It's summertime and the weather is hot

I'm just peeking my head around the door and saying a quick hello ~ we're off to England in a couple of days and I'm busy getting things ready. I can not wait! It's been far too long since my last visit home.

Here's a picture of one of the summer tops that I made for my daughter. I wanted to make several cheap and cheerful tops, as she has so many clothes currently living on top of the washing machine awaiting stain treatments (can anyone recommend a good laundry stain remover??). So here's my own plain and simple pattern:

The best part about it is that one can be knocked out in an evening and it uses up very little material (this one is made out of a quilting quarter). This is my practice version. It looks so crumpled, as my daughter had to do a lot of playing before she'd slow down enough for me to take a couple of pics (see blurry shot on the left...). The photos of the other version are sitting on a film waiting to be developed, sorry.

.

Talking of photos, yep, these were just taken on my ancient point and shoot. Looks like I won't be getting a new camera 'til after our trip. Darn..

.

Let me know if you want to know more details on how to make one of these - they really are a doddle (translation for the Americans: "Doddle - Something that is a doddle is a cinch, it's easy").

Waiting for winter

It's hot, hot, hot here today. I'm a winter person: I'm simply not designed to take this heat. Plus my hair needs only the slightest hint of humidity (or perspiration) to start springing random nutty curls and frizz. Not pretty... I would have some pictures of nice airy summer tops for you if my husband had been willing to take me to get my films developed, but... well, he wasn't. So here's some pictures of a winter coat instead. nb. My daughter doesn't believe in standing still for pictures...

I know, I know, it's too hot to even look at photos of a winter coat, but they are kind of relevent to the present. I suddenly realised that K might need a coat in England, but I've been dithering: is it a bad idea to start an involved project when I've still got lots to do before the trip? I'm really hoping that K hasn't grown too much, so I can make her another coat like this for this coming winter out of the leftover material.
.
Anyway, about the coat: I love this material with all its subtle colours - found on clearance at Jo~ann's. Unfortunately there wasn't much left (please let there be enough to squeeze out another bigger coat). It immediately reminded me of my winter coat that I had as a child. The pattern is Simplicity 4712 B, but I got rid of the pleat in the back and replaced it with a seam and a slit at the bottom (kind of visible in the middle pic above). I also didn't do the puffy sleeves either. This was my first attempt at following a pattern, so it was a little nerve-wracking, to say the least. K liked the end result, though.