Getting serious

My little holiday in quilting land saw me back at GJ's yesterday, investing in some batting, thread, extra fabric and EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE (again).  I think I've learned as much about quilting from the help the GJ's staff have given me as from any other source.

 
And today, I fell in love with my machine and my studio space all over again, as I free-motion quilted the scrappy quilt.  Binding is tomorrow's task.

In other news, the wee girl decided that she must cut her hair.

But was only willing to let go of the length below the elbows.  And she wanted a fringe.  She looked a bit like this (and I didn't like it).

 Today she was fed up with mid-length hair getting in the way of everything she did, and insisted on a shorter cut.  We found a hairdresser with a vacancy and we now have "an easy little bob", which has been flipping about the place since, while the wee girl sings the praises of half a metre less hair.

I've been marvelling at my confident, competent girl.

Here she is, sewing up bags (of her own design, with no help from her mother welcome or tolerated), confidently threading the machine,changing stitches and ....ahem...wearing the wrist band from the swimming pool yesterday.  Doing her own thing.

She asked, "Can I go to Sewjourn?"  

Secret talent #32....

Jigsaws. I've always been really good at them. Got a puzzle with pieces that have to fit together? I'm your girl. And lately, I've been brushing up on those skills.... BIG TIME........ and wishing I had a wide-format printer (or that my favourite printers were a few suburbs closer).

I've been patternmaking and devising class notes for my Draped Top workshop in March.
Using the Japanese Drape Drape and Pattern Magic books as inspiration, I'm working on notes to show class participants how to adapt their own favourite t-shirt to add twists and drapes.

It's lots of fun, experimenting with different drape placements and styles -and with three or four overlocker (serger) seams, they're a piece of cake to whip up. Instant gratification galore! These are yesterday's photos. After a trip to GJ's bargain back-room today (to re-fuel with knit fabrics), I refined these styles and I think I have a few patterns I can grade to multi-size and make available to those of you who can't make it to class.

(Feedback required here..... Do I make cheap, simple patterns with basic instructions, or do I put in my usual umpty-five thousand hours into developing the pattern as a sewing class? Are we more interested in the pattern or the instructions here, folks...?)

Secret talent #33.... cracking the code on tricksy patternmaking techniques.

Secret talent #34.... posing like a git on the stairs.

Secret talent #35.... hairdressing (it's a bit like sculpture with scissors).

Yes, I cut away most of the 20-odd-years-of-colour and found out that I look remarkably like an elderly pixie.

Still not sure where this hair thing is going.... I'll wait and see.

Secret talent #36 - the ability to sustain a state of indecision indefinitely.

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Apparently, it's no secret that I'm quite a dab hand at bag-making. Did you know that I'm giving away one of my Laptop Bag samples? Yep.... head on over here to enter the giveaway (but go via here or here first!).

Slow daze....

I'm trying not to think too much about going back to work next week (although I've been in the office several days in a row lately, unpacking the unpacked and sorting the un-sorted... not working and - strangely - not sewing).

These are the last days of hanging around in pajamas half the day.... (and yes, contemplating a tad more eye-surgery for Quackie).

..of sitting under the enormous lemon tree....
...of marvelling at spiders' webs and ripening apples...
Just hanging out at home, mostly. Settling in to the new house.

Soaking up the last pre-school days with my baby.


Knitting.

(... and doing laundry and vacuuming).

I even went for a swim sans-kid.

We also adopted Cranberry. He's soot-black and full of kitteny wonder and energy. A delight.

He spent the first day hiding from an exuberant, excited 5-year-old. After a calm night in the company of relaxed adults, Cranberry found his confidence and has learned to tolerate the 5-year-old. The jury is still out on whether he actually enjoys the company of the patting-machine (5-year-old).

I've also been on holiday from my hair. The idea has been swimming about in my head since I heard this radio programme a year or so ago. Inspired by Leonie, I thought I'd sieze the holiday time to discover what lies beneath 20-odd years of hair colour.


It's a bit scary.

I'm not completely sure about showing my authentic self to the world just yet. I'll finish reading this book and see if it can convince me not to tear a path to the nearest hairdresser before work on Monday. This may or may not be a space to watch.... (it may be the last I mention of it...).

We're hoping to organise some sort of family outing over the next few days, a few catch-ups with family and friends.... But things are happening slowly here.


We're just soaking it in.