Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Hive of Activity

I had to meet Dan at our house (we're not living there any more) to meet a carpet salesman today and the place was a hive of activity.

Lucinda and I sought refuge from the crowds of tradies on the upstairs deck, but I did duck around and take a few photos.

As you can see, there's still a fair way to go until the work's done and we can rent the place out, but progress is being made.

The Front

The Back

Rumpus Room

Laundry Shell

Upstairs

Granny Flat

Front Yard

Checking the work

Chuckles

Lucinda found it all hilarious.

I just want it to be done so Dan's around on the weekends again.

Between this place and Karra'd Away, it's now been more than a year since he's NOT been away most weekends.

The end is in sight though, or so he assures me.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Op Shop Dollhouse

I ummed and ahhed about whether to stop into the local Lifeline Superstore on my way home today.

Lucinda was getting tired and I was keen to get home, but I decided a quick browse might be OK.

I'm so glad I did. This dollhouse was up the back of the shop, along with another even larger one which I left there for someone with a bigger house than ours...

Dollhouse

It's handmade and was for sale for $49.

A good clean and a few nails and it'll be looking miles better already, but I do plan to paint it eventually.

Good thing Lucinda's still a fair way off appreciating it - gives me plenty of time to bring it to life for her!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Lazy Weekend

You gotta love a lazy weekend. Nodding off on the couch, lazy afternoon naps in bed and wearing the same pants, two days in a row.

Saturday:

Rainy Saturday

Sunday:

Lazy Sunday

I hope your weekend was as lazy as Lucinda's.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Making Baby Pants

I've been sewing a lot in the evenings recently, particularly now I have a little lady to make things for.

In fact, she's wearing pants and a top I made for her in this photo.

I have so many gorgeous fat quarters that I buy and never use, so I decided to make a few pairs of simple baby pants from them.

You can easily make these pants from two fat quarters, depending on whether you grade it up or down.

I dug out my copy of Simple Sewing for Babies by Lotta Jansdotter*.

There is a pattern for simple baby pants in there but they were miles too big for Lu, who is just moving from a size 000 to a size 00. So, I took a pair of her 00 pants and measured the outside leg from waistband to ankle.

I measured the outside pattern leg and worked out that Lu's pants were 70 percent the size of the pattern on that seam. I then worked out 70 percent of all the other seams, which is why some of the measurements below are a little niggly (11.5 centimetres, for example)

And I came up with my own pattern:

Blog Pant Pattern-2

You can see the dimensions on the pattern above. With the leg and crotch area, I just measured the two straight sections and drew a curve between them.

From there, I cut two pieces on the fold and stitched the sides, with a 1.5cm seam allowance (included in the pattern above).

Blog Pants Yellow and Blue-2


I put elastic in the top and, hey presto, new pants!

Picnik collage

They were so quick and easy to make. I think, including re-drafting the pattern, this took me less than two hours.

She has several pairs now.

Blog Stripey Pants-2

Lucinda

So, obviously this blog is dangerously neglected. But I thought I'd do a quick photo update with the new arrival...

This is Lucinda, born on 27 June.

Lucinda in her new threads

We are both hopelessly in love with her.

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