Indoor Pursuits

1 Comment

Posted on December 14, 2020

We have experienced some wild weather (strong winds and heavy rain) over the past 48 hours but I have been happily ensconced indoors.

Our granddaughters have finished school for the year and are spending this week with us. I decided that it was a perfect opportunity do do some sewing for them. I had promised it some weeks ago but it is definitely easier when they are here and I am able to try garments on and fit as I go.

The first project was a pair of summer pyjamas for Miss13. I had previously begun the boxer shorts so it was a relatively simple matter of measuring and attaching the elastic. The elastic was salvaged from worn-out underwear when the elastic is as good as new. It is great to be able to re-use this resource.

I did not have a suitable pattern for the shirt so I turned to my collection of Enid Gilchrist pattern books which belonged to my mother. She used various patterns to make outfits for me and my siblings when we were young and in turn I used them for my daughters and granddaughters. Most of the patterns are for birth to 6 years, however, there is one book of outfits for girls which goes up to 12 year olds. I decided that a pattern for a blouse/shirt with numerous variations would be suitable and set about drafting a copy onto some salvaged heavy brown paper.

My piece of gifted fabric proved to be just enough for the pyjamas. Here is the shirt with mauve buttons which I found in my collection.

The recipient was happy to model them once they were finished.

I am now working on another top using the same basic pattern but with a different neckline and sleeve. I am using one of her existing tops as the template for the sleeve.

Stay tuned for more sewing projects.

Death and Destruction

3 Comments

Posted on May 5, 2015

No, it was not Nepal, Fiji or any of the other natural disasters that have happened all around the globe. This was in our own little corner of south-east Queensland.

For a couple of hours last Friday a small area, including where I live was hit by torrential rain and significant flooding. 5 people lost their lives as they tried to drive through flooded roads. Cars were washed away, people were stranded and public transport was disrupted. Our road was almost impassable in places due to driveways that had washed away leaving large rocks and piles of gravel on the road.

A retaining wall collapsed and at least one residence was inundated with mud and water that cascaded down the mountain with unprecedented speed and force. The lake which forms in our backyard formed and reached capacity within 2 hours whereas it usually takes a couple of days of steady rain to fill. The force of the water moved large concrete blocks several metres and washed our recycle bin from its regular position.

The next morning was perfect – blue sky and not a breath of wind. So strange.

Watching & Waiting

2 Comments

Posted on February 19, 2015

My apologies to all my readers, and especially those of you who are new here but I don’t have any new and exciting content tonight.

As the title says, we are watching and waiting as Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia inches towards the central Queensland coast. Even though we are about 650km south of where it is expected to cross the coast around 7am tomorrow, we are already feeling the effects of this system. The wind has gradually increased since midday and we have recorded over 90mm of rain in the past 15 hours.

The cyclone has rapidly increased in strength today to be rated as a Category 4 system and is expected to be a Category 5 with winds of up to almost 300km/hour by the time it reaches land. This presents a very real risk to life and property.