goodgracie.com

I think I’m safe because all the recipients of these Poppy dolls are too young to actually read yet, let alone be surfing the interwebs between naps, so I’m not spoiling any Christmas surprises. To make these dolls I flagrantly neglected to observe much of Fiona’s excellent advice, especially re stuffing materials and technique because I wanted to use only scraps to make them real rag dolls. So they are even stuffed with scraps, resulting in the Lumpy Look, which Fiona specifically cautions against. But on the up side, the scraps give them a nice weight and I also got to see one of my baskets of off-cuts disappear. And I love the idea that one day (in the probably not-too-distant-future given my inferior softies sewing skills) all those scraps might spill out and be of interest. To someone. Maybe.

Thanks, Fiona, for the wonderful pattern and Happy Christmas my girls and nieces and dear little friends. XXXXX

We’ve booked our ‘viewing slot‘ for Milla’s birthday. Crowds guaranteed - they better be real pandas and not keepers in bear suits. I can feel some souvenir purchasing coming on!

In other costume news, the annual ballet satin and tulle challenge (a dawn fairy this year) is almost finished and seven sets of Scooby Doo ear bonnets are ready for this week’s junior primary school concert.

PS Fake panda pic by Ben.

Sassy, isn’t she?

Dress 1 from Every day (ISBN 4579110439), pockets altered. Fabric, vintage seersucker.

Think we’ll go to the beach after school. Sandwiches for tea.

xx

This is Molly. She was legless and languishing in the Woodside salvage yard before she was re-homed with me via eBay. I don’t think Molly has birthed and breastfed two babies so our measurements don’t align well - too pointy and uplifted here, a little too much booty back there. But nevertheless she is willing to stand still and remain relentlessly cheerful and supportive of my making endeavours. Just what you need in a dressmaker’s dummy.

And this stack of hats and overalls is ready to be packed and then racked at Little Bird, sunny Port Elliot. Hi, Kate!

I love, love Carly’s hearts print in red. And blue too. And the elephants. And the quality of fabric is lovely too, textured and natural. More here.

I feel tired. But the up side is there is some strength in the sun, we have a new vegie patch and a dear henhouse ready to welcome the boarders back from my mum and dad’s. The ladies have been paying their way by laying well up there, so hopefully the move won’t put them off. The henhouse is made by my dad mostly from packing pallets from my brother’s warehouse. Rats not welcome.

before

Actually there wasn’t much for my new staple gun to do on this job, it was mostly sewing. Recently I re-covered an old divan we inherited with the house. It turned from a faded old thing impregnated with dust, to quite a comfy piece of furniture. So I got high on my success and bought these teak chairs on ebay. Ben did the pick up on Saturday and by Sunday afternoon they were reupholstered. The fabric is Lotta Jansdotter (1996, according to the selvedge) that I was lucky enough to win. I only had two yards, so I used some plain linen cotton underneath the cushions and on the back, and there was just enough Lotta for the rest. (I never get tired of the Lotta puns, sorry.)

Milla’s first painting. It was all about the splatter for her. This was taken a few days ago when things still looked quite civilised. Now it’s a different story. Discovered my first pile of mouse poo today. No doubt there will be plenty more before we’re moved.

Thanks, Fiona, what a prawn cracker cutie you have. If anyone would like a hat, please email me: gina at good gracie dot com. I have a few in stock that I haven’t managed to photograph yet. My miniature model has had a cold and four teeth coming through, so she’s not exactly looking or feeling her best. Certainly not worth her $20,000 a day fee.

I’m gradually getting past my fear of sewing with knits, mainly because they are quite forgiving of my habit of sewing a new outfit in the minutes before we’re due to go out somewhere. This is a kind of super long tank top. I’m hoping nobody actually points and laughs when I wear it out of the house because I quite like it.

And this bag I also made right before going out. Because I rashly put my ‘handbag’ collection in storage during the Great Decluttering, thinking that surely I could stick to the same one for a few weeks. And no, I can’t. This is just a simple shoulder bag with a zip pocket on the front made using thrifted wool and zip and a small piece of beautiful Pippijoe hemp cotton fabric, which is lovely and thick and soft.

As a rule I don’t make softies. My few attempts have been generally sad, sorry and or floppy. I leave them to the experts who are brilliant, and clever and genius. But sometimes a softie attempt is called for and this one was a gift for a non-mobile-owning friend so she knows that I would beep her if I could. Happy birthday, Karen. XXX