Sunday, September 11, 2011

Around the edges

So, another week has passed....
Last week, some recreational sewing and knitting was fitted in around the edges of contracted work.
I've been stock-piling cutesy baby fabriics for a while. Friends and family members keep expecting babies and I'm always looking for excuses to buy cute fabric.

I thought that this duck fabric was pretty unisex.... and then, when I made it up, a few second thoughts crept in. People are particular about how they dress boys, and I've only got girl-baby experience. I don't know....

I tried dark green binding. I'm still not sure....

Other cute fabric (from Kimono House) was made into a shell purse (my demonstration-model for the Shell Purse workshop). In between times, last week, I finished sewing the red beads around the edges of the frame and I'm a bit in love with it.

This book arrived last week, too.... not looking very sharp around the edges. It wasn't damaged in transit - it was PACKED with those great big dents along the side! (Thankfully, Amazon refunded me when I complained).

Apart from the dents, the book is pretty impressive.

I don't know how it rates (re: instructions) from a user's point of view, but the designs are good and the samples are well-made, which isn't always the case with bag-making books. I'm looking forward to looking through it more thoroughly.



On Saturday, we had a fun, chatty, Pattern-free Wrap Skirt class. Cathie took to the industrial iron like the proverbial duck to water and double-turned edges like nobody's business. KA-shhhhhhhhhhh!


Other achievements, fitted in around the edges of last week....
I enlisted the help of my SUPER SISTER to help me turn the bomb-site upstairs sewing room at work into functional teaching space. We now have a HUGE cutting space and a few extra surfaces and sewing machines. Hooray.

Gymnastics and swimming lesson enrolments were made for the wee girl and we somehow even made it to the try-out classes (it's only taken me 9 months to get around to organising this).

I undid nearly 10 years of recovery from sports-injured knees with a few short runs to and from the swimming pool. Back to twanging, aching knees. Oh joy.

Bought a pull bouy, so I can refine my swimming stroke (and... ahem...still swim with dodgey knees).

13 comments:

Karen said...

I have a baby girl now. If we have a baby boy later, he'll be wearing her clothes. Okay, not the frilly dresses but I'm not going to let a pile of singlets go to waist just because they are pink.

LittleMissQuiltyNq said...

I love the green binding! very metro baby :O)

Unknown said...

I would have been pretty happy to receive those ducks for my boys.

The book looks really good, going by the cover at least (except for the dinged bit).

meli B said...

From a very early age we label kids by colours, toys and even compliments. I say anything goes!
Pretty impressive stitching too.

Ky said...

I love that bib pattern and have used it for a few baby gifts. The colours are more than fine for a boy and it is an adorable little gift set.

Helene said...

I love your bib and baby bottoms! The fabric is adorable! I agree though, it definitely is more girly. Not sure I'd put it on a boy. I raised 3 daughters, eldest pregnant, if it's a boy, I could be in trouble! I'd love to know what pattern you used for the bib, and where you bought the duckies.

Tania said...

Small boys love ducks. It's proven-like. Whereas the pull bouy just sounds scary.

Tas said...

Thos ducks would be gorgeous for a little boy.

That purse is gorgeous. Love Asian style prints.

Hope you are feeling more comfortable. x

Annie said...

You've been very busy Nikki! I don't mind the green duckies for the boys. At such a young age, it really doesn't matter, and I think they look great.

Fer said...

'Genderising' can depend a lot on the parents. If someone had given me the ducks outfit I would've used it on both my boy and girl. I love it!

I can also sympathise with the dodgey knee issue. I'd still be jogging if it weren't for my knees and ankles!

Sally said...

I understand your reservations about dressing baby boys... but first and foremost it is a baby. I think as a society we rush too quickly to dress babies and children as adults. They're babies. Cute and comfortable is the way to go.

Your ducks therefore are PERFECT!

Helene said...

Well said, Sally!

marijka said...

This book arrived at my house dented and dirty from Amazon, too! I wonder how much money they WASTE on replacement time, shipping, and unsellable books - when all they had to do was stack it safely on a clean shelf in the first place. duh