Saving Daylight.

It was a lovely day yesterday for the first day of Daylight Savings so we spent a large chunk of it outside getting dirty; I can’t believe I used to hate (HATE, HATE, HATE) Daylight Savings!

Wordless Wednesday: Star Gazing.

 

Playing along here.

Sewing for lazy people.

Do you have a daughter? Do you like to sew, but not THAT much? Then I implore you; whip up a few shirred dresses for your girl – they’ll last FOREVER.

It was deliciously sunny here on the weekend which caused us to break out the summer dresses that hadn’t seen the light of day for quite some time, including this pillowcase/shirred number I made for Punk’s first birthday, there she is above in all her “I’m one today!” glory… Not only does it still fit, but better, I think. Sits nicely above the knee & is perfect for running about in the sun – I can even see it wearing as a top when she is not so very much taller….

Good morning Sunshine!

We woke up this morning to some SUN! It really is amazing what a difference a little sun can make to your mood, it makes you want to jump out of bed rather than hide under the covers…

…& have a mini-photo shoot before breakfast!

Here is Miss Punk’s new hat, I made it yesterday, from her colour specifications (bloody pink, pink, pink, pink….) using the Make It Perfect Lazy Days Hat pattern. You see, tomorrow, *sniffle*, Punkerella is going to a few hours of day-care for the very first time. I am super nervous, perhaps more for myself than for her – she has never been looked after by somebody else before. I have never had to pack her lunch for her, so that she, like a big girl, could partake without me. I know I am going to cry. Or at least blame my watery eyes on hay fever. Or something. I digress… THE HAT. Since we’ve not seen sunshine for months, her previous summer hats have been lost &/or grown out of, so she needed a new one to be allowed to play outside at day-care.

I thought, as I presented it to her yesterday, how good it is that I can make some of the things she needs, just like that. Sure my stitching may be a bit wonky, & I may have actually SHED SOME BLOOD (…first sewing machine needle incident in quite some time), but she loves it, we didn’t have to shop around for something that wasn’t emblazoned with Bratz girls shaking their booties & it didn’t cost me a thing.

Wish me luck for tomorrow, won’t you… I’ll be the Mother sobbing at the door while her not-so-little-anymore little girl runs off to explore with new friends.

(Oh, & I think I might draw the winner of the pattern giveaway tomorrow, to give me time to get your address & post it off on Wednesday, so if you haven’t entered yet, do so here.)

A Little Bit of Sunshine…

First of all, I want to thank everyone that left me a comment and/or sent me an email about my last post and about my mysterious pain; I really appreciate your thoughts and advice and I’m sure it has contributed to my feeling much better emotionally today, even if I still feel pretty crap physically.

I discovered yesterday that hanging out with Le Punk in the play/craft room, playing podcast upon podcast and slowly, very slowly, cutting out patterns and fabric, agreed with me. I actually forgot about the pain for a while and sort of zoned out… bliss! A bit more of the same today and I have finished my swap gift – it certainly brought the sun out here today and I am stupidly happy with how it turned out considering my situation right now, my swapee will be lucky if it makes it to the mail…

I can show it to you now because it’s intended recipient has no idea who she is, but I certainly hope she likes it! I am just going make or round up a couple more spring-type things to go with it and I will send it off – a little parcel of sunshine to herald the coming of long-awaited Spring.

For the peeps playing along with my swap, here is a little flickr group to upload your outgoing goodies and your incoming sunshine, so we can all “ooooh!” and “aaahhhh!”.

Need VS Want

It was sunny again this morning, despite the weather forecasts, which meant I could get a bit more laundry done. Since this is day two of making something every day, I thought I’d get some washing on the line & then decide what to make a start on from my ever-growing ‘to do’ list. I was thinking maybe a pinnie for Le Punk or a top for me, or bunting maybe… but having to drop pegs on the ground to fit the clothes on the line made me realise that I really couldn’t do without a peg bag any longer…

…so I busted out Kelly Doust’s The Crafty Minx, found an opped tea towel that I had been “saving” (for what I don’t know…) & made one.

Of course, not long after I finished it the sky clouded over, the temperature dropped & rain loomed, but it’s all ready for the next sunny day, which I hope comes sooner rather than later. I love how the donkey looks to be peeking out… I totally planned that. *coughs*

PS, Just a quick note to bias binding; I frikkin hate you.

Sunday Sunny Sunday…

What a beautiful day it was here today! I was ITCHING to get started on my little sumpin sumpin for my secret swapee, but as I’m waiting on the pattern AND the fabric, I made do with a bit of faux spring cleaning & relaxing outside…

Handmade Beginnings by Anna Maria Horner arrived on Friday – it is such a beautiful book & I already have a couple of projects earmarked. If I don’t make at least a couple of pairs of these;

disown me.

And I can so see this lightshade/mobile idea translated into a robot version, can’t you?!

The weather forecast for the rest of the week is not looking great, so I’m glad we enjoyed some sun while we could, hope your Sunday was just as relaxed & warm!

Sunspiration.

For those of you joining in with the Here Comes The Sun! Craft Swap, I thought I’d share some inspiration & springtime goodness!

I think I might assign partners on Monday, so if you’re procrastinating, you’ve still got a couple of days to decide.

It’s set to be a rainy, miserable weekend here, so I need all the fake brightness I can muster…

Some wonderful “Spring” tutorials;

Bags, ‘spring chickens’ & more via Sew! Mama! Sew!

‘Buttercup’ bag pattern, free from Made by Rae

Tattered flower embellishments from Sew 4 Home

Crochet flower necklace from Creative Yarn

Tonnes of Spring craft ideas from Country Living

Summer tweets mobile (we’ll just ignore the ‘summer’ part…) from The Red Thread

Petal Pillow via V and Co.

Crafter’s apron from The Magic Bean

Heaps of ideas from good ol’ Martha

Sunshine in fabric form;

 

Proper inspiration, via;

I’m itching to get started myself, but I have to wait, I ordered some special fabric online & it is sure to take it’s time arriving. Hope I’ve helped a little in the inspirations stakes, have fun dreaming of the sun!

Craft Swap – Here Comes The Sun! Signups CLOSED!

So, we had a few days of sun here which, truly, has ruined me for the rest of winter. It is raining & pouring here today & I don’t like it, not one bit. Instead of cleaning up… or getting dressed… I have been sitting around trying to muster the energy to… do… something.

Just as the brief taste of spring had me energized & happy, this backwards slide into dismal winter has me sighing & hurumphing. I want something to look forward to, or something to occupy my mind until the sun’s warm rays see fit to favour us again…

I propose, a craft swap!

Theme: ‘Here Comes The Sun’; this could mean whatever you want it to – it could be a craft which incorporates an image of the sun, captures the spirit of spring or that will be handy to use in spring…

Craft: Whatever tickles your fancy. Whatever floats your boat. Whatever puts a smile on your dial… I do believe you get the picture. Something to herald the coming of spring for your swapee.

Time Limit: To be posted out September 1st – the first day of spring – woohoo!!!

Sign ups: From NOW. Leave me a comment here with your email – hopefully at least one of you wants to play so that I can make a little sumpin sumpin – and I shall assign partners… soonish… if there is more than two of us that is! Feel free to spread the sunshine, the word, the love….

**Signups closed**

Finally...

It's SUNNY!! I know it sounds crazy... but it's true! Two days in a row now.... TWO DAYS!!!

Now, in the interest of honesty, I have to say that it DID rain yesterday, twice, and the wind was rather... gusty, but all the same, there was a fair bit of sun in there too.

Unfortunately for me, this means lots & lots of washing - we don't have a dryer so the never ending rain has taken us perilously close to wearing paper bags a few times... ;)

I have some cute company at the clothes line though - I don't know why, but Punky is obsessed with it - right now there are 6 or so of her toys strewn around it, and she heads straight there first whenever we go outside... odd child.

Chookies like the sun too... and pecking about on the overgrown lawn....!

Might it be too much to hope that Spring is finally here?!