Sunday, March 14, 2010

sleepy and selfish


What a funny week that has been had. Felt like I was under some sort of a strange spell. 
There has been sickness and sleep deprivation too, so I've been relying on a lot of stimulants just to make it thru. But as always there have been lovely moments to savour.
The pears are dropping in abundance. If you live locally and want some let me know.
They are organic and from a prolific 100 year old grandaddy tree. Bon cretien variety.

I try my darnest to make sure none get wasted, but most years we resort to putting free bags of them on the side of the footpath. Upside is they have always been chocka in our freezer and make great winter crumble (with cardamon and cashews and ginger) and baby food galore. So far, no one has been donked by one falling. But the kids are in the direct line of fire as the sand pit is under the tree. Maybe I should enforce helmet wearing in the sandpit right thru march.
The veg garden has been wrapped in its snuggly winter pea straw blanket. 
 
I have discovered new ways to redirect the attention of the smallest child. She is dextrious and carefull enough to play with the pins in their cushion and also the old cotton reels, but alas she has tired of it lately. This is where bowls of things have come in handy. Bowls of nuts in their shells and measuring cups to transfer them to and fro in. A bowl of drift wood pieces and string. Who isn't partial to sucking on a salty piece of driftwood?I got myself a whole hour this way.

It's these little set ups that buy me time to sew along side her. A few seams in a dress that I work on and off on over a couple of days. I still feel selfish when I'm not sewing to finish an order or for the kids, but I have been working very hard to try and over come this. To proove it, I have a few garments to show that I've sewn for myself over summer.
A burda pattern, Comfy as with a side zip and lots of twirlability.

The was the first of my Japanese patterns (also from stylish dress book no.1).
It's a bit of a preggy number if you are used to things being more fitted.
But it's one that I will wear outside the house nevertheless. A good winter smock for wearing with merinos underneath.

This is a winner. A little Anna Maria number. A shape which I think would suit all shapes and sizes. I love the side seam pockets and I' m already cutting out another!

And finally, dress S from stylish dress book no.2. 

Fabric from these guys.

Had some probs with this one. But nothing that wasn't rectifiable with the seam ripper and made right again. It has a flouncy Alice in Wonderland feel to it. Not too Grand Motherly and pinny-like I hope. 


The pattern doesn't suggest you do the shirring high around the waist. But this clever lady does. I don't think it would of been right without it and it was so much fun to do, that I think I might be doing a lot more of it from now on.

It has to be said that one of the reasons I really like these patterns is because they have a lot of pleating and gathering around the neck lines. They puff and billow but look equally good cinched with a belt or shirring. This does wonders for creating fullness around a bust that is lacking or has dramatically diminished in size (having been suckled by 3 gorgeous babies for 3 years and ten months total). Not so selfish after all.