Old Mother Hubbard

We've built up such a rapport here on my blog. In fact, I know you so well that I can read your minds. Here's some things I know that you've been wondering about:

This is what it looks like when you go internet grocery shopping having not done a big shop since June:


This is what it looks like when the kids empty all the bags at your feet (that heap is 2 feet tall):


This is what it looks like to have a fussy eater (Ryvita, Ryvita, Ryvita, Ryvita, Rice Cakes, Rice Cakes, Rice Cakes, Rice Cakes, Peanut butter, Peanut butter, Peanut butter, Peanut butter, Jam, Jam, Raisins):

Not pictured: 54 yogurts, 2 kilos bananas, 2 kilos grapes, 2 kilos apples, a megapack of bread rolls, and enough Weetabix to wallpaper a room)

This is what it looks like when a kitchen has inadequate cupboard space:


This is what it looks like when me and Friend Sarah go out to celebrate our birthdays:


This is what Maia would wear if invited to an 'I love the 80's' party:


Okay, anyone want to know anything else?

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More fabric deliciousness, plus me being peevish

My sister in law fell in love with one of 'Far, Far Away' fabrics from Heather Ross's collaboration with Kokka, and although it was extremely tricky to track down (in July anyway, I think it's available again) she managed to get a yard of this little beauty for me to make a dress for Isla:


I love Heather Ross fabrics. I adore them, I covet them, and now I've started to stockpile them (see my Underwater Sisters post). But it peeves me that they have such short runs that they illicit a fabric feeding frenzy and then become almost immediately unavailable. And then the lucky folk who do have some sell at a ridiculous prices. A yard of Camper Van fabric is currently selling for $52 on Etsy. I would have to cut out and use each van individually for that to be even remotely cost-effective. And does everyone remember the sadness I felt that I could never make another of these ones?


So I'd like to send out a big 'Yay' to Heather Ross for having awesome fabric, but a big 'Boo' for short runs. 'Tis a crime against fabric lovers. Anyone else have any crafting pet peeves?

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A really annoying companion

What's the best way to get over the headache that was 'The Bag'? By making an over-complicated wallet of course! I bought a wallet when I was in the States, and although it is very pretty, the card slots are too loose and my cards keep falling out. Just about the worst feature for a wallet, ever. It's also a bi-fold, and I really wanted a tri-fold. 'How hard can it be?' I thought? Totally freaking hard, as it turns out. But I'm done and I'm ready to share...


It has six (incredibly tight) card slots, and the two side slots also have pockets behind them.


On the back there is quite a big change purse, because as you Brits know, there's a lot of coinage here.


The center pockets are looser so I can fit about 25 business cards, in the unlikely event that I ever give one out.


The money section is more generous than my financial circumstances require, but we can live and dream, right?


The change purse was an absolute bugger to do and I have no idea why I didn't put the zipper all the way around (I suspect it was mania). Because of this, I might have to make another one... Anyone interested in a tute?

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No one can say I didn't try

A great big thank you to everyone who left comments and advice on my bag-in-progress post. Except for Nifty, who can basically bog off for offering to buy it for two quid. That wouldn't even cover the cost of the thread I ripped out. But I did indeed persevere, and this is the finished article:


If you can tear yourself away from the fact my t-shirt is massively unflattering and I appear to have no legs, you will see that I put two short straps perpendicular to the base (as per my over-loved bag), and a long strap through the rings. I wear my bags across my chest rather than over a shoulder. Not only does that mean that it isn't constantly falling off when I'm pushing the buggy / dragging children by the hand but it highlights to innocent bystanders (yes, I mean you, pervy janitor) that I have two breasts and not a massive uni-boob.


The lining is rather pretty, no? Not pictured is the inner zippered pocket where I can put my new prescription for Xanax.

So I learned many things in my first bag-making endeavour:

• If in doubt, interface. And then some more. Maybe even interline. The only thing I interfaced (with sew in lining) was the base and I wish it had more structure. Poking my finger into a hole in the over-loved bag, I think the base even has some cardboard-esque structure in it.
• Find some tutorials on bag making before you start.
• I need to practice sewing zippers in blind (as in when the zipper is sandwiched between fabric rather than where I can see it). And I should have double-sided taped it in place rather than pinned it.
• I should have had my sewing machines while I was only holiday so that I could have returned to wonderfully working machines.
• There's a reason that shops sell handbags: It so you don't have to make them yourself.

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Fear Ye Not, bag makers

So the sewing machine came out for the first time yesterday. I've had a quite a few requests for clothes since I've been back but one whole month without sewing means I wanted to practice a bit first to get back into the swing of things. 'Hmm, why not make myself a new bag?' I thought yesterday. Because as I said the other day, I love my current bag, but it's is gross now. And being an internationally renowed childrenswear designer (my family in the States think I'm awesome, all right?), how hard could it be? The answer: So. Freakin. Hard. Here's a reminder of my gross but well-loved bag:


It's slouchy with a rectangular bottom, a long strap going around the perimeter, shorter straps with rivets at the bottom and sides to hold the long strap in place. Also, out of shot it has two rings that hold the long strap, and an integral zippered pouch pocket. So there we go, that was my task. And here were the obstacles:

• Problem one: I've never made a bag before and I don't know what I'm doing.
• Problem two: I couldn't bring myself to cut my gross bag apart, so I had to wing the pattern and construction.
• Problem three: My sewing machine is fecked. It won't sew in a straight line, it's pulling to the right. Cue some ugly sewing and way too much seam ripping.

Despite working on it all day long and into the wee small hours, I still haven't finished. And maybe I won't. Just the short straps and long strap remain, but I'm not sure if I'll give it anymore of my time. Some of the sewing is so ugly. Exhibit one:


And here's the base, which despite giving me a headache of mammoth proportions looks pretty good if I do say so myself:


So Fear Ye Not, bag makers, your crown is safe. But I would appreciate some friendly advice.

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Career counselling. Or maybe just counselling.

After dressing myself up for dinner last night, my heels and bag were left out. So, in sauntered Jamie this morning:


Any one have any guesses as to what workplace would allow you to come into work like this?


And while we're on the subject, can anyone tell me why both of my children can walk in heels better than I can?


I'm hoping that this image isn't Maia going to her work.

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I might have to grow up now

The picture above was taken last week. But this is probably how I look today:


I'm not being facetious, I did actually pull out find three grey hairs last week. And on top of that, today's the Big Day. I have officially left my twenties behind and I'm now 'thirty-something'. I'm not sure what's going to change (if anything) but I probably should start thinking of myself as a grown up now, and maybe act like one occasionally too. I don't think it bothers me being 30, if anything I'm excited about the advertising offers that will surely come rolling in. Just look how happy our diapers make us:

If you want to see a Photoshop Wizard at her best, just click on the picture. Can you tell I pasted myself in? It's totally not noticeable, is it? I rock.

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