What I did Vs What I Wanted to do.

Some artistically-inclined child took this photo of her brother. It is a completely posed shot (no basketball skills involved here at all! This is the photo of what I did. I took the photographer to her basketball training. It was HOT today. And it gets really hot in those tin sheds with the basketball hoops.


This is want I would have liked to be doing. A little dip in the pool to keep myself cool. I did spend some time in front of a fan today while I sewed. I have been making postcards for Art at the Hart. I will post some photos soon.

The spinning frog in this photo is our pool thermometer. Yesterday the water was 33 degrees! We had a lovely swim!!!

Christmassy?

Are you hoping for a white Christmas? Over at Cherry Menlove's forum (talesfrompixiewood) we have been talking about all sorts of Christmas related things. It's made me think about some of the things that point to Christmas for me. My idea of snow is closer to the paper version below than the real thing because I've never seen snow. And anyway, it's HOT here.


I'm really enjoying blogging more often and I've been thinking about something special I can do for December. I think I'm going to blog about Christmas. The countdown, the preparations, what's Christmassy to me!

Order

I had someone comment on my last post saying that my sewing machine must have been working overtime last week! Yes! It was. And this week, as a result, my sewing room is a huge mess! I gave up tidying to continue sewing! So today was a day of consolidation. I spent most of the day trying to restore order to my sewing room. Order feels so good. As I begin to put things in order I start to feel happier. It makes me want to sort through all my cupboards and establish order everywhere! So why do I let it get a mess? I don't know, but I do. All the time!!!


This is the pattern I used to make Mrs 23's nightie. I made a long version of view 3, without the elastic in the sleeves. I don't know where I got the pattern from. I collect patterns. Yes, I do love them. Especially patterns with fashions that are very dated! It's like a window on a world that doesn't exist any more. I especially love the patterns that my Mum used to make clothes for me. They bring back so many memories. But the main reason I collect patterns is because they are such a wonderful resource! These days they cost so much! If you can buy them from op-shops they are so much cheaper! I love it when the sales assistant is not a sewer. Even if the patterns are marked at $2 they will sell them to you for 50 cents, because they see no value in the pattern. I also have friends who regularly cull their pattern collections and give them to me. So, I have a cupboard full to choose from!!!

More happening in our house.

I finished Miss 10's Sunday dress in time for Sunday. Woo hoo! She wore it to church today. Hmm..... less successful on Mr 7's Sunday clothes. Oh well, there's always next week.


Miss 10 was out of her new dress and into her new nightie as soon as we got home from church! (today is kind of a jammie day for us!) I finished the nightie yesterday too.

I am 2/3 of the way through turning my bargain Ikea fabric into wardrobe curtains. As you can see from the photo below our wardrobe is a mess! We have 3 Ikea "coat racks" on the wall in our room with Malm drawers either side. We also have shoe racks (under the coat racks), mirrors and lights (all from Ikea). They form our "built-in" wardrobe. We always planned to put up curtains, but had to wait until we couldn't stand to look at for another moment. (of course)
This is the now not so messy look we were going for. I just love that fabric! We moved into this room not so long ago and we are still working on it. (Well maybe 6 months, doesn't time fly!!!)This one tiny portion of the room is how I want it to look. So, if I just face this corner and squint it's all good.
This week holds all kinds of possibilities. It's quite exciting standing on this side of Sunday with the week stretching out infront of me!

Saturday's WIPs

This is usually what I am doing on Saturday mornings. But not today! My kids play district basketball and Saturday used to be full of travelling and watching. This season they're all playing on different days, so I plan to sew today.


Trousers for Mr 7 from this fabric,

and curtains for my wardrobe from this Ikea bargain. ($2 a metre at their June sale.)
Hopefully there will be photos of something finished soon!

Today's crafting

Several of my daughters are doll makers, or softie makers. While I was young I spent time making doll's clothes, but never dolls. I liked the idea of making dolls and even bought fabric for a pattern I found in magazine, but I never actually made a doll! Well, here she is! My first doll. In all her naked glory. As soon as she's dressed I'm sending her off to Mikes for their softies for Mirabel drive. Today Pip said on Mikes blog "it's not too late!" So I thought I'd better give this girl a face and a dress and send her off!


Wip. I cut out this fabric from spotlight

using this pattern
for Miss 10's "Sunday" dress. And spent time knitting the scarf I'm working on while the kids played at a homeschooling friend's house. I love knitting because it's just so portable! I have carted all kinds of projects around with me over the years. You know, to ballet, basketball (training and games), music lessons, ante-natal visits, craft classes, ice skating, picnics (we homeschoolers go to a lot of picnics!) etc, etc! In the past I have taken any kind of hand work, but these days I like to take knitting. You just need less stuff to do it!

Only 4 weeks and 6 days till Christmas!

Isn't that scary?!!! I'm planning to have a handmade Christmas and time is running away from me! Our tree went up November 13. This photo is an "under construction" photo. Our tree is much more lovely now. You can see my window seat in the background.



I have really been enjoying the namoblo...... whatever it's called! Some of my favourite bloggers have been posting every day and I'm loving it! It has actually inspired me to post more often too! And not just for people who come to read my blog. I'm enjoying rereading my posts too! Looking at how people who are posting every day post has changed the way I post too. I can now post just one photo and be happy! I can also post without a photo. Well, I'm not so comfortable with that one! I just love photos and seeing what everyone else has done! I made a nightie today for one of my older daughters. I'm having so much fun sewing clothes at the moment. Even the simplest clothes you make are so much better than store-bought clothes for all sorts of reasons! The nightie I made today was made of seersucker which I bought on clearance from Spotlight and cost me $2.50. It's cool and covers you too! So many nighties in the shops are so short and have no sleeves! Tomorrow I hope to work on "Sunday" clothes for Mr 7 and Miss 10.

It's HOT!!! (listen to me whinge)

At the moment this is my favourite photo. It's the slushie/icee stand at our local 24 hour servo. (What's with all this 24 hour stuff? Now Maccas is open 24/7 too! Go to bed people! No wonder we're all so tired.)

I love the whole "chill" concept. We are still having temperatures over 30 degrees celcius (36 today) and I'm done. It's not even summer yet! Talk about global warming! My teenagers were busily engaged in a conversation today discussing the natural consequences of hot weather and how it forces you to slow down. Slow down? I've come to a stop. Hopefully I will make something tomorrow!

Something else I made.

It's a bag. I think I like making bags. I'm not sure if this is because I love bags so much or if I just appreciate the utillitarian aspects of bags. I have stuff, and I need something to carry it around in. There's also the decorative aspect of bags to be taken into consideration. If you have some really groovey fabric what better way to show it off than draping it over your shoulder?

This bag was made from some of a "jellyroll" I bought from the patchwork apple. (I love that shop!) I quite like jellyrolls because they have the entire range of fabric contained within them. I don't know what quilting shops are like where you live, but here in Adelaide you don't often get access to an entire range of fabric. Even if Jane (the patchapple lady) ordered an entire range she might not get it. Especially if it is popular in other states. We in Adelaide have to be happy with dregs or shop on-line. I have never done that, but it's something I'm now considering seriously! What's your best place to shop on-line for fabric?

Last week in review

We have been a part of some momentous occassions this week. It's interesting how some things immediately seem to be momentous, but others only become momentous upon reflection. I'm not sure what kinds of momentous we have had this week. A bit of both I suspect.

The first immediately momentous occassion occurred on Tuesday afternoon when Miss 17 sat her last high school examination ever. She is so thrilled to be finished school "forever", or at least until she begins university next year! She still has her art exhibition this coming Thursday evening, but just has to turn up and then disassemble her art works at the end of the night. She spent some time stressing over the last month or so, but not a lot of time. Her beautiful Bradley-built wardrobes were covered in notes for her exams several times.


I have spent this past week reading "new" blogs. Reading and bookmarking. It's amazing just how many people out there are spending time blogging! Well, I guess not that amazing, because I do it, why wouldn't others? What is amazing to me is how few bloggers I know in real life. Just Picklesticks and Tina. Maybe I know others who are secret bloggers. Who use psuedenoms and only blog in the dark. Maybe.

I quite often mention my blog in passing in casual conversations I have with people. So far no-one has even commented when I have casually mentioned it. Not even "Really? You have a blog?". No "what's your url?". And definitely no "Oh yes, I know. I read it religiously!". Looking at all these different blogs has made me consider my blogging. Why do I blog? I'm not really sure. I know I like it. I know I enjoy feeling part of a community. Not something that I feel very often out in the cold, harsh, cruel world. This blogging world is warm and soft. Cushiony even. I like that. Maybe I like to do it because it's better than talking to myself! I can write all I am thinking and feeling and have some feeling that somebody out there will read it and know what I'm talking about. I think it helps me too, to have a record of my achievements and ideas. Initially this is why I started blogging. But it seems to be evolving into a place to share my thoughts as well. Isn't this fun?

I guess we have slowly slipped into summer. The last few days have been hot and the forecast for the next week is the same. This view of the pool is what I'll be looking at most afternoons as my youngest children cool off. Kids stamina for mucking around in the pool never ceases to amaze me. Today they went in twice and had to be dragged out both times. Fun!!!

I, of course, would much rather be in front of a fan sewing. Today I sewed a bag. It was fun. It is a patchwork bag. I love putting the fabrics and colours together. I also love piecing. It's so fun. I have been thinking about the softy I will make for Meet Me At Mike's Mirabella cause. I think I'm going to piece the fabric. Hmm..... this requires thought.

The end of another day

This is what the end of today looked like from my backyard. It was a warm day and it didn't turn out how I planned, but it was still a good day.





This is one part of Mr 13's new room. Malm drawers and Vestby wardrobe from Ikea. He chose a fabric by Prints Charming for the front of his Vestby. It really makes the room feel happy! We moved all his furniture in yesterday and today Bradley did the finishing touches. Put up mirrors, pinboards, and hooks.

Mr 13 has a Tromso loft bed from Ikea too. Miss 10 thinks this could be an Ikea display room because just about everything is from Ikea. Almost.

Miss 15 rearranged her room this week. I live in a house full of interior designers! You might recognise the pink cushion on her bed from Picklestick's blog, she gave the cushion to Miss 15.

One of our unplanned activities today was swimmimg. It was a warm day and the kids wanted to cool off in the pool. The frog sits on top of our thermometer. The water was 26 degrees today. That's my benchmark. Any cooler and I don't go in. But today the water was 26 degrees so I swam too. The water restictions in South Australia decree that you need a pool blanket for a pool. It is one of the best things we have bought for our pool! It raises the water temperature and keeps it warm for longer. We have enjoyed our pool much more since getting the pool blanket. It also stops evaporation too.

We are so glad to be finished Mr 13's room. Now on to the next project. The entry and hallway. Stand by for progress photos of the hallway!

My week

I can't believe that it is Friday! This week has gone by so quickly. Well, I have achieved some things. Mr 13's room is finished and today we will move him in. I'll show you some photos when his furniture is in. I have also been to IKEA twice. Okay. I know it's an obsession. It's up there with fabric and patchwork shops in my life. Anyway, I have a good excuse for the two visits. I went to help two different people. I have also signed up to make a softie for Mirabel and Mike. Notice I said "signed up" and not "made". I don't often make softies, but it seems like a good cause so I thought I would help out.

This photo is another one taken at Melba's (the chocolate factory) on the weekend. Don't you just love trees? I do. I couldn't resist taking a photo of this beautiful fig tree. Fruit trees are one of my favourite types of trees. I also love tree shade. I remember being a small child when I realised that the shade from trees was "better" than other shade. It's cooler and more refreshing than man made shade. Living in a hot place I appreciate the quality of tree shade.
These jam labels are also from Melba's. I took this photo because I remember the jam label's from my breakfast table as a child. Growing up I was an avid reader and I spent a lot of time looking at labels because they had words on them.
This is Mr 7 on a comfy chair at Melba's. The chair was carved out of a piece of wood and he loved it! It fitted him perfectly! Back to the crafting grindstone!

A day at Woodside

We had to go to the Adelaide Hills today. I was quite pleased about this, because my favourite patchwork shop (the Patchwork Apple) is in the Hills. We made a flying stop to the patchapple (our family's nickname for that shop!) and then we went to the chocolate factory in Woodside. I had never been there before. Today was a lovely day. Cool and gray with intermittent rain. My favourite kind of day.

So, not only is it a chocolate factory, but it's a shop too! They have lots of chocolates and even lollies for sale. Apparently the building used to be a butter factory and they have some old butter making equiptment on display.
They also have lots of chocolate/lolly memorabilia on display too. Don't you LOVE the giant life saver packet?
This is the view across the road from the factory. If you ignore the stuff at the bottom of the photo it's pretty picturesque. It was drizzling when I took the photo, hence the haze in the distance.
For some reason I've loaded this photo sideways. ( So much for my incredible new computer skills!) These are Mr 7's brand new pajamas. A little crumpled because I finished them yesterday and he wanted to wear them straight away, so they're slept in. The zebras came from spotlight a few years ago. (Hey! I'm a sewer. It goes without saying that my house is full of fabric. What else do you insulate cupboards with?)
The weekend is the time I "plan" out the next week. I say "plan" loosely because I don't plan so much as dream about what I could achieve next week. I had a great day today, so my dreams for next week are kind of large and unachievable! Let's see how I go. I dream of sewing, knitting, painting, writing, planning for "Art the Hart" (a festival/market at Port Adelaide), and lots more!

November

It's November! This week's knitting is a scarf. OK. I know that a scarf is nothing exciting, but this one is kind of pretty. I'm using two 8ply acrylic yarns and 6.5mm needles and a broken rib. So much easier than rib. I love fat yarn and fat needles! It makes it go so fast. I am doing a little each morning and evening and when I need to take a project with me. Knitting is so portable.

Work is progressing slowly on Mr 13's room. They are in the middle of laying a floating floor. They've got a whole team thing happening with Bradley on the saw and Mr 13 actually laying the floor. He's getting quite good at it. Their only problem is finding time! Oh! And the room is difficult. Most of the corners are not 90 degree corners, so there's lots of cutting to do.

I have been visiting Cherry Menlove's new forum. (Cherry of Pixie Wood) It's lots of fun! Pop in and chat if you like!

And not so fun was reading about "Meet Me At Mike's" sign being stolen. Vandalism is just so thoughtless and unkind. And expensive.

It's interesting, because this internet community must really be a community. I'm enjoying visiting with "friends" on Cherry's forum and I really felt upset to read about Mike's problems! See you later guys!