Oliver + S Croquet Blouse ~ Gappy Smile

Last October I cut out this blouse for Maya to take along to Sewjourn to make.  I am a one project at a time, and a finisher,  so I hated having two things cut out and not made but with limited time and other commitments.  Plus it's cold here in Ballarat now.  When I made the dress version of this pattern it didn't suit Maya.  However, the blouse I love!

I used the top section of the dress pattern in this light voile from Spotlight. It's light and floating and very cute with the white dots.  I can see this working well with much of Maya's wardrobe.

I added a band at the bottom as it was too short with just a hem.  By adding 2" it's a comfortable length for Maya.  Oliver + S designs have such beautiful details to them,  and it is a pleasure to sew their patterns.

Looking at Maya's big gappy smile also makes me very happy.

Waterfall Blouse Pattern ~ Make it Perfect

Here are some keeping it real pics from me.  Straight back from work, make up worn off and Callum taking pics,  but the Waterfall Blouse still looking good.

The Waterfall Blouse is a new pattern from Make it Perfect that I have been testing for Toni.  Designed for both pregnant and not pregnant ladies, it is a comfortable top which doesn't cling to the lower body but has a good shape with the gathers above the bust. Check out how gorgeous Toni looks at 30 weeks pregnant!

I prefer a drapey top so I used rayon fabric.  If you pick a slippery fabric like this I would suggest stay stitching on the curves and using a walking foot.  It made sewing this top much easier than my past attempts with rayon. The top also works with knits and Toni has used voile and cotton in her samples.

I will be making this top again as it's definitely a very wearable style for me.  There is also a giveaway here for the pattern on the Make it Perfect blog.

Ripple-along ~ part 1

Can you believe it,  I've managed to crochet!  I love seeing these ripple blankets and was tempted to make one after seeing Mel at Day to Day was hosting a ripple-along.

I was taught to crochet my my grandma when I was around 7. My grandma crocheted beautifully and my mother has a professional photo of my sisters and I all wearing pink crocheted dresses made by my grandma. Of course I had forgotten everything and don't do things by halves.  I chained 213 stitches to make this blanket and I used the tutorial here by Attic 24 which is fantastic. The pattern is very easy to memorise and it perfect couch craft.

I'm not so sure on my colour choice.  It was a matter of going to Lincraft and buying the cosy yarn that was on special for $2 a ball.  There are plenty of mistakes in here too,  especially on the row when the next door neighbour was having a pretty loud party... However the blanket is growning quickly and it's so good to have a new skill too.

Thanks Mel for hosting the ripple-along!

Callum ~ our 12 year old

On Friday Callum turned 12.  Callum is enjoying being in Yr 7 and meeting lots of new kids and a new learning mentor at school. He is the youngest kid in his year level.  Still struggling with being organised and spending a portion of his week in lost property - but the teachers know and they are always on the look out for his stuff.  That's our boy!

Callum is a great kid, a fantastic mate, and good company as he grows up. Enjoy being our 12 year old boy x

Cornwall Park Shrugs ~ Versions 2 to 6

Back in October when I made my first navy Cornwall Park Shrug for Maya,  I offered to make one each for my three youngest nieces.  Once you get the hang of this pattern by Kelly Brooker it is a pleasure to knit.  There is even an adult version now available on Ravelry.

I just loved knitting them,  and here are three versions in size 7 for the Maya, Jada and Thiani,  and two made in size 3 for Jada.  Jada managed to score an extra one to finish off the blue wool.  It's nice being the youngest sometimes.

The girls have had a lot of wear from these already and well worth the time knitting them up.  With the very lacy pattern these little shrugs should last a year or two.

Back to School and Work

February has nearly disappeared!  It's taken us a bit to get back to all of the day to day routines after a good summer holiday.  The big change this year was Kane starting grade 5 at Middle School.  So far he is really enjoying the larger school and the new subjects.  I hope that blazer turns up again soon.

Callum started Year 7 at Middle School.  The school has a large intake of students in Year 7 and Callum has a grade of mainly new kids.  Callum is such a social kid and he felt a bit lost without his usual posse of mates but has been working as a buddy with some of the new boys to help them fit in. His Learning Mentor is so pleased with him.  I went back to work too.

 

Maya is having a lovely time in grade 2 at the junior school with no brothers to cramp her style!

Holding a snake at the library with Kane

Ayden's back in Melbourne for uni and we now have left overs again, more space and I get to drive my own car!  Yes, I miss him too

Holidays

Our computer at home hasn't been happy and it's been off to be repaired a couple of time and kept the blogging down.

We are back at school and work but we had a great six weeks of holidays from work and 8 weeks from school and pictured here are the youngest kids at Port Fairy.  So much fun walking, swimming, flying kites and relaxing. We even saw a seal which made Maya's holiday

Practically no sewing was done and the kids and I did a lot around Ballarat.  I don't think any tourist attraction or kid based event was missed!

Beep Beep ~ Australian Homespun 14.1

It's Australia Day today,  one of my favourite holidays of the year.  It's great to spend this day with my family and we always listen to the Triple J Hottest 100 each year together.

Also a great day to craft and my project the Beep Beep Bookends were included in this months Homespun magazine - the holiday issue.  The Campervan and Caravan bookends are made from wool felt and have added teddy bear filling pellets to weigh them down so that they hold books up and create a fun look in a kids room.

Lots of fun projects in this issue of Homespun with a few bloggers you will recognise too