Blogtoberfest Day 29: The Big SNAP-ple

I've been waiting. And now I have the perfect reason to move to NYC.

A sewing class with the delectable Jenny Gordy? Much better than being rapped over the knuckles by a cranky old lady.

I wonder if Matt will visit on weekends...?

image via

Danger Mouse

Remember that show from when you were small? Amazing! Astounding! Danger Mouse! What kind of mouse couldn't be cool wearing an eye patch?

Well today my cheeky little mouse decided to be Danger Mouse. Tiny has taken to, with great aplomb, going into rooms and closing doors. She thinks it's a super great joke. This morning she was in the bathroom, and was calling out, 'til her Mama dutifully rescued her.

Shortly after she went into her room. Disappeared for a while, didn't she? Uh-huh.

Then she started calling out sounding a little distressed. Fear not, I wasn't far away. She was testing out her independence. I knew she'd closed her bedroom door and snuck in there to get into mischief. Hand on the door knob, turn, and the door does not open. What does one do in this situation? Just what does one do? Try the door knob again. No cigar. Clearly the door knob has fallen off (as it has become prone to do) and now I can't open it. Ergh.

Start breathing a little heavier. What to do, what to do. Window is closed. Not skinny enough to slide down a small space between staircase and room. Thankfully at this time my father-in-law walked in.

I had by this called Matt (on the phone) and subsequently hung up on him when my FIL walked in. I cried out for help.

He came to the rescue with a hammer and smashed a window to release Tiny. Phew. We smashed the window MacGyver stylie. (Did you watch Lawrence Leung 'Choose Your Own Adventure' on the ABC? GOLD!)

Tiny's foray into locking herself into rooms. Hmm. That's certainly not the injection of excitement I've been looking for.

PS - I quit my sewing classes today. Ole!

Merci Beaucoup - From Me To You

Hey Gang!

Thanks for the confidence boost yesterday. It made me realise that sewing shouldn't be about symmetry, but sewing for the fun, for the creation, and for the experience.

So while I didn't resume sewing yesterday, I was still a little tainted by the whole evening, I did think more about my objective. Today, I just thought - heck, both smalls are a-sleeping, I'm going to throw caution to the wind and get into it.

I finally decided on a sort of (very, very) vague 'log cabin'. Now don't get your knickers in a knot, I know it's not traditional stylie. Nor do I even suggest you can see this interpretation. It's just going to be a little hotch-potch pulled together cushion. I'm not terribly good at the construction part (or any part to be honest), but it's my first one and I'm flying solo. However, my favourite cheer squad leader has been telling me 'you're doing great sewing Mummy', and 'you're sewing really fast, aren't you Mama?'. I mean, who wouldn't want to make something for someone who encourages you with such positive affirmations? I could be convinced to make him anything if he keeps that up. Even a Percy cushion.

PottyMouthMama of The Symmetrical Sewing

I had grand plans for sewing class last night. Grand plans. I thought I'd be coming back here today and showing you at least the front of my cushion for the Doctor.

Instead I came home early and ate cake.

It all started when I turned up with my fabric, and my idea in my head. It's a no-brainer for me. I have the idea, I just don't have the expertise to execute it. But given my sewing teacher's wealth of knowledge, I thought we'd whizz up the cush in under no time.

She pulled out her special folder of pattern ideas. Here's where I should have seen trouble. Trouble with a capital T. Maybe even underlined. There was nothing in this folder that replicated even closely what I had in my head.

I got a piece of paper, drew what she was proposing and realised it definitely wasn't compatible with what I wanted. So when she went away, I started cutting, and as I cut I fiddled around with the layout. I spent quite a hefty amount of time moving things around. Everyone else was a little concerned that I hadn't done anything except move fabric around - but you know peeps, it ain't a competition, and I'm just here to do my own thing.

So I finally got to a layout I started to like. My sewing teacher was on the approach. Her deft hands swiftly rearranged the entire layout, while telling me that "unless it was symmetrical it wasn't going to work". Dots in the corners. Animal prints in the middle. Block colours to break it up. Here's me having a nervous breakdown of sorts.

I'm not assertive. Gosh, I know I need to learn to be, but sometimes I don't want to offend. So in my gentle way, I tried to back out from this arrangement with an - 'I've left some of my fabrics at home so maybe I'll just wait 'til next week to go further'.

Would she have a bar of it? Uh uh.

She started pulling fabrics out of her stash to go with mine. These included a hideous egg yolk yellow that made my head hurt. Some other random bits. And a block of Percy the engine.

I knew someone small (ie the Doctor) would LOVE that block. But really, it wasn't working with the aesthetic I had in mind. I have saved all my bits of fabric. My Japanese buys. My naughty little purchases. I've saved them for something special. Percy - sorry - but it wasn't working. My sewing teacher was shocked.

It was at this point I realised what I needed.

Cake. (And more to the point Stephanie Alexander's Orange cake. Who knew 250g of butter and 1.5 cups of caster sugar could taste so darn good? Ok I did.)

I packed up, feigned tiredness and left. In a jiffy. Before any more of my fabrics could be tainted with Percy-ness. So this is what I have done. Or rather, haven't done. Cut up some fabric. Ta-dah!

Just like Cinderella, I wish a Fairy Godmother would come and tap her magic wand over my head and make me a stellar seamstress. A supreme stitcher. Or maybe I could just dive in and remember, it's just fabric, innit?

A Crazy Outta Control To-Do List

Do you ever have days where your to-do list is just not going to-get-done? Today is one of those days.

- Wake up

- Prep morning tea & lunch for the Doctor

- Drop the Doctor off to pre-school

- Fruit & veg shopping
- Vaccuum

- Mop

- Breathe

- Get a flat tyre fixed

- Fruit & veg still sitting on floor in kitchen - unpack it now girlfriend!

- Cook dinner (for tomorrow night)
- Tidy the Doctor's room

- Change bed linen

- Washing

- Somewhere in here, get some work done

- Play with Tiny

- I won't continue in case you click away

Do you ever feel as though you agree to take on too much, and then feel like you're suffering in order to make everyone happy? Well that's me right now. I think I need to cut back and learn to say no. I think if I did that, the boulder currently resting on my shoulders could roll off. And that would be an ace thing indeedy.

And tonight friends, sewing restarts. I decided to go back. It's a good excuse for me to ensure I have some 'me time'. And I'm not going to stress about it this term. It's going to be easy sewing. Just learning some techniques me thinks. And my teacher promised she'd teach me how to smock. Coolio. I think tonight I might start work on a cushion for the Doctor. I promised him yonks ago, but never got to it. I've been trawling my copy of 'Bend the Rules' for inspiration. Inspiration-a-go-go.

Today for your viewing pleasure, a little bit of eye candy in the form of the Doctor's scarf I've been working on. And some fabrics I'm thinking of including in his cush.

To Sew, Or Not To Sew

I am in two minds peeps. Sewing resumes tonight, but I don't know if I can be bothered - not just for tonight, but re-committing for the entire term. Bad, isn't it? I am feeling a little stressed about it. But then, I could continue building on my newfound sewing skills. Or stay at home and enjoy some hand sewing. What to do, what to do?

I went op shopping. Kind of a way to forget the thoughts. Sew or not to sew. Op shop or not to op shop. Well that last one is a noooo brainer!

I found a few cute things. In particular, this Humpty Dumpty mug kept in the 'special' cabinet. And the little glass jar.

And an ace vintage men's David Jones trench in classic navy with a zip out wool liner. Pity it was too small for Matt.

Sew.. To sew or not to sew?

Average April

There's nothing wrong with being average. Most people are average on first glimpse, though once you take a closer, longer look, they are supersonic. Charge your glasses, because FINALLY Magical March is at a close. Phew. There were days when I didn't think I would make it all because of the pressure of my own sodding project, but I've made it out the other side. Thanks to everyone who participated.

As part of April I am going to be blogging daily about what's average in my life. Just jokes. BUT - exciting things happening here right now-skis...:

- received my copy of Meet me at Mike's - so exciting, can't stop looking at it. But where to start? 26 projects to choose from... Where are you starting? At the start?

- my Mum brought down my grandmother's sewing machine. The one that was missing the pedal. Yes. Now thanks to my Mum it has a pedal and is ready to roar into the evenings. I've been practising sewing making a bath mat and towel for the Doctor's doll house

- we're getting ready for the Super Dooper Mail Swap organised by Christie at Pigeon Pair. The Doctor's excited big stylie to get some mail, and we're super excited to be getting crafty with some postcards. Just don't expect too much from us, alright?

- my Dad thinks I seriously think alright is spelt awright. Nope - Dad I really know how to spell it, I was just being a geezer

- it's raining and I love the rain. Perfect for snoozing

- I played a really great April Fool's joke on my sister - yeeehaaaaw!

- Easter is JUST AROUND THE CORNER - giddy up, Easter craft here we come.

The Things We Do For Love

I've done some pretty silly things for love. Pretty darn silly.

Like:

- do I really have to say out loud?

And today, I've gone and done it again. I promised a picture of me in my new top. Nevermind the fact that here it's kind of cool, raining, and the top I've been working on is clearly a Summer top. Nevermind that. I'll wear it. Even if it still has tacking around the collar where I still have to stitch, this dear friend, is a design feature, until I take to the machine later tonight.

So here I am being ridiculous in the name of love. The shots I took where I pretended I wasn't taking photos of myself were so silly, painfully awkward, that I decided to ham things up. Everyone's got an inner model (I'm sure of it, I don't get out of bed for less than $10,000 is a fab mantra.. if you don't have kids), and today, I've drawn on my inner model just for you. Just as Beyonce has Sasha Fierce, my inner ego is... Tallulah Moochacha.

Some models appear as though they've dislocated a shoulder to contort their bodies. I've drawn on them, minus the hospitalisation (who would feed the masses in my absence?). I've pouted harder than any woman's pouted before.

All to show you my new top. Finito. Now how's that for the things we do for love?

Magical March: Day 30

Today is particularly magical. Want to know why? Because - I finally finished the top I started stitching three months ago. I'll wait a moment while you pick yourself up off the floor from the shock.

Tick.

Tick.

Tock.

Incredible. I know. I even thought about listing it on eBay as a project for those who like only to do half projects. You know, they could do the end half, and as a result have a new top (rather than start a new top and never finish it).

I have plenty more great ideas where that came from.

Like why don't doonas have clips inside them to clip onto the doona cover so that they don't all crumple up? I always wind up with the bit of the doona cover without the actual doona.

I should possibly become an entrepreneur. Although I don't know what that would entail.

So tomorrow, I will come bearing gifts. A photo of me, PottyMouthMama in my top. Roll up, roll up, you will be amazed. You will be astounded.

In the meantime, be astounded by my Mum's super tidying effort in organising my collection of vintage cups and plates. That woman is a genius. (She also tidied our house - I can very obviously now see we have a floor - who woulda thunk it?)
My parents were visiting on the weekend which was super great. The Doctor was ridiculously excited (heck so was I!), and Tiny scored loads of cuddles.

Super Doctor

No waiting time. No ouchy needles. Only bulk bills. Watch out. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Nope, it's Super Doctor. Cape complete-o.

Finished it last night, along with almost finishing my top (woohoo - let's hold a party, meet me back here at 9pm and we'll pop the cork - awright?), and finishing cutting out a new top. It helps when half the class isn't there.

So the Doctor woke this morning to his superhero cape. However, it appears to be faulty - it won't make him fly. Ahem. Where's the imagination senor?

Anyway, took the Doctor to pre-school wearing said cape. He was happy as a lark. Then I went to leave and asked if he wanted to give me the cape to take home. Nope, not parting with it. So I went to check with a teacher that it was ok - and she misread what I meant and went straight over to the Doctor to tell him to give me the cape.

Such a bad, bad miscommunication. The Doctor was in tears. I was on the verge, I don't give a brass razoo if that cape gets trashed, it's meant for having fun, and rough and tumbles and zoom-zooming into the air, looping the loop and defying the ground. I was happy for him to keep it there, I just wanted to make sure it was ok. But nope - and then I got sent home. Detention for the mama.

I'm making vanilla sugar cookies for our afternoon play date. Hopefully that will help soothe a hurting super hero's heart.

Take that! Shazaaaam!

Magical March: Day 8

Are you feeling it? In Sydney, it's overcast, a little cool, perfectly Autumnal. Ideal for snuggling under quilts and watching old movies.

Well. If I didn't have two wee ones, perhaps that's what we'd be doing.

But instead, we went to Bunnings this morning. One of my favourite places to visit. You may think I am odd - but there's something about a hardware store that gets me. Maybe it's the endless possibilities. It makes me feel excited. Gets me thinking about our home and how we can make it ours (no mean feat when you live with your in-laws). I left with two plastic storage boxes to keep the big, fat silverfish at bay, and a tube of gap sealant. Exciting, non?

It's raining too. Just the sound of drizzle. Even more perfect for snuggling, snoozing. Baking. We're making lasagne for dinner.

Today? What's Magical? Sundays are always pretty good in my book. But today I got to finish some old projects. Gulp. Remember these PJs? Well now they finally have buttons.

Super (the) Doctor

A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, I said I was going to make the Doctor a super hero cape. I bought the fabrics, I just never went any further.

This lady came to the rescue and sent me one of her cute little numbers that she and Caleb customised for the doctor. So cute, and a firm favourite in the dress-up box.

Monday arrived this week and I'd not had a chance to sit down and do my hand-sewing to finish my top. So I was coming up empty handed with anything to stitch. Maybe I could ditch the class for the week? No. I'm not that kinda gal. So I went through my stash and re-discovered the cape materials.

Off I trotted. My sewing teacher cut out a pattern for me, I sewed it - with that cute Japanese spot as the trim. Only after spending a whole lotta time stitching, I took it off, flipped it over to admire my handiwork and realised there was something wrong wrong wrong with the sewing machine.

My sewing teacher at the top of her voice screeched, 'Oh you've threaded the machine up wrong'.

Here's where it gets super good.

It was on this particular Monday evening that I had for once walked in to find my very favourite machine already threaded up - bobbin and all. It was my lucky night. Or so it seemed.

The lady who was sitting next to me piped up in my defence and said - 'No! She didn't thread it, it was already done.'

To cut a long story short - someone else jumped on the machine while I was stitching, and lo and behold it was only then that my sewing teacher discovered that it was not my fault. And that naughty minx of a machine is off for a service. And me, I'm going to re-sew the whole cape again, because as George Fisher said: 'When you aim for perfection, you discover it's a moving target.' Bring on the archery practice.

Sewing Scoop de la Scoop

I think it's week four of sewing classes. I seem to be the dunce in the class, always getting a rap over the knuckles for a number of reasons:

a) not being able to get the bobbin in
b) over-stitching
c) accidentally tacking the wrong piece
d) generally not knowing how to sew

Last week I left with a battered ego. If I wasn't getting in trouble at the Doctor's pre-school for lunch packing technique, I was getting chastised in front of my whole class for my lack of sewing prowess.

Never mind.

I am on the home run for my top. I won't show you it this week. There's not much to show. I'm just hand-sewing the hem, finishing the darts and when I have finished it, I will show you (until then, remember to breathe).

But I am steaming ahead with my stitching. Well slowly steaming. After all, I am the slow stitcher. (See how I got sick of stitching in purple, so I've switched to the pink just for fun - and crazy as it seems, that's what stitching is for me - fun to the power of rad (and something to do while watching this - did you watch it?? That Claire Verity is one nutcase)).

And before you think I am some kind of creative genius, these designs are all from Jenny Hart's 'Sublime Stitching'.

So now it's Friday. Thank goodness. The whole weekend awaiting our hands to mould it into whatever it will be.

We have a fairy & pirate party to attend. Excellent! Tiny cupcakes to be baked. Yeehaaaar! What fun stuff are you up to this weekend? Do tell!

Detention! The 2 for 1 post.

Pre-school for the Doctor is awesome. He loves it. There's been no tears, just pure unbridled excitement. He digs it in a solid gold kinda way. He doesn't know any names yet, but that's soon to change. Once we're there, he is in the zone and plays, barely even looking up to say goodbye. It's ace. The Doctor is really hitting his stride. And when I pick him up he is thrilled to see me (of course, who wouldn't be?) and talks non-stop about what he has done for the day.

Pre-school for me however... Well I feel as though I am borderline detention. Every time - and I am not fibbing - every single time I have dropped him off, I get a rap over the knuckles for something. Usually - food.

It's not that I send the Doctor with junk food. No siree. He goes with a fruit salad, yoghurt, sometimes homemade biscuits, a sandwich, vegetable sticks, more fruit, you dig? (Remember when you helped me with all those ace ideas??) They asked me last week if I could pack them a banquet lunch. So no, it's not the food that's the problem.

It's apparently the way I pack it.

There are four different places to put food.

Morning tea - fridge.

Morning tea - non-fridge.

Lunch - fridge.

Lunch - non-fridge.

I sort out the food on arrival, every time I am in the midst of doing so one of the Doctor's teachers comes over to tell me: please put them in a bag together; that container's too big; does this really need to be refrigerated?; oh yes that watermelon is leaking; can you not put the Doctor's lunch in that bag - he can't open it.

Ah yes, I love always feeling like such a numbskull. Over a lunchbox. Believe it or not, I do function in society. Hard to believe when I can't even manage to pack my son's lunch correctly, that I actually held down a full time job. Incredible, I know.

So this brings me to sewing last night. I whizzed to Spotlight yesterday and picked up some cottons and sewed up some bags for morning tea and lunch. Et voila! The watermelon still leaks but at least it's in a bag now.

In case you're wondering - in lieu of making lunch bags, I gave up the opportunity to finish up my top (which incidentally is a VERY expensive top given how much time I have spent on it).

Here ends my rant for today.

My Husband Is Not Herb Ritts. Or Mario Testino. Or Helmut Newton.

Is it week two of 'The Chronicles of PottyMouthMama's Sewing'? I can't remember and I can't be bothered to trawl through the back issues, so let's call it two (or you can just call me bone-lazy), shall we?

So here it is. The top I've been working on for the past two hundred years. Since I sailed in on the tall ships. Ok. Not quite. But it feels this way. For a 'very easy' pattern, for me, it's particularly 'un-easy'. I can hmph and pmph around the house all I like, but at least my sewing teacher has told me I'll be done and dusted next week. Roll on new project!

Mario, oh - I mean Matt, must have got the brief wrong. He was taking photos of my tired head. I caught him just in the nick of time - and here it is. If you think it looks a little crummy let's put it down to Matt's photographic technique, yes?

My sewing class is largely made up of middle-aged women (not that there's anything wrong with that). Making cushions and curtains. They have sewing skill. I have nil. In fact, everyone in the class is working on something totally random, whatever they want. It's a little frustrating because I seem to spend half the class waiting for help on the next bit. This week, I spent most of my time waiting for help with the darn bobbin. Every week, it's always about the bobbin. It intimidates me. That small yet integral circle thing. It's tricky.

My way to combat the waiting is by starting up a few simultaneous projects. What project are you working on at the moment?

Aye Aye Tailor!*

Tonight I learnt how to tailor tack. Do you know how to tailor tack? Clearly, my life was lacking, I was in wont, and now my life is fulfilled. I know how to tailor tack. Go me!

This is it. My top in progress. Looks like just a bit of fabric? Well - look closer and you can see my mean overlocking! Look even closer and you can see my tailor tacking AND pins for the pleats. Wow - it was a big night for me. I wasn't meant to overlock - but I snuck on anyway, given it's my favourite part!

And look what followed me home. This Fisher Price puppy walker thing. I'm going to give it a bath with some nice disinfectant and Tiny can try it out.

AND - I promised a shot of my colourful flowers. They're still not potted. Tomorrow, once the Doctor returns from pre-school perhaps?

* PottyMouthMama supplies all puns free of charge. She will never charge you for a pun. Not once. Enjoy them. As many as you like. She's bound to load at least one into each post.

Back To School: Sewing Class - Second Session - Week 1

So it is dear reader, I'm heading back to sewing lessons tonight with a vision. I may not be Karl, but damn fool, I'm going to get this top I started last year happening so I can at least wear it in the intended season. Summer. And if that fails, then I'll just stitch up some more pyjama pants - because you know how I love to stitch those babies up, even if I do have a wild tendency to stitch the legs up. Problem? The Doctor hasn't even worn the top once!

Did I mention I found a sewing machine on the side of the road? No? Well I did - on Tiny's birthday. I just am a little scared to rev it up. Just hold tight. Ok, coming to you live - I just tried her out. Sewing is dangerous, isn't it? She started up, then flick - the needle broke off and hit me in the forehead. YOUCH! It hurt. I told you it was dangerous. Next time I may have to wear goggles in class of flying needles.

While I have you, I've done a wee bit of tidying here at PMM HQ. I have updated my link list, and am updating my playlist, and you'll notice a few more changes around here soon. I did change the background to a buttery yellow - for all of two minutes - before I went back to white. White's tight, right? I was meant to update yonks ago, but didn't get to it, so I figure if I take the same approach I do to decluttering our home, it will eventually happen. You'll still feel at home dear reader!

Scallops, Anyone?

I had this strange idea in my head that since I was well on my way stitching, that I could go freestyle. Whack I know. I don't know what came over me. Ego? Bravado? A little cocky perhaps? Or maybe it's just the heat? Yes! Yes, let's put it down to the heat throwing me into some false sense of stitching prowess.

I've not been doing much of anything really, except trying to declutter, but sometimes I sneak some time to resume stitching this wee little handkerchief. The 'M' turned out ok, but I got a little bored, so went to do a border (I am so fickle, aren't I?). I was thinking a sweet scalloped edge. Started out ok, then went wayward. Sloppy.

Can I bothered to unpick it and start again? Probably not given this is the measly amount I've stitched since my last report.

In other breaking news, I resume sewing lessons on Monday. This will give you ample time to pop the corn, break out the choc tops and wait patiently for my next round of sewing catastrophes.

PS - Spare a cool thought for the all the Southern Belles melting, melting, ahhh they're melting. Oh what a world!

Something Awesome Has Happened

Yesterday the Doctor and I visited Spotlight. Ahhh Spotlight. Where dreams are made. And dreams are shattered. (Previously I had read this post from Grandy and Baa, her experience at Spotlight made me shudder, but I thought no surely not!) We spent almost an hour wandering around the store trying to find all the bits and pieces we needed, and of course, acquiring a selection of stuff we did not need. And then when we got to the check out - the famed IT system was not working, so I had to dredge up from memory the specials I had snaffled. The woman who was serving me had no idea so really I could have said anything, lucky them, my parents raised me an honest gal.

Anyway, the Doctor and I gave sewing a shot. The Doctor had shown keen bean interest in sewing when I raised the question. So we gathered our stitching bits and left in a hurry.

So in the afternoon, the Doctor got to give sewing and stitching a shot. Oh man, if he was a duckling learning to swim, he was the duckling out there quick as he could, stitching up and down, listening intently, sitting next to his Mama and up and down stitching with his wool needle and wool thread. So sweet. So, so sweet.

While he stitched we talked about Christmas and gifts for people. He was so excited he said, "I can make one of these for me, and Tiny, and Daddy and you Mummy!"

A boy has to sew to glow sisters, it's true.

And when his Daddy came home last night, "Daddy, something awesome has happened!"

"What?"

"Mummy's teaching me sewing!"

Who woulda thunk it? PottyMouthMama teaching her little man to sew!

And meanwhile, back in the kitchen I baked blueberry and buttermilk cake. Mmm, just what I need with a cup of tea on a rainy old day.

Saucy

Sadly my sewing teacher's husband is very ill, so, understandably, our class last night was cancelled. No show and tell today, only thoughts for this kind woman and her dear husband.

I have been to Spotlight today to invest in my very own...



Behold the Quick Unpick.

Isn't she a beauty? And she's red. Red goes faster. I'll be seam ripping like a speed demon.

Marvel at her curves. Red. Shiny. Ah the sweet beauty.