Friday, June 24, 2011

Dress-ed

Just got back from Marketfest - we are drenched! It was a sweet opening to the summer though!
I wanted to share some pictures of the dress I am making for Ruby. We had our final fitting the other day and all I have left to do is sew up the hem. Woohoo!
Ruby looked beautiful....

Pardon the need for a serious pressing....
The perfect twirling skirt...

Enjoy your weekend!
xo

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

...

This guest post over on Soule Mama about being a mama is pretty awesome. Tear inducing awesome.
xo

Monday, June 20, 2011

A dress for me!

On Saturday I had planned on sewing in the zipper on Ruby's dress. But after hanging out with my brother's, well, let's just say I shouldn't have been doing anything that required too much concentration. Work on Ruby's dress just wasn't going to happen.
So I made a dress for myself. I have had this navy and white gingham hanging around for a while. I had always planned on making a dress out of it but just needed the right pattern.

I found Anda on Burdastyle. It is a very simple shift dress with a super retro silhouette. The directions did not come down with the pattern so I just made it up as I went. I lined it with habotai silk and made skinny arm and neck facings with bias tape. I put some pockets in the skirt and also omitted the elastic waist tie - those things never look good on me so I will just belt it. I think this dress will be perfect for summer. Looks good with flats, heels and wedges. Go ahead, ask me how I know.
xo

Tuesday Tune

Bonobo - he's is fantastic. I have seen him twice and both times he blew my mind. I've only seen him do his solo dj sets but apparently he also tours with a live band.
He had this little side project too called Barakas.
He makes music for chilling out to.
Enjoy!







Mmmmmm....

....oatmeal.
I love oatmeal. I eat it almost every day for breakfast. But it can get a little boring. I mean, there are only so many things you can do to jazz up oats. So when I found this recipe in a magazine I ripped it out and decided I would have to try it. Oh my goodness, am I ever glad I did.


It is like pudding, and french toast and oatmeal all in one dish. Dessert for breakfast.
And anything that inspires a four year old to say, "This is soooo delicious" is a keeper in my book!


I used strawberries instead of the blueberries and only used a 1/4 cup of sugar. This recipe makes a lot (6-8 servings) but I am going to experiment with re-heating it at work tomorrow for breakfast.
We are out to the garden this morning. We are going to re-plant the carrots. The never ending rain seems to be making all the seeds rot in the ground. Dear Sun, please come out so that the garden will grow. Thanks!
xo

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Monday, June 13, 2011

This weekend....

.....I did massive amounts of sewing,
had a lunch date with my lovely girl,
planted my leeks (they are sooooo cute),
had another fitting (its perfect) that was full of smiles and tears,
baked this amazing Summer Strawberry cake ~ it didn't last long!

cleaned my house,
did some exploring,

and chilled with the Mister.

Now if only the sun would show its face again!
xo

Tuesday Tune

I love drum and bass. It is what I often play when I am sewing - dnb or old punk. Gets me moving.
I discovered these guys on the weekend, Body & Soul. They are an Austrian duo who have this dark grimy sound that I absolutely love.







Hope you enjoy!
xo

Friday, June 10, 2011

I'm going to...

...let you in on a little secret. A while back a friend of mine asked me if I would make her wedding dress. For starters, I just about shrieked in excitement ( I may have squealed a little) and then I said yes.
I have known Ruby since we were little girls. We grew up with each other, in the same little village, where there were all of about 12 kids. We all played together, regardless of age differences. It was pretty wonderful. So when she asked me to make this dress for her, I was honored and so stoked.
When I tell people that I am doing this I get one of two reactions. 1. Are you insane? Have you ever made a wedding dress before? or 2. Wow! That is so amazing!

The funny thing is that I am not nervous about this. Maybe I should be. But I'm not. I mean, it is just a dress. Yes, a very important dress but it is a dress all the same. Maybe I would feel differently if this was to be a super formal affair. (They are having a very casual beach-y wedding.)
Or maybe its because I have made loads of dresses before. I will take just as much care with this dress as with any other I have made.

Or maybe its because it is for Ruby. She picked the pattern and the fabric and she is so excited about it every time we come to a new step in the dressmaking process. The sample fit her like a glove and looked amazing on her.
That's a lot of maybe's.

Hard to believe this pile is now a dress!

I will keep you all posted on the progress, now that the cat is out of the bag. I had a lovely day of sewing and this dress is in the home stretch.
I can't wait for Ruby to see it.
xo

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Tuesday Tune

I was reading this article from an old Rolling Stone magazine and it was about Bob Dylan. Different artists picked the top 70 Bob Dylan songs in honor of his 70th birthday. It was a fun read.
His songs give me goosebumps. The night before my daughter was born I remember watching the documentary made about him. It too gave me goose bumps.
So here are a few of my favourites.....








How can you just pick one?
Enjoy! xo

Monday, June 6, 2011

New and cute.

I have some new clutches heading down to Global Underground tomorrow. Here is a sneak peek:

Oh! And someone is rooting for Vancouver!
xo

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Its going to be a bright, bright, sunshine-y day....

The sun is out! Yahooooo! Can you tell I am in a better head space?
This weekend I am taking care of one of the cutest dogs on the planet. Miller.

He is my brother's puppy and is only about 8 months old. This dog listens better than most adult dogs I have met. He is seriously hilarious! I forgot how exhausting puppy's are. My mission every day is to tire him out so he is all chill in the house. Well, I think I am more tired than he is!
I got myself some new glasses. I can see!

Still getting used to them but it makes such a difference. Everything is clear instead of fuzzy. Its the little things in life, you know?
Now I know that we are just coming into summer and I have no business thinking about sweaters but I just can't help myself. Knitters are always thinking about sweaters...or mittens...or hats....
Yesterday I came across this pattern...

link
Isn't it amazing? I'm in love with the little neck tie and the peplum. It also led me to a book of vintage knitting patterns called "A Stitch In Time" by Jane Waller and Susan Crawford. The sweaters in this book blow my mind! They are typical for their eras- nipped waists, strong shoulders, drapey necklines. Swoon. I need to get my hands on a copy of this book!
We are off to the beach this afternoon. Gotta keep trying to tire this doggie out! Enjoy your weekend! xo