New home

I've started a new blog to focus on learning about raising my gorgeous little boy the Montessori way. Please have a look if you're interested: Make, Grow + Share

I made BATHERS (or togs as my dad calls them)!

Being pregnant means that slowly your clothes stop fitting like they're supposed to. With our heat waves of 40+ degrees here and a gorgeous pool just around the corner at the in-law's, my beloved pair of bathers (that I will confess to have over-loved for about 3 years) really needed to retire. And I needed to invest in a pair of ones that were going to grow with my bump and still make me look hip in the local maternity water aerobics class. Now I could make it easy for myself and purchase a pair and look the same as every other soon to be mamma or I could set myself the challenge of making my first pair of bathers with a 2 week deadline.

Challenge accepted!

I jumped online and found everything I needed and some sweet patterned material at The Fabric Fairy. Despite being in the states they were pretty quick delivery and cheaper than anything I could find locally - not by much mind you - it came down to the fabric choices in the end.

I knew I wanted a forgiving fabric pattern that wasn't going to break my heart if I didn't match the sides or make me look like a wide load etc. This crazy print was perfect.

Next I hacked up the old suit and traced it a little bigger, used the Megan Nielson Ruched Maternity T-shirt pattern for gathering inspiration around the baby bump, did the same with the lining and went about this project, not really knowing if I was going to pull it off. 

Then I went about using my new favourite twin needle to stitch the whole thing together. I had a hot and bothered husband dying to go to the pool as my deadline.

To tell you the truth, it wasn't that hard. There are definitely things I can do better next time like make the backside a little wider, make the elastic around the legs a little tighter, consider tighter gathering, think about elastic placement under the boobs.

But all in all the things I like is that it's a direct replica of my fav retired bathers, the elastic was easy to sew, it's lined, the fabric feels amazing, I drafted (flown by the seat of my pants!) it, and I think it looks pretty great. Plus no one in my water aerobics class has anything as bright, and the beautiful husband really likes it, especially when we got to the pool to enjoy the beautiful weather.

I'm 28 weeks in these photos, hopefully the bump fits for a few more months! 

It was really fun. I highly recommend it. Go make yourself some togs.

xx j.

Radalaide with the ladies

We have a solid group, we're not all living in the same city, but it doesn't change a thing. Plus it's nice to visit one another and discover new food, wine and zoos.

If you've never been to Adelaide, get over there it's beautiful and laid back plus you get to see Wang Wang and Funi the Giant Pandas. And make sure you duck out to Shaw + Smith, they have the most delightful wine and cheese tasting in a sun drenched room. 

But most of all, go to wherever you can hang out with your friends and feel the love.

Project Better Blog: Photoshop

In light of Alt creating their Alt for Everyone online conference and the fact that there is so many beautiful blogs out there which I hope to rub shoulders with, I gotta get better at this blogging thing.

So therefore it's time to take steps. Real and simple and time consuming steps. The internet is a magical and mystical place that can teach me anything. ANYTHING I TELLS YOU.

So.

Step One: Photoshop.

(ARRRRRRRGGGGGh. Photoshop, why do you hate me. But, I will, in the words of Anne from The Great British Sewing Bee, talk to you nicely until you do what I say...or I do what you say... whichever comes first really.)

Please be gentle with me. I'm a total novice. But, thanks to the Alt blog I found this neat little post on text and photos. Which, quite frankly makes sense. And it got me thinking, if I can achieve a few basic but designy inspired techniques it would be a good step.

Of course they're Links for Blog Love post is what you should be reading, not my mis-adventures with the hussy photoshop.

But... here we are.

My Get-Better-At-Photoshop To Do List.

1. The beautifully simple post by Nicole's Classes about adding text to photos, found via Alt.
2. Also I can't stop devouring everything on Pugly Pixel. First to do: creat some photo layouts for myself from this post.
3. Watch more of Jeremy Shuback's Photoshop tutorials. They're snappy and fun. And a tad overwhelming. But packed with tips for the beginner (me!) 

Curtains: Someone else can make them next time.

I made some very heavy, lined curtains for our old place and never got around to hemming them. I thought it was going to be an easy project. But I was wrong and I think next time I'll leave it to the professionals. I classify this project in the "just-getting-away-with-it" category (i.e. not going to not use them just going to cringe a little when I think of them).

I did eventually hem them, but not nearly as neat as the pros do it. This is one sewing job I'm happy to never have to do again, not because it's hard just because, well, I didn't enjoy it and wasn't completely happy with the way they turned out.

(I've always loved the light on the wooden boards in that house.) 

So lesson learned? Get the professionals in for curtains. 

xx j. 

Em and Tom's Wedding... was a while ago.

But I am really keen to share with you some of the beautiful photos that came from the night. It was a gorgeous wedding set on their farm in Rochester, threatening rain all day but the sun streemed in at the perfect moment of the ceremony - the kiss!


There was lots of crafting by everyone and it gave it a beautiful homemade and colourful feel.

But let's be honest, there is nothing more beautiful than seeing your buddies, their families and their friends all ridculously happy.

Ahhh... the beauty and love is what it's all about.

xxx j.

A little quilt for a little queen.

My cousin gave birth to a beautiful little girl named after a queen. I was really keen to give her something the very first time I met her so I made her a little quilt. Now I'm not that experienced or great at quilting and so it's more of a blanket that has a quilt core (not sure if it was a traditional quilt really!) I will say though the project was quick and enjoyable and I think I might try and get better and make them for all my friends, when they have babies that is.

The Great British Sewing Bee was very inspiring, I think I loved that it was only a few quality episodes and it had great, real people in it because they love it and for no other reason. Really made me think about the fact that I need to be careful with all the elements and details when it comes to my projects.

And I know we all know already but, ironing! No one mentions how crucial it is to sewing! Sometimes the measuring, cutting, pinning and ironing takes more time and energy than the actual sewing. I know this already and yet I'm still surprised. Every time!

 The best thing in the end about making things for an occasion or a person is that you get hours to sit there and contemplate. In this case, I was super excited to meet little Khaleesi and she is gorgeous just like her parents.

xxx j.