My little bossy girl has her own blog...follow it here. http://evedaily.blogspot.com.au/

I did some sewing!

I did some sewing these holidays.

 I tested out some vintage sewing patterns on Bossy. 

Before learning to sew I found all patterns confusing, 

especially vintage ones. I was going to get rid of my collection.

But now, I just love them again.

I understand them. 

From the pictures on the front Bossy chose this skirt.

(I don't know why but I'm not a fan of seams up the front of skirts. 

And it's cut on the bias so I felt it used up more fabric). 

The pretty fabric I chose for this skirt. 

It's unfinished, I think it still needs something. Lace or trim on the hem. 

Actually I guess I should have tried to match the pattern up the front. 

I love how girls stand, there's no self consciousness, no holding in tummies

or making themselves look any different than they are. 

It's beautiful!!

And these are the pants.  

I chose these pants because they have elastic waist but not lots of extra fabric up the top

and a really nice straight leg shape, wide easy to move in. 

From all the vintage fabric on offer she choose this brown stripe.

The fit is good but they are too high in the waist, so I'd take that down next time.

And I also got the pockets in the wrong place, by guessing, 

I'd mark the pattern and do that properly next time too. 

Ok well I'm off to see what else I can tackle.

I hope you created something recently!

Holiday Shopping!

BossyGirl and I spent the afternoon at a local shopping centre. 

I found the whole experience ugly and soul destroying.

It felt pointless and a waste of time.

But maybe that was because I had nothing I needed to buy?

Bossy didn't feel that way. She had $10 holiday money

and it had to be spent. 

She came home with a new very fluffy Beanie Kid and is happy. 

I did find something at the end, a bottle of Spiritual Sky Oil in

Strawberry scent and one whiff took me way back to my 

14th year. And a particular trip to Paddy's Markets

when I had my bag stolen off the train. In that bag

were all my 'treasures' including my Spiritual Sky. 

I still miss that bag.

In the toy shop there was a sign that read 

'it's never too late to have a happy childhood' 

So I bought a bottle!

And then later today I added these tiny pieces to the store.

What inspires you?

I've been a bit of a grumpy bum around here lately. 

Wasn't sure why.

 Then I realised. 

I've not been making things. 

I realised yesterday when BossyGirl 

got out her sewing case and fabric stash. 

(yes it's true I used to get little squares as gifts when ordering quilting fabric from the US. 

She's got about 100 4" squares)

She started off making clothes for Barbie 

and I showed her how to use the sewing machine. 

She then went off and whipped this up for me. 

As a gift, because she loves me. 

Even though I've been grumpy. 

It's the cutest thing ever.

So inspired by her I pulled up my socks 

and got stuck into something I'd had on the 'back burner' for years.

I stretched some new canvases and tidied up the backs of others I had made already. 

When I get it all together they will be for sale, somewhere. 

I've not decided where yet. 

What inspires you to actually get moving!

Bathed In Pink: Bossy's new Wardrobe wall.

Here is my BossyGirl's new wardrobe, 

installed last week.

It's pink. 

And we love it.

She is now bathed in pink.

It's not as big as it looks, 

still could do with another one.

But that's hoarding for you. 

Here's a shot of that wall before.

And all the mess it has hidden got rid of.

Don't worry I do feel affection and nostagic for how it was, can't say I didn't like all the shabbolic mess.

But these photos were taken on a tidy day, it did at times drive me mad.

Life got in the way.

I will return! 

Meanwhile here's a photos of Bossy's Cake. 

And I reckon I'm still ahead on the 2 per day so can afford a few days off. 

Life just got in the way.

Really hoping April will be a bit more relaxed.

Bossy! Turns 10

This week we had a special event take place.

Bossy turned 10. 

I must say it did feel special the night before.

When I thought 'this is the last night she'll be 9'

For some reason 10 is a big deal. 

There's a party on the weekend with presents, cake and a pinata!

Happy Birday!!

I hope the next 10 move a little slower.

My Next Project - Dress for BossyGirl

I should have had a lovely dress made for Bossy for her upcoming 10th birthday.

But I don't.

However, I am planning one now and she is keen too. 

Here is an image of the dress pattern and the fabric. 

I choose new fabric because it takes so much fabric! 

I bought 4 yards.

(I can't bare to make it with vintage just in case it doesn't turn out ok. Funny how I think.)

 Looks simple enough.

 

The fabric is this cat one by Tammis Keefe

It's really hard to pinch an image of this fabic, I got this one from Google Images. 

The plan is to find a thin pink and white stripe to put along the bottom of the dress. 

I'll match that colour when the fabric arrives.

And if it all goes well I'll post a photo. 

If it fails, well lets not think about that.

And speaking of dresses for girls, the little dress that I made last year at school,

I entered it in the Regional Show.

Over the years my mother has entered lots of stuff.

 Cakes and lots of Roses, that was when we lived in 'the big house' and had a gardner.

Yes, a real live full time gardener with a huge beautiful flower garden and extensive fruit and vege garden.

Childhood was bliss.

I've always wanted to enter something in The Show.

So I entered my dress, for fun.

Bossy captured a photo of it on display.

Maybe next year I'll have a new one to enter.

Happiness comes in lots of colours. But red is best.

I've put a lot of time and effort nurturing BossyGirl's creativity.
Till she went to school we did craft every day, sometimes all day.
Her father built her a little studio in the backyard, paint, pottery wheel,  origami, plaster, glue you get the picture.
She's also a reader, lots and lots of books.
And we still have at least an hour together playing every morning.

But things have changed lately, since Christmas when I caved and allowed Bossy
  free time on the computer.
She calls it her 'hour of power'. Sometimes it's longer.
 It's not a 'happy hour' for me though. It kills me watching her while away her time playing what I see as mindless games.

I struggle with it so much.

 I've been asking friends and neighbours for clues to making some sense of it all. As yet I've failed. Some say let her go and find her own limits, but after three hours I knew that wouldn't work - then others laughed when I thought that three hours was a long time. 
Some say it will be a phase
like dressing goth and/or dying her hair pink.

(can't wait for that phase, I think I'll do my hair too!!)

Today things took a different turn, who know's if it's good or bad.
Today BossyGirl won a DS Lite XL from the library (believe it or not - why not an ereader or ipad??).
She's pretty pleased and I'm pleased for her, I'm just very very wary.

It's a darn cute toy though, and as she has no actual games on it, it's quite creative!!
Maybe the only reason I don't like her 'hour of power' is because she was on my MY computer?!!  ;)

 If there is one girl who deserves and has wanted one of these for the longest time then it's you baby. 

Go Bossy!!

Thank Heavens for Little Girls

It's still school holiday time here, till Monday at least. 

It's been a really great holiday and I have two little girls to thank for a big part of that. My BossyGirl being an only child often hankers for friends to play with close by. This holiday she has almost overdosed, but has not tired of, her two good friends Lily and Lyla.

They've been over for days at a time, lunch, dinner, out and about and sleeping over. 

It's been brilliant. 

And to celebrate having time to work I listed these fabrics for you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND WHAT A YEAR!

I woke up this morning with a yearning to get in early and review the year. So here goes. 

2010

We kicked off the year looking out this window. Fireworks and good times. I suffered the next day and spent New Year's day in bed while BossyGirl and my Bestie Marg went off to the movies. 

We went overnight to Blackheath and stayed here. I bought a huge fabric collection and we looked up my old friend. 

Kiama and Woollongong were fantastic in April and just as good again in October. We stayed at the Buddhist Temple Nan Tien first time round and can highly recommend it. We  saw the blow hole and climbed this tower, 

 Bossy nearly didn't make it and half way up I had to talk her through it

 Lucky the weather was still ok for the Jambaroo Action Park and it was so much fun. We took the Grand Pacific Drive home - going the 'wrong' way and were caught in a terrifying electrical storm. I've never been more frightened. Bossy rode shotgun working the fog lights and we felt like Thelma and Louise.

Bossy and I went to Fashion Week in Sydney with my lovely classmates from Tafe and that was a blast, big exhausting day but worth it. 

I sewed and sewed. This skirt was one of my first projects. Market day and a fashion parade ended the Tafe year. 

We went on a Grug Promotional to the Sydney Children's Festival and watched the Grug play, which was totally excellent. 

Bossy also went to Tassie on her first plane. I just found the photos after the computer ate them.

How do those things stay up in the air?

(I survived that one, 'just remember to Breath!'.)

We said goodbye to this beast, it was a bit sad as I'd had that car for about 9 years, so it had grown quite comfortable and like family. 

But...there are no regrets, the novelty of this darling has not worn off. It still has the 'new' smell and I love it. 

We went north in October also. We always stop, remember and be grateful at the 'our girls' memorial at Bulahdelah. I always buy something to leave there for the girls and their grandmother. 

We cruised in my sister's new car. It's red and she won it!! Can you believe it!

We had a go at Chooks, but the neighbours didn't like them and who knew chooks could fly? I also got a surprise when the didn't come when called, strange creatures chooks. We borrowed them from a friend so there was no drama with the change of plan. I want to give them another go but with a proper enclosure built.

BossyGirl grew up before my very eyes. She danced, gym-d, aerobic-d, played the Keyboard and was as bossy as ever. 

Fabulous results at School with academic excellence for the third year in a row.

But she still can be as silly as she should be at 9.

Hey! thats about it. One fast year. 

Thanks for visiting.

You are all really cool for dropping by and I appreciate that. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS