Pattern L from here.
Fabric - quilting cotton picked up a couple of years ago (it may even be a christmas fabric)

I love the simplicity of this. It was quick to make, although it managed to take me almost a week to finish it. It’s a bit big for Coco at the moment but come the spring, it should be perfect. Perhaps if I’d used shorter elastic at the neck, it may be better but it’ll be nice to have it waiting in the wardrobe for a sunny spring day.

Think I’ll make some linen pants to match.

Noo also gave me a bag of the most fabulous japanese fabrics from her trip out there last year. There’s a metre of each of these…..now what to do with them. I need some inspiration to strike!

More yoga pants hanging on the washing line……cut from another pair, they’re a bit small, would’ve been good 3 months ago. They’re quite tight on the waist and about 3/4 length but still cute.
Liberty print interlock - worth the expense don’t ya think?

I made this two weeks ago and have been using it quite successfully since. How the weeks have flown. A reversible linen/cotton zakka-style pouch with influences from various sources but made it up as I went along. Actually, I used one of Coco’s toys to trace around for the circular bottom as a starting point! It was the perfect size, then desperately tried to remember some schoolgirl maths, which failed me and had to ask DH (with the BSc in Maths) for the formula. Is it rushing to you? Well, if not, it’s pi x the diameter of your circle plus seam allowance.

As I wanted to use this for small knitting/sewing projects, I wanted it fairly strong and with an internal pocket for scissors/pencil/tape measure. I kept thinking that needles would end up getting pushed through one layer of linen. It was really quick to make and the tabs were an easy option to use for the closure and being drawn in by some lovely red grosgrain ribbon.

After seeing Di show Soozs’embroidery thread box, I’ve been meaning to share mine. This is only some of what I have. Some I’ve bought over the years for various needlework projects, others are from Mum’s embroidery days in the 60’s and the threads in the tin were a recent charity shop find from DH’s Grandma. Lots of green, purple and brown, which I’m sure will come in handy one day. There’s also a beautiful handmade wooden box back home with my Granny’s threads in. Now some of those I think were her Granny’s - they’re silk and very old but the colours have survived brilliantly. I remember endless hours of sorting out the colours for her when I was little. Such fond memories.

This weekend it’s been all about taking care of ourselves.

The weather has been awful and am so glad we didn’t go away for the bank holiday.

Our babe has her first proper cough and cold and needs lots of TLC.

Far too much tv has been watched, but I’ve managed to get some knitting and sewing done. Her mat for yoga (above) using all fabrics from stash (Well, everything I make these days is from whatever I’ve got in the cupboard.) - machine pieced and handstitched binding; some baby socks for a newborn and I also started this cotton sweater too.

Machine sewn and handfinished, reversible pinafore using recycled fabric and a vintage pattern. I’ve not done much sewing for a while, so this was something to kick-start the ’sewing brain’ again. It’s not at all practical - most likely needs dry cleaning and gets dragged about with a crawling baby. However, there are major moves afoot to stand! So, watch this space. Young Coco will be back in dresses when that happens.

Reverse view showing ribbon ties. I wanted grosgrain but couldn’t find anything the right colour. This isn’t 100% right either….

Front view showing the red and gold tulips. The original pattern called for bias around all the edges but I wanted a cleaner line than that and think this way was an improvement.

I managed to do some sewing whilst visiting Nanny & Grandpa on her old Bernina record. It’s a fabulous machine, so solid and amazingly reliable. The stories it could tell! Well, they would mostly be of me swearing. I raided her cupboards and found some lovely cottons and shirtings but wasn’t able to bring everything I wanted back. Next time, maybe.

Here’s Coco modelling the bloomers in white cotton pique and shaking my old wooden rattle. It’s quite battered but much loved.

And some pants using up a remnant of shirting that she made for my Grandad. These were enormous on her a month ago when they were finished and now they fit, well loosely anyway. Perfect for our yoga class we’re starting today. Can you see how close she is to crawling……….any day now, I fear/reckon

I’m also halfway through sewing up a summer weight sleeping bag too. Oh, to have some time……

These are two of the four blinds at my parent’s home. I blame my love for orange, pink and yellow on these bedroom blinds made by Mum. I also had a bedspread, which didn’t last forever and ended up being made into a dress. I think I was about 6 at the time. Anyway, I’ll share that one day when I can find the photo. Marimekko fabric isn’t cheap today, but I’m sure it was fairly expensive in Melbourne in 1972.

It didn’t fit the width of our windows, so it had to be pieced. I think they’re holding up very well after almost 35 years of being yanked up and down each day.

More Marimekko here at Flickr and the other blind here.

The light fitting is Murano glass. I still really love it. The discs are about 4 inches wide. We had another in orange with brown dots in the loungeroom and Mum and Dad had another in blues and greens in their room. They also had a chandelier which had about 9 tiers that hung over their bed and was quite dramatic. They took them down in favour of something more modern a few years ago. It’s different from this but a similar idea.

We had a great holiday and survived the heat and the wedding and sadly, a funeral.

We ate and drank very well and visited some friends and family, but not everyone got a look in (sorry)……..

We both got sick, me with mastitis and Coco with a cold and eczema………

She grew out of clothing; grew lots of hair: gained not one, but two teeth; learned to roll; then scoot along the floor; and whistle and best of all, WAVE!

She got to wear this dress

We both missed Daddy A LOT!

Now we’re home……….we’re in sleep training…….. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ or lack of it!