Raspberry Rose childs dress

This week I made a baby dress inspired by the colours in my garden at the moment. I so named it Raspberry Rose.

 It’s made with Liberty lawn cotton and has two tiers of what are becoming my signature flounces.

I must admit that I had to put down this project a couple of times and walk away as the fabric was difficult to gather and stay put! I nearly called this post blood, sweat and tears.

I love the end result though and will be making more in a range of fabrics.

During one of my intervals I popped into the garden to feed the chickens and noticed that despite the rain, my garden has begun to yield some delicious looking fruits.

The blueberries, apples, strawberries and raspberries are ripening right up. I’ve been making plenty of smoothies lately.

We’ve also got a beautiful white rose-bush that was so sad-looking last year it didn’t flower. We moved it to a sunnier position and we have some gorgeous blooms this ‘summer’. 

I cut just one to look at in a glass while I made the dress.

Although the weather is driving me crazy it has been fun watching wall to wall Wimbledon with a whole pile of strawberries! I’m liking the patriotic box too. Come on Andy Murray…

 

Bad hair days

I think we all have the odd bad hair day from time to time. For the last few months my grooming regime has become limited to say the least. I was having one of my usual ‘casual’ days on Thursday when I decided enough was enough. Looking in the mirror at my ripped jeans, baggy sweater and tousled hair I tried to remember the last time I styled myself in the morning. Truth be told it had been way too long.

At the vintage fair I saw a copy of this 1943 Elizabeth Arden Christmas advert.

The wording goes…

“Beauty is Eternal. It shines like a light through the ages…it survives every trial…it gives men courage and women hope. This then, of all years, is the year to give a gift of beauty to a woman you love…for there is gallantry in the blaze of a lipstick…ardour on the whiff of a perfume… solace in things to make her lovelier.”

Is there really gallantry is the blaze of a lipstick? Is that why I never get a seat on the bus? I was lucky enough to be given a wonderful complete set of Elizabeth Arden make up last Christmas. The rouge is still waiting to be used and perhaps inspire a little courage and hope… The perfect gold compacts are so luxurious I’m almost afraid of getting fingermarks on them! Anyway, after half an hour of playing with the eyeshadow pallete and blushers we were getting there. I decided to also make a hairband to brighten up my face. Needless to say I ended up making three as I couldn’t decide which colour silk to match the liberty fabric bands.

I think the gold number is the one for me but I’m looking forward to wearing the turquoise roses with a yellow dress in the Summer.

 I had a mini model for the bronze roses!

 

There is something to be said for making an effort and styling up in the morning. Even if I am having a day at home, I will be brushing my hair and putting on a slick of mascara just for my own sense of worthiness. Rolling up at the supermarket in pyjamas surely isn’t good for the soul, even if it is comfortable. I think we all need to wear something a little bit special everyday, be it a flower hairband or some red lipstick. It only took me half an hour to feel more in control and it was a welcome distraction from the mundane everyday chores!

Rosettes

Wow what a difference a little more light makes! At our 6am feed time we get the sun nearly coming up over the hill. It makes getting out of bed a whole lot easier. With the flush of warmer weather we decided to refresh the conservatory. It’s really just a small extension which needs a splash of paint. The tomato plants from last summer have left not so lovely green marks on the walls. It will also make a good spot for my sewing machine so I can keep an eye on the garden. Not that I’m obsessed with plants or anything but I bought another white Jasmine which has begun to flower on the windowsil and the entire house smells divine. Not entirely sure that it should be indoors but it’s here to stay.

On Sunday I was playing around with some ideas for garlands to add some colour. With Cath Kidston oilcloth in the old english rose pattern I made a few rosettes. I sewed on some random buttons and attached the rosettes onto a plait of cotton fabrics. The idea works quite nicely as the oilcloth will stand its ground when the room gets humid. I’m going to work on a longer one that will go over the french doors. 

When I went out to feed the chickens this morning it was promising to see a few buds on the branches of the hazel tree. Still looks a bit bare though so I decorated… I may just make some more and leave them in the garden until the blossom comes out!

I recently discovered a fab book called The Liberty Book Of Home Sewing. I am hooked already as it is great for people like me who have far too much fabric stashed into corners at home in need of ideas. It would be great to use all the Liberty prints that they suggest in the book but the designs and ideas will work with an array of other pretty prints. I particularly like the book covers and kimono pattern.