sewing on the cheap...

I made another ice-cream blouse. This time in some blue floral quilting cotton I picked up on sale at spotlight. Can you believe this was only $4 a meter? I only needed a little over half a meter for this so I still have some left for another project. This fabric is a lot sturdier than the double gauze I used for the last one so it hangs quite differently, not that you can really tell from these photos. It was freezing so I felt a bit cruel making Minty take off her cardigan so I could take pictures. I'll try and take some better photos another day.

Worn with the librarian skirt and a hand knit from granny.

I'm really happy with this one. At MInty's request it was finished off with a red button I had squirrelled away in my stash. I do think it adds a little je ne sais quoi.

I've had to put the 'fun' sewing away for a little while and move on to a more functional project. I've been sewing some more prefold nappies for Turi. He's grown out of the tots bots nappies we had and I don't really have money lying around at the moment to spend on fancy fitted nappies. Minty was so much smaller when she was Turi's age and we were practising elimination communication with her, so by the time she had grown out of the small nappy size I really didn't need very many nappies in the next size. So instead of outlaying a small fortune on a new set of cloth nappies for Turi I'm boosting the absorbency of some old school terry towelling nappies by sewing a panel of bamboo fabric inserted into the centre. I'm not sure if that description made any sense at all but if anyone is interested in some more info on this either shoot me an email or leave a note in the comments section.

Stuff I want for my birthday...

...coz y'all know I'm not shy about such things, no pussyfooting around dropping hints or cryptic clues for me. I pretty much have a running list going all year which I amend when I receive things (yes I am basically David Sedaris).

1. Japanese masking tape. Click here to be in Japanese masking tape heaven.

2. Cupcake liners. I would particularly like some dark brown ones, but any other cute cases would be well received.

3. Glee CD volume 3... I'm a little embarrassed that this is on the list but I sorta, kinda, really love singing and dancing around the living room to glee (eek!)

4. Oliver + S puppet show pattern. This is out of print now but there are some available here.

5. Any pattern from Citronille. The postage cost to Australia is insane, so if you buy me this you are probably feeling guilty about something or angling to get something from me in return (your tactics will most likely be successful)

6. Sunday's Kitchen (I know I still haven't been sent a free copy... crazy right?)

7. Fabric!!

In which I am a legend of my own time and Turi just wants to be loved...

"Love me!"

My husband had been complaining that I hadn't made pasta from scratch in a while. I have to admit I was tempted to counter this with a complaint that he is yet to present me with a goose that lays golden eggs for easter but the truth is I have trouble saying no to ego stroking requests for my cooking.

So this morning I had a big cook up. I made two trays of pumpkin cannelloni, enough lasagna for at least two meals and bolognaise with fresh pasta for lunch. I am feeling very pleased about my now well stocked freezer (I even have some of Thomas Keller's chocolate chip cookie dough frozen for a baking emergency - I'll post about this soon).

While I was busy in the kitchen the mister and Minty vacuumed the house and cleaned all the windows inside and out. So I have to say a productive morning was had by all. Except maybe Turi who spent the time practising his tap dancing skills on the lounge room wall.

Lately the littlest member of the household has been busy in his own way. Turi has developed a little carpet burn on each of his knees from his attempts at high speed commando crawling. He chases me around the house and when he catches me he grabs hold of my ankles and looks up at me expectantly waiting to be picked up for a cuddle. If I go out the front door he waits at the window and cries. It is all very endearing.

brown sugar how come you taste so good?

I'm a firm believer that there isn't much in life that isn't vastly improved with the addition of a little brown sugar. When I'm feeling a little low I even sprinkle a few teaspoons of the magical brown pixie dust into a glass of milk as a restorative tonic. Then while I sip my potation I ponder life's mysteries such as why I have such trouble shifting my baby weight…

Yesterday there wasn't anything tasty in the house so Minty and I decided to whip up some brown sugar cupcakes.

The recipe is adapted from this one over at the cheeky kitchen…

Makes 12 cupcakes

113g butter
200g brown sugar
185g cake flour
2 eggs
120ml milk
3/4 tspn baking powder
pinch salt
1 1/2 tspn vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 180C. Cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs, beat to incorporate. Add the remaining ingredients. Beat until just combined. Spoon mixture into lined cupcake tin. Bake approx 20mins or until tops spring back when gently pressed.

I iced the cakes with brown sugar icing of my own concoction…

200g sifted icing sugar
2 tablespoons boiling water
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar

Mix everything together until you reach the desired consistency, adding a little more water or icing sugar as needed.

In which Minty dresses as a librarian...

As promised here are the results of this weeks sewing. I like to call this the 'librarian skirt'. The fabric is some houndstooth suiting I picked up from spotlight. The pattern is the Oliver+S Sunday Brunch skirt, though this skirt certainly won't be reserved for Sunday best and will likely never be worn for anything as dignified as brunch.

My favourite detail are the little pockets at the font. The entire waist band is elasticised but I've sewn the elastic at the side seams so that all the fabric gathers at the back of the skirt because I wanted the front to sit nice and flat.

This design is certainly somewhat sedate for Minty but I think the functional brown fabric and the inclusion of the kick pleat at the back make it practical play wear.

I think it would look great with cream cable knit tights and a floral blouse… shame Minty doesn't own any!



And a close up...

blah...

I haven't been posting as often lately. I'm not going to apologise. Responsibility has been knocking heavy handedly at my door like an unwanted and uninvited guest. I'd rather be spending my days with you all sharing pretty pictures, nibbling yummy treats and telling tales of all our wild adventures.

I have been dabbling with a little more sewing in the past few days, so hopefully I'll have something to show you later in the week.

 

Portrait

*frustration* "OK I'm on my knees... now what?"