16/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2013"

The weeks seem to be flying past and I seem to only blog my photos each week, still that's better than nothing I suppose!

'Middle' Miss had a big week.
She took out third place in the school cross-country for girls in her grade - no small feat when there are about 50 competitors in there, and she's not a particularly competitive child.

We think the lure of the medal did it.
She wore it all evening, even when she had changed into her PJ's and put it back on after school the next day too.

Surprise medal

'Big' Miss is conquering riding her new bike brilliantly.
There's nothing this kid won't have a go at.
When she's on the seat her feet can't touch the ground, something not many seven-year-olds would be comfortable with.
She takes a spill and gets right back on.
I admire her determination and courage, all done with a cheeky, shy smile.

Outdoors girl

'Little' Miss seems to be riding off away from, me day by day.
While this is just a photo, it shows what I often feel, that Little Miss Independence is leaving me behind all too quickly.

Bicycling Bush 'baby'

Playing along again with Che and Fidel.

15/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013"

I had a few to choose from this week, it was hard.

Playing is thirsty work

The quietly satisfied smile of someone who just found another corner!

Her version of heaven, post a trip to the library.

Playing along with Che and Fidel again.
I missed last week, we had the wonderful joy of a shared bout of gastro for the holidays...
Nothing much fun about that!

Finally some sewing!

I have actually made a bunch of things in the past few months - not that you'd know it from this blog!

Here's one thing...

This long-limbed-lovely started gymnastics this year and wanted a new leotard, so we went to the fabric shop where she chose the exact colour she wanted and also a sparkly butterfly for the front.

To say she loves gym would be the understatement of the year!

This is made in a stretch velour - so soft and stretchy, it must be lovely to wear.

Every gymnast needs a leotard with a 'skirt'

She wanted the same leotard as her last one, just in a new colour and of course with added length.

There's a little room through the back for when she puts her hands up and stretches.

This pattern is from Ottobre 1/2007  and I have made it before here and here in different colours and with different sleeve lengths.

I think I had brain-fade when cutting this though as I cut a size based on her height - and whenever I do that they are always too big through the body as she's quite petite in build.

What I should have done (as I did before) was cut a smaller size and add length.

Not sure what I was thinking - but it meant I had to take out about 1.5 cm on each side through the waist to get it to fit her!

Then I had to tighten the leg elastic as it was too loose so wasn't holding when she exercised.

And here is the perfectly matched butterfly she chose - not what I would go for - or what I tried to steer her toward but she loves it and is very happy with the end result.

With the new term of swimming nearly upon us, coming soon - more bathers!!

13/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013"

It's school break here - the end of the first of our four school terms for the year so we have been away for the Easter weekend with some friends to their weekend home on the Murray River - the border between Victoria and NSW, here in Australia.

We had the most amazing time - the girls hardly stopped smiling all weekend...

This little lady has always been very comfortable in and on the surf, seems she's just as at home on the river; taking to riding on the 'biscuit' behind a speeding boat like she had been doing it for years.

There's a 'wild child' lurking within that sensible exterior after all!

And yes, since last week she's now got a 'gappy' smile!

Another water baby with eyes as blue as the water. This one in the pool, with a lifejacket just for fun!

All my children are part fish I think!

This little Miss is ready to take on the world, with gusto!

While I have almost lost her out the top of this shot (she jumped higher than I anticipated!), I love the sense of freedom and abandonment shown here.
Jumping for the pure joy of it!

Taking the plunge in a big way!

I'm playing along with Che and Fidel again.
Go and join in if you like.

My new pet...

I have a new pet, a small tiger or a cat - depending on the day.

She comes with me to the city to visit the State Library...

She 'torments' the other pet of the house by chasing, meowing and staring at her...

She always seems to find a comfy chair to sit in when shopping...

Or when at home...

I find her curled up around the house in various places...

Like most cats, she sleeps soundly in cooler weather...

And on hot nights...

And today she got to wear her entire outfit to kinder, for dress up day to end the first term.
Can you tell she was very pleased about that!

Excuse the dirty tail tip - she'd been dragging it through the dirt on the way to school drop-off!

Imagination is a wonderful thing.

We love you lots small cat.

Ribbon and lace

The last of the party stuff - I promise!!

The Outfits:

Always an important factor of any party for our family...

The girls and I saw some really sweet lace and ribbon vintage-styled outfits in Zara recently and so decided that was the way to go for the very girly party.

The apricot skirt I had made previously - layered stretch tulle ruffled onto a cotton base.

The cream skirt is a basic full skirt gathered onto a flat top section with an elastic waistband. It has a stretch underskirt too as the lace is quite transparent.

This is post-party and it was quite cool, they look a bit stiff!

For about the first time ever I didn't pre-wash my fabric for the skirt... bound to be a bad move wasn't it...

Morning of the party, excited birthday girl puts on her new skirt at 7.30am (party started at 3pm) and then got a blood nose...

I first got wind of what had inevitably happened (yep, blood on a cream lace skirt) when I heard her dad say "I better get that in the wash before your mum sees it!!"

He got it washed and hung it to dry but even on a cold cycle the lace shrunk considerably more than the stretch layer, so the bottom layer poked out underneath.

No-one noticed and it didn't really matter but with the day being as busy as it was I didn't get the chance to fix it once it had dried.

Anyway, on to the tops...

There is a small blue spot of supposedly water-soluble marking pen that I cannot for the life of me get off - any suggestions!!??

These were made using the Oliver + S Badminton skirt/top/dress pattern.

I wanted to get the items to coordinate a little so chose to use a cotton lace for teh ribbon casing rather than making a fabric casing.

It worked a treat, as it brought the whole outfit together.

I also used some of the skirt fabric for the ruffled sleeve caps, just doing a rolled hem on the lace ones to prevent fraying.

I may stitch the ribbon as it was a little prone to untying 

I will say please don't look too closely at the top-stitching as it is a long way from perfect, the cream in particular was hideous to work with, the blue marginally better.

Both were very slippery so for making the yoke it was slow work as it was hard to keep it from slipping.

And to keep the small kid happy I made her a new skirt the night before too - a badminton skirt (without the scallops) but you can't see that yet because despite me staying up til 2am to get it done (so she wouldn't feel left out with no new outfit), she decided she didn't want to wear it - and I was too tired to argue the point!

I was really happy with the way these outfits came out - the girls have both worn them again by choice - and that's always a good sign, though they do look a little shiny in flash-photos!

Another post-party-pic

As always the Oliver+ s pattern was a dream to work with.

The skirt (that you can't see) is flat-fronted with a beautifully constructed elastic casing for the back waist.

The tops were made entirely on my sewing machine (except the rolled hem on the lace sleeves) with French seams and all ends/edges are bound in bias at the sleeves and through the yoke.

And that is it for the festival of L and A!!

Let's party!!

So, the party...!

As I mentioned it was a 'pamper' theme.

The reason - I'm that Mum who pretty much always says 'no' to painted nails and things I feel are going to make my girls grow up too fast.

For once I wanted to be the person saying 'Yes' not 'No'!

Yep, sad I know!

Also it's their birthday - the party is meant to be something special - and they couldn't decide what to do/have so when I offered them this they nearly jumped on me saying "yes please!"

The decorations:

Thanks to good old Martha Stewart for the paper flowers idea.

They hung in clusters, artfully arranged by the lovely man of the house, from the roof of our covered deck.

Signs of direction, welcome and advice (Eat, Drink, Be Merry over the food table) were printed onto pink paper.

Both cakes from the original Australian Women's Weekly Birthday Cake book!

The cakes:
After MUCH deliberation the girls went for the Sweet Shop...

And the number seven...

Possibly the two easiest cakes I have made - and both with the same colour icing (though it doesn't appear that way from these pics!).

The activities:
Two parties in one really.
Each girl invited eight friends so we had Team A and Team L.
On arrival everyone had a glass of pink fizzy drink in a plastic champagne flute with a strawberry on it and a paper cocktail umbrella, the girls loved this!
Then one group went outside on the deck and had their toe and fingernails painted by the marvellous Claire, while being entertained by a fabulous fellow school mum.

The birthday girls got jewels added to their nails as well as wearing a pink feather boa!

The girls all thought this was great fun and were very patient waiting their turn.
We fed them while they waited and their foot soaking basins were topped up with warm water as needed.

Of course this kid got in on the action!

Claire brought all the nail-polishes, basins, towels and necessary equipment with her and treated the girls like princesses.

Having two-year-old twin girls of her own she may also have got a glimpse of her future!!

(If you are in Melbourne and want Claire's details for a party just email me or leave a comment, you won't be disappointed).

Feeling very much like the Princess!

I know I am not the only parent who is cautious about all things 'grown-up' for little girls so with the invitation I mentioned to all parents that we planned to paint fingers and toes and asked if they were not happy with this to let me know and we would arrange an alternative activity, but no-one did.

Of course they all chose pale and sultry colours.... NOT!!

While the nail painting was happening - the second group went inside and made lip balm, choosing two 'flavours' from a menu of four we had pre-selected.
They then chose and glued on the flowers for their snap clips.

After this they played some musical statues while they waited to swap over.

Can you tell blue is her new favourite colour??

Tricky business this gluing!

There was plenty of time for the girls to hang out with their friends - because in the past they have said how they didn't have time to 'play' with their friends - so this was accounted for this time.

They also had time to unwrap their gifts with their guests - which I think is a nice thing to do - so the guests see them enjoying what they have selected for them.

Not sure what the 'etiquette" is around this though...

Then they blew out the candles - we took some group photos and everyone went home.

One stubborn candle!

Her new toy is tucked under her arm!

One of the girls' friends said to me it was 'the best party ever'!

My girls agreed, so that's all I need to hear.

Next up - the outfits!!