Lonny

 

There’s something about New York style that speaks to me, whether it’s an apartment in New York City, a beach house in the Hamptons or a house in upstate New York, these people never seem to get it wrong!

So you can imagine how thrilled I was to come across an amazing online magazine this morning that is all of the above and more…

 

Check it out for yourself.  It’s called Lonny and best of all, it’s free.

and it even started out as a blog.

Nice job Lonny!

Inspired, I’m off to plan my next project.

Lx

 

No Owls

 

Here is a sneak peak at my finally finished jumper.  Inspired by an antarctic cold snap last weekend, I postponed all non-essential activity (cleaning included) to knit.

It’s so warm and cosy so even though I planned to block it (wash it and shape it to dry) I’ll wear it as is until the weather warms up. 

Here are details of the pattern.  I decided to just go for cables rather than owls.  Chickened out, I know!

 

Yesterday was supposed to be tonsil day for Lachlan, but he wasn’t well enough.  New date TBA.

Lx

 

 

 

Handmade gifts

My niece turned two recently and I made her this skirt.

 

 

Apologies for the photography.  I’m actually in two minds as to whether there is something wrong with the camera.  My old faithful of 6 odd years could take a great shot on auto, and this one doesn’t focus and hasn’t taken anything with the flash that hasn’t overexposed. 

 

 

Amelia was most disappointed this wasn’t for her.  I have enough fabric to make both of my girls a skirt and will work on some minor variations to make each one different.

 

handmade v homemade

This is something that I give a bit of thought to from time to time.  I know my sister-in-law loved this skirt and the effort that went into making it.  If you’re reading this blog, making things by hand, and receiving gifts that have been handmade probably means a lot to you, but have you ever experienced an uncomfortable feeling that your gift recipient may not feel the same?  Maybe they think it’s a bit of a cheap way out and you’re always making gifts at home.  Maybe they don’t value the time you put into making something and just see the materials.  Maybe it’s because it doesn’t have a brand, or can’t be returned if they don’t like it.  I think stores like Target have a lot to answer for in creating a culture of return and exchange just because you don’t like something.  I know people who are too scared to buy gifts (let alone make them) in case they get it wrong and so have resorted to giving giftcards. 

Making a gift is giving a little of yourself.   I’ll keep making my gifts.  They will be made at home, but handmade with love.

 

 

a break in transmission

 

 

 

hello my bloggy friends

 

just wanted to let you know about the goings on at my place

…………………………………..

between sick kids (tonsils soon to be removed)

old camera replaced by new (software not yet installed and lots of different features on camera)

too many roadside stops at hard rubbish collections

and plenty of the good stuff – sewing!

blogging is all just in my head

maybe tonight, definitely tomorrow, I’ll be back with a post

 

Lx

 

Domestic Goddess?

I seriously love what Nigella has done for cooking.  Pure ingredients, simple techniques, outstanding results.  For the same reason I love a bit of Jamie too, but Nigella with her signature style speaks more to me than any other celebrity chef, and far more of her recipies make in into my kitchen to be made over and over again.

What I don’t get is the title domestic goddess.  Being domesticated doesn’t come naturally (sorry Mum) and I always find it a chore.  It stands between me and what I really want to do, and now with three young children it is consuming and unrelenting.  I try to channel the domestic goddess when I’m cleaning the toilets (and whose idea was it to have multiple loo’s anyway?), when I vacuum and mop and tidy the same toys, clothes and food off the floor, but it just isn’t working. 

There is NOTHING goddess-like when you’re being domestic.  NOTHING.

I aspire to be a domestic goddess, even if it’s just preparing a few more meals from my cookbook.  I’d love to have a clean house, washing and ironing under control, children who listen to me without me having to raise my voice….. and I want to have time for craft.  Today I found 2 hours for craft, but I still have a sink full of baking dishes.

Matilda’s day sleep is moving.  She’s been an 11am till 1ish girl for a while now, but lately if I put her down at 11 or 11.30 she’ll spend up to an hour talking and rolling about turning the whole sleep thing into a 3-4 hour marathon.  So a 12pm start has worked for us this week, but on Friday’s kinder starts at 1.15pm.  We arrived early at kinder and I had her home and in bed by 20 past, she was asleep in less than 5 mins and I was effectively home alone!

Usually I would have cleaned, but today I sewed.  I’ve been making cushions for myself and a friend.  (When I’ve given them to her I’ll show you the pics) and while looking for fabrics for a baby quilt I came across a cut out pair of trousers.  When Amelia was a bub I made truckloads of these and sold them to friends, mothers’ group and kinder mums.  Matilda has been wearing Amelia’s hand-me-downs so I thought it would be nice for her to start having a few more of her own things.

 

Domesticity calls.  Goddess gone missing.

Have a great weekend.

Lx

 

multiple personality, or lots of hats?

Lately I’ve been working on so many projects my head’s in a spin.  Fortunately many have now been marked off the new white board in my sewing room, but I really can’t help myself and keep adding to the list.

 

Laundry bags for kinder.  This, plus the roman blind got our family out of working bees for the year. 

My kitchen is now officially  finished.  Why was I the only person who thought it would be an easy job to repaint?  I guess I was imagining doing the work without little ones with inquisitive fingers who seem happy enough to amuse themselves while I’m ironing or doing some other mundane job, but get out the paint and they all want a bit of the action.  Outside painting just needs a final coat, then I’ll start on my next round of painting projects!

 

It’s always a tug of war deciding whether to craft or diy, knit, sew, paint, woodwork, kids clothes, upholstery, adult clothes…..

 

I bought these fabrics for ME!  The first I envisage as some sort of cocktail number to go with black trousers.  Maybe with a bit of black and cream contrast – it’s an Italian silk and I only bought 60cm to keep costs down.

Second will be a knee length skirt, and the floral/check will be a shirt.  I’ve downloaded a free pattern from here.  If you’re a sewer, check it out!

All three fabrics from here.  This is high end stuff, but they do have sales and you can go on a mailing list, and sometimes it’s nice to have something really special that you won’t find at Spotlight.

Was devistated to find my old fave Remnant Warehouse is now a fruit & veg market.  I must admit it’s been a long time since I’ve been down to Prahran for fabric, but I could’ve cried when I saw crates of pumpkins out the front.  I’ve been sewing from my huge stash for a while now ( and buying online) and have clearly lost touch with stores that do short end clearance from local manufacturers.  I’ll try another this week, upstairs at Alannah Hill in Brunswick Street, unless someone tells me it’s long gone too.

Where do you get your special fabrics?  I would really love to make friends with a fabric agent who has lots of small pieces and would let me buy sampling lengths (without ever buying bulk!)

 

Today was a really special day for me – when I met one of my long time blogger friends in real life!  It was just like meeting up with an old friend, the conversation flowed freely and it was obvious it wasn’t going to be a first and last meeting.  I’m so glad we took the step to meet.  You’re one amazing girl V!

Off to put on my worn out domestic chores hat – the one that likes to eat the other hats for lunch.

Lx

 

busy, busy, busy

You must get so sick of hearing that I’m busy – arn’t we all!

But

I have to tell you I had a lovely relaxing weekend full of friends and family, food and football.  There was not a hint of craft or diy for at least 48 hours!

and Friday night was our 11th Wedding Anniversary

3 beautiful children and a wonderful home and life, I couldn’t ask for any more.

Duncan is the most dedicated and loving father, my incredible husband, and most of all, my best friend.

 All those years ago, our wedding was on a Friday night, for champagne, jazz and red wine, accompanied by what was then some of the finest Italian fare to be had in Melbourne at Marchetti’s Latin.

We stayed in with a nice bottle of red to watch our beloved Blues who managed to somehow stumble over the line for a win in honour of the occasion.

 I didn’t make my dress.  We decided after getting engaged to move to London, so the wedding was a mere 3 months in the planning.  I did design my dress and the bridesmaids, made some beaded butterfly hairpieces, and a suit for mum.

…..

and here is an exceptionally poor photograph of the roman blind I made for kinder.  The fabric has a strong print and I think that was playing games with my dodgy camera’s focus, but you’ll get the idea

All of the trims, noticeboards and carpets etc are a similar dark grey to the background colour of this Ikea fabric, and they wanted something a bit out there that could take a few dirty fingers and anything else kinder kids manage to get on it.

I didn’t notice until later that a box had pushed the blind off centre, but I assure you it’s straight!  I was trying to get a shot without children (from another class) and this was most difficult!!

 

Overlocker news!

I have made a purchase, although awaiting delivery

I’m rather excitedly waiting by the phone and starting to cut in anticipation.

Take care

Lx

 

 

Don’t call me Bubba

 

These are my new shoes

 

 

Deep red Mary Janes with a cute flower

 

 

and toddler friendly velcro

 

 

Here they are in action (I’ve been walking officially for 2 weeks now.  Mum said I should wait longer for shoes, but it’s cold and wet, and I walk with my arms down most of the time)

 

 

Walking is great fun.   I’m not Mummy’s bubba anymore!

(and yes, I have a graze under my eye.  It happened last week.  Me, a bike, concrete and Mum wasn’t fast enough.  Looks pretty bad but didn’t hurt much.  I hardly cried so Mum was pretty surprised when the whole thing had scabbed over the next day, but a few days later and it’s nearly gone)

 

Love Matilda (18 months)

 

birthday wishes

 

It was my girlfriends 40th yesterday and a big party last night!

 

I made her this as she likes a similar one I made for myself a few years back.

Fabrics are predominantly Amy Butler with a few scatterings of Liberty.  Some patches have been hand stitched, others by machine.  The edges will all fray just a little in the wash to give a softer look.

 

 

small but tasty

 

This was a quick knit as Matilda had been wearing one of Lachie’s old navy blue hats.  Followed a pattern for Zoomy wool on 7mm needles for a 5-6 year old.  I downsized to 5mm needles with 12ply wool and thought it would still be big… or my dear bub has a big head!

 

 

 

Back to the drawing board!

 

 

This bothers me, and for some time I’ve been trying to think of a solution other than spending a huge sum of money.

(the old phone point on the wall)

Phone company wanted $250 to disable the line to this location so point could be taken away.  There was a phone attached when we moved in which overhung the woodwork on both sides, so that came off straight away, but I’ve been left with this rather unsightly mess.  Unfortunately the one on the timberwork has to stay, so don’t look there!

 

 

Now I have this! 

It’s going to be a key holder and I’ll screw on a chrome double hook before using command velcro to stick it to the wall.  I’ll just unscrew the big plastic cover plate and shove the phone socket into the wall cavity.

Voila – gone!

Frame came from here.   Made  to measure and delivered within 24hours.

 

 

and papers from here.

 

 

bought more to put in these frames.  Didn’t realise until I got home that some were Amy Butler.

 

Did a bit of Spotlighting this morning.  More on that later.

 

Lx