tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222350308222198872024-03-05T19:40:08.746+11:00 Botticelli Babe Craft, AustraliaCrafty life from a SAHM armed with a sewing machine, bellydancing hips and an Attack Toddler. Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-14000833106028915522010-08-26T15:22:00.005+10:002010-08-26T23:26:44.239+10:00Green voile Citronille top<center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ16Ev4WEaokfDzki3ZrDXChCVZU7qtcIW7ptrFYbDMD75mjSo6o9Nh83LRjIG5jSHB9S8wGAvdik7SvU6Oh_etJE_rC4SfxSbN4uYaBJD_9GkCOV4MeIPRcRS7uNjAdtxzh2rQ7y7P7BZ/s1600/01x.jpg"><img style="margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ16Ev4WEaokfDzki3ZrDXChCVZU7qtcIW7ptrFYbDMD75mjSo6o9Nh83LRjIG5jSHB9S8wGAvdik7SvU6Oh_etJE_rC4SfxSbN4uYaBJD_9GkCOV4MeIPRcRS7uNjAdtxzh2rQ7y7P7BZ/s320/01x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509704491390074610" /></a></center><br />I found <A HREF="http://www.citronille.com.fr">Citronille</A> via Amanda at <A HREF="http://www.soulemama.com">Soulemama</A> a few weeks ago, and ordered a few of their delicious patterns. I fell totally in love with a square-necked smock shirt and a pointy-hooded coat that both boasted simple construction methods, and picked up a third hippy-style shirt that looked like something my partner would wear in a larger size.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0L-ON2y6mnBHjpZ3-c-txhRHboJkHkCxDjOTRTLN8T6Nc2McWbvVEVoVjaivCqOEBgevERYxIYPd0SBqnaJkfe1EdA2agRmPJam7oa6gHnxDMQ9-T3L3xYj-cxrAyMGUfKODHW7KJMSQk/s1600/03x.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0L-ON2y6mnBHjpZ3-c-txhRHboJkHkCxDjOTRTLN8T6Nc2McWbvVEVoVjaivCqOEBgevERYxIYPd0SBqnaJkfe1EdA2agRmPJam7oa6gHnxDMQ9-T3L3xYj-cxrAyMGUfKODHW7KJMSQk/s320/03x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509704504039129058" /></a>Whilst the shipping wasn't cheap it WAS fast, and the patterns themselves were very inexpensive and covered a wide range of sizes - not to mention beautiful and unusual compared to the poor selection available without flounces or skirts in Australia.<br /><br />After whipping up a toile in calico I thought the first shirt pattern looked a bit wide and short for my long, skinny pixie (who refused to try it on for me to double check after eyeballing) so I attempted to adjust it when it came time to cut out my actual first attempt.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-Hunp7oFuCKoLfXbU6gVTsm61DnlpO1Dy40ouORrFOVXzkzd1hLFql9w9jjj_JAb2Z2yEDRoamDqxdMCWBITieldr4Luq0eyQ0EohZzUzWGbrThP5H4gzn_uonBLenV8dx2TBwmolCp9/s1600/02x.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-Hunp7oFuCKoLfXbU6gVTsm61DnlpO1Dy40ouORrFOVXzkzd1hLFql9w9jjj_JAb2Z2yEDRoamDqxdMCWBITieldr4Luq0eyQ0EohZzUzWGbrThP5H4gzn_uonBLenV8dx2TBwmolCp9/s320/02x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509704499444373138" /></a>Lesson learned; don't eyeball changes. Especially ones that make it difficult for the shoulders to fit a garment. I ended up having to add triangular gores back into the side-seams, thus rendering my years in the Medieval Society useful in modern life, after all!<br /><br />I used a gorgeous green voile that snagged with very little provocation, and was originally another Medieval Society garment. It seems to be my month for remaking old garments into wildly new ones.<br /><br />And then Pixieface wouldn't try the actual garment on until I'd added the buttons (which were then cause for excitement, celebration, and definite donning). I found these two delicious little red apple buttons at a church market stall and bought them for twenty cents, knowing I'd find the right project sometime.<br /><br /><center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQMO5ge6AeaW0TUh5Tg5SJnt0se_VsCV0g5k6MGAC2c97YhsaihL93SI3FGqJTAd-ZvQ2P3VaE3GWeKwNu9SeMXVC06g2w1iUHOKTwlVpv1AnVycvU3vzCFmBzZkcy7PmLaY8ceitV5Tu/s1600/05x.jpg"><img style=" margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQMO5ge6AeaW0TUh5Tg5SJnt0se_VsCV0g5k6MGAC2c97YhsaihL93SI3FGqJTAd-ZvQ2P3VaE3GWeKwNu9SeMXVC06g2w1iUHOKTwlVpv1AnVycvU3vzCFmBzZkcy7PmLaY8ceitV5Tu/s320/05x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509704508990552002" /></a></center><br /><br />Unfortunately, Two seems to be a difficult age for getting nice shots of this child of mine. A combination of camera-shy and inability to stand still made these about the best I could do.<br />BUT the final verdict is that I will be making one of these in every colour, for the warmer months. With longer sleeves and body length than suggested by the pattern (but not narrower!). Just too gorgeous for words. And so very European looking! Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-64247583591250859402010-08-19T17:45:00.006+10:002010-08-20T08:05:05.659+10:00Fatuous reasons to become a Mum<center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFxmdq_yM-ZpjTmUV66S03aRKdXaihiFimHL2ePqeVFDh1H9XcHYyqhHX_tOi2_psbuW8J48sbhsZF4eUM7gMg-ccZWZQehkgbXOJhwPuyQ7uXy5GISFThGPsUt9JB7d37ic7VwT-MdFk/s1600/06x.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFxmdq_yM-ZpjTmUV66S03aRKdXaihiFimHL2ePqeVFDh1H9XcHYyqhHX_tOi2_psbuW8J48sbhsZF4eUM7gMg-ccZWZQehkgbXOJhwPuyQ7uXy5GISFThGPsUt9JB7d37ic7VwT-MdFk/s320/06x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507024314950484146" /></a></center><br />To show somebody how fun it can be to step in a puddle of paint, feel it ooze between your toes, and then march across paper, leaving a trail behind you, feeling it stick to your feet and giggling at the mess.<br /><center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvsaTvoUofUW4OLmlrAvb55G2k7Rh4RbBFbWe1GMVJDNMnoIByovTKMrjJuNc03HxiFNDQD7IbsVmNB9PsT0b8CJla9zQE6jJTmFundLEu8o5Ok1rDHajwjlV0LHAB59ZrPSWEcq6ff8v/s1600/04x.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvsaTvoUofUW4OLmlrAvb55G2k7Rh4RbBFbWe1GMVJDNMnoIByovTKMrjJuNc03HxiFNDQD7IbsVmNB9PsT0b8CJla9zQE6jJTmFundLEu8o5Ok1rDHajwjlV0LHAB59ZrPSWEcq6ff8v/s320/04x.jpg" valign="texttop" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507024321367864402" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinJxO46dtEDPeZgTDKZM6qnMtsq4ZXCQpqlQPflgV25xDGgR-13VuG7V8NSKrUmZE44740c7cK1gr1hHIP9zPgeOy8jwruLzrVjuGS8spNRaGrzDB00UoFYY1seT0BGSSJS_R86jhGmDt/s1600/05x.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinJxO46dtEDPeZgTDKZM6qnMtsq4ZXCQpqlQPflgV25xDGgR-13VuG7V8NSKrUmZE44740c7cK1gr1hHIP9zPgeOy8jwruLzrVjuGS8spNRaGrzDB00UoFYY1seT0BGSSJS_R86jhGmDt/s320/05x.jpg" valign="texttop" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507024319065748962" /></a></center> Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-74694747801626035942010-08-18T17:22:00.003+10:002010-08-19T17:44:32.982+10:00Recently seen on my sewing machine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGE5KxnQZwQElEybJk7VpAI8BdjJ1NPXh4s2iGc4DbxprYurDgFb5EhfiZ7Bm2JpXs7DoH7so45JssUKYTAsEEmlXcKg9fxjHmDeXEEyzfCyiAf4gIm40l43M-NkEE22-KXmQMpWKiEBHr/s1600/03x.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGE5KxnQZwQElEybJk7VpAI8BdjJ1NPXh4s2iGc4DbxprYurDgFb5EhfiZ7Bm2JpXs7DoH7so45JssUKYTAsEEmlXcKg9fxjHmDeXEEyzfCyiAf4gIm40l43M-NkEE22-KXmQMpWKiEBHr/s320/03x.jpg" border="0" alt="A grey vest, lined in maroon, with three large black buttons reaching from the neck to the bottom of what would be the wearer's chest. It is hanging in front of a brick wall."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507018607182805554" /></a>Early this year I found a sleeveless fleece vest for my son's wardrobe. It's been really useful on cooler days this winter, when we've gone out to playgrounds where it's very cool when you stand still, but running around like a two year old makes it a bit warm for a jumper.<br />I didn't quite trust myself to fit a zip to stretchy fleece fabric so planned to do a double-breasted button thing for my homemade version. This turned out not to be as practical as I'd hoped, since a sudden growth spurt meant he was filling out his clothes an inch or two more than when I first began cutting. So the resulting garment looks slightly lopsided, but was still a big hit - the minute I added the buttons and rediscovered my machine's buttonholing capabilities that is (he didn't want a bar of it, pre-buttons).<br /><br />The outside is a gorgeous grey minky fleece, and I cut around the fading on an old cotton garment for the lining, that was retired from the Medieval Society when I was in charge of the loaner gear (so the local group heads offered me the spoils!). I patterned it off a (slightly A-line) shirt, allowing a few centimetres extra on each seam, so a few layers could be comfortably worn beneath. (To do this, turn your garment inside out, pull the sleeves inside the body of the garment and lay it as flat as you can. Potential tute to follow. Eventually.)<br /><br /><center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsotJMccXAKEd9YtYhLeoSTvpLmAuB5veVA1MjSvVk7Q0-VXp9XnthmROHyYEhRji2FI45BDLQbPaGGVReWYQNAJ5zGRzqP27qXwA8iIxzRxYbMaOzYCbk7WkmE8B7rVddVmm4Ueya0ER8/s1600/01x.jpg"><img valign="texttop" style=" margin:0 0 1px 1px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsotJMccXAKEd9YtYhLeoSTvpLmAuB5veVA1MjSvVk7Q0-VXp9XnthmROHyYEhRji2FI45BDLQbPaGGVReWYQNAJ5zGRzqP27qXwA8iIxzRxYbMaOzYCbk7WkmE8B7rVddVmm4Ueya0ER8/s320/01x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507018607658790754" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLIkB1cbaOH_I0-zB-ImaZbUcnHQsPl3KmQCRDCbZ5oQaTHo4n4d715E-ssaIUMvW8kqgsKt7QA55IDc3qfoPx5Sip6RevB7zdHC6HNFcJaYCgRR_PCXOFvYeObXQEDxclYjTJvj0hqHh/s1600/02x.jpg"><img valign="texttop" style=" margin:0 0 1px 1px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLIkB1cbaOH_I0-zB-ImaZbUcnHQsPl3KmQCRDCbZ5oQaTHo4n4d715E-ssaIUMvW8kqgsKt7QA55IDc3qfoPx5Sip6RevB7zdHC6HNFcJaYCgRR_PCXOFvYeObXQEDxclYjTJvj0hqHh/s320/02x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507018605403222066" /></a></center><br />I think next time I'll try finishing the edges with a contrasting rib knit and not bother lining it. I'd also curve the front edges rather than leaving them as right angles, one of which inevitably flips up.<br />But not bad for a first go. With the skivvy and embroidered flares the Tiny Tyrant was definitely channelling the 70s the other day! Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-21276229362804815552010-08-16T17:25:00.001+10:002010-08-17T17:31:10.154+10:00Bag of Swag<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eDxQeBzpCJlongslqQmXLpLDjGMxxkAa2JYk6b5-TwqtQDrtitvvlGKx6vM4ZcA0EVB3ZqsiLXEK8MsLxeyLV5UFKGTSGgmQkFVnBAoNW2APiYKYgZsS8e2RLhgSadKEzNQYSzDF_7XL/s1600/01x.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eDxQeBzpCJlongslqQmXLpLDjGMxxkAa2JYk6b5-TwqtQDrtitvvlGKx6vM4ZcA0EVB3ZqsiLXEK8MsLxeyLV5UFKGTSGgmQkFVnBAoNW2APiYKYgZsS8e2RLhgSadKEzNQYSzDF_7XL/s320/01x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506276859467334914" /></a>Went to visit the Out-laws last week, and came home with these lovelies, which my Mother-Out-Law was planning to toss out. They're all genuinely vintage, from the 70s or 80s (and gosh, doesn't that make ME feel old)! Most of them have a little fading or wear, but if I make them into Small People things that will be easy enough to avoid. I'm really chuffed, even though I'm meant to be <span style="font-style:italic;">cutting down</span> the amount of stuff in my craft room - I twisted my ankle in there this morning, when I tripped over some of the piles. Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-9513936754303633302010-08-01T08:21:00.005+10:002010-08-01T09:54:33.348+10:00Food Pr0n<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3sgEEcH_wSTM-7ZAgiAaMkJcwvPp8coJwfQnLv-HKZ-q9aS2dz7wOocs3Kl6EnBe-wnz4lygIlZEwDH2rdBtEZTI1WxRZ-_CILoYv3_lli18K9FAD94lKB30VRe8_TbcQv4o58nhUAN5/s1600/03x.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3sgEEcH_wSTM-7ZAgiAaMkJcwvPp8coJwfQnLv-HKZ-q9aS2dz7wOocs3Kl6EnBe-wnz4lygIlZEwDH2rdBtEZTI1WxRZ-_CILoYv3_lli18K9FAD94lKB30VRe8_TbcQv4o58nhUAN5/s320/03x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500217549858806114" /></a>Round here, winter is for baking!<br />Here's a peek at some of the baking I've been doing lately, because when stuff goes right in the kitchen it's worth celebrating, for me.<br /><br />First, a chocolate zucchini cupcake with peppermint and choc-fudge icing. It's got vegetables in, it's healthy, right? Without the icing it's actually been a huge toddler hit and I'll be doing them again.<br /><br />And here are some Very Naughty gingerbread men that I sent to my sister, after a silly discussion about me mailing her "hot naked men". Well, except for the one of them who got shy and donned a posing pouch!<br /><center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOVueTEgx1nveFSG4obn6A0tkW1bHeY269OQy_LHH66y3UBGMjDlEf4kYz-xK1DAWwbivMoqZ3MO_8m26sMg-C4F_mEF-Ec0egui4-_upwBArZtBB783nuCpTUwQuokU0vhmqwNVdti6D/s1600/06x.jpg"><img margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOVueTEgx1nveFSG4obn6A0tkW1bHeY269OQy_LHH66y3UBGMjDlEf4kYz-xK1DAWwbivMoqZ3MO_8m26sMg-C4F_mEF-Ec0egui4-_upwBArZtBB783nuCpTUwQuokU0vhmqwNVdti6D/s320/06x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500217554431979506" /></a></center> Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-24963423538841285132010-07-27T19:24:00.000+10:002010-07-30T14:51:53.444+10:00Toddler Tuesday: pants from bunny rug<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjoGp-JyjPP4XbeSPm8b4_WJQ-NYNReiLBYaP69IfWVJMDrNvfK_oauYWbSiw0bPzbYdHtQ1Q_u9gjlIqjFkAoKLL5sq4TDkMMk1uR2M1O054lbPlqSENmZWyS-akPiFFn89szb5GlbQo/s1600/02x.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjoGp-JyjPP4XbeSPm8b4_WJQ-NYNReiLBYaP69IfWVJMDrNvfK_oauYWbSiw0bPzbYdHtQ1Q_u9gjlIqjFkAoKLL5sq4TDkMMk1uR2M1O054lbPlqSENmZWyS-akPiFFn89szb5GlbQo/s320/02x.jpg" border="0" alt="A tiny newborn wrapped in a saffron blanket, face pink & creased, mouth open, head tilted up to the top of the photo" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499555865028060930" /></a>I enlisted the Tiny Tyrant's help in making him some new PJ pants (which he needed desperately, since the past month's growth spurt has added an extra two inches to his legs, seemingly).<br />Digging through my stash of flannelette material lead to the discovery of the rug we wrapped him in for his first Mama-Baby photos, the first day we were home from the hospital. Since he was in the NICU for a week he was already eight days old. I remember asking my partner to take the two photos, so I'd have something to send to the family; apart from a fuzzy, long distance view of the plastic crib he was in, all our photos so far had included wires, heat lamps and machines that went PING.<br />Finding that blanket made me feel very nostalgic, and I remembered how exhausted, relieved and overjoyed I was that I finally had him home with my partner and I, and we had the opportunity to begin enjoying being the new family that we all were, together. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6MVOEGVpfLsB6Lxc5OlLD4YAmVg3Z2ZQ2PRB5oB9mJgaLY6Z2rsaa8_CN_Xs7073IER9ByeRSwcilQ4t9MVOWMtNPaMdpMiMU6uZL5Qs40hQBpeGZ3Gh3w9rJ74VkKHva7JvmIFU4c7B/s1600/03x.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6MVOEGVpfLsB6Lxc5OlLD4YAmVg3Z2ZQ2PRB5oB9mJgaLY6Z2rsaa8_CN_Xs7073IER9ByeRSwcilQ4t9MVOWMtNPaMdpMiMU6uZL5Qs40hQBpeGZ3Gh3w9rJ74VkKHva7JvmIFU4c7B/s320/03x.jpg" border="0" alt="A toddler standing in front of a babygate or fence, side on to the camera. his face is turned towards the viewer, his eyes are closed and his face is screwed up in a similar expression to the newborn above. he wears a long-sleeved, white top and a long pair of loose pants of the same material as the blanket the newborn is wrapped in." id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499555867269576930" /></a>Tyrant seemed to be drawn to it too, because it was the material he chose to have his new pants made from.<br />I've been getting him a bit more involved in my sewing, lately; he likes to sit on my lap when I'm not sewing fiddly things, and watch the fabric move through the machine (thank goodness he's such a careful child). He works the presser foot for me, and I pause to let him pull pins out and stick them on my magnetic mushroom, which he loves to do.<br />So we sewed up his new pants in around fifteen minutes, and for the first night in some time he wanted to get into his pyjamas early! Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-9765802947938897372010-07-15T20:42:00.003+10:002010-07-17T21:51:42.616+10:00Thrifty Thursday: Rags for the BagIn case you haven't yet realised it, I am seriously enamoured of clothes. Not "fashion" as in what the magazines are telling me the designers like right now, but <span style="font-style:italic;">fashion</span>; the great, enormous scale of designs, colours, fabrics and accessories human beings have used in all cultures, for centuries, to decorate and protect themselves.<br /><br />Clothes are amazing, and I'm not sure I could ever get tired of thinking about and playing with ideas for ways to be dressed. Sure, I have my favourite eras and styles, my own tastes and preferences, but I still enjoy mixing it up and thinking about others and what might suit or excite them, too.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/esther17/291268967/lightbox/#/photos/esther17/291268967/"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/122/291268967_5dfe74ace0_m.jpg" border="0" alt="Clothing drive-by by Esther17 on flickr; a white business shirt on a ahnger, dirty, torn and stained." /></a>This is why I never thought I would ever meet my match. Enter my partner; a man who loves thrift shopping even more than me, who- when I met him - had <span style="font-weight:bold;">more clothes</span> than me!<br />Part of this is becase he loves the thrill of finding that perfect item that suits as much as I do. But some of it is certainly also because he's gotten emotionally attached to a lot of his clothes. A bit like those supposed women who hang onto that dress for "when I'm a size 10 again", he had pants whose waistband would now just close around a single thigh still lurking in the depths of his wardrobe.<br />That he'd last worn twenty years ago.<br />That had a bleach stain on one leg from when his Mum had dropped it, in the laundry.<br /><br />Because of the emotional investment in his clothes, I've been using a mixture of gentle and more aggressive tactics to get rid of some of his dinosaurs (my own wardrobe tends to get purged of the unworn and unfit every few years).<br />The bane of my existence has actually turned out to be the Terribly Comfortable (Moth-Eaten) Hole Transportation System, the sort of shirt that's hanging together with goodwill and a few bits of thread and fond memories.<br />I'm not denying that you need a shirt or two like this in your wardrobe. For the memories, for yardwork, for moving furniture or to spatter in red paint to wear as a zombie costume for a birthday party (no, really). <span style="font-style:italic;">But a dozen or more?</span><br />So I've been ditching them, slowly, taking what I can use again and doing so, but trying to be really ruthless if the fabric is too worn or there are just too many holes.<br /><br />Here are a couple of things I do when I find a fresh <strike>victim</strike> shirt:<br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight:bold;">Cut off (and keep)the buttons.</span> These are always reusable on sewn garments or items that are missing one. They make great game counters or eyes for toys. Toddlers, kids AND adults love playing with and arranging buttons (it can be v therapeutic and soothing). Plus, they're usually plastic and thus most likely the last thing to break down at the tip.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/76283671@N00/184618898/lightbox/#/photos/76283671@N00/184618898/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/45/184618898_d4798e0d0a_m.jpg" border="0" alt="buttons by Laineys Repertoire on flickr" /></a><br /><li><span style="font-weight:bold;">Assess the sleeves.</span> Sleeves make nifty hats for small babies, and two sewn together (with a bit of shaping and elastic) can make baby shorts or bloomers.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3301/3200593206_93ab62cb87_o.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 309px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3301/3200593206_93ab62cb87_o.jpg" border="0" alt="Small, drooly baby wearing a viking-style horned hat made form soft materials, in navy and cream." /></a><center><font size="-2">This totally used to be two old t-shirts.</font></center><br /><li><span style="font-weight:bold;">Check out the rest of the shirt for patches not too worn or holey.</span> Small squares and rectanges are practical as pieces for baby and toddler tunics, pants and shirts or for cleaning cloths - worn clothes are usually soft and especially good for glass cleaning.<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs134.snc1/5733_124212191788_614666788_3132201_3839944_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs134.snc1/5733_124212191788_614666788_3132201_3839944_n.jpg" border="0" alt="Small boy wearing green tunic with apple print over stripey, long-sleeves shirt, kneels on the floor, staring solemnly at the camera." /></a></ul><br /><br />So those are my tips for Hol(e)y Old Relics of the Wardrobe. Got any of your own? Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-29471769367785832352010-05-17T20:20:00.003+10:002010-07-07T16:31:31.298+10:00Two Year Old Backpacks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8PNaMBPtFkB8JwbKmq28Se40jkhz5YvMFQyXgDRNswQs1wS69iLBv-uLNr3lQgdGYgiDufCqQTX3R8PBvpbrVBM9cW8WCE48uLK0VgUJdeu-vIGTW-fpNZpe5cAWOtEiEoinV_WQvwTl/s1600/09x.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8PNaMBPtFkB8JwbKmq28Se40jkhz5YvMFQyXgDRNswQs1wS69iLBv-uLNr3lQgdGYgiDufCqQTX3R8PBvpbrVBM9cW8WCE48uLK0VgUJdeu-vIGTW-fpNZpe5cAWOtEiEoinV_WQvwTl/s320/09x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485452434632406514" /></a>Yesterday my Small Person turned 2.<br />We had a Ladybugs' Picnic at the local Botanic Gardens, inviting all his friends to wear black and red and join us near the really cool playground there.<br /><br />I've been prepping like mad, and can now totally understand other parents' love for pay-n-play padded spaces and professionally catered events! I tried not to pressure myself too much (hence the low-key theme), figuring two year olds would just love the chance to run around and have fun, but the one thing I did pull out all the stops for were the party bags. I'm not super-comfortable with handing a group of very small people a bunch of sugar and chemicals to take home and smear all over their rooms, and I really wanted not to give away a heap of disposable plastic junk that would go into land-fill in no time at all.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBowdgGl0w6Kau0DGcmnktDiwAj6p0pbVOVYYT3TTZp_lG-LObJ4_00c0hiLXcbTzX5Wa4i7yjMr46G6ZaAsUVleggTEAibuFmZU-RHCrrIwnS0QR6_9T9HbQDtFqlLaBI1WsyQzXA63j/s1600/01x.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBowdgGl0w6Kau0DGcmnktDiwAj6p0pbVOVYYT3TTZp_lG-LObJ4_00c0hiLXcbTzX5Wa4i7yjMr46G6ZaAsUVleggTEAibuFmZU-RHCrrIwnS0QR6_9T9HbQDtFqlLaBI1WsyQzXA63j/s320/01x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485452422747709058" /></a>Also, the food issue was especially important for me since not only does the birthday boy have some food sensitivity issues, but quite a few of his friends do, as well as having all-out allergies.<br /><br />So instead of traditional party bags I found vegbee's <A HREF="http://bit.ly/dwUKUS">toddler backpack</A> over at her <A HREF="http://indietutes.blogspot.com">indietutes</A> blog. It was the perfect size for our toddler invitees, and the perfect shape for bug bags!<br /><br />Inside each bag was a bubble-blowing kit (so I didn't totally escape the cheap plastic - at least it's reusable), a red ribbon on a stick (made at home with chopsticks and lengths of ribbon from Spotlight) and two home-made lavender bath fizzies (with printed instructions designed by me).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDCb7noasJdm4yAK7cpHcJjsxiBWJOx7Yle_n8pnbVLfPx6K8RjKvDz3maK1BFmYbg16JVpw8C736lQtkAs_jyrGe6QA1413r25n_vSN3tckxgL1nmBvhVoLdy2z3_StNZdBSuWWGlj3B/s1600/05x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDCb7noasJdm4yAK7cpHcJjsxiBWJOx7Yle_n8pnbVLfPx6K8RjKvDz3maK1BFmYbg16JVpw8C736lQtkAs_jyrGe6QA1413r25n_vSN3tckxgL1nmBvhVoLdy2z3_StNZdBSuWWGlj3B/s320/05x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485451716728425522" /></a><br />Long story short the bags and contents were a bit of a hit - far more than my mediocre attempt at a birthday cake (thank goodness I have lots of years to perfect this art!) and now I have to go figure out my neglected Paypal account, to donate to vegbee.<br />And after all my stressing and work we all had a lovely time and quite a few of our guests decided to wear their new backpacks before they even got home.<br /><center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoE7ta3WTeku-NvuKjk0uxuVFxmFxxw9hB6XqD_Ymr570yOQZsM_7XBEtEGH9kFyBaJqYoJ_oe9qjcdamj0HctBz72W5zlcriXniPTHaiSqANCHotXYCBVirMsmhoGMkKYL5wtkU1hdUkg/s1600/03x.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 5px 5px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoE7ta3WTeku-NvuKjk0uxuVFxmFxxw9hB6XqD_Ymr570yOQZsM_7XBEtEGH9kFyBaJqYoJ_oe9qjcdamj0HctBz72W5zlcriXniPTHaiSqANCHotXYCBVirMsmhoGMkKYL5wtkU1hdUkg/s320/03x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485452428536780610" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsObI-kwoCghSB8F3xdOt5dSC-hMht0Fgt2vH65zyTgGnqgASAzBxzKVX_cQEBqpbsXzB_EwwoGNcJp5EqfeTa_5WUbjXANJ_sE8HshPeye9mfWfN-huLwoXE832boj5vtEFFyR4BbIjq9/s1600/02x.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 5px 5px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsObI-kwoCghSB8F3xdOt5dSC-hMht0Fgt2vH65zyTgGnqgASAzBxzKVX_cQEBqpbsXzB_EwwoGNcJp5EqfeTa_5WUbjXANJ_sE8HshPeye9mfWfN-huLwoXE832boj5vtEFFyR4BbIjq9/s320/02x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485452424575644786" /></a><br /></center> Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-24763825412307123732010-04-10T21:56:00.001+10:002010-06-20T19:27:12.992+10:00The Easter Bilby visits<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkHKFF2x1hZF_0e1F_JM8i4pSJytyvpu0J4gPoaRgxtj01LHKW2YI0H-zfhCLAucPRWBDIzQkkn4NRJf4vDPzrhhNOVSdS0hgPphrgYb8v9z6HsMTXI4NuEwiHW4J6uRpG-lG6Y5fKQ4E/s1600/03x.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkHKFF2x1hZF_0e1F_JM8i4pSJytyvpu0J4gPoaRgxtj01LHKW2YI0H-zfhCLAucPRWBDIzQkkn4NRJf4vDPzrhhNOVSdS0hgPphrgYb8v9z6HsMTXI4NuEwiHW4J6uRpG-lG6Y5fKQ4E/s320/03x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458481946418283906" /></a>As bunnies are a really terrible pest here in Australia, and the Wicked Fairy is very aware of this as his parents own a farm, we have agreed that the Easter Bilby (whose chocolate presence can be seen on supermarket shelves alongside his European brethren) will be visiting the Tiny Tyrant each year.<br /><br />This year the Bilby brought a few handmade soy chocolate eggs and something else - bunny skittles, to practice "kick" at with a ball! I knew these skittles would be a hit before I even began them. My prototype was March's Toy Society item, and the Tyrant pounced on the toy and began gleefully carrying and tossing it about the moment it was done (he did the same thing with the purple hippo. It makes me almost sorry to give them away).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHF29in70g2mE3bqMsZbOuTa2Zw6kcP6c1DqTCVjGaoczvfGv8gYaWN4fGnJAeskIDmd0DNj1e3KFdePf-Bdxyc1ZhvuykURsVaN3kh4hsGDzb9L38K0giGux1UJF8CU8yUbQjBX0kbEfd/s1600/02x.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHF29in70g2mE3bqMsZbOuTa2Zw6kcP6c1DqTCVjGaoczvfGv8gYaWN4fGnJAeskIDmd0DNj1e3KFdePf-Bdxyc1ZhvuykURsVaN3kh4hsGDzb9L38K0giGux1UJF8CU8yUbQjBX0kbEfd/s320/02x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458481938314972946" /></a><br />The bunnies are stuffed with a core of fabric scraps from the last three Toy Society projects, and rounded and softened with Hobbyfill. This makes them just a smidge heavier than they'd otherwise be, which makes them a little bit harder to knock over.<br />So the Tyrant's started placing his ball on the ground 15 centimetres away from the grouped skittles and then gleefullly kicking it - conveniently, he's then close enough to kick any skittles over that he managed to miss, without taking a step! Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-30770613614575341852010-04-08T20:50:00.000+10:002010-04-10T22:16:12.721+10:00Toy Society drops<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_rL0n9rxxw2PMn0-ELHj5c-XJJpfxX_TOpLBY1H2uaKqsQNKmPJzf_YUBaWCNLiXYOvmVaAhiF3_JBrhEhsKfOsY8tCvfz6Bsh2ccOZoZb5fLJcW8plTdM4LsGIchnz8h4BqpUIF2Qzf/s1600/05x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_rL0n9rxxw2PMn0-ELHj5c-XJJpfxX_TOpLBY1H2uaKqsQNKmPJzf_YUBaWCNLiXYOvmVaAhiF3_JBrhEhsKfOsY8tCvfz6Bsh2ccOZoZb5fLJcW8plTdM4LsGIchnz8h4BqpUIF2Qzf/s320/05x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458479495124690626" valign="absmiddle"/></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTj_jLVNX95mthkOfG4J9Np6KFxMKKggiRKIy4hay7NSYApH3FtV9xyy1XRJnuFanUMCedDlyeYtKtUhQzajuvcu1VXLkqHsGxROH6ea520i_sBzDMtlvCcJkdB9XgN8ebXi5nBZB9TdyC/s1600/04x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTj_jLVNX95mthkOfG4J9Np6KFxMKKggiRKIy4hay7NSYApH3FtV9xyy1XRJnuFanUMCedDlyeYtKtUhQzajuvcu1VXLkqHsGxROH6ea520i_sBzDMtlvCcJkdB9XgN8ebXi5nBZB9TdyC/s320/04x.jpg" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458479492188709186" /></a><br />Although I've been running a bit late, I have managed to do roughly a toy a month for my <A HREF="http://www.thetoysociety.blogspot.com/">Toy Society</A> drops. <br /><br />Because of the lateness, January and February's drops were both that wonderful hippo pattern I bought from 2 Little Banshees at Stitches & Craft last year. It's become a wonderfully soothing activity that comes together in more or less an evening (maybe two, for stuffing and fiddly bits like embroidery and button attachment). These two were drop number 974 and 984 respectively.<br /><br />But in March I managed to sew something a bit different, and dropped it on the 1st April, just before Easter.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGV5EloTFY_yuA4kJTeEosL4UAwq02P5gxYQjSMiZUxhDVrYmzhh0q6ayVhLJFA4I7yS7H_feFuvlLTDF4p_bmkERIc52wE10ffummIQHAdCzXk5dp8yh9Y1W-XuKrCpDyrh_ToQj4yhlU/s1600/01x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGV5EloTFY_yuA4kJTeEosL4UAwq02P5gxYQjSMiZUxhDVrYmzhh0q6ayVhLJFA4I7yS7H_feFuvlLTDF4p_bmkERIc52wE10ffummIQHAdCzXk5dp8yh9Y1W-XuKrCpDyrh_ToQj4yhlU/s320/01x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458479483060606402" /></a><br />It's a little overexposed, as the Attack Toddler managed to get at my camera and change the settings the day before (and I was in a rush to get a shot before the drop, so didn't realise before taking the photos). This is an altered pattern from the book Softies. The original was a cat skittle, but a bunny felt much more seasonally appropriate! Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-18076321952145317632010-03-20T18:44:00.000+11:002010-04-10T21:50:26.084+10:00Old sheets redux<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlSJyOsej72wFGT42n06oWWKNrLxcK5RXvNPzsix7z95dT6IjCo5zfBPkVRCHHoNFCR7Rv_KA_KBzsVGM3YAkmyzqS7-sAzUTnff2xN5vehYdDAGChMgCAV-i1N7vSsC_7zoHnNqWSZIH/s1600/04x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlSJyOsej72wFGT42n06oWWKNrLxcK5RXvNPzsix7z95dT6IjCo5zfBPkVRCHHoNFCR7Rv_KA_KBzsVGM3YAkmyzqS7-sAzUTnff2xN5vehYdDAGChMgCAV-i1N7vSsC_7zoHnNqWSZIH/s320/04x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458474050588463554" /></a><br /><br />Laundry bag for the back of the bathroom or bedroom door (both our baskets are pitifully small for the amount of dirty clothes that can accumulate during a week in the life of a Crafter, Miniaturist and Very Small Boy). Conveniently the right colour scheme to go with either our towels OR our bedclothes! Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-66905607243893806082010-03-17T22:01:00.006+11:002010-04-22T16:58:43.811+10:00Bath bombs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OxVfSCIPwg3LZEMjt8x7vKF7Lwi2ZY8DcAs0KCk61DRXcXOrkdaQYfhj3nSECrI7TDxK5PAl4WHQNyf32YQaTuXVNYQoOi77HiqhH1ovj1UG66a3sfGqFEGMfuBJ6P7-3tFNBExAqp2z/s1600/01x.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OxVfSCIPwg3LZEMjt8x7vKF7Lwi2ZY8DcAs0KCk61DRXcXOrkdaQYfhj3nSECrI7TDxK5PAl4WHQNyf32YQaTuXVNYQoOi77HiqhH1ovj1UG66a3sfGqFEGMfuBJ6P7-3tFNBExAqp2z/s320/01x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459038805236703698" /></a>My son <span style="font-style:italic;">adores</span> <A HREF="http://www.lush.com.au">LUSH</A>'s bath ballistics and gleefully drops the "fizzies" into his bath to watch them bubble. The trouble is, they're terribly expensive, even when broken in half, as he expects one every night!<br /><br />So a quick whip around google informed me that it was possible to make your own with just a few 'easily sourced' *coughcough* ingredients. I had everything to hand except citric acid and molds. I ended up using muffin trays as molds, but the citric acid gave me pause.<br />Did you know pool shops sell it in several kilo bags to clean stains off the bottoms of swimming pools? Doesn't sound like something I'd want in my bath-tub with me! <br />I eventually found food-grade citric acid in one of the local supermarkets, along with the other baking supplies.<br /><br />In the end, my bath fizzies are not as pretty as LUSH's, but that doesn't seem to bother us any; they still fizz, smell good and leave our skin soft and smooth. AND they cost only a fraction of the professional ones!<br /><br /><font size="-2"><br />If you'd like to make your own, here are some of the sites/recipes I used:<br /><A HREF="http://www.notmartha.org/tomake/bathbombs/">http://www.notmartha.org/tomake/bathbombs/</a><br /><A HREF="http://ourhouse.ninemsn.com.au/ourhouse/factsheets/db/craft/05/523.asp">http://ourhouse.ninemsn.com.au/ourhouse/factsheets/db/craft/05/523.asp</a><br /><A HREF="http://www.teachsoap.com/bombs.htm">http://www.teachsoap.com/bombs.html</a><br /><A HREF="http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Make-Bath-Bombs/">http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Make-Bath-Bombs/</a></font> Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-43662118766122232992010-03-12T19:34:00.001+11:002010-04-10T21:32:47.104+10:00Just PantsThe toddler has had a growth spurt and the pants that fit my miniature manling last winter are now just as tight round the waist, but sit ridiculously high on his ankles and shins. So has begun the great pants-making effort of Winter '10.<br /><br />Red pants with contrast fabric at cuff and on/in the side pockets of green with daisies:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4HbtMgplejOgJtVzUcGuqqYReGnmUP_tCobcB06FyG4BPPeeY5nqAKhm0OAFc6RoOGhRcLlvpLqnikhKC5ecNdIuv9rcnt5Vl6foAt2q8ZMLmeBj4ZoFq7WPjTGQef7l9s2RfCJ-v6Sj/s1600/08x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4HbtMgplejOgJtVzUcGuqqYReGnmUP_tCobcB06FyG4BPPeeY5nqAKhm0OAFc6RoOGhRcLlvpLqnikhKC5ecNdIuv9rcnt5Vl6foAt2q8ZMLmeBj4ZoFq7WPjTGQef7l9s2RfCJ-v6Sj/s320/08x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458466655917203138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHMtgpgpmsIO5vCEJYwwrWVpmR7KnC1ucdHfAeck7CcepiN8qEs1F20qHWqDM0OWNZd79UW3RP3dCJfVTwbiAE4yp_YbNgJ_I12pEotq9UT3QkchQlRxeblTG-RSptrEMjgc_IK4SYapr/s1600/07x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHMtgpgpmsIO5vCEJYwwrWVpmR7KnC1ucdHfAeck7CcepiN8qEs1F20qHWqDM0OWNZd79UW3RP3dCJfVTwbiAE4yp_YbNgJ_I12pEotq9UT3QkchQlRxeblTG-RSptrEMjgc_IK4SYapr/s320/07x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458466649757222962" /></a><br /><br />Same but in blue, with blue, red and yellow birds and a back pocket too:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRT_B4QWnEAFehWWMEVBKp3IhyFkkh1BkwQj7_5HfKzL62KGHmO_qMHkEcjdr-sQaqDQQZjxOCWCUm4XMa9MErSF7XjqGfBKuQqfCzQfjd4prRPMdPNHuD1Uw_m5o4CA2cz7oX0urGhV5/s1600/04x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRT_B4QWnEAFehWWMEVBKp3IhyFkkh1BkwQj7_5HfKzL62KGHmO_qMHkEcjdr-sQaqDQQZjxOCWCUm4XMa9MErSF7XjqGfBKuQqfCzQfjd4prRPMdPNHuD1Uw_m5o4CA2cz7oX0urGhV5/s320/04x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458461976633744466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXqDtmltxBk3V73Cy8RcUp2qUGuYUq0FJSu6ZQRrV2_y-WVTPkkb9-yjM45Ha0ZnBPLUDFMvCfHoicUQWAEUIAIoxdycohyphenhyphen_K3STfYb9XHNhrF35JYxRtrmeJagsNFpeqQ4_YG-4NMWu2/s1600/05x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXqDtmltxBk3V73Cy8RcUp2qUGuYUq0FJSu6ZQRrV2_y-WVTPkkb9-yjM45Ha0ZnBPLUDFMvCfHoicUQWAEUIAIoxdycohyphenhyphen_K3STfYb9XHNhrF35JYxRtrmeJagsNFpeqQ4_YG-4NMWu2/s320/05x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458461974683055314" /></a><br /><br />Up close the red pair looks homemade, the blue handmade with an unfortunate seam. I'm still wokring on streamlining this pattern/sewing process. Because <span style="font-style:italic;">my goodness, aren't these cute?</span> Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-25231615349507552592010-03-10T17:25:00.000+11:002010-03-14T20:10:03.647+11:00O hai thur!<A HREF="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasmeet/2440466050/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/2440466050_124e31a235_m.jpg" BORDER=0 ALT="..oops? by jasmeet on Flickr" align="left"></A>Hah.<br />I do believe I jinxed myself with my new Years' resolutions, back there.<br />Resolve to post once a week, stop posting for two months.<br />Resolve to join in a Project A month checklist, feel totally overwhelmed by my list of Things To Do and sit and stare at the sewing machine, quivering slightly, for some weeks.<br /><br />There has been SOME crafting and sewing going on lately, at least. My Attack of life is done with, for now. I just need to post my stuff! Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-58856903912811586592010-01-14T14:59:00.000+11:002010-01-17T08:49:47.315+11:00Old Sheets<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4277967303_bf3bd02632_o.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4277967303_bf3bd02632_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>I love old sheets. Old sheets are a lot like old friends.<br /><br />Old sheets are comfortable, familiar. They're worn in and softened in just the right places. They even <span style="font-style:italic;">smell</span> right. Not always good, but never strange.<br />They have a history - especially when they're yours. Sometimes they have marks and scars as a testament to that history. Sometimes they'll be worn so thin that you could break them like <span style="font-style:italic;">that</span> with a twist of your pinky finger. Sometimes they're still going strong, years and years later.<br /><br />So I suppose it's not surprising that I love to work with old sheets, refashioning them for new uses. They make wonderful house or pyjama pants - soft and light, and often 100% cotton. They're great for cushion and pillow covers - especially when they're worn thin in the middle, you can piece the edges of different sheets together. Being a simple woven fabric they're usually wonderfully easy to work with, already stretched as much as they will, not overly prone to creasing. And, when there's nothing else for it, they make marvellous cleaning cloths, soft and light, easy to wash and re-use again. Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-9209466871061819892010-01-12T13:51:00.003+11:002010-01-17T15:42:00.721+11:00Belated Christmas Sewing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2713/4274975841_d655f57c6c_o.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2713/4274975841_d655f57c6c_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />This week I'm racing to finish my first ever batch of bunting - a project I've been swearing I'll work out 'soon' for many months - for a friends' little boy. His whole room is done in primary colours, so the bunting will be too, to match. I bought myself some pinking shears (so I don't have to sew the edges of my flags) and I'm so pleased at finding this <span style="font-style:italic;">Cars</span> themed ribbon, to go with his playmat and bed sheets.<br />He and his Mum will be moving soon, so I don't think I'll get to see it strung up, but hopefully when they're re-settled I'll be able to ask for a picture.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4278021151_dbfcfa9577_o.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 79px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4278021151_dbfcfa9577_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-80222904479870990772010-01-03T22:04:00.004+11:002010-01-03T22:34:58.479+11:00New Year again!I managed to keep two of my four crafty resolutions, <A HREF="http://botticellicraft.blogspot.com/2009/01/this-year.html">last year</A>. Considering most people seem to get waylaid about halfway through, I think a fifty percent success rate is really quite good, especially as my final resolution was kind of started in a small way (but got held up for want of decent "making space"- a problem now solved by Nana's gift of a small person table and chairs). So I'm going to do some more Crafty Resolutions, for 2010:<br /><ul><li>More of the same; more attention to detail and time taken with finishes. I don't think I'll ever stop being a Hack & Slash Seamster, but just a little more given to making my seams neat and strong has given me BIG results. I like that!<br /><li>Try to achieve at least a third of this year's gifts for birthdays and Christmas festivities being hand-made. Preferably by me, but by other Real People will do, in a pinch. (And don't waste time on hand-made gifts for those who will not appreciate them, such as my younger brother or sister. It will just give me heart-ache.)<br /><li>Post here <span style="font-weight:bold;">at the very least<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> once per week. And something other than Hot & Not or a similar meme.<br /><li>Do at least one Toy Society drop per month!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://thetoysociety.blogspot.com"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 171px; height: 64px;" src="http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m340/thetoysociety/LogoTheToySocietysmall.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I don't think this is a huge goal to strive for, given that I did four Mirabel softies in just over a month. This goal will also let me fiddle about with softie making, which is great fun, requires only a shortish attention span, and is something I'd like to get better at.<br /><li>Finally, take part in the <A HREF="http://acmtel.blogspot.com/2009/12/2010-come-and-blog-with-us.html">12 month sewing</A> challenge over at <A HREF="http://acmtel.blogspot.com">My Favourite</A>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://acmtel.blogspot.com/2009/12/2010-come-and-blog-with-us.html"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 171px;" src="http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p173/acmte/BLOG%20info/12months9.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></ul> Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-12710807233087174532009-12-26T11:16:00.002+11:002010-01-03T19:02:28.918+11:00Merry Christmas, Midsummer, Yule & FestivusI know I've been slack about updating. Truth is, I've been panicking; we had a family gathering with 14 people last weekend, for my dad's family, we spent the day itself with my in-laws, and then we're going to Canberra to see my mother and siblings, tomorrow. Plus, all 3 of us are ill (We must have been on the very top of Santa's naughty list!).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqhJyt32xJ_m24T0tkfBs3wupNtL488foG5yOWzqGYallQyeoO2as6BXKInlOWUfMsJX-PLHRqZIdV8kGIHRQvfcbYFTByI2EOYcbcH78FZ5k7ox-Pu3UZYzvTjLLeMzoNhnSW_Z2i7EB/s1600-h/01x.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqhJyt32xJ_m24T0tkfBs3wupNtL488foG5yOWzqGYallQyeoO2as6BXKInlOWUfMsJX-PLHRqZIdV8kGIHRQvfcbYFTByI2EOYcbcH78FZ5k7ox-Pu3UZYzvTjLLeMzoNhnSW_Z2i7EB/s320/01x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422369183501729986" /></a>My grand plans of a wholly handmade Christmas gift pile have fallen by the wayside. Apart from a bunch of baking for my cousins, the best I could manage was this no-sew polar fleece blanket for my aunt & uncle.<br /><br />Wait, I guess that's not <span style="font-weight:bold;">strictly</span> true - I did manage to make yet another of Two Little Banshees's hippo stuffies, this time in green, a Midsummer gift for my son. I'm hoping it will be the first of a collection of "handmade stuffies by Mummy", not to mention beginning a tradition of one handmade gift opened on the equinox (I'd like to make something for my partner next year too, and encourage him and our boy to make presents for me and each other as well).<br /><br />At least it's now mostly over. We just have to get over these colds!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij88GfTYQb1D1ArSArrcUg-eWqEtTTtd76TYpYY6zFncOtVGKo5SGMBcHhw1XkUzSYy_HYu_3u639YjI8t-s4MEvX6j2mc-L-7KJ99CLqdlMueg0ystMl-H5UX5klWyEmgxFowE49sdhXx/s1600-h/01x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij88GfTYQb1D1ArSArrcUg-eWqEtTTtd76TYpYY6zFncOtVGKo5SGMBcHhw1XkUzSYy_HYu_3u639YjI8t-s4MEvX6j2mc-L-7KJ99CLqdlMueg0ystMl-H5UX5klWyEmgxFowE49sdhXx/s320/01x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422416813112812258" /></a> Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-3381889171414419542009-12-13T21:10:00.004+11:002010-01-03T19:02:10.106+11:00Hot+NotAnother Sunday, another Hot & not. To play, post your own to your blog and link to <A HREF="http://loobylu.com">Loobylu</A>.<br />Claire's been blogging for <b>ten years</b> now! This blew me away until I realised I've been dabbling with the internet since 1994 myself. <font size="-2">(Which makes it fifteen years since I taught myself HTML with a clunky book and a text editor, back in the spring holiday break of my first highschool year. Scary!)</font><br /><br /><u><b><font color="#11593C">Hot:</font></b></u><br /><b>Figuring it out</b><br />I've got this doily my great-great grandmother made. I was named after her, and she died when I was very small. It's the only thing I have of hers. I've been trying to figure out a cool thing to do with it that won't trash it and that doesn't amount to "little old lady-esque decor with doilies under stuff" because that's just not my style.<br /><center><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsmFWcIW8nbUBWL6yxFPh-vSguJRxFZm-8bVKA52g-kryMjldsRGZcWg9S0FLV2xWbAkOS7UVf0T-zYpPvhYBQa_c7sNGcTsvL0x1W7YNbMLXLcG9k5TKMKO4xKxZ8JsKPtlPJdee4DAi/s320/P1013677.jpg"></center><br />I think I know what I'm going to do, courtesy of Amy at <A HREF="http://greygridpaper.blogspot.com/2009/12/op-shop.html">Grey Grid Paper</A>.<br /><br /><b>Christmas baking</b><br />Mmm, Gingerbread. Mmm, sweet things. Mmm, baked goods generally.<br /><br /><b>Christmas carols</b><br />I can't help it, I love them. Even the super-cheesy ones about snowmen and reindeer.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thedepartment/69321549/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 160px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/18/69321549_dff7fb58ca_m.jpg" border="0" alt="Carollers by Here's Kate on flickr" /></a><br /><br /><b>Midsummer</b><br />I love swimming at the beach, thunderstorms, floaty summer dresses, long daylight hours and cicadas singing. Midsummer makes me happy - and it's coming up so soon!<br /><br /><u><b><font color="#11593C">Not:</font></b></u><br /><b>Crowds at the shops</b><br />Ugh. Push, shove, rushrushrush.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wongjunhao/501635295/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/213/501635295_59d2921204_m.jpg" border="0" alt="Tampines Mall Crowd by xcode on flickr" /></a><br /><br /><b>Unfinished gift shopping</b><br />Every year I swear I'll get organised, and there's always somebody(s) I forget. This year I got my own little family sorted out... and now I have to shop for my siblings, parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws, friends...<br /><br /><b>Christmas baking</b><br />ACK! in the summer heat! Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-85121706461190571152009-12-06T19:46:00.001+11:002009-12-08T09:10:04.483+11:00Hot + NotIt's been a slow craft week, as I've been prepping for the bellydance hafla I had last night. But its Sunday, so time for <a href="http://loobylu.com/">Loobylu</a>'s <span style="font-style:italic;">Hot & Not</span> again.<br /><br /><u><b><font color="#11593C">Hot:</font></b></u><br /><b>Christmas trees!</b><br /><center><A HREF="http://www.flickr.com/photos/takfoto/328345530/"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/129/328345530_c12127198f_m.jpg" alt="A lit christmas tree in the corner of a room. Image by takfoto on flickr" border=0></A></center><br />We finally got ours put up today.<br />I love Christmas decorations. Christmas was always a favourite time of the year, when I was growing up. One of the things I most looked forward to during my pregnancy was making it special for my child, too.<br /><br /><b>Bellydancing</b><br /><center><A HREF="http://www.flickr.com/photos/asim/86888433/"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/43/86888433_b62060d7a4_m.jpg" alt="A woman in black top and red skirt, her stomach bare, arms and skirt outstretched, looks down as she performs. IMG_6033 by Woodrow on flickr" border=0></A></center><br />It's been all about the hip wiggling this week.<br />I won't lie, I've been loving it. Bellydancing remains probably my strongest passion - SO good for body, mind and soul!<br /><br /><b>Getting gifts together</b><br />I LURVE giving gifts. I love shopping for and making the <em>perfect</em> thing for each person. Even the tricky ones - in some things I really relish a challenge.<br /><br /><u><b><font color="#11593C">Not:</font></b></u><br /><b>Christmas crowds</b><br />I hate how crowded every public place seems to be, at this time of year, and how it's all rush, rush, rush.<br /><br /><b>Feeling flustered</b><br />The rushing going on everywhere gets into my blood. I tend to be fret-catching anyway, but everyone being fretful makes it so much worse. It makes me want to hibernate for the whole month.<br /><br /><b>Summer sniffles</b><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/decoder420/246176518/"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/98/246176518_9a6614fe56_m.jpg" alt="A girl's screwed up face in profile, seen against a blue background, many drops of water splashing out in front of her. Drops by decoder420 on flickr" border=0></a></center><br />Is there anything worse than a runny nose in hot weather? (brought on by the fact it constantly goes from almost forty to cold and late teens from day to day, sometimes) Yuck. Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-78205745785758736682009-11-29T12:51:00.006+11:002009-11-30T13:39:23.385+11:00Hot and NotThought I'd start doing <a href="http://loobylu.com/">Loobylu</a>'s <span style="font-style:italic;">Hot & Not</span> every Sunday.<br /><br /><u><b><font color="#11593C">Hot:</font></b></u><br /><b>The weather</b><br />Apparently it's been the hottest November on record, for our part of the world. Thank goodness we got insulation finally installed, earlier this month! It doesn't stop the heat altogether, but does help some.<br /><b><br />This cute fabric</b><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoB1SngQowkzRDH3x4jW6y1c4RlD_7R2nEv7BLj21xMTOA1a-hYrd1ChqPPEeedt4-o5ekrK-QXfmcn5NYTba-CdAa41rKWkz6ahJmXFlFMbaOownAG7SSNv-Z6CCIVxRoQ2n3WJ3E5NxS/s1600/07x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoB1SngQowkzRDH3x4jW6y1c4RlD_7R2nEv7BLj21xMTOA1a-hYrd1ChqPPEeedt4-o5ekrK-QXfmcn5NYTba-CdAa41rKWkz6ahJmXFlFMbaOownAG7SSNv-Z6CCIVxRoQ2n3WJ3E5NxS/s320/07x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409458661840969986" /></a><br />I found it in the flat fats pile at Spotlight, from Manhattan Design Studios. I always think of red and this sort of beautiful green as "belonging" to my son - they're my favourite colours on him.<br /><br /><b>Book orders from <A HREF="http://www.fishpond.com.au/">Fishpond</A></b><br /><center><A HREF="http://www.fishpond.com.au/Books/Home_Garden/Homes/Decorating/9781584797203/?cf=3&rid=1356600627&i=1&keywords=Zakka"><img src="http://assets.fishpond.com.au/9781584797203-crop-325x325.jpg" border=0 width=134 height=163 valign="absmiddle"></A> <A HREF="http://www.fishpond.com.au/Books/Home_Garden/Crafts_Hobbies/Stuffed_Animals/9781557885166/?cf=3&rid=2012826294&i=1&keywords=Sock+glove"><img src="http://assets.fishpond.com.au/9781557885166-crop-325x325.jpg" width=128 height=163 border=0 valign="absmiddle"></A><br /></center><br />I am acquiring the most amazing library of inspirational craft books. My favourites from the last haul are <A HREF="http://www.fishpond.com.au/Books/Home_Garden/Homes/Decorating/9781584797203/?cf=3&rid=1356600627&i=1&keywords=Zakka">Zakka Sewing</A> and <A HREF="http://www.fishpond.com.au/Books/Home_Garden/Crafts_Hobbies/Stuffed_Animals/9781557885166/?cf=3&rid=2012826294&i=1&keywords=Sock+glove">Sock & Glove</A> (yes, it's finally happened - I've succumbed to the allure of "Japanese" crafts).<br /><br /><b>Bellydance hafla</b><br />Next Saturday, wahoo! Got my tickets for myself and two friends, now to spend the week frantically making costumes!<br /><br /><u><b><font color="#11593C">Not:</font></b></u><br /><b>The way the weather makes everyone cranky and tired</b><br />I hate the way we all snap at each other (even the baby is surly and prone to tantrums, lately).<br /><br /><b>The very sad state of my mint plant</b><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qdVbn8DSeojdxr47iiVXP6K7Rw6g0pBR8ln_gZHBWR3bGf4qpbRUkPl9bhxkcP7bjeJTehE5FimRh3HTH95VAC6QwrY2u3f6G7FtYKZ4UFMIFHCsswguJ7kCQGxujK4qtRAjraJYTBgf/s1600/04x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 120px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qdVbn8DSeojdxr47iiVXP6K7Rw6g0pBR8ln_gZHBWR3bGf4qpbRUkPl9bhxkcP7bjeJTehE5FimRh3HTH95VAC6QwrY2u3f6G7FtYKZ4UFMIFHCsswguJ7kCQGxujK4qtRAjraJYTBgf/s320/04x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409459090077250770" /></a><br />Found the plant in this state, with a VERY fat, happy and fresh-breathed green caterpillar on it! Found another of the cheeky buggers on my basil, last night.<br /><br /><b>How I'm not getting enough sleep lately</b><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpockele/226331607/"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/64/226331607_b15b4b928d_m.jpg" border=0 alt="I'm so tired by jpockele on flickr"></A></center><br />Part heat, part stress, part teething baby. Of course, little sleep makes me <i>more</i> cranky and tired, boo! Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-6401315958157761712009-11-27T12:17:00.004+11:002009-11-27T22:41:46.534+11:00Home-made Deodorant<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bowena/3020617432/"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 220px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3040/3020617432_e7cd85039f.jpg" border="0" alt="It Looks Normal: Homemade Deodorant by bowena on flickr" /></a>Earlier this year I'd tried sealing bi-carb soda in a jar with a few drops of lavender essential oil and leaving it a few months before using as an underarm deodorant. I solved the "powder on my clothes" problem by dusting myself straight after my morning shower, but when spring hit and I actually started getting warm, the "de" part stopped working so well.<br /><br />So far as I know the "links to breast cancer" thing was <A HREF="http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/antiperspirant.asp">linked to antiperspirant rather than deodorant</A> (and thus I switched to deo roll-ons years ago) and unproven one way or the other, so it's not that which set me looking for alternatives to my Mum.<br />Rather, it's the fact that the cheap chemical scents some products use can set off my asthma and allergies (not to mention smelling rather nasty to my sensitive nose). The fact I really <em>like</em> my clothes. I don't like so much the crusty, whitish stains I get on them, under my arms, when I've sweated whilst wearing commercial deodorants, though. Plus, I love the idea of making my own stuff (what craftster doesn't?). Finally, to quote my friend Katie <em>"And, commercialism"</em>. <br /><br />So the comments raving about this new deodorant recipe at <A HREF="http://smashedpeasandcarrots.blogspot.com/2009/08/natural-deodorant.html">Smashed Peas and Carrots</A> intrigued me. The ingredients were easy to find, at my local health food store and supermarket (only one I had trouble with was the coconut oil - I had to wait for the next store shipment to come in). I've been trying my new deodorant for the past week now - as luck would have it, including a miniature, 3-day heatwave, and you can add my voice to those singing its praises! Mommabear kindly gave me permission to repost this amazing recipe, so I can share it with you, and talk about how awesome and unstinky I feel whilst wearing it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-w26w4WKzXxByz4CBafCZ9JqHkfQ9qcdOayXAEdbIT6APif93dITSwwz5hOQaitX9yoYEV9VIXRPQNVZnQ_CVFLGJGs7jrH7J9LyD5cyyy9mfjbN5v5fFhXDTyVw93kokdDEsfc1aIEOE/s1600/P1280506.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-w26w4WKzXxByz4CBafCZ9JqHkfQ9qcdOayXAEdbIT6APif93dITSwwz5hOQaitX9yoYEV9VIXRPQNVZnQ_CVFLGJGs7jrH7J9LyD5cyyy9mfjbN5v5fFhXDTyVw93kokdDEsfc1aIEOE/s320/P1280506.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408745329642567890" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Natural Deodorant</span><br /><br />2-3 Tbsp Coconut Oil<br />1/8 Cup Baking Soda<br />1/8 Cup Arrowroot Powder (can be replaced by Cornstarch)<br /><br />Things go a bit easier if you combine the dry ingredients, then add the coconut oil. You can throw a few drops of essential oil in there for the smell, too - I added lemon, since it's antibacterial anyway. So my deodorant smells like lemon cream tea biscuits. (Whoops!) Luckily, the smell is quite subtle and dissipates fairly quickly, unlike commercial deodorants.<br />Since it's summer I also took Mommabear's suggestion and keep mine in the fridge, which keeps it nice and hard in bar form (the heat from my skin is enough to soften it and melt it in, without it smearing all over my hands).<br /><br />I really don't think I'll ever buy another commercial deodorant, I'm so blown away by how awesome this recipe is! I would recommend you rush out and try it <span style="font-style:italic;">right now</span>. Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-4814770997636473352009-11-21T08:03:00.000+11:002009-11-22T08:53:37.377+11:00Matching kimonos<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfkSD5ne-U0Go08-MSZKjEP7hUNiLCTQwldDL-1fIXSElmUpl4eYq4W4SZ0V2vfYv7SaR4kmXF9yVdvsiLAoPj_B6i9gTj6Tn95vvj2gEhtbBT15UiDJDSdyKNHoRfF7Y9EqP_aVy9tRT/s1600/04x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfkSD5ne-U0Go08-MSZKjEP7hUNiLCTQwldDL-1fIXSElmUpl4eYq4W4SZ0V2vfYv7SaR4kmXF9yVdvsiLAoPj_B6i9gTj6Tn95vvj2gEhtbBT15UiDJDSdyKNHoRfF7Y9EqP_aVy9tRT/s320/04x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406673461540188642" /></a><br />Oh, <A HREF="http://habitual.wordpress.com/kimono/">Habitual "Simple" Kimono</A>, how I love to hate and hate to love you!<br /><br />These two are a matching set for a friend's two sons - the smallest of whom is only three weeks old, and as big as my munchkin was at birth. They're the fourth and fifth versions of this pattern that I've made, and I've come to the point where I've realised two things;<br /><ol><li>Whilst binding on the edges looks really awesome, it's <i>nasty</i> to sew without pressing and being very, very careful you've got it matched up on either side of the fabric. Inevitably, I end up missing the edge on the underside. (is there some trick I have not discovered?)<br /><br /><li>My son is just too tiny for this massive neckline! Whilst a size may fit him length-wise, the neck gapes really badly. The kimono I made him at six months sits strangely along the bottom as it tries to reach round his body, but the neck fits perfectly, as an example.</ol><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52sFM5h_HvG_SFRc08IbXcxCmpHvmrfTXI-f2vi5OEp1rcIUh03wjSYOYwYaiOWenwd7_4YJ5wYpj5PYVpfpuv7yrCMrph8uNrsCuOv2eXuayHeq0v06Z6h_aZ-U8kiraZQ7K9GhNyNYr/s1600/09x.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52sFM5h_HvG_SFRc08IbXcxCmpHvmrfTXI-f2vi5OEp1rcIUh03wjSYOYwYaiOWenwd7_4YJ5wYpj5PYVpfpuv7yrCMrph8uNrsCuOv2eXuayHeq0v06Z6h_aZ-U8kiraZQ7K9GhNyNYr/s320/09x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406672790873209810" /></a>So I think some pattern tweaking is in order, when I next feel the need to make another of these (and I do love them; it's so hard to find interesting, creative clothing for little boys that doesn't consist of insane amounts of tailoring and I'm not about to try getting an 18 month old to stand still for a fitting!). necessity is the mother of invention, after all.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqceSNuw5And1Wuu53ksK2cZyB6UvQ0OOMnS1TryrYdD2InRJ7QJvn-cdo3DkCU83zpCL3smmuCKpBB-npPoTfofgm1UUItepr29kCM2FLvIMP6KyOlhmK5NA9xR1xJQ73hlH0tYmslRx/s1600/07x.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqceSNuw5And1Wuu53ksK2cZyB6UvQ0OOMnS1TryrYdD2InRJ7QJvn-cdo3DkCU83zpCL3smmuCKpBB-npPoTfofgm1UUItepr29kCM2FLvIMP6KyOlhmK5NA9xR1xJQ73hlH0tYmslRx/s320/07x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406672784726489410" /></a>Case in point; I didn't have enough of the gorgeous forest green or pale blue bindings to completely do each of the kimonos, so I took a multicoloured approach. Tiny boy's kimono is trimmed in a darker blue than the background of the fabric, with brown and green for the side-ties that matches some of the cars in the print. Big boy's kimono is trimmed in the forest green his mother and I both love on our boys, with orange side-ties, that again goes with the print on the fabric - this one's not an exact match, but less disparity than the photos suggest. My camera and the light levels just were not happy with me this morning! Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-57486833917792726632009-11-16T22:07:00.004+11:002009-11-17T00:01:28.830+11:00Note to my friends with Very Small People<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhww91xCVj9aMsmXwh_z1sVVRYqStPZ2i-CdyChA74eE2ihbdsWx3WCHMkOFeGtLhR3A6D_EpyXcjJet-ghdJ0tFtiPw8C9rK4xTSwgxkj8l6tL0dgUuqjILldFUdgA3l5I-8houHMpxVa-/s1600/12x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhww91xCVj9aMsmXwh_z1sVVRYqStPZ2i-CdyChA74eE2ihbdsWx3WCHMkOFeGtLhR3A6D_EpyXcjJet-ghdJ0tFtiPw8C9rK4xTSwgxkj8l6tL0dgUuqjILldFUdgA3l5I-8houHMpxVa-/s320/12x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404667146030445490" /></a><br /><br />One ought never comment that you need new clothes for your child in my hearing, when I have a gap in my scheduled sewing projects.<br /><br />Well, unless you <span style="font-style:italic;">want</span> several new pairs of shorts for said Small People! Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822235030822219887.post-56008699068983265192009-11-14T22:28:00.002+11:002009-11-14T22:31:57.969+11:00Sneak PeekThis is a project I've been steadily working on for a friend, the past few weeks. There's been lots of love, time and care taken with it. It went to my friend today - and as I told her "I don't hem chiffon for just anyone!".<br /><br />Any guesses as to what it is?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGC6kphz59azxqcCX3xsgErs2YO2ImIRCw0Ik4u3jYA87VN5mGNgd1m8R33gwm2DRmHyJ_XmgRHWnJE0_CSp31t0o8N36K2Hbb4xcGBbs0NdLhwJnZG4Gv6TCneghJWauttTE6VjX1IK78/s1600-h/09x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGC6kphz59azxqcCX3xsgErs2YO2ImIRCw0Ik4u3jYA87VN5mGNgd1m8R33gwm2DRmHyJ_XmgRHWnJE0_CSp31t0o8N36K2Hbb4xcGBbs0NdLhwJnZG4Gv6TCneghJWauttTE6VjX1IK78/s320/09x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403919978205499010" /></a><br /><center>(To be revealed in December!)</center> Aphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844308431281812572noreply@blogger.com0