A New Dress - well almost......

Dont you love finding the perfect fabric, the very thing that you didn't know you couldn't live without. That's how I felt when I stumbled across this roll at Spotlight (good old Spotlight). It's 100% cotton AND jersy to boot - it's quite stretchy but firm enough to sew. Now all I need to do is cordon off a morning or afternoon to sew it up - that'll be easy enough...... won't it......????

Lots of love,

Kate. xxooxx

When Sewing Hurts.....

 I made my first squab for the caravan yesterday, four more left to do and a back that is already saying "no more". Because of the length, I have to do the measuring and cutting on the floor and my muscles are screaming today. There must be a way that I can get Archie and Hugo to do the work for me surely.

This is the fabric I will be using for curtains down the bed end of the caravan. I've decided to treat the two different ends as two separate rooms. This helps with the smaller runs of fabric that I have. No money in the budget for buying endless rolls of matching fabrics. But who would want that when there is a cupboard bulging with beautiful material purchased randomly over the years.

I start doing pilates tomorrow so helpfully that will reinforce me enough to do the last three squabs. Fingers crossed!

Love Kate. xxooxx

A New Dress

 With my snippets of time here and there I have managed to cobble together a new dress. I cut out the pattern one day, the fabric the next and so on until it was finished.

 I am becoming rapidly addicted to Japanese sewing books, particularly the ones translated into english. 

 This is one of my favourite views, looking down upon a new dress.

And I have started a new project to keep myself warm on these suddenly cold evenings. 

Lots and lots of love,
Kate. xxooxx

Liberty, Velvet and Chalk.

 Mum is due to arrive tomorrow and I have spent the morning making her bed, sewing cushions and trying to keep my ridiculously surging excitement under control. Aggggghhhhhh!

 I bought the navy blue velvet cover yesterday. It is like nestling your head against the furry underside of a bumblebee. Archie is desperate to claim the cushion but I know there is a place for it in my room once Mum leaves.
After making the first Liberty cushion cover, I knew a second one was calling. I love how they are snuggled up together looking out the window.

 Doesn't the navy blue cushion look proud of its little friends.

 They lub each other.

 Now all we need is a Gaga (Mum) to complete the picture.

Oh yes, here are some books waiting for her.

And if you were wondering what's in the yellow striped mug.... It's chalk.

Lots of love,

Kate xxxxx.

p.s. Hurry up Mum!!!

More Quilt Photos...

 Sorry guys - but I just had to take some more photos of the quilt before I send it away. It was such a joy to make and I loved the contrasting corduroy with the lighter weight cottons.

My favourite thing (apart from snuggling under it) is seeing a quilt folded up.
Lots of love,
Kate xxooxx.

A Fabric Fix.

Today I went fabric shopping - the first time in ages. I was actually going to spend the morning doing computer work but then a flyer came from Spotlight and on the back page were these new prints from Belle and Boo!!!!! It was like a dream come true. So I rang my next door neighbour (I thought she might be up for an adventure), jumped into the car and teleported into town.

It just so happened that there was a sale today on all quilting fabrics and the selection I was after went down to slightly less than half price!!!

 I bought stuff.

Still in the washing machine (funny how quickly I wash new fabrics but school uniforms... they can lounge around in the bottom of the laundry chute for days) are some corduroys and a plain acid yellow drill. I'll show you them tomorrow.

Lots of love, 

Kate xxooxx. 

A New Jumper and Skirt... The Big Reveal.

 Okay... so two posts in one day - I must be really excited about my new jumper and skirt. REALLY EXCITED. So excited that I made my eldest son take photos of me.

I really hope this one doesn't scar him for life....

 In this one I am Gangnam styling a little. Archie likes this one.

 Laughing.

Oh the laughing.

And here, a little more natural and thoughtful. Watch out NZ's Next Top Model - I have so many different poses.

And this one. It's of my yellow shoes which are an essential part of the whole pink corduroy look...
Lots of love,
Kate xxooxx.
p.s. This jumper pattern comes from Mel Clark's wonderful book "Knitting Everyday Finery" and is the second time I have knitted it because I love it so much.

A Finished Quilt.

 Today I finished my quilt. I can't quite remember when I began it, some time last year when Mum came to stay. There wasn't much to do, just a few squiggly lines (there was already so much geometry in the pattern) to hold it together and Bob's your uncle! This is one of Archie's photos - he had another day at home recovering from his cold.

 On the machine - how I love my walking foot!!!!

 And then, on the bed. I had my best afternoon nap today, just the right temperature. The wadding is a bamboo/cotton mix and perfect for strange autumnal warmth.

 This is another of Archie's photos. I know I am his mother and completely biased but I really do think he has an eye.

 And my basket for today. The shop Cotton On always has the best inexpensive bags on sale to put your newly acquired goods in. These bags were maybe $2 each with 100% of the proceeds going to charity. It's so easy to be charitable when the aesthetics are just so....

Lots of love,
Kate xxooxx.

Rain.

Last night saw lots of rain falling down on very thirsty New Zealand soil. It was getting to the point where I was considering stripping off for a little dance but fortunately I didn't have to. Maybe because I sewed up this little cloud a couple of nights earlier....

Lots of love, 

Kate xxooxx.

Home for a Night...

 Yesterday we came home from our holiday for a night. It was so lovely to be at home again, see Jonno, sleep in our own beds and spend some time in the studio. During the last week I have been dreaming of putting the cameos onto a canvas - just to see. I like it.

 I have been dreaming of sewing....

 And so this morning I made this cushion - first time I have used the bobble trim - tres satisfying.

 Archie was quite keen to join in on some photos, funny little thing.

Seeing Jonno was the best thing of all though and none of us wanted to say good bye at lunch time. Anyway, back home again soon!

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

Et Voila!

 My bag is now officially finished and ready for use!!!

 The pattern comes from 'Little Things to Sew' by the creator of Oliver + S, Liesl Gibson. Funnily enough the lining fabric is from her new and extremely affordable range found in Spotlight. The oilcloth comes from Nani Iro (grrrrrrrr).

It even hangs up on the hook nicely, sharing space with its new scarf and coat friends. I can't wait to take it into town tomorrow.

Thanks for your lovely comments over here and at the Mollie Makes blog yesterday. It was so much fun. I have to admit I kept popping over to see if anybody looked (and thank goodness they did!).

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

A Little Bit of Quilting Love.

 Well knock me down with a feather, but I think I like quilting. Inspiration hit with this quilt by Petal Plum made for Stef the bride and I have been wanting to make my own Nani Iro version ever since.

 I have finished the top now and have reached the next stage where words like quilt sandwich come into play. It makes me feel strangely hungry .....mmmmm..... quilt sandwich. I found some 50/50 cotton and bamboo batting from Spotlight as I would like it to be light weight for the summer. The binding will be with yellow corduroy.

 And of course, like all crafting phases, it is not enough to have just one quilt on the go. On pinterest there has been a few unfinished quilts appliqued onto fabric, a great way to finish a stalled project.

I began this granny's garden hexie quilt years ago, using a tiny template which meant that growth was very slow. I don't think I will ever get fully back into this particular one so instead I will turn it into a single quilt for the guest bedroom. I am so looking forward to completing it.

I hope you like my new header - I always feel a little strange with blog changes but I am beginning to think that I might like this one even more than the last.... 

Anyhoo, I had better rescue the corned beef and serve it up for dinner.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.