Side tracked...

Its funny, usually all I want to do in my life is sew but now that I have to sew I don't want to.

I've spent so much time in the caravan over the past few weeks making, deciding, choosing and fixing that now I can't even see the bigger picture any more.

I really have no idea if the curtains I've made so far are a bit too much or if they work.

Before we had kids my farmer boy and I travelled up and down the East coast of Australia looking for land to buy. We drove a cute white combi and before we left I made some blue fluffy curtains with appliqued colourful flowers.

While I was making them they seemed like a great idea, but a few months down the track it was like blue fluff?? really??

This time I want to make curtains for the caravan that will go the distance, that I'll still like in the months to come. Curtains that wont hurt my eyes and make me wish I had brought my sewing machine along to make more.

So what does a sewing obsessed girl do when she needs space from her sewing? She sews something else of course. A dress!

Forget the deadline and the the fact that my house is messier than ever before, forget the fact that I have to sew so we can get outta here, ignore the fact that I found myself hiding the fact that I was sewing a dress when ever anyone walked in and sew one anyway.

Miss Pepper definitely does not need anther mama made dress at the moment but I had to sew one anyway. Some thrifted knit fabric, an already cut out pattern and I was off.

And would you believe, it did the trick.

I sewed the dress, we left the chaos of home and went to a birthday party and then when we got home I saw things for what they are and changed the project completely.

The new curtain plan is plainer and quicker and feels so much more doable. Yay!

It didn't hurt that Farmer Bren had cleaned and vacuumed and I could see the floor for the first time in ages too. #myhero

And this is the little beanie I knitted for the baby birthday boy. Raveled here.

He had the kids in hysterics taking pulling it off every time his mama put it on him.

So that's me. I've kind of calmed down now I have a new plan but I can't promise I'll definitely stick to it.

What should you be doing right now?

Have fun out there. x

Even though...

Even though I said I wouldn't do any non caravan related sewing until I have finished the curtains and the doona covers, I did.

Even though I said I wouldn't spend any time in op shops today looking for cool vintage sheets, I did.

Even though I didn't find any cool vintage sheets, I did find some great knit fabrics.

Even though I decided I am over wearing knee length a'line skirts, I wore one this morning and felt frumpy.

Even though we were delivering vegies and eggs this afternoon, I made my farmer boy take some pics of me with my knitting and my new skirt. Oh the life of a blogger's boy.

Even though I had the house to myself for a few hours this morning and lots of caravan sewing to do, I sewed a skirt.

Even though I felt guilty about it, I still kept cutting knit fabric and sewing myself a skirt.

Even though I have a skirt pattern in my head that works for me, I changed it and cut the pieces on a curve.

Even though I usually over lock and hem everything, I left lots of raw edges.

Even though I almost tripped over doing it, I still had such a laugh while taking the above pic of myself and my new skirt.

Even though I told myself I would never again buy the laundry detergent with the smell in it, I did and I love it.

Even though my family call me the style police, I still cannot work out what fabric to use for the caravan curtains. And does the print go on the inside or outside?

Even though Miss Jazzy is such a girly girl, the blue and white pattern above is the sheet she chose for her caravan bed sheet.

Even though I had planned to have dinner made when I went to pick up the girls, I only had a new skirt made.

Even though my list is still as long as it was this morning, I have a new skirt.

Even though I really, really want to make big girl skirts and put them in my shop like lots of lovely emailers are asking me to, I don't have the skills to grade the pattern for different sizes. Sorry.

Even though I really love writing this blog, I can't seem to write a magazine article about blogging.

Even though it's the weekend, I hope I can get the girlies to bed early and have a bit of couch time with my farmer boy.

Even though I haven't crossed anything off my list today, I hope you have.

Have you? Hope so.

Have a great one y'all. x

The 2 Pennys.

So that day that I've been dreading, finally dawned this morning.

That day that I've been fearing and hoping would not come for a while yet, is right here and there's no denying it.

My kids do not want to model my home made clothes any longer. Gosh, who knows if they'll ever want to wear them again.

To get these two farmer girlies to try on my fresh off the sewing machine dresses for size and then stand still outside for a few minutes, took almost more convincing and grovelling than I could muster on a Saturday morning.

To be honest, I was a bit proud of myself for conquering my fear of knits and then creating something a bit girly out of a boring bit of charcoal fabric. I thought they'd be as excited as I was. But they weren't. Not remotely.

The greeny striped dress is Penny and the charcoal dress is Penny jazzed up a bit with a ruffle sewn down the front. I've altered the shape a bit to suit my girls too which is so easy to do with knits.

In the end there was a jelly snake bribe, a mad dash and scramble on some rocks, a few scratches and some tears and then quicker than quick we were back inside, the dresses were strewn, jeans and t'shirts were popped back on and they were happy again.

Looks like from now on it'll be lots of photos of dresses on hangers around Foxs Lane.

Looks like there'll be lots of sewing dresses with knits too. I'm a bit hooked.

I hope your weekend is fantabulous. xx

Stuff I now know.

Over the last 24 hours I have learnt that my sewing with knit fabrics phobia was completely unfounded. I haven't had a chance to hem this little dress yet, but so far it has been easy peasy mageasy.

I have also learnt that it is a good thing that I am a fabric hoarder because as soon as the knit fabric sewing urge struck, I was prepared with a whole stack of thrifted knits.

I have learnt that even though I say out loud to anyone who will listen that I am not going to buy ANY yarn when I enter a shop, usually I will still buy yarn.

I have learnt how to add text to my photos in picnik, but I have yet to learn how to get my photos out of picnik and onto my desktop.

Apologies to everyone who clicked on my post this morning only to discover that it wasn't there. Apparently, when you publish a flickr photo on your blog it means it will publish a post for you then and there.

Thank you so much to everyone who emailed me to let me know. And yes, although I can somehow work this blog, I am still technologically and computerally illiterate.

I have learnt that fresh apple muffins for breakfast makes an everyday day feel like a party.

I have learnt that sometimes the simplest inventions are the most ingenious.

That little yellow thing pulls the elastic through the hem line of a garment rather than a stupid safety pin. That clever yellow thing wont catch, or open, or bend or tear your fabric. Brilliant!

I have learnt that sometimes when you ask the op shop fairies for something specific, they deliver. A stack of fancy little cards for 40cents. Hooray!

I have learnt that I must ALWAYS measure and pin.

I have learnt that you are meant to change the needle on your sewing machine and over locker after every eight hours of sewing...hmmmm I guess about three months is a bit too long.

And I have learnt that no matter how well prepared for something you are, sometimes it takes you by surprise and feels a little sad.

What have you learnt lately?

Bye bye. xx