Sew Darn Tired

In 2003 I made this Burda dress (6/2013 #105). I've seen this pattern as an envelope pattern about 6 months ago so look out for it if you like it (although I know it was old and probably out of print). It wasn't a style I thought would suit my pear shape, but I'm surprised how flattering I think it looks.



I made it out of this nice quality polyester which I picked up at a Brisbane Spoolette's High Tea and I really love it still. It's makes me feel great when I wear it. 


A few years ago (ok many - 2012 in fact) my beautiful friend went to Vietnam and thought to bring me some silk! What a friend. She has amazing taste and bought me 2 1/2 metres of a white and floral satin silk. For the first 5 years after she kept asking me if I'd made anything with it, and in my head I had made about 100 things but nothing was quite right. She stopped asking then.  Truth be told I wanted to make this same Burda pattern but decided in my head it wasn't enough fabric.  Come earl…

I get drawn to novelty prints but really they aren't for me. I don't really know why. When I was in Melbourne in 2016 I bought some nice cotton knit with 'flat cat' and in Spotlight a couple of years ago I bought a moustache print (that I noticed they still sold online the other day). Alex's pjs were getting too small and ratty. He was wearing a t-shirt that was bought in light blue to wear under his school shirts in winter as it was just a bit too cold for just his jacket but too hot to wear a jumper (sweater) with it. It was worn out and stained and soft so he loved it but it had to go. I threw it away while he was at his Dad's.

I've used this Simplicity boxer pattern a lot. It covers all sizes, uses small bits of fabric and is quick and super easy 1 piece pattern so there is no side seam.

I've used this Simplicity boxer pattern a lot. It covers all sizes, uses small bits of fabric and is quick and super easy 1 piece pattern so there is no side seam.  …

** Edited to add, I still cannot comment on most blogs (even replying on mine??) and I really appreciate the kind comments especially re my Mum. 
So, more holiday sewing stories. We have friends in Cologne and we stayed with them for 4 weeks in Germany with a rail interlude for Alex and I of about 12 days meeting our friends in Paris for a long weekend and two weeks in Ireland, mostly county Clare. I've spoke of the rail strike that tried to thwart our trip but we reorganised it and got to do nearly everything we wanted. 
I did find Cologne had a Stoff & Stil shop. I was so excited and it was right around the corner from a museum we wanted to go to. Gosh I was so excited. It is a large, beautiful shop. Really engaging with so much terrific stuff. 

The racks above held patterns - all on display and you pulled the front out like a drawer and picked your pattern. To the right they had samples made up. I thought that was terrific as you could see how fabrics behaved and of course…

So frivolous in these current times to talk of spoils and seems so long ago when we were on holidays but I started this a couple of months ago and things just went crazy since we came home on 9 January. My Mum went into hospital two days after we left (28 November) and had been home two weeks but is in hospital again and tomorrow will move into a nursing home. I'm really sad for her about that. She has so many complications from her rheumatoid arthritis medications that she has every high risk issue - heart disease, lung disease, liver disease, diabetes and the reason she is now going into the nursing home is osteoporosis - she has fractured 5 bones in her lower and thoracic spine and needs a lot of care. She could be home but home help is not able to come in now so this is the option. My Mother has been so healthy in her life, super active and did absolutely everything at home, which is where I got my love and need to make, do and fix things. She has only had this disease for ab…