Shiver me timbers!

Yep, it's that time of year again: When seams and hems look awful, because I am not going to spend ages on something that is only for one night. That doesn't stop my kids from demanding extra details that they've seen in the flyers from the costume stores, mind. They don't get everything they ask for, though. Pirates can wear bandannas instead of tricorn hats, for starters....

I'm hoping that you could tell that they are going to be pirates for this year's Halloween...

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Their cousin is, too. She's getting a black shirt, sash and red / white spotted jagged edge skirt, as per her hand-drawn design:

I finished these a week ago. I'm a little worried to find that I haven't been procrastinating as usual.

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Actually, I've been going around humming Christmas carols. I've even made a Christmas decoration or two. I think it might be my coping mechanism for California's pathetic attempt at Autumn. I've seen one tree so far that has realised that it should be shedding some leaves...

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So, I'm skipping Autumn and moving on straight to Christmas.

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While almost on the subject of shopping (don't worry, I'm only at the thinking stage for actual Christmas presents), I was happy to see that Bread and Buttons had decided to open up her etsy shop again. She is a lovely lady and finds the cutest fabrics. These pictures taken on a gloomy day do not do justice to these hair clips and bands that I have bought for my daughter:

Arrrggghhh, it's late! Time to weigh anchor. Take care all.

I miss my settee

Some gifts for a friend that is a teacher and world traveller: Mary Jane slippers (pattern by the little house by the sea). Please note: any funny angles in the picture are a result of my having inherited my mum's weird shaped feet - the pattern is fine.

Bag based upon the construction of this bag, but I changed the pattern to make it bigger, changed the shape and, well, changed the construction a bit, too. Picture taken by my son.

I've been fantasizing about the days before kids. Nope, not because I could be a world traveller, too. I've been thinking back fondly to the days when I could come home from work and just collapse on the sofa when I was ill. I've been feeling rough for over a week now, but my kids don't even let me have a lie-in on weekends. 5am. Maybe when they are teenagers they might be more willing to stay in bed of a morning...

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I had better get going: I've got a busy day ahead of me. No sofa.

Nick?

This last week I've been putting together yearbook pages for my kids' football (soccer) teams, trying to sort out my soon-to-be-closed Bloglines account and taking Halloween costume requests. My niece even gave me a hand drawn design to follow for her costume...

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I realised that I never got around to showing last year's costumes, though. That was the year that I shamelessly used my subtle powers of persuasion to steer my kids towards something that required very little work on my part.

So, a thief and a policewoman it was. For the thief we already had a stripey shirt, dark trousers and hat, so all that I needed to make was the mask. As for the policewoman, we already had the trousers, pretend police badge, toy handcuffs etc. and the shirt was one of her brother's old ones. All I did was sew a patch on the sleeves. Easy-peasy.

I used an iron-on transfer and some cheap cotton to make a swag bag and evidence bag for them to collect their treats in. I don't think that anyone noticed the bags, but it did make me feel slightly less lazy...

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Translation of the day:

UK English: nick = to steal in US English

UK English: nick = to arrest in US English

UK English: nick = a prison or police station in US English

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So, if you nick something you might be nicked and end up in the nick. Got that?

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UK English: it's a fair cop = light-hearted way to admit that you were caught doing something wrong

UK English: old bill / bobbies / constables / the filth / peelers / the plod / rashers / rozzers = the police in US English.

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nb. I should probably mention that some of these terms are less complimentary than others...

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My son had to write a piece about Halloween for school this week and he mentioned my making a costume for him as if it was a given - that he had not even considered it being any other way. It's funny how each year I think that it will probably be the last year before they start asking for store-bought costumes like their friends have, yet each year they prove me wrong. When one of my son's friends showed up in one of those muscled Batman suits, I was sure that my son would look at the Batman suit that I made him with complete disdain, but he loved it. Still does, actually - I keep catching him squeezing into it every now and again...

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Ok, I had better run: it's probably about time that I got started on this year's costumes...