meet Miss Pumpkin

We are coming to the end of our first season as allotment holders. It has been a huge experiment and a massive learning curve. Most people that know me know that I can kill a plant just by buying it at a garden centre, so when we told our friends and family they looked at us aghast. But it seems I have found something I can't kill - vegetables. We have had a fairly modest range in our first year - but everything has grown and given us produce - in abundance. 

 
This beauty is something we are all very proud of, we thought we'd have a go and see if we could grow ourselves a pumpkin for Halloween. Didn't we do well??!! She weighs (yes I weighed her, I have turned into a nerd) 2 stone / 13kilos.
How do I know she's a she? Well for Halloween Missy Big tells me she has to have long eyelashes and earrings. Of course.


We took two half plots back in March - which weren't next to each other as I missed out on a whole plot by one day, imagine my fury - especially as the person who took the whole plot only came once and decided it was harder work that they anticipated. Hhhmmmmm.
So when this person gave it up a couple of weeks ago I got straight on the phone to the council and snapped up the half that is next to my veggie plot. 
I can't tell you how excited this made me. So now we have all this space....

....ready for next year. 


And I will be saying goodbye to this plot, 

 
that way mostly clay, full of mare's tail and killed most of the fruit bushes we planted. I was going to rescue the remaining fruit bushes - but I don't want to risk bringing the mare's tail, or any disease that may be in the soil that has killed everything off. So I think I will kiss it all goodbye, and start afresh next spring.


Which is a very exciting thought, I can give the girls a space each, plan a cutting garden, more variation of veg, oh la la! Oh and we are now allowed a shed! Hooray! Oh yes - and they installed a composting toilet - could life get any better?

If you are inclined to stitch, there is a stitched postcard swap going on, you have until Friday to sign up - you know you want to...

an empty nest

In September Little Missy started to go to playgroup / pre-school 2 mornings a week. She was delighted, she could get dropped off and picked up again, just like her big sister.  I thought oooohh, time for some crafting and my little brain notched up endless projects for me to get busy with. 


And I have kept busy....

... but I keep looking for her, ...the house is so quiet, ...it seems too soon for her to have left the nest. I miss her. And I watch the clock until I can go and get her again. 

Don't get me wrong, I quite like the free time and I've managed to get a lot done. But it feels like such a huge step forward in letting her grow up, and be her own self, without me. I miss her.


What the heck am I going to do when she starts school? 

But she loves it, and is full of tales of what she's been doing, and her new friends, and she can dress up and dance all morning. And she's happy. And the smile on her face when I pick her up is enormous - that's the best bit. x





 

inspired

I should be making the little present for my friends daughter that I'm half way through, but instead I will give you a little peek at some of the things I got up to last week...

The Knitting and Stitching Show was packed, with a whole lot of creative and inspiring stuff.

Stitched chairs and lamps seem to be a new trend, there were a few about, which I loved - these were on the Rowan stand, (free patterns for the cushions are on their website) I quite fancy a knitted telephone.


And paper, something i can't resist.

 
These huge delicate hangings made up of torn panels were enchanting. By artist Chiaki Morita.

And books, coming to life....

by Boukje Voet

And of course, the dress, at the party - I somehow spent most of my time in the children's tent - fancy that....

Best get back to making that present. x

laveneder and crochet

I've had my eye on crocheted ric-rac for a while, I managed to have a go... what do you think?

It's so super easy, and quick so I feel like I've achieved something. So now I'm a whizz at this, I'll be adding it to more dresses, bags, cushions, anything that doesn't move really. 
Go on, you know you want a go too. The tutorial is over at Foxs Lane, so pleased Kate shared it with us.

My little lavender plant isn't happy where it is, but it did give me a few gorgeous flowers this year. I love it's subtle colours against the slate. 

We've got family coming tomorrow, and on Friday I'm off to the Knitting and Stitching Show at Ally Pally with my Mum to be inspired by the exhibition and stock up on more crafty supplies (yes I'm very sure I need more).


I'll pop back next week with my goodies and a picture of the dress which is now back together in one piece ( never, ever, ever let me alter anything again - how long did it take me?? Ridiculous!)


Have a great week, x

kids clothes week challenge, day 11

Phew, all done - better late than never eh? Little Missy's dress was finished today, I only started on it on Tuesday so I'm feeling very chuffed with myself. It also helps that I had a plan with this one.

So here it is... 

The crazy bonk was very patient, and told me she was very happy now I'd made it for her.

 

But I'm told it's not twirly enough, sigh....

Remember I thought the teacup pocket got a little lost on the first dress? Well I took Flaming Nora's advice and stitched it in lime green to match the spots to give it a bit more definition.  

 
I think it looks fab now.

... and apparently it is twirly enough.

I love how they have turned out, but I'm wondering are they dressy enough for a party? An all ages type - a friend is having a 39 and thirtynine fortieths party next week and I know it will be a bit lah-dee-dah, will these do? Hmmmm.

Now it's my turn, a few weeks ago I bought a vintage dress for this very party. Which needs shortening, so I started unpicking it ready for the updated version, hopefully it will be ready in time.

Take a peek at more creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.



 

kids clothes week challenge, day 7

The toughest part of this challenge - one hour of sewing a day for a week. Turns out I don't get a free hour everyday. It would have been quicker if I'd planned it more, design-as-you-go is slow.

Some progress has been made, although not quite as much as I'd planned, 2 dresses - who am I kidding?


But here is Missy Bigs dress.
 

The favourite bit - the tea cup pocket.

Though next time I'll do a contrasting cup and saucer, it gets a little lost at a distance.

I'm extending this challenge, I'll give myself another week to do the next dress.


How are you doing with your projects? All finished!?




 

kids clothes week challenge, day 2

Well somehow September is slipping away - in my head this challenge was next week. So in a bit of a panic during nap time yesterday I got started on the first dress I'm hoping to get done. 

I know the basic shape but I'm still making it up as I go along, frills, pockets, crochet flowers? Lets wait and see.

Take a look at the host Elsie Marley for more inspiration.

And of course I didn't forget National Cupcake Week last week - just finishing them off, yum x

Happy sewing x

my creative space

A little sneeky peek at the Christmas stocking I'm making for my swap partner in Selina's Christmas Stocking Swap. I know who my partner is, but it's a secret so I'm teasing you with just a peek. 

I quite like how it's turning out, though it's smaller and narrower than I'd hoped. I've made stockings before but couldn't find my pattern and in my excitement just made another. It's good for small gifts though - it's not all about size is it?

I'm trying to learn to follow a crochet pattern, so I'm making up flowers from this scrummy book. Some are a bit wonky, but I'm getting to grips with the terminology (almost) and they will look sweet on a garland in the girls room, or maybe on a new dress each. 

Have you seen this? I'm taking part in this Kids Clothes Week Challenge, so I've bought some new winter fabrics (I really do need them - honest!) and I'm planning on a partyish dress each.

Phew, so loads in my head  - need to get cracking....

See more creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.

like mother, like daughter

Sewing is my passion, it always has been since I was a small girl making clothes for my dolls. I studied and stitched my way through collage and it's still what I do for work (very, very part-time) and play.

It's part of our life, my Mum loves to sew and it's very much in my family history. So it's no surprise that my girls have the passion too. Missy big began sewing when she was 3, using rug canvas and yarn. Adding in beads and ribbons as she experimented. Recently she raided my embroidery thread stash and wanted to do some 'big girl sewing' with a proper needle and a tambour. 

She began by making my Mum a birthday card, an embroidery of her little sisters favourite bunny.

Then she decided she wanted to make herself a cushion after seeing the one I made for a friends birthday. I gave her some some old blanket as it was very soft to work with and the weave was quite loose. She drew her design on with washable pens and off she went, happily stitching and chatting. 

Sadly like me, she also has a wandering mind and picked out a doll in a book that she wants to make next. In my mind I could see mountains of unfinished projects - best train her to finish one before starting another before it's too late....

 
After a few strops and screams I managed to persuade her that in order to make the doll she needs to learn running stitch and back stitch, so we practiced these on the last wall and windows of her house and then it was finished, phew!

Heart shaped windows - if only they were real!

That evening I added a (pink) floral backing and voila! A finished cushion.

And of course not wanting to miss out on the action Little Missy is joining in too...

I see a happy future sitting with my girls stitching and chatting, and way too much fabric cluttering up our house.

Of course she did start the making the doll - I'll keep you posted. x

vintage heaven

Following on from my escape post I finally have some pictures of the most wonderful vintage shop Radio Days and the dresses I got from my day out. It felt like I was taking a step back in time when I walked through the door, it doesn't just sell clothes - it has the whole lifestyle - telephones, crockery, books and magazine and then the wardrobe... hats, bags, jewellery, clothing (mens and womens), you get the idea. 

sorry these pictures are a bit dodgy, camera wasn't focusing very well

Lee, the chap that runs it with his partner was charming and so passionate about all things vintage. He spent ages chatting with a couple about the dancing of the old days and finding videos for them to watch. He had a parcel of new stock waiting to be opened, he said he was as excited to open that, as I had been when I walked in through the door - what a wonderful job he has.

I spent a long time mooching around, and then a long time trying on dresses, which was such a pleasure, and this is what I came home with.

It needs a belt, and a little repair and alteration, and I'll make a little something to cover my shoulders, but it'll be just perfect for the occasion I'm going to next year.

I love the colours, I'm on the look out for the perfect red to complement it now.

As if one dress wasn't enough I popped into 'What the Butler Wore' on the same street and bought this one. Now don't laugh. This needs much more alterations, as it is is just a little too much.

I'm going to shorten it so it finishes just below the knee (keeping the ruffle), I'm not sure about the sleeves yet, and the blingy buckle - also not too sure - though Missy Big thinks this is the best bit!

So I came home very happy. And these were my Liberty fabric bargains. What more can a girl ask for? Another day out I'm thinking...

Pop over to Her Library Adventures for more vintage finds.