Bunting and Cake

Steve and I have entered the phase of our lives where the people around us are all having mile-stone birthdays. Turning 40 and stuff. I guess our turn is soon enough, but it was definitely a moment for consideration. 40? Really? 

Anyway, as with any big party, while most other people are thinking "Who do I invite?" or "What do I wear?", I'm thinking: do we have bunting for this? (Well, firstly "What food will we make?" of course, but the bunting is a very close second.)

Sarah was turning 40 and obviously needed bunting for her party. Even though I'd made bunting for her 30th, they were going for a "fancy cocktail theme" this time, so wanted some matching bunting for it. I didn't promise, given the "middle of term" nature of the party, but when it came to it, I did find six hours to sit at the sewing machine and make a new batch of bunting to suit. 

Bunting. So great. 

Our local Spotlight was actually closing down (just relocating) so I managed to get a good bargain on the fabric which was good. When you are trying to make specific themed bunting, it's much harder to source the material from stuff you already have. In the end, I was going for a black/gold look and I think I achieved it? 

Sarah liked it in any case. 

Ironically, when I asked her what cake she wanted me to make, she asked for the same one she did for her 30th - the Black Forrest Cake. I didn't think to look for that recipe at the time, but I still managed to find and use the exact same one, but with a few adjustments to make it more "actual cake" and less "goopy mess of cream and cherries". 

The little mini cupcakes were actually vegan friendly. I made them with the usual Shadowlands Cupcake recipe from Sophie's Bluey Cookbook, but added some of the cherry mix for flavour and then decorated to tie it in. Actually delicious and the fresh cherries were pretty sensational. 

Success for cakes too! 

Happy Birthday older sister! I guess if you are now 40, I'll definitely be there soon. :P 

The Flip Side

I feel like this should be a really excited kind of post, given that it is largely about Book Week and sewing, but alas, it is not. Sometimes I love sewing things. Most times, I could not be more excited when someone asks me to make a costume. But it turns out that there are times where I just couldn't care less; this is one of those times. 

It's been a pretty up and down kind of year. I was plugging away at the start of Term 3 feeling actually ok about life, but when it came to making Rachel a Nanny Piggins costume for Book Week, I somehow found  I had no real interest in it at all. 

The costume itself was quite straight forward, and I picked up a blue business shirt to Frankenstine into a drop-waist dress from the op-shop easily enough ($7 - bargain!) But actually sewing it was... let's say different. I didn't put it off, I wasn't lacking motivation. I got the job done, but I had about zero interest or excitement for it. It was honestly so weird. 

Rachel was so keen for it, since she loves Nanny Piggins, and I thought her enthusiasm would be infectious, but it was not. I made the little blue jacket out of some leftover fabric from the stash, so I didn't even have to brave a trip to Spotlight to make it happen, but I was so disconnected from sewing it that I didn't even bother to hem the dress or the jacket. 

I didn't know what it was then, and I still don't know what it is now, but I was absolutely meh about the whole thing. Weird. 

My take away from this is, that for everything in life, there is going to be a flip side. Times when you love it, and times when it's meh. And in those times, you just do it anyway. 

So I did it anyway, and, even if I never finished the hems, Rachel does love it. I knew I'd be off to work early on the day of Book Week, so I got the girls into their costumes on the weekend before to take some photos. Rachel couldn't find her book on that day, but was happy to pose with the chocolate wrapper since Nanny Piggins always has three types of chocolate stashed in her bag. 

On the actual day, not only did Rachel find her book, but also improvised pig ears out of balloons. Crazy child. Sophie went as Tilly from Tilly and the Book Wanderers, in a costume that I didn't sew anything for but did contribute to by making the bee necklace. 

Sweet Book Week Reflection

I would usually highlight a Japanese book for book week, but this year, I went in a saree. We have a large population of Indian students at our school and I wanted them to know I see them, and that their culture and language are respected and valued in our school too. The number of Indian parents who took the time to thank me for wearing their dress made the hours of practice putting it on worth it. 

What I do at school as a teacher is more than just my passion for Japanese. How are you seeing and recognising the various languages and cultures represented in your school, workplace or community?

The book, Amma’s Sari by Sandhya Parappukkaran, also perfectly encapsulates why I wear my yukata and kimono etc, as often as I can. Such a simple yet moving book for people who are representing one culture while living in another. 

My other Book Week posts will no doubt be late this year, since I've been swamped at work and quite overwhelmed with life at the moment, but reflecting on this beautiful saree and the choice I made to wear it gives me hope of a brighter future. 

Mass Production: Colouring Shorts

Here is a little something I did back in June but didn't get around to blogging about. Mass production on shorts. 

I had picked up the material in Spotlight on sale a while ago, thinking to make something for our newest nephew. Our neighbours also had new grand-babies added to them in the last year, so I figured, while I was at it, I may as well make them some too.

The next thing you know, I'm also making shorts for their older grand-sons, and my sister's nephew on her husband's side. I mean, why make one, or three, when you can make six pairs of shorts all in one go? Right?  

Since Archie is still under two, I let Hugo, Sophie and Rachel decorate his for him before I sewed them together. The kids had a stack of fun decorating the little monsters and talking about what they thought Archie would like.

It took me back to 2018 when they were colouring in a pair of shorts for Hugo to wear to kindy. 

Sycamore shorts pattern for the win again. Clicking back through the archive, turns out my first batch of mass production Sycamore Shorts was in 2014, so that makes 10 years of shorts making for people. Almost can't believe it. 

Japanese Fabric Sewing Part 2

Continuing to catalogue my sewing adventures so I can look back and see the work I've done, here is another dress that I made with some Japanese fabric from our April Travels. I was (and still am) very actively trying to sew fabric that I buy, rather than let it languish in my "stash". And also trying to be intentional about what I buy, and how I make it, so that it does indeed become something great that I will wear again and again, and not just add to the current insurmountable waste problem the world has. 

Small rant over, onto the dress. 

Just using the self drafted pattern that I've used before here, this dress is fun and perfect for being a crazy Japanese teacher. (Side note; I honestly thought I had made more dresses with this pattern, but I think I'm remembering wrong... time to make another?)

I sewed it in less than a week so I could wear it for Bento Day at school, which means I must have made it in May. Productive month!

My only regret was that when I laid out the pattern, I didn't realise I could cut the pockets out of another section and end up with a strip of material for a waist tie/belt. As it is, I have the exceptional pockets and a slightly obscurely shaped leftover bit of fabric, which isn't the end of the world since I'll surely use it up for some other project. Slowly, slowly I get better about achieving minimal waste. 

Japanese Fabric Sewing

When we were in Japan in April, I not only got to buy some cool kimono related things, but also visit the famous Fabric Town in Nippori. My Mum has told me that on one of her shopping trips in this area she came away with 12 kilos of fabric, and while I was much more restrained, I did come away with some very nice pieces to make things with. 

This is the first thing I made, actually back in May. The fabric is a beautiful 100% cotton with such a delightful frog and lillypad print that I couldn't let it go. As soon as I got it I knew I would make another Cypress Dress with it. 

I had enough material for sleeves and pockets, but not enough buttons for everything in one colour, so I did blue and red alternating, rather than going to buy more. 

It's incredibly hard to photograph oneself in a dress, but I absolutely love this one. 
 

Rachel the Cow

Here is another snapshot in the Sewing Adventures of Rachel. 

Rachel (loving cows as she does) decided she'd like to go to the school bush dance as a cow so I suggested she make a onesie herself. (She has made a jumpsuit before, so this didn't seem like too much of a next step.) I strategically suggested a fabric birthday present for her which her godparents obligingly provided, much to Rachel's delight. 

We traced a jumper and pair of jeans and did a rough draft out of a doona cover. Rachel was pretty good at sewing the draft version, even though it wasn't as fun as the final fabric. We did a fitting and tweaked a few things before cutting out the real deal. Rachel herself suggested the udder and had the idea to make it a functional pocket, which I thought was just hilarious. 

Then we scheduled some serious sewing time together. Having already sewn the draft, she was pretty clued on as to how it would go together, but still needed some reminders about how the flat pieces would go together to cover a 3D body. 

I was very impressed at her fortitude with sewing a pretty tricky fabric, including giving the zip a good go.  In the end, I did have to get that in for her, since all the layers of fabric (including the udder!) there were very bulky, but that was all I sewed. While I did that, she worked on ear placement for the hood and then finished it off. The zip, btw was salvaged from an art case that was broken and not working. It was pink, still functional and very long so it worked a treat! 

The delight that Rachel had when she finished sewing the hood on was catching. This cow onesie is the most outrageous thing ever. Rachel wore it and won best dressed on the night of the bush dance. 

Japanese Kimono Haul

I was fairly restrained in Japan when I was buying kimono related things, given that I already have quite a sizeable collection, but here are some of the things I did get! Not sure I'd really call it a haul as such, but I will say that I'm really pleased with all of what I got, since I've worn everything a number of times this year already. 

This new obi matches the yukata I made nearly 18 years ago so perfectly!

For those interested, in the winter months of the year, I tend to dress in Japanese traditional clothes most work days and then some other days just for fun too. Since I'm now working a four day week, it means I'm actually in Japanese style more than western. Have to say, I love it, since kimono are comfy, warm and surprisingly easy to layer so I can adjust things as the day heats up. 

This obi is a different style, but is so versatile that I wear it all the time. 

First up I bought three obi (waist tie/belt things). The top one was such a fun sashiko design that I was in love with it instantly, even though it was a more maroon-red colour that I wasn't sure would go with many of my yukata. It has surprisingly matched way more of my kimono collection than I thought it would and I have worn it a stack. Especially since it's reversible with a different pattern on the other side. 

This bright yellow and orange one is also so fun. Can't get enough of the dual colours and I love to mix up how I wear it too. 

Same obi as above, but looking completely different! So cool!

The light is bad, but the yukata really is more a white than yellow. This is the other side of the first obi from above. 

I also bought two yukata, a white one with sunflowers and a white with blue and purple stripes. I felt these were different to what I already have (which, to be honest, is a lot of shades of blue with flowers) so I was happy with them. 

New yukata with this obi (that I made) and a new obijime (tie).

I got one haori, which is a jacket to wear with kimono.  Again, I looked at so many of these, since they are really common in the second hand shops and the size on them can be quite forgiving, unlike a vintage kimono, which is almost always going to be on the too small size. I found this one on our day in Shinjuku and I really love it. Most of my other haori are dark, so it's nice to have a lighter choice. 

Lastly, I bought my very first hakama! This is a skirt (or pants) that you can wear with your kimono. They were worn by loads of people, notably samurai, and also used to be part of the school uniform back in the day, because it means you can run and move really easily in your kimono without and fear of things falling open when they shouldn't. This hakama took a while to find since I wanted one made out of natural fibres rather than polyester. I got a 100% wool one, which means it's pretty much only going to be worn in winter, but I love it. 

First real outing for the hakama here, with my sunflower yukata on. I'm still working on tying it at a good length, and it def looks better with boots since it's shorter. 

I was a bit disappointed when I put it on the first time, since I had been expecting it to be a bit longer and found it short, but I've made my peace with it and I have been wearing it a stack in the last few weeks at school. Since it is short, it actually looks really good with a pair of boots, so winning there. 

I did get three new obijime (obi ties), one of which I wear all the time, but the two others not so much. Still, very satisfied with the new additions to my collection. Since I've been wearing kimono pretty much non-stop for the last three months, I've also gotten my dressing time down to about 15mins for a full kimono, which is pretty dang good. I was wondering last week if it was worth it, but then on Thursday I had a stack of students tell me they loved what I was wearing or commented on a previous days dress, so I guess they are noticing after all. 

Farewell to Single Digits

Just like that, Rachel is 10. 

As with Sophie, we celebrated with a room make over for the birthday girl. Rachel is a bit of a hoarder of the most random stuff, so I was honestly pretty stoked to have a reason to completely empty her room and start with a clean slate. She had a lot of random boxes that she often just piled things into that I was resolute were not returning. We emptied it all out into the living room and I began painting.

Thankfully, Rachel did come to the party and the clean out was not too painful. I think it helped that a couple of weeks earlier, Maria had done a sewing machine upgrade and given her old one to Rachel. Within half an hour of having it, the sewing machine was set up and making heat packs, which was great, but Rachel did notice that it was tricky with all the other stuff on her desk. 

The colour chosen for the feature wall (done with much less deliberation than Sophie) was Hot Pop Blue. I was a little dubious, but on the wall it just looks bright and fresh. Also a bit Greek Island holiday. She used birthday money to buy her desk and is planning on a cow-themed chair or curtains too. 

Rachel has been leaning hard into her love of cows for at least the last twelve months. She's had her beloved cow Moo-Moo since Christmas of 2019 and Mini Moo-Moo since January last year. Maybe it was Mini Moo-Moo that really increased her interest in these funny animals. In any case, when it came to her birthday cake, she asked for a cow. 

And I delivered. 

We had a family afternoon tea with onigiri, cheese twists, fruit, pumpkin scones and a cheese board. All easy fare and enough kids among all the cousins and family friends to keep everyone occupied for a couple of hours of eating and playing. 

Happy birthday Rachel. We love you; crazy, cows, double digits and all. 

Sashiko

Knowing that our travel around Japan for two weeks in April would involve lots of train rides (not to mention the plane rides!) I wanted to pack something that I could easily stitch when we had a bit of time to keep my hands busy. My current project at the time was a hand-sewn kimono, which I guess would fit the bill, but was also a little bulky for our travel. 

I had borrowed a book from the library on sashiko, which is a style of Japanese and stitching that is becoming popular as a way to mend or repurpose clothes, and I wanted to give that a go. Two days before we were due to leave, I grabbed out some fabric from my stash and prepped with with four different designs to try out. 

There was a lot of prep work for this. You have to sew the fabric into a bit of a loop and then draw up a grid so you can trace your designs evenly. I ended up with four different designs, in what I hoped was going to be progressively challenging but not too far into the deep end for me. The girls were really keen on a tortoise shell design that was just a bit too much at first. 

You can see all the grid lines and the rough outline of the design I wanted to do here. 

I read all the rules on taking sewing things on planes and was fairly confident that I could get my housewife on board, but I did pack a spare set of everything, just in case. I also pre-cut a bunch of thread so if they took the scissors off me at security but left the needles, I could still get work done. 

As luck would have it, I didn't have any troubles getting the scissors through security, though they did tell me that if I flew out of Sydney or Melbourne it would be a different story. I started stitching the first one on the plane over - please excuse the photo in the cramped seats of economy and with the bad plane lighting. :P 

My guide lines are on the other side, but this was starting to look good!

I took these with us when we went to Hakone and sewed them on the pirate ship on Lake Ashi, and also on the shinkansen to and from Tokyo. They were perfect. I did a bit of experimenting with different colours for the boarders and in the designs as I got more confident too. 

I'm pretty dang proud of how they turned out, though I'm not sure what exactly to do with them now. Possibly turn them into featured sides of a reusable bag? Or make a zippered pouch out of them? The cool thing is they are very reversible, but I'm not sure how the stitching will hold up if being attacked by pencils all day, so I feel I'd have to line it with something anyway. 

That however is a problem for another day. For now, these are done and were the perfect thing to travel Japan with us.