If we took a holiday (or, channeling Maddona)

Well folks, Remy and I are off down south to my parents' farm tomorrow morning for two weeks. For the first time since I was about 12*, I'll be spending my birthday with my folks, and this one is a biggie - 30.

I'm not sure how much blogging there will be from me. They have a nasty dial-up connection that drives me completely potty.

I plan on visiting the Super Secret Second-hand Store while I'm there - yippee! - and this time I'm on the lookout for a genuine 100% I'm-living-in-the-country-now wireless on which to listen to National Radio, and delicious 1950s duck-egg blue crockery. Ooo, and I'll be doing the usual treasure hunt for vintage fabric and buttons. I can feel my heart starting to race while I'm just thinking about it.

I also have plans for whipping up a dress on my mother's to die for Bernina. All going well (read: better than that whole incident with the sack dress), I'll post photos of it on my return.

Speaking of my return, there's only 2 weeks between getting back to the city and moving to the country. Eek! It's going to be a seriously busy and exciting time.

*I served 5 years in a boarding school from the age of 12, and my birthday is at that funny 'is it Easter or is it not' time of year, so I generally spent my birthdays at school, and then I ran away to live in Wellington after that.

What's next?

 

Another ricey (as I've taken to calling them) for a darling little babykins called Olivia.

And I promise I will fill you in on the story behind the move and what we're planning but not just yet. I only realised today how deadly frightened I am to leave Wellington after 11 years - my entire 20s in fact. Not that my 20s have last 11 years but ... oh, you know what I mean.

Part of me is very worried about 'failing' and having to come back. I can't figure out exactly how I can fail at moving - surely I just like it or I don't? - and I don't know why returning would be a punishment...

Anyhoo, I'll keep pondering and get back to you.

If you're happy and you know it...

 

We're moving to the country! In four weeks or so we'll be in South Canterbury, settling into our new life. Yay!

I'm not quite sure what else to say about it, so let's have another YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!

Why yes, I will sign that for you.

Thank-you, thank-you, thanks, ok, really, that's enough now.

Jules, Remy and I are enjoying our 15 seconds of fame after having a photo opportunity with the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to celebrate the 500,000th person joining KiwiSaver.

It was on the telly (apparently - we haven't seen it because we don't have TV but we're hoping the gramps have taped it for us), and here is an article I was emailed by Steph from Lovestitches. I cannot get over the number of mistakes in it. For starters, my surname is Rose and Remy's not even 8 months old yet, and don't even get me started on the complete lack of fawning over Remy's cuteness.

Here's a Scoop article with photos; I was obviously so smitten with Helen Clark that I couldn't bring myself to smile at Scoop's photographer.

It was a big day for the little guy. He went to sleep at the award-winningly early time of 5pm and he's still out for the count. Thanks Labour!

Trousers: Take Two

The second draft of the pattern - where I widened the legs and made a few other tweeks - resulted in an annoying little problem where the gusset meets the inner legs.

 

I redrafted the pattern and thought and thought about the problem. In the end the answer was so simple - I needed to sew the legs with the seam of the gusset facing up. Duh.

 

Right now Remy is trying his level best not to go to sleep, so it's not really the best time to try the trousers on him. Pity really. I feel like I'm on a roll.

PS Sorry about slightly out-of-focus photos. My camera is playing up. Growl.

First attempt...

 

 

Yes, these are a little narrow in the leg. When I tried them on Remy, he had the distinct look of an emo teenager with a surprisingly large behind.

New things to be getting on with

While I dearly love the jackets I make, and while I plan to make many more, it's time to mix things up a little.

Remy wears cloth nappies and it's been a total pain finding trousers for him that fit properly. Often I have to buy them much too large to fit over his bum and it means that the legs are waaaaay too long, even for my taller-than-average boy.

Last night I drafted a pattern for some little trousers especially for the babes who wear cloth nappies. I've whipped up a pair in bright blue with small black spots*, and I'm just waiting for Remy to get home from his morning constitutional to try them on for fit.

If they look ok, I'm going to call for volunteers to test a pair of them for me. Interested? Just watch this space for further updates!

And, who knows, this might be a way for me to have something perfect to sell at the next Craft2.0, fingers crossed and all that.

*A big thanks once again to my wonderful Aunty Karen for giving me a whole pile of wicked materials! You rock!