Pink and Frilly

I was never much of a girly, girl. I always wanted to be out with the boys building cubby houses and that sort of thing. I don't see girly movies or read girly books and, as you can see from Black Eyed Susie Clothes, I don't go in for pink frilliness. So now, have a look at this!

I'm not quite sure what came over me. I saw a bunch of little fairies in town the other day and decided I must make three little tutus for Chloe and her friends. I'm quite enjoying this bit of light relief from my more serious sewing.

The white tulle is leftover from my wedding dress, it's beautiful, soft and shimmery. The pink is new and I'm using satin blanket binding for the waist casing. I also bought the fabric flowers to rip apart and sew little clumps of them on the skirts.

This should get rid of any pink flowery urges for at least a few months.

Go check out the blog of Kristen Doran (producer of stunning handprinted fabric and crafts) to see loads of photos of local shop Cocoon. It's beautiful. You'll also get to see Kristen's beautiful things.

Handmade Tasmania

Any Tasmanians out there who are makers of beautiful things come and join a new Flickr group. It's called Handmade Tasmania and is for anyone who handmakes anything. It doesn't matter of you do it to sell, to give as gifts or just because you want to. We'd love to see photos of your work.

Retro wristlet

Sharon from Shazzasknits asked me to make her a wristlet/pouch to keep her knitting accesories in when she is out and about knitting. So I gave it a go, I'd never made one (and to tell the truth I'm a tiny bit nervous of zippers) but I found this tutorial which was wonderful. I'm really happy with how it turned out. Now I'm thinking of all sorts if things I can do that involve zippers!

Excuse the bad photos - we seemed to struggle to have any daylight that day. I'm so happy the days are lengthening now.

Sharon knits beautiful hats, gloves, socks and baby pants. The hat in this picture is one of hers. So, so cute! I love this green one too.

Splish, splash, splurge.

I had a minor splurge yesterday. Chloe and I go to swimming lessons once a week and our bathers are starting to get very tired. In fact I worry that mine may disintegrate in the not too distant future! Anyway I saw these and just couldn't resist. It is nice buying bathers for someone you can be sure they'll look good on. The hunt for some for me will not be so easy!

Colours

I love the way my stock rack looks. So bright and cheery. It inspires me to keep going. I plan to organise my fabric stocks on a rack soon so that they are more visible - I run the risk of forgetting about some great new fabrics I've bought. If I can see them it encourages me to think of new ideas for them.

Collecting

For years now, I've been quietly gathering small snippets of vintage kimono silk. The colours, designs and weaving are just exquisite. I'm sure I've rambled on about this before but look at these examples. It's just a shame you can't see the glorious sheen and texture or feel the softness. And it's also a shame I'm not a better photographer!

Todays works of Art

Chloe has been producing artworks by the dozen today. The picture above shows one. She has a magnetic doodle board thingie that she draws on and she's been using her blackboard too. Unfortunately, the works she produced while I was in the shower were on the sofa. So I had to spend my time cleaning up and not producing any of my own artworks!

This is a little taster of another work in progress. More information in a couple of weeks.

Three little girls and one clever husband

Sam spent part of his weekend making this chalkoard easel for Chloe. I'm very impressed with it.

Today Chloe and her two best friends gave it a good workout. I wasn't brave enough to get out the paper and paint with three toddlers yet. Maybe tomorrow Chloe and I will have a painting session. Chloe is so into drawing and sticking at the moment I wonder if she has her mummys love of creating. She draws little squiggles and says they are fish (or, at least, pish).

I finished the blouse, but not until it was too dark to get a photo. It does look great on Chloe but really, if I'm honest could do with a bit more perfecting. I'll try to get a photo tomorrow.

Winter in the park

I'm not exaggerating when I say that of all the photos taken of me since Chloe's birth there have been about 3 that I haven't been horrified by. This one is OK so I thought I'd post it - 3 decent photos in 18 months doesn't make for many chances!

This is Chloe and I at one of the local parks. I'm desperately trying to make a reluctant Chloe hold my hand so she doesn't end up in with the goldfish.

Chloe was actually jumping off the step which was another little milestone.

In shop news, I've put some teeny, tiny, little birdie hair ties up. Perfect for little girls pony or pig tails. I'm excited you see - I managed to get Chloe's hair into a little pony tail for the first time. She looked so sweet and was very proud.

How cute is this?

Excuse the picture, but how cute is this bag? I bought it on Etsy from Beckybean.

It's made using a vintage tablecloth - the colours are a bit more vibrant in the flesh. It's well made and I love carrying it.

Work in progress

Well, it's been a long few weeks. I'm finally feeling back to normal but I think Chloe is getting ill again. Poor thing, she's been so delicate today.

I have so many ideas of things I'd like to add to my shop. There is just never enough time. I know that's a common refrain - it's just how it is.

The red blouse above is a work in progress and if you look closely you can see where I goofed the binding. I think it's pretty cute though and I'm feeling inspired to perfect it. I just love red on Chloe. Today I got her some black leggings and she has some funky little black boots. They'd be perfect with this. Maybe tomorrow I'll get to it - it's been a work in progress for quite some time!

Cuteable!!

Just a quick stop in because I'm excited! One of my dresses is being featured on Cuteable today. I love that necklace on the same page. It's made by a NSW Etsy seller called Early Bird Creations and I'll be browsing her shop thoroughly as soon as I get a bit of spare time.

Love and Clutter, a beautiful little shop in Hobart, is going to stock my vintage kimono silk ponytail ties soon. All, in all, it's been a good day!

Still going through tissues like there's no tomorrow though!

Mr Darcy

I'm still sick. I can't believe it.

Last night I snuggled up on the sofa to watch Emma. I do enjoy a bit of romantic Jane Austen escapism so it was nice. It must be said, though, that Mr Knightley just didn't come close to Mr Darcy (the Colin Firth version). It must also be said that not many men come close to Mr Darcy in my book. Hmmm. Maybe treating myself to hot drinks, a blanket and the Pride and Prejudice dvds would sort this cold out!

Don't think Chloe's as keen on Mr Darcy as me - oh well, more wiggles and Maisy it is.

Of trees and lurgies

I've been busy, with a burst of orders and a bunch of clothes going off to Evie Lala, sewing machine problems and a poor, sickly daughter. She is on the mend but has had her first illness other than colds. She had an ear infection and a bit of bronchitis and had to have her first antibiotics. Luckily she loves taking medicine and says me me me me and then more more more.

I have a terrible cold now too and, in a strange way, I've really valued the time Chloe and I have spent cuddled up and feeling nasty. It has made me stop worrying about trying to get things done and just be happy to snuggle up with her. I think 'I must do this more when we are well' but then remember that Chloe won't keep still for more than a couple of seconds for cuddles!

One of the things I most like about where we live is the parks. They have a lot of European trees and I can't help but be moved by them. They remind me of my childhood and the time before my eye took on the ability to see beauty in the grey green of Tasmania's native forests. There is something about the lush green and the deep, cool shade underneath on a hot summer's day that I wouldn't like to be without. I know these trees are so inappropriate for our climate, especially in drought years like this, but I do love them.

It occurred to me that they're is one benefit to having them here than the ones in Scottish places of my childhood. That is the fact that the fallen leaves are dry and great for kicking, running in and playing. I love the crackling noise of shuffling through the leaves and I remember being disappointed in Scotland when it had rained and the leaves were a sodden, heavy pile.

The photos were taken a couple of weekends ago before the colds set in.

Mmmmmm!

We've just returned from a splendid late lunch at friends. Osso bucco followed by creme brulee. Nice wine and coffee. I'm, to use a great Australianism, full as a goog.

The three little girls had a lovely time playing and had their bath together. So cute.

Yesterday Sam surprised me with lunch at a local winery. Grilled flathead on chat potatoes followed by rhubarb and apple crumble with custard and apple sorbet. Sparkling wine and coffee. Needless to say I ate a bit too much then as well.

I'm feeling a bit spoilt - and I haven't done much work for a few days!

Cycling

We spend quite a lot of time at Launceston's City Park and, although you would never guess from this photo, Chloe loves to ride her trike there. If her parents have their way she'll do a lot of cycling in her life. We are keen to do some cycle touring with her and Sam has bought a child trailer for his bike. The only sticking point at the moment is her mummy's lack of fitness. Typical!

Go check out Meet Me at Mikes blog for some great photos of an envy inducing collection of vintage Scandinavian crockery. I, for one, am very jealous.

Morning tea

Today was Australia's Biggest Morning Tea a Cancer Council fundraising event. Chloe and I went to a morning tea at a good friends house and had a lovely time, eating, drinking and playing. In this spirit I thought I'd put up a recipe. Chloe and I have been going through a bit of a gingerbread man phase. The recipe is from a cookbook I had as a child hence the great aprons and wallpaper.

Gingerbread Men

100g plain flour

1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

25g brown sugar

50g butter

75g golden syrup

1 tsp ground ginger

More flour for rolling

Pre-heat oven to 190 degrees C.

Cream butter and sugar. Mix in the golden syrup and ginger followed by the flour and bicarb.

Roll out on a board to about 4mm thick using lots of flour or it will stick.

Cut lots of cute men and women and babies and decorate - we use little m&M type chocolates.

Bake for 10 - 12 minutes.

Put the kettle on and make a cup of tea. Sit down and enjoy.

Relaxing

We've had a nice day with friends, chatting, playing, eating. Very gentle and relaxed. Sam made a beautiful tarte tatin. I'm eternally happy to have a hubbie who cooks, and, not just that, isn't afraid to try new recipes. Today was his first attempt at pastry and it was a great success.

No photos - so instead - two gratuitous shots of the beautiful island we live in. These photos are both taken at Freycinet Peninsula on Tasmania's east coast on a peaceful weekend we spent pre Chloe. We must return soon.

Indigo quilt

In the spirit of Loobylu's Friday Archives I thought I'd put up a picture of something I made a few years ago. It's a cot quilt made long before Chloe was born - before we even owned a cot! The fabrics are vintage Japanese cottons. The placing of the pieces was almost entirely due to me being unable to bear the thought of cutting the fabrics. I was really happy with how it turned out.

Now for the big question! What is this quilt doing now?

Sitting in a box in the wardrobe. How sad is that - once Chloe came along and we realised just what a chucky baby she was the quilt got put away. I think I'll go and put it into use now - the chucky days are gone! Yay!

Babyology

Guess what? I just came across my dresses on Babyology! How exciting!