3 things to smile about #5

This time of year nothing makes me smile more than preparing for Christmas - well, it's only just around the corner isn't it? And before that, there's the advent calendars to think about, of course.
I've gone a bit mental with my advent calendar boxes business in the past three or four years, and although I am sure I'll come back to it, this year sadly, I'm not making any apart than for close family. The truth is, I've left it all a bit too late to get organised on that scale, and in any case it's good to leave things to rest sometimes. So one of the best things at the moment is browsing for my own advent calendar, and there is so much choice out there, it'll be hard to pick one.
 Carrying on with traditions, this year I will definitely be doing is homemade stocking fillers. So here are some of the easiest, lovely things that make me smile.

First up is the old classic - lavender bags. The is a really easy one to make, and a crowd pleaser, because you can always use a lavender bag to bung in a drawer or in the car for that extra fresh smell of Provence! I order my lavender online from the good people of Amazon, and any old bits of scraps will do for your fabric. That said, this series of fabric above is perfect as you can just cut up around one of the adverts.

Next up is great for little people, and although it's a bit fiddly it's a rewarding one. I make my life easier with this one by not turning any of the fabric over, I just shear it after sewing. You do need to get some small magnets, but again, my Amazonian friends are very resourceful on this one.

Finally, handwarmers. Who doesn't curse the cold when they go out on a cold morning? Those are so easy to make, and they're a cool, natural alternative to the ones sold in the shops for a fiver. You'll probably use them longer too. My one and only trick is to double-sew the edges if you're using rice like me. It just ensures your grains stay where they should, and don't end up in the bottom of your coat pockets!

Well, I hope I have inspired you to make a few stocking fillers with fabric scraps. I would love to hear more ideas from you. Do you make your own stocking fillers? Do you make and sell at Chrismas markets?

nap projects

So here we are, one week into the summer holidays. I wish I could tell you what a good time I've had already, and show you a tonne of things I've already made. Alas, I would have, if not for the dreaded chicken pox. Let me tell you, I've never seen my lovely Baby J so miserable. Of course, I mostly blame the mini heatwave we've been having at the same time. As if dozens of itchy spots weren't enough, we've had the warmest weather of the year so far. Nights were sticky, days were just hot, altogether it's just been awful. Still, before and after that mini-disaster, one managed to rustle up a few things during Baby's nap...a much appreciated pause in our days.
This funky chai and spiced rum tiramisu has proved to be a hit - the man of the house even went as far as to say I could make it again another time! I made two cushion covers for my mother-in-law, and I tried to make Baby a summery sleeping bag to try and cope with the heat. We enjoyed a lovely couple of hours at a lavender farm nearby, the smell and views were out of this world.
The worst is behind us now, and hopefully baby and I can start to properly get on with our holiday. On my programme, a visit to the butterfly exhibition at the Science Museum (if it's good enough for Prince George, it's good enough for us!), sewing of course, picnics maybe? And much less glamorous things like tidying under my bed, in my cupboards, and cleaning the fridge properly. Pottering around, as my colleagues would say.

Nous y voilà, une semaine que les vacances ont commencé. J'aimerais vous dire à quel point je me suis déjà bien amusée, et vous montrer les tas de trucs que j'ai déjà faits. Hélas, c'est sans compter sur cette satanée varicelle. Je vous le dis, je n'ai jamais vu Bébé J en aussi mauvais état. Bien sûr, je reporte la faute sur la mini canicule qu'on  a eu ces derniers jours. Comme si c'était pas suffisant d'avoir des dizaines de boutons qui grattent, on a eu les journées les plus chaudes de l'année. Les nuits étaient moites et les journées chaudes, en gros c'était l'horreur. Malgré tout, un peu avant et depuis ce mini désastre, j'ai réussi à faire quelques petits trucs pendant la sieste de Bébé...une pause très appreciée dans mes journées. 
Ce tiramisu au thé chai et rum a été un véritable triomphe - l'homme m'a même dit que je pouvais le refaire! J'ai fait deux housses de coussin pour ma belle-mère, et j'ai tenté de faire une gigoteuse d'été pour essayer de render les nuits de Bébé plus confortables. On a aussi été passer une heure ou deux dans un champ de lavande près d'ici, les odeurs et le paysage étaient fabuleux. 
Le pire est passé maintenant, et j'espère que Bébé et moi allons pouvoir enfin nous mettre en mode vacances. Au programme, une visite à l'expo de papillons au Musée des Sciences (si le prince George y est déjà allé, pourquoi pas nous?), de la couture bien sûr, des pique-niques peut-être? Et aussi quelques trucs beaucoup moins glamour du style ranger sous mon lit, dans mes placards, et nettoyer le frigo comme il faut. Rien de bien special, comme diraient mes collègues.

slow spring

My, have I been bad lately...it looks like I have neglected my little web corner here and not been visiting much. I'd love to say it's because I've been sooooo busy with interesting and challenging projects, but unfortunately I haven't. Or have I?
Well, let's see. On the work front, I have just finally finished all the oral exams for those who needed it (3 classes of Y11 and one Y13) and now mentally prepare myself for the end of year reports.
At home, I have managed to move on from my latest quilt project to a less challenging new series of lavender bags with vintage lace trims. Nothing like quick sewing satisfaction to make you feel good! I have also embarked on a "sewing bee" kind of competition with my colleagues. We have all chosen this pattern to make a dress during the upcoming half-term. The textiles teacher will judge our creations. So far, I have opened the pattern, looked at it, selected the fabric...and that's it! Hopefully I will get started this week.
And so I hope to have more to share in the next few days. In the meantime, back to my cup of tea, Baby, baking a tray of muffins for after dinner while watching the TV adaptation of Fargo. is anyone else hooked already?

Oh, que j'ai été vilaine ces temps-ci...on dirait que j'ai négligé mon petit coin de blogosphère et que je n'ai pas beaucoup été présente. J'adorerais vous dire que c'est parce j'étais trèèèès occupée avec des tas de projets intéressants, mais malheureusement ce n'est pas le cas. Ou l'est-ce?
Eh bien, voyons. Au boulot, je viens enfin de finir tous les oraux des classes qui en faisaient (3 classes de seconde et une de terminale)et maintenant je me prépare mentallement pour les bulletins de fin d'année.
A la maison, j'ai réussi à bouger de mon dernier projet de quilt à une nouvelle série de sachets de lavande avec de la dentelle vintage. Rien de tel qu'un projet couture rapide pour se sentir bien et satisfaite! Je me suis aussi enbarquée dans une compétition de couture style "la meilleure couturière" avec mes collégues. On a toutes choisies ce patron pour faire une robe pendant les vacances de fin mai. La prof de couture nous jugera. Pour l'instant, j'ai ouvert le patron, l'ai regardé, choisi mon tissu...et c'est tout! Avec un peu de chance je commencerai cette semaine. Et donc j'espère avoir plus de choses à partager avec vous les jours qui viennent. En attendant, je pars retrouver ma tasse de thé, Bébé, et préparer une fournée de muffins à dévorer après le dîner devant l'adaptation télé de Fargo. Vous êtes accro, vous aussi?

lavender

I ordered some more lavender a couple of weeks ago, and so I got back to work on some little lavender-filled hearts. But that's not the only sewing project I have undertaken lately - I am also working on a new baby quilt/playmat, a bit like the one I made for my daughter last winter.
I am cutting all the squares and rectangles up now and figuring out how to arrange the colours and patterns. I think I will wait for another cool spell to start working on the actual quilting bit. It's still too hot for this kind of work at the moment.

project

I am very excited to be working on a special sewing project this week. It is always a bit hectic to get things done properly whilst juggling looking after the house, enjoying maternity leave, and err...well, feeding and making sure that Baby is as happy as can be. Which she is, I am delighted to say. I will never tire of listening to her cooing, watching her sleep, holding her close in the little nook in my neck, smelling her baby hair after her bath. Those things make my day, everyday.
The Lavender household is going to take a little break for the next few days in search of lost sleep time and quality togetherness, but I'll be back soon with - hopefully- more on that little pet project of mine!
In the meantime folks, enjoy the start of summer - it's officially here!

A year in flowers

vintage fabric

I am terrible. Honestly, I cannot help but buy more fabric even though I have a stock building up at home! But really, deep down, you know you couldn't have resisted this loooovely vintage-like fabric if you'd seen it yourself, could you?

When I spotted it, I knew instantly how to use it too. So last weekend I started fussy-cutting it into beautiful little rectangles...

And guess what they became? Little lavender trinkets for Christmas stockings. Aren't the fabrics just gorgeous?

They all went in "the finished products basket" for a while...

And finally into little bags of lavender goodness - by that time day light had disappeared, sorry for the bad pictures!