rock hopping

Lily and I decided to go for an impromptu walk on the beach this morning – only the tide was so high it would have been a very short walk.

So we climbed around the beautiful powdery rocks instead, with the water lapping up against them. I love the plinky plonk sounds.

I realised, as soon as I put my feet on that powdery surface, that it has quite possibly been a year since I walked on those rocks. It was a weekly occurence with my Mum, when we walked every weekday morning – all before I went back to work.

I long for those days of walking, trawling the beach, and then going home to sew all day.

Here’s a crappy mobile phone photo from a couple of years ago – I wish I had my camera this morning, but all we were meant to be doing is dropping Maisie at daycare and buying some cough medicine for my Mum. I think these school holidays we’ll be spending a lot more time down there in the mornings. Especially high tide which I love so much.

Lily brought some ochre home to make up a paint – we’re having one of her school friends over on Friday and she wants to paint the box, and then for the three of them to play in it. How two 7 year old girls and a 4 year old girl are going to fit in it, I don’t know. I’m sure they’ll work something out :)

The special pillow.

The almost-finished pillow.

Originally uploaded by monsoonsandmangoes

All finished today. The idea was that the pillow would be a holiday craft (we’re on the second day of four weeks!) but because my daughter and I are both obsessive, it’s already done.

Don’tcha love her spiders? For their eyes, my clever daughter cut two petals for each spider.

And the butterflies – keep an eye on those, because some have made their way onto the beautiful patchwork skirt I made today.

Phew! Patchwork feels exhausting today. My back started off twingy this morning, so little wonder it’s aching now. It’s worth it though – the new skirt (pics later) is a masterpiece.

Onwards now, for some tunic dresses.

you can never have too many mothers

I really do like to see the things that these people like, and read the things people want to write. And I feel really lucky to be privy to all that. That’s the beauty of blogging. Blogs are for sharing and remembering and documenting and venting. Blogs are for showing and wondering and hoping and teaching. Blogs bravely invite discussion and acknowledgement and connection. Blogs are about what is happening right now in people’s lives. Blogs are kind of like a warm hug from a friend

Sweet post by Meet Me At Mikes. One of my favourite blogs to read.

Maria’s custom work finished~

All for Maria

Originally uploaded by monsoonsandmangoes

I’m so thrilled with how these turned out! It’s been forever since I’ve done any shirring and the pants – well they are just incredible! I want them for ME! :)

Need to lengthen the top to get a couple of years out of it, but then they’ll be all wrapped up and shipped to Wisconsin today.

beautiful feedback

This might be my favourite comment ever:

“…he has received them and loves them and wears them a lot. My mother was trying to convince him to save them for special occasions so he has something nice to wear, but he said pish posh to that. He said “They’re very well made. I am wearing them in the woods.”

About the custom patchwork mens shorts.

That is just beautiful and it makes me so happy that they will be worn as I had hoped.

♥

Rainbow fleece skirts

I’m beyond excited about these skirts. I want to buy 9,276 metres of this stuff and turn it all into clothes. I LOVE sewing with fleece. particularly: how the fabric puffs up on either side of a stitch. Oh, and it feels DIVINE, too.

I need one of these, too!!

New skirt

That beautiful chocolate mouse coloured fabric I bought today is already my brand new skirt.

I simply traced one of my favourite batik skirts, and sewed in an indigo/black dotty stretchy waist band, with hot pink zig-zag feature stitching all over.

(ugh – such a dodgy pic, but you get the idea! :)

It’s insanely comfortable and very “me”. It is too big though :( :( Do I dare alter the waistband and risk ruining the skirts perfection, or so I list on etsy and make myself another?

Love in the letter box

Today I received my beautiful earrings from sweet Cassy @ Jingerbella.

Aren’t they spunky?

AND she changed the hooks for me into the lovely big roundy ones.

And as if that wasn’t lovely enough, she also reworked the lil birdy ones that I loved so much, and included them as a gift to me. Isn’t she wonderful!! :)

Like this but again, with the big round hooks (like on these).

Winter fabric

Went into Spotlight today, even though the store drives me crazy. how hard is it to organise fabric by type? Why must I find a roll of fleece in amongst the summer cottons? So confusing and I find it really stressful.

Anyway. I did walk out with an armload of snuggly, warm fabric :)

Some of the winter stash.

Rainbow* fleece, stretchy cotton for me, paisley drill (from my lovely sister), brown cord, red floral cord, and a perfect brown stretch cotton. I’m so tempted to make myself a skirt out of this, as I’m busting out of my clothes with all the naughty food I’ve eaten while my man has been away. A soft stretchy skirt with soft ribbing waist sounds heavenly! I might make a second and list it as a maternity skirt! :)

* Rainbows out of order also drive me crazy. But for the sake of cozy warm clothing for my beautiful customers, I will try to cope :)

Afterwards, Maisie and I went to our favourite cafe for lunch. A chicken laksa for me, and Po Pia with fried rice for her. I ended up eating more than half her rice, so I kinda rolled out of there and into the car :)

I love recycling!

My love of recycling fabric and repurposing clothing doesn’t end with what may be thrifted, or donated by my beloved friends and family. It also extends to MY OWN creations!! :)

Before:

During:

as for after: well, that all depends on what sleeves I decide to give it :)

In other exciting news, I received a beautiful bundle of vintage doilies from Jaemart!

Aren’t they just beautiful!!!