catching up on sewing

Guess what? I have finally found enough time and motivation (an extremely rare combination of factors these days) to get on with a bit more sewing. And - keep still - not only have I finally finished hand-quilting my next Baby quilt, but I have also made the bias from scratch...woo hoo!
Now there is much hope and anticipation as to whether I can actually put the two together and proudly say I have finished a sewing project during my holidays. Will she, won't she? Stay tuned and find out very soon, she says, crossing all her fingers and toes at the same time!

Country Living Fair

On Wednesday I decided to treat myself to a day out after I found out about the Country Living Fair was about to begin. It was a bit like the Marie-Claire Idées event in Paris last year (here and here) but with a lot more "finished" products and a lot less material available. Nonetheless, it was a great day out.
There is a clear growing trend for kits this year again: make-your-own lip balms / quilts / wreaths, etc.
Of course, there's always a great moment of guilt at leaving Baby behind when you're on holiday too, but I think it did me a lot of good to steal those few hours of freedom.
I also attended a couple of talks - the Christmas entertaining by Leiths cookery school was very good and you got a chance to take the recipes home with you AND sample their gorgeous festive snacks...a domestic godess' dream!
Here are some of my favourite inspirational bits for the festive season.

where is it?

Gosh, where did all the time go again these past ten days? Well, first there was a baby pottery session, then a lovely  concert at the Albert Hall, autumnal walks, simple lunches while baby took her nap, frothy coffees, lots of experimental baby meals, more first times, nearly every day...
Yesterday I had a first time - tried to make some macarons au chocolat - and although they tasted all right, they did not hold their shape and it would be a disgrace to show them here! And in the midst of all this, I hear you ask...but where is the sewing gone? Well, I ask myself the same question every day!

tarte aux pommes

Well deserved time out. Baby and I are already having a grand time on day 2 of the holidays. I have baked a simple apple tart which turned out to be fabulous (no soggy bottom either, Mary Berry would be proud!) and Baby had her first taste of meat and loved it.
She makes a right mess too now and loves emptying her toy box! She is so curious. She looks at everything in amazement and we look at her trying to figure things out for herself. It's bliss.
Now that I am a bit more at peace I should be able to do more around the house. Thank goodness for holidays.

octobre

♫ Francis Cabrel - Octobre ♫

This October I am loving a few things, like

♥ the approach of the Great British Bake Off final - it's the first year I watch all of it, and I am very excited! 

♥ pretty red kalanchoe - they add a bit of peps to our table

♥ watching Baby crawl instead of dragging herself on the floor. She can finally use her knees.

♥ generally speaking, watching Baby do just about anything. She fascinates me with her eagerness to work things out by herself. She makes us laugh out loud, worry for her fragile little person, and every emotion in between.

♥ autumnal walks in the park - weather permitting, that is! The cold front has appeared out of nowhere and it's as if the remnants of summer never existed.
♥ getting back in shape and wearing skinny jeans again - Yeah! ♥