Top Ten Things...

...to do when you are laid up flat on your (bad) back in bed for nearly 4 days!

What started as a tweak picking up my toddler daughter one day turned into fully fledged agony the next day. I am sure the garden gnomes looking in our windows would have been doubled over with tears in their eyes from laughing so hard watching me try to get off the couch for that 20 minutes. But the tears in my eyes weren't from laughing. I was unable to stand or even crawl to get to a phone and was panicking that no one would get to pick up my son from school.

So working hubby became house hubby for ensuing days and I had an enforced stay in bed.

So what are the top 10 things to do when you are confined to bed in a relatively immobile position?

1 Stare at the ceiling

Novelty of this wore off after about 2 minutes. Not on the "highly recommended" list...

2 Watch the daily soapies

I can honestly say that I didn't succumb to Days or Dr Phil or the mid avo cooking shows. I did watch "Days of our Lives" for about 1/2 hour just to confirm that the 18 year old actresses are still dressing and made up like 35 year olds. Oh, and that nothing has happened in the last 10 years since I have watched an episode. And I watched "Bold and the Beautiful" just long enough to see if Ridge is still engaged to, married to or divorcing Brooke. Yep! Oh, and look at that! He's dying his hair now.

3 Read a book start to finish

Since having kids, reading has gone onto the luxury list (and, I have to be honest, has pretty much become stolen moments on the loo when the kids haven't noticed that I've disappeared for 5 minutes) I borrowed "The Kite Runner" (by Khaled Hosseini) a year ago from a friend and have managed to avoid reading it up until now. When I do get a chance to read, I stick to lightweight stuff or thrillers and I knew that this was going to be on the heavy side.

But I read it. A whole book in a couple of days. Can't remember the last time that I had that luxury.

Brilliant, brilliant book. But sad. Consider yourself warned.

4 Resist the temptation of telemarketing

Steam mops, steamer ovens, mineral 6 in 1 makeup (with the host unfortunately a New Zealander who seemed to be selling "Sex in 1"), the latest ultimate abdominal exerciser, funeral plans, the best chammy in the world.

My husband should consider himself blessed that he left me within reach of a phone but not within reach of my credit card or else I would be awaiting the delivery of a few (useless, shove-in-the-corner-to-gather-dust-until-I-sell-on-ebay) things right about now!

5 Crochet myself a hat

I have had this pattern kicking around for a while and really don't know what to think. The cover picture on the pattern made me think of an elegant cloche, vintage type of hat but in reality it is just an elegant type of beanie. Jury is still out on whether I like it or not. But I'll probably wear it- wherever I would wear a beanie.



Brianna Mewborn Flip-Top Beanie (OK so it is called a beanie...maybe I should have know that it would be a beanie) as modelled by 5 year old dear son. My boys like it so maybe they can wear it if I don't.

6 Direct the household

I couldn't relax even though there was nothing I could do to help around the house. Hubby works long hours and I am primary carer so he needed (wanted is probably more accurate) a lot of advice, probably because I was there to give it. He copes just fine when I am not around. But why did I feel guilty that I was incapacitated and had to delegate everything.

PS Hubby didn't make me feel guilty. Just a typical mum's mentality I think.

7 Finish that skirt

I started crocheting this skirt for myself at Easter. Had a few setbacks when I started and lost a bit of momentum so it has been my here and there project. But I finally finished it. Yay!


Violet Beauregard skirt from Debbie Stoller's The Happy Hooker (Stitch'n'Bitch)
Note to self- chenille is a pain-in-the-you-know-where to crochet with, especially if you have call to undo it...


Detail of hem


Detail of flowers on ties


8 Rest

Hard to do. Don't like doing nothing.

9 Continue caffeine intake

I am sure that the worse thing that I could do when I am suffering is add caffeine withdrawal to my list of woes so luckily hubby kept me plied with coffee.

10 Fill in 20 minutes by deciding to have a wee

2 positions of comfort are standing straight or lying flat; nothing in between. So getting out of bed, walking to the toilet, sitting, standing back up (that one there was the real challenge; thanking the bathroom goddess for those towel rails within reach), getting back to bed and getting back into bed...I made damn sure my bladder was full before I went!

And then I made a vow to remember to appreciate my good health once I had it back
(even as I succumbed to a head cold and was in agony every time I sneezed)

But the worse thing? Even though I am more mobile now my back doesn't like me sitting so I am not sure when I will get back to the sewing machine.

Winter Sewing

Oliver and S Bedtime Story PJs and a Miss Buttons doll



About the only clothes that my daughter needs for this winter are piggy piggy jam jams so I upcycled a vintage flannelette sheet to make up the kimono style PJs from Oliver and S.







Simple to put together and I love kimono style clothing. I'd like to make a few pairs of these in a summer version too.







However my daughter refused to even try them on so I thought that I'd make a matching doll to encourage her.







I adapted the Sew Your Own Miss Buttons pattern to give her matching PJs and little terry bed socks.

But the evil mummy in me couldn't resist leaving her trouserless. We are currently fighting a battle with Mae every sleep time because she takes her leggings off and her nappy and we are sick of washing wee'd on sheets. She is currently going to sleep wearing a backward nappy with masking tape over the tabs to keep her from removing them.







They should find a lot to talk about.

Yay for me.

I won a competition!

Thanks to the gorgeous Kat!

I won her blog competition and so I have won some jewellery. Woohoo! Happy dance! Will keep you posted.

Robot Rumble

For my son's 6th birthday party

After lengthy discussions about how stressed mummy would get having to construct a scene from Transformers for a birthday cake, my son conceded that it might perhaps be a little tough (next year, babe!) and is now fired up for a robot party. (Mummy is also fired up. A robot cake should be a breeze compared to a 3D Transformer cake)

So after a lot of tweaking, printing, cutting and pasting, my boys are ready to go out into the big wide world. I am trying to shake off visions of Cybermen in the latest Dr Who (though with them comes vision of David Tennant so it's not all bad....) but these are decidedly nice tin men.


My boys.



Party details are under the tummy flap...I know I have a tummy flap but do robots even have tummies?



Basically I enjoy the challenge of making the invites and decorating the cakes but by the 3rd time round each year I am over it. I guess it comes back to the whole "home made" thing. I still prefer that to ripping invites off a mass produced pad.

Now back to domestic responsibilities...

Beating the Winter blues

...by sewing for summer

It is cold and rainy here with 2 out of 3 sick kidlets so I decided a great day to just sew as hubby is around to take on his share of babysitting. I know that we are heading INTO winter but the reality is that Miss Maisy Mae has more than enough clothes to get her through the cold months.

So I made a summer dress instead!

Pattern was ZozoBugBaby Little Bow Chic Dress; superstraightforward and quick to put together in spite of the attempts of my overlocker to sabotage the sewing process (To be fair, it may be my fault in that I have chomped too many pins and a new blade may be in order so maybe we can take half the blame each)





Body is a vintage pillowcase fabric and frill is Farmer's Market Pomegranite Seeds.





The model only gets out of bed for copious amounts of chocolate!

Back to more practical crafting, like crocheting beanies for my boys!

The Bag Lady

Another one...Ali Foster Fold Over Clutch

This is a really simple bag but I loved the concept. Body fabric is a remnant of heavy vintage polished cotton that I love. Lining and strap is a Japanese lightweight open weave linen with a matroyshka doll print...who doesn't love a Matroyshka doll print?

In spite of its simplicity (or perhaps because of it) I still managed to muck it up. I put the strap on back to front so that the snap was facing the wrong way. So I folded it under and sewed the edges down. It isn't noticeable; it just shortens the effective body of the bag by a couple of centimetres.

I left off the wrist strap.








I don't have much of a life to support my current bag sewing splurge; I can see this getting used to carry around my small crochet projects.

On the other hand, I am aiming to "live my inner style" so I should make an effort to use them!

Time to make some clothes now methinks!

Thanks for looking.

For little old me!

All mine..for once!

I haven't sewn for myself for a long time and have only just started buying patterns and fabric all for me! It is very different buying a metre of fabric here and there for little clothes versus enough to make something for mummy-sized! I have been buying a few Favourite Things skirt patterns and a few Indygo Junction patterns have been sneaking into the stash too.

I looked at my wardrobe a few months ago in despair: lots of clothing that fit pre-children; clothes from my Uni days (a looooong time ago now!); and too many shapeless, comfy clothes. So I made myself a promise. Each time I made myself something that I loved, 2 things in my wardrobe that I didn't like, that didn't fit or that I didn't wear would go to charity or otherwise.
So far, so good. It is a slow process but cleansing.

I told someone that other day that I had my own style- but that it was currently on the inside; not on the outside (at the time I was probably wearing tracky daks and a shapeless jumper) But I envisage myself wearing clothes that are completely different to what I actually wear- vintage, unique, maybe even quirky. That was how I dressed at Uni but I haven't had the guts to do it since I started work as a professional then as a pregnant person and now as a school mum. Maybe it is time to "reclaim myself"!

Anyhow, I digress.

This is a Favourite Things Hip Skirt- Circle Skirt. I have made it before. It is easy, quick to sew up and comfortable. Recommended pattern! Fabric is Tina Givens for Westminster- Cabbage Roses- which I picked up mega-cheap from a clearance sale on etsy.





I keep thinking that when I lose those extra kilograms, I will start to dress how I really want to. Can't keep doing that; life is rushing by and those kilos don't appear to be in a hurry to go anywhere. So if I can sew myself some comfortable clothes that I adore, I think that I will be happy! And I kinda adore this.

I've Been Published...

...well, sort of!

I have been wanting to get some labels made for my sale items for a while now and recently the Aussie dollar crawled its way back up to respectability so I did it! Woohoo!

I went down the conservative route- classic black and white. I make clothes, bags, crocheted items; I use a large range of colours. So I thought that this would be the most useful for me.

Great service from webquilter. Impressed with the whole shebang!

"Little Boozle" comes from my childhood. About the time that I started sewing again nearly 2 years ago, my dear nan became sick with a terminal illness. In reminiscing about my times with her, I remembered her nickname for me when I was a little girl. No one in the family had thought about it for years and it seemed perfect, especially as a lot of the creative influence in my young life was from both of my nans. Miss you Nan.

The Productive Lush

Sewing at Sewjourn

In spite of the consumption of excesses of caffeine, moderate alcohol courtesy of some margaritas, and lots of sugar, we did actually get some sewing and crafting done!

I think I got more sewn in 1 and 1/2 days at Sewjourn than I have managed in that time frame for a very loooooong time.

So here are my offerings:

Portabello Pixie gathered market bag

Towards my mother's late Ma's Day present

Quick to sew up but didn't love the pattern

Keyka Lou Pixie bag

Supercute

Quilting cotton and a vintage pillowslip fabric for the main body

The flap looks lopsided in the photo; not sure why

Melly and Me Latte bag

Cute handbag

Lots of fun making this!

More photos on flickr.

I also came home with some "care packages"- gorgeous Crafty Mamas shop fabrics and patterns and 2 garments from the talented Sara from "Willow and Moo"

Lucky for my daughter that they didn't fit me. Sigh. I will have to live vicariously through her.

Farbenmix Jules

Sara hand dyes and sews these up. I love them. They are just such happy clothes!

Add into the mix some op shopping, bakery goods, books, yarn and other bits and pieces and I can say that our car ride home was chockers...but I was one satisfied productive lush!

Crafty Mamas' Heaven on Earth

Sewjourn Retreat weekend- Lancefield, Victoria

I have just returned from a 4 day weekend travelling to Victoria to meet up in real life with some online friends from Crafty Mamas.

And boy, it was pretty darn close to perfect. I travelled over from Adelaide with Tracy
and the time just flew by. By the time we had returned, we knew each other pretty well. She is a passionate soul and has a selfless, supportive spirit. Plus she loves op shops. And she's toilet trained. So really a perfect travel companion! She is also much more passive than me so tempered my road rage quite well!

We spent our first day travelling then spending time in Bendigo then spent the weekend at Sewjourn in Lancefield, Victoria with 7 other ladies and a couple of other girls who dropped by. The place is beautifully set up for fun and crafting.

My trip? It had a bit of everything (and a lot of a few things like craft talk, laughter and home baked cookies!)...

Road trip, country bakeries, op shops, friendly people, Thai food, fuel efficient car, brass bed, vintage shops, Bendigo Woollen Mill, coffee, child-free sewing, laughter, coffee, sleep deprivation, the chemical characteristics of washing powders, lots of home cooked cakes and slices, margaritas, tutorials, bookshops, pub food, coffee and a heck of a lot of fun!

The Retreaters were Tracy, Peta, Sara, Caroline, Tracey, Cinna, Suzanne and our mascot, Suzanne's baby Indigo.

And I think what I really appreciated was the joy of physically sharing my passion for creating and sewing. Not one of my close friends have an interest in sewing and craft...which was why I found myself on-line with these people in the 1st place. Their support, generosity and enthusiasm really helps me move forward with increasing confidence. But to sit down, share a cuppa, a chat and a sewing session was just bliss.

Thank you girls for such an awesome weekend. Here's to the next!