tiny happy

coat weather

This winter was the one in which Keira finally outgrew the coat I'd made for her in Norway. We got a pretty long run from it, really. So I dreamt up this new one for her and finished it last week, just in time for the cold snap. I used some vintage wool plaid for the outside, and some equally old rayon-cotton for the lining. I started out with a commercial pattern- (Kwik Sew #3818) but made quite a few changes- one being to fully line the whole garment. Also I adjusted the size (K is rather on the small side) and omitted the double-breasted look. The front of the coat closes inside with big snaps, and has loops on the outside. 

There's still time to enter my giveaway over at the Growmama blog- just leave a comment here to be in to win a parcel of bits and pieces from my etsy shop. 

I wish you a very happy weekend- we are settling in by the fire to watch The Princess Bride with the neighbours.

the quiet

We had a really lovely break away- very rural and quiet. The children played all day long with their friends, while the parents drank coffee and sat by the fire. We even drove through a night-time snowstorm (very exciting, as snow is very rare in these parts), went looking for penguins, and went running over sand dunes. The perfect winter break.

I got some good work in on my cross-stitch 'sampler' that I reserve strictly for holidays and very much enjoyed the internet break.

I just wanted to write that I'm absolutely devastated by the news of the massacre in Norway. Oslo and its surrounds have such a big place in my heart and the Norwegian people even more so. It's completely shocking and still unbelievable to me that such needless killings took place and I'm sending all my love there. 

You can see some beautiful tributes here.

growmama giveaway

We're heading away for a short mid-winter break with some friends. I'll be back here again in a few days, but until then, I'll send you over to the lovely Anissa's blog, where I feature as part of her 'creative mama' series. If you leave a comment on that post, you enter the giveaway I have offered up over there: for a bird print, a set of hellebore cards, and a 'vita' drawstring pouch.

Thank you, and thanks to Anissa for inviting me! See you next week. X

travel accessories

It was with a heavy heart that I said goodbye to some good friends this week, leaving for the other side of the world. Actually, quite a few friends have been taking long plane journeys or are planning them for the near future, so I've found myself making them these 'eye-masks' for use on their travels. I used some of my favourite fabrics for the outside layer, and for the lining, Liberty lawn (it's pretty luxurious, that stuff) and on a few others, vintage kimono silk.

The pattern was one I designed for the last issue of Extra Curricular magazine- it's quite simple, with layers of cotton flannel inside for (hopefully) a complete lack of light shining through.

The winter sun is shining here this afternoon, we have a houseful of children making huts and artwork, and a pot of hot chocolate (this recipe) on the stove. Not a bad Friday at all.

Have a lovely weekend.

made by others

My letterbox has been a very happy one lately, with the arrival of all sorts of treats from kind readers and friends. 

In the first photo above sits the kids' new pencil case- 'Kitty', which they fell in love with at our local craft market, so I was excited to purchase. I love him, too. He was made by my friend Shelly, who has a stall at the weekly market here and also an etsy shop. She makes truly original and amazing items, and we got to know each other back when I had a little stall there, too. We were market-neighbours. 

The set of cards in the second photo were made by Emily of Millicent Crow. I was lucky enough to win her giveaway a while back for the 'Little Bird' card series. I love them, and am looking forward to sitting down and writing some notes to friends on them, thank you Emily.

And you might have noticed that beautiful yarn up there. It's the softest skein of silk merino lace imaginable, in moody grey and blue colours. Thank you, Jessicah, I'm now anxious to get my knitting needles out...

velvety

We've been enjoying these velvety yellow tulips on the kitchen table this week. There's nothing quite like that brilliant yellow, is there?

I came upon some pieces of coloured cotton velveteen in the second-hand shop- they seemed to be asking me to embroider on them. I made some small purses for today's shop update from my stitchings. Such tactile loveliness, that velveteen. The rest of the fabric has been put away to make a batch of rabbits for new babies on the scene.

And one more note on velvet- I found this dress on Pinterest a while back- doesn't it look like just the most luxurious, beautiful garment? (although, I'd probably prefer to wear it with shoulder straps).

winter branches

I took the photo of a valley filled with bare winter trees on a recent walk. I've always loved the sight of naked trees reaching their branches up to the sky, but it's a rare sight here in NZ because so many of our native trees stay green all year long. Those bare branches inspired some embroidery with white silk thread that has the impression of a print, but when you look closely, each tree is slightly different.

While I was working on those stitches, I remembered a similar project in my copy of Lena Corwin's beautiful book,  Printing By Hand. She shows how to make a simple stencil on a wall and I've often thought that branch print would look great in our kitchen. Another project to add to the list.

sketchbook

We have a friend from Europe staying for a couple of weeks, and have been busy showing him around natural parts of our district. Yesterday we went walking in the brilliant winter sunshine, and found lots of native plants and birds along the way, including a beautiful yellow bellbird gorging itself on kowhai nectar, and a piwakawaka showing off for our cameras. My sketchbook of future embroidery ideas is starting to fill up. 

lemon cream

I'd never made a whole garment from silk before I made K this little blouse 'for best'. The fabric is a creamy-lemon vintage silk crepe, found and sent to me by my friend Helen. It was just enough to make something small, and I settled on the blouse pattern from this Japanese book. I love its very old-fashioned and delicate look, and I'm not sure what she has in her wardrobe that could go with it, but to be honest it was just fun for me to sew and dream up.

After school today the sun came out so I let her try it on and air that wintry pale skin for a few minutes. Shortly followed by running back inside for more layers, quick-smart.

The new album from Bon Iver arrived in my letterbox and is now on high rotate on the CD player. It's very beautiful. I think you'd like it.

Have a great weekend.

warming winter

It was super cold and stormy here yesterday, and everyone in the household made it home early in the afternoon. Of course there are many things that can warm up such a winters' evening, but yesterday the secret was abandoning all set work and chores, lighting the fire and looking through old copies of the UK Country Living magazine, with special attention being paid to gardening and plants of the warm-weather variety. I do love that magazine, even if at times it seems to describe a world both idyllic and unrealistic. Ah well, surely that's what magazines are about? 

Tom made some tomato soup. It was so delicious and cheering, and made me wonder why we'd forgotten about this simple dish for so long. Here's the recipe in case you're in need of some winter warming.

Tomato soup (adapted from the Vegetarian Adventure, Bishop and Carruthers, 1988.)

3 Tb butter, 2 tins tomatoes (or 850g fresh), 1 tsp brown sugar, chopped herbs (dried or fresh), 1 bay leaf, salt and pepper.

Melt the butter in a pot then add the tomatoes and seasonings given above. Cook for a few minutes.

Tip in 2 1/2 cups of vegetable stock, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Cool slightly, remove the bay leaf and blend in a food processor or with a stick blender.

Reheat again, then just before serving, stir in 1/2 cup cream or natural yoghurt. Serve when hot with bread and chopped herbs and more yoghurt.