festive fragments

This is my solution to the waste of buying gift wrapping only to throw it away. I bought a bunch of green and red cotton jersey awhile back and have cut various shapes and ribbons out to use as wrapping cloths. Love it. After Sunday we'll wash it, pack it in the Solstice/Christmas box until next year. I had all these complicated plans of sewing bags and i am so glad i did it this way. I like the look of them, they seem sumptuous to me. The gift tags we made from potato prints a while back.

Solstice morning the small person woke to this. A light sun shirt. Here in New Zealand the sun is pretty fierce and we spend a fair bit of time covering up in the summer. Especially given we live just up the hill from the beach. This beach hoodie is in lightweight polka dot cotton and the hood is lined in a vintage print i have been ogling in my stash. The pattern was from a burda magazine i copied at the library. Every now and then there is something i make that i am incredibly happy with. This is one.

Might have to be one in mama size in the New Year.

More happiness: summer has truly begun. We've been in a soggy ole world lately, and not so very warm either, but the clouds have cleared the last few days. Our favourite local orchard has it's first plums in off the trees. And goodness...are they ever the taste of summer!

Fresh blueberries, watermelon, the last of the strawberries...mmm...summer!

Happy Solstice everyone and have a Merry Christmas. We're off on adventures until just after the New Year. I'll be taking a little blogland break while i dream up some of the big changes afoot in the New Year. See you then - with tales to be told. xxx

PS -The winner of the Sew Mama Sew giveaway is Lemony Lucy who recommended Dustjacketattic blog. It made me think of you Jo. And other interior fetishists i know. (Er, i meant that in a good way!) I'll be in touch about your GrowMama goodies Lucy!