I'm taking some time

To just be

To find my breath

To find my calm

To hermit

I need the quiet from people

So I've picked up my knitting needles.  Found some half done WIP.    I've been sick on and off constantly for a couple of months.   I'm just run down, exhausted.   This widow journey is no joke and it takes so much of your life force, just to get up each and every day. 

Its 18 months without our beautiful Shane and no its not any easier, in some respects its harder.  The first year is a blur, the shock and dismay and just heart rending deep grief is there, always there.  People think because you go to work, pay your bills, look okay that everything is better - but the reality is there is no better. 

In what reality could our lives be better without Shane?   I mean really?  He was the kindest, most generous, loving, giving amazing human ever.    Was our life always perfect, did we never argue.  No.   That's not realistic.  Marriage and love is not perfect.  It's sometimes messy and hard.  And then it's not, it's divine and perfect and everything. 

There is still so much that needs to be done.   All the big stuff, the most hurtful stuff is done, but there is so much little stuff, so many tiny things, that you think nothing of, but leave you in a puddle on the floor. 

To that end, I'll do what's best for me, for the kids.   To take the path that is quiet and calm and fills us with memories of Shane.   Even if that means closing the door on people.   I haven't taken these decisions lightly.  They've broken me.  I shouldn't have had to - but don't pretend you care.   Don't you dare go over me and to someone else, saying you are worried, when you've not even touched base in 12 months.   Like you think there is something wrong with my mental state, that I'm not okay 

Of course I'm not okay - my husband died.  I will never be okay.  I will never be better.  I will move forward but as a different person. 

But don't say you care, and when you were pulled up for your behaviour and I called it out - even though you were so worried about me.  You didn't even reply to my last text.  So you can't have cared that much at all.  

Anyways. I knitted for Summer, 

Trio of hats from Wooly Wormhead - the pixie version - it's certainly not perfect and I didn't have enough yarn because I'd used it on Olearia from Tikki to make the shrug.   She loved the shrug so much (it still needs buttons) that there was tears before she grudgingly let me take it off, so she could go home. 

Some of the customs from 2020

So I've sadly neglected my blog as I've been so busy but I'm going to try and post alot more.

So here's some eye candy for you.

Please note I am fully booked for custom orders for the remainder of 2020.  I have a grandbaby due towards the end of July and will be away from my workspace for several weeks. I also close for a month after Christmas.   I am working as fast as I can but smocking and embroidery is time consuming and I put my all into my garments, so there is no rushing them to get the finish that I love and your cherub deserves.

You can find any ready mades listed on my facebook page at this stage or via Firefly Collective once a month.

If you are already on my waitlist you can find it on the pinned post on my facebook page

My FAQs including newseltter sign up are here

Tilda Old Rose Showcase

So I was kindly invited to join into the Tilda Australia Old Rose Showcase featuring the latest gorgeous range by Tilda  - it is absolutely perfect for smocking, quilting, little girls clothes and any variety of bags.

I chose to smock a bishop dress for a 12 month old baby and team it with ruffled knickers. 

You can use any bishop pattern that you love to make the dress/top - length is entirely up to you mine is a shorter length to show off those lovely ruffled knickers.

If you would like to replicate a similar design you'll need the following

Bishop pattern - these are available in lots of Australian Smocking and Embroidery Magazine which you can find on eBay or Create in Stitch, or Children's Corner also have lovely bishop patterns.

French Val Lace for the sleeves and hem - I used champagne as it was the best colour match to the Lydia Blue Colourway in the Old Rose Fabric Range

Pleat 9 full space rows including one holding row at the top - I use quilting thread when pleating bishops as its a bit more sturdy.   Block your bishop pattern before starting to smock.

Smocking - I used 3 strands throughout 

Lavender  DMC340

Mint - this was from my stash (with no number ,.. oops)  So just to match the leaves.

There are four rows of two step trellis alternating between lavender and mint  making sure you centre the design.

Leaving half a space I then completed a baby wave - 3 cable combination in the lavender.

again leaving half a space I completed 3 rows of two step trellis in mint 

Then combined this with a five step trellis to make hearts and completed 3 rows of this with a half row between each alternating the mint and lavender again.

For the sleeves I pleated 7 half space rows and flattened out the pleats, attached my lace and the smocked the sleeves with a two step trellis with the lavender on the inner diamond and the mint on the outer.   Remove pleating threads.

Once completed remove your pleating threads except for the top holding row as this aids in construction. 

Embroidery - I like to complete mine before sewing up the garment as you have less fabric everywhere.

I used 2 strands for the embroidery except the leaves.

Centre Bullions - 12 wrap bullion loop DMC 3350
Middle Bullions - 12 wraps x 3 DMC 602
Outer Bullions - 12 wraps x 5 DMC 3689 and then I added a further 12 wraps x 3 to the bottom of the rose for a fuller look.

Mint was used for the leaves.

2 petal lazy daisy in DMC 712 with a french knot 745 centre

2 cast on stitch leaves in the lavender

Please see close up for details.

Knickers - I used the Tie Dye Diva Ruffled Bloomers pattern and utilised the Lydia Blue and teamed it with Angel scraps collection in Colour 110008 and 110005 

Thank you to Two Green Zebras for trusting me with the beautiful fabric to make gorgeous garments yet again.

You can find The Old Rose Collection at Utopian Threads, Fabric Pixie and Oz Material Girls along with lots of other quilt stores.

If you'd like to see more yummies made with the Old Rose Fabric, pop on over and visit all the lovely designers in the showcase along with the following hashtags on Instagram #tildaoldrose, #tildaoldroseshowcase, #tildaaustralia, #tildafabrics

DATE	DAY	DESIGNER
27th	Friday	A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR
28th	Saturday	MOLLY AND MAMA
29th	Sunday	RUBY SEW OH
30th	Monday	FRANCES LILLY DESIGNS
1st	Tuesday	ELLIES HANDMADE
2nd	Wednesday	A SWEET LIFE
3rd	Thursday	A LITTLE PATCHWORK
4th	Friday	ARABESQUE SCISSORS
5th	Saturday	LILABELLE LANE
6th	Sunday	KASHZALE HANDMADE COSMETIC BAGS
7th	Monday	PICCOLO STUDIO
8th	Tuesday	PATCHWORK AND ME
9th	Wednesday	PRETTY LITTLE POPPETS
10th	Thursday	JENNY OF ELEFANTZ
11th	Friday	CHERUB'S KISS
12th	Saturday	PETALS AND PATCHES
13th	Sunday	DEER DARLING DOLLS
14th	Monday	THE BIRD HOUSE
15th	Tuesday	AQUA PAISLEY