School photos tomorrow...

So I made Moo a new outfit for the event. I have had this outfit in my head for quite a while, and it was so nice to get it out.
Somehow I feel like I've been bitten by the Sandi Henderson bug. I will say that I have more Ginger Blossom and a fair bit of Farmers Market in my stash, so you will be seeing more creations out of these fabrics

The outfit is from Ottobre's fabulous Spring 2008 issue. The top is the "Hug" t-shirt #12 and the "Misty" skirt #13. The Hug t-shirt was easy to put together. The only confusing part was figuring out which pieces had bound edges as you don't add a seam allowance to those edges It just took a bit of thought. Oh and then there was that part where I forgot to put the grain lines on the pattern pieces, so cut one piece going the wrong direction. All was sorted in the end.

The skirt went together well. When I finished it and held it up, I thought that can't fit Moo. It looks too big. But it does. It fits. My girl is growing up. The skirt sits on her hips, but with the bound waistband, I don't think it's meant to be right at the waist. Astrid at Connecting the Dots made this skirt with an elastic waistband. I think it was a good call as it's fiddly to gather the two skirts, baste them together then add binding for the waistband. The main reason I stuck to the pattern was that I wanted practice with putting in the zipper. It's my 4th zipper...I'm getting better.

Let's hope Moo can crack a smile for her photos.

Nighty night

This is the first of a few...I won't say many as Moo doesn't need a zillion nightgowns.

I used an Ottobre pattern as a starting point. It's a lovely blouse pattern from 02/05, #11. I extended it with a bit of an A-line Then added a ruffle on the bottom. I have to admit that I really enjoy that bizarre looking contraption called a ruffler foot. The fabric is a cotton voile that I purchased at Spotlight off the clearance table. It was maybe $3/m. Not a bad deal for a nightie!

Another year older!

On Sunday I celebrated my birthday with some of my friends.It was an adventure getting there. Friends running late, friends' car overheating. Quick dash to collect all friends, bar one, fixed the problem. Arrive at favourite restaurant 1 hour later than original booking! The meal was fantastic, the company was excellent and the kids were mostly well behaved.
The restaurant has a lovely garden out back which the kids enjoyed running around in. The consensus was that Will looked like a Pommy raver with his clothes, sunnies, hat and dummy. It's definitely a look!

Here's a picture of Ed helping Will walk through the garden. So cute!!!!
I barely had the camera out as I was enjoying the day. I should have taken photos of all the beautiful food that I ate. I had delicious TIbetean momos. They were so perfectly crisp on the bottom and were served with a very yummy eggplant salad. I loved the contrast of texture between the crispy momo and the soft eggplant. I had Red Braised Mt Tomah Chicken with Soy Beans, Deep Fried Salt & Pepper Tofu for my main. Lovely balance of flavours. Mollie loved the the salt and pepper tofu!
And for dessert I had a divine chocolate dessert of chocolate gel, chocolate pate' and chocolate crumbs. Yet again it was an enjoyable mix of textures. The gel was fantastic, not at all rubbery or slimy. In the centre of the gel was a syrup. It was amazingly citrusy. My friend Pam asked the chef about it and found out it was lemon verbena syrup. Then Pam was given two jars of the syrup from the chef and some lemon verbena leaves, so she could make her own! On the way home, Pam said to me I get why you dragged us all the way up here for lunch!

Ok, for a bit of craftiness for this entry. Today I bought a sewing cabinet! I am glad I'd been dithering about it. It was on sale for Mothers Day. Now I have to wait a couple of weeks to get it.