The Dollhouse

I wrote briefly about the dollhouse I bought at the op shop recently, but have started cleaning it up.

So here are some before photos, which will hopefully one day contrast nicely with some gorgeous after shots...

We're hoping to have it ready for Lucinda's first birthday, which would be next June. We move slow around these parts.

Dan plans to fix up some of the damaged woodwork, which leaves the painting to me. Next job is to finish cleaning up and then start painting the inside timber.

Sandgate Stitchers

After a few months of mulling the idea over, I've finally got around to drawing up a flyer and starting to get the word out there.

If you, or anyone you know, lives near Sandgate and is interested in sewing (or some other small and portable craft hobby) then please come along.

UPDATE: I started a blog for the group, so please forward the link on to anyone who might be interested!

A Flower I Haven't Killed

It's a miracle, really. This orchid was a gift when Lucinda was about a month old. Today, she is three months old.

It still looks as good as the day I got it.

Perhaps my brown thumbs are finally going green? Or perhaps orchids are just very hardy...

Eumundi

We've been away to Eumundi for the weekend - but made it home before lunchtime on Sunday.

The term 'domestic terrorism' - that's about babies, yes? Long story short, Lucinda seems to be having a rough time of it with wind currently, so we cut the trip short.

Who you calling tired?

Anyway, it was nice to get away even briefly...

Captain Oblivious came too. She rolled in something rotten on day one, hour one and was an absolute delight on the car trip home...

Our little terrorist, safely back at home.

The $5 Skirt

With the weather warming up and my body somehow not ready for my usual summer attire of cut-off denim shorts (!!) I decided knee-length skirts might be the way to go this year.

But I don't seem to own any. Nor did I have any spare funds to devote to buying or making any.

So, I set myself a challenge: to make a skirt pattern and then make a skirt, without spending any money on new materials. Everything used had to already been in my house.

I had a plain, light-weight fabric in my stash - I paid $4 for a chunk of it a while ago at an op shop.

Next I went to You Tube and found an excellent A-Line skirt pattern tutorial from a user called SweetMaterials (you can search her if you're interested, but oh looky - here's her website here)

I used her instructions to make a pattern tailored to my waist and hips and made the two back pieces as per her instructions.

For the front, I wanted something slightly more decorative due to the plain fabric.

So, I measured a piece of paper to 8cm width and added it to the inside edge of the front pattern piece, so it sits on the fold. Basically, it meant that the front was 16m wider than the two back pieces put together.

Then I drew in lines every 1cm apart, from top to bottom.

I used these guidelines to fold pin tucks on the right side of the fabric - three on each side and then a 2cm panel in the middle. Now, if you're mathematically inclined you might see that this is where I went wrong. I don't speak maths, so I am still unsure BUT I think I probably should only have added a 7cm panel (so the total width of the insert was 14cm). The 8cm seemed to add too much fabric and the side seams were pushed to the back of the garment slightly. I can live with it though.

I sewed down those folds...

...and then finished the skirt with some embroidery stitches to keep the folds in place, bias tape around the top, a hem at the bottom and a zipper at the back.

And now I have a cute new skirt for summer, for materials that came in under $5! It's the first pattern I've made for my own clothing and I'm hooked...

Ps. How lanky is my baby?? At 11 weeks, she's like a cute spaghetti strand. Clearly, she takes after her father not me!

Sandgate

You just gotta love it.

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.



















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.