Five

Happy Birthday to you my wee girl. It seems like an age since we found out you were coming.  A world away, literally... It was my birthday and we were visiting the Shetland Islands.  Your Dad knew there was something amiss when I turned down a seafood dinner out to instead go to sleep, stating "that would be the best birthday present he could give me".  That's when we knew you were there.  Even before you arrived you were the daughter who made us change our paths.  Before you arrived we lived overseas.  Before you came we worked to travel. You were in my belly when we travelled to Thailand.  We went for a wedding and an adventure but on day three jaw dropping morning sickness kicked in and all I could eat was pomello and salty potato chips.  A bus ride saw me holding a plastic bag of my vomit, goldfish-like for two hours before we could get out. We cut our holiday short and returned to England intent on having you there, but through a few twists and turns we ended up homeless and jobless in an increasingly strange land- and on more buses - lonely double decker rides staring out at endless cold grey streets, you made me long for the light and warmth and familiarity of home and the love of those familiar.

I remember the strong smell of eucalypt on the humid air the night we stepped back into Australia.  Still homeless and jobless and penniless but somewhere where we knew. I remember the fear dissolving that night...heralded in by morning magpie's song there was no need for worry, we were on the right path. Despite more moves and shuffles and house hunting and job hunting the one constant was that you were coming.  We traded the sound of magpies for the soothing rumbling of trams and settled into the suburbia of california bungalows and walks along Merri creeks.  

Then one cold night in May you arrived.  You took your time. We didn't mind. It took endless pacing, hand in hand and eventually your Dad making analogies to laps in swimming pools... 'We are approaching the wall.  Turn.  Kick off. We are swimming again'. But then you were there. You chose to arrive posterior ... the difficult way but looking up at the world.  You arrived eyes wide open. Ready. I can still feel the weight of you on my chest that night at midnight.  I carry you there even now that you are five.

 There has been more change and moves since.  We have crossed the water to live on a small Island.  Those rumbling trams we travelled on are now the things of holidays and visits to Aunties and Uncles. It is here in a wonky old house that you have arrived at five.  My beautiful wee girl.  My creative girl.  My girl who climbs trees in dresses.  My girl who composes musical numbers and sings her words when her happiness spills over.  My girl who is the wordsmith.  My girl who never stops.  My girl who is still keen to send her brothers back. My girl who challenges me - so great are our differences and so familiar our similarities. My girl who started this mother caper; who arrived without instruction manual.

My girl who is already planning her next birthday party.

My girl who is five. 

Happy birthday to you, gorgeous girl.  The, "This was the best party ever.  It was just ... magnificent", made this Mumma's day xxx

La petite couture

We have a little tradition the wee girl and I.  Each year, come birthday time, I sew a new dress.  A birthday dress.  A dress for the party. This year was no different ... Except this year it wasn't a surprise dress, this year the girl got to choose all by herself.  This year she sat on the floor of the back room and got to go through the box of patterns.  This year she ummed and aahed, perused and pondered, and decided all by herself.  She picked out Style 4060, circa 1973 - my, my, the girl has an eye.  A beautiful pannelled dress with collar. She then plundered the stash cupboard and we pulled out a few fabrics - but she settled on this one - a 100% Cotton Pique that I have lovingly stroked for a while now - waiting for the moment that it would get its chance.  I had the perfect pink cotton for the pockets and collar tucked away.

 That was weeks ago.  It sat cut out but unsewed until a couple of days before her party. She had no idea I had been sewing at night to get it finished. So she still got her surprise.  Her party was on Sunday and the look on her face when I revealed the new dress complete with matching skivvy and tights was ACE... and I did have that little moment where I revelled in her joy ... because one day a dress sewn by your Mama may not illicit quite the same reaction. She even proclaimed after the party that it needed to be hung up so she could where it on her actual birthday (which is tomorrow). But for now it is still the number one reason why I get so much pleasure out of sewing ... it's the giving away of something you have made with love and having it received like you are the Christian Lacroix of Tasmania.  Viva la petite couture, non?

Ruche Fabrics Launceston

Image via Tessuti

I'm up far too early.  I woke up thinking about sewing.  Then I was thinking about fabric.  Then I was thinking about our slim pickings here in fair Launceston.  Then I was thinking about how I just need to see it in the flesh to choose. Then I headed to Tessuti to do some virtual fabric fondling.  And then I was stopped in my tracks by this post.  Launceston is getting it's very own fine fabric shop ...Ruche Fabrics ... and it's opening today!! And their fabrics are sourced through Tessuti... and I'm really excited. And (as if I needed another 'and') they are having this cheeky wee giveaway.  Today I will be at 108 George Street, Launceston somewhere between 10am and 5pm. Nice one.

 Procrastination move aside.  I be ticking off a list.  #1 Post parcel complete with gifts that have been blinking up at me in my sewing room saying 'Please complete me'.  Why!  Happy to oblige, because I be ticking off my list.  A little artistic licence on the blue bee hive and all, but I like it.

This is a flannel wrap/ blanket which I concede does look rather garish in this shot - but I tell you - the contrast orange stitching looked quite jolly in real life.  Now to attack a few little girl's birthday party presents ... I am using them as carrot dangling fodder so that I can get at the real sewing adventure ... A couple of dresses for myself.  That is after I convince two wee lads that they must take turns pushing the pink dolly's pram.  Anyone else support my research that a pink dolly's pram is the toy voted most likely to kick of a blood bath in the play room?  I can see now why parents were comfortable with allowing their children to go on the children's crusade.  They had one pink dolly's pram, and on that one fact alone, felt confident that given an opponent their size, their fighting skills would cut it.

Suzy Patterns

Suzy patterns has just released her gorgeous Antoinette Dress pattern! I just love this version of it ... I am a sucker for blue and red! But the most amazing thing is it is FREE!  You can go here to download it.  Just thought I would give a little bloggy heads up ... since I'm getting right into this sewing for myself caper.

Mount Gnomon Farm

On Sunday we went loaded the tribe in the car for a driving adventure. Our travels took us to Penguin and 'Rare Day Out' - an open day at Mount Gnomon Farm.  We have been buying their wonderful products from Harvest Market and were keen as mustard (or bacon) for a look see and to pat a piglet or two (or ten if you are my daughter).  The farm is nestled at the base of Mount Gnomon and Mount Duncan and just a short drive out of Penguin - we never need much of an excuse to head to the coast to suck in some ocean air - but a day on a farm was icing.

Patting piglets

pointing at piggies

enjoying spaces

meeting the rare heritage breed: Wessex Saddleback pigs

exploring the farm

enjoying our tour and seeing the sow with her litter

For our wee family, nothing beats the chance to get out and away for the day.  Having such a wonderful destination, with a chance to learn more about where our food comes from is really special. Sipping a coffee in a paddock with the smalls happily patting piglets, a little bit farm fancy, no? Thankfully the electric fences were off ... as the lads were keen to check for themselves (insert fierce intake of breath from bystanders). Many thanks to Guy and Eliza for a lovely Day Out. Their passion for their beautiful farm and for producing ethically raised meat was really inspiring; their enthusiasm so wonderfully infectious. Follow Mount Gnomon on Facebook here ... then you'll not miss their next open day... or head to Harvest Farmer's Market this Saturday and sample the love yourself.

A Pink Peony

 Presenting my latest adventure in Couture Pour Moi ... Colette Patterns' Peony.  This is my wearable muslin.  Despite being between a few sizes ... I ran it up in the Size 8 ... I am really happy with the fit ... Next dress (oh I've already got the fabric out, ready to be cut!) I think I will add a little in the length - I feel I am feeling a little bit breezy when I bend to pick up smalls, if you know what I mean ...

 The fabric is a linen look fabric I picked up from the op shop last week.  I dare say it has some poly in there - hell it might all be poly - but it was perfect for my first go.  I don't own anything pink.  But I am actually pretty happy with how it looks.

 The bateau neck is so lovely and just a little bit classy, methinks.  It's important to be a little bit classy.  Rise above your station, I say.  Like having a cheeky vino with your chips and gravy.  I may have made the darts a little pert (if you know what I mean) but I only think you would notice if you where staring at my chest ... and really I don't think there is any danger there.

I omitted the pockets this time - only because I was impatient to get the dress finished so I could see if it had worked. The only change I made was that I put in a conventional zip in lieu of an invisible - I haven't been able to get my hands on an invisible zipper foot for my machine - although it has turned out OK - an invisible zip would definately be a much nicer finish.

Oh and I didn't make the belt ... I'm not good with belts!

This is an awesome dress.  I have a feeling I'm going to be whipping up a few of these as my go to dress!  Colette Patterns are available at Milkbar if you live on the Apple Isle x