We love holidays

Gracie has sidled up next to me in my sewing room a lot over this holiday. Yesterday she created this mermaid picture, apparently they're teenage mermaids. Slow to develop I'd say, no need for bikini tops or the usual scallop shells covering them.

The warmer weather has meant mostly outdoor play during this Easter break, which I must say has been much nicer than last years April snow. That's wild garlic growing under the tree there, you can just see some of it starting to flower right underneath Gracie. It grows throughout the woods around our area followed by bluebells which will be out soon. You cook the leaves of wild garlic, not the bulb - it's milder but tasty.

 

Lovely Nanou recently asked if my children sew. They've done embroidery for a while now and have both dabbled with machine sewing but this week Gracie made her first skirt. She chose the fabric, then designed and made this skirt herself. I helped her cut it out because we made up the pattern according to her design and used no template.

She wanted a skirt with no gathering but I explained a zip wasn't best for her first go. We settled on gathering at the back keeping the front flatter. We did this by making the front panel of the skirt smaller in width then the back panel. Then we stitched down the elastic by the side seams to keep most of the gathered fabric at the back.

I had better pictures showing off her design but she wanted this photo.

 

Also during this holiday Tristan made this cushion for me and hubby. He wanted to embroider a heart with "Mummy + Daddy" in the centre but after completing the heart he decided it was finished. He then made an envelope style cushion using his embroidered panel of linen and was extremely proud of his results (and so was mummy.) 

While they both like to sew they wouldn't choose to do it all the time, but I love to indulge them whenever the mood hits!

Favourite seasonal recipe coming soon.

Comments

[Lisa]

What talented children you have! I've always tried to encourage my daughter in whatever she wanted to try, and (so far) it turns out sewing isn't her thing, but at sixteen she has become quite the artist, something I can tell she'll keep up the rest of her life.

It looks like you had a wonderful Easter break with beautiful weather!

[Dianne]

Wow Gracie you skirt looks beautiful, can you make me one with a very very big front panel so baby can fit in too!!
Tristan can you teach my boys to do embroidery. They could stitch something up for "bobby", what do you think???

[Carrie]

The mermaid picture is beautiful! I love the mermaid diving in =)
And what perfect embroidery!

[margie oomen]

Your children are very talented indeed with sewing, drawing and embroidery. Your daughter is very beautiful as well.

[deb]

Your children are very talented! Love their work. :)

Gracie's water color painting is amazing! Seriously worthy of a frame. :)

P.S. Hi Gracie! Your new skirt looks so springy and sweet on you! Great job!

[Pam Harris]

I happen to agree with Gracie's choice for the skirt photo even without seeing the others. Gracie - you look absolutely beautiful in this photo. I love it! I hope you will continue painting and sewing.

And Tristan, how did you ever get every stitch so perfect?? Your pillow is lovely and I know your parents will treasure it always. I wish I could make stitches so perfectly.

[nanou]

Woooow ! Gracie, I'm so impressed by your skirt !!! It's so pretty ! It's incredible at your age !!! I would not be able to do it ... I love your mermaids too ! You're very talented in every thing you do !
Tristan, your heart cushion looks amazing to me ! You have a gift to sew and embroider. And you are much more skillful than I ...
Joanie, you have a family full of talent and a home full of love !

[joanie]

Thank you for all your lovely comments. Tristan and Gracie have really enjoyed reading them. I'm lucky they both do like to try new things and are also really positive about all of the projects I do.

[fabricfairy]

wow, you've got such talented and beautiful kids. must be for great parenting=)