This & That

Lately I've been contemplating a new collection for the spring. I don't know all the details just yet, but it's slowing coming together in my mind.  Dresses.  Long dresses.

 

**********

 

Baby turned 4 months yesterday, November 29th!  We had a pretty chill day.  She slept most of it away.

 

 

**********

 

Here's a photo collage from my b-day earlier this month on the 20th.  Good times.

 

Have a lovely Sunday.

 

**********

 

It's almost hard to believe that December is here. Another year gone by.

 

Have a great Sunday.

~

More Life

Another birthday has come around.  This time it's the 32nd one.  I feel great. :-)

**********

Earlier this week I finished an outfit created by turning one of my favorite dresses into a two-piece.

I used some of those hemp and organic cotton pieces mentioned in my last post, which matched the print fabric perfectly.   There's also a couple of pieces of dark denim in there--just some scraps left over from another project.

I got the printed dress a few years ago on clearance for $1.99 (!!!) at Macy's.  I really liked it because of the pockets and the length. After giving birth, I realized it was also great due to the front zipper, which made nursing easy.   Now, I started out only intending to repair the dress, since the zipper had broken.  In the process of removing said zipper, I ripped the dress. (Yeah.  Sometime removing a zipper without a seam ripper works.  Sometimes, not so much. :-/)  So, from then on it was all about creating something new.  There's no longer a zipper in the front, but I'm fine with that.  It's still pretty functional for what I need.

*********

I think today will be a beach day! :)

Have a wonderful Thursday.~

In the Making

I've really been off my sewing/design flow for the past few months but am making small efforts to get back on track.  I have to admit that hasn't been the easiest thing to do.  That's not just because of baby, but also because I don't seem to feel the same strong urgency to do it the way I once did.  

Seasons change.

But the other day I finished up a skirt that's made from a dress purchased from the local thrift store.  I'd planned to wear it as a dress, but it turned out to be too small.

I used the bottom to create a simple flared skirt with an elastic waistband.  The fabric is transparent chiffon, and the dress was lined with a green polyester material.  Rather than use that, I lined the skirt with a piece of cotton that I hand-dyed with turmeric last spring.  

I did use a piece of the green lining to make the waistband, though.

I really like how easy it is to wear.

**********

Last week I ordered a bag full of hemp and organic cotton jersey knit fabric scraps that I'll be using to make baby items.

And even though I'm struggling to get back into the groove of making garments in general, I do intend too if only on a small level.  These fabric pieces motivate me to put forth energy.  

Many times Ive contemplated making a collection of garments that use hemp and organic cotton.  This is the most of these types of materials that I've ever owned.  It could be the start of something nice.  And environmental. :-)

Have a great weekend.

~

 

Cozy Legs and Birthday Sale

Although it's generally hot (and humid) where we are on the island of O'ahu, things can get chilly when the ocean/beach is literally your backyard.  The breeze that comes through the house is pretty amazing.  I really like fresh, cool air over central air--which this place doesn't have anyway--and having the windows and back door open with ceiling fans on provides just what we need.

There are times, though, when I notice baby's legs are cool to the touch, and now that I'm practicing Elimination Communication with her (which is going surprisingly well, by the way), I prefer not to have pants on her around the house just so we can get "in position" when the need arises. ;)

The other day I started working on some leg warmers for her.  I finished them up today.

The gray jersey knit material was left over from a customized tunic I made last spring, and I've got plenty of Kente scraps lying around.  I'm pleased with the warmers overall, although they are a bit loose at the bottom and end up covering her feet with all the moving she does.  I'll be sure to make the next pair just a little bit more snug. 

***************

It's November!  This means that I'll be celebrating another year of life in a couple of weeks.  

In honor of this (and also because I need stuff to GO!) I'm having a 20% off sale in the shop!  Just enter code NOV20 at checkout.

I'm also offering free shipping on all US orders.

Shop online at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/sewfly?ref=hdr

~

Baby Functions, Pineapple, and Fatoumata Diawara

Ok. This is completely off the subject of clothing or any of the other stuff that I've previously talked about in my posts.  It does relate to baby though, so I guess it's not totally off the subject. 

Three or four years ago I saw a film in which I witnessed a woman in Namibia, Africa sitting a young baby over her leg to relieve himself.  the child was free of any sort of diaper. She just knew he had to "go", she positioned him correctly, and he "went". This wasn't the focus of the film, but that small scene caught my attention and had me like, "Wait...this is what's happening in terms of tending to baby's elimination needs in other parts of the world? And at such a young age??? When/if I have a child someday, I'm doing that!"

Fast forward to me having a baby (who'll be 3 months old tomorrow--Wednesday--by the way). 

Now, I'm cloth diapering her but must have put that whole no diaper use thing to the back of my mind, or I must've taken it for granted or something because the other day when I discovered that there's a movement called Elimination Communication, I was hit like, "Wait! I said I was gonna do this a long time ago!"

So, it began. :-D  I have had some success with the process so far and intend to have this child "going potty" by the age of one. Ok, at least by age two.

This is sooooooo up my alley, and I'm determined that we'll get it.

(I should add that there certainly won't be any pressure on baby or myself to do this.  It's not that big of a deal. Just something I'm fascinated by and want to try. I'm reading a lot of info on the subject as well as watching videos.)

**********

One another note, sometime last spring we planted a small pineapple top.  Here it is today!

It's even bigger than it appears here. 

I look forward to the fruit coming up.

**********

Today on Facebook I posted about Fatoumata Diawara and this dress from her video Bissa.  I intend to make me one like it. 

 Lovely dress and us pictured together at the International Festival of Lafayette, LA in 2013.

There's something about Malian music that I love, and this woman is phenomenal.

Hopefully I can soon find the right material for the dress...

~

Bird's Eye View

Seems like these days are moving so very quickly, but I'm loving every moment of it all.

Yesterday I worked at figuring out where I'll set up my sewing machine in our new home.

This seems like the ideal spot to me. :-D

I'm not sure how practical it is, though.  The wind would have fabric all over the place.  The height is a problem too, but I've already thought of a way to fix that.  This probably won't be my permanent sewing spot, but hopefully I can make it work some of the tine.

Here's our little dove friend who not only likes to walk around on the lanai/balcony looking for crumbs but also comes indoors sometimes (the screen is usually always open). 

 

Not sure how I feel about that yet, but since he/she usually doesn't walk in past a certain point and never flies in, I usually let it slide.

From my understanding there's a hurricane headed for these islands (again), but I'm not completely sure.  A lady at the bank said it's not coming this way after all.  That sounds kinda off to me, but we'll see. This particular island was missed by the last two that were out this way a couple of months ago, and with us living right on the beach now, I certainly wouldn't be thrilled about huge waves crashing in due to inclement weather. :-/

**********

On another note, I recently published an essay on my writing blog that I wrote relating to the whole Ferguson, Missouri ordeal. Something just a little bit different. Check it out here:

http://communityscribe.blogspot.com/2014/10/keep.html

Have a great weekend.

~

Glorious

So, last week was crazy and exhausting, but we finally got moved into the new spot right on the beach!

View from the back lanai/balcony.

 Sunset, something we witness every evening.

 

 Watching the sunset with baby!  

Yeah, it's pretty amazing. We're extremely grateful. :)

Have a great week.

~