tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35793188243570206242024-03-13T21:01:42.988-07:00Blue Milk and CookiesMy creative outletAnnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-32777892193254533322012-10-28T15:45:00.002-07:002012-10-28T15:57:59.924-07:00A busy summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Simplicity skirt in the last post was abandoned and still remains insewn, because only a couple of days later, we sold our house! We'd already found the perfect place to buy, and almost unbelievably, we got it! After a very stressful couple of months (thanks to the way UK property transactions work), we moved at the end of July, and had a fantastic summer enjoying space, glorious space. Then it was back to school and a busy (as ever) September with the girls' birthdays.
In the mean time I've become rather addicted to Instagram, and rather neglectful of my DSLR (in addition to this blog). Here's a small selection of my Instagrammed photos from the latter half of summer into Autumn.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1Bh5JatjPkvQHKk6k3VjTJTuDT3BHz6rXbov_8t953XWajyFvm9NNWjF7Iut0cSUe2dBYS8aYX9ye7YnA29sX-AGxhP4t_8KkaZPfyzfuxP7AEc01iCjDS02iSPWRW2OrtxTjgUzKhI/s1600/mosaic992efa5280d3a0d0d85cbec7f61edeecc019c379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1Bh5JatjPkvQHKk6k3VjTJTuDT3BHz6rXbov_8t953XWajyFvm9NNWjF7Iut0cSUe2dBYS8aYX9ye7YnA29sX-AGxhP4t_8KkaZPfyzfuxP7AEc01iCjDS02iSPWRW2OrtxTjgUzKhI/s1600/mosaic992efa5280d3a0d0d85cbec7f61edeecc019c379.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-30349982792231292822012-05-15T12:28:00.000-07:002012-05-15T12:28:31.955-07:00Simplicity 2152<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYGFgf3Z0mEt7SXPUSe6fNE_yBZownTUT-lQmIkx_JdZwnKNjVBwzyfAfrHU3m0EU_lTHavAGBLCZB1-fQ0_F8wYkMuvaL39gOp4XeNmN2fQ0erRKHtKwhfH85Gf-CIcn4sTO0xwHoOg/s1600/4dc0270e9da511e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYGFgf3Z0mEt7SXPUSe6fNE_yBZownTUT-lQmIkx_JdZwnKNjVBwzyfAfrHU3m0EU_lTHavAGBLCZB1-fQ0_F8wYkMuvaL39gOp4XeNmN2fQ0erRKHtKwhfH85Gf-CIcn4sTO0xwHoOg/s400/4dc0270e9da511e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" /></a></div>
This is my project for the week - a skirt for me, from a proper pattern for the first time. Or at least making a muslin. And lots of mistakes, no doubt!Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-77536588491637160982012-04-30T04:38:00.002-07:002012-04-30T04:49:02.069-07:00Raspberry ripple chevron picnic matI thought I was immune to the chevron craze, but <a href="http://treefalldesign.typepad.com/tree_fall/2012/04/chasing-chevrons.html">this post</a> over at Treefall Design finally gave me a hankering after something (anything!) chevron-y.
With no chevron fabric in stock at any of my favourite online fabric shops I headed off to Ikea for stripy fabric with the idea that I could make my own. Of course, I was far from the first to have that very idea. Dana from MADE has a great <a href="http://www.danamadeit.com/2010/09/from-stripes-to-chevrons-pillow-tutorial.html">tutorial</a> on how to do it, and if the yellow fabric had been in stock in my local Ikea I think I would have ended up making exactly the same cushion. However all I could get my hands on was a much wider cerise and white stripe. I pieced it without much of an idea about what to make with the resulting patchwork fabric, thinking perhaps of a large tote or beach bag, but when it was done it cried out to be laid flat. I settled on a small picnic mat, using some leftover polyester for a waterproof backing as I did for <a href="http://bluemilkandcookies.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/you-and-me-mat-tutorial.html">the one I made last year</a>. It was surprisingly fun to put together, and I can't look at the finished mat without thinking of raspberry ripple ice cream! I think I'd like to make a few more of these.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4-4pN4QzIxJzF3mNooa2vwyZJNKhxnacCqVcktQYrl4zCYxaqwQ00m0SWBHkE6wIGbz_Phk0U4pTIIvwJ-699BmDskrS7TcZeVaG0MYeQu4gcnqAwdVs_Cwny50lP1leiSwZaGo-a7w/s1600/raspberrymat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4-4pN4QzIxJzF3mNooa2vwyZJNKhxnacCqVcktQYrl4zCYxaqwQ00m0SWBHkE6wIGbz_Phk0U4pTIIvwJ-699BmDskrS7TcZeVaG0MYeQu4gcnqAwdVs_Cwny50lP1leiSwZaGo-a7w/" width="600" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-68681012039527059812012-04-17T14:33:00.000-07:002012-04-17T14:33:40.188-07:00Pacman Macbook sleeve<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-k5jIJ-eWPjuzEuypyTu5gGxff4-z1Eea9ONQdI3legRT4bqv-RU3s1-2ukKT41r1mKq0fmiN5EO3NhRi4jGO2ui7aFdeQZoSuN41R3L115S9UmUpF2ql-RLuoC3DfN38QyOWdQ-5eOw/s1600/IMG_3975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-k5jIJ-eWPjuzEuypyTu5gGxff4-z1Eea9ONQdI3legRT4bqv-RU3s1-2ukKT41r1mKq0fmiN5EO3NhRi4jGO2ui7aFdeQZoSuN41R3L115S9UmUpF2ql-RLuoC3DfN38QyOWdQ-5eOw/s1600/IMG_3975.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br />
I originally intended to make this for my husband as a Christmas present, but that proved to be too ambitious and he had to wait until March for it.<br />
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This is the second time I've used the fantastic <a href="http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/2010/04/04/laptop-sleeve-tutorial/" target="_blank">Laptop Sleeve Tutorial</a>, by <a href="http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/" target="_blank">amyalamode</a>, and once again I'm really pleased with the results.<br />
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The question everyone asks, though, is where is Pac Man?<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't know! He's not there. In fact thought it might have been a good idea to try and find some Pac Man buttons, but perhaps that would have made it a little too childish. I quite like the simple black buttons with the turquoise accent.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-82488510716512874952012-04-08T15:50:00.002-07:002012-04-08T15:51:59.028-07:00Bread, glorious breadI'm completely astonished that I've managed to live for 34 years without knowing it's possible to make bread as easily as in <a href="http://annesfood.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/cold-rise-breakfast-bread.html" target="_blank">this recipe</a> for cold-rise breakfast bread rolls by <a href="http://annesfood.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Anne's Food</a>. No kneading (well I did a little, just to get a more even texture) but best of all no bother about finding a warm enough place to let the dough rise and no stress when hasn't doubled in size in the time the flour-packet recipe insists it should. In this recipe, you simply leave the dough to rise in the fridge overnight, ready to bake first thing in the morning, and the best bit is the slow rise gives an even better flavour. As I didn't have any fresh yeast, I just replaced the 10g specified in the recipe with 5g of dried active yeast, used lukewarm water and dissolved the honey in it before adding the yeast and leaving to froth up a bit before mixing with the other ingredients and following the rest of the recipe. <br />
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Delicious! I'm going to struggle not to make these every single day.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTp4rxbfume3m8cHODl_Azi4rKNtZ0KIeRkn_-XkMvEfRE4KG8Cz2YAl4fKkmeC1YYkCHgex9lxLUyrfp0ZS9ZWmsDPyiNzbiRqHNUzkaHikgyPtSh17py8LxMMjT2e5-5lBuHjdiADWM/s1600/IMG_3939_sml.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTp4rxbfume3m8cHODl_Azi4rKNtZ0KIeRkn_-XkMvEfRE4KG8Cz2YAl4fKkmeC1YYkCHgex9lxLUyrfp0ZS9ZWmsDPyiNzbiRqHNUzkaHikgyPtSh17py8LxMMjT2e5-5lBuHjdiADWM/" width="600" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-21005512599729474252012-03-31T15:02:00.002-07:002012-03-31T15:06:45.989-07:00Hello!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7VC8tcYLSY_YiH0GZpk5Cp_u-3NdmX-W1-7RzuK9Lx3vTeiUp54vwlLMEmgJbtkqrvC8pXxTeLyuDKZQhd9UVV4p_-iCEOKHiyn8AHUxmb23DRybQgj_dhndcH6WZ8lOFgs9hqqnAIE/s1600/IMG_3925_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7VC8tcYLSY_YiH0GZpk5Cp_u-3NdmX-W1-7RzuK9Lx3vTeiUp54vwlLMEmgJbtkqrvC8pXxTeLyuDKZQhd9UVV4p_-iCEOKHiyn8AHUxmb23DRybQgj_dhndcH6WZ8lOFgs9hqqnAIE/" /></a></div><br />
Well here I am again, out of winter hibernation! I've been busy working on our house for the past few months, and have struggled to fit in time for other projects. But that's just about finished now, which means a little bit more free time, and personally I find there's no better inspiration to be creative than a good dose of spring sunshine, and colour that you can almost <i>taste</i>. <br />
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I can't remember if I've shared this before, but is the 'sky' wall in El's room, complete with wall stickers from <a href="http://www.nouvellesimages.com/Birds_Laure-GIRARDIN-VISSIAN_art~170.001207.05_id~stickers_mode~zoom">Nouvelles Images</a>. As a sidenote, I've found these low-tack stickers to be a little too low-tack for my painted walls. I'm not a particular fan of stickers and would have painted the tree as a mural if we weren't planning to move soon. I do love the graphic style of these stickers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ttmLdqz5JRnPts-ODnOTnvq-sDumcN1POmoBcnj5uUerPEf5jUlG0lq-H7xTSng7wIrZKdCEossaOR3bGyMUQt-hwiCTpxw9crASRAMXz6EQ3CMsNhijvVbXa-PCmPt6SBfuuUIgTd0/s1600/IMG_3916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ttmLdqz5JRnPts-ODnOTnvq-sDumcN1POmoBcnj5uUerPEf5jUlG0lq-H7xTSng7wIrZKdCEossaOR3bGyMUQt-hwiCTpxw9crASRAMXz6EQ3CMsNhijvVbXa-PCmPt6SBfuuUIgTd0/" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-4042221982235057742011-10-19T13:48:00.000-07:002011-10-19T13:50:01.426-07:00Autumn (?) colour...I took these photos on our little country walk on Sunday afternoon, when the air was still warm, the sky was blue and the oak trees didn't seem to think it was autumn. (Or perhaps it is still too early for them? I really should know!) <br />
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Well, since the weekend, autumn has well and truly hit with a vengeance! In fact it feels more like winter. We have the worst winds here, truly, I'm sure I would be much more enthusiastic about getting outdoors if they weren't so bad. For now I think I'll just use them as an excuse to stay indoors and make soup.Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-75893204362418213792011-10-16T13:19:00.000-07:002011-10-16T13:19:58.804-07:00Back in the sewing seat...I have a new sewing machine! My little sewing nook is relatively tidy for the first time in months, too, which means I've been inspired to get back to it, so hopefully I'll have some new projects to share here soon. First I thought I'd better post some photos of the hobby horses I made for the girls' birthdays last month. I used <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/75776361/how-to-make-a-hobby-horse-a-complete?ref=pr_shop">this</a> pattern for K's horse. She asked for her horse to be green, so I used some lovely vintage style quilting cotton from <a href="http://fabricrehab.co.uk/">Fabric Rehab</a> together with some multicoloured merino yarn I originally bought for doll-making.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbbMHqY7WR8E_et0IBbOc6sM6R9WTOaRh0oIdH6wlGeMXltAZs4sK-jkfhDLxD8ivg1UUPAXU348STIoC4t-CsLcsOGwQ7cNXnOtZ_hFIcv8gBl86mBgqh12e1nvdCRRkA5yjNIr5dCw/s1600/IMG_3633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbbMHqY7WR8E_et0IBbOc6sM6R9WTOaRh0oIdH6wlGeMXltAZs4sK-jkfhDLxD8ivg1UUPAXU348STIoC4t-CsLcsOGwQ7cNXnOtZ_hFIcv8gBl86mBgqh12e1nvdCRRkA5yjNIr5dCw/s640/IMG_3633.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once I'd collected together all the bits needed for the pattern, the sewing, stuffing and assembling was quite straightforward, and the pattern uses a clever method incorporating cable ties to fix the horse's head to the handle nice and securely. Ki is rather fond of him. She loves to comb his hair and use his handle as a balancing beam when she'd not riding him. Hmm.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuS7Fp2dRh5D8O05o4gwm4VZmouG2Tg1iGODZoq2ENslBSq3YQW-gs49OsXIe_eLcy6LDCWyE4krzy5szWfRmNfhPDUDeKhZyW05-TazL7ZEDtl3P0QyXAm-yf9mfBA6owaeqdDm5roU/s1600/IMG_3632_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuS7Fp2dRh5D8O05o4gwm4VZmouG2Tg1iGODZoq2ENslBSq3YQW-gs49OsXIe_eLcy6LDCWyE4krzy5szWfRmNfhPDUDeKhZyW05-TazL7ZEDtl3P0QyXAm-yf9mfBA6owaeqdDm5roU/s640/IMG_3632_edited-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">El, on the other hand, told me in no uncertain terms that she did NOT want her horse to be a stupid colour like green. Horses are brown, or black, or ideally as white as pure snow. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bearing in mind that a pure white horse was likely to become a grubby grey horse within a few days of her company, I was pleased to find some zebra-pattern fur at my local fabric shop, and steer her towards that. The size of the print meant a bigger head was needed, so I drafted this pattern myself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxJZekmcHqAbOudE5LcC12KetGvEOBcHgz2-pz9ymGaOY0zFBpeiLxcy5I9shgIIVTzpPS9GNWc6zBRBQG4OM-pxidw9WNqIdTJm6WBO_QUVxePaJu7Yw0JS-Fd_WKd8aJbBEkZHje3M/s1600/IMG_3636_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxJZekmcHqAbOudE5LcC12KetGvEOBcHgz2-pz9ymGaOY0zFBpeiLxcy5I9shgIIVTzpPS9GNWc6zBRBQG4OM-pxidw9WNqIdTJm6WBO_QUVxePaJu7Yw0JS-Fd_WKd8aJbBEkZHje3M/s640/IMG_3636_edited-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The only black yarn I could find locally was some floppy acrylic stuff, so he had to have his hair braided.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaThh83nOcZ9FOOkYOyaTtcgFd5H1IE8qopsOCf4Hz72uiK133KBvPKtDR-vx8zQuEiNX3DJdycORodr9JilbV7Ip_nmo646M6OzCpcJrqu2nvOSpgAeD8Mxpw2vFfAwCpXLIq7XniRyo/s1600/IMG_3638_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaThh83nOcZ9FOOkYOyaTtcgFd5H1IE8qopsOCf4Hz72uiK133KBvPKtDR-vx8zQuEiNX3DJdycORodr9JilbV7Ip_nmo646M6OzCpcJrqu2nvOSpgAeD8Mxpw2vFfAwCpXLIq7XniRyo/s640/IMG_3638_edited-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now I just need to work out what to do with the zebra fabric I have left over. And with 94 cable ties.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6TzuNJGq3y5n7qInTVamgXQr9yd1qVbv4RRZMoEJ2sEt04BsGRdZQHBFWeLdZ5KZIBMis_wzGnYKS8uA1pYI4wN3gCD1XO9tGAKtDnlwe6Yr0rELa2clz8cxWJZUa7wWUpvaEsGCUHo/s1600/IMG_3640_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6TzuNJGq3y5n7qInTVamgXQr9yd1qVbv4RRZMoEJ2sEt04BsGRdZQHBFWeLdZ5KZIBMis_wzGnYKS8uA1pYI4wN3gCD1XO9tGAKtDnlwe6Yr0rELa2clz8cxWJZUa7wWUpvaEsGCUHo/s400/IMG_3640_edited-1.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-30825714450837134202011-08-02T15:52:00.000-07:002011-08-15T13:14:12.822-07:00Current Work-in-progress and a thrifty find<div>There are only so many baby clothes you can fit into a memory box, and yet some hold too many memories to part with. So I've spent the past couple of evenings sorting through stacks of knit rompers and bodysuits and turning them into this:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFziQnub6CvllCdwhoLbtgWGdZ2yNtkdHlaFod-iOhoUa0S9GJvYV4y5MEAwG3lApkW4JCi9OaVQB-2r-NiCvd99krIJFhyvG_7Pr_lhPYSOpRpPMw9feQAxUEV42HXCuJlcxS93d14p0/s1600/IMG_2468+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFziQnub6CvllCdwhoLbtgWGdZ2yNtkdHlaFod-iOhoUa0S9GJvYV4y5MEAwG3lApkW4JCi9OaVQB-2r-NiCvd99krIJFhyvG_7Pr_lhPYSOpRpPMw9feQAxUEV42HXCuJlcxS93d14p0/s640/IMG_2468+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div>And even though it's painful to cut into some of those cute itty-bitty clothes, there's something quite satisfying about a stack of neat 4 1/2" squares. I don't have enough for two quilts, so I think I'm going to turn them into two super-soft pillow covers. Pillows are very popular in this house, especially with the nearly-two year old... </div><div><br />
</div><div>Meanwhile, I thought I'd share these lovely bowls I spotted a few weeks ago in a charity shop window.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LSAqoAtU3FatZzRGEO84RRaAGnZJfz76IJ6kthh4xY8lMSI6TyHIJ9FkWl6Z9E3g9wf-_SQ7XAUPFc3aZcWtyRg_n9Wtyi16JF7GPyXQn99BCjje_dNTen0puvCK2DEvyN-TVufRBfg/s1600/IMG_2474+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LSAqoAtU3FatZzRGEO84RRaAGnZJfz76IJ6kthh4xY8lMSI6TyHIJ9FkWl6Z9E3g9wf-_SQ7XAUPFc3aZcWtyRg_n9Wtyi16JF7GPyXQn99BCjje_dNTen0puvCK2DEvyN-TVufRBfg/s640/IMG_2474+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div>Usually the charity shops pickings are pretty poor around here, but I was rather pleased with this set of a large and six small glass dessert bowls for £10.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje67cwaqeUvaVyekXaNnO_EGwQ6yp8FOo2MnK5gQsuo_-wOq32rRuo5lEJeFm3brKysFaV8Glpbzov-XP5I5dvpJMkdyXahfCge4YU0HwDLmrWWY9LA-n9_zkWXPQF69VgQzW2XQzYLv8/s1600/IMG_2481+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje67cwaqeUvaVyekXaNnO_EGwQ6yp8FOo2MnK5gQsuo_-wOq32rRuo5lEJeFm3brKysFaV8Glpbzov-XP5I5dvpJMkdyXahfCge4YU0HwDLmrWWY9LA-n9_zkWXPQF69VgQzW2XQzYLv8/s640/IMG_2481+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />
Not exactly cheap, but they are old (the ticket said 1930s although I'm not sure they are quite so old), they are in perfect condition, and I love the combination of frosted and clear green glass, especially on a sunny day.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-WEIKJYL2SECpCU1gIaGfJ0AOxBfnOvC8tQQiaFn4XM10neFGlpcnIgiKutbJ29ncRGotIqwOJ5wUYIEciCFINlzFgl5PxUdSNL6xG31shCVF-CMMnTmizFvvB3uXpGzIslIqo2Y79U/s1600/IMG_2477+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-WEIKJYL2SECpCU1gIaGfJ0AOxBfnOvC8tQQiaFn4XM10neFGlpcnIgiKutbJ29ncRGotIqwOJ5wUYIEciCFINlzFgl5PxUdSNL6xG31shCVF-CMMnTmizFvvB3uXpGzIslIqo2Y79U/s640/IMG_2477+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZNxDMhJLPI56_5Ye9gV3evJqMgIM0IbjraSbZGcJsVRQZR7ISS1fldmzpY-zr9PCMyPPVBMnbHct2gNrcTQKRRcin6R7VeT77_55iJmwBMO03ttZm9yWLSl9GV6jTs2JT-LEaE0NQkA/s1600/IMG_2484+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZNxDMhJLPI56_5Ye9gV3evJqMgIM0IbjraSbZGcJsVRQZR7ISS1fldmzpY-zr9PCMyPPVBMnbHct2gNrcTQKRRcin6R7VeT77_55iJmwBMO03ttZm9yWLSl9GV6jTs2JT-LEaE0NQkA/s640/IMG_2484+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />
</div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-69734142848084227112011-07-30T14:08:00.001-07:002011-08-03T15:52:41.253-07:00Beach daysI want to share the finished Jester costume I made for El last month. It was a success, and in fact she won first prize at the church medieval fayre, although I think the judges were rather more impressed with her wellies than the costume itself! I made the hood based on photos of a traditional medieval costume I saw online. (Can't find the link just at the moment though - I'll add it here when I track it down.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qMwMn0yFiS4gFTV9s1-kfd9HXfl7WXmygwNO_ai_m_Q94U2x2-cfgokxcf_SoWRxF7nRfkFzF4cBm_4F0ixyb05dHj8pInCozyYTfCIH0lbZF99upNqjJOJZYFleGQYcPau3r_E2iZA/s1600/IMG_2309small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qMwMn0yFiS4gFTV9s1-kfd9HXfl7WXmygwNO_ai_m_Q94U2x2-cfgokxcf_SoWRxF7nRfkFzF4cBm_4F0ixyb05dHj8pInCozyYTfCIH0lbZF99upNqjJOJZYFleGQYcPau3r_E2iZA/s640/IMG_2309small.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><br />
Both the hood and tunic were made from two adult-sized t-shirts I bought from the supermarket. El picked the colours herself, and I think she chose well (if not quite authentically!).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrazclY7wuOaBARjP6somzaG-FWrkbG7etQicHJtyqx4IZJ7hxe4q14yEWTDhRzq6bPFssY-UOqnxFAidO8aWeNpg0ryKYXWrZN3ohOgI_eX_Cyb32ZqgvVHZrjTJjjpiTnCazeyvY2aw/s1600/IMG_2313+copysmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrazclY7wuOaBARjP6somzaG-FWrkbG7etQicHJtyqx4IZJ7hxe4q14yEWTDhRzq6bPFssY-UOqnxFAidO8aWeNpg0ryKYXWrZN3ohOgI_eX_Cyb32ZqgvVHZrjTJjjpiTnCazeyvY2aw/s640/IMG_2313+copysmall.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Sorry for the lack of posts recently. I've been in a bit of a creative flunk; first sewing machine troubles and then the general level of clutter and things-to-do taking up not only my time but my energy too. Add to this school holidays and that little Miss Ki (who is not yet 2) deciding daytime naps are a thing of the past and, well, I'm often so busy watching the children and talking with them and playing and learning and tidying and tidying and tidying that I don't seem to have time to plan sewing projects, never mind think about writing tutorials. I'll be back, I expect, when I have space to breathe. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But for now, we'll be on the beach!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFU_8rw7fMtIACJEasZD6XiEt17SIYSYqPMmxSxXJOW43uUjzwKRWdaKYcj3BlZtxamt6OQXnNMq-kmFEw03mCftGO-jMOSQ-pQI6dFWxugBpXU8mHypK-JHgjMo6Bh5SYzek-givMR1o/s1600/IMG_2331+copysmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFU_8rw7fMtIACJEasZD6XiEt17SIYSYqPMmxSxXJOW43uUjzwKRWdaKYcj3BlZtxamt6OQXnNMq-kmFEw03mCftGO-jMOSQ-pQI6dFWxugBpXU8mHypK-JHgjMo6Bh5SYzek-givMR1o/s640/IMG_2331+copysmall.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-18345509260172806362011-06-22T14:17:00.000-07:002011-06-22T14:33:31.785-07:00A simple skirt and a couple of sneak peeksI've been rather neglectful of this blog in the past few weeks; first we were away in Devon for a very welcome summer holiday and then Andrew and I had the luxury of a weekend trip sans kids to the beautiful city of Edinburgh. In spite of the stacks of suitcases that have been living in my sewing nook for the past few weeks, I have managed to do a bit of sewing, so here's a little update.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1zBKfhdfX53L-kGwgqZnziR6jzUQSOpSyaY8u363zOA6bbY18HgRVKxpkLcxqBvfQk2Lf2cmVwnLFyGPIwTHaeVjlYlb8ZOCeRNG6UM9ojEKqZjX-eQ8ifoRbi_hG22wvEWgKPh2eFQ/s1600/simpleskirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1zBKfhdfX53L-kGwgqZnziR6jzUQSOpSyaY8u363zOA6bbY18HgRVKxpkLcxqBvfQk2Lf2cmVwnLFyGPIwTHaeVjlYlb8ZOCeRNG6UM9ojEKqZjX-eQ8ifoRbi_hG22wvEWgKPh2eFQ/s1600/simpleskirt.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />
I made this skirt for El using the fabulous <a href="http://www.dana-made-it.com/2011/04/simple-skirt-simple-tutorial.html">simple skirt tutorial</a> by Dana over at MADE. You can probably tell her love of yellow has made a lasting impression on me! I love this beautiful print, too, <a href="http://www.fashionablefabrics.com/june-song-natural-bright-by-alexander-henry-fabrics.aspx">Song Birds in Bright</a>, by Alexander Henry, sadly now out of stock at my<a href="http://hawthornethreads.com/home"> usual online fabric store</a>.<br />
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Next up I thought I'd show you a couple of sneak peaks into projects I'm working on and that I hope to share tutorials for in the near future.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXP4o6X1SBUiHFlcYIoigGunY7Qr3b-CEx19hcRmp84wHS3CaDLNB_RR6WOuz-Tdl40FDhyphenhyphengCZpRk1cZWDpcRe8yINeva5JlheQe6ANc3WtoIojAvkWkDBMnoMedFayVU12SPfBpZ8P8/s1600/jester.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXP4o6X1SBUiHFlcYIoigGunY7Qr3b-CEx19hcRmp84wHS3CaDLNB_RR6WOuz-Tdl40FDhyphenhyphengCZpRk1cZWDpcRe8yINeva5JlheQe6ANc3WtoIojAvkWkDBMnoMedFayVU12SPfBpZ8P8/s1600/jester.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Child's jester costume:</div><div style="text-align: center;"> - made from upcycled t-shirts, featuring a (kind of) authentic medieval hood!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaU2y124KdM7FilCIHjD0d_aGTvLfTg7vBo7dMTXdaY2QcIfTlsL_0pZu75QDMtcj1_nM9LxgzueZ55hT7ZKOTOjh5cdeYN3vN2c3Jr5ZthfDkZzJ3vAWp02bcdQPtfmXB-dkFpswoEA/s1600/camerapouch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaU2y124KdM7FilCIHjD0d_aGTvLfTg7vBo7dMTXdaY2QcIfTlsL_0pZu75QDMtcj1_nM9LxgzueZ55hT7ZKOTOjh5cdeYN3vN2c3Jr5ZthfDkZzJ3vAWp02bcdQPtfmXB-dkFpswoEA/s1600/camerapouch.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">DSLR pouch: </div><div style="text-align: center;">- I'm not a fan of the black neoprene cases that seem to be the only choice for protecting your camera when it's in another bag, but my poor Canon EOS was desperate for a bit of padding. So I thought I'd have a go at making my own padded pouch. This is a photo of my first prototype made from oilcloth and bias tape. Hopefully with mark II I'll have a free pattern to share!</div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-83617885687119813862011-05-22T15:24:00.000-07:002011-05-22T15:42:47.981-07:00From an English country gardenToday was an event I really look forward to each year - the day the owner of this beautiful house opens its gardens to the public.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEI_3b4srlfWFunSpUUf955u-5AyrY2_BzJSj9e8ciJTwUXp_aik2rSU_cRD4Bx5XIdJ9iC4U0YWswESIzBTzkTa0gSEfrGkF6_ST5ciLJ8k4LA7bgsKxsIIkMd64efniEi4X80WSMQY/s1600/IMG_1994+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEI_3b4srlfWFunSpUUf955u-5AyrY2_BzJSj9e8ciJTwUXp_aik2rSU_cRD4Bx5XIdJ9iC4U0YWswESIzBTzkTa0gSEfrGkF6_ST5ciLJ8k4LA7bgsKxsIIkMd64efniEi4X80WSMQY/s1600/IMG_1994+copy.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For a few hours we got the opportunity to explore the formal gardens and beautiful woodland walk, enjoying the flowers and trees in their full glory.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1soM6kOZPen3Cf9A3hJF3CGHfan8pTHd35lJ9we9VQUEiUU-94ILawiNidfvIOkDJJKaAPATZmA-EbeD0mYmSrrbBg1OAgELN9I5YTHCydswpxjfSSLmyqITMKyTb7w5waT4LkqjsFTY/s1600/IMG_2006copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1soM6kOZPen3Cf9A3hJF3CGHfan8pTHd35lJ9we9VQUEiUU-94ILawiNidfvIOkDJJKaAPATZmA-EbeD0mYmSrrbBg1OAgELN9I5YTHCydswpxjfSSLmyqITMKyTb7w5waT4LkqjsFTY/s1600/IMG_2006copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><center><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihssgAqzl3FE5GPC5dsABrAHuIDudcMvIdiCy05-qcGFAowJwup4UYj7ANknHOey3E1HxXZi-7vSFKtnRJoecL5ipyYTgrEdr68McTUXqDPv7g7Ac_azB9r2CLnEzsUarDVhPg55s-C0M/s1600/IMG_1996+copy.jpg"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihssgAqzl3FE5GPC5dsABrAHuIDudcMvIdiCy05-qcGFAowJwup4UYj7ANknHOey3E1HxXZi-7vSFKtnRJoecL5ipyYTgrEdr68McTUXqDPv7g7Ac_azB9r2CLnEzsUarDVhPg55s-C0M/s320/IMG_1996+copy.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8AE-vP0x_Eolgvv1vGbEPsmzBkxDPBnVi1TEjC7eMHKCiAwTsALtePD-usdZT_trye1p8Zrl8wgJllMtBG-kbAqz3d80F3cpPjGyXOA7Alli_MY6vmxfsfE2MOU8vS4iwfnXz9uObwqM/s1600/IMG_2002+copy.jpg"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8AE-vP0x_Eolgvv1vGbEPsmzBkxDPBnVi1TEjC7eMHKCiAwTsALtePD-usdZT_trye1p8Zrl8wgJllMtBG-kbAqz3d80F3cpPjGyXOA7Alli_MY6vmxfsfE2MOU8vS4iwfnXz9uObwqM/s320/IMG_2002+copy.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrJ-8hpRS1DL2CKgSenOi_xEwKmMp-eJGNvGqImnbKymqzK6hIjC6-L7IypTjUBnM4hwrpufNmSwXAqFvb13XyD3FsnwEJPUqUTftYtl180ooliOTatZ-Z6-XiPMHy1Jd3fSrJ8VYJ5A/s1600/IMG_2011+copy.jpg"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrJ-8hpRS1DL2CKgSenOi_xEwKmMp-eJGNvGqImnbKymqzK6hIjC6-L7IypTjUBnM4hwrpufNmSwXAqFvb13XyD3FsnwEJPUqUTftYtl180ooliOTatZ-Z6-XiPMHy1Jd3fSrJ8VYJ5A/s320/IMG_2011+copy.jpg" /></a></center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyiuzz3xczfKUOoPktlWk0t0GNeAkC8NuHZoJqwYXeeUmThYiZ-MEvihOZoBpPQdjnYkR67GzF9gqr4kgXLZ6HWL80Svt5pjhLoKm4563yP_HBMB-x50s5wvAozYYuFiYKmImMk0W8Gs/s1600/IMG_2010+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyiuzz3xczfKUOoPktlWk0t0GNeAkC8NuHZoJqwYXeeUmThYiZ-MEvihOZoBpPQdjnYkR67GzF9gqr4kgXLZ6HWL80Svt5pjhLoKm4563yP_HBMB-x50s5wvAozYYuFiYKmImMk0W8Gs/s1600/IMG_2010+copy.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I decided last year that I wanted to sew dresses for the girls for this year's open day, and although I left it to the last minute, I just got a couple of simple little frocks done in time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotLsnK2N4Rjz_yALHrPnaBQdjCgpjG2EWqDtSbcQ2Hfb_KsZHofQaCx7eha6_jbKb-AVgH_rUC8EmhVtH8C8JsOB04UiTXAD1qF_jnQ3r9wBCGgMqyq0Sy5FN5bHcriq0vL2i4bcHFkQ/s1600/IMG_2008+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotLsnK2N4Rjz_yALHrPnaBQdjCgpjG2EWqDtSbcQ2Hfb_KsZHofQaCx7eha6_jbKb-AVgH_rUC8EmhVtH8C8JsOB04UiTXAD1qF_jnQ3r9wBCGgMqyq0Sy5FN5bHcriq0vL2i4bcHFkQ/s1600/IMG_2008+copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For El I made this sundress from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Carefree-Clothes-Girls-Patterns-Playdate/dp/1590307178/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1306101745&sr=8-1">Carefree Clothes for Girls</a>, my first attempt at clothes from this book. I really enjoyed making it. I was worried, based on the photo in the book, that it might be cut a little low and loose at the front, so I changed the front to a round neckline rather than square.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIY078E0TjtgLurOk9oQAd1HZ8fNjIWrTATFTAdApMg-jgyXnjqvVAOa-YTaTCTzFIS8J4jwnU7pJQt4TxlpwLUgxyl4Php1yHgTp1OQdyYDCJOHNRBoFn3rrKq7wICq0ChyhUsjhJio/s1600/IMG_2019+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIY078E0TjtgLurOk9oQAd1HZ8fNjIWrTATFTAdApMg-jgyXnjqvVAOa-YTaTCTzFIS8J4jwnU7pJQt4TxlpwLUgxyl4Php1yHgTp1OQdyYDCJOHNRBoFn3rrKq7wICq0ChyhUsjhJio/s1600/IMG_2019+copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I used a tie at the back instead of a button, to allow for a little adjustment and avoid hair getting caught up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjcUBLK0_GmgPvtBCFX8fS16H4QataW8G6s1juP4BleuVc-aMedTX1aJ4RKk3k1-V2broUzxX9Y9-4fGtgDqtZvp0uy5WvvmOZBBTGbZ7D5GaCFBXDFXiaoRp4TFvqm61eHfFgrCODGg/s1600/IMG_2020+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjcUBLK0_GmgPvtBCFX8fS16H4QataW8G6s1juP4BleuVc-aMedTX1aJ4RKk3k1-V2broUzxX9Y9-4fGtgDqtZvp0uy5WvvmOZBBTGbZ7D5GaCFBXDFXiaoRp4TFvqm61eHfFgrCODGg/s1600/IMG_2020+copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>For Kiki, I used this ruffle shirt pattern by <a href="http://heidiandfinn.blogspot.com/">Heidi and Finn</a> and added a couple of inches to make it into a dress.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjhCFFCcWB9tK8qf4-rjsSNBVyYdSkfccBQ-k_-5ubHGg5KAxe9Jg6BAJt9pc_CusjPwCgEumBDIfcUIbi7hSR8w5u3Tpg1Lm1SVuMPk8Eet7QSeCDezYvO7s12h0s-H512fayANRlA0/s1600/IMG_2003+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjhCFFCcWB9tK8qf4-rjsSNBVyYdSkfccBQ-k_-5ubHGg5KAxe9Jg6BAJt9pc_CusjPwCgEumBDIfcUIbi7hSR8w5u3Tpg1Lm1SVuMPk8Eet7QSeCDezYvO7s12h0s-H512fayANRlA0/s1600/IMG_2003+copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
This is the only photo I have of her wearing it - a rare moment of stillness between bouts of running around as fast as her little legs could carry her.<br />
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</div>Contrary to the impression the photos above might give, the weather was very changeable today, with showers, lots of cloud and a very strong wind that shimmered through the meadow grass quite beautifully. Not the easiest thing to photograph!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8qVEVeMlO_EC4M2mxOxwlk5e3i5bvaRlg_XzcggKCEdKSczo0IPppbHXc5bUBsE9Uv8rRz8fSvWCv3MJzBe3YFUEsa0oy7UtoosEI853WbO7ByHmH8ToIO_YIABAPtAFDmDtHCTr4N8/s1600/IMG_2057+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8qVEVeMlO_EC4M2mxOxwlk5e3i5bvaRlg_XzcggKCEdKSczo0IPppbHXc5bUBsE9Uv8rRz8fSvWCv3MJzBe3YFUEsa0oy7UtoosEI853WbO7ByHmH8ToIO_YIABAPtAFDmDtHCTr4N8/s1600/IMG_2057+copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-61951144285851910812011-05-09T13:43:00.000-07:002011-05-22T14:40:17.764-07:00A skirt for dancing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6au4784mUTTShC_8RjqGwwCxLpeboBd7qE3-tX9KpeA39y4b7FMgZy6otkCj49_Y4orR1gbh4t0sWIgZjEfxzkfURG0Be0ygQx0OYsxI9DdAMO-HQkyMQW0Tn01ix5VPdezpUttzoqY/s1600/IMG_1877.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6au4784mUTTShC_8RjqGwwCxLpeboBd7qE3-tX9KpeA39y4b7FMgZy6otkCj49_Y4orR1gbh4t0sWIgZjEfxzkfURG0Be0ygQx0OYsxI9DdAMO-HQkyMQW0Tn01ix5VPdezpUttzoqY/s1600/IMG_1877.JPG" width="292" /></a></div>When I saw this ladies' (UK) size 8 cotton skirt in a charity shop last week, I knew it had to come home with me.<br />
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This might have been my most satisfying sewing project ever! I just chopped out the side zip, cut a couple of inches off the width to neaten it up, sewed a new side seam and then turned the top outward to form a channel for some elastic. Voila! A dancing skirt for El.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_wIcHio6iVfE3DWCVmsiP5Td_GscFYPzpI9Jy0EW8hzOorXfcYSF4Uidb8CkEGMCoMKVuVHzBXx-00vjeq7fcOhCI9X5lYeNVoxEw1KolYhX-zP68ohfQyL64-Lbf61PEds4DVPzpnM/s1600/IMG_1915.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_wIcHio6iVfE3DWCVmsiP5Td_GscFYPzpI9Jy0EW8hzOorXfcYSF4Uidb8CkEGMCoMKVuVHzBXx-00vjeq7fcOhCI9X5lYeNVoxEw1KolYhX-zP68ohfQyL64-Lbf61PEds4DVPzpnM/s1600/IMG_1915.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I added a drawstring at the waist just for extra security when those dance moves get too erratic.<br />
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Didn't get a photo of her dancing in it, of course, just this face when I asked her:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RhZ4qa4jg2zCs0b-oPBPPQtYsk3zS0wbbDmt9qPk-SuYH2PVYM_NKHFy09Phity3PSqLXQdXh06lYL0kDQF4RuK4Fcu-cyi0pHIL-04mtu23V5WkxxagHfTN3biZ3GUTDmNd4rlRhe8/s1600/IMG_1902.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RhZ4qa4jg2zCs0b-oPBPPQtYsk3zS0wbbDmt9qPk-SuYH2PVYM_NKHFy09Phity3PSqLXQdXh06lYL0kDQF4RuK4Fcu-cyi0pHIL-04mtu23V5WkxxagHfTN3biZ3GUTDmNd4rlRhe8/s1600/IMG_1902.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But it proved good enough for exploring, and sulking in too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkHsZJ72HdDxFAthsbIqgmsxnk4Z-N1_5yuQJ6uIl1pJoS2NG0XNLM9eM2ooBVdkfsHas8KWLYdow0PFVf4CNkek9Ny4CclF4yiO17S5hrhkfjvEF9nl47BQSkDsaI6KHxTs9h1vZ76c/s1600/IMG_1881.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkHsZJ72HdDxFAthsbIqgmsxnk4Z-N1_5yuQJ6uIl1pJoS2NG0XNLM9eM2ooBVdkfsHas8KWLYdow0PFVf4CNkek9Ny4CclF4yiO17S5hrhkfjvEF9nl47BQSkDsaI6KHxTs9h1vZ76c/s1600/IMG_1881.JPG" width="276" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvdEveQ8Wolcppirk4f79KWCnC1dA6IYCDJto-l2_yyGR2sWDMFLlbBv3X3HpnogKsJl27t1-TDGMpeYIvkSUs04-FEB2aZzGpYrH2qV5FG8nwGmAA1quKl2UDiEjwVNQ3jc1Wr0Fdxk/s1600/IMG_1909.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvdEveQ8Wolcppirk4f79KWCnC1dA6IYCDJto-l2_yyGR2sWDMFLlbBv3X3HpnogKsJl27t1-TDGMpeYIvkSUs04-FEB2aZzGpYrH2qV5FG8nwGmAA1quKl2UDiEjwVNQ3jc1Wr0Fdxk/s1600/IMG_1909.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Incidentally the first photo above was taken on a hilltop near us, at a beacon tower (the type where fires were lit in Elizabethan times to signal the invasion of the Spanish Armada). It has the coolest old graffiti.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1hZGSDnwflxpwuk5cDGlAcy1LhwxFAN5xibdlXDOH29l3FIg__KDVFG20BfHjDbdrTlEazYRK8-m554dy-NbGuN0-KLfV8V8arxlYxz111CZYqP_LLEteBd9VGFZHSPYrHg-WmqH_I4/s1600/IMG_1883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1hZGSDnwflxpwuk5cDGlAcy1LhwxFAN5xibdlXDOH29l3FIg__KDVFG20BfHjDbdrTlEazYRK8-m554dy-NbGuN0-KLfV8V8arxlYxz111CZYqP_LLEteBd9VGFZHSPYrHg-WmqH_I4/s1600/IMG_1883.JPG" width="600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Just look at those fonts! I suppose if you go to the trouble of taking a hammer and chisel up a hill, you're more likely to take a bit of time and care with your lettering.Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-51547217277176210892011-05-04T13:12:00.000-07:002011-05-04T13:25:27.817-07:00May the fourth be with you!Goodness me, with all the celebrations for Easter and the Royal Wedding and various family get-togethers, I very nearly forgot all about one of the most important days of the year. ;)<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeRFAnDCMyQMVFqpx8LGyycMthQOC6obtcsMug6MvQ1YI07jZGVKXW85c_a6V4J2XSiM95Y3mzyDeeAtltuWNBCNACOCZwcW9TMwVbLgGLcW36pA1TBQB38jIm1XmHVzmFMTcdICVNsg/s1600/IMG_1865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeRFAnDCMyQMVFqpx8LGyycMthQOC6obtcsMug6MvQ1YI07jZGVKXW85c_a6V4J2XSiM95Y3mzyDeeAtltuWNBCNACOCZwcW9TMwVbLgGLcW36pA1TBQB38jIm1XmHVzmFMTcdICVNsg/s1600/IMG_1865.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkFk6P2RSV1Ln0rYyvQlD2otUlavFTIjY7xcS9qJW1WB4ceGNdt_wq1W9H_6gwn2XLyaE3xIaqiVVskBi8IRT2csCc0Z0Z4KIU2EbuV1-HaJO45UHNpNCULP0cnL-ocUoCvNWnINOGqc/s1600/IMG_1871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkFk6P2RSV1Ln0rYyvQlD2otUlavFTIjY7xcS9qJW1WB4ceGNdt_wq1W9H_6gwn2XLyaE3xIaqiVVskBi8IRT2csCc0Z0Z4KIU2EbuV1-HaJO45UHNpNCULP0cnL-ocUoCvNWnINOGqc/s1600/IMG_1871.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
Luckily, thanks to Facebook I was reminded in time, and we had chance to celebrate with a snack of what else but <a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Blue_milk">Aunt Beru's blue milk</a> and cookies? (Hurrah!)<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSu3WnEjQuZHIrMD_ax9uqUFdIsaWZ-WUs9Dx9IRXnSXb4xzwKnq0AMDGjLPcCXnZepsDhzpznmkbCA3z92zskpZDwVtuWX4czZaEiuBaPEOHS3OB94HUlqQQEL8zd7aRg_Gr_F5rRr4/s1600/IMG_1853.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSu3WnEjQuZHIrMD_ax9uqUFdIsaWZ-WUs9Dx9IRXnSXb4xzwKnq0AMDGjLPcCXnZepsDhzpznmkbCA3z92zskpZDwVtuWX4czZaEiuBaPEOHS3OB94HUlqQQEL8zd7aRg_Gr_F5rRr4/s1600/IMG_1853.jpg" width="235" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3-EOZ77iW-8W97b2KgaGom9EVXTbZ4f0RpqPWPEi1-2JIjweyTUWkMZNSpDLg8YYKR-9gyBpVvc84JsSpfNbyJhL9r11scHLmR_VpqcQFcq-eb2gg1oa6zWbfoD-TNaiaGANIXWQApA/s1600/IMG_1834.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3-EOZ77iW-8W97b2KgaGom9EVXTbZ4f0RpqPWPEi1-2JIjweyTUWkMZNSpDLg8YYKR-9gyBpVvc84JsSpfNbyJhL9r11scHLmR_VpqcQFcq-eb2gg1oa6zWbfoD-TNaiaGANIXWQApA/s1600/IMG_1834.jpg" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSu3WnEjQuZHIrMD_ax9uqUFdIsaWZ-WUs9Dx9IRXnSXb4xzwKnq0AMDGjLPcCXnZepsDhzpznmkbCA3z92zskpZDwVtuWX4czZaEiuBaPEOHS3OB94HUlqQQEL8zd7aRg_Gr_F5rRr4/s1600/IMG_1853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
(Aunt Beru didn't have time to bake today so she had to fall back on the old emergency favourite of sliced bread spread with Nutella and dipped in coloured sprinkles)<br />
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And a quick lightsaber battle in the garden to finish it all off. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDL-t11yX5mhCsbY6Y1iklPSLzXddbfOWBRmBsOXt0IwWjhXV89b24sB3jFto8EPabxiZlhLTG90KXzszAUfindnZ1-dLYHCH5vi3oE2COus9XRcpic6R0pcB5Zr8r8rr0ACduhnxMo4/s1600/IMG_1872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDL-t11yX5mhCsbY6Y1iklPSLzXddbfOWBRmBsOXt0IwWjhXV89b24sB3jFto8EPabxiZlhLTG90KXzszAUfindnZ1-dLYHCH5vi3oE2COus9XRcpic6R0pcB5Zr8r8rr0ACduhnxMo4/s1600/IMG_1872.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>Happy Star Wars Day!Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-18205069574881357102011-04-29T13:18:00.000-07:002011-05-04T13:21:23.063-07:00The final shirt (and another!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGjY31OMOlOSYAxJzbXvLAWmcb5b1eP6il-V8y7ZSBLAxijTWMxN9ArBZuzz6Cg4BQ3AQDyhTqDJzo54RrH3usJm_eNEhxPq2hyphenhyphen7otDlGGyCg2fLLnL1EEQQTr-ojR6jlzR-WaBcn0xI/s1600/IMG_1763closeup.JPG" width="417" /><span id="goog_1429566247"></span><span id="goog_1429566248"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></div><br />
In the end I wasn't too happy with just the <a href="http://bluemilkandcookies.blogspot.com/2011/04/union-jack-freezer-paper-stencil.html">stencilled Union flag</a> for El's shirt, so I made another print with a further stencil of three hearts and a crown (which I drew by hand) on top. I appliqued the final design to a white t-shirt , added some off-cuts of knit fabric as bunting around the shoulders, and she was ready to go.<br />
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I loved the look of the bunting so much, I decided to make a shirt for Kiki too, using an old white hand-me-down t-shirt that was getting a little short on her. I added a couple of ruffles at the bottom and a string of bunting made from more offcuts and some ribbon.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4CwXAZuwh1P5ymnSMEcoXs2ov-l5KSUKp0yOOGGCwaDbvo9vU6lDGsm3XCQKPfVxt6C3NTTcN_wE3Tv3BZT9Rg-wYrCk4z62492rc6-GuIySnKUdZ8ltWRrd9ys5skjdccK7AHO54Jc/s1600/IMG_1779b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4CwXAZuwh1P5ymnSMEcoXs2ov-l5KSUKp0yOOGGCwaDbvo9vU6lDGsm3XCQKPfVxt6C3NTTcN_wE3Tv3BZT9Rg-wYrCk4z62492rc6-GuIySnKUdZ8ltWRrd9ys5skjdccK7AHO54Jc/s640/IMG_1779b.jpg" width="438" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I didn't have interfacing to iron on to the back of the triangles to stop them curling up so I had to sew them in place. I think I might make more in other colour combinations as I have a lot of fabric scraps and old t-shirts to use up!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As for the wedding itself, I loved Kate's dress, and those trees in the Abbey. The girls were not terribly impressed (neither of them are really the princess type, except for princesses who fight baddies and fly on spaceships). But they did approve of the mini Victoria sponge cakes and strawberries we had at tea time. And Daddy's home made bread.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGphG04ENzIjHt3R9scW1EKxbAozAOrJ-EljYWqrQx06sOrb5LEfQcP3v74N1v3G0_NI_fp155zYxds2vbgXKT1151YLsR2yEXqUAL3UNjzP7AMJ84mxoTkjy7yJUioDp05tx2NNlIl7I/s1600/IMG_1784closeup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGphG04ENzIjHt3R9scW1EKxbAozAOrJ-EljYWqrQx06sOrb5LEfQcP3v74N1v3G0_NI_fp155zYxds2vbgXKT1151YLsR2yEXqUAL3UNjzP7AMJ84mxoTkjy7yJUioDp05tx2NNlIl7I/s1600/IMG_1784closeup.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaZ3S5hSWrskTC8qkSXBRVKuf2rWNZWEl25OYRjRTTuBotPpidyetrPJ_yBjIbW0tR19BsFOF1pjHJYXM7f3VQ5v9H4MI_kyLI2FNXAD2pKXokUK5eHGyq6LizGzk4h3XKzymG6Qj0MY/s1600/IMG_1784closeup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-74305151361351614142011-04-27T13:02:00.000-07:002011-04-30T12:42:30.453-07:00Union Jack freezer paper stencilHope everyone had a relaxing Easter break! This is just a fly-by post to share a freezer paper stencil for a Union Jack flag (yes I know, pedants, strictly it's just called the Union flag). I'm in the process of making El a shirt for her Royal Wedding celebration day at pre-school tomorrow and I thought I'd share this now when it might actually be of use! <br />
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Here's the finished image.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirs2VmpAdJOQli4vgktJh1_jsEYjKUauvZiDa96MywI8LuRM6UyFiMDRAV_PuCCg7WIe2OK4zzFF88ASRGdnJpbs5iEw4aUGzjrLW_HMQ0Clun53WeJcwjCN5rbRYkMZDog3yxYG4jFDw/s1600/IMG_1757closeup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirs2VmpAdJOQli4vgktJh1_jsEYjKUauvZiDa96MywI8LuRM6UyFiMDRAV_PuCCg7WIe2OK4zzFF88ASRGdnJpbs5iEw4aUGzjrLW_HMQ0Clun53WeJcwjCN5rbRYkMZDog3yxYG4jFDw/s400/IMG_1757closeup.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This is the first time I've attempted freezer paper stenciling and I love it! Freezer paper isn't too widely available here in the UK, but you can get it from Hobbycraft. I got mine from Ebay. There are very many tutorials out there on the technique of freezer paper stenciling - for example <a href="http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/08/tutorial-freezer-paper-stencil-makenna.html">here</a> and <a href="http://bellgirl.com.au/2009/07/tutorial-three-colour-freezer-paper.html">here</a>.<br />
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For this flag you need two colours and hence two stencils - one for the red and one for the blue (for use on white fabric). I've made the two part stencil into a pdf which you can grab here:<br />
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<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?x2c5zcsur3gp6a5">Click here to download from mediafire</a><br />
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/54149719/Union-Jack-freezer-paper-stencil">Or here on Scribd</a><br />
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Just print out on to freezer paper (non waxy side), cut into two halves, then cut out the black parts using a craft knife and ruler.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJfTxhTHfDCt-5ybvclJji7H4uFAytq8FbfMjIvj2XsRxu_bQbgDFFCTkANbsayNyezDEHoAa4Iwe52Sk51g5wHx0wswR5g0iWkm-ueIn4riYUMFvTCbh-2YA0BNZAa6-59k6TQtDXNs/s1600/IMG_1731closeup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJfTxhTHfDCt-5ybvclJji7H4uFAytq8FbfMjIvj2XsRxu_bQbgDFFCTkANbsayNyezDEHoAa4Iwe52Sk51g5wHx0wswR5g0iWkm-ueIn4riYUMFvTCbh-2YA0BNZAa6-59k6TQtDXNs/s400/IMG_1731closeup.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>(The pdf should print out OK on both US and UK paper sizes; just make sure you are not scaling to fit the paper).<br />
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Iron the "blue" part onto your fabric first, then sponge on your blue fabric paint. When it's completely dry (ours dried after a couple of hours in the sunshine), remove the paper and iron on the "red" part of the stencil, using the little grey markers to line up the cross correctly with the blue parts you've already printed. Then paint on your red fabric paint.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzZUGGlGAr-6zOgJOG93SEuprBeu_GjeasAnTZQrO8Hqpx3d6NQVHfDyxM7kwsu8M6681oF4Gm8W2rdBMljuc3KNhWFcvTSAxBmCjPfwasQZs9P4uym6FsJAWm8NmraHyyIZB70g_FYc/s1600/IMG_1753closeup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzZUGGlGAr-6zOgJOG93SEuprBeu_GjeasAnTZQrO8Hqpx3d6NQVHfDyxM7kwsu8M6681oF4Gm8W2rdBMljuc3KNhWFcvTSAxBmCjPfwasQZs9P4uym6FsJAWm8NmraHyyIZB70g_FYc/s400/IMG_1753closeup.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
So easy! Miss El did this part herself.<br />
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Wait again, then peel and reveal!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirs2VmpAdJOQli4vgktJh1_jsEYjKUauvZiDa96MywI8LuRM6UyFiMDRAV_PuCCg7WIe2OK4zzFF88ASRGdnJpbs5iEw4aUGzjrLW_HMQ0Clun53WeJcwjCN5rbRYkMZDog3yxYG4jFDw/s1600/IMG_1757closeup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirs2VmpAdJOQli4vgktJh1_jsEYjKUauvZiDa96MywI8LuRM6UyFiMDRAV_PuCCg7WIe2OK4zzFF88ASRGdnJpbs5iEw4aUGzjrLW_HMQ0Clun53WeJcwjCN5rbRYkMZDog3yxYG4jFDw/s400/IMG_1757closeup.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
As you can see I was rushing and got the positioning just off slightly so that some of the thinnest stripe at the bottom right is a little messed up. But imperfections are the beauty of handmade right? :) <br />
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I used scrap fabric so I can temporarily applique it to a shirt for tomorrow, but you can apply straight to a tshirt, of course.<br />
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Off to finish the shirt now!<br />
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ETA: <a href="http://bluemilkandcookies.blogspot.com/2011/04/final-shirt-and-another.html">click to see how it turned out.</a>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-17544140857215578332011-04-18T15:52:00.000-07:002011-04-21T04:04:24.028-07:00The You and Me mat: a tutorialOne of the things I love about being able to operate a sewing machine is that often, when I think 'you know, right now something like <i>x,y,z</i> would be useful...' I don't have to go and scour the shops/internet to find it - I can just go home and have a bash at making it myself, and even save a bit of money in the process.<br />
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I'm trying to be outdoors with the girls as much as possible at the moment, and snack stops on wet spring grass mean they need something to sit on. Our big picnic blanket is far too big to stuff into my bag (already overloaded with changing things, snacks, drinks, sunblock, etc etc). We have a few play mats that are about the right size but they would just end up soggy.<br />
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What we really, really needed something exactly like this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7R3ZChpvOZc5WuVdDX5pp8x1aBy-Q3iWbiAmaOjwyOMkyrOSQkXKNfoPMLDy53t-4VScMnJQqWeOYATJViVRq8QJqFjFy8qkKAp0TSRvf9Ya2_GGArYoZryq4rFZ-r4YGoey60Rv0CQ/s1600/youandmemat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7R3ZChpvOZc5WuVdDX5pp8x1aBy-Q3iWbiAmaOjwyOMkyrOSQkXKNfoPMLDy53t-4VScMnJQqWeOYATJViVRq8QJqFjFy8qkKAp0TSRvf9Ya2_GGArYoZryq4rFZ-r4YGoey60Rv0CQ/s640/youandmemat.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />
It's lightweight. It's comfortable. It's a mini picnic quilt that's perfect for two. It's backed by waterproof polyester, and if it does get dirty, it's machine washable. It's the You and Me mat, and here's how I made it.<br />
<br />
<u>Materials</u><br />
<ul><li>Sewing machine with walking foot installed.</li>
<li>Disappearing fabric pen.</li>
<li>Hair grips (the metal sort with one wavy edge and one straight edge; we call them bobby pins). </li>
<li><b>A piece of lightweight cotton for the top</b>, sized 1/2" bigger all round than the desired mat size. I used a 37" x 27" piece of this "Gullan" cotton from Ikea featuring an appropiate food-splodged print, and I pre-washed and dried it.</li>
<li><b>A piece of lightweight cotton for the ties</b> (40" x 4" for the size of mat I made, I used a leftover bit from cutting the top piece). </li>
<li><b>A piece of quilt batting</b> cut approx 1/2" - 1" larger all round than the cotton top piece. ( I used Sew Simple 80/20 cotton blend) </li>
<li><b>A piece of lightweight ripstop polyester</b>, sized 4" bigger all round than the desired mat size. (The fabric I used was 130grams/square metre).</li>
</ul><br />
<u>Instructions</u><br />
<br />
<u>1. Sew the quilted top</u><br />
Place the cotton top piece on top of the batting and pin all round. With the walking foot installed, stitch around the edges with a 1/2" allowance (from the edge of the cotton top piece). Then, using a disappearing fabric pen, mark lines at equal intervals along the length. I used a 3" interval. Pin in the spaces between your lines to stop the layers from shifting, then machine stitch along the lines.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBMZjCeQaHOx4PNayhBCrUGyhd-TQL7BN9LyKiov8WUh39fiFwP-Twbc0nAB5OxAcTumjweYtp7Q90B-rSwtRUnFvh7MxTdMEylfuQJD464qFj1ajpN0b4uEPfHfI6qOdWCtrc1K9nXo/s1600/IMG_1635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBMZjCeQaHOx4PNayhBCrUGyhd-TQL7BN9LyKiov8WUh39fiFwP-Twbc0nAB5OxAcTumjweYtp7Q90B-rSwtRUnFvh7MxTdMEylfuQJD464qFj1ajpN0b4uEPfHfI6qOdWCtrc1K9nXo/s400/IMG_1635.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>(Here's the top quilted at a 6" spacing. I then went back and added another set of lines to make the spacing 3").<br />
<br />
Trim neatly around the quilted top, cutting through both layers to an allowance of 1/4" (from the stitched border), thereby making the top the size of the finished mat.<br />
<br />
<u>2. Attach the backing.</u><br />
Place the piece of ripstop polyester on a flat surface, wrong size up (on my piece one side was slightly shinier than the other). Place the quilted top centrally on top, so 2" of the backing is visible all around.<br />
<br />
You can't iron the polyester because it will melt, and you can't pin it either because any holes made will be permanent. So you have to fold and press the backing over the quilted top by hand, and secure with something that doesn't puncture the fabric. I used hair grips.<br />
<br />
Fold over each edge by 1" to meet the edge of the quilted top, and then 1" again to overlap the top. At the corners, fold each corner of the polyester in underneath the corner of the quilted top to make a neat corner in the binding. Hold in place with the hair grips.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtCA3uW9xlALqc5sqmaqEsUxxualxBa2ubPM72cqEeI9S5m7juYMQoQtv1av1nG9Vee5ykt7nS9lyWX3HnQ8hV_jE1_K_Ko2YlzL4XLecwU3r8w0smNIpHpa-r1ABuMm4bh6QVCptYnY/s1600/IMG_1636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtCA3uW9xlALqc5sqmaqEsUxxualxBa2ubPM72cqEeI9S5m7juYMQoQtv1av1nG9Vee5ykt7nS9lyWX3HnQ8hV_jE1_K_Ko2YlzL4XLecwU3r8w0smNIpHpa-r1ABuMm4bh6QVCptYnY/s400/IMG_1636.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6-hLwoHVSM99zs_AxRNRX58p3grTM-H-0DSyctb7jp3HiDn6a-Gl1Vhz7oYmGHtWa2mSfERGB6c85ckfuyZLiD5s6wjiqf-Z0BHD5h8xCoxJTQLRTvLAF7dKMsw-q0coZGoJc73soL8/s1600/IMG_1637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6-hLwoHVSM99zs_AxRNRX58p3grTM-H-0DSyctb7jp3HiDn6a-Gl1Vhz7oYmGHtWa2mSfERGB6c85ckfuyZLiD5s6wjiqf-Z0BHD5h8xCoxJTQLRTvLAF7dKMsw-q0coZGoJc73soL8/s400/IMG_1637.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>(You can also fold the corners like <a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/2010/10/rae-pretends-she-can-quilt-and-shares.html">this</a>). Continue all the way around.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWZaCLr7QutVPzuAgfMDDQgxLM4woknOWdGTaOUN2g1bInYJe9jcX746RQ5W4xq86RrWEy7ojRZlize9MX23qpgJUnlmOZANd9qiyie4yvYdTyonBN48FmLu9yITSHfIului-uXQOJJU/s1600/IMG_1638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWZaCLr7QutVPzuAgfMDDQgxLM4woknOWdGTaOUN2g1bInYJe9jcX746RQ5W4xq86RrWEy7ojRZlize9MX23qpgJUnlmOZANd9qiyie4yvYdTyonBN48FmLu9yITSHfIului-uXQOJJU/s400/IMG_1638.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<u>3. Machine stitch the backing to the quilt top.</u><br />
Large machine needles can rip big holes in the polyester fabric, so you now need to switch to a thin needle. I used a size 9, which didn't seem to be a problem with this thin cotton fabric and fairly lightweight wadding.<br />
<br />
Still with the walking foot installed, sew around the top of the quilt, 1/4" from the inside edge of the binding.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZM5slqjyVqArAGLTDwqokzlTJgonMJMPjKx5cTiAI4pEF7QMTwpnyKQGHzwTENGvUlfRe_n3uynuQdGzizJWy0yRgWzjits6PKbfZFPivSy6DvPlvVRAp6VEgjKC1vUeY7ld25qUkJ6o/s1600/IMG_1639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZM5slqjyVqArAGLTDwqokzlTJgonMJMPjKx5cTiAI4pEF7QMTwpnyKQGHzwTENGvUlfRe_n3uynuQdGzizJWy0yRgWzjits6PKbfZFPivSy6DvPlvVRAp6VEgjKC1vUeY7ld25qUkJ6o/s400/IMG_1639.jpg" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I found this wasn't enough to secure the folded corners, so I pulled them to overlap a little and stitched close to the join.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioB3_7mQjveeo9gqSjfo6m7J8xEPxTBuuG5RgSu8nLKcc5K-rCQpEfRDJi0s7KlAndNI9cmuPP9SnJ92bdsV-oN6he3JZB9bdytqeUpMZTyW4tGpV_ZqL9zBEf1hTPnbMC_knG_hz0qfM/s1600/IMG_1640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioB3_7mQjveeo9gqSjfo6m7J8xEPxTBuuG5RgSu8nLKcc5K-rCQpEfRDJi0s7KlAndNI9cmuPP9SnJ92bdsV-oN6he3JZB9bdytqeUpMZTyW4tGpV_ZqL9zBEf1hTPnbMC_knG_hz0qfM/s320/IMG_1640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAOYE0znOILDBJgBSIgpz61QaNZnIzeMp81r3iNrPJVRTSEt9x7XMKaMKTuHMVDvb2chF3IPPMKDpdSnbRTU4vToypqi_MwCXdTlT5NklF8u0CEBLgu4mcEtD2cLIEwzyD8VbHENnma8/s1600/IMG_1641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAOYE0znOILDBJgBSIgpz61QaNZnIzeMp81r3iNrPJVRTSEt9x7XMKaMKTuHMVDvb2chF3IPPMKDpdSnbRTU4vToypqi_MwCXdTlT5NklF8u0CEBLgu4mcEtD2cLIEwzyD8VbHENnma8/s320/IMG_1641.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To finish off and hold in place, edgestitch a second row of stitches on the binding close to the join with the quilt top.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>4. Make and attach the ties</u></div>To make the ties, Take a 40"x4" strip of fabric and fold in half to make a 40" by 2" strip. Press, then open up and fold each long edge toward the crease. Press again, tucking in 1/2" at each short end, then fold in half so the folded edges are together, making a 40" by 1" strip. Press and pin in place, then machine stitch 1/8" from the edges to hold it all together. <br />
<br />
Place the tie on the reverse of the mat, on one of the long sides, 1/8 of the long edge length (about 4 1/2 ") from the corner, with the middle of the tie positioned over the mat's stitch lines. Sew in place by following the two existing stitch lines. (With the mat unfolded, obviously.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjva14HBmIichvjuRSbzB16uMVgFM-iv1fdQlXpdHJFFrd4jz1Rb4EGmMfIsQYrjv0edfKbZgcYuoxdN-H_vIVFuUUHux2b4xbPI1cmfMJEMG40rb-Q_8R1ytMUkcArHnjvk_SwMosNIos/s1600/IMG_1644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjva14HBmIichvjuRSbzB16uMVgFM-iv1fdQlXpdHJFFrd4jz1Rb4EGmMfIsQYrjv0edfKbZgcYuoxdN-H_vIVFuUUHux2b4xbPI1cmfMJEMG40rb-Q_8R1ytMUkcArHnjvk_SwMosNIos/s400/IMG_1644.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Roll the finished mat up by folding along the long edge, then folding again, then rolling towards the ties.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aTgTOZ6JXwQGeWyf9kzh36HRGl3YXCgrkQx5lSJWpPY7Rgiv4AAUFsm1aRoEsWvGhq57YDznv4WnO9JRoJigT2IMicYno0MRvH4kahken8RBpB5a2sH5YyMoUTzLUgouuAtVE98Orhs/s1600/IMG_1643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aTgTOZ6JXwQGeWyf9kzh36HRGl3YXCgrkQx5lSJWpPY7Rgiv4AAUFsm1aRoEsWvGhq57YDznv4WnO9JRoJigT2IMicYno0MRvH4kahken8RBpB5a2sH5YyMoUTzLUgouuAtVE98Orhs/s400/IMG_1643.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>All ready to take out on expedition!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBMZRoFlmSbmdZybeGXpkvBV5N2r_pYhW4nCEGC3Iw79Y6mQjml_Wb1VMpBXE3z6Z-TPKMix8yNuEY6ivy_N_Kr_BNXEJHYP5zZDvWR0mfxmVp61kbWhAZQuFuMGFcgZClJDHQI1r4rE/s1600/IMG_1648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBMZRoFlmSbmdZybeGXpkvBV5N2r_pYhW4nCEGC3Iw79Y6mQjml_Wb1VMpBXE3z6Z-TPKMix8yNuEY6ivy_N_Kr_BNXEJHYP5zZDvWR0mfxmVp61kbWhAZQuFuMGFcgZClJDHQI1r4rE/s640/IMG_1648.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just to the back garden... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJtTEd-UDhOWei-saeYyGdEnFQlXoy7m7E5UBiItsgMrjxTZnDNTJ8ZHCb6cqQ-d-yhc7_I6wQqwsJI28TcQfLR9w0DxZgs9MPXwP4BF_Pt0CCIy_JNozaHwegK6-TgztqyYl3WNQSsk/s1600/IMG_1654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJtTEd-UDhOWei-saeYyGdEnFQlXoy7m7E5UBiItsgMrjxTZnDNTJ8ZHCb6cqQ-d-yhc7_I6wQqwsJI28TcQfLR9w0DxZgs9MPXwP4BF_Pt0CCIy_JNozaHwegK6-TgztqyYl3WNQSsk/s640/IMG_1654.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3OJOAfggRaXa3JrYG_7UpmHN4VssTz-ZhfakkDnhCJdfnnWoi19vU4MjJGie6mdIauFsWwMqIyJbD7Inro_5xDkkKbAhcYGwsn0bpEendSL-JdqAFe437E4-cs411JMnkrWfsA5eN8Y/s1600/IMG_1685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3OJOAfggRaXa3JrYG_7UpmHN4VssTz-ZhfakkDnhCJdfnnWoi19vU4MjJGie6mdIauFsWwMqIyJbD7Inro_5xDkkKbAhcYGwsn0bpEendSL-JdqAFe437E4-cs411JMnkrWfsA5eN8Y/s640/IMG_1685.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Or further afield. (A field).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Washing tip: a 40 degree wash on a gentle spin cycle seemed fine, but probably best not to tumble dry. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy sewing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(Personal use only - please do not sell items made from this tutorial, thanks)</i></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-26410713247340171812011-04-15T14:11:00.000-07:002011-04-15T14:15:03.783-07:00Photo Friday: Hello Spring!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuUsek3ifD_FPSKRDO6PXUjicpRSf4rG5WbqEvcNVDDy0wQeUlSgZOnWg4fUCL9ybxkWHEbycw_flDgRxifZHuK3ocyJYlPxnZHeHoEA8C6gjXfgp28wf-ozXilY8SBcPB_8EsDQzZ34/s1600/IMG_1566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqv10W-np0pZ_Uas-Vw3l7o5P-JoX-09yrObfwTHtfbmcsZmyKE8VX1G17Lxft6HXgnuUvB1ovaF9SchDRmqgravnSfRcWbSr7hYqGMz0qwKEjivAy2L7aetEtFVB6rtVRfGKz5cOwSHA/s1600/IMG_1623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqv10W-np0pZ_Uas-Vw3l7o5P-JoX-09yrObfwTHtfbmcsZmyKE8VX1G17Lxft6HXgnuUvB1ovaF9SchDRmqgravnSfRcWbSr7hYqGMz0qwKEjivAy2L7aetEtFVB6rtVRfGKz5cOwSHA/s640/IMG_1623.JPG" width="425" /></a></div>We've had some glorious spring weather here recently, and have been welcoming with open arms the opportunity to get outside.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3CvXW8Y_6aXZaIMnhF5LpYW5hjs1NwojOp_rtMkaQke42j8r-i-VVn3ISjfSoQJ-kTE6hMjS0qFTd0RaeergXGBOdB_f70vYsqu5sKK7IXZkc2si7xaSQNLgWZgDmyaUvrspRiSHR6E/s1600/IMG_1629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3CvXW8Y_6aXZaIMnhF5LpYW5hjs1NwojOp_rtMkaQke42j8r-i-VVn3ISjfSoQJ-kTE6hMjS0qFTd0RaeergXGBOdB_f70vYsqu5sKK7IXZkc2si7xaSQNLgWZgDmyaUvrspRiSHR6E/s640/IMG_1629.JPG" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Of course the logistics of actually <i>getting</i> outside aren't necessarily any easier, because that blue sky means sunblock and sunhats in addition to all the normal spring gear of wellies and woolies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkO0kEE4uazwijBatx6V6Or7EbK9gU2h4bExLUzJXQwI6-tFnRL96ueSFO-Pc5bSDygb2tIsvt1uLegcPQTtlLQbuhr2KcPXgofah2rPdzsBoUiB7TEuxXPwbSgdL8kPShCk6gptM0Mc/s1600/IMG_1625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkO0kEE4uazwijBatx6V6Or7EbK9gU2h4bExLUzJXQwI6-tFnRL96ueSFO-Pc5bSDygb2tIsvt1uLegcPQTtlLQbuhr2KcPXgofah2rPdzsBoUiB7TEuxXPwbSgdL8kPShCk6gptM0Mc/s640/IMG_1625.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzXS5lUtJ5VPIGp-n1537cuaRx_SR8q9CmBnVzOicOsNAHddXnGfRQP-KYww8af4b7mQ-IQcfs4VqVxXMAYR7odN7aqGbZU0ICeI4Q2co9OegYa46U9K6Hw5xVVjtkA3ldLrcu3zdUg0/s1600/IMG_1627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzXS5lUtJ5VPIGp-n1537cuaRx_SR8q9CmBnVzOicOsNAHddXnGfRQP-KYww8af4b7mQ-IQcfs4VqVxXMAYR7odN7aqGbZU0ICeI4Q2co9OegYa46U9K6Hw5xVVjtkA3ldLrcu3zdUg0/s640/IMG_1627.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1uv10neKR4LSllp3dPXXW_udwZNhLUvHrJvMyDlgvAHe5tuVu3FAqPbmyZu1yzdgZ98ud4mClXoL-sw3CqaZFqWLRJ2UMGcNBjCxIC8-cIilaFZ4bSeX_BFDA9xyWJ_Ker5unf5N1bw/s1600/IMG_1678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1uv10neKR4LSllp3dPXXW_udwZNhLUvHrJvMyDlgvAHe5tuVu3FAqPbmyZu1yzdgZ98ud4mClXoL-sw3CqaZFqWLRJ2UMGcNBjCxIC8-cIilaFZ4bSeX_BFDA9xyWJ_Ker5unf5N1bw/s640/IMG_1678.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>But once out, there's a lot to see. And very, very many questions to be answered.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFj1X9sBlAMlpnxWG8uRRO2cxk6LPs0WTyigYGklo-XRGLzL1r8NWZ14av0zWYef-CFjRUtb7hyhjBCe7Joakftic5RCLLN9q8eshPKe4pJ4HAlHhR9HVuBz1_tY4PzHOUw26uSYw6-uA/s1600/IMG_1546.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFj1X9sBlAMlpnxWG8uRRO2cxk6LPs0WTyigYGklo-XRGLzL1r8NWZ14av0zWYef-CFjRUtb7hyhjBCe7Joakftic5RCLLN9q8eshPKe4pJ4HAlHhR9HVuBz1_tY4PzHOUw26uSYw6-uA/s640/IMG_1546.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBG7kS9Dmib8HXR2vKdy65mu82w4lZCkVhDtacrJTa4Gq7KHg9ilLkcrtrZ-mijIBqkJzU5aYsjSeon913i75lD-vp7k7sDdqnBh3cTZVAZgAU2c2wa52G9czQNgcsHxxCbNs6ERG5EfU/s1600/IMG_1552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBG7kS9Dmib8HXR2vKdy65mu82w4lZCkVhDtacrJTa4Gq7KHg9ilLkcrtrZ-mijIBqkJzU5aYsjSeon913i75lD-vp7k7sDdqnBh3cTZVAZgAU2c2wa52G9czQNgcsHxxCbNs6ERG5EfU/s640/IMG_1552.jpg" width="426" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07k32qe3t91XxFSY_aMFUrL3pq0LWZ6J1GRM_msBOOEJ7EF6O1pD7Owltieh6F5vWDZp1ehiAJ9OFalTW1vjKcQMEaZ4E-XXnlCbzTjauroRrpHxtZHbFPR0ETy3eM79vRjdfkx6gI5w/s1600/IMG_1565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07k32qe3t91XxFSY_aMFUrL3pq0LWZ6J1GRM_msBOOEJ7EF6O1pD7Owltieh6F5vWDZp1ehiAJ9OFalTW1vjKcQMEaZ4E-XXnlCbzTjauroRrpHxtZHbFPR0ETy3eM79vRjdfkx6gI5w/s640/IMG_1565.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuUsek3ifD_FPSKRDO6PXUjicpRSf4rG5WbqEvcNVDDy0wQeUlSgZOnWg4fUCL9ybxkWHEbycw_flDgRxifZHuK3ocyJYlPxnZHeHoEA8C6gjXfgp28wf-ozXilY8SBcPB_8EsDQzZ34/s1600/IMG_1566.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuUsek3ifD_FPSKRDO6PXUjicpRSf4rG5WbqEvcNVDDy0wQeUlSgZOnWg4fUCL9ybxkWHEbycw_flDgRxifZHuK3ocyJYlPxnZHeHoEA8C6gjXfgp28wf-ozXilY8SBcPB_8EsDQzZ34/s640/IMG_1566.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiB9jAetIC-f7S5TntJEB0RH46B3wALYSyxCCrJ4eOSSl161IN0rTFGamOJjJBxiJOQqqYhQe-QDwRH9zbEhdfHyOGp6OCd89cFKHxx1lCh9VnltQuvfTFMQXVLI-CRvx2mc2Aj8-iekU/s1600/IMG_1567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiB9jAetIC-f7S5TntJEB0RH46B3wALYSyxCCrJ4eOSSl161IN0rTFGamOJjJBxiJOQqqYhQe-QDwRH9zbEhdfHyOGp6OCd89cFKHxx1lCh9VnltQuvfTFMQXVLI-CRvx2mc2Aj8-iekU/s640/IMG_1567.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>Which makes, for, at the end of the day, an evidently too-tired-to-hold-the-camera-straight-or-focus-properly mother, but two pretty-much happy-with-life children. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavyFOL9bW0QaMw8QSeXdwaxRFvjByRCTyitD_bZ1ZsTXVoCu4wuCJYIQ2dLW32Pt7-r_JyHKZSuTPjy3wk_OEfAEjQbeER_PmEsUi0OXp7NbIu-EF-d0ZHLMkjFPmx6wPXZc-TLb6o8Y/s1600/IMG_1571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavyFOL9bW0QaMw8QSeXdwaxRFvjByRCTyitD_bZ1ZsTXVoCu4wuCJYIQ2dLW32Pt7-r_JyHKZSuTPjy3wk_OEfAEjQbeER_PmEsUi0OXp7NbIu-EF-d0ZHLMkjFPmx6wPXZc-TLb6o8Y/s640/IMG_1571.JPG" width="426" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Butterflies and turtles on view at <a href="http://www.williamsonpark.com/pages/bfly-house.html">Williamson Park</a>, Lancaster.) </div></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-46244219856631851652011-04-10T13:26:00.000-07:002011-04-10T16:18:27.632-07:00Word treasure huntHere's another little activity that has worked well recently. El has been doing phonics at pre-school but is not in the slightest bit interested in learning to read when there are far more interesting things to do, like playing pirates or mermaids or princesses. We've done variations on the idea of a treasure hunt before, with pictures or clues that an adult could read and she's always enjoyed them, but the other idea I thought it was worth trying her with simple word clues to read for herself. <br />
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Using little post-it notes, I wrote down as many places in the house as I could think of with phonics-friendly names and stuck them to a piece of card. I tried to get a mixture of simple and harder words, and some with repeated words ("back door", "door mat"). On the last note I wrote "Treasure" and of course an "x", to mark the spot.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1mPb1WB13QW_avB_2KqWGnFUimCA2zn7FAvH1gIHFxUj8-roPZY7QTLuuqWOB4RhqNyeB2wBt4Uc2whQ_oW9unTfloIJn5yrBIYp8Nx6HtBfnYHE3uzGIjgTwzbe9cuReLDpPnni_Pk/s1600/IMG_1601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1mPb1WB13QW_avB_2KqWGnFUimCA2zn7FAvH1gIHFxUj8-roPZY7QTLuuqWOB4RhqNyeB2wBt4Uc2whQ_oW9unTfloIJn5yrBIYp8Nx6HtBfnYHE3uzGIjgTwzbe9cuReLDpPnni_Pk/s400/IMG_1601.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The treasure box is a small tin containing a little bit of chocolate wrapped in foil and a Lego pirate guardian. (I've since set this game up without chocolate - just got her to choose one of her toys as treasure - but the promise of chocolate treasure got her interested the first time).<br />
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Then I set up the clue in a trail around the house, each clue giving the location of the next. I stuck the card to the fridge and got her to put the clues back up on the card once she'd read them.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3iy6xdjS_cw1BF6ozdUXHeIhH6Gt7hvs80n_u8dKtyQ0baDu7OPBWs_4RMio9Ccn89rsIwqYJRoJ-BanAdTzvvykb5FOKBoNvjHlGAGiT0DmeIgcnnEvlpsCcZly9t-KtYUk6Nl1L8U/s1600/IMG_1602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3iy6xdjS_cw1BF6ozdUXHeIhH6Gt7hvs80n_u8dKtyQ0baDu7OPBWs_4RMio9Ccn89rsIwqYJRoJ-BanAdTzvvykb5FOKBoNvjHlGAGiT0DmeIgcnnEvlpsCcZly9t-KtYUk6Nl1L8U/s400/IMG_1602.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I wasn't sure how well she would get on with reading, and I did help her a little, but she did much better than I expected, and was so much more excited about following a trail of clues to the treasure than she ever is about the prospect of reading a book for herself.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyEFVv3SgfTjs28khBjBeLD91K6DxNSCzi8IFv4c9J9q2XzRKZW1ubOpme4FvsI8tLF5TBsBgAwkSDJV7S1lcreuVAb3gxXa90yGyY_mToPwPKheQmL1a4FSTiEiLYbR4l3eVmSuaiJk/s1600/IMG_1604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyEFVv3SgfTjs28khBjBeLD91K6DxNSCzi8IFv4c9J9q2XzRKZW1ubOpme4FvsI8tLF5TBsBgAwkSDJV7S1lcreuVAb3gxXa90yGyY_mToPwPKheQmL1a4FSTiEiLYbR4l3eVmSuaiJk/s400/IMG_1604.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>And the best thing about this activity was that, like everything she enjoys, she wanted to do it over and over again, and after only a few times she was reading most of the words rather than sounding them out.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIPrW57-kQrWDzicinhihoaJfZ10erUj4Nw-E5r0Ka0nbJ1HFaN6QQqmRKWP0CL2KgbqhuLHarWzusWtRQRYzpNUqj_tG4GqAImMwLtrnhiXYiTbAIgZAsC-3FNj-N1qLF_TvOIP80Fw/s1600/IMG_1605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIPrW57-kQrWDzicinhihoaJfZ10erUj4Nw-E5r0Ka0nbJ1HFaN6QQqmRKWP0CL2KgbqhuLHarWzusWtRQRYzpNUqj_tG4GqAImMwLtrnhiXYiTbAIgZAsC-3FNj-N1qLF_TvOIP80Fw/s400/IMG_1605.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>And of course her sister wanted in on it too. Which meant i could clear up or make dinner without having to turn on the TV.<br />
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I think I'll do an Easter egg version of it next week, make them work for that chocolate! :)Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-82899427959886342192011-04-09T13:27:00.000-07:002011-05-09T13:46:31.058-07:00Drawstring tote bag: a tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGz9cJkjslvMnG1uj1MG12C92gB1A9LmufrdrQlcNw9erdysCgZC0KoxCI87Mq1aX0Zo_sudXCMGdShH_hyphenhyphenT1aX4u_d1H0SAhfJwIPy73_OdCiakuPOS3FxGcjfqRLYcDoP6CgtPf2Qd0/s1600/IMG_1494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeiGnZK-Q9LOA0_nXYcvuQKQ35Iw01MsjBJua0cSRe9i2ReKsb6YyT0Mffy6sd51CTqPa-nJQMeQrWZ9TffW0qE77i3tZo9y9uLraxh_LGsOwn7yuu2b3dq6ZjTikDkk2JxmlGsd0r_Y/s1600/IMG_1498b+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeiGnZK-Q9LOA0_nXYcvuQKQ35Iw01MsjBJua0cSRe9i2ReKsb6YyT0Mffy6sd51CTqPa-nJQMeQrWZ9TffW0qE77i3tZo9y9uLraxh_LGsOwn7yuu2b3dq6ZjTikDkk2JxmlGsd0r_Y/s640/IMG_1498b+copy.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />
I made these little linen drawstring tote bags as gifts for Mother's Day (which was last weekend over here), for my grandmother, mother and mother-in-law. They're a good size to hold knitting, scarves, or slippers, or just to contain other gifts and cards.<br />
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The main difference between these bags and an ordinary drawstring bag is the openings above the side seams. They allow each side panel to gather nicely into a tote-style handle, and also leave room to access the contents of the bag easily.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5S6sa0PqKZHfevW6uIDHRJNCDkFGpyKFK63zM-aI2KgqBoXbyM9x2_Neo0EV9ctySLtpszQENDRBnbnNRHJJ7ZiKr778o5oNrmYSbrib9DWaA6UCJYnAnxJNTJa53O7jM7bQwk06ov8/s1600/IMG_1486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5S6sa0PqKZHfevW6uIDHRJNCDkFGpyKFK63zM-aI2KgqBoXbyM9x2_Neo0EV9ctySLtpszQENDRBnbnNRHJJ7ZiKr778o5oNrmYSbrib9DWaA6UCJYnAnxJNTJa53O7jM7bQwk06ov8/s400/IMG_1486.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Unlined bags like these would normally be made with french seams, but I couldn't figure out how to make that work with this variation, so I used a "clean finish" method to seal away the raw edges. The finished size for the bags I made here is approx 15" tall by 13" wide.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><u><br />
</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Drawstring tote bag</u><br />
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</div><u>Materials</u><br />
1 piece linen or home-decor weight cotton, 34" x 14", for the bag.<br />
2 strips of patterned cotton 22" x 2" and 2 strips of main bag material 22" x 2" for the handles. Or, for thinner handles, use two 22" x 3 strips of patterned fabric and use the press and fold method to make straps from a single piece, or just use two 22" pieces of 3/4" ribbon or tape for a super-quick version.<br />
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<u>Instructions</u><br />
<u>Step 1: Sew the side seams</u> <br />
Fold the main bag piece in half width-wise, (right sides together if you're using patterned fabric), and pin both sides. Measure 5" down from the open end and mark each side.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGhymXEvLk1T0DJAOHi2GOy0zSCsAKu4JnsGSLSfraqpbA4LwQ0_OT4U7uy8tdtMWQphhbAPkRSk90piPWyYvjCQY3lpmBDQAu7HQ3PUAamOdCctyAUsaR8KquJF5IoY6WEZBSe7ua4U/s1600/IMG_1428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGhymXEvLk1T0DJAOHi2GOy0zSCsAKu4JnsGSLSfraqpbA4LwQ0_OT4U7uy8tdtMWQphhbAPkRSk90piPWyYvjCQY3lpmBDQAu7HQ3PUAamOdCctyAUsaR8KquJF5IoY6WEZBSe7ua4U/s400/IMG_1428.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Sew the sides seams with a 1/2" seam allowance, stopping/ending at your mark, remembering to backstitch at the ends.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUDI8EauUyZZVrtlc9oSlKUqxtTqFhic86yQXVK9a_kBKkxUMLrfMr2tInTvg8w5UatQKY52ML7r5HJOeznAJWwrnT8-WV2e4gHzPDMP0xvcg0jWuNiKYlNlt_iX1U9tKaf1wpiBFTOA/s1600/IMG_1430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUDI8EauUyZZVrtlc9oSlKUqxtTqFhic86yQXVK9a_kBKkxUMLrfMr2tInTvg8w5UatQKY52ML7r5HJOeznAJWwrnT8-WV2e4gHzPDMP0xvcg0jWuNiKYlNlt_iX1U9tKaf1wpiBFTOA/s400/IMG_1430.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><u>Step 2: Fold clean finish seams</u><br />
To begin the clean finish seams, press your side seams open, continuing into the 5" of unsewn seam to form a hem.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTv0oCBCA5hOBjCya6W_VNjewCb3hVITRP8uoRllnbmE6YSPJfV36kjGFGmDYH0QcrUUwQ4nfv7SegJONyDIJrOpzxqFyF7OoYdiO_W-eSv6wSytXHMU35mGvXrBel0girQBpAqNir2l8/s1600/IMG_1460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTv0oCBCA5hOBjCya6W_VNjewCb3hVITRP8uoRllnbmE6YSPJfV36kjGFGmDYH0QcrUUwQ4nfv7SegJONyDIJrOpzxqFyF7OoYdiO_W-eSv6wSytXHMU35mGvXrBel0girQBpAqNir2l8/s400/IMG_1460.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Then fold again a further 1/4" so the raw edge is tucked against the sewn seam (forming a double hem in the 5" portion at the top) and press again. Normally I find this kind of thing fiddly but the lovely crisp linen was easy to work with and I didn't bother pinning it. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiER9EWAXKIZOkj1SHWS_9QZiQaiuxWc08JovNJ6J_Z1Y7jXHb_AjBzO7GVzMRa-Ksei1kaHa2LmCcMZOqevok8k03pDRlhzZRptdB_Xywtvxbcz7fsF0BpkmALIcsKqlJGs26QdsesIvI/s1600/IMG_1461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiER9EWAXKIZOkj1SHWS_9QZiQaiuxWc08JovNJ6J_Z1Y7jXHb_AjBzO7GVzMRa-Ksei1kaHa2LmCcMZOqevok8k03pDRlhzZRptdB_Xywtvxbcz7fsF0BpkmALIcsKqlJGs26QdsesIvI/s400/IMG_1461.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Fold down 1/2" at each top edge to the wrong side of the bag and press, overlapping your clean finish seams. Pin the hem in place.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwatc1xcHpKMI2eMqserWE7etUyqz9mNbOY8ncQLKjEApoUoY8W70wKgMlVrKRcyJFevkNavXCg66NCHb0hr5WdrDhQsBv_YoAQD8DuLdTVY6J4zw26GdL7CrZzDYRJ9-STgNT79A5a4/s1600/IMG_1462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwatc1xcHpKMI2eMqserWE7etUyqz9mNbOY8ncQLKjEApoUoY8W70wKgMlVrKRcyJFevkNavXCg66NCHb0hr5WdrDhQsBv_YoAQD8DuLdTVY6J4zw26GdL7CrZzDYRJ9-STgNT79A5a4/s400/IMG_1462.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><u>Step 3: Sew top hem and clean finish seams</u><br />
Starting about 1" up from a bottom corner of the bag, begin to sew one of the clean finish seams, sewing through the double fold of the seam and the single layer of the bag. It's a little tricky to get the bag positioned correctly. Go slowly and ease it in gently so it isn't twisted. You won't be able to start right at the corner, but it doesn't matter because the corners will be squared off later.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglo7YT9AfiISz3lKMAdSUtzFOumNfbvsAOs8RnAuY6Pik3DT7idpWVynBGTXiX3cor54QrbDM_hKpyHS9TE0crS0c2RqLEI8gooJKs-8JiFZ_quhK2auuxOoJsUHQHM1M_QNlsSD1vH_g/s1600/IMG_1465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglo7YT9AfiISz3lKMAdSUtzFOumNfbvsAOs8RnAuY6Pik3DT7idpWVynBGTXiX3cor54QrbDM_hKpyHS9TE0crS0c2RqLEI8gooJKs-8JiFZ_quhK2auuxOoJsUHQHM1M_QNlsSD1vH_g/s400/IMG_1465.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Continue along the open portion, sewing the double hem up to the top of the bag at about 1/8 ". <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDI2ucf7jjvNLyisYyyn_ZmM5AzbOBF73S-VYhh5R-qwznykpij8hswEIbZk_ENzONQ6t9hSfifQYVjMvFD18NUBBC-iYvgjxsXC6WPxZWuM0nSCd6kkGbVJQX4eGftF3aN4pDxbhBNc/s1600/IMG_1467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDI2ucf7jjvNLyisYyyn_ZmM5AzbOBF73S-VYhh5R-qwznykpij8hswEIbZk_ENzONQ6t9hSfifQYVjMvFD18NUBBC-iYvgjxsXC6WPxZWuM0nSCd6kkGbVJQX4eGftF3aN4pDxbhBNc/s400/IMG_1467.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Turn and sew across the top of the bag with a 1/4" allowance. Continue on, all the way around the bag, sewing up and down the other side, along the top and back down the other side.<br />
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Phew! That's the awkward bit done! Don't those seams look lovely and neat?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57iqiF-dFKRY9qsNpYvtoEZNgIvKdSn7_mrKx-hxQcv14BVETxMBqz1wAiWxFSdIWSyqDAMXL4xiDhH8OkvmFLHeC4ibiI-fiuzXs7hJdWuV_f2536Z5P8hV3JvridCA3KA7o2c8umvM/s1600/IMG_1468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57iqiF-dFKRY9qsNpYvtoEZNgIvKdSn7_mrKx-hxQcv14BVETxMBqz1wAiWxFSdIWSyqDAMXL4xiDhH8OkvmFLHeC4ibiI-fiuzXs7hJdWuV_f2536Z5P8hV3JvridCA3KA7o2c8umvM/s400/IMG_1468.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><u>Step 4: Make the handle casing</u><br />
Fold down each top edge a further 1 1/4" to the wrong sides to form the drawstring channels. Press. After many hours of hemming curtains I use a piece of cardboard marked with the hem allowance to get the fold in the right place.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ62npZ5MQ9vjX9RqQRO_X-HmbPm5L-B8a2-5RbTr-Rwh2-0HH1t60l-Zbr82zwp_9XtnoGThSApQhJJVAHRi9jtDvF-CdTEVU4kRtgNOkVJP45DQdcXyJhSJPgxM7ezUEavdPQ2kONK0/s1600/IMG_1472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ62npZ5MQ9vjX9RqQRO_X-HmbPm5L-B8a2-5RbTr-Rwh2-0HH1t60l-Zbr82zwp_9XtnoGThSApQhJJVAHRi9jtDvF-CdTEVU4kRtgNOkVJP45DQdcXyJhSJPgxM7ezUEavdPQ2kONK0/s400/IMG_1472.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Sew each top along the line of your previous hem to make a 1" channel.<br />
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<u>Step 5: Square the corners</u><br />
Fold the bag so the side seams lie at the centre. Mark a line about 1" down from the corner, where the width of the bag is 2 1/2". Pin and repeat for the other corner.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacgEXHcX-57eJQQxij1fEcHRWAFvPfeTRK3iohjhEIPEaf6QjfbYV2RMjcvVYzlwHWEhCoKBqESH6y05_8senkzTjE0jaknjfSc_WG1KVQCnlF0ypDY2udUbPrctTedVEO0ly2lRTn_o/s1600/IMG_1469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacgEXHcX-57eJQQxij1fEcHRWAFvPfeTRK3iohjhEIPEaf6QjfbYV2RMjcvVYzlwHWEhCoKBqESH6y05_8senkzTjE0jaknjfSc_WG1KVQCnlF0ypDY2udUbPrctTedVEO0ly2lRTn_o/s400/IMG_1469.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> Sew along the marked line, then zig-zag next to it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPdeUhwsF2qdW3Cj0rLde4j8qbVQzej6ayCGeSKC3G0XqvCcfmUf9XDgeWDj4yvhr8YekBRkqmpo_JtImil38OJPhYMP5pshqMnxe015Hd-SFs2wP2NISp6e0S1Uo594E_1fCweutZGE/s1600/IMG_1470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPdeUhwsF2qdW3Cj0rLde4j8qbVQzej6ayCGeSKC3G0XqvCcfmUf9XDgeWDj4yvhr8YekBRkqmpo_JtImil38OJPhYMP5pshqMnxe015Hd-SFs2wP2NISp6e0S1Uo594E_1fCweutZGE/s400/IMG_1470.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> Trim off the corner.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEdKC5ngo6gRultMHKbzHCZ_PyvZbuxltZEImTZucNTHftKKhgT2doXR7n7nr6QA2_I-sTXy5qNqJhcWQZpnTSNTDQKth4feHdRZi7Sh-NLa_HONf4S9r9LrPI6IWIuxmdLdYvY3Crkk/s1600/IMG_1471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEdKC5ngo6gRultMHKbzHCZ_PyvZbuxltZEImTZucNTHftKKhgT2doXR7n7nr6QA2_I-sTXy5qNqJhcWQZpnTSNTDQKth4feHdRZi7Sh-NLa_HONf4S9r9LrPI6IWIuxmdLdYvY3Crkk/s400/IMG_1471.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><u>Step 6: Embellish!</u><br />
I used one of El's drawings printed on to transfer paper and ironed it directly on to the bag. (Make sure your transfer paper is suitable for linen!) I added a little label to the other side using the same method.<br />
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<u>Step 7: Make and thread the handles</u> <br />
To make handles like these, take 1 strip of patterned cotton and 1 strip of bag material and pin, right sides together. Sew with a 1/4" allowance. Use a safety pin to turn inside out and press, tucking in the ends. Topstitch close to the edge all the way around.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp25zrpMsVyMKcH3H__myo7PtrCP4XERF8ykd-F9cHhl6dW8hmRQwwgcRE_-zW3gxAXZQ2BAz-czYKwCPzxICFs0VGYt1E1toomnYnccUMjvRBmfGXWtV7R-Q7juklYwuHzs1W7rjH9yg/s1600/IMG_1473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp25zrpMsVyMKcH3H__myo7PtrCP4XERF8ykd-F9cHhl6dW8hmRQwwgcRE_-zW3gxAXZQ2BAz-czYKwCPzxICFs0VGYt1E1toomnYnccUMjvRBmfGXWtV7R-Q7juklYwuHzs1W7rjH9yg/s400/IMG_1473.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<center> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUX0QFH6YQhjpAwPTEFmHGvF6yWNlZwVIXnfYL6oLHQfQgBFQ35fNlYW-3qn3CFE_tn_7F9kk7GHXDHxthD4xmwXK6Vza-dpZHsY5vI6cqzFskZLFUtSsavHGNM36re_pPuyRDOKO72k/s1600/IMG_1474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUX0QFH6YQhjpAwPTEFmHGvF6yWNlZwVIXnfYL6oLHQfQgBFQ35fNlYW-3qn3CFE_tn_7F9kk7GHXDHxthD4xmwXK6Vza-dpZHsY5vI6cqzFskZLFUtSsavHGNM36re_pPuyRDOKO72k/s400/IMG_1474.jpg" width="400" /></a></center><br />
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Thread each handle through a channel. (Fold in half to fit through the channel if you've made wide handles). I used a knitting needle and safety pin to make this bearably quick.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcItMZ4reXqHR561-qfizPkgXWxMtJNN1uFhBQagvi1Ak-YoUN-HH61ZiNPmscNu_nu_L1R4uyV-cgHHusPwvCjeZa170IFNtnSlP4wRUFKTprZjY8_JMCVflvNtLbMT0MmPgIWFQEy4/s1600/IMG_1478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcItMZ4reXqHR561-qfizPkgXWxMtJNN1uFhBQagvi1Ak-YoUN-HH61ZiNPmscNu_nu_L1R4uyV-cgHHusPwvCjeZa170IFNtnSlP4wRUFKTprZjY8_JMCVflvNtLbMT0MmPgIWFQEy4/s400/IMG_1478.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB937mzZs4fjXsgUABkKzbqcmZGp0N3wmLDLa_l5KWnkYJKqoJYSpUDOL1v0W54NggzcMlNHA9WElhyJ3U63MWQ5pFcTgNuwEcmY6GrUqYxfnv5dDBKEEALtB-RosqqtNBxb9RPzUAnoI/s1600/IMG_1479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB937mzZs4fjXsgUABkKzbqcmZGp0N3wmLDLa_l5KWnkYJKqoJYSpUDOL1v0W54NggzcMlNHA9WElhyJ3U63MWQ5pFcTgNuwEcmY6GrUqYxfnv5dDBKEEALtB-RosqqtNBxb9RPzUAnoI/s400/IMG_1479.jpg" width="400" /></a></center><br />
Overlaps the handle ends 1” and sew together (making sure it’s not twisted!), then shift the straps around until the overlapped ends sit within the channels. Pull the handles to gather the fabric as required.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Sit back and admire the finished product!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPaX9fEoo0AiCMaQI8wE1dJpfr_Es9ncQphfuRDEg3EWtWdsQqb4rEjDBsgvyQ2ywnCL28-NWPG-8XldeMU9jm28P_goK1pRjVeObYV5RK0xfMHC0PBV9rVwe0XHRZ6169abvmJmzP7o/s1600/IMG_1494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPaX9fEoo0AiCMaQI8wE1dJpfr_Es9ncQphfuRDEg3EWtWdsQqb4rEjDBsgvyQ2ywnCL28-NWPG-8XldeMU9jm28P_goK1pRjVeObYV5RK0xfMHC0PBV9rVwe0XHRZ6169abvmJmzP7o/s400/IMG_1494.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsD-vCh3sqNIGjqpXpH8z9TOXJAtwKP3q7AlsUkLurM12apEyd1CHCwsqaZfx_fzFLYhV8Bg0Rc5uZY4JrdMhgblt6cYLZT5bdIlwqbGnrw_9-oIeDlQMxZECRx_V-3l8AnYJHTRwHSTg/s1600/IMG_1494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a>(Personal use only - please do not sell bags made from this tutorial.)</div></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-23363997114990585962011-04-03T13:06:00.000-07:002011-04-10T13:38:39.295-07:00Funny facesI just thought I'd share this little art activity my 4-year-old has enjoyed recently. I usually leave her to it when it comes to art as she's quite happy with paper and pencils and crayons, and always has strong opinions about exactly what she wants to do and how she's going to do it. But the other day we were talking about emotions and how to draw them, and I thought of this.<br />
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To get her started, I drew 6 ovals on a piece of paper, and added very simple eyes and a nose to each.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0qo8qSuIz4z9Z-Iezjs0Lq_TfihXQCHF2hNZXd-mlZEMoELLxY2OREqnzXx-Tp-7KzMXpKYPq35E3QuBJP7f_b31i-G-_RkCOfm9geAbINkzIDVuXOnJ7opGH5JPxfET9ppi2gUCFgo/s1600/IMG_1595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0qo8qSuIz4z9Z-Iezjs0Lq_TfihXQCHF2hNZXd-mlZEMoELLxY2OREqnzXx-Tp-7KzMXpKYPq35E3QuBJP7f_b31i-G-_RkCOfm9geAbINkzIDVuXOnJ7opGH5JPxfET9ppi2gUCFgo/s1600/IMG_1595.JPG" width="500" /></a></div><br />
Then I gave her the bathroom mirror and asked her to try an expression (angry was a good one) and look at her mouth (open, closed, smiling, straight etc.) and eyebrows (low, high, curved, straight, sloping, etc). After we'd talked a little about what they looked like, I left her to have a go at drawing them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMUwjqyg3sVxmzp09xhNKsg2KVSv5bKmmHvsK3FQHxgI5eXFc64WbgEnyn2KGXwmhvTFut6B2TdkYi06AI4cujSUfXhsbH5ss_elh5xtW2FVGypMFDjRWGSwuq5vBP6thpKX9gSXbL3c/s1600/IMG_1596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMUwjqyg3sVxmzp09xhNKsg2KVSv5bKmmHvsK3FQHxgI5eXFc64WbgEnyn2KGXwmhvTFut6B2TdkYi06AI4cujSUfXhsbH5ss_elh5xtW2FVGypMFDjRWGSwuq5vBP6thpKX9gSXbL3c/s1600/IMG_1596.JPG" width="500" /></a></div><br />
Cue one happy, occupied child and one highly entertained mother!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWo8rCcVryLFkEvL2CZ2jZlkufl3ZexUIQ8LDbtWkU9hLbEzp86KbQYiaO6wvylvcICol0SrgTmfKhy6GE0UDM-Lk22gydzw3AQapYelMGp9Z2KrjHRj4wG6QjcYZ1shNBmUroa6DWipM/s1600/IMG_1598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWo8rCcVryLFkEvL2CZ2jZlkufl3ZexUIQ8LDbtWkU9hLbEzp86KbQYiaO6wvylvcICol0SrgTmfKhy6GE0UDM-Lk22gydzw3AQapYelMGp9Z2KrjHRj4wG6QjcYZ1shNBmUroa6DWipM/s1600/IMG_1598.JPG" width="500" /></a></div><br />
She was really pleased with the drawings she produced.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ft6N59NxoOgKRG7UJ6zKLHBGDniUZ25e5D9kGLjqe5YSRxY3muo811ku0Lmdfd3h1x_IIIHkFtlGpVqNhBuOovgvdz1z7wKx9n1Qv_seUGYjrjgYKhzlOb0pMnPzwlRrBXHrElPoKIA/s1600/IMG_1599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ft6N59NxoOgKRG7UJ6zKLHBGDniUZ25e5D9kGLjqe5YSRxY3muo811ku0Lmdfd3h1x_IIIHkFtlGpVqNhBuOovgvdz1z7wKx9n1Qv_seUGYjrjgYKhzlOb0pMnPzwlRrBXHrElPoKIA/s1600/IMG_1599.JPG" width="500" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-80227735587898778402011-03-23T16:01:00.000-07:002011-04-12T14:15:40.876-07:00Happy Spring!<center> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZI_MLvjHdEIjy864hARirDujTXUQQ-s9mdy4CsuBLrNri9rMVEzgQ0t4TqxU4v9jC7xax0zucnLy95M1ivIO0VDLqD1PPqubJu8rp7KsNzKfCb2kJPXhXKnV31U1tIHgAHRJtn5rglOg/s1600/springblouses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZI_MLvjHdEIjy864hARirDujTXUQQ-s9mdy4CsuBLrNri9rMVEzgQ0t4TqxU4v9jC7xax0zucnLy95M1ivIO0VDLqD1PPqubJu8rp7KsNzKfCb2kJPXhXKnV31U1tIHgAHRJtn5rglOg/s1600/springblouses.jpg" width="500" /></a></center><br />
I've been meaning to make blouses/tunics for the girls in quilting fabric ever since last summer, and finally got around to it this past week. I used the Leila & Ben <a href="http://leilaandben.com/sweetdress.htm">Sweet Little Dress</a> pattern, cut a little shorter. Ki's dress has sleeves made from recycled t-shirt fabric for comfort, since the elastication of the neck and sleeves seems to roughen even the softest woven cotton. I added elastic at the front of each bodice to give a bit of an empire waist and a nice flair to the skirt.<br />
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<center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyZ9mowKdi5vNPzJ5PjC1Hh6rVPUiSzNPK6JhVm25zFosfCIAiuD1nN4WeaAPZdyCdAUiflPc5GtdfW8bq3A8Y6eIPyijRARn3gCDSngL9Dah_ZswpZaru_-xDUdQOE3roR3aNja7b40/s1600/springfarm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyZ9mowKdi5vNPzJ5PjC1Hh6rVPUiSzNPK6JhVm25zFosfCIAiuD1nN4WeaAPZdyCdAUiflPc5GtdfW8bq3A8Y6eIPyijRARn3gCDSngL9Dah_ZswpZaru_-xDUdQOE3roR3aNja7b40/s1600/springfarm.jpg" width="500" /></a></div></center><br />
The bottom part of El's blouse is pale blue linen, and I particularly like that colour combined with those of the Amy Butler print - they're the colours of dawn on the sunny spring days that we've been experiencing, and delighting in. <br />
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<center> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFPUsw8n4D1Gu548GMLmBkF2iAUg88nfuhvxxwBru2k5tPNkgkDpBrgPPGMfPhorKu5RQBOMK_OMYotOm12824rTmzek3xtuAwOuTCHcdVzf8_7o6IBBbJXcIKz0cBGWFemEVD_17Ehw/s1600/springzoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFPUsw8n4D1Gu548GMLmBkF2iAUg88nfuhvxxwBru2k5tPNkgkDpBrgPPGMfPhorKu5RQBOMK_OMYotOm12824rTmzek3xtuAwOuTCHcdVzf8_7o6IBBbJXcIKz0cBGWFemEVD_17Ehw/s1600/springzoo.jpg" width="500" /></a></center><br />
(With the obligatory accompanying creases, tangled hair and saggy leggings! Mini Boden we are not.)Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-24096884105887787472011-03-09T13:45:00.000-08:002011-04-12T14:16:10.648-07:00Crayon rolls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3gp2_4XiI75E5PguASoJUV5es0LGNpreSAy_AzmKLU57HcCv2j3Q_nZLwYA-uuOCnwZ6lV3hlHNpzUV_9-rjoaVu75JQJ0neD4B9FEiukh9evSBodp2ytQWFKdmy1r4yi1nxTO2HPeg/s1600/IMG_1228b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3gp2_4XiI75E5PguASoJUV5es0LGNpreSAy_AzmKLU57HcCv2j3Q_nZLwYA-uuOCnwZ6lV3hlHNpzUV_9-rjoaVu75JQJ0neD4B9FEiukh9evSBodp2ytQWFKdmy1r4yi1nxTO2HPeg/s1600/IMG_1228b.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />
This might be my favourite sewing project to date. It ticks all the boxes: quick to make, relatively straightforward to sew (so long as you don't get distracted by the radio and sew forget to leave yourself a gap to turn the thing the right way out - but I wouldn't be silly enough to do that, would I? :D ). The results are both pretty and extremely practical. Especially for Ki, who spends as much time playing with the crayons as drawing with them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyH3UEbuEXrksyy4F-Ros_6VKLk8HeLzdLzAXZnVsR7QQtWwzm6LiBtKZ8-lAJaB_duqEjeLHCQXMkIxH2t-iFcqvPYH0j5CeSlYgrzBZR0tekU6VT0og1mdh7006115QxNkiQFgXW3g/s1600/IMG_1230b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyH3UEbuEXrksyy4F-Ros_6VKLk8HeLzdLzAXZnVsR7QQtWwzm6LiBtKZ8-lAJaB_duqEjeLHCQXMkIxH2t-iFcqvPYH0j5CeSlYgrzBZR0tekU6VT0og1mdh7006115QxNkiQFgXW3g/s1600/IMG_1230b.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>Don't they look sweet wrapped up like that? Tutorials for making these are all over the place. I followed instructions <a href="http://thepleatedpoppy.com/2010/05/crayon-roll-tutorial/">here</a>, and took inspiration from the felt pencil roll in <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Family-Encourage-Imagination-Connections/dp/1590304713/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299707604&sr=8-1">this book</a>. <br />
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I think I might need to make another one for my stash of beloved Karisma pencils. I only found out the other day that they are no longer made, which is so sad because they are by far the best colour pencils I've ever come across for pigment intensity and blendability. As Miss E said, "look Mama, the yellow isn't invisible!"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECSBxtvTy9KCPr-y4qNw5U4Llxl3aNV5-IEY0k7EpL3V0WGIF4DDs1Oc6ebHK3LAxHwXWo2jkNhSv1c7iNlVPv6TkqAwuxKPzvmtq5LQ2pzT2wVCeBMDfynfzTmL7Id8yggXv7hLE6_w/s1600/IMG_1204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECSBxtvTy9KCPr-y4qNw5U4Llxl3aNV5-IEY0k7EpL3V0WGIF4DDs1Oc6ebHK3LAxHwXWo2jkNhSv1c7iNlVPv6TkqAwuxKPzvmtq5LQ2pzT2wVCeBMDfynfzTmL7Id8yggXv7hLE6_w/s1600/IMG_1204.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-2973494266815156832011-03-03T14:30:00.000-08:002011-03-09T13:14:47.249-08:00Photo Friday/This Moment<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBc1AI58GJMifYT_67qaVFUmvG9B3ggVeKz5-FP1xQgaR-nKjYRH0eInc6OLIccVKGYMSwXirWZ26EWBaQxDy_aAM2jU0KrqOQUqMkvnO3avtUlR2pKTu80ulXTAS8NeCG23E72F0kCsk/s1600/IMG_1186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>A little early this week, to make up for the missing last week.<br />
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Inspired by <a href="http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/">Soulemama</a>'s {this moment}, and doubly-inspired, in fact, since Ki's little pullover was my first knitting project in a very long time. The pattern is the "toddler-t-shirt-vest" by Sam Lamb, free from Ravelry <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/toddler-t-shirt-vest">here</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhV-nkZFpLtXsLcE3cfCBl_15MoN2bg-LrVLGSDQKtli3X7FzFPUmDbCcM44hCF-GtMwXQS13EJ1HIKMaVSMVdQvAJRUF2hi2QEbOf-hICF9KKBjw9AzV_SoayVv_mdhU1cxxwyaMzaA/s1600/IMG_1134.jpg"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhV-nkZFpLtXsLcE3cfCBl_15MoN2bg-LrVLGSDQKtli3X7FzFPUmDbCcM44hCF-GtMwXQS13EJ1HIKMaVSMVdQvAJRUF2hi2QEbOf-hICF9KKBjw9AzV_SoayVv_mdhU1cxxwyaMzaA/s1600/IMG_1134.jpg" width="166" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbo4zwBuTrFBPnmrgEtQeTd-Ab18r9M8_7wcZmH0WLsQmim00AhOnTEM9SX2MdqMshhg_Xl1Da0F00JvC0Ec3aHBay63EfdoQ1LW_RFl1ZRFTovp256EwAt6yMXAi8Joi_miZzwuXnik/s1600/IMG_1137.JPG"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbo4zwBuTrFBPnmrgEtQeTd-Ab18r9M8_7wcZmH0WLsQmim00AhOnTEM9SX2MdqMshhg_Xl1Da0F00JvC0Ec3aHBay63EfdoQ1LW_RFl1ZRFTovp256EwAt6yMXAi8Joi_miZzwuXnik/s1600/IMG_1137.JPG" width="166" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmkaPC9hC9qO3mlTWvTQgBMqfRnuK7Br0k5slJ5osbvNGWcpPFL16Cj3h747HdqFb2xitMfIFHlH9roYfe42pmNzj-VclwQ-9_UCjJaqeqao3DLV5Z22NtFRxsjiY35DQDscFFB_d2bI/s1600/IMG_1133.jpg"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmkaPC9hC9qO3mlTWvTQgBMqfRnuK7Br0k5slJ5osbvNGWcpPFL16Cj3h747HdqFb2xitMfIFHlH9roYfe42pmNzj-VclwQ-9_UCjJaqeqao3DLV5Z22NtFRxsjiY35DQDscFFB_d2bI/s1600/IMG_1133.jpg" width="166" /></a><br />
</center><center>We're enjoying our quiet morning drawing time at the table, especially on a sunny morning, and when our room is filled with the scent of these:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBc1AI58GJMifYT_67qaVFUmvG9B3ggVeKz5-FP1xQgaR-nKjYRH0eInc6OLIccVKGYMSwXirWZ26EWBaQxDy_aAM2jU0KrqOQUqMkvnO3avtUlR2pKTu80ulXTAS8NeCG23E72F0kCsk/s1600/IMG_1186.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBc1AI58GJMifYT_67qaVFUmvG9B3ggVeKz5-FP1xQgaR-nKjYRH0eInc6OLIccVKGYMSwXirWZ26EWBaQxDy_aAM2jU0KrqOQUqMkvnO3avtUlR2pKTu80ulXTAS8NeCG23E72F0kCsk/s1600/IMG_1186.JPG" width="300" /></a></center>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579318824357020624.post-50584888572920005842011-02-18T16:33:00.000-08:002011-02-18T16:33:57.373-08:00Photo Friday/This MomentInspired by <a href="http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/">Soulemama</a>'s {this moment}:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYTro9qZcAzk8UEnYZbfYQYnWQBHG1kUbgFgoB7zBJ5cR8ZHW48vZrVTJWAeK2beRxSQxq7AoYiNkeduxPWDca6d3qG_hAMioTQIX5tyju5y-gWwz3rI7I2jl0h8EAleIyLtBFbTpHiQ/s1600/02182011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYTro9qZcAzk8UEnYZbfYQYnWQBHG1kUbgFgoB7zBJ5cR8ZHW48vZrVTJWAeK2beRxSQxq7AoYiNkeduxPWDca6d3qG_hAMioTQIX5tyju5y-gWwz3rI7I2jl0h8EAleIyLtBFbTpHiQ/s1600/02182011.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Two tired children today meant bathtime was best enjoyed straight after lunch.I think this is the way to go for cold, dreary winter's afternoons.</div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571163334708302100noreply@blogger.com2