shop update - wrap dresses

I think I told you how this above is one of my favourite fabrics of all time.

Well ive decided to part with a small amount of it for some dresses for the shop in a limited edition.

This is the first. I think, given the nature of the print they will be suitable for a special occasion. 

womens size 10

womens size 12

I have a small amount left of this green and olive leaf cotton to make any size from 8 to an 18 and thought I would mention it seeing the response this fabric got when I first showed it.

womens size 14

womens size 10

Im beginning to use the larger (more plentiful) doileys in different ways by cutting them in a splice across the back and im loving the results. A different sort of elegance but still ultimately wearable for day or evening which is the aim. 

In home news, ive had am emotionally draining week. My mums husband had to go in for eye surgery and we were not sure of the outcome as he is diabetic so it was high risk. He could have ended up completely blind as the surgery was on his 'good' eye, (he had lost sight in his other eye while waiting for three years for an operation). But then the bandages came off yesterday morning and he could see! Its been a bit of a bumby rollercoaster but we opened a couple of bottles of champagne to celebrate. Sometimes I dont realise how much ive taken on until its over with. 

my creative space

This week I had four creative spaces aside from my usual sewing room. One was this beach location for an impromtu photoshoot. My model is Lily,  daughter of a friend who has been patiently waiting on her size to be made by me. She took both of these dresses home to be worn to death (which may come sooner if she doesnt stop riding the motorbike on her country property at breakneck speed) even though she too had sworn to not like pink very much before today. My clothes have this effect on people, including me, which im a bit proud of. 

I couldnt do anything wrong with this gorgeous old pier as a back drop.

Lily, thankyou.

You are such a natural beauty. In the few short minutes we were here I had taken thirty something photos, all of them able to be used apart from the one where you are trying to remove the pricetag from your armpit!

The other spaces I inhabited this week were a friends home to sew for the day

the shop I have just placed some things in creating another photoshoot (announcing the location officially tomorrow if I dont get too distracted),

 I showed a young up and coming sewer how to finish off her first quilt,

and the Mr and I have been doing some much anticipated art piece framing. His and mine, yay!

Definitely a full week of creativity even for the likes of me, who thinks they sew all the time but apparently not so much.

In other news we joined a gym. Together. The same one. Very, very weird development for us as we were doing our thing seperately but from now on will be working out side by side. Kick boxing here I come!

I took the couch potato shopping and had fun for the first time because I decided to.

I think I may have giggled once or twice.

Im moving the studio around tomorrow as I woke in the middle of the night a few days ago and had an epiphany about the entire space and cant wait for morning now to perform some miracles.

Except im supposed to be going to the gym, damn....

kisses

Looking through some old albums I found this lip smacking sequence.

Had to share it. Love the big lean in the last one, dont you?

Have you checked our what my friend is making right now for summer. Love Jo's frocks!

life

most favourite week this year

plans

Life in the last few days has been about making plans together for the year ahead. It seems that was what had been missing. What has made things seem not quite right, a bit still.

After the move things seemed to stop, but nothing felt normal. I hadnt written any to-do lists for a couple of months. There were too many things to write so I chose to write nothing.

So... 

 The Mr and I were home alone today but we went off out for lunch and talked and made plans. Somehow it was a turning point for us and I am back to the positive, looking ahead.

We both knew what we wanted to achieve in the year but hadnt as such made simple, well thought out plans with certain timeframes and dates set.

It looks like im going to have a business partner with me at markets. I wont give too much away til a launch happens but we will be in design conference over the weekend. Im glad ive finalised all of mine recently so I can concentrate solely on helping him get from the ground up and have some fun styling it up. Maybe, maybe, just this once I may know some things he might not.

I hope to squeeze in sewing a few ladies wrap dresses.

I wish someone else could cut out for me. Maybe I should train the Mr? 

a conversation

Nav: Before you say anything about spending they were half price....

Adi: They look exactly like your Bally's!

Nav: I want to show you something,

Adi: They are the same shoe.

Nav: They look really clowny. I want to wear them casual.

So... yeah, my son is a clown in his casual life then?

Only the dog knows the truth....

wednesday dreams

Its quiet here and a bit gloomy outside.

After an early morning airport send off the Mr's parents are on their way home to NZ and we all just needed to sleep in. I finally got up at 12. I was dreaming I was choking. I hate that. Especially when I got caught making choking sounds. 

The Mr's dreams are way weirder.

Yesterday he dreamt I was a squid. He found me in the ocean (of course) and said he couldnt cook me cos he thought I was too cute so he kept me. We swam around together for a while, he remembered being fascinated watching how deep I could swim and all the time I was growing bigger, then I became me. We had a good laugh over this with Mum and Dad last night, he elaborated at all the right places and had us in stitches, there was mention of 'bigger fish in the sea' and something about a groper, but were all left wondering what it meant.

 I, on reflection, think this...

The Mr, apart from being a keen fisherman feels as if he has found 'me'.

I mean squids are attractive right? Right?

 Or was it the fact they were preparing it on Masterchef, (his favourite show).

I think he is reaching a time in his life that has him appreciating his family and me and all that goes with the huge juggling act that is life as we know it.

 Our life has been full to overflowing lately, like the ocean, like our house.

Full of unusual moments like when he stopped me in the hallway, the house full of his family, stealing a moment to tell me that he was proud of me. Like when he wanted me to 'show and tell' my stuff to his parents, which I couldnt do on demand but they saw bits and pieces anyway while they were here. In celebrating Mum and Dad's 50th we have found many other things to celebrate. We are happy to have our son and new wife and daughter living with us even though it means we may have to find a new home.

Somehow it will all work because we will make it work.

In the middle of this chaos I have been preparing for Craft Hatch. Something ive never done before and never thought id be able to achieve let alone in the middle of everything. I cant tell you how much I needed to be by myself this last two weeks, even just to think clearly.

 It has come down to these final three days.

I have realised something. If I can still manage to produce some Little Tree Kids pieces while there is so much going on then I know I can aim high. I have done a rough count last night and so far 24 jackets are on the go in various stages, some finished and some only cut out. I only need 6 more

for there to be 30 to take to market. Too high to aim you think? Well.... I do need to do boots and slippers and some knits too.

The good news is ive started more slippers.

 

This is called the full production stage.

holy crap

I was thinking of leaving you just the pictures of life right now but I suppose I should say something or this may be considered meaningless to all those who havent gotten to know us yet.

 Above are the additives that the menfolk decided to add to the beer brew last weekend. It is tasting delicious although seems to be devoid of alcoholic content but we will fail to mention that if I have any say. Which I do, cos this is my blog and not his because I was the one who turned the heater off the other night during fermentation.

My sons' have been missing each other more than we were aware of.

Adelin is happy but needs to feather her nest so weve been looking for houses close by.

My boys are a tad theatrical so anything goes when they get together.

It has taken us three days to get baby Violet into her youngest uncles arms but hey, did he enjoy it once he succumbed to her charms. All I can say in his defence is that he may take after me as before I had had my own babies, I was the most unmaternal person you could meet. I had only ever held a baby twice in my lifetime leading up to the birth of Zjahlii. Total denial.

There has been alot of sitting on my handbag at mealtimes grabbing a bite of pasta, or whatever is going, late at night. Time I hung my bag on a door handle to make room on chairs for the masses.

Alot of old photo reminiscing. Here is Navarh at two months and doesnt he look like his daughter?

The engaged couple from two years ago, time flies and all that. We are all looking forward to whatever life holds.

Corny hey? I cant help it okay!