A Stitch In Time

Child-centric

Like several other blogging ladies, I've been working on the girls' Summer wardrobes. This is Eliza's new outfit (New Look pattern 6473):

I find pint-size dress making so rewarding: The clothes are so quick to make and I can be so much more adventurous with colour and style because I don't need to summon up the courage to wear them and stand out from the crowd myself. Most of my clothes are very plain and simple, but for my children I like lots of colour and detailing. Am I sounding dangerously like those mothers who live their life and unfulfilled dreams through their adorable Little Miss Sunshines?!

Annie's new outfit (New Look pattern 6476), complete with stubborn chocolate ice-cream stain from first wear... any stain removal advice?

I prefer the shape of Eliza's trousers, Annie's are a bit too tapered for the noughties. Eliza's top was pretty involved but rewarding, although I don't know if the bows are a bit OTT. Annie's was easy peasy so I used the pattern for a dress too. Here's the hem:

The fabric was ready-embroidered and pleated, and an absolute steal at £3.50 a meter from John Lewis.

At the weekend we had a birthday party for Rabbity and Sophie Sharon (Eliza's rabbit and Annie's cabbage patch kid- remember them?!). Never ones for half measures, regardless of whether the party animals are indeed stuffed toys, we decked the halls:

Annie made individual invitations for us all. We had balloons, paper chains, curly straws and umbrellas in our pink lemonade, cocktail sausages, cheese cubes on sticks, big bowls of crisps and sweets, and David and Annie concocted this melon surprise:

We made party hats from paper, feathers, stickers and beads. Rabbity and Sophie Sharon blew out the candles and we played party games; charades, musical statues and bumps and rounders.

It was such good fun, probably the most successful party we've ever had, because we didn't have to worry about impressing other parents with our impeccable taste and style! And we weren't tied down to a time-schedule. We spent the whole day planning, preparing and partying together and it was just the best time. And a real lesson for me in what makes a children's party a great children's party.  I would usually try to make all the preparations while the girls are at school/play school so that I can surprise them on the day and make everything 'perfect'.

This is the fabulously pink, incredibly unappetising, perfectly imperfect cake they decorated for the occasion, (which I would never have dreamed of serving up at a 'real' party):

The revelation for me was that it's so much more fun if we get ready together, they loved being involved and the preparation became as much fun as the party itself, making the party atmosphere last three times as long. (And the cake was actually delicious, by the way!)

Annie brought 'Ayl' the mitten puppet home from school and being as this week I'm playing the role of proud, devoted parent, here it is:

I'm glad to see they're crafting at school but I'm not so impressed with the standard of numeracy: How many colours?!

As it's half term holiday for the girls next week I may not post at all, in line with my new 'restricted blogging/expanded family time' policy, so have a good fortnight, I'll see you in a couple of weeks!

...And after!

What a difference a week makes (168 little hours!):

It may be much cleaner and tidier, but it does also feel a little like we've moved out! David is finally moving in with his three cats and another houseful of stuff, in a couple of weeks when his house sale is completed so it won't be like this for long. Which is good because the hollow echo created in such an empty room is starting to make me feel very small!
On a semi-serious note, thank you so much for all your lovely messages after last weeks post, they reminded me  why I love blogging and made me want to get straight back into it! I managed to restrain myself though and we had a lovely computer-free family weekend.

Apart from tidying the dining room (the rest of the house is still in the same state, but one step at a time, hey?!), I decorated some T-shirts for Annie and Eliza with their initials.

They lurrrve them! I was thinking of writing a tutorial if anyone's interested because they're so easy and they got such a joyful response from the girls. I'm having to wash them every night  so they can wear them again the next day!

I've also been fabric shopping and have amassed the following fabric stock for the bird in a tree apron:

And beautiful, multi-tonal thread:

Much to David's bemusement as I already own all of these:

They're obviously not the same though, are they...?!

I also bought Invisible Machine Applique by Dawn Cameron-Dick to try out on the apron.

As we all know, there are two distinct types of crafting books, the beautiful, eye candy, lust after type like Amy Butler, Lotta Jansdotter and the quintessential example of this type; Japanese crafting books, all inspirational style but no English instructions! And then there's the informative, educational, show-you-how type. This book falls into the second category, I'm not particularly moved by any of the projects, they're just not me. But the technical info is amazing. I sat with this book for hours on Sunday evening ooohing and ahhhing and saying, "well, I didn't know that", "Ohhh, I see", "well I never!" (all very irritating for David who was trying to concentrate on Lost and 24). It's very well-written; the instructions are so clear and simple I feel really confident about trying her technique out.
Sounds like famous last words.... I'll update you next week with some samples hopefully.

Until then, blogging friends, happy crafting and have a good week!

Blogging Fatigue

I'm sorry for my lack of posts lately, I've come to that stage in every bloggers life  where I've realised I'm spending far too much time writing about what I'm doing and far too little time actually doing!

It's time to come clean and admit that when I started blogging one of my motivations was to advertise and promote my 'work'. But this fell by the wayside pretty swiftly, I got totally drawn into all of your stories and work and homes and lives. And I love that, I love being part of that. I love being able to see what crazy, beautiful scheme Vanessa's on to in Arizona, and where Risa's been lately or what miniature lovely Desiree's been making in Holland, and Kitty Thimble, just around the corner, a few miles from me, always makes me laugh out loud with her anarchic posts, even though we've never met.

But these things can kind of take over and I think my virtual life has subsumed my real one! I've been incredibly inspired and motivated by the God-Mothers of blogging through whom I was introduced to this fabulous world of beautiful interiors, seductive photography and gorgeous, extraordinary  art and craft. Following my favourite blogs is like reading the best magasine in the world! But, at the same time, I also find myself somewhat over-awed and intimidated by the perfect beauty of  this world. When I give into my insecurities and personal feelings of inadequacy, trying to keep up with the blogging Joneses can be incredibly time-consuming and ultimately deflating.

To be honest although I might try to project an image of perfect parenthood, I make my kids wait (for far too long) for a share in my attention. They watch far more television than I would ever have hoped or intended, just so I can spend time on the computer.

 My house is constantly a complete mess. Here  are some 'corners of my home' (not for the faint-hearted!) to prove it:

Part of me suspects that no-one will visit my blog if I show my warts-and-all reality.  (And I'd really miss you all). In real life I'm slovenly, lazy, messy, hot-tempered, irritable, self-absorbed and selfish. This isn't all I am, but it's a significant part of me which I would never dream of letting you see.

Add to all this my 'career' is non-existent, and at 34, time is ticking on!

So I've done a kind of life stock-take and decided to spend more 'quality' time (naff phrase but it really sums it up) with my family and friends, keep on top of my share of the house-work a bit more (well, maybe get a brave cleaner!), focus more attention on making and selling my work and take more steps to get myself started on the teaching career I want. (Phew!)

Therefore, I'm going to limit my blogging time to one mornings reading and one bumper post a week (it's a shame they don't make patches or gum for the withdrawal symptoms, I'm already getting twitchy!). I know this isn't the accepted way to blog, I know it's considered to be a bit lax to post occasionally, but maybe I'll actually have more to post about if I spend more time on other things!

In the meantime, I've included some photos of drawings I've been working on for my next apron, just as a kind of antidote to the other shots!

 

So I'll see you next Thursday, if you're brave enough to return, no more 'corner of my home' pictures, I promise!

Back Soon!