I finished this kimono late yesterday afternoon, a gift for my friend Heather, whose birthday was back in at the beginning of December, so it's not quite three months late.
Fabric is from Ikea, pattern is made up as I went along. Satin bias binding is from stash.
I hope she likes it.
Had a lovely morning at a local quilt exhibition with my friend Mary. I've always avoided getting too interested in quilts because I have no time for any new skills, but some of the quilts I saw today were inspirational.
And of course, there were stalls selling fabric.
I was very restrained (being skint helps), and I only bought this little bundle of beautiful 1930's prints.
Not sure yet, what it will become, maybe I should make a quilt.....
Today we have mostly been in the garden, or at least Woody and I have.
Ernest came out for a while, but after falling in the mud one too many times he went back inside to the warm.
Woody and I have been tidying up in preperation for spring, and veg planting time.
I also tidied Florence's little garden. I was going to cut back the dead flower heads from her hydrangea, but they looked so pretty with their lacey leaves and droplets of rain, so I've left them a little longer.
Angus is happy, I found seven footballs scattered around the garden!
He'll be less happy in a couple of weeks though when I re seed the lawn, and he wont be able to play on it.
Isn't it funny how a day in the garden,covered in mud, with no make up on, and soggy from the drizzle can lift your spirits?
This little monkey was ready for the day at 4am this morning, and boy I'm feeling it right now at midday.
Yesterday was a strange day. India babysat the older children while Woody,Ernest and I went to a family funeral.
With Ernest's recent tantrumming we were very nervous, but he thankfully was quiet, and actually quite impressed with the organ music and even joined in with some of the singing.
He made up for it later at home though, and pretty much screamed all afternoon, until he'd worn himself out by 6pm and fell asleep...hence the 4am start today!
I'm hoping he'll nap this afternoon, and maybe I can get on with something constructive.
I have at least got one shot of the kids together to share. I've lost track of the weeks, and suspect I'm a week behind, but here it is anyway, clearly still a long way to go to get that perfect family portrait.
I do love school holidays, got a lie in till 7am!
The big boys were invited on a play date, Eden went off to the cinema and that left India, Ernest and me home to try out our new DIY wrap and make a start on a friends well overdue birthday gift.
The wrap has yet to be hemmed, this was just a try on, which promptly sent Ernest right off to sleep.
A sleep he desperately needed. We have well and truly entered the toddler tantrum phase, and it's hard,really really hard.
I'm out of practice. My big girls were both championship tantrummers, but Angus and Sid were placid toddlers. Ernest gets so frustrated and angry and works himself up into such a horrible state.
Of course, I'm convinced if only I could nurse him, it'd be different, which doesn't help much.
Any tips on coping with toddler tantrums gently, very welcome.
Over the years I've owned several babywearing coats. This one, so far is my favourite.
I bought this blue coat in the January Sales with the intention of making it into a babywearing coat.
I bought it one size too big, and for the bargain price of £25.
I then bought some gorgeous woven wool fabric to add panels into the coat, and using the seams on the back of the coat as a guide, worked out where I needed to put the panels.
There was lots of trying on, and lots of figuring out as I went.
I needed to add panels in the side seams of the coat to account for Ernest's feet.
As usual, now I've finished it, I can think how I would do things differently if I made another...and I might...
I have been finding myself mentally taking apart every coat I see on the street or on the bus.
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This photo was taken yesterday. Ernest finally gave in to nap time at around 2pm, when India took him for a walk in his buggy and his new buggy cosy.
I've been meaning to make him a new cosy since he outgrew last years, but just haven't found the time, so we've been managing with blankets.
On Saturday though I bought a fleece blanket from Ikea for £9.99 with the intention of making it into a buggy cosy for him, and here it is, super super simple no sew buggy cosy.
I simply folded the blanket in half lengthways, and then in half again, and then I added resin snaps down each side, making a sort of snapped together bag.
I tucked this into the pram, where I felt around to find where the buggy straps were, and simply cut slits for them, (fleece doesn't fray) and then I unsnapped a few of the top snaps to create a space for Ernest to snuggle into.
I needn't have put snaps along the whole length, but this way I can lengthen the cosy as Ernest grows, so it should fit for some time.
It might not be the most perfect buggy cosy, but it's warm, it works, it was inexpensive and most importantly for me right now, it only took me ten minutes to put together. Oh yes, and being fleece it will wash and dry overnight if it gets dirty, and it will!