Yellow striped Cricket Cardigan - All the things I made in 2014 Catchup

Now that I've personally committed myself to blogging a bit more frequently I thought its about time I showed you some of my creations that I made in 2014!

Lets just say most of 2014 was a family year of bonding! Not much time for anything else, and 2015 is looking a lot more brighter!

Moving onwards and upwards, but not forgetting all the lessons I've learned and of course the pretty creations I amazingly actually managed to make! I present one of those creations.  This sweet striped cardigan for my little girl!

 I don't know where the idea came from, but I just was yearning at the time for a yellow striped sunshine cardy!

 After knitting another striped cardy previously, which I'm yet to share...oops! Probably should have shared that first! Ohwell.....anyway it was that one, that got me started with the stripes and the glorious wool!! Knitsh Merino 4 ply! It knits up with the most beautiful drape! It's my favourite 4 ply and the colours! oh glorious! yes twice said because it really is!

  So I had my wool, but I just needed to find a, 4ply, Child's, long sleeve cardigan pattern, that fitted the bill! 

Easier said than done....there is a lot of 8ply patterns out there, but not a huge amount of straightforward 4ply knits! Just saying.....let me know if you know of one! Please...

 But I did find Cricket by Dandiliongirl Designs on Ravelry, It had some sweet details, like the stitch pattern across the shoulders and the pockets

and it allowed me to work my striped pattern...well apart from the pockets.....that took a bit of brain power to figure out an alternative to the construction.

 The buttons are a vintage set from Mikes grandmothers button jar (which I now own ), so I get what I get.....I may change these so that it closes probably all the way down this winter.....as I can't say I'm happy with how my button band turned out.  But otherwise I love how the yellow and gray semi solids knitted up together.....a bit of sunshine for those winter days

Oh and PS: Those goats are much bigger now! Gosh I love my goats! As does Lil Miss!

Joining up with my Favourite Regular 

 Leonie at Sunshine x 3 and Show and Tell

A Vintage Rehash of the Pillowcase dress! and 1/52 Things I made

First off, Helloooooooo! Its been awhile!

Second off....lets just get straight into it! Shall we? I've got a lot of catch up to fit in, haven't I?!

So just before Christmas I was inspired to see how much fabric I could use out of one pillowcase......re invent the pillowcase dress? Since Vintage pillowcases are a lot easier to find these days than sheets....well from my experience! And at 50 cents to a dollar each, its a great money saver as well!

So here's my version of the pillowcase dress!

Yes I know I added extra fabric....so technically its not all from one pillowcase....but in my defense I had to cut two bodices (after I stuffed up ), so my options were a bit slim...plus my little girl is 5, so one pillowcase would be stretching it a bit!

But honestly I love how this turned out, right down to the gingham skirt band! Which was just by chance that I had it in my stash and it added such a lovely touch!

 

The blue, is silk, also from my stash, and had been sitting around for awhile, so I thought why not? It teamed perfectly with the floral pillowcase, it was like it was meant to be!

 

The pattern I drafted by her measurements (hence a twice cut bodice) with a vintage style.....I just looove this back line on her!

She looks so sweet running around after our poor ducks! and walking down through our establishing food forest!

Love this photo of her in the long grass with her daddy in his bee suit in the background! 

And thank goodness I got photos of her in it before she was let loose amongst the goats! Shes quite a grubby Lil Miss, she gets right in the thick of it when she wants too! Oh and the earrings are of her own styling....shes recently found my mums old clip on earring collection!! 

Joining in with Clare at Green Valley Crafts

for 52 Things I made!

and Show and Tell with Leonie at Sunshine Leonie!

New Kids on the Block!

Yesterday while Lil Miss and I enjoyed a lazy morning together without the extra noise the boys add to the mix, Mike and the boys went on a road trip to Auckland.

After waiting for a couple of months for the right time we finally found our long awaited and perfect additions to our little farm.

Meet our new Kids! 

This is Stella and she's pretty cool and calm just like her Carer Mr B and suits her name to a T!

 And here is Sally, the Smallest of our goats with the most striking features and colouring.....she absolutely loves a snuggle which is just fine by her Carer Big J who doesn't want to leave her alone!

The boys all made them finger knitted collars to tell them apart!

And Rosey just like her Carer Little J.  Shes curious and likes to get up to mischief whenever she can!

Here they are the two of them together!

And lastly Lil Misses goat which she so proudly announced was to be named 'Flower', just as mischievous as Rosey and loves to nibble on my jeans....Uh Oh!

I can see them being quite a lot of fun and no doubt a few headaches but even so a welcomed addition and a needed addition not only for their raw milk one day, but also for the calming effect they will have on our children

.....there is definitely something in what they say about the connection between animals and children and it couldn't be any truer with ours. 

Trying to eat my Camera! 

 In 24 hours we have already seen and delighted in how it has changed the atmosphere in our house.....since the pigs, our dog and the lambs there was a void that needed to be filled and this seems to have hit the spot already!

Now to keep them healthy with home brewed Kombucha in their drinking water and their bottled Milk 50/50 with homemade yoghurt.......we absolutely cannot have another animal die on us again!!

Just in case anyone wants to know, they are Saanen Nubian crosses....good milking breeds.....Homemade feta one day!! Currently we're dairy and gluten free, so a little while yet!

Polkadot Pinafore with a side dressing of Life

This is the blog post where there is soooo much been happening in my life that I don't know even where to start!!

And to be honest I can't be bothered to either! Lets just say this year has been the most challenging and eye opening year I have had in a long time, I have cried so much over the stress of it all, I even reckon I invented a new type of cry where you scream and cry at the same time! 

Or quite likely I wasn't the first to have done that and it's just that I have never personally been pushed off the edge like this before.......parenting is hard! and when you throw in more complexities than usual, its hair pulling hard.

But things for the meantime seem eerily normal so I have a bit of a pep in my step....I feel like I'm bouncing around the place, skipping along and spreading happiness to those around me.....long may it last! And then today with a moment to steal for myself I finally felt like sharing on this space again.

So here's a darling dress I made for my little girl a couple of weeks ago during Kids Clothing Week...isn't she cute?!

 Its the Pinafore from the book Happy Homemade Sew Happy Chic, and I just love the flutter sleeves and the big vintage yellow buttons I got from my MIL's button jar.

I am quite taken with this book as all the patterns are nice and simple to make and have classical lines but with a lovely feminine twist.  

 

Plus there aren't a heap of pattern pieces to cut out, which is a refreshing change compared to the Ottobre Design Patterns that I am used to.

I have already made another garment from this book that I'm yet to sew buttons onto, which I must do, as I'm already itching to cut out another! I just have to decide which one!

Linking in with the Lovely Leonie from sunshine x 3

Fun LOUD and Practical

 Since reuniting with my beloved sewing machine, coupled with the luxury of being able to leave her out, I've enjoyed plodding along with a couple of projects in the last couple of weeks

 This fabric had been screaming out to me from 

the cabinet to be sewn with first! But what? 

I had many ideas floating around my head before I settled on this pair of pants

And during the whole process I thought, 

'what was I thinking!!' they're so LOUD!! 

But the moment I clipped that last thread and handed them to my girl with her over the top exclaimation "Oh I looove them!"

I knew I was on to a winner.

 

And they do reflect her gorgeous spirit so well

 

Although I do love to see my little girl dressed up in 

dresses and tights!, ( as she does too ) 

functionality is a must around these muddy parts,

 so a second pair was cut and ready to go this week.

 

This time with some opshop sweatshirt material 

I scored for a bargain price.....infact I could still smell the mothballs each time I ironed it!

 

Teamed with a bright pink tartan for some playfullness!

 

And apart from a couple of pairs of leggings and nighties needed for her wardrobe, shes pretty much set for those practical items so onwards and upwards to those fun dresses and skirts very soon I think....

picture me rubbing my hands together!

Pattern: Ottobre Magazine 1/2010 #17

Joining in finally! with Leonie :) from Sunshine x 3

 

 

Hello again Sewing Machine - I've missed you!

Friday afternoon, and I found myself reacquainting myself with you again

 

I've lost track of how long it has been since I last threaded your needle!

I've been dreaming of this day for a very long time, the idea of us not having to share the kitchen table with food again seemed like a dream I daren't pin all my hopes on...

But yet here we are in our new space, although still shared, we do have this table to ourselves.

 I can leave you and all my mess spread out 
and visit you whenever I get a moment

Slowly I'm gathering my bits and pieces 
and arranging them how I please around you

And my trusty gumboots are to my side with remnants of a project near it's completion.

Oh how completely satisfying!

 I can breathe......

Sorry for the long hiatus my dear sewing machine.  

I promise I'll visit you more often from now on.

Dear Penpals ( Bloggy Friends)

My mum has always found it hard to understand this blogging world, infact as some of you might know it's put her in a panic a few times when I've gone off to meet new bloggy friends. hehe

But recently I had the epiphany that really my bloggy friends are no different to the penpals back in the day.....the friendships just blossom online rather than on paper!

In fact I remember my mum setting me up with a Penpal! 

Shamefully it didn't last long due to my lack of writing.

But luckily having an online forum like blogging has enabled me to connect with many like minded people,

a lovely generous bunch of people.

And this past week and half has shown me yet again how awesome this community is!

Susan thank you so much for reaching out and sharing your story with me.  It has helped so much to know someone who has been in my position.

It was so exciting to receive your package last week and since then I have enjoyed a number of teas and hot drinks in this lovely cup.

I love the saying! A new mantra ;)

It's funny as I never was much of a hot beverage drinker, but somehow taking the time to brew myself a cuppa and sit down for a moment is like a gift to myself.

And oh my gosh that brownie mix was made up straight away and finished in two days!! ( surprised it lasted that long ) so decadent! and again I felt like I was nurturing myself with every mouthful.

The lovely fabrics, round tote, quilt labels and gorgeous liberty silk scarf are such a treat!

This sweet little bird has gone walkabout a number of times with a certain little girl!

Oh and one of the hand creams smells just like my favourite perfume! Me and my girl have enjoyed these together as a special treat.....you should see her eyes light up!

And lastly this awesome doggy tote has already come in handy when we went on a homeschooling outing last week, holding all our pens and paper.
 ( Is it bad of me to say it's sooo tempting to turn it into a cute cushion? )

oh and I have just noticed that is a sausage dog with a doily on it's back! very familiar! hehe

I can assure you your care package Susan gave me a huge smile and has done all week! Thankyou so much x

And then there was Leonie who visited me last weekend with her family! It was such a fun day, I loved watching our kids play together and having you there Leonie was such a lovely distraction ;)

And then to receive a fun package for the kids too!! a couple of days later, was a lovely surprise and as you know gave me quite a chuckle! hehehe

And lastly this Saturday afternoon just gone, I had the pleasure of meeting another good friend Leonie for a drink nearby.  It was so lovely to share, talk and decompress.  It helped make my evening at home that much more bearable....thankyou again :)

So again thank you ladies for reaching out and treating me with your kindness and generosity and also to all of you that leave lovely comments and send me messages to see how I am...thankyou xx

This is the reason why I love this bloggy community so much! 

You're all awesome!!