Lavender Bags

Here we are, stitching is finished, just waiting for the lavender to be put in. I have traced 5 more and put in my stitching tin for those 'waiting moments' that happen.

Mrs R

Finished article!

Here we are, finally finished.

LMS is adament that they are still ugly ... good thing I'm not wearing them out in public!!

Today is 'clean up the sewing mess' day ... hmmm ... that should take up a goodly portion of the morning!

Grin

Mrs R

More Enid sewing

Last night I drafted these cute undies from a 1950's book of Women & Teenagers Clothes, and made up a trial run. Few tweaks, and I made a pair to wear this morning. They are so very comfortable and easy to wear. I originally thought that the back panel would look like a nappy, but actually, it's very flattering (divides up the expanse with 2 vertical lines) and there is no chance of a wedgie!

LMS said that they are the ugliest things she has ever seen ... which, they probably are to her, she's a bond's girl!

I made up a pair in a soft white cotton, and bought some pretty sprigged cottons to make 2 more pairs. Have another pair cut out ready to go, but should really do the dishes first!

May post a picture later, depending on how they photograph!

Smiles, Mrs R

Skirt Trial

As I mentioned earlier, mum acquired some Enid Gilchrist books for me. Tonight, I drafted my first one ... even following the instructions (from 70's styles)! What a dream! It worked. I made it up in an old doona cover, so that I could see the cut/fit. Perfect! I did have to shorten it as it was designed to be 46" long - I dropped that down to 31" ... quite long enough for a short woman.

It is quite clever in design, it is cut on the straight of the fabric, but because of the shape, it ends up on the bias. It's a lovely flowing A-line skirt.

Anyways, here is the pattern and the rough trial. It will be a lovely easy to wear summer skirt.

Mrs R

25th December!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Well, what a wonderful morning ... all slept in until AFTER 6am ... that's such a bonus!

Much mirth and merriment as stockings were opened ... I did the 3, and LMS did mine! TBM commented that "Mum won Christmas" ... taken from a line from Futurama!!!

Happy Husband had bought me a swing seat - which is something I've wanted for decades ... boys set it up on the back verandah ... I think I'll stop working and sit and swing all day ...

TBM picked up his pay yesterday and promptly spent it at the game shop. He bought a Super Mario racing game with 2 controllers, and the kids have spent a wonderful time racing! Sure helps having a big tv screen!

Currently, LMS is making scrambled eggs for breakfast, TBM requested sausages to go with it ... what a feast!

Enjoy your day,

Celebrate the Birth of Christ

Mrs R

Angel Apron

This is the apron I made for one of my special friends. The wings are made from a cut up doily! All the embroidery is hand done - I'm getting very good at buttonholing! My fingers are quite mangled at present due to the amount of hand stitching I've been doing. May have to give it a rest and let them heal, then start again!

The apron

Angel Detail

Star detail - on the bottom corners of the apron.

Merry Christmas

Mrs R

Op shop treasures!

On my travels today, I visited a few op-shops, just looking looking looking ...


I bought some old Handmade Magazines (50c each - bargain!) and a few old books. One is called "And So to Embroider" ... it's c1960 and rather delightful. Here is an illustration from it - showcasing the embroidered pelmet & curtains!



I also got 2 metres of white cotton patchworking fabric (soaking now) for $1.50/metre, in comparison to $6.99/m at Spotlight! Bargain!


LMS did some digging and bought 2 pairs of jeans, 3 tops & a pair of shorts. All suitable, all beautiful, and all fit!


Best go hang out the washing, last day of the cricket carnival tomorrow, and he has to wear a specific shirt. Hooray for automatic washing machines!


Mrs R

What a day!

Well, LMS is officially 13! Hooray (for all who survived!). We had a lovely family party (oodles of children, aged from 3-13!), games, food, chats and many cups of tea. Perfect! I did laugh, because she had labelled the Pass the Parcel game ... "Parce the Parcel" ... the funniest thing was that my friend actually taught her in Grade 2 & 3, so we blamed her for the spelling. She was adamant that she taught her how to spell!! We all laughed!

One interesting thing was that sitting around afterwards with the adults, there were 9 adults, and of them, 3 were NOT teachers (and I was one of them!)! One of the girls said "Jen, you gotta start chosing your friends a bit better!" ... 4 primary teachers, 2 high (mum & dad) ...

My mum volunteers at her church's op-shop once a month. She doesn't love doing it, but feels obliged, and so struggles through. She was there on Friday, and I had asked for a new embroidery tin. I use biscuit tins for holding my embroidery, and because they come from the op-shop, I can have a new one each year. My new one has Charles Dickens pictures on it ... rather pretty. While she was there, she spied some things that she grabbed for me ... are you ready? Wait for it ... Enid Gilchrist pattern books! 2 of them. I love these books. Mainly for the nostalgia, but also because I love reading them, looking, dreaming, and then doing nothing about it. These magazines are from the 1970's. 70's styles (basic designs for the mature figure) and Girls Gear (5-12 years). They are just beautiful. I am quite tempted to draft up the dress pattern and give it a go. Would be nice to have some dresses for work - put on, look good and go!! Thinking thinking ...

While playing around on the web, I found this website ... I loved reading through it and am almost ready to do some drafting of my own.

The other treasure she got for me is a publication from the Government of Western Australia, Department of Public Health, Infant Helth Service - Baby and Toddler Patterns. Cost: 2/- ... so pre 1966! It is full of simple baby clothes, and a list of what you need for your new baby ... absolutely priceless. Mum said that it's the sorts of clothes that she made for me when I was born (1966) ... so it's from that era.

Well, enough of the waffle. I have 4 teenage girls sleeping in the shed this morning (after the family party was the friends for a sleep over) ... there was giggling, laughter, singing and general girly type of stuff. TBM kept muttering words like "shameful" in regards to the general behaviour - because of course HE is never high spirited or anything ... Grin!!

Well, off to the next task (washing I thinks) ...

Mrs R

Finally!

Batteries are in camera, and here are the pictures ...

This is a wheat pack I made for my sister-in-law. I'm really happy with how this turned out. I have since stitched the opening closed, the pin has been removed!

Yep, there is a bit of a theme happening here ... they seem to be made from the same fabric - well, that's what happens when you craft, you use everything up!

This is a teacup purse ... found the link - it will open in Babel Fish as it was originally posted in French.

And finally, the apron ...

I had this one ready to handstitch, but after looking at it, decided that the machine could do it! So, threaded my sewing machine up with the machine embroidery thread and did a passable job on the applique. I had fun, and it was very productive, done in an evening! I think the friend it will be gifted to will laugh!

And a close-up of the embroidery! I loved the idea of buttons for berries ... very clever!

Well, that's it for the minute, will post the last apron when I have finally finished it. I need to buy some brown embroidery floss for the angel's hair, and figure out how to do the face ... the instructions say use a permanent marker, but I'm sure I could do something easy with needle and black thread!

Mrs R

Waiting on batteries

Yes, I've been a busy little pumpkin, but without camera batteries, just can't prove it!

Stay tuned ... pictures will appear!

Mrs R