30/52

Big E: Guddling in the paddling pool, in the rain, with a mischievous glint in his eye!

little e : Swinging in the rain!

 

Joining up with Jodi again this week for 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

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29/52

little e: Lots of fun in the paddling pool!

Big E: So much fun to be had with the garden hose.

Joining up with Jodi again this week for 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

 

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Shapeless top to Summer Skirt

I acquired this top when my sister was having a clear out ages ago.

I knew it would be easy to make it into a skirt but didn't see the point when we never normally get much summery weather and I really didn't need another hardly worn summer skirt!

This summer has been the exception so far though, glorious sunshine for 3 weeks now and it is not looking to end soon so the top has been brought out of its 2 years hibermation in a suitcase under the bed ready to be made in to a skirt.

I cut off the straps, re stitched the band at the top that was now the waist band, then took in the waist a little and I had a fab new skirt with ready made button closure!

One of my favourite summer skirts now. Long may the sunny weather continue!

Linking to some of these fab parties!

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Kids Shorts

It has been hot here, I mean 27C hot, which has made me realise my kids have 2 pairs of shorts each that fit, not enough for 2 weeks worth of shorts wearing weather (and hopefully more to come)!

This was easily recitfied though, I bought the Kids Shorts pattern from MADE (fab blog) and russled these two pairs up in an hour or so! They are a great stash buster as they take less than 1m of fabric, in fact I think I will tempt fate and make them another pair each, hopefully the sun will keep shining!

Big E refused to model them!

Linking to some of these fab parties!

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28/52

Big E: Cuddling his cousin for the first time

Little e: Cousin cuddles with a little help in the head department from big brother!

Joining up with Jodi again this week for 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

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DIY Taggie Dino from an Old Sweater!

This Dino was made for a very special new addition - my first nephew, my sister's first child. He arrived yesterday afternoon and is utterly gorgeous, my two seem so big now!

My sister had given me an old cashmere sweater ages ago to make something with and it has sat in the basket waiting for the perfect project and this was it.

I used this fantastic template for the shape of the dino but cut it out with a seam allowance instead of cutting once sewn. It would have been quick to make if I had paid attention to the way it was put together and sewn the tags on the right way round (they were on the inside when it was as it is below with only the scraggy ends sticking out instead of the loops!), I won't do that again!

It will be a while until he can enjoy it, until then I will be happy to oblige in the cuddling department!

Me and 'Bubbles' by Ian my sisters super talented brother-in-law (www.yellow12.com)

Linking to some of these fab parties!

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A Competition Cushion

I was contacted by Terrys Fabrics a few weeks ago asking if I wanted to take part in a competition. I was allowed to choose 2 fabrics, was sent 0.5m of each and a 18 inch cushion, in return I was to make a cushion cover, photograph it, blog about it then an interior designer will pick a winner. If I win I get vouchers to spend on fabric. It was a no brainer since the site has a fab range of fabric and my kitchen windows are still nude!

I chose 2 Clarke & Clarke fabrics, a burgundy polka dot and a sage floral. I am slightly in love with Clarke & Clarke fabrics although I can find nothing on line about their ethics (when buying fabric for clothing I only buy fairtrade fabric but I have struggled to get heavy weight home decor fabric that is ethical).

This is my cushion,

I used the polka dot to make a simple cover then made a fabric flower with the sage floral and a polka dot rosette in the centre.

I am not sure where she is going to live, possibly the kitchen if I ever get my much wanted church pew..!

 

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27/52

little e: on the beach, very intently building a sand castle

Big E: digging the moat round the castles!

On the beach, in Scotland, and it was hot (well, hot for us, 24Cish!)!

 

Joining up with Jodi again this week for 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

 

 

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The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of house renovation...

Good:

Hint at the 'ugly' on the wall behind...

New Wardrobes and chest of drawers (for our room that we are not doing yet but couldn't let the wardrobes get away)

Bad:

Old Wardrobes, not the nicest looking things in the world!

Ugly:

What we found behind the old fitted wardrobes...

A wet wall and ceiling with lots of mould

painted with plastic stain stopper paint

that was bursting off in places

and needed completley peeled off

and to add insult to injury in an area that was actually quite dry we found some dry rot.... Now to find a roofer to check whether the roofer a year ago actually fixed the roof (I doubt it since the wall is soaking wet...).

After all this my desire to craft and sew has been non existent and I have been spending a lot of time in the garden weeding, admiring beautiful flowers,

being eaten alive by midges, and having a steak out at the hen coop to stop them eating their own eggs...

Hopefully I will be back soon with something from the craft room :)

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