FAIR CRAFTS (37 down)

(Here we are sharing/counting UP Forty Days and Forty Nights of our lives, our last on the inner-west side of town and, eventually, some of our first on the other (far) side of town, where we envisage some big changes coming our way. Thanks for joining us as we remember, celebrate and experience gratitude for our time here, and sometimes feel completely overwhelmed and exhausted by the changes underway!)

Today, I'm feeling completely over everything related to moving and am longing to do some crafting, knitting, sewing, ANYTHING (other than pack boxes!). My fingers itch from looking at these pictures. Oh, poor me! It won't be long before we're in the new house and I can do all of the above to my heart's content (kind of) but for now, I look back to a Spring fair and plan ahead!



This is a post I drafted months ago but only just completed. Hopefully it's a nice 'home-made reprieve' from all move-related entries here of late.

A few months back now, I set about making a contribution to Elsa's preschool/playgoup Spring Fair knowing it would be my last opportunity to do so, as a parent of a child attending at least. I volunteered to make the 'Mrs Pockets' apron and engaged the help of a friend in doing so - thankgoodness! Often called 'Lady Pockets' at Steiner fairs/fetes, Mrs Pockets is a different take on the 'Lucky Dip' theme. Someone, in our case the class teacher, moves about the fair wearing an apron covered in many pockets and for a small sum a child can choose a pocket in which they find a little gift. In the past, the teacher has borrowed a Mrs Pockets Apron from another Melbourne Steiner preschool/playgroup. Now she has her own and I hope it will bring joy for years to come!

With fabric contributed by families from the preschool, including some from my our stash, I covered a piece of fabric (a calico skirt for the apron) in little pockets, which were also lined in calico. Elsa and Rafa helped of course! Then, a friend brought together the overall apron, adding the skirt piece to a bib-like top and ties around the waist. Three additional pockets were placed across the bib-like top to the apron - I'm guessing some older and/or taller kids were able to access those upper pockets! I hope to have photos of the complete apron soon; you see, we took of to Sydney before it was fully constructed so unfortunately, I haven't seen the completed apron yet.

And what about the little gifts to fill those apron pockets? Well, my contribution was some little dolls inspired by the smallest doll found in this book and made, again, with fabric supplied by parents (including me) and the preschool's 'craft basket' stash.

And then, some wee gnomes. The wooden base came from here, along with much of the felt, with the exception of these garments made from an old cardigan.

And some walnut dolls snuck their way in...I had been holding onto a ball of walnuts for months and intended to make little dolls to pop into the shells. When the fair crafting got underway, I hoped to squeeze the smallest of wooden dolls into the shells to use in Mrs Pockets but, they were slightly too large. My co-fair-crafting friend came up with a wonderful little dolls using a pipe-cleaner and wooden bead (for the head) and there we were making sweet little dolls over and over again. These ones came to Sydney with me and were posted back for the fair.

And then, some crowns using the pattern from here, some fabric from various stashes, including my own, the school's craft baskets and Dana's stash of retro fun.

After a day of fair crafting, this is how Elsa ended up and I desperately wanted to join her! But it was worth it to have contributed to this lovely event one last time. Soon enough, we'll be involved in whole new school fair.

ON HIM

And on this day, the first of a month in which Spring will make it's way to us, a few more photos of these, because my last photo of this pair excluded the little boy who is so lovingly wearing them! And with an uncle and aunt having recently returned from a month in Italy, they encourage lots of chatter between his big sister and Mama about Italian architectural icons and well dressed men and women roaming Italian streets! To him, they're just his 'vroom, vroom' pants - see the little men riding mopeds? And red loves Rafa!

And just because I can't resist sharing a detail from another of his new Quick Change Trousers - love this fabric!

QUICK CHANGE TROUSERS



My ever(and speedily)-growing boy needed some new pants and these quick-change trousers did the job. In the past I've often make the kid's pants reversible (in Winter mainly) but this was a fun new approach for me. I love the panel on the bum and they work well with his cloth nappies. I imagine I'll be applying this concept to many a pant pattern in the future. 

As he walks in any of his new 'strides' he often rubs his hands down the side of the pants looking down at them as he walks (or runs) leading me to pose the question "do you like your new pants Rafael?". He looks up at me and nods fervently with a huge smile of his face. And I tell him "Raf, you look like a big boy in those pants" or "Raf, those pants look wonderful on you!". Either way, another huge smile comes my way. So proud - both of us!



CUSHIONS

A little bit of blue to join these. One of her 'older' (2008) collections that I love. One can never have too many cushions, true? (well, the kids agree - more cushions equal more 'mountains' to build, climb and wrestle upon!).  





PINK PANTS

I finally succumbed to the pressure and made Elsa something from the pinkest fabric I could find (some corduroy). Elsa loves pink and though I do not, it was worth it to see the wide smile these put on her face! The pattern is well worn these days and this time, I added some pockets and a cuff in an attempt to introduce a colour other than pink (to tone them down a little!). Oh, she's smitten. It will take some convincing to get those pants moved up above her hips - apparently she's into low-riders?!? Funny girl.

AWAY WITH THEE

Finally, a chance to take a breath, to reflect, to consider the events of the past few weeks - it will be short-lived (the "chance to take a breath"!) . As we contemplate a move across town (way across town), investigate schooling options, meet with realtors of all varieties, prepare for upcoming visitors and plan our own northbound adventure, we find ourselves a tad busy, distracted and, well, overwhelmed! And excited too. For now, it's much simpler to look back rather than forward.

A definite highlight of the past  few weeks was my sewing/knitting/anything trip involving two nights 'alone' for some child-free sewing and much needed rest.  Did you hear me? TWO NIGHTS! Up to this trip, I had never been away from either of my kids for a night, let alone two. I felt confident and relaxed knowing they were with their Dada and enjoying some city adventures.

I shared this creative reprieve with a friend whose parents kindly provided the country location with a wonderfully big sewing table, regularly stoked wood-fires, wonderful food and hot tea. AND, as an added bonus, the wise ear of my friend's mother who is an experienced sewer and patient teacher! What more can a Mama ask for? Really!

A few long-standing projects were worked on.....

The top of a quilt for Elsa

Thanks to the encouragment of my friend, I finally completed the top of Elsa's quilt and, though there's still much more to work on (like backing and hand-quilting it!), I'm so pleased to have been 'unblocked' on this one. It's one of those projects that's been dragging along for a good while. I'm too embarrassed to say for how long! 

And a few new projects were started and finished, or almost so....this brown skirt needs some embellishments and this wool felt should help. I have some fruits in mind. The brown wool had been in Mum's fabric stash since the late 50s some time! To be fair, it was tucked away in a storage box but, wow, that makes my aging stash seem very current. To be even fairer, she did have ten children and managed to sew for us all - the mind boggles.

I made this skirt (the freyed hem is intentional!). The pattern (also used for the brown skirt above) includes kid's sizes so Elsa's sure to get some 'market skirts' of her own.

And I completed this top for myself. It makes my mind float forward to Spring and puts a smile on my face.

And as the above-said friend commented, I've clearly been 'unblocked'. I tend to sit on projects, waiting for the 'perfect' opportunity, the 'perfect' combination of fabrics, the 'perfect' moment. Slowly, I'm coming to the realisation that there is no 'perfect' time. Intellectually, I knew it, in reality, I was still holding out. But, since my weekend away, I've simply 'gone for it'. And though the results are not perfect (and that's part of what always restrains me from starting in the first place), there's a great satisfaction in completion. More post-weekend away, completed projects coming soon!

EXTRA LONG

It already seems like so long ago but how can that be when the weekend only really finished on Wednesday? What a treat having Labour Day tacked on to the end of the Easter long weekend! We had a great weekend with family, eating, cooking, celebrating all things Easter and for me, sewing.

Felt Easter Bilbys for a niece and nephew

Plenty of egg dying

My first ever Tsoureki (first one I've made that is, I've eaten plenty!)

And new winter pyjama pants for the kids (this has become and Easter tradition in our house...does three years consitute "a tradition"?)

She was very impressed with her first ever "big girl pony-tail"

And a new 'Lazy Days Skirt' for Elsa - a long one this time, at her request



CUSHIONS, VESTS & FIRSTS

My Densyse Schmidt cushion-covers that I've been meaning to photograph for a while now. I went for the quick and easy option - no zippers, no piping, beautiful.

And here's the new zip-up vest that I've started for D (pattern from my current favourite book). I hope to have it finished for his birthday in May and I'm actually liking my chances because it's knitting up very quickly. He doesn't like the varigated yarn look so I've subsituted the recommended yarn with a Jo Sharp yarn and am knitting two strands together using 6mm needles thanks to a recommendation from Wool Baa. Not sure what colour zipper I'll use, probably orange or red. Actually, orange. Da man is a green and orange kinda guy.

I said 'vestS' didn't I. Well, I just sourced the yarn to knit a vest for Rafa too and hope to have it done for Spring, realistically, mainly because I'm knitting him a red cardigan for winter and I've already started a yellow cardigan for Elsa too. It's going to be a busy knitting season. One of the joys of not having had a typical Summer is that I've been able to start knitting projects in February, even January. Wooohooo. That's a first for me.

And yesterday was a day of firsts for our little 18 month old; his first play with play-dough, his first time climbing a tree (albeit a low-to-ground version!) and his first time saying "YUM" (and he said it over and over again every time food came anywhere near him!). Oh, he's so lovely.