Square neck quandaries

Another pattern is winging it's way to a tester today, my square neck smocky top!


It's taken a long time to get the pattern exactly the way I wanted (five revisions), but I'm conscious that it's almost July and this is a summer top so I really shouldn't faff about indefinitely!


This one has a quilter's cotton neck and sleeves and a super lightweight voile body. It should be perfect for our impending US trip as the voile is almost sheer and Maia really doesn't like the heat.


The voile has little printed giraffes in green and browns, it's very sweet. I have a lot, so I'll probably use it for other summer clothes.


One of the reasons that this pattern has taken so long is that I was hoping to also have the option to make it sleeveless.


But now that I've made one, I don't actually think it 'works', I feel it needs the sleeves to balance out the neckline. What do you think?

Pin It

Tweet

The Coolest Girl in the World unveiled

My friend Teresa commented the other day as to why I didn't post modelled pictures of some of my recent creations? Well, when I make custom orders I don't even try them on my kids lest they vomit / sneeze / get peanut butter on them. So until I hear back from the recipient I'm a bag of nerves... Do they like them? Do they fit? Is everything okay? So, you can imagine, I love receiving customer appreciation pics! And the lovely Terry agreed that I could post them on my blog so we can all collectively marvel at her gorgeous her little girl:

Modelling her Aviary / velveteen coat

And her Mirabelle hoodie

Isn't she lovely?!

I'd really like to make customer appreciation photos a regular feature on my blog, so if you have anything you want to share, email me at amanda@kitschycoo.co.uk!

Pin It

Tweet

Another fond fabric farewell

When we were in the States last summer I went a bit nuts buying fabric and I've been trying not to add to my stash (well, too much anyway) until I've used up a considerable proportion of my existing fabric. So with mixed emotions, I'm finally get to the end of some of my favourite fabrics. I said goodbye to my Mirabelle last week (and then promptly bought more), and now I'm at the end of my Aviary fabric. I still have enough for a couple of peasant tops, but this is my last green velveteen and aviary coat!


Many thanks to the lovely ladies at Crafteroo who helped me decide between dark green and brown buttons for the velveteen side!


In other fabric news, Felinedream sent me one of her favourite fabrics to make a custom hoodie for her daughter. How cool is this?!


So how do other fabric addicts cope with using up the last treasured fabric? Do you buy more of the same or look for something new?

Pin It

Tweet

End of term activities

Those of you who are seasoned mums will know that as the school and nursery terms come to an end, the last couple of weeks are choc-a-block with activities... fetes, sports days, field trips, school photos... So here's some of our recent nursery related pics!

The nursery fete

Mmmm, cupcakes....

With lots of icing, and sprinkles...
Maia was so into getting her face painted, I couldn't believe how long and still she sat forThe slightly disconcerting result
Here's something you don't see everyday (well, unless you're me)

School Sports Day

Jamie has inherited his Dad's sporting prowess brings up the rear, beating only the girl who ran while sucking her thumb

But showed off a very flamboyant post-kick stance
He was so pleased to get a medal

Professional portraits

For reference, this is what it looks like when I ask Jamie to smile
And this is his professional shot... How did she do this?!

Pin It

Tweet

The Coolest Girl in the World *TM

I'm almost finished with the co-op order for the Cloth Nappy ladies and I'm back making things for the girls.


This lovely little hoodie is made from one of my favourite fabrics, Mirabelle by Alexander Henry. The bad news is this used the last of my fabric. The good news is I found more (on sale!) and bought heaps.


It has contrasting cream flannel lining and red cuffs and waistband. And something a little bit special...


A pointy pixie hood!

Pin It

Tweet

To Dads, all of them

I'm very lucky that I have three dads in my life: the baby-daddy, my own Dad and Steven's dad, Ian. This triumvirate of men, who love their children and work hard for their families are kind and generous and we're lucky to have them!

Steven and Jamie in their matching kilts

My Dad looking thoughtful


Granddad and Grandpa

Apologies for using our wedding pictures yet again, but they happen to be beautiful pics where no one looks looks 'special'. Just Special :) As they are!

Pin It

Tweet

Anxiety disorder? What anxiety disorder?

A couple of weeks ago when I was working at a fair, Steven had the kids at his parents and they raided the loft for some of Steven's old books and toys. And Jamie came home with this:



'Great,' I thought, 'Just what a kid with anxiety needs'. The same kid that's obsessed with The Bear. That's mighty afraid of The Bear. That's convinced his sister to obsess about The Bear. That has to keep all of the doors in the house closed at all times, because of The Bear. And not this bear:


This one:
From Teletubbies. I've been pretty dismissive of his fear of The Bear, but when looking for a picture there were hundreds, nay thousands, of people who said The Bear freaked them right out. If you don't believe me, check out this video:



Anyway, back to He-Man... I was convinced that Skeletor would be too much for his angst-ridden little mind to cope with. What I didn't appreciate, though, is that to a three year old a skeleton is not inherently scary. In fact, he's really rather delightful.

'He's smiling! He's happy!'

'He's waving! At his friends!'

'He's using the computer! Like Jamie!'

'He's peeking in the window! He thinks it's funny!'

Pin It

Tweet