most for you, Get the Most out of Your Pattern - How to cut, mark and assemble the new, easy way,  The Important Sewing Techniques and Consumer Buying - How to shop efficiently for sewing tools, fabrics and notions. The technique pages alone are a find, but all of the 1950's speak and illustrations even better. Cost =$4.

Oh, yes, and I also picked up two sweetly embroidered Swiss cotton hanker chiefs. Cost =$4 each. I can never pass up an old fashioned hankie. The cotton/linen always washes well and they don't wear out as quickly as any 'new-improved fabric' variety.

Sew and Sew - shirt and a skirt

With the school holidays finally over...no I don't really mean that. But both Jackson and I were suffering cabin-fever on Sunday. He was hyper and I was most definitely not!
The holidays were full of lots of laughter, silliness, lunchbox and school shoe shopping, the museum, getting Jackson a 'go-card' (5 means I have to pay for him on transport now) and general home things.

What I did get done for myself, when Jackson was asleep, was some more sewing.

So this is the next instalment:

Pattern: Lisette (Simplicity) 2211 - Market Shirt
Fabric: Now here's a story. I have some gorgeous Liberty print lawn. Wasn't going to cut into it unless I had tried the pattern first on some El-cheapo fabric. So I picked up this cute cotton kids print for $3p/m and some green poplin for the 'trial'. I absolutely will wear the trial shirt now its made up! So for the Liberty I will just make a couple of minor adjustments; 1 - add some length in case I want the option to tuck it in and 2- take it in a little at the side seams. While I have the shoulders of a size 10, my waist and bust are no where near the measurements.
P.S. I don't have swimmers shoulders, that would imply that I swim and I'm too lazy for that.

Pattern: Issue 20 SewHip Magazine - Tartan Skirt.
Fabric: Taffeta (on sale at Spotlight: $10p/m - was $25p/m). I fell in love with this fabric when it came in about six months ago but the price was an issue for me as well as having fear put in me by being told it would fray and be difficult to sew. Turned out the taffeta was a breeze to sew, hardly frayed. The lining on the other hand; that I wanted to kill - it frayed non-stop.

I have made this skirt twice before and each time I make it I love it more. So now I have three. One in a yellow roses print, one in black with white spots and now this gorgeous taffeta.

And finally she got to sew

It has been ages since I have sat and sewn something on my sewing machine. Though I did finish my quilt last weekend, there is nothing more satisfing when you finish sewing a garment and it actually fits!! And this one does.
What started out as this...

turned into the meringue skirt from the 'Colette Sewing Handbook'. I have been lusting over this book for months and finally bought it as a present for myself for my, ahem, 31st* birthday a fortnight ago. So pleased with it so far. Can't wait to sew the other patterns in this book by the talented Sarai Mitnick.

* Jackson asked me how old I turned on my birthday (which incidently is the day after his birthday. All of those well meaning people when I was pregnant said it would be so great to have him on my birthday. They all seemed a bit shocked when I kept saying "hell no, we both need our own day!". Anyway, digressing).
So I replied that as he turned 5, I got to turn 31.
"Wow, 31, mum -".
Me smiling, happy at his comment (way to soon)
"- that's nearly 1000".
Smile suddenly frozen.