Mini Fest 2009

Our Moke is still mid-restoration, but thankfully we had the use of my sisters Mini (far right). Even though purists will argue that the 'new Mini' is just not in league with the old Mini, it didn't stop us from joining in with the fun.

There were some serious Moke enthusiasts who came from the mainland (mostly Victorian - one from NSW too!), so they took a few days to soak in some of the sights Tasmania has to offer. The above photo is on top of Mt Wellington.

Mini's from all eras were welcomed, and seeing how Renee was in Melbourne we took her Mini to help boost the numbers. The organisers were very pleased with the turnout - just over 300 Minis and 20 Mokes participated. And it didn't rain.
There was even some motoring greats, such as this Bathurst winner. (yes, I am a rev head...)
The Mokes looked pretty impressive....
... before being let loose on the streets of Hobart.
And Tamsyn? Well let's just say that I that this maybe the beginning of a long love affair with Minis.
The girl had a ball.

More info about Mini Fest here.

still sewing

Amazingly, but as this girlie grows she's sleeping less (naturally) so time is precious and my nearly-six-month-old is entering the clingy phase. And you know, I actually don't mind that. It's nice to have someone who's so dependant on me, who takes comfort in my presence. Also, I'll lap it up now because I'm sure there'll be a time when she doesn't even want to know me! Bless 'er.........

So I squeeze in some sewing here and there, although what with Tamsyn's christening and family staying, along with the Mini Fest in Hobart last weekend things have been rather mad of late.

For those who have known me long enough may remember this quilt, made in memory of my friends dearly loved Weimarana dog Char (blogged about it here). Rosie was left with Char's granddaughter Yazmin, who unfortunately had to be put to sleep a few weeks ago due to pancreatic cancer and tumurs on her lungs. I wanted to make something in memory of dear Yazzi too but knew it would take forever to make a quilt, and I wanted to make something that would complement the quilt anyway -
Even though the Char Quilt was a surprise the Yazmin Cushion wasn't, but this allowed Rosie to supply the photo she wanted and compose a lovely little message.

But what's this about Mini Fest you say? I'll leave that for the next post, in the meantime here's a little sample -

well, at least I'm being paid for it

My lack of blogging this past week or so is due to the fact that I've had work to do.
Seven large foam cushions to cover for Ant's work. The customer provided the fabric and boy, is it ugly. Sorry, but I'm really really not into the big apricot coloured flowers. In fact, apricot and I have never been friends - ever since it was the height of fashion in the 1980's. A friend's mother redecorated their lounge room in apricot, walls, carpet, curtains, lounge suite, wall unit..... you name it, apricot as far as the eye could see. Sitting in that room I felt cold and uninvited, the seats didn't say "sit on me and get cosy" and I'm sure the floors were saying "take your shoes off first!!". Or maybe that was my friend's Mum.

So after meeting Ant and being invited into his home what did I find? Yep, apricot walls.......

In fairness to Ant he didn't paint them, and he didn't discourage me from changing them to white, with the chimney in each room and feature colour. It's also interesting, or maybe ironic, that my favourite fruit is a juicy apricot. Go figure...

But I digress. I'm so glad I'm not a seamstress working in a factory, it would turn me off sewing I'm sure. The flame of my sewing imagination would be snuffed out before too long. But as I said, it's paid work and I can do it from home, thanks to The Thug and my MIL's overlocker (all the raw edges have to be finished before piecing).

Oh and here's a Dad and daughter shot, because I can -
In her pj's again (Bond's polar fleece grow-suit, brilliant!), having fun with her Dad on the freshly covered couch - which I failed to mention is grey cord, and definitely not apricot.....

busy...... doing......

stuff like this...
I've finished reupholstering, well actually, re-covering the lounge suite and I must say that I'm/we're supremely happy with it. Because to be honest, the old covers (second photo) were pretty damn grotty and outdated.

So I've been free to do this -
I discovered that this girl didn't have much in the way of 00 clothes, so what a perfect excuse to make her some. We were in Seworld yesterday and discovered that they stock organic cotton jersey, and a nice range of them too. It was like a breath of fresh air compared to the fabric jungle that is Spotlight.

I already had the dark brown jersey with the spots, and thought it would look good teamed with another colour. The little pants are black, but only because they didn't have any dark-ish brown. The pattern is another from Ottobre, which I muffed up a little but it was a trial run anyway. But I really love these earthy tones on her so we'll keep it.
Tamsyn seems pleased with it too.

I heart socks

I've been knitting socks on and off for a few years now and never get tired of them, maybe because they're not that big and satisfies my love of knitting on four needles..... who knows. The wool is from Spotlight, Moda Vera - 75% wool super wash, 25% polyamide so they can be chucked in a normal wash. You could knit them on either 2.25mm or 2.75mm needles, I chose the former which gives a nice snug fit.

I finished this pair for Ant on Monday night and he loves them, wore them to work on Tuesday and Thursday, and have washed up fine.

The pattern has special significance as it's the one his Great Great Auntie Marj used -
The small print down the bottom says April 1941. Yep, this was the knitting pattern book for WWII soldiers (Tasmania Division). Auntie Marj knitted socks for most of the family for nearly all her adult life, giving up only after her eyes became too weak.

This copy now belongs to Ant's Mum and I took a photocopy of it. I feel very honoured to have it, and are reminded of all those women who did so much knitting for the men they sent off to war, not knowing if they would return and trying to 'do their bit' for the war effort.

Very humbling.

get out of town .....

The oyster farm is calling us, and there's a lot to do leading up to Christmas. We've had our winter break, which also enabled us to focus more on Tamsyn (naturally). So this weekend just gone the wee girl had her second trip to Bruny Island. She did very well except for last night after we returned home, I think it was all a bit much and was rather ratty. But she had a really good sleep (8.30pm till 6.30am) and is back to her usual spirits.

The view from my back door today, so nice to see the sun.

I find that living in Launceston you can easily fall into a rut. I suppose this happens in most towns and cities, and you really have to remind yourself to just go, and go somewhere different. Bruny seems to do the trick.
And to come home with rejuvenated spirits, with a little girl who's trying not to fall over after being placed in a sitting position. Wearing your jammies all day too doesn't seem to hurt either....

Oh and before I forget, Gemma is having a challenge/giveaway type thingie. Come on, it's not too late to join the fun!

fathers day

Tamsyn and I made a special little goody bag for her Dad, in manly colours of course, and filled it up with his favourite chocolates. I tried out some printable fabric for the first time, which I had bought from this lovely lady a while ago. It seemed like the perfect excuse to use it and worked beautifully.
I also finished this little dress today, another pattern from Ottobre magazine. I found the print at Spotlight a few weeks ago and on Saturday bought the fine brown cord. It would've been nice to have it finished in time for Fathers Day but alas, I don't expect to work to a schedule these days! She wore the other little pinafore that I had made instead.

My little girl is growing and learning all the time, and yesterday she performed her very first rollover. I managed to catch it on video too so her Daddy didn't miss out.