Delicate Delicate New Life of Spring

 

Sometimes I wish I knew how to make pictures bigger on blogger so that it did them justice a bit better.

Yesterday I wore a skirt and a tank top all day and the maximum temperature was only 16 - but to me that was plenty warm enough to stop wallowing in the depths of winter clothing.

What can I say - the warmer months make me happy!

Below is a pic of my latest haul from the Salvo's. Looking at it now I have actually already used most of it to make shorts for the baby for summer. I'll post a pic later on. I often flick through the vintage patterns at the salvo's just to see what might happen to pop out at me. This one did the other day - I thought it had a nice sillhouete. If anything - it will make a nice summer frock to throw over swimmers at the beach. 

Smashing Smock!

This top is the smock project from the Anna Maria Horner Book - Seams to Me.

I made no alterations to this one - except for adding some ties so that I could nip the top in a little at the waist. However if I make it again, I think that I w ould like to take some fabric off the arm sleeve edge and just bring it in to expose my shoulders a bit more.

I am a size 12 and made the Medium in the book and it fits quite well.

I just used plain cotton fabric with no stretch.

I am by no means an accomplished sewer and I found this project easy - but I did have to study the instructions very thoroughly.

I will most likely make it again - next time I am going to make it in all the same fabric rather than the contrast.

Wardrobe refashion

Eeek! I have have taken the pledge to commit to wardrobe refashioning for the next 2months!!

From over here. The pledge goes like this:

" I pledge that I shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself for the term of the contract. I pledge that I shall create and craft items of clothing for myself with my own hands in fabric yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. "

I do need to make one caveat though - at some time in the next couple of months I am going to need to go out and buy some plain white singlet tops and t-shirts. Being pregnant all last summer has left me with very little in the way of top half coverings and as I practically live in singlets and t-shirts when it is warmer - I can't get by without buying just a few.

I figured that I was pretty much doing this at the moment anyway - so why not take the challenge. That and I need to live simply and be thrifty for the next few months. I enjoy the concept and idea of it - but have been too lazy to do anything about it up till now.

Last week I made 4 skirts and I have plans for another 4. Yesterday I cut off a pair of old cargo pants into shorts and found a really nice pair of black shorts at Vinnies.

I'm ready to see just how creative I can be - AND - I really like the environmental aspects of a challenge like this. I absolutely hate the throwaway nature of our society and clothes sold in the shops now are so expensive considering they are made in China by people who may be living below the poverty line.

When I do come to buying those singlets I need, I'm going to do some research into a brand that is made in Australia I think.

I'll post a pic of my thrifting and sewing later on.

Ahhh Spring....

A rainy day

I have been pretty focussed on exercise and fitness lately and it is eating into the crafting somewhat. However, I went to the Craft and Quilt fair here in canberra on the weekend and it was awesome to say the least.

I am taliking specifically about the quilt show because it was spectacular!

So - of couse - this has me on the verge of another crafting spree and I am really looking forward to recieving all the packages I have recently purchase from the US of fabric and crafting books and particularly a lovely pattern! (For wihich the fabric in the first picture is promised!)

I am also in the process of redesigning this blog - it is slow because it takes time - but it will get there - so stay tuned!

Destruct-a-baby strikes...

Today...my new Real Living magazine arrived in the mail...

Just now I walked back into the lounge to find this:

and what do those innocent eyes say? "What...isn't that why you left it out for me?"

and he can't even crawl yet...eek!

Balance

Ahh it has been such a long time since Imanaged to write anything at all here and I feel very out of touch with all things crafty. Intruth we have both been sick with a recurrent cold and then we went on a trip to Brisbane to visit my mum and friends. Now we are back I am feeling the need to reconnect with the balance that crafting adds to my life.

I have been banging holes in walls left rght and centre this past week, finally putting up some pictures that I have had lying around the place for ages.

I have decided that it is time to make this house of ours feel more like a home and after much deliberation, scouring of magazines and contemplation, I have finally decided on a colour scheme and am making progress towards a more homely home.




The high contrast of the black and the white, the neutrality of the chocolate and the zing of the accent colours of the orange and pink.
We have lots of black and white photo's and we already had a painting using the chocolate and pinks - plus I love that I can add in metallic bits and pieces to give it all some richness.

So I will attempt to get back into the crafting and blogging... next stop - My creative space