Just A Minute ... In September
Playing along with Jenaveve, here is my just a minute.. in september. This month I have been:
Reading:
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Nigella's books. I still haven't cooked any of her recipes, but oh my. Even reading her recipes tastes good.
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Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Again. For the third time. And I just heard today that part twelve is about to be published. I can't wait! (Yes, that's the nerd in me. Nice to meet you!)
Getting to know:
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Some new sewing techniques
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Some lovely people
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The blogger in me.
Watching:
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The last gorgeous flowers in the garden
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The first episodes of Mad Men
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Our littlest one standing up
But most of all..
Enjoying:
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Precious time with my loved ones.
Want to see what other people have been doing this september? Look here.
A New Look: The Maxi Skirt
I purchased some gorgeous soft wool crepe with which I intend to make a long, wide skirt for this winter. But today I was browsing some blogs and saw several discussions about maxi skirts, like this one. It seems people are pretty divided on how they feel about this skirt length, and on whether or not the style is gypsy, muzzy, or great.
This summer I already wore some skirts that fell on my ankles, but ofcourse that was a complete other sort of fabric and thus another kind of skirt. I can imagine, that with certain fabrics, such long skirts can indeed give a hippy kind of feel. Which, I think, can be quite fun in the summer, but it's not what I'm intending to create with this beautiful wool. No, what I have in mind is something more like Dior's New Look:
So, I am trying to gather the courage to start cutting that wonderful wool and in the meantime I'm curious to hear: How do you feel about the maxi skirt?
A Princess And Her New Coat
Once upon a time there was a little princess who, even though she had every toy you could think of in her beautiful castle, got a little bored.
So she decided to put on the new coat her mama made her and go for a walk outside to enjoy a little sunshine.
She admired the trees, sat still listening to the little birds, who sang especially for her.
She played with the animals of the forest and collected some beech nuts.
She had a wonderful time. And after some lovely hours in that magical garden, she got tired and went home to her castle.
There she hung her new coat (with the mandatory pink! and flowery! lining) on a hanger and took a well deserved nap.
Sleep well, little princess. And when you wake up, the magical garden will be waiting for you.
My Creative Space
Or: What's in the hatbox today?
This hatbox was a gift from Chris, on one of our numerous celebrations of the time we've been together (there are always occasions to celebrate that. If it's not our third weddingday, or our 37th month anniversary, we'll find another reason...). It has stored all kinds of things since then, but the last couple of months this hatbox has contained the work in progress of the moment.
Right now in that hatbox are the last pieces I have to sew on Sarah's coat (like some loops for her belt), some thread, my scissors, the 'knipmode handboek' (for the things I did for the first time), a tape measure, little buckles, buttons and some pins. Oh and on the bottom are the napkins-de-luxe for Sarah, Chris and me, that I still have to finish. But that task I somehow postpone every time again.
I love this hatbox. I carry it around the house, depending on where I want to sew at that moment. It's large enough to store all my currently needed supplies, but still looks pretty, no matter where I put it. It is definately one of the best presents ever.
If you want to see what other people are up to, look here.
How To Keep A Mama Entertained
Every now and then and mostly when we were just getting used to a rhythm, everything gets changed again. Rhythms shift, daily tasks get moved to other hours, I have to find new ways to fit everything in one day.
Like these days. Suddenly our littlest one, who in my head still is that tiny baby that just lays there next to me and laughs all the time, decided it is time to explore the world. So he sits and crawls and starts to stand up. All in the blink of an eye.
Don't go too fast, little one. I know you have a lot to discover, but your mama needs some time to drink in everything you do :-)
Less Is More
I have to say I like my new approach. By taking it slower, conciously enjoying the process, I notice that my sewing impoves inmediately. I never took any sewing lessons and I have to admit I always was a bit sloppy, figuring things out while I was doing them. But now I try to sew more accurate. I have been drafting and basting, things I never did before!
I'm making wonderful progress with Sarah's wool coat. The outside of the coat is almost done and now I am working on the lining. Sarah already tried on the coat and seems to like it, but ofcourse, for her, an outfit is not complete without something pink! and flowery!. So, ofcourse, I'll have to fit in something pink! and flowery! :-)
But that's something for tomorrow. Right now I am going to watch my first episode of 'Mad Men'. Since I read about the Mad Men competition on Sew Retro, and seeing the gorgeous outfits people created for that competition, I have been wanting to watch that show. No idea what the story is about, but if those costumes are anything I expect them to be, I'll be enjoying it!
Eye Spy - An Inspirational Person
Meet Chris. The one who is the best papa in the whole wide world. The one who can give the best massages you've ever felt. The one we can count on, always, to take care of us.
But also, and there we get to today's theme, the one who inspires me most. The one who encourages me to create and explore. The one who gives me gentle nudges to get me through phases of indecisiveness, when my perfectionism gets in the way, or when I am insecure about my plans. The one who listens patiently, and even seems interested, when I talk about vintage clothing themes, about colours, skirts, dresses, patterns and the little details of tailoring.
That's Chris. My inspirator. My website builder. My care taker. My best friend. My kick-in-the-butt.
My love.
Sally picked the theme for this week's Eye Spy.
Summery Saturday
I love my sewing attic. Really love it. There is lots of room, large windows, so I have plenty of light and everything I need is within reach. The only problem is that with those big windows, on beautiful, sunny days like this one, it gets really, really hot up there. On the other hand, who would want to sit upstairs on one of the last days of the summer; Being outside is a lot more fun!
However I did make a little progress on Sarah's coat. And that little bit of progress took a lot of thinking. I never put on a collar on a coat like this and I had no idea how to do it. So I puzzled, searched the internet, puzzled some more. Even Chris helped with this riddle. And just when I thought I wasn't going to figure it out, we had it. And then it all seemed so easy. Do you recognize that?
So the coat has a collar. Tomorrow I will take the next step in the proces. Tonight we are going to enjoy a movie together. And if you happen to search around the internet right now for some tips on something you are sewing at the moment, maybe these will help a bit:
Good luck!
Finding My Way
It's been quiet here on my blog. It's been quiet in my sewing room. Somehow I was sort of paralized and didn't know how to go further. I kept walking around my sewing machine, looking at Sarah's coat, thinking about all the techniques I was going to use that were new to me, and did nothing. I was looking at my own blog, taking pictures, thought about blog subjects, soaked up all kinds of new ideas, and did nothing.
Well, except for reading other people's blogs. And there I read, besides tons of inspirational stories, exactly what I needed to read.
For instance, there was Anna Maria Horner, with this post. And ofcourse Gertie, who's blog I have been following the last couple of weeks and who talked about Fast Fashion and Snuggies.
These blogposts, among others, made me realize that I have been on the wrong track lately. I have been rushing. I have been trying to finish things fast, because I wanted to show completed products on my blog. And ofcourse that didn't work. First of all, I don't have the time to finish something every day. With three children I wouldn't know how to manage that rate AND take care of my little ones the way I want to. Second of all, rushing things doesn't do any good when it comes to the quality of my crafting. And third, I got paralized by my own expectations. And did nothing.
Thus I decided to follow a new path from now on. My own path. When I thought about what kind of blogs I like to read, I realized that I mostly love the blogs on which people tell about the whole process of their crafting, not just the perfect results. Where they tell about the little, meaningful aspects of living their lives, not just the perfect polaroid moments. So that is what I am going to do also. I am slowing down. I am going to focus on quality, instead of quantity. And most important: I am going to enjoy the process.
Eye Spy ... Seasons Change
Slowly it's getting colder. It has been raining more, the leaves are starting to fall and it's starting to get dark earlier each day.
I love spring and summer. I always long for warmth after a long, cold winter. When it's februari, I can't wait until it's spring again, so we can walk outside without a coat, soak up the sun, live outside.
But this period might be my favorite time of the year. The time in which we get drawn inside again, make our houses comfortable and cozy for the winter, share blankets together on the couch and cook soup and hot chocolate. And this year it's even more fun, since I am planning to sew and knit all of our clothing myself.
I love the fact that we still have plenty of warm and sunny days. But fall is coming and I'm ready!
Look here for more Seasons Change stories and thanks to Lisa for this week's theme.
My Creative Space
Today I started with a new project: A winter coat for Sarah. I have to admit I am a bit nervous about it, since I never made a coat like this before (the only coats I made were for little babies, and that is something you can hardly compare with this).
Oh yes, and ofcourse there is that blue yarn on some needles in the right corner... the thing I won't be mentioning for a long while, until it's finished.
For more creative spaces, look here.
Spoiled By Urska
I participated in the 'My mama made it Gift Exchange' and look what I received today: This lovely package was send to me by Urska. Look at that beautiful fabric, those ribbons, that great magazine. I love it. Thank you so much Urska!
Keeper Of The Keys
Today we did some crafting with paper. I picked up this idea in a book some time and the little ones wanted to make something for their papa. So this little owl is what we made.
Nothing is more fun than making a surprise for someone. Lucas did some cutting and practiced his writing skills, Sarah glued, and glued, and glued some more and Olivier crawled around us, grinning because of the excitement he saw with the other two.
Behind those babyblue eyes we glued a clothespin, so we can attach little notes of things we don't want to forget. And in the real wooden branche the owl is resting on we hit some nails, so papa can hang his keys there.
Chris loves his surprise. He inmediately created a spot for it in the hallway and put it to use.
This little owl really is a keeper of keys; Glue, scissors, paper and clothespins, crafting together, surprising people, making babies grin. What else do you need to enter a world of fun?
Napkin Deluxe
When little boys make a request for something their mama can make them, you'd probably expect the wish to be a lego castle, or a knight's outfit, or an apple pie. But no. Our big little boy requested a cloth napkin. So that is what I made for him.
I made it double layered. For the outside I used two different kinds of printed poplin, for the inside I used white baby corduroy. It's soft, sturdy, but not too thick, so you can still easily roll it up. And ofcourse I couldn't stop myself and added a little embroidery.
To avoid having to search for lost napkin rings all the time, I sewed the little bow onto the back of the napkin, where I also embroidered his name.
Our neat little boy loves it. And you understand: Now I have to make matching napkins for the whole family. No problem, I already started. For each a different colour embroidery. At this rate I'll be an expert on french knots in no time!
My Creative Space
Today I am working on something Lucas requested. Well, he didn't really ask for a series of straight (or almost straight) stitches and french knots, but I think he won't mind that I practice them a bit and decorate his requested gift in the meantime.
A Whole Lot Of Lego
These days, while we are all still a little bit under the weather, there is no work, no school and no sewing. Just many naps, a little reading and..
a whole lot of lego. Making trucks and helicopters, building on houses, our bond, our health. When did you play with lego for the last time?
My name is Karin. I sew, cook and
take pictures. I tell stories. I dream. I love books, fashion, hot
baths, conversations that make me re-think my ideas and opinions. I
fantasize and realize. And above and beyond all, I am mama to
Lucas, Sarah and Olivier.
