The Sewing Mojo

My sewing machine that, up until a few days ago, had been collecting dust in the corner of our bedroom is now sitting there feeling quite chuffed with itself. Over the past couple of days it has had the opportunity to blow out the cobwebs and reacquaint itself with fabric and thread.

I don't know why. I don't know how. But I believe I have got my Sewing Mojo back.

I have been itching to have the opportunity and time to settle myself down in front of my sewing machine and create something. Anything. But neither the opportunity nor the time has presented itself to me.

Until 2 days ago.

It was 2 days ago that I realised that I didn't have any more long-sleeve shirts for Beni to wear - they were all in the wash. All of them being a grand total of THREE...
The thought of going out and buying some more cheap long-sleeve shirts flitted across my mind, but then I remembered the "Tight-As-A-Tight-Thing" budget we are currently on and that idea quickly evaporated.

I was then struck by this brain-wave: "I can make Beni some tops!".

And so... I did.

I have recently discovered some very cool sewing/knitting blogs that I drool over as I read about their crafting endeavours. I have particularly been inspired by Dana at Made and decided to burn the midnight oil and give my sewing machine some love (and also because Beni needed something to wear the next day!...)

So I rummaged through Austin's t-shirt drawer (bitterly regretting recently making him throw away all the old t-shirts he hadn't worn in years) and I found a few t-shirts that I knew he wouldn't mind me cutting up...

Out came the pen and paper to draw up a pattern.
Out came the scissors - Bruce Springstein has had a face-lift...

From this

 To this.

And I was so pleased with the result that I made another one last night.
I'm feeling well chuffed I am!

What I love about sewing is that you can start and finish a project all within the space of a couple of hours (generally) whereas a knitting project takes... well, a bit longer... (I still haven't finished Luca's winter jersey I was making for him last year!...)

Austin came home today with a small pile of Tour t-shirts that he had lying around in his office. So look out family - it's a Thrifty Christmas again this year and I have just discovered a new hobby - refashioning old t-shirts!

Watch this space.

It's all about who you know

Or in my case, who you are married to.

Once again my amazing husband was able to organise free tickets to treat his wife and many friends to another weekend of music in Hyde Park. I was even able to get an 'artist' wristband (and pretend that I was in a band...) so I could take the young'uns into the Artist Area to where Austin's office was. The main highlight of which - apart from the star-spotting - was being able to use the toilets in the artist area. Although they were still porta-loos they were incredibly clean with nice handcream.
And no queues.
Always a bonus.

The only downside to this is that I have now tasted festival 'First Class' and will no longer be happy to rough it in 'Economy' like the rest of the real world...

The month of music festivals has finally come to a close and I now have my husband back. Hooray!
It's been an exciting time but also an incredibly exhausting time. It's hard core being a rock and roll mamma while still having to function as a stay at home mamma the following day! Poor me.

P!nk was on Friday night - oh my goodness I love her! Man she can sing and puts on a great show - lots of acrobatic moves and flying out over the crowd on a high-wire and jumping around wearing a sparkley leotard...
I would too if I had buns of steal like hers.

Jay-Z was on Sunday night which unfortunately brought in a totally different crowd than had been there on the days before. Younger I guess you could call them.
Made me feel old.
I was so not into that.
And I kept hearing the same comment "Why would you bring your children here?"
Hmph.
Because I can okay?!
*Sniff, flick hair over shoulder and put nose in air*

So while there was plenty to keep the little people occupied at the festival from the afternoons into the evenings...

 Car Spotting on the way to Hyde Park.

Ferrari AND a Lamborghini parked right beside each other = Luca Heaven (Beni wasn't bovered...)

 ...can I just mention again what super-duper children we have that are able to sleep anywhere, anytime, anyhow.

Beni sleeping during Jay-Z concert. As you do.

And OH. MY. GOODNESS. My husband certainly pulled out all the stops this year and managed to score a wee horde of freebies for his wife and children.

**Look away now if you are a 'Freebie Hoe' as the following pictures could be quite distressing for you**

Ugg Boots (oh I know!!)
Pearl Jam T-shirt yussss.
Pretty much a year's supply of Bed Head hair products - including 'dumb blonde' texture and shine for Luca's locks. HA!
A pair of 'Kickers' shoes for Beni.
8 cans of sugar-free Red Bull. Dude, that stuff is my drug at the moment. Don't mock it till you try it.

Unfortunately it's too hot for Beni and I to wear our new shoes but there will be plenty of opportunities come October I'm sure! But I'm certainly not wishing away this summer weather, it has been amazing!

So, Big Ups to the husband for all the sweet deals he did for his family and friends.
It really is all about who you know and being in the right place at the right time.
They basically begged him to take the Ugg Boots on the last day so it was one less box to pack up.
My husband done good. He done real good!