Saturday, July 23, 2016

Yet Another

I think I may have a bit of an addiction problem with this dress pattern.
I have it down to just under three hours now for a make and I can't seem to stop making it. This fabric was marked .25 cents. I think I got it from the local Salvation Army thrift store. It's been sitting in the fabric pile for ever. I left the sleeves off this version.


I didn't gather the pockets this time. I thought I'd keep the lines crisp.


That moment when I realized I had made just enough self binding...
Sigh...... Happy times.


I also found a new favorite nail colour this week. Periwinkle!




Monday, July 18, 2016

Simplicity 3750 A Simple House Dress

I made another house dress. I think it's my favorite one yet.


Here's the original pattern. I've lengthened it a heap and altered the belt. 


I added pockets long enough to hold a phone and some keys.


 I've also added some pinwheels to the neckline. Where the bias binding meets the bib part. This is my fourth make for this pattern and every time I make it I love it more. The fabric reminds me of my Nammy's aprons. Makes me love this one even more than all of the others combined.



Saturday, July 16, 2016

Not Very Pastel

Lily got into the STAEDTLER oil pastels.

Her favorite colours are browns and blacks and yellows right now
She really enjoys blending. We gave her a makeup sponge to smoosh the colours together. She'll sit for such a long time to colour or play with paint. So glad she enjoys a good art session as much as the rest of us. It's a great way to help teach her her colours. We've been getting her to ask for specific colours and then we hand them to her. Great learning tool!

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Nails and Christmas Cookies

Did these diagonal nails last week and thought it was a cool enough effect to share. It was pretty easy. I painted my nails one colour and then put a piece of painter's tape over each nail at the diagonal half way point. Then I painted a second colour and had James remove the tape. I dotted the first colour over the edge of the second colour and visa versa. Looks like the colours are dripping into each other.


Because I publish in Magazines. I have to work at least half a year in advance. That's why, if you come to my house in the middle of July, you'll find us making Christmas sugar cookies! The red balls are chocolate chips. Yummmmmmm!

I spilled some icing. Lily can not abide spilled icing...


Lily approved!

Merry July!



Sunday, July 10, 2016

Rainbow Hair

I've had long dark dark brown hair now for a few years and really was tired of my everyday braids. I wear (wore) two braids almost daily to keep my hair untangled and off the back of my neck.
I messaged a local hairdresser (artist) Megan McDonald and gave her less than four hours to get ready to give me rainbow hair.

The day was chock a block full of unusual happenings. The sprinkler room at work sprung a leak, The locked door handle to the sprinkler room came off in my hand, Screws sheared off the housing for my tow motor.... All things considered, I think Megan did a phenomenal job!


She started by lifting the multiple applications of natural black box dye from my hair. She barely winced. Just tucked right in and pulled that colour out.


She chose some fantastic colours and began to map out a colour arrangement.


Look at all that cello! I look like a Christmas sweet!
She kept the colours true and separate. Some amazing on the spot thinking I must say.


Then the power went out!
That's right! No power or lights. Megan's family came to the rescue! Her husband rigged up a light to the family van and we all hunkered down on the porch. Megan gae me a stellar layered cut while her kids handed clips and made sure we were well looked after.


This really is a great cut! Never mind the fact that she had to make do with a construction spotlight and weather. Look at those colours!!!

This is after a blow dry and style. Notice the HUGE SMILE!


Such a load of colour! I've always wanted to be a magical rainbow.



This is the next day after some pin curls.


I think the purple is my favorite.
Check out Megan's page for some other gorgeous styles. Can't thank her enough. So Happy!