may the fourth be with you

04/05/2013 12:47 pm \ 25 Comments \

International Star Wars Day, hehe  ðŸ™‚
So, here I’m on my way out for a day of shopping, including a visit to Spotlight to check out the $5 patterns.  I bought one.  Very restrained, I thought.  
Yeah.  (smile)  OK.
Now for the guilty confession; I’m a bit late with the report of my stash-busting pledge for last month… probably because it’s so embarrassing to admit that last month the stash did not diminish one little bit. In fact, it has er, expanded somewhat.  Expanded, considerably.
I made three items in April, only one of which was a bonafide stash-bust; my faux leather jacket.  My navy corduroy skirt was a refashion from January, but I’m counting it since I only just blogged it last month, and the “bossy” dress I’m just going to consider a completely separate thing apart from the stash-busting challenge.
And …  when I visited my parents for Easter, Mum gave me a rather, er,  huge pile of fabric, lovely fabric that had been set aside for me by a very generous friend who was cleaning out her stash.  So very kind of her.  So my stash has gained roughly something like ten new pieces of fabric of various sizes.
Lots of productivity is definitely in order  ðŸ™‚

min 12C, max 24C, sunny

Details:
Top; Vogue 1309, hand-painted silk dupion, details and my review of this pattern here
Skirt; Vogue 1247, purple denim dyed brown, details and my review of this pattern here
Shoes; Betts&Betts, about 20 yrs old

In me-made-maying efforts for my family; Tim wore this shirt today, and Cassie wore this dress to a party this evening

Tim’s shirt; Burda 7767 blue check fabric, details here.
Cassie’s dress; no pattern, moss green silk, details here

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water

03/05/2013 6:55 am \ 24 Comments \

One of my favourite things about the me-made months are the photo theme days.  Today’s theme is Water! aaaand I suspect I’m totally failing in creativity here and displaying nought but amazing predictability, but I can think of no better excuse for me to take Sienna to Dog Beach, which is only, like, her very favourite place in the whole wide world.  I know, shouldn’t need an excuse, right?  But sometimes, we do.
In other news, today I am being interviewed over at Seamstress Erin, on, what else? but our shared love of style and sewing.
Thank you Erin!  ðŸ™‚

min 13C, max 24C, sunny

Details:
Top; Vogue 1247, orange cotton, details and my review of this pattern here
Capris; Vogue 1115, sand stretch sateen, details and my review of this pattern here
Thongs; Havaianas

My family is sorta? keeping up in the me-made fashion stakes, Craig is wearing this shirt again today.  I’m thinking my “keep quiet and let it organically happen” approach is not going to lead to much variety in this side of things.
(Burda 7767, shirting cotton, details here)

Speaking of water, and the ocean, and freaky things; oh sorry, we weren’t?  Oh well, we are now… check out this deep deep sea creature…
How freaky?!

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post downpour

02/05/2013 7:32 am \ 17 Comments \

Thanks to all for the thumbs up yesterday, and I apologise for my very bad explanation, and should clarify with a more complete one: I’m pretty sure the “boring” comments aimed at me-made month-ers in general, that I’ve read on mine and on plenty of other blogs too, are more directed at the fact that a whole bunch of daily outfit posts can become monotonous and particularly for people not so interested one person’s personal style and the pursuit of understanding and creating it, but who are only in it for the sewing tips and techniques etc.   And, sure, I understand that point of view.  I even “get” it, but only a little bit, since I’m a nosey parker; head-over-heels into checking other ladies’ personal style and adore seeing different ways people mix-and-match up their clothes.  And particularly if they are making it all themselves.  Insatiably interested!
I didn’t intend to come off mope-y.  But a big thank you for the vote of confidence :))
Last night we had torrential rain; which is awesome stuff for Perth.  Of course, only this morning did a lightbulb go off that I should totally have nipped out yesterday and fertilised the garden… doh!  It could be ages before we get another good soaking!
And I know from experience not to fertilise now, after the rain.  Not a good idea, without an imminent watering-in.  The neighbours will hate me, the family will refuse to sit outside for dinner.  The only household member to be over the moon at my thoughtfulness will be Sienna, who will express her joy and appreciation by rolling blissfully and thoroughly in said fertilised beds, crushing plants, whatever, and then want to come in and rub her odiferous self against the sofa and everybodies’ legs.  And then be hurt and bewildered by the enthusiasm of everyone’s rejection.

min 15C, max 23C, and a bit of everything today! some cloud, some sun, some rain

Details:
Top; Vogue 1115, lightweight cotton denim, details and my review of this pattern here
Skirt; Vogue 8363 with modifications, burnt orange raw silk, details here and my review of this pattern here
Shoes; Enrico Antinori

I have one other family member wearing a me-made item today; Tim is wearing this brown linen shirt.  I asked if I could take another picture, to which he replied; You’ve taken one already, haven’t you?  Um…  yeah.  I’d better not push my luck.

Tim’s shirt; Burda 7767, purple-y/chocolate brown linen, details here and my review of this pattern here

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Mayday

01/05/2013 7:34 am \ 40 Comments \

So, I said I wasn’t going to post a photo here every day during me-made May, since I’ve had comments on my blog about how boring it is, apparently.  Sorry.  But today is the very first day and I’m kinda pumped about joining in, so… yeah.  Here we are!  Wearing shades of beige, ivory, grey, just like those beautiful clouds above.
This is a different piccie from the one I posted on the mmm13 Flickr group, because after I uploaded that one I noticed it was actually a pretty lousy picture; one I had taken on a terrible setting apparently … doh!  I’m still learning!  Aperture too wide!  So I checked through the rejects for this one, which is not so good of my outfit I think but is a better shot, clarity-wise.
It is cloudy, which makes the photo-taking part of my brain leap for joy, the light being so much more amenable to photos; and it is so beautiful and fresh and cool at last.  I’m excited about trawling through my me-mades for outfits for this month.  I’m excited about the possibilities for layering.

min 14C; max 26C; cloudy

Details:
Tshirt; self-drafted, and never blogged before because it was a bit boring, but it was made using the leftovers from these leggings…
Wrap; wrap “f” from shape shape by Natsuno Hiraiwa, cream knit dip-dyed in blue dye; more details here and my review of this book here
Skirt; Vogue 1247, of a piece of curtaining fabric; more details here and my review of this pattern here
Shoes; Betts&Betts; I’ve had these for many years

Last year, I also included when my family happened to be wearing something I had made on any given day too; so I thought I would do that again.  An old photo, but this morning my husband left for work wearing this me-made shirt:

Craig’s shirt; Burda 7767, shirting cotton, more details here and my review of this pattern here

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peppermint creams

29/04/2013 11:51 am \ 34 Comments \

So, after that dessert in the My Kitchen Rules final last night; I felt the need.  
The need… 
for Peppermint and Chocolate!
I re-visited a recipe from this book…

I’ve had this book for quite a long time  ðŸ™‚

These yummies are so easy.  

Basically, the recipe is a stiffly beaten egg white, with a bit of peppermint essence and lots of sifted icing sugar mixed in, and kneaded in.  One egg white took almost all of this 500g bag of pure icing sugar… there was about one cup leftover after.

You let the rounds dry out for a few hours, then… 

Hey presto! after dinner mints.

I made big ones, and small ones.  And can I just say; yum.  I’m allowing myself one small one per day, and hopefully the family will polish them all off before my willpower breaks  ðŸ˜‰

I would definitely describe myself as one of the worst cooks in the world.  I’m more of a “meal assembler”.  But these are easy enough… you could say; child’s play!

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she’s the boss

27/04/2013 11:00 pm \ 47 Comments \
So, you might be thinking that this is not my usual style of outfit.  And you would be right!  I did make my dress, but it was chosen by another.
But, how is this so?
Have you heard of the Sew Bossy initiative?  This is a fun game dreamt up by Heather of Closet Case Files and Oona of oonaballoona.  Heather paired up Reana Louise and me as one of her fantasy picks!  So after e-introducing ourselves to each other, Reana Louise and I mutually agreed to choose for each other something from the Stylish Dress Book, by Yoshiko Tsukiori; since we both had the book already.  Exactly which something, and what fabric was left up to the other.  I sent my package off, and then waited with bated breath.
Very soon, I received this in the mail.
This is dress “T”, from the Stylish Dress Book.  Reana Louise chose for me a soft lightweight ivory cotton meadow sprinkled with delicate blue flowers, and with a solid blue cotton for the contrasting neckband and cuffs.
So OK.  Floral, and puffy sleeves.  Hmmm.  I am being fair dinkum catapulted right out of my comfort zone here!  But Reana Louise has exemplary taste and always looks quite lovely on her blog, in her handmade creations.  I had to trust her guidance.
I did make a few teeny minor changes (forgive me, Reana Louise!)  I thought a wide block of the blue for a neckband might be a bit strong against the delicacy of the sprigged floral, so I dug out some lightweight Japanese cotton in my stash, originally bought from Potters Textiles.  This is pure white, with an irregular pattern of tiny white paisley motifs as well as little fluffy white spots scattered over.  I used this for the neckband and for the sleeve cuffs, and just used a narrow, folded bias cut strip of the blue cotton sent by Reana Louise as a demarcation line between the floral and the white.
Similarly, I broke apart the hemline with bias cut strips of each white and blue together as well.  I really like the look of these borderlines in the design, a subtle geometric statement against the pretty floral.  
I also shortened my dress slightly to hit just above the knee.
Oh, and I added pockets.  Well that’s a no-brainer.  When it comes to pockets; if you can, then you do: no internal debate entered into!
How do you feel about letting go of control in what you wear…. would you dare to submit your style to another?

Details:
Dress; dress “T” from the Stylish Dress book, by Yoshiko Tsukiori, blue sprigged cotton, with blue and white accents
Hat; Vogue 8844, ivory corduroy refashioned from an old pair of jeans, details and my review of this pattern here
Sandals; Pedro Miralles, from Soletta shoes
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paper doll project

27/04/2013 2:00 pm \ 10 Comments \

20th-25th April
(I’ve pledged to wear only clothes handmade by me this year and to sketch my daily outfits in my Fashionary.  I’m calling this the paper doll project)

from left:
burnt orange skirt, white Tshirt, knitted green hoodie
blue Pattern Magic hoodie + navy blue corduroy skirt
knots dress
denim skirt, white Tshirt, red hoodie
sunset maxi-dress, coffee net cardigan
black-and-grey striped Tshirt, ivory curtaining skirt

14th -19th April
from left:
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the 21-day wonder diet

26/04/2013 3:30 pm \ 10 Comments \
banana smoothie

Every now and then, I notice that my banner proclaims my blog to be “thoughts on sewing, knitting and looking my best”.  The first two are covered pretty comprehensively I think  ðŸ˜‰ and the last is meant to be about how I’m going with presenting myself sartorially; but of course looking my best should also come from maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  I don’t really delve into that stuff on my blog here much.
For the past 3 weeks, ever since Easter, Cassie and I have been on a sorta diet.  Not a weight-loss diet.   Neither of us lost any real weight which is cool since that was not my aim.  My aim was to lose some unhealthy eating habits that had snuck up on me. 

We used this marvellous cookbook, the Australian Women’s Weekly 21 day Wonder Diet.  (I bought my book from a local newsagent, but it is available here) 
I really think the Australian Women’s Weekly cookbooks are the best cooking books, ever!  I bought it several years ago, and the first time we tried to get through it we got no further than two weeks.  Fail!
But not this time… yesterday was our final day.  This second time around we completed the whole 21 day programme, from go to whoa, working through each meal, comprehensively, one by one, all the way through.  Success!
Multiply the above cup of green tea above by four, and pictured here is all the food I actually ate today, my first day back to free-wheeling it.  These are all meals plucked from various days in the 21 day diet, and using up some of the ingredients I still had leftover.  Also, they were some of my favourites  ðŸ˜‰
tuna and rocket wrap

This is a fantastic programme; in that 3 weeks really does feel like plenty long enough to mentally release you from old, bad, eating habits.  The meals are all nutritious, mostly delicious, and a lot of them are surprisingly hearty and filling, and you rarely feel hungry.  Some days we couldn’t even finish what we were supposed to!

Since weight loss wasn’t a goal, I ball-park “checked’, but didn’t obsess, about the portion sizes while on the diet.  Both of us fell of the wagon in a minor way a coupla times; for me it was champagne and cake at bookclub one night, and champagne and hor d’oeuvres at a friend’s birthday bash another night; for Cassie it was two 21st parties.  Both of us admit to sneaking the odd macadamia nut or two, a supply of which I keep in the pantry for the boys.
And not to mention that frozen yoghurt, hello!

prawn stir-fry, done on the barbecue instead of in a wok

But I’m feeling pretty good.  Clean and cleansed.  Like I’m a new woman.  And mighty optimistic about continuing with next-to-zero junk, and incorporating plenty of nutritious and fresh stuff in my daily intake.  
Although I will be bringing back just a leettle bit of this…  In moderation, of course  ðŸ™‚

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