This little pair of foxes was group effort. Mother stitching the big fox and daughter stitching the little one.

It was the kind of project that had me pulling fabrics, aching over choices and generally remembering why making softies can be simultaneously a frustration and pleasure.

In one of those moments of frustration, I suggested that E make the presents for her friend.  She took up the challenge. I have to admit I was impressed. So was her friend.


The large fox is adapted from We Make Dolls and you can find a pattern for the smaller one at  Little White School House.

Winter means winter coats.  I have been stitching away, with these coats just waiting for it to get cold enough to wear.  Of course, this doesn't mean that everything else the children wear is seasonally appropriate.  Check out those bare knees!!
The girls promptly told me that they are elf coats, not pixie coats.  Apparently, elves are cooler.  I think we can blame the Polar Express movie for that.  The girls are pretty excited about their coats either way.
 About the Pattern:
The pattern is Thadee by Citronille.  It has been shortened to allow for tree climbing and bike riding adventures.  I didn't realise you could get the patterns in english  and fumbled my way through the french (looking at the pictures really). I chose to line it with flannel to the hoods and body and vintage acetate to the sleeves.   I've also added some pockets into the side seams.  The buttons are vintage self covered dome buttons which found in an opshop.  I still haven't been able to find anyone who is currently making them as they are great for little fingers.

The fabric was bought at an auction in January.  The coral appears to have been a wool blanket once upon a time.  It was just an off cut when it came to me.  The blue is a thick woven coat wool.  You may see a little more of it over time as I ended up with a half bolt of it.

The pattern is simple to make and I would recommend it.  While it would be a whole lot faster to make without pockets or lining, the little details make it all the nicer for my little pixies elves.

The Christmas count down started early in our house. To be precise it started the morning after Halloween. I woke to find two little girls at the breakfast table, felt pens in had and a long list of 'How do you spell...?'

The lists sat on our fridge until last week. We didn't want to bother Santa before December. H and I folded them up and posted them to the North Pole.  New Zealand Post runs an annual Postbag to Santa.  You can read more about it here.  You can even Email him.  We are waiting in anticipation for our return letters.

Stir it up Sunday is something my grandmother introduced me to.  Before launching into all the rush of Advent and associated Christmas preparations, we have Stir it up Sunday.  It takes it's name from a 1549 prayer

"Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded;"

While this could trigger all manner of contemplation, this talk of stirring and fruit sounds suspiciously like pudding. Since the 1800's Stir it up Sunday, has been known as the perfect time to be making Christmas pudding.

Gran took great pride in sharing traditions with me.  As she told me all about this day, she smiled conspiratorially, and told me she had already made her puddings.

Given the day and all it's traditions, it could only mean a trip to Grandma's, my mother, for the girls to Stir it Up.

Measuring

Making bread crumbs

Cutting liners

Stiring it Up

And finally - the first cooking

My kids love riffling through timber offcuts, looking to repurpose bits and pieces.  We have rectangles of wood hand drawn buttons and imaginary touch screens.  I thought I would get in on it too.  This piece of wood looked too much like a blank canvas to leave alone.

E thinks her hair is the bane of her life.  Knottier than her sister's and more than a little flyaway.  I like it.  I might be her Mum, but I think she looks like a roman goddess, only with a bigger smile and more clothes.

Adventures are just waiting to happen.  There is a small patch of native forest on the edge of the park and a winding path through it.  Granddad Bob took the opportunity to show the girls how to make whistles out of grass blades. There was much huffing and puffing, giggling and general light-headedness.  The perfect end to an afternoon at the park.

It must be spring.  The picnic basket is dusted off.  My family has returned from holiday, just in time to enjoy the last few days of the cherry blossoms.  There was muffins, sandwiches, cherry hair clips and much running.

Miss H is wearing a dress smocked by Grandma for Aunty E.  Little E on the other had was not going to dress up, no way.  At least she was well dressed for tree climbing.

This weeks thrifty find isn't mine.  It's my daughter's.  She spotted the little pirate toby mug and exclaimed "just like Mum's!".

The shopkeeper carefully wrapped it for her and added "It's always good to have collections," before handing it to my beaming 6 year old.

Their providence is nothing exceptional.  A simple "Japan" back stamp. They both have little chips.  However, they make me smile and they make my daughter beam.

*Linking in with Op Shop Show Off

The Hanami pattern was a breeze to follow with the most sublime lined finished.  E can be seen here in the top with the cross over back variation.  Little tops are brilliant for this independent 6 year old who has just discovered jeans and leggings and prefers them to a dress any day.  I have used a D S Quilts print for the top and the little flutter sleeves give a hint of the white cotton lawn lining.  I would sew this pattern again in a heartbeat.


You can get your own copy of the pattern from the StraightGrain shop or just follow An and her amazing Belgian sewing creations over here.

All this leaves me counting down to this year's Hanami Picnic and wondering if we all need need new outfit for the occasion.

I've done it again.  I don't mean making zippered pockets for presents either.  I wrapped the present and then remembered to take the photo.  You can see the wrapping paper behind as evidence.  To make matters worse, it's not even the second time I've done this.  It's the third.

E chose the fabric for her friend's present.  Upon seeing it 'finished'  told me that we needed to write Heidi's name on it too.  One day I will get it right, both the present and the photo.

There are little signs of an impending spring.  Some of the signs are quite literal.  I asked E to make a label for the dark box holding our bulb glass.  I think she did pretty well - as you can see the box holds a bolb, glas and wota.  There is nothing like children's spelling to to remind you of how your accent really sounds.

Other signs of spring are little sprigs of daphne spotted around the house.  My bedside table is also holding my two new thrifted books - Rupert Brooks and Strange Meetings.  It's funny that I should find them both within a week of each other.  One, poems sprinkled with wonderful woodcut illustrations and the other, telling the stories of the war poets themselves.  The poets have me wondering if it is time to make some more of poet-tea cups.

 I have also been looking up the illustrator - Buckland-Wright.   It turns out he fought in the WW1 as well and is equally legendary as an illustrator in his own right.

Terrariums and I are slowly scoping each other out.  I rediscovered them over at the hipster, too cool for cool, series of Terrium Tuesdays.  I picked one up thinking it would be great for at the office.  E had other ideas and when she has ideas, she makes plans.  It was just what I needed to get me out of a post modern, "is this passe?" rut.

When she asked if she could draw me a plan, I thought we were just talking about where things would be planted in the small globe.  I was wrong.

What you can see above is a description of the organisms and animals living in the soil and garden*.  There are snails, worms and spiders.  Each is carefully attached with double sided tape to the outside to avoid damage when watering.  Some have crowns to show that they are the kings and queens.  They are also keeping the house pixie company.

You can keep your icy succulent filled, styled terrariums in the pages of your magazines and pinterest boards. While this terrarium was not quite what I had in mind, it is exactly what we need in our home.

*Go soil science enquiry units at school!!
**E, you can style my lounge anytime you want, as long as your room is tidy first.

Last minute birthday dresses are getting to be a habit.  3 days out from Little E's  birthday, I was cutting out a new dress.  What is about impending celebrations that makes me embark on maniac crafting missions?  Is this just me?

The birthday passed without a hitch or a dress.  I put the final touches on it last night - hand sewing the hem and facings.  E loves it.  Miss H's birthday dress is a distant memory* and she wants one too.

The pattern is from a Burda magazine with a few adaptations**.  This fabric just sang yellow at me, so we had to have yellow piping, lining and hem facings.  It is so hard to remain gloomy when you know everything is bright on the inside.


*The tale of Miss H's Dorothy dress is yet to be told, but has a recurring theme of Monday inspiration, weekend party and late night sewing.
** The pattern review is over here

Does anyone remember when the marble game mancala was huge? I remember my little sister teaching me how to play about 10 years ago.  It is a genius of a game and I'm sure it has numerous variations. 

Little E and I play it a lot.  The box it came in was getting a little battered.  When Nin sent me a lovely bundle of floral fabrics, I knew just what it was going to be.  A little sewing and some time later, we now have a double sided bag for the board, which also fits the little marble bag inside.  Brilliance! We are new ready to play on the go as well.

To remember Anzac Day, today's adventure was planting poppies.  Anzac Day conveniently falls at just the right time to get poppies ready for the distant spring.  A punnet of red, spotted lady bird poppies and blousey shirley poppies are now stretching their toes in our front garden.  E helped digging, watering. 

We picked up some purple and black poppy seeds from the lovely Quince Tree shop.  We sprinkled these over last.

I'm used to wet Easters that let me weed the garden, plant bulbs and tuck everything in for the winter.  This year, the drought has meant we had to wait a little longer.  On the other hand, it gave us a nice way to remember Anzac day, both today and as the flowers lift their nodding heads.