Make My Week - Deer and Doe Belladone

So I have seen this pattern a lot around the inter webs and always wanted a copy for myself. Then I realised that the gorgeous Drapery sells their patterns right here in Adelaide.

Hello Belladone.

For this one I measured myself and cut a straight 44 (which was a bit alarming because that translates to a size 16 which is different to what I normally wear). This usually happens with the main pattern companies - I measure myself size up and find it is enormous on so now I just cut my regular sizes in familiar patterns. Anyway.... first time around I was determined to make it exactly as the pattern recommends.

Being an indie pattern I expected a lot more detail in the pattern and illustrations of every step but it was much more like the main pattern companies (the big four in sewing speak!). Not that it is hard to follow more that it was different from my expectations.

The pattern is fairly straight forward. I did lower the front neckline a little and I just turned up the hem rather than adding the strip of fabric as instructed (I ran out of fabric - what can you do?).

The fabric is some from my stash that I couldn't walk past when it was on sale. It's Sarah Fielke (which I have probably spelt wrong but quilters will know who I mean!).

Next time - I will probably leave the bust as is, lengthen the shoulder height a little and grade in to at least a 42 in the waist - there is a lot of room and it would be more flattering without it, I think. Also I might lengthen the bodice slightly the waist band sits very high. Overall it looks fine on but the fit could be better on me.

All in all - I am pleased with this one though and their will be more - now that I have done it once it will be much quicker to put together and I love the back detail and the wee pockets.

Joining in here

love you more than finding just the right fabric in your stash xxx

44 of 52

Birthday boy

and boy adventuring with Daddy

and these 2 gorgeous playmates

love you more than an icing smile xxxx

And Just Like That You Are Six

Dear Boy,

Our beautiful, laughing, joy-filled bringer of joy - Happy Sixth Birthday.

It has been such a delight to watch you grow this year. The way you bring so.much.energy to everything you do. You are a complete investor in triumph or disappointment it's all there. I like that enthusiasm, it suits you well.

 You have shown to be a natural learner this year. There have been fascinating facts and emphatic knowledge of special information. You have loved Spanish and seem to have a natural ear for it. Reading delights you and your favourite day at school is guided reading day. So often I am given special insight into what you have learned that day - you love to learn, may it always be so.

 You love to be the cute little brother but you are capable of being a serious and concerted listener and effort giver too.

I love how you are so generous with your thoughts and feelings and the way that even though Dad has already hugged you goodbye in the morning you must give him one final enthusiastic squeeze just before he slips out the door. I love the way you are so keen to help and contribute to the family and to be a helper wherever you are.

 You have always been such a contagious laugher, and this year is no different, multiple times a day our lives ring out with true, unfettered, belly laughing. It's one of my favourite things to hear.

You have a great little brain in your head and you have learned some very long memory verses for church. Your little heart composes such beautiful and thoughtful prayers that I often whisper silent thanks at getting just to be there to hear them.

 As you go into this new year I want you to know what an incredible gift you are, how much life you bring and how much I love your enthusiasm and joy. Oh my darling - the best is yet to come and we will be watching with joy how it unfolds for you.

6 minutes, 6 days, 6 weeks, 6 months, 6 years - all of those precious days we have loved you.

Happy, happy, happy birthday our one and only Bounce. xxxxxxxxxxx

Make My Week - Vogue 8469

I find it very difficult to not just have a 'wee rummage' (you would not believe the teasing I get for the use of the word 'wee' in Australia! And it seems I use it a lot without realising!) through the Vogue pattern draw when I see a 'all patterns $5' sign.

Ahem.

So it is already ridiculously hot here - we have already had a day of 35 degrees! I am already going on about the weather - it is going to be a long summer of whinging I suspect! In the heat sometimes a lady just needs a good maxi so she can sit like a man and let the air circulate!

I saw this fabric at the same time when I was out looking for chair fabric (no dice on that - oops bought some things for a new dress instead).

I made it into a maxi shape by just making the skirt sections as long as I could with the fabric I had. I hit on the perfect length by complete accident - whoop!

Contrast sash from left over orange and I made the tie lengths equal rather than the pattern suggestion and tie them front or back - as you can see.

I cut the 12 which was the top size in the pattern but added length to front and back shoulder straps and graded out (by eye) in the bust and in the sash. I also lengthened the bodice under the bust as well to make sure the sash sat under the ladies.

Super pleased with this. Finished it on Friday morning before school and wore it Friday and Sunday - it's so good. It's all I can do not to wear it every day. I love the fabric and colours and that even though the patterns don't match on the seams the lines at least do.

Also yes the heat and sun is so extreme I wear my hats inside now too!! (not really, but do you like my new hat? I do.)

Joining in with the makers here:

Maxi dresses - love them or feel swamped by them?

love you more than air circulation xxxx

The Best and Most Beautiful

Even if I had a hundred Christmas decorations here (we currently have 4 that we have made and no others) I still would have bought this at oxfam today.

I especially love it when Christmas decorations like nativities and angels are portrayed in the culture of the maker. Of course a Zimbabwean angel would look like this and have beautiful dark skin. Because Jesus is a gift to us all, he meets us in a way we relate to - he takes on our flesh and understands the journey we walk.

Also look at the message about who made it, it was all I could do not to cry in the store.

One mother (me) partnering with Mai Stanley (Stanley's mother) helping each other to celebrate the most wonderful gift of all.

love you more than an angel on the tree xxxx

forty three

School fun run.

These boys just ran and ran and ran - so proud of them.

They both did the most laps in their classes and I love that they pushed themselves. (I think they get that from The Atlas! Although I did say to my mama at five, "there's no point running in a race unless you know you are going to win." Now I just look for someone to talk to and walk with!)

love you more than a full drink bottle after a hot run xxx

Book Week - How to Know You Are An Optimist

So today is a little tour through the stacks of books at my place.

When I started taking photos of these stacks I thought, only an optimist would think that they will be able to read all this and keep getting more books out of the library!

There are books under the computer - these are new and as yet unread (or just started)

some to review

some faith books

some crafty books

then there is the day I went to the library and every single book, (bar 2 - and of those 1 was for my son) on the hold shelf under our last name initial, was for me

and then there are a few others I grabbed just because they caught my eye

my current and the book we are currently reading aloud to the boys

plus there are a couple of different versions of the Bible I picked up the other day - just to mix things up

Despite all these piles I seldom read during the day unless it's while I am waiting for something - somehow reading during the day seems too indulgent.... or maybe it's a throw back from the first week of my maternity leave when I read 5 novels in 5 days and felt a bit booked-out,

 but I'm thinking if I want to make any progress on this pile I may need to allow myself some indulgent reading hours under the air-con.

How about you - are there books stashed around your house too??

I may have another book week when I make some progress into this mighty stack....

I'll be back in the weekend though to review some picture books that the boys are enjoying.

love you more than a whole day of reading in a cool spot xxxx