A quick catch-up

I’m a bit shocked that it’s been a month since I last posted, that’s how quickly time has been flying by for me lately!

Work and life occasionally just become ridiculous and something has to give. I won’t bore you with details, this is a sewing blog after all but the good news is that last week I had a holiday and I am feeling super refreshed and now I feel like I am finally on top of all things so watch out world! 🙂

So, in brief, here is what I got up to these last few weeks:

I bought this sewing machine:

Barbie! And it’s wind up, it really “sews”!

I also bought this one:

Baby Singer – will post more about her soon

My newest cross stitch project is becoming recognisable:

Come to the dark side…

I worked on a vintage blouse as a combined WSBN Teal Deal/TMS Vintage Pattern project and sort of failed – Time was not on my side and also I think it will be too big but I have promised to salvage it for a second group photo shoot in November with the two other girls that missed out:

Completed night classes in NZSL 1a and enrolled in 1b – starting Oct 16th:

Yeah!

Got serious with planning our kitchen renovation:

Realised I had too many unfinished projects lying around so finally finished Lady Grey and then pulled out my finished Lolita Patterns Sugarplum. I made the Sugar Plum for Indie Patterns Month as a pattern tester but have only just now gotten the go ahead to show photos on my blog…so now I need to take some photos!

Evil sewing machine is evil

I flew up to Auckland for a work conference:

Look how cute my tiny room was!

Then I went on a holiday:

Ohh volcano!

I walked up a volcano!:

Mt Tongariro – Ketetahi trail. You can just see the one of the Te Maari crater vents smoking away in the background. Last year it got grumpy and spat some big rocks out, destroying the Ketetahi hut.

Finished Vogue 1250 – need to take some photos.

Worked hard to try to finish Rainbow Swallows Shirt Dress – it just needs hemming – and again, photos – the story of my sewing-life right now!

Bought some patterns – these are not all for me!:

By Hand London goodies thanks to Penny at dressesandme.com

Then I bought some fabric – this is ALL for me!:

L to R: Black and grey geometric printed silk, some sort of lining with embossed flowers, ribbed knit, 3 meters of each, total $33.00, yeah!

Hunted through my patterns for pretty dresses for Frock-tober – Harri “helped”:

“Make this one!”

Paired some fabric with patterns and then pre washed the fabric, this caused it to rain, but I got it all dry eventually:

Pretty, pretty, pretty!

Then I traced all these patterns, I want to make ALL OF THEM!:

Camouflage Harri supervised the tracing process – it was hard work, many naps were taken:

ZzzzZZzzz…

Then she decided that my paper bin needed emptying…otherwise how else would she fit inside?:

Caught!

Harri and I agreed that as a reward for all my hard work I should cut out a dress – I chose Papercut’s La Sylphide in tiny super cute owls:

Thn I remembered that I also have this dress still waiting to be sewn up – all cut out in a beautiful silk/linen blend, oops:

And finally, last weekend, because I was not in the mood for photos and daylight savings has got me dreaming about summer, I began to plan Vege Garden v2.0:

Current Vege Garden v1.0 – I have marked out the new garden space in blue twine but then I changed my mind and drew some pictures instead.

A grand plan

Getting into the details

Then I helped hack down some trees that were too close to our retaining walls. We will re-pave the lower area, a garden shed and glass house will appear sometime in the future:

Before…

…after!

I think after my new vege beds are in I will begin to investigate the possibility of having some chickens, I think I’d quite like some chickens 🙂

And that’s about it! 🙂 Phew, regular service should resume shortly, happy sewing!

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34 thoughts on “A quick catch-up

  1. I just spied your pretty plaid 😉 With all that planning you’ve got a few more busy months a head of you too I think … new garden, kitchen reno and a pile of patterns to sew up!!! I think you need a wonder woman costume aye

    • Yes that’s it, getting chopped up soon to be a pretty dress 🙂

      I should make myself at least a Wonder Woman apron no? Truth is I love being busy! Now if I could only shake this work thing, it seems to take up far too much time…although it does pay for fabric, hrmm…

  2. Glad to see you are back! Looks like you had a very productive month. Harri is such a cute kitty – she’s getting big fast!

    In Holland autumn has arrived and I have been busy sewing some cooler weather clothes – I try to get some sewing done each day after work which seems to work well (so far 😉

    • I forget how much she’s grown and then I look at some older photos, she’s not really my “little” girl any more…but she still tries to ride on my shoulders, haha 🙂

      I have gotten back into the habit of a few minutes of sewing after work too, it really adds up and you can get a lot done in 15 minutes.

  3. Glad to see you back. Did I see that correctly? Is that Barbie machine really only 5cm?! So cute! I also love the shot of Hari in the pattern drawer picking out patterns. 🙂 can’t wait to see some of those patterns made up. Btw isn’t learning sign fun? I learned way back in grad school and have found it quite useful as I now have a deaf student in my child care.

    • Yep, only 5cm, so tiny, it’s doesn’t really “sew” but you wind it up and the needle goes up and down and the handwheel turns, I love it!

      I’m loving learning sign, it’s really fun, there is a lot of laughter in each class! I think because it is visual I’m picking it up quickly. I’ve always wanted to learn, not sure why, maybe the lure of a secret language 😉 Now one of my close friends is going deaf so I hope I can support her and also she can help me practise!

    • I’ll make sure I get time. Our spring weather is still settling down toward summer so I have to take advantage of the good weather to get outside in the garden but there are still enough rainy days coming for sewing 😉

  4. That barbie sewing machine is so cute! And I love your choice of fabrics, what a great deal. I admire your productivity, you’ve really got a lot of inspiring things 🙂

  5. Woah, you and Harri have been up to some awesome things! Glad you had a great holiday. And I cannot believe that Barbie machine actually sews! Wherever did you find it? Great old black Singer. And when do we get to see Lady Grey? I was thinking about it the other day wondering if you’d completed it. I see Belladone in your pile, I’m currently making that one for Frocktober fest. Make one as well and we’ll be twinsies! :). Also love what you did with backyard, you really improved your beautiful view! Kitty and I are Happy to have you and Harri back.

    • I got the Barbie sewing machine from eBay. I’ve been watching for one for a while but they always have super high international postage and finally got this one…it’s doesn’t really “sew” but you wind it up and the needle goes up and down and the handwheel turns, I love it! 🙂

      I promise to get Lady Grey up this weekend, I need to take photos or so many things so I don’t feel guilty about starting so many other new things 😀

  6. Yowza! That is a lot of busy there! I can’t believe you traced all those patterns already. I wish I was so dedicated! Tracing is my least favorite part! Love the vegie garden planning… And the already cut vogue looks divine. The owls are oh so cuuuute! You HAVE been a busy lady! Good to see you back. 😀 ~Laurie

  7. Oh, and I meant to say – I bought some of that exact same silk linen ikat-style fabric from The Fabric Store, it’s fabulous isn’t it? I made a simple straight skirt with it, and put an exposed zipper in the centre front to keep it a little interesting. Never got a photo of it, of course!

    • It is fabulous, I can’t believe I almost forgot I cut it out! 🙂

      Congratulations and best of luck for your wedding, I’m sure you’ll have a fabulous day xx Tackling a wedding with moving country, you are a brave girl, remember to breath ok?

  8. Wow, you’ve been busy! My sewing time has been completely obliterated.. as I’ve gotten engaged! I’m getting married in Wellington in five weeks, and am moving to USA shortly after that! As you can imagine, I’m buried under a pile of wedding organisation, and dealing with the move.. sorting and throwing things out, selling things etc. I wish I was able to sew my wedding dress, I’ve been so inspired by yours and so many other sewing bloggers who have sewn their own. But I simply don’t have the time with all the other things I have to do.. so I’m probably going to get one from Sophie Voon bridal. At least they use beautiful silks (omg the number of horrible polyester wedding dresses out there!) and laces, it’ll be the next best thing.

  9. I have epically failed in the sewing stakes as well… All I have to show for the TMS Vintage is a front bodice with 4 darts sewn in. 😦 Life has just gotten in the way and I won’t be sewing for another 4 weeks as I am off on a trip as well – no sewing machine where I am going.

    But love your post and must say the highlights of your post (as always) is the cute, cute, cute Harri…

    Back into it in November.

    cheers

    Stephanie

  10. I have a Holly Hobby sewing machine to rival your Barbie one! ALthough I do prefer the Barbie one. I love your Hand London patterns and I like the file cabinet pattern filing going on there. I’m glad you’re back!

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