plump pudding

Moses - with a contemporary twist

I managed to whip this up this morning.  I just knew I wouldn't have any peace until it was finished and taken into school.

He may not look it here, but Keanan is off school sick.  The poor little thing has been  coughing all weekend.  The coughing seems to get worse night-time and he couldn't get to sleep for over an hour last night.  Plus the fact that he was up in the night and came into bed with me, meant that he was less than 100% this morning.

Rather than sew this out in the studio (which is the converted garage and not attached to the house), I brought my machine into the house and sat and sewed whilst Keanan sat on the sofa.

It was quite easy, combined with the fact that I am NOT a dressmaker this took just over an hour to make. He was quite specific in that he had to have something draped over his shoulders (because this was in the bible photo).  I ad libbed and made a belt.  We have a fake beard as well. 

I was a little bit unsure as the fabric was a 1970s duvet cover.  Not quite Old Testament - but I think it looks pretty good and of course it is now in  bag waiting to take to school tomorrow.

The highlight of my day has been this package from Shula in Australia.  This is so beautiful that I had to include close ups.

This is so exquisite that I am at a loss for words.  It is patchwork appliqued onto the body.

The detailing is amazing.  Red button eye.  And the ruffles on the top of her head ..

Even the tail.  I have run out of adjectives.  She is just beautiful and rather than the studio (which was where I had planned to take her), she is going to stay in the house where everyone can see her.

I was just amazed that Shula thought one of my chickens was fair trade for her piece of art!

Thanks Shula!

Diolch yn fawr iawn : Thanks very much!

This was definitely a weekend of thank yous.  It started Friday afternoon at the school.  Myself and a few other sewing mums "offered" to adjust some traditional Welsh costumes for the year 3 children.  They are competing and it apparently they are marked not just on dancing capabilities but also costumes.  This was really a simple job: sewing some neckerchiefs and taking up skirts and petticoats.

This was the reward

Chocolates and a thank you card.  The headmistress did say that they were a bribe for us to do this again next year!  But as long as there are chocolates, I'm in!

My next thank you went to the car boot sale.  I went both days and was lucky enough to find five vintage sewing patterns.

There are only four photographed as there were two of the layette pattern in the bottom left.  They came in different sizes.  So I have a  pattern for a 12" doll and one for a 16" doll.  And all for £1.  I was so excited I practically skipped out of the boot sale.

These are some curtains that I also bought.  I initially bought them with the idea of selling them on e-Bay.  But after I had brought them home, I decided that I quite liked them.  I am going to try them out and see whether they will fit in the studio and if they do, then I can alternate the curtains.  If they don't, then I may put them on e-Bay, or or I may make something from them. 

My biggest thanks goes to my boys as it was Mothering Sunday yesterday.  Stephen gave them some money to put in a card for me (earmarked for some Buxus plants for outside the house).  They both made me a card and then sellotaped some of their own money onto the card. 

Ethan was very generous and gave me £6 (which in itself is a minor miracle as he is such a miser with his money) and I had just under £2 from Keanan.

 

This is what I bought.  I have a school lab type stool in my studio, but I have been after something with a back, as it is more comfortable.  Now, I wouldn't dream of buying a new stool, so I have been on the lookout for one at the car boot sale.Found it yesterday for £4.  So I gave Ethan back the rest of this money and kept the £2 each from them.

What a fab Mothering Sunday present.  I won't be keeping the stool green - but I am undecided as to whether to go for white, powder blue or pale green.  I know I am going to have to undercoat first just to get rid of that green gloss (and the poor little chicken stencilled on the seat).

So Thanks Boys!

Mission Accomplished

After yesterday's unsuccessful shopping trip for white trainers, we all went into Cardiff town centre today and tracked down the elusive trainers for Keanan.  All white K Swiss.  How long they will stay clean for is anyones guess.  It kind of goes against the grain as I am not a designer label person by any means and 99% of my clothes etc come from the charity shop/car boot sales.  But he has had his heart set on these trainers for the past 6 months or so.    The things you do to make your children happy .....

And while we were in the shop, I spotted these shoes.  Reduced, last pair in my size.  It must have been fate.  And Stephen bought them for me!  I love shoes: any shoes/boots/sandals.  I could give Imelda Marcos a run for her money.  Vintage?  Even more appealing.  In my defence (guilty conscience here?)  I wear the majority of them.  And I know I will wear these.  Perfect or an 8 year olds party on Saturday.

And just to drive home the point that I may need counselling for my craft book addiction, I bought this yesterday.  Keanan wanted to look in Woolworths for toys and I admit it, I couldn't resist!

Simple Pleasures

One of my extravagances: flowers.  I usually have flowers in the house.  Just in two specific places.  Here in the dining room, on top of my art deco sideboard and in front of one of my canvasses and another canvas with vintage 1940s fabric.  Mostly I buy lilies; I just love the smell that wafts out when walking past, and this is much stronger at night.   And they are even more enjoyable when they are reduced at the supermarket for a quick sale!

Half term isn't going too badly.  This morning was quite a low point after we went to three shops to find white trainers for Keanan's 8th birthday on Thursday.  Luckily the shops were all grouped together, as we didn't manage to find a pair he liked in his size.  He is very specific about what pair he wants and I out this down to his MTV and 50 cents obsession.  So after a small tantrum, we are popping into town tomorrow to continue the quest for white trainers.  What fun.

The hightlight of my day was washing Ethan's coat as it was covered in mud, only to discover that he had put his uneaten sausage roll in the pocket.  The offending sausage roll had to be scooped out with a spoon (and always concious of waste, I recycled it via the dog) and the coat washed again.

Despite not having heard from two thirds of the children yet, I have been storming ahead with the party bags and favours.  I spent all day (from 9.45am until 5.30pm) at a chess tournament with Ethan on Sunday and decided to use the time to make 30 (am I mad or what?) chameleons from the Japanese book I received from a swap with Mrs Pilkington.  Those for the boys and felt hearts for the girls.  I must indulge my love of pink and girly somehow.  They are 99% finished and now just need their eyes attaching.  So to save time I am going to glue these on.

I am also part of the way through making the party bags.  Yes another thing to make.  Stephen was laughing today and saying that I like to make work for myself.  In a way it is true, I always need to have something/some project to do. I can't bear it when there is nothing lined up.  But as a mother of boys there is precious little for me to sew for them.  A few party bags and chameleons isn't too much in the grand scheme of things.

I will post the photos as soon as they are all finished.

Birthdays all round

Priority today was for these two little birthday cakes.

Two of my friends at the school both have little girls who are only a few weeks apart: Lili and Gwenni.  I found the tutorial for these cakes on Craftster and decided to indulge my girly whims and make one each for their birthday.

They were surprisingly easy.  So much so, that I have plans to a few more and add them to my website/shop (which I am currently working on).  Even the boys like them and I have been commissioned to make a blue one for Keanan's 8th birthday next week.

The only thing I will be changing is the strawberry.  I think it's too big - and will make the next ones slightly smaller.

The little tags read Penblwydd Hapus - which is Welsh for Happy Birthday.  After the photos I wrapped them in white netting tied at the top with a knotted ribbon.  Off to school with them.