HOLIDAYS!

I hope I haven't given the impression that I'm sailing smoothly along here.

It's hard, very hard to keep all the balls in the air. 

Today I talked it over with a friend in my class and she's feeling the same way. 

I've thought numerous times of quitting.

As she said 'the important things are being left undone'

Time with our kids, helping out with school, fitness, health and visiting older relatives.

Last week on Friday I was close to tears in class, it was so hard and just full on!

So while I recommend it to anyone, be prepared for your life to start becoming 

very regimented and at the same time messy. 

Like this studio-office-storage room. 

It's a disaster and one of my holiday projects is to get it organised again

so I don't feel like I'm totally loosing the plot!

Happy Holidays!!

I can do that!

I can sew!

It's so great to finally look through my pattern collection and not feel daunted. 

I am planning to make something over the holidays for me or Bossy. 

These are the choices

I could make this for Bossy

I couldn't make the blazer yet but the skirt, top and pants - yes
dare I say 'easy'.....

I could definitely make these pants.

And even this dress!

Learning to sew has been one of the best things I've ever done!

Cusomised 'Bella' Lamp from Freedom

Today I went shopping and one of the things I bought was this 

Bella lamp from Freedom.

And when I assembled it I cusomised it using my vintage chandelier crystals!!

I knew I hung onto them all these years for a good reason.

I feel like I just made an average lamp very special!

And I have more left over for another time.

Painted Stripes Kitchen Floor.

I like it.

Actually I love it!

However, in hindsight what I'd do different is paint the whole thing with the lightest colour 

so all the dark cracks get filled. 

That's where planning comes in handy. 

Paint everywhere!

I'm not the planning type.

I just jump in. 

and so when I found two cans of my favourite paint - Nippon - bought last time I had the painting urge and never used.

I said what the heck I've got the brushes out.

Lets tackle a job that has been 10 years in the wings.

Kitchen floor - I'm almost too ashamed to show these before photos. 

I've had this floor in this condition for 10 years.

How bizarre is that? 

So this is the floor before:

And this is it half way through. 

Third colour still being contemplated. 

Probably going to be pink. 

And here is the end result of the foyer.

Semi Gloss?

Today I painted the foyer. 

This wall is the first thing you see 

as you come in the front door. 

I picked a colour from this vintage cushion cover. 

I love the colour but I think 

I've picked a paint that is a bit too glossy. 

What do you think?

I'm sure it will work ok, it now needs something fun on the wall and a little chandelier. 

Minimal junk of course, 

that will be the hardest part round here.

And how it looked before. 

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.

If you don't like Pom Poms - Look away now!

I've heard there are people who don't like pom poms, 

I found out because one of them is my sister. 

Believe it or not!

 So if you don't like them look away now. 

I've been sewing these skirts and they are almost finished. 

The idea is based on vintage aprons, I love old aprons and always want to wear them out.

Just the hem to do and the waist.

I'm waiting on labels now. 

So I thought I'd get these photos done. 

Colour & Pattern! Doing my head in.

After getting the orders out this morning - I was super organised today - I settled down to pick fabrics for some skirts I want to make. 

Fabrics off the shelf and all over the room matching colours and patterns so they work but at the same time don't end up too 'twee' if you know what I mean - for  Skirt, Trim and Pocket.

Talk about do my head in, I was ready for a lie down after a couple of hours of this. 

Is this how it's done? 

Anyway this is what I came up with. 

Photos when they are done.

Market Bag Project - Photos

I did finish all the market bags I started. I'm not sure whether to sell them on line or work towards a big end of year outdoor market because they look so much better in real life. While I'm thinking about that and moving on to a new project, if I get anything finished today I'll let you know. 

Till then here are some photos of the bags.