Sew Liberated - Paloma pattern

I came home from Fabric-a-brac with six metres of a beautifully soft cotton/merino blend in this stripy jersey. I kept fondling it...and now i get to wear it. I finally bought a pattern from Meg McElwee's Sew Liberated range. I have been a follower of her blog, Sew Liberated for awhile and was on the look out for a dress pattern. It was one of those late night purchases, only I didn't regret this one.

The Paloma pattern arrived in my mailbox suprisingly quickly (the post from the US). The pattern has options for a top, tunic or dress. I used the dress option and made the sleeves long. It's a genius pattern and comes together super quickly. I am a big fan of clothes that are as comfortable as pyjama's, only i get to wear them in public without my kid cringing. I bought Meg's skinny jean pattern too, still looking for the right fabric for that one.

I love the Paloma dress. Perfect for throwing on over leggings on our stay-at-home days, or wearing with boots. The dress falls like a dream. Good for those days when I don't feel like wearing anything fitting but still want a bit of pretty.
I am not sure how it would be as a top, perhaps too boxy? I will give it a go one day. It would be a treat for any maternity clothe seeking mama's out there for sure.

My friend Ann from Annie B Handmade showed me the joys of sewing jersey with twin needles at the last Sew Fun retreat, unfortunately too late for me to finish my dress off with that professional polish at the hem, but still a life changing discovery for me. (You know, for us sewing geeks, these things are exciting. I just love being able to make what we need myself, just as well or better than you can buy.) 

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a coffee break and whip up sad

 

I had a most delicious morning this morning. I sneaked off for a coffee and a catch up with a friend at a local café.

I almost NEVER do that. Sheesh, it feeds the soul.

 

{Note to self: it is okay to take the morning for oneself.}

 

 

Wouldn't you know you know it, we spotted a new retro store just next door. You'll get a peep in the next Local Goodness post.

 

On the drive back I kept thinking about Kathreen Rickerson's kids. Kathreen was the founder of the whip up blog. She and her family were on a dream year-on-the-road trip when, a few days ago, she and her husband, Rob Shugg died while swimming. Their children, 10 and 13, were on the beach and found them. Awful. One of those terrible freak accidents. I just keep thinking about those kids. After seeing them all on the blog for years I kinda feel like I knew them, even though I didn't. Blogging is like that. Kathreen was a crafting queen, she did so much to help this wonderful online community and folks are giving it back anyway they know how.

 

There is a way to support their children HERE.

 

Life is so precious. Live it well. And let those you love know.

xxx

 

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not just any chestnuts

I have missed chestnuts since leaving Europe. I used to go up into the foothills of the mountains where we lived in the South of France to collect great baskets of chestnuts in the autumn. Every city and town would have chestnut vendors with their fires on the sidewalk. There is nothing like clutching a newspaper cornet of freshly roasted chestnuts on a chilly morning. We used to roast them, eat as many as we could and dry the rest to put in soups throughout the winter. Sometimes, with a bumper year, I would boil, dry and grind some into chestnut flour. I have missed all that. Every autumn since leaving Europe, I have missed my roast chestnuts. I was stuck for words in how to describe them to Jed...because, really it was impossible. But, look!

That, right there, is a big bowl of freshly collected chestnuts! My dear friend Claire must've heard me complain about my lack of chestnuts and how un-autumn-like it was without them. I found these beauties in my letterbox. I just may have done a happy dance all the way back down again.

They are from a most beautiful property in the Coromandel's Kaueranga Valley...the Green Party of New Zealand's ex co-leader's land. So, not only are they chestnuts, they are chestnuts from trees under which great policy shaping conversations take place. Special chestnuts. And they taste so good. It is really truly autumn now. Happiness. Thank you Claire.

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sunset spectacular

 

Nature puts on the best show. We have been having the most amazing sunsets.

These photos were taken a few minutes apart. Jed and I were literally ooh'ing and aah'ing watching it all unfold.

 



Special quiet moments shared together at the end of a busy day. The only sounds out here are birdsong and the distant crash of the waves. A little bit hard to contemplate leaving? Ah, yes.

Once, years ago, when I was leaving the St Laurent de Cerdans, in the Pyrenean mountains in France, a friend said to me. "But how could you leave? You love it here, and it is so beautiful."
We gazed out over the mountains we both loved and finally I said, 'You know, finding beauty has never been a problem for me'.
I will remind myself of that if our offer of 'the town house' (with a very very big garden) is accepted!

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Mothers Day musings

 

Cheeky look at 4 months old - takes after his mama there! 

I was woken up by cats fighting in the night and as I was lying there waiting to get back to sleep, I got to thinking. Of this wondrous journey that is motherhood. Of the magic of the past years. Of how quickly those years fly by. Of how important it is to make the most of each moment, to live a life of awareness. Of how much I have learnt about myself, people in general, and our society. I have had many questions about parenting along the way and I have tried to tune into my instincts and Jed's needs more than whatever most mama's/kids were up to. I think I have done pretty well by us.

I felt incredibly blessed to have had Jed almost six years ago. He came crashing into the world after his Dad and I had only really just met. Right from that surprising start, we were both really clear that we wanted to be this little person's parents. Looking back over the last 5 and a half years, I am so glad I parented the way I felt I needed to. It continues to be a most magical journey. I love this little boy so very much.

Mother's Day is one of celebration but also a day of remembrance. I have had eight miscarriages in the last few years. I remember those little beings I felt quicken inside me to be lost to the greater world again. I thought of all my friends whose babies or children who have died, all the amazing single mama's, the mama's whose children have passed before them,  those who have lost their mama's recently and those who desperately wanted to be mama's, but couldn't. I have made my peace with my losses. Having another child has not been an obsession like it can become....but that emotional and physical roller coaster is a hard one no matter how well you manage it. I cherished every minute I got to carry those babies. Kinda how I love Jed. I have no regrets. And I love who we are as a family today.
That peace is a wonderful Mothers Day realisation.
Happy Mother's Day my lovelies.

                                                                         A very young Jed in the sling



(And thank you Jed and Ra for the breakfast in bed, bike-ride in the sun, the heartfelt gifts and the wonderful cards you made. Most of all, thank you for being you. x)

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