kcwc update, a couple of cowl neck dresses and a bonnet

I've been doing really well on the sewing front this week,

not so well on the blogging front. 

There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day.............

I spent Day 1 (Monday) printing, cutting and taping patterns.

Day 2 and 3 , I made two Heidi and Finn Cowl Neck Jumper Dresses.

A dear friend has two little girls who both celebrated their birthdays this month and as soon as I saw this dress I knew I wanted to make one for each of them.

I bought the stretch fabric from my local fabric shop.

I really loved the stripey versions I had seen around blogland so that was what really guided my fabric purchases.

I think this is the first time I've made an actual garment from stretch fabric so my knowledge is next to zero about such things but I'm happy to report the dresses turned out fabulously.

I made them almost entirely on my overlocker, only using my sewing machine to hem the sleeves and the bottom of the skirt.

I made a size 2 and a size 4.  I really enjoyed making these super quick and easy dresses and will certainly be making more.

I made a little headband to go with the size 2 using some scraps and my hot glue gun.

I got Bethany to model the size 4, even though she has just turned 6 she fit into it. It's a little small and I would definately make her a size 5, but at least you get to see what it looks like on!

She was not happy to model it though :(

Day 4 (Thursday) I made a bonnet for Aimee using a pattern by Amy Karol.

I have used this pattern once before, funnily enough for one of the little girls who I made the Cowl Neck Jumper Dresses for.

Aimee is studying "the olden days" at school this term, and she will be going on an excursion in a few weeks time to a heritage listed house and the children are encouraged to dress in period costume.

This is once again a very quick and easy pattern to make.  I really enjoy making these bonnets, although I do think they are most suited to babies. 

Other then the excursion, I cannot see my kids wearing it out!

Today, like Jo from Bubala, I am giving myself the day off from sewing.

I spent today trapsing around Calmsley City Farm with 30 odd Kindergarteners (including my own) for a school excursion.

Suffice to say I am pooped! 

I'm still hoping to get a few more things made, or at least started, before the week is up.  Fingers crossed! 

How about you, how's your sewing for kcwc going?

kids clothes week challenge

Well, on a whim, I just signed up for KCWC.

I've been reading about it for the past couple of years all over bogland and seeing though I've got a few kids sewing projects lined up for this week I thought 'why not'.

So tonight I'm watching Dexter and cutting out a size 2 of

Heidi & Finn's Cowl Neck Jumper Dress and

a child's size bonnet by Amy Karol.

What about you, have you signed up?

Alex

 Today is the last day of the school holidays. 

There has been much going on around here. 

Some great sewing, some not so great sewing, outings, chilling out, a week away, with some crocheting thrown in. 

All of which I will get around to sharing with you, my dear readers. 

All of which I'm sure would be of more interest to you, but today there is only one thing consuming my little families thoughts. 

The loss of our dear, dear budgie Alex. 

He escaped while we were away, I won't go into the how and why.

He was the sweetest, most clever bird. 

He mimicked our whistles and chirped away when we talked to him. 

He was such a social bird and would jump over and cling to the side of the cage whenever we walked passed, just to interact. 

We let him out of his cage inside the house regularly so he could stretch his wings and get some excercise, but he would more often then not just sit on our shoulder. 

He "talked" loudly and happily in our ear and just loved us.  And we loved him.  

We bought Alex back in October 09.

 

He was Aimee's special bird. 

The loss has affected her deeply. 

And Bethany too. 

I didn't know children their age could have such emotional depth and feel loss so swiftly and acutely.

Time will heal us.  It seems so silly to be so upset over such a small creature, but there you have it.

Aimee was so hurt; so wanting to fill the gap left by Alex that she blurted out she wanted another bird so Pelly (Bethany's bird) wouldn't be lonely. 

So we have brought a new budgie into our family.  

I  think Aimee couldn't bear the thought of replacing Alex, so she has named this bird Alex2.

 

Good-bye dear Alex

Six

We spent the day together thanks to the school holidays.  

Went to a classmates Birthday party. 

Made your favourite meal (homemade pizza) for dinner

and had family over for a "Bethany friendly" Birthday cake!

Birthday party still to come, we are having a joint birthday

'tea party' with your bestie in a couple of weeks!!!

Happy Birthday Betty darling

xoxo

Happy Easter

Our day started early with an Easter Egg hunt.

We have accumulated so much chocolate over the last week I think we could open a shop.

 

I could show you how much we have, but I'm too embarrassed!

We got all dolled up to go out to a restaurant with extended family to celebrate Easter, also my mother-in-laws birthday,

and our 12th Wedding Anniversary.

It was a wonderful day!

Hope yours was too

xo

new vintage style and purple heels

Look at my new shoes!

Aren't they just perfect.

Here's a close up of the adorable bow and suede-y goodness.....

My toes are hurting just looking at the photo, but oh how I love them!

I went shoe shopping yesterday.  Not something I do often. 

But I was looking for something to go with a little frock I've been working on for the last week. 

A vintage pattern, Simplicity 5017 to be exact. 

Some of you may remember this pattern from awhile back, when I was trying to decide what to make to wear to my SIL wedding.

Well I've finally gotten around to making what you all favoured at the time.

What pushed me along was the Julia Bobbin: Mad Men Dress Challenge. 

I discovered Julia's delightful blog only a little over a week ago. 

I was so inspired by this challenge I set to making my Betty Draper inspired frock right away. 

I knew I was pushing it to have it ready by the deadline of 30th March, but just had to give it a go anyway! 

Alas, life and previous commitments got in the way and I missed the deadline, but I entered this dress as my Joanie inspired dress anyway. 

So many lovely ladies entered wonderful garments, do click over and have a look.

 

I'm so close to finishing my dress, I hand-picked the zipper last night, yep that's right - I sewed in the zipper BY HAND!

All I have to do now is the hem and I'm done with this baby. 

I'm wearing it out to Easter lunch on Sunday so it has to be finished by then.

Anyway back to the shoes. 

I went out with the hopes of buying some pink or green shoes to go with my frock (just picture a full skirted dress in the above fabric with some lovely hot pink heels.......) but found the colours this season are red, electric blue and purple! 

Well there are flowers in a lovely shade of mauve in the fabric and when I saw those lovely purple heels with the sweet bow I just knew they were the ones!  And even better they were on sale.  It was meant to be I think.

I also did a little bit of naughty, unecessary but oh so fun shopping for a dinner I'm going to tonight. 

I just couldn't wait to wear my new shoes so bought a cute little blouse and a pencil skirt to go with them.

I'll leave you with afew pictures of my new 'vintage inspired' outfit!

In case you're wondering why the colours look different in each photo, it's because of course the sun went behind a cloud when I was ready to take the photo's so they came out a little dark. 

I spent a little time playing around with my photo editing program to improve the pictures. 

What fun. 

I love how they turned out :)))