The wardrobe is replenished

This will be the last of Elara's dresses and skirts for now, as I'll be getting stuck into a bit of 'wedding' sewing for my sister-in-law. I found this fabric on sale, so the dress cost under $10 to make! I really love using a different fabric to line clothes with...it's just a bit cheeky...which is perfect for my little girl at this time in her life! The pattern was from this book, which is great for simple (no zips) girls clothes, but has limited boys clothes. I think I might make myself a shirt just like it... maybe in a few weeks!

Gratitude letter

Dear Sir Sandpit,

Just a note to say thanks.

Thanks for being a new source of entertainment in these increasingly long days of spring.

Thanks for encouraging Elara to 'free play'.

Thanks for luring us outside into morning skies and afternoon breezes.
Thanks for fostering the sisterly bond.

Thanks for tales of buried treasure, towering castles and exotic cuisines.

Thanks for some down time.

Thanks for your 4 strong walls, position in the shade, and blend-in-nicely colourings (or maybe those thanks should go to your maker - wonderful Tim)

Cheers, Katherine.

P.S. Please say hello to Big Box. Haven't seen him in awhile.

Winning combos #2

Chocolate + Grape

I know it sounds unusual, but it worked. These miniature trifles are a super quick dessert: A spoonful of grape flavoured jelly in the bottom of the glass; a slice of chocolate rollette; another bit of jelly; a dollop of whipped (chantilly) cream; and another slice of rollette to top. I am partial to putting things in small glasses and bowls because they make everything look cute and 'just-for-me' size. But there was something about this dessert that brought to mind another winning combo...

Chocolate (the colour) + Grape (the colour)

I had a bit of fabric (which I like, but could never find a use), in my stash. It was a hand on from my Grandmother who bought it cause she liked it, but could never find a use. So I made it into a smocked dress for Elara, and added some velvet ribbon straps (which can be adjusted as she grows). I like it, and so does she. To think that a bit of jelly and cake could be so inspirational!

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What to Wear on Wednesday: something suprising

I made this dress for/with my sister Lauren a couple of years ago. I call it the 'mullet' dress...

conservative at the front...

party at the back...

Simple Skirts for Spring

I always hide a laugh when seeing children out and about, in clothes which they have obviously chosen themselves. I like the 'spiderman with fairy wings', 'Sunday dress with sneakers', 'floral top/spotty shorts/stripey shoes', and 'scarf with nappy and boots' combinations best! I'm sure that this helps them develop their own style and encourages them to be confident in their personality. But I just don't think I can do it. In fact, I've put off the 'choose your own clothes' stage for as long as I can. Alas, the time has come!

Fortunately for me and my orthodox dressing tendencies, Elara likes things that match. She also likes dresses and skirts. She wants to wear one every day. (Of course we don't have one for every day... at age 3, those legs are growing so long, that last seasons skirts look like tutus). So, I've made two quick skirts from a fabric remnant and a scarf. This way she can wear them while digging in the sandpit, making and baking cakes, and playing hide-and-seek, without any cries of 'oh, that nice (expensive) skirt is going to get wrecked', from Mum :)

This one has elastic in the back and box pleats in front and back.

This is made from one scarf, just cut in half, sewn end to end, and finished with an elasticated waist.

More to come soon!

A leisurely drive on Saturday morning

...where are we going Mum?...can you tell me some questions about there?...can you tell me a song about a bat?...ba na na na na na na na ba na na na na na BATMAN!...what are some rules about bins Mum?...what are some rules about climbing trees?...this old man he played one, he played nick-nack on my num, with a nick-nack-paddywhack, big-a-bag-a-dong(?), this old man came rolling home?....what is that bit again?...this old man he played two, he played nick-nack on my nu, with a nick-nack-paddywhack, give a dog a bone, this old man came rolling home...can we play eye-spy Mum?...i spy something beginning with K...it's a kangaroo!...up there in the sky!...in heaven!...we're vikings, what do you know the terrors of the sea...

(apple time, and silence) FINISHED MUM!...let's play spotto!...

Mosaic Cake

My Sister-In-Law allowed me to make a cake for my niece's birthday. She gave me free reign, as long as it was bright and colourful. Wow...the possibilities! I chose to make a mosaic cake in some of Rayya's fave colours, purple and green. It is simple in theory, but was a bit harder in practice...purple lollies come in about a thousand different shades! Nevertheless, it was great fun arranging all those treats on top.

I ended up buying so many lollies that I decided to also make some yellow cupcakes...

And some pink ones too...

And so here is the final cake (which, by the way, was very tasty!).