To warm my daughter

Just did it slowly. Searching a pattern that convinced me to give my daughter enough warmth during her cycle trips to school, passing the river and bridge, catching a severe winter. This one (see page 6) did: a hooded, zippered, high closed, simple designed one with nice long cuffs. Then reading the pattern again and again. I'm not a very experienced sewer; making a coat is a far away story for me! But at the same time an everlasting wish-to-come-true.

I decided to change the pattern, because of course it had to be lined. Plus the pockets had to be changed. Making these was also my first time and it felt quite exciting. But I just took it slowly as I said and considered everything I did as an autodidact sewing course. That helps.

Then looking around for the right fabric: preferably natural materials and perfect colors. After a long and critical search and some doubts it resulted in this green washed woolen fabric with soft olive green lining. Totally happy, but I wasn't finished yet, did the lady in the fabric shop tell me: I needed an extra third layer to keep the wind out. Ok, a common padded fabric was added. Don't start doing this to save money. I think this is the most expensive coat L ever had! As a matter of fact did I find in the same period a beautiful second-hand coat for L, so doubts were there again. F convinced me to go on and finish sewing. So did I.

It took me some evenings sewing the outer coat, then the inner coat and finally assembling these two, especially because I had to do a lot of thinking as applying a lining was not described... The cuffs were made in double fabric. The front, back and hood three-layered and the sleeves two-layered. Everything is ready in time to go back to school again after holidays.

Really, every step I loved, including the exciting beginners moments. I'm so happy now! The finishing touch was inspired by this great lady. Btw, the one and only button hole still has to be made. My simple sewing machine is not able to do a job like that :(. I'll ask my neighbour to use hers.
Curious how it fits L? Come back later!

Being pampered

Back home from Denmark, very satisfied. Here's a brief summary for you. We went with 20 interior architects to see the factory of Fritz Hansen, a brand you all know from Arne Jacobsen's Egg and 3107. Right above the seat of the 3107 is being born.

By hand this time

This week I will be visiting Denmark. I'm invited by Kvadrat to enjoy three days of esthetic delight, full of design, fabrics, architecture, interiors, art...
The felt for this bag I bought already some weeks ago. The yellow strap is like here a thrifted judo belt. It's clear that last weekend a Kvadrat bag had to be made to accompany me to Denmark.

On the outside felt of Wernerkinck, on the inside a mix of fabric samples of Kvadrat: the traditional Hallingdal, Stripes of Paul Smith, Layers Vineyard of Hella Jongerius, Happy of Tord Boontje. I'm happy to carry all those great designers along.

Today I used the bag for the first time. A new project?, a colleague asked me. Yep, just finished. To be honest, it's wasn't a simple process. But it is what was in my mind. It's made all by hand, because I preferred to sit on our couch :). The stitches are done as invisible as possible (but very visible in strong sunlight!). It appeared to be easy to get the needle through the felt layers. Luckily the fabric samples already had overlocked edges. I'm not fully satisfied with the snappers. These are of Prym (I thought a trusty brand), but I think they snap not strong enough. Anybody better alternatives?

Bye Melissa

L's teacher asked us to bring a flower for their intern tomorrow. Didn't matter of what kind, a real or crafted or drawn one. L and I discovered the fine crafting-with-kids possibilities of YouTube. My daughter of 5 liked to scroll, pick a flower and watch the video again and again. This pink one she liked most.

Making this post right now I discover the site of this amazing origami man, where he explains how to fold excisting flowers.

Pancake house

We Dutch love pancakes. Imagine: every Sunday we bake a whole pile. From now on M is into baking too. Here she is doing the job with lieve Lieve.

Hometowngirl

Last Saturday I bought two (!) new dresses. The silk one above (which is consiously shown unsharp ;)) is designed by a for me up till now unknown hometowngirl: Monique van Heist. After some research on internet, I discovered she's kind of spectacular in the fashion world: she won several awards. I can imagine, because I'm so happy with this dress!

Then a question. In my favorite fashion shop in Rotterdam I was recommended to wear my low boots with bare legs to a wedding which I attended Saturday evening. I felt quite comfortable, but what do you think?

Finally, the beautiful body on the right is certainly not mine. The bride's sister was wearing this dress. A better look at her dress brought me to the idea to sew copy (new English word?) this model some day. Of course I'll keep you posted.

Lieve Lieve

This sweet (her name translated, I so love her name...) friend of M (and daughter of my friend) had her birthday party last week. She loves to craft, so we made a variation on this theme.
As you can see the stamps were still laying around! The stamp effect is everytime surprising to me. Now the ink liquified into the unsanded wood, which was really great. I made her a pincushion too, by hand this time. M said she really needs one :).

Nice to meet you!

About nine years ago we designed and (some later) built our own house. People tend to say: your house will be perfect. I always answer that the house is not perfect, and that I'm neither stuck to it for the rest of my life. To be honest, I'm more stuck to our neighborhood. We have such nice people living around us, and then I'm talking about 10 families with their young kids. In our backyards they all play together on a save, harmonious way.
Today our neighbor twins and neighbor girl turn 4. Because I pick up the trendy word 'personalized' all around, I thought it would be nice to make them a bag that looks like them!

Here the finished bags are shown by L, before they disappear in wrapping paper. Note the yellow straps: a while ago some old judo belts were smiling at me in a thriftstore. Irresistible color to me! And don't you like the beautiful fabric samples of Kvadrat I used? I'm happy and love to give the presents in a few hours. Congrats, fresh 4-years-old!

Iceland

Two weeks ago my boyfriend F was on beautiful Iceland. During his holiday he sent us pictures and films, which we could view via Dropbox. Imagine: M and L had to go to bed. But ok, it's nice to view papa's pics. So we sat down behind the screen, mama and a sweet girl on each knee. Truly hundreds of pics of nature, nature and even more nature came by. F was rarely shown on the pics. I would almost say, that's boring for kids! But... after seeing all of them, M had a deep sigh and said: Oh, I wanna go to Iceland too!
Now happily he's back home. Look what he brought for M and L: a wonderful collection of amazing stones, many of them lava. L loves to sort and play with them for hours!

This was one of the mini films. So we knew already what presents he would bring back home!

Wrap it!

Last weekend I had a full program. On Saturday afternoon our neighbors gave a really great party, so many people enjoyed our common garden. Then there was Rena's party and at night (till 4 a.m., that's late for a brave mother like me) I loved to join all neighbors and a very big crowd at De nacht van de Kaap. I like to mention this, because it's to be recommended!
This present was for sweet Rita and Jack. Here are the ingredients for wrapping a present like this: cheap brown wrapping paper, nice stamps (I used these, like I did before), and adhesive textile tape (found at Xenos). I stamped on the uncoated side of the paper. More stamping fun is following...