Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Little Projects

We're enjoying gorgeous warm weather here in Provence this final week of holidays before the kids head back to school.

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Plenty to see around the garden. 

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No idea what this is, but I love the colour. 

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Sadly, these will go to waste. I'm having enough trouble preserving my sanity, let alone my olives. 

I've been working on some little projects, perfect for those small pockets of spare time I find every now and then. 

These newborn pants are about 30 minutes to sew. My 30 minutes had to be spaced throughout a whole day, but I got them done in the end. You can find the tutorial here at Made by Rae.  

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Then I decided to make my darling daughter some skirts. This first one I actually made before the baby came, but it's a fab little tutorial which you can find here at Two Little Banshees.

I asked my daughter to wear this for me today and she tried to bribe me into letting her watch more television in exchange for modelling services. She gets a high-five for creativity but like the US, I don't negotiate with terrorists, so I took this photo when she wasn't paying attention.

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Sewn with an on-sale pillowcase, should've run the stripes vertically and made the skirt shorter. Not my best effort. 

Next skirt - I tried this great little tutorial over at Dana's blog, Made. Thoroughly recommended.

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The bias binding adds such a nice touch. 

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The elephant came first - I made him about two years ago. I bought the pattern for it at Two Little Banshees; you can find it here.

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Some behind-the-scenes photos that show my brilliant mothering skills.

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The skirt had to be pinned on the shutters three times as my little assistant kept taking it down for me.

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So I convinced my assistant to pick some lavender instead. Turns out the lavender can pull back. 

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Bad mother. I took the photo first, rescued the child second. But I promise he wasn't crying, just surprised. 

Ahem. So back to the sewing. I made another one of Dana's skirts, this time with the double layers.

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My model was more agreeable this time round. 

I also managed to finish the baby's quilt. The top and back were pieced before he was born, quilting was very simple - a single line on all the white sashing. Scrappy binding of the darker (blue and green) fabrics only.
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The back was pieced so that the white sashing corresponded with sashing on the front.

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I had every intention of taking some nice arty-farty photos after this, but the baby started yelling and my little helper reappeared.

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Soon after taking this one I detected they'd both crapped themselves. Sigh, photo shoot over.

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"You think this is bad, wait 'til you start eating solids." 

One day at a time, Kirsty. One day at a time.

17 comments:

Lauren said...

I feel tired just looking at these photos, yet you still find the energy to do some sewing! Supermum. Gorgeous kids too.

Ann Marie said...

I love reading your blog. Always puts a smile on my face.

Susan said...

Ah Kirsty! You've made my day again! Your wonderful positive attitude and delightful sense of humour should be bottled and sold! I can see why your female terrorist was distracted by darling H! Take care! And you are an amazing mother!

blandina said...

Kirsty, if I think back when my fourth child was born, I can not remember any spare time to sew, take pictures, being funny and writing.
What are you: Wonder Woman?!?!

Sarah - Red Gingham said...

Your simple backing fabric matched the front seams perfectly!! That's just too much for me to comprehend. You clearly are super duper clever and perhaps get more clever with each baby. Very gorgeous quilt indeed my dear.

I love the skirts esp the orange one. Too cute, loving orange at the moment as I sit here in my new orange t-shirt.

Glad to hear you are doing so well and fitting in lots of fun. Love to you xxx

Miriam said...

Great to see you are fitting in some sewing (and photography) time!
The quilt is wonderful and I love the skirt and matching elephant! Really cute!

Wendy said...

wow, I can't believe how much sewing you've got done, and with the little ones around! Love the baby quilt, it's beautiful.

Marg said...

Wow I'm super impressed that you matched the sashing back and front, that would never ever happen here. You have been so busy, I'm very very impressed and such beautiful results. Love all your clothing fabric choices., and the quilt is stunning.
I think that pink flower is Oleander, which if it is, is poisonous! Don't let the munchkins play with it!

Belinda Saville said...

Oh gosh, I must remember to sit with my legs crossed next time I come and visit you lest I wet my pants with laughter again...!

I don't know what's funnier - knowing the feeling of a newborn and a toddler who crap simultaneously (which, when you are the designated changer-er, is really not all that funny) or taking a photo of your little one being eaten by the lavender first and THEN rescuing him from its clutches...

Lovely work on the duds for the little ones...how you find the time with FOUR rugrats is just beyond me. I think aracne is right - you must be Wonder Woman.

B.
-xxx-

PS. I would have taken the photo first too ;-)

midge said...

love your work kirsty

Christine said...

I so love your comment about negotiating with terrorists.
The skirts are cute, I love the binding! I wonder how that would look adult sized.....

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

The olives will be back next season so preserve your sanity, play with the kids and keep entertaining us... so creative you are!

Bises,
Genie

Dianne said...

Ah Kirsty! you are such a whizz - making all those beautiful clothes while looking after your delightful brood - The stripe skirt is just gorgeous in fact they're all gorgeous.
I'm off on holidays to Palm Cove - lots of sunshine and relax! Have a wonderful week. xx

Eva said...

I love your quilt, the colours are beautiful!!! :-) The skirts are cute and I love that there's a matching cute elephant! :-) I really admire you for making the time to do so much sewing!

Rachel at Stitched in Color said...

Oh my gosh, the ending here is hilarious! Love it.

Poppyprint said...

OMG, you are hilarious. And honestly, I'm thinking you don't sleep AT ALL because there's no other way to get all that sewing done with 4 children in summertime! Sweet skirts.

Christina Lane | The Sometimes Crafter said...

I had to follow the link from Kristin's blog - SO funny! I LOL'd for real on that one!

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