my dharma…work in progress

MOTHER

Making the best cookies ever.
Often helping other people.
There are always peaceful solutions.
Helping hold the family together.
Everlasting love for me.
Repairing broken happiness.

By your son, Peter.

If those are all the things he ever learns from me, I’m happy that I’ve done my job. Thank you Peter for writing straight from your heart!

We had a lovely breakfast with my mother in law and father in law at Atlas downtown, and watched the Turkish Formula1 race on our return (too bad Fernando wasn’t a contender this weekend) and then Ella insisted on some more Basketball.

Right now she’s sitting on her dad, reading Road and Track, watching the New Orleans and San Antonio Spurs game in her jammies top and a diaper in Peter’s baseball cap.

I did get some pattern drafting done today for all sizes from 18/24 mos-6 of the Lawn Dress, and am trying a new construction method for the Toddler Pocket Pants.  I’m really enjoying this Mothers Day.  Happy Mother’s Day to all of you!

Ella in Bonnie Dress with Bloomers

Originally uploaded by Pranamama.

Modeled. Please excuse the front door clutter.

I’ve been deciding what to place in my upcoming etsy shop and I think I have a winner here. I love the “Meadow Life” fabric, and I was so pleased with the way this came together. I cannot wait to take Ella’s picture in it. She was wearing it the other day as it was just a bodice with only one sleeve closed…refusing to return it for completion.

Sleeves and hem have a contrast brown linen border:

I’m calling it “Bonnie Dress” because it’s right up my mom’s alley….plus it is quite a bonnie dress! I love this Heather Ross fabric. Like every Kokka fabric I’ve tried, it’s a dream to work with. Fraying seems to be inevitable, due tot he looser weave of the linen/cotton canvas, but it presses beautifully, and I can finish it nicely, now that I’ve learned my way around the elna 845!

Bonnie Dress with Bloomers

Originally uploaded by Pranamama.

I’ve been deciding what to place in my upcoming etsy shop and I think I have a winner here. I love the “Meadow Life” fabric, and I was so pleased with the way this came together. I cannot wait to take Ella’s picture in it. She was wearing it the other day as it was just a bodice with only one sleeve closed…refusing to return it for completion.

I’m calling it “Bonnie Dress” because it’s right up my mom’s alley….plus it is quite a bonnie dress! I love this Heather Ross fabric. Like every Kokka fabric I’ve tried, it’s a dream to work with. Fraying seems to be inevitable, due tot he looser weave of the linen/cotton canvas, but it presses beautifully, and I can finish it nicely, now that I’ve learned my way around the elna 845!

Hazy Jane skirt with Brother’s shirt

Originally uploaded by Pranamama.

She insisted on wearing Peter’s shirt, but I think this skirt needs bloomers…Ella’s no lady and all the bending over shows too much diaper. Anyway, this is an almost-half circle skirt I’ve adapted from a beautiful Japanese sewing book by Nani Iro from my favorite etsy shop. I changed the angle of the curve to increase the flounce a tiny bit, lengthened the skirt quite a bit, and the hem is jut a tiny serged edge, folded over and topstitched.

I love the way this skirt turned out, and I think it will be a great shop addtion if I can come up with a cute embellishment for the organic t-shirts I’m picking up.

Next up - some little flower canvas by Heather Ross to turn into a round-collared dress. I’ve already modified my original idea to use brown linen as an accent as well. Covered buttons are intimidating to me, so I may be a couple days working on that one. Plus I have actual work to do…

Gathered shoulder

Originally uploaded by Pranamama.

She has the softest skin…

Draw?

Originally uploaded by Pranamama.

…or singing, or dancing, or “reading”…Here shes in a cotton lawn dress of my own design.

She looks so sweet here. but it’s just a matter of time before that marker finds its way onto something not washable and we hear “oh no” in a tiny voice.

Because there is so much to do!  I have four completely-mine designs ready for etsy (”soon!” I keep telling myself and everyone else…) and I’m working on some fun little pieces to bring everything together.  I think I’m halfway there, in terms of opening shop. Here’s one of the new things on Ella (buttons from my grandma’s button box):

I’m not familiar with J’s camera, so the photos are a bit off….since I cannot find my battery charger, I ordered a new charger AND an extra battery for my luminous LUMIX TZ3, and I’ll get back to snapping photos as quickly as possible.  I had no idea how dearly I’d miss my own camera.

I had a bout with what seems to have been the stomach flu over the weekend into Tuesday, and then work work work again!  Ella has been upset with me for having been dehydrated, but a little Yogi Tea Nursing Mother’s Tea and I’m ready to serve again.

J is in Hannover now, but he was a darling husband, postponing his trip to care for me while I was incapacitated.

Still on my list: web site updates for my favorite client, birthday gift for my dad, a pleated beauty handbag for the Bend the Rules Sewing swap (had to buy a new book, since it seems I’ve given my first one away), finish up the items to list in the shop, and a tutorial for the SewMamaSew contest.

Of course that means I haven’t made time for sewing from the last, adorable ottobre and the new one should already arrive this week!!  Never mind sewing for myself, at least for now.

I have a few more ideas floating around in my head before sleep-time, so I’d better get sketching before Ella wakes again.

I love Amy Karol’s Bend the Rules Sewing book, and I’m thrilled to be paricipating in this swap for a pleasted beauty handbag. I have just the fabric…

BTRS Swap

In other news, we’ve been making creative lunches and dinners around here. I realized I haven’t been grocery shopping, but at the same time, there are some unrelated items in the refrigerator and pantry that came together nicely for the past couple days. (Including some hummus that uses cashews instead of tahini! and a packed with leftovers miso soup) Peter keeps asking for biscuits, but I’m saving those for saturday.