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I am meant to be resting for a while so, I thought some small sewing projects might help to keep me sane. I'm just getting ready to cut into this fabric for my next project which I hope to share soon:
Hope you have a good weekend whatever you plan to do.
xx
I've been meaning to blog about this quilt that I bought when I was in South Africa in December last year at a local farmer's market.
I was instantly drawn to the lovely red African patterned fabric and the squares that were embroidered (and signed) by different ladies.
The quilt was made at the Tsitsikamma Eersterivier Embroidery Project in the Cape Province of South Africa. The aim of this project is to improve the standard of living and the upliftment of the local community. The project provides opportunities for people to use their skills and better their lives.
Tsitsikamma means abundance of water. The aim of this project is to let the local population (mainly farm workers, part time domestic workers and many unemployed people) experience some of this abundance in their personal and family lives.
I love the childlike simplicity of these embroidered images.
I've been wanting to make a quilt myself and I will probably start with something small, but for now, I need to collect more fabric to give it a nice mixed pattern feel.
xx
I bought these Converse trainers/sneakers/tekkies about two years ago with the intention to paint on them but, never got round to them and eventually forgot about it. That was until I got the book Small Stash Sewing by Melissa Averinos from the yummygoods blog. In the book, Melissa showed a pattern to make shoelaces from fabric and I just had to give it a go. I wrote a bit more about Melissa and her book here when I recently met her in London.
I did not plan the painting as I just wanted to paint freely and see what happens. I am pretty happy with the result even if it is a very colourful and hippie-like. If you know me by now, in my world, colour is good.
Once I've finished the hand painting on the one shoe, I had to replicate it on the other. Once the shoes were done, I made the shoelaces according to Melissa's instructions which were very clear and it turned out to be a quick and easily little project.
xx
It is my birthday today. I have had a lovely day with various cards and texts from family and an early phone call from my parents. Hubby took me out for lunch and to see a film. We saw Letters to Juliet which was right up my alley.
We came home to find two beautiful bouquets. One from my brother-in-law and sister-in-law:
And, the biggest bouquet of roses from my parents-in-law:
While I'm showing you some flowers, I also wanted to show you these:
I picked them up for less than a fiver when we got back from Hawaii and since then, the orchid has been blooming his little heart out with no effort on my part.
Hope you've had a good day too.
xx
It has been a while since my last blog post and it was not intentionally but, when you spend most of your day falling asleep or interrupting yourself to go and pee for the umpteenth time, then you don't get round to everything on your 'to-do' list. So, apart from the tiredness exhaustion, everything seems to be going well with me and baby-to-be :) I have not yet been hormonal at all (but don't ask my husband, he'll just exaggerate anyway. I have been very calm, really.)
Anyway, I'm rambling. I have started a few projects, it's the finishing that is a different matter at the moment.
I've decided to learn to crochet so, I've bought a magazine which came with some wool and a crochet needle. I've also bought a book about crochet stitches. I've not had much time to practice yet. So far, I've mastered the most basic chain stitch. I know, I still have a long way to go. I just like the idea of being able to crochet some booties, blankets and maybe hats with big flowers on them (if it's a girl). So, if anything comes from this, I will let you know.
I've also ordered a few baby sewing books. I am full of ideas now I just need the energy to match. Watch this space.
Hope you're all doing well.
xx
