Winter skirt

Over the last two weekends I made up this wintry wooly skirt. This is me posing before work today!

I searched around for a VERY basic pencil skirt pattern: no waistband, two side seams, a couple of darts and a zipper. I found this one from Burda Style (then BWOF) 02/09 Style 128 which was originally meant for lace pattern, but I think it did the job admirably.

It was quicker to sew than cut out, and the whole thing from start to finish would have taken two or so hours, except the overlocker had to go see the mechanic in the middle, It didn't survive being "washed" with milk too well apparently.

So details of the pattern again will be on my sidebar via Sewing Pattern Review...but things I learnt from sewing this are:
1. Using a walking foot for the wool boucle - worth it
2. Other recommendations from Sandra Betzina's Fabric Savvy such as the side seams and hem - worth it
3. Adding a touch of lace edging to the bottom of the lining - not necessary, but worth it
4. Comments from work colleagues all day - priceless!

...and don't forget to put your comments over here for a chance to win one of my bib sets in a giveaway...

Happy 100 Suzy!

Wow! I've reached the bloggerstone of 100 posts...and to celebrate I'm having my very first giveaway!

I'm giving away one set of these three unisex infant bibs . Leave a comment on this post and I'll use one of those random blogger tools to pick the winner. Just make sure you leave your comment by midnight Sunday 6th June (Australian Eastern Standard time)....

I know I've been a bit quiet of late, but I haven't been idle and I'll be sharing lots in the next few weeks.

Across the great divide...

I know a bit dramatic...but it REALLY felt like it.

Yup, we've spent the last month moving house...the problem was that in my (say that our) mind we're still at uni, driving from dig to dig with the rolled up futon in the front seat, so moving takes like a weekend or less.

Yup, we're deluded! Moving with two kids really sux! AND it takes WAY longer than a weekend!

...and I'm rather disappointed to report that I no longer sleep on a futon.

PS: picture flogged from someone....better cite it.

When your heart is not in it.

I'm making Alicia Paulson's Tiramasu Blanket for the third time in 18 months and I'm totally OVER IT!

The last two were for gifts and I was pretty much over the pattern at the end of the second one, it's just sooooooo repetitive. But I'm spurred on because
a) the result is just so beautiful, and
b) this one's for my little girl.

Motivation people...

It's the little things...

Every morning one of the first things that greets me in the kitchen are my three little friends , who, as you can see, are doing very nicely on the kitchen window sill...They make me smile and improve my mood right away - funny how little things can do that to you - what little things make you smile around your home I wonder?

The other thing that makes me smile about this photo, is the blurry image of the pedal car left out in the garden overnight...a remnant of yesterday's fun.

Back to the kitchen...

Now that my hausfrauness has been reduced to 3 days a week - I'm back at work 4 days ...I decided to get a bit of a fix over the Easter break.

Whilst I didn't get as much, actually any, sewing done...I did bake on TWO, count them TWO successive days...it's been months since I've baked a thing so believe me when I tell you it felt REALLY good!

So to the details...yesterday we had our usual Easter long lunch and for desert I made a Pear & Ginger Desert Cake from this month's Gourmet Traveller.

The recipe recommended it be accompanied with a late harvest sticky wine - and who are we to argue. It was delicious, the cake and the wine....here it is before it went into the oven. I put the pears on top as opposed to the instructions that were a bit confusing that had the pears on the bottom, but no call to invert said cake when done...what the? I made my usual skirt-lining for the cake tin a bit higher so the pears didn't burn or blacken.

...and the result all plated up complete with caramel sauce and ice-cream....yummo!

After that I snuck off for a two and a half hour nap - bliss...

Shameless self-promotion!

You may recall sometime ago I spoke about setting up a little Etsy shop...well tada here it is.


I've started small, literally - infant bibs in packs of 3. Boys, girls and unisex packs. The front of the bib is made from designer cotton and the backing is a super absorbant and very soft organic cotton and bamboo french terry. It is then snapped together with a very strong plastic snap.

One of the reasons that it took me so long to get this gig together is that I tried an inordinate amount of materials for the backing before I came across this fabric that not only feels beautiful but it can mop up most spills and spits!

For those new to Etsy it is a worldwide community for all things handmade or vintage. All prices on Etsy are in US dollars.

So I'm selling 3 x bibs for $20USD which includes postage to anywhere in Australia and $5 USD postage for everywhere else on the globe.

You can click on the link to the left which will take you straight to my shop on Etsy...

....shameless self-promotion over and out!