Mother's Day 2013 - you may call this a late post. A late LATE post.

Was 'ages' ago now but Mother's Day this year was a lovely one, bar the fact that MrL was at work on the other side of the country.

The girls spoilt me with gifts and after I cooked us breakfast (lol), the girls made me a tea party via the iPad.

Monet had suggested we go to Fatelli, a southern Italian inspired resturant down the Esplandade of our suburb.  We had booked a table, knowing it could get very busy.

We've only been there a handful of times and I find it very hard to go past their gnocchi.  Oh my.  It is not one made with potato, rather one made of ricotta and spinach.

The girls played hairdressers later on in the evening.  I was obviously the customer.

Happy Mother's Day.

:: I just found this unpublished post sitting in my drafts folder, figure I should post it - better late than never. ::

Fabric Labels

I cannot begin to tell you how rapt I was to get these fabric labels in the post.  

I recently discovered that a friend in Brisbane prints out labels for people like myself.  There are so many companies out there that do fabric labels but it is all very confusing when decided on all the elements.  With my friend it was straight down the line and she knew what I was after, including approximate sizing.

Now my lady sized skirts have a little tag on the side...

...and little girl skirts have my mark on the outer back of them.

I seriously could not be more pleased.

Chevron

I love colours, I always have.  Sure I might not always pull colours off when I wear them but I know with my skin tone and hair colour that bold colours can work on me, rather than pale.  I am also a girl who likes stripes and chevron patterns.  So when I spied this lovely Chevron fabric my friend was offering from her fabric store in Brisbane, I snapped it up.  

It's a safe, be seen kind of skirt.  I love it.

I had enough fabric remaining to make a girl-sized skirt, which worked out beautifully.  

It is still listed for sale so some lucky little girl (aged 7-8-9) will be the fortunate owner of this skirt some day.

Traveling The World In Skirts

I love the series of skirts I have made involving travel.  Many (many) moons ago (ahem, about 10 years ago), I vividly remember seeing this woman in Chapel Street (in Melbourne) wearing this gorgeous A-Line skirt which was covered in 'Dublin Doors'.  

(Thanks to Google Images)

(I'm always on the hunt for the same fabric so if anyone knows where I can purchase some, point me in the right direction can you?)  When I wear my 'London' skirt I think of the skirt that initially inspired me. 

I love wearing my 'I Love Paris' skirt.  It reminds me of the times we have visited previously.

I am yet to wear this skirt, 'New York, New York'.  I love it too, but I haven't ventured to that city (yet) and feel a little hypicritical if I was to wear it.

I too love this following skirt, but as I haven't visited NY, I feel I can't wear it.  Silly, I know, but I might actually make myself one in this fabric because it is striking.  (And I love anything a little different.)

I do wear this one, 'Return to Sender'.  I love me a bit of blue. =)

Mother's Day 2012

Hard to believe sometimes that these two little faces below belong to two little humans I helped make.  Weird.  

We had a pretty lovely day yesterday, celebrating Mother's Day.  MrL went and bought McDonald's for breakfast which I really appreciated.  (I usually cook us a breakfast every Sunday here in Australia and in Abu Dhabi I cooked breakfast every Friday.)

I did well with the Mother's Day present loot.  Perfume, a cook book and Monet chose well at the school Mother's Day stall.   She even gave me a present they had put together in her classroom.  "It's meant to be a joke Mum", Monet kept saying as I tried my hardest to compose myself and not cry.  lol.  (I spoke to a couple of other mothers at school today and they all said the same!)

Lunch time saw the four of go to one of my favourite spots in Cairns, to Mondo's.  There is something about this place I just enjoy.  I think the rest of Cairns thought the same with the number of people there!

Monet got a couple of comments from a couple of 20-something girls, who had taken their mother out for lunch.  I saw them looking at the four of us as we sat at the table next to them.  When they got up to leave about twenty minutes later, they came over to Monet and said that they seriously "loved" Monet's look, especially the frames.  "Keep wearing them, they are very, very cool and stylish..."  Such a giggle!  And then the mum piped in and said "Cool!" and gave Monet the big thumbs up.  Funny.

We wandered back to the car and enjoyed the stroll along the boardwalk and down towards the Lagoon.  The girls walked hand in hand and chatted away about such silly things, it made me smile.

A really nice Mother's Day.  2013 has big shoes to fill.

Scooting Around Town

I gave myself a day off from sewing today, but I wonder how long this will last... *heehee* I have had a rather unusual and busy week this week, which is always good, as the 'norm' can get repetitive, can't it?

I had my first 'Skirt showing/sales Party' yesterday.  My awesome buddy Nat, who works at an Embassy here in Abu Dhabi organised a gathering of female co-workers and invited me to bring in my skirts, so they too, could purchase skirts, like Nat does, off me.  (She was one of my first customers and owns four or five now...)  With all my skirts placed lovingly into two suitcases my assistant (let's call her Lily) and I drove into the Embassy for our 9:30am gathering.

So whilst my assistant Lily sat QUIETLY. ON. THE. COUCH. FOR. OVER. AN. HOUR. I chatted to 'clients' and helped them with sizing etc.,  A successful hour it was, with 14 sales and eight orders of skirts.  Not bad eh?

I really think I have stumbled across this 'skirt party' idea, as the majority of women like a decent length skirt but they are so hard to come by in this current trend and can't find any that are within budget, size and a bit out of the norm.  I had a lot of positive feedback from the women there, which was really encouraging.  My mate Nat, gets to chose a 'freebie' skirt in her size for organising the little shin-dig, but she's yet to choose.  She may be waiting for me to finish up on the 'Scooter' skirt...

Still Sewin'...

With my babysitter  (kidding!) Monet back at school, Lily and I are trying to get ourselves a new routine.  Sewing, in the last few days, hasn't happened as much as I'd like, as I've been busy catching up on 'stuff'.  But when I do find a spare moment I can be found in my little 'sweat shop' off our living area.  

The skirts I have made over the past week, I just love.  And it seems like I have quite a few fans and some new buyers out there too which is encouraging.  

I was a little unsure with the orange number, but after seeing that orange is actually 'in', I boldly wore it yesterday.  I didn't actually feel as bright as I thought I would.

Below is a pic of me wearing it, but I didn't wear with a blue top - I opted for black (typically...)

Today I made some more of 'A touch of Orange' skirts. I think it could be a new favourite.  (And I have already sold one of these ones!)

My aim for all my skirt sales was to purchase something special.  Of course I kept changing my mind.  We've been after some particular furniture pieces and when we spied on the noticeboard in our local supermarket, someone selling a side table, in a very similar stain to our dining table, I rang up, went around, purchased.  I quite love it.  (And quite proud that I paid for it with money I personally earned - it's been a while!)

But my main recent purchase, using cash from the biglittlesister skirts project, was this;  An iPad (with some help from MrL).

Sweet.

Mini Melody...

...in a biglittlesister skirt creation.

I wonder if you recognise (or remember) the skirt?

As my 'Bird in a cage' skirt was one of the original ones I had made, I found that the length was a little too short (instead of it being a hip number, it was always a bit of a waist number).

Monet has been banging on for weeks (and weeks) that she wanted me to make her a skirt after seeing me producing dozens of skirts for 'ladies', not little girls.  So with scissors and pins in hand I cut and pinned then sewed and you see the final result.  She was rapt!  I have made Monet a pattern now so any spare material can be made into a skirt for her.  She's already gained another, so I have another happy customer on the books.  =)

Buying the Shirt Off My Back...(sorry, I mean Skirt!)

My little business is 'booming' here in Abu Dhabi.  I haven't sold a lot like it might sound but in the past week alone, I have sold roughly eight, with five pending and I had previously sold about six before I started to let people know.   I'm pretty rapt with myself.  Considering I made up my own pattern and had help via an Aussie mate over here and my English next door neighbour in regards to sizing, I reckon I'm doing okay. 

My little sewing quarters is my sweat shop.  I do have aircon in there so that's always handy.  I can practically sew my skirt design with my eyes closed and find if I do a group of skirts of the same fabric at the same time, I feel like I achieve a lot more once they're all finished at the same time.  

I still love my little camel and have sold a couple of these skirts.  

What really set the ball rolling with my selling, is my next door neighbour returned the gate key we lent her when we were away (so she could use the pool).  I was wearing one of my skirts with the Eiffel Tower embellishment, when she stopped what she was saying and said how much she loved my skirt.  When I said I made it and then showed her my little stock pile of skirts she instantly bought one.  (Awesome neighbour hey?  She's bought another two in the meanwhile...)  She is also doing a little PR work for me (*heehee*) by wearing her skirts to where she's meeting other women and telling them to look me up.

Well today I finished sewing three skirts of this fabric below.... I call this skirt my Pop Face Skirt.  It isn't for everyone and yeah, it's bright, it's bold, but I just love it...

Maybe I should say, I loved it.

My hairdresser arrived this afternoon to cut my hair and instantly noticed my skirt and claimed at how much she loved it.  She had a look through my stock but was oohing and ahhing over the skirt I had on.  She tried on the other sizes of my remaining two Pop Face Skirts, but they didn't fit correctly.
"Would you like to try this one on?" I asked....
"Can I?" she said surprised...
It fitted perfectly.
"SOLD" we laughed.
She literally bought the shirt skirt off my back.  I am a good saleswoman.  =)

Guess I'll be off to buy more of the same fabric then.  I want one of those skirts again!  Busy, busy.

Sewing Quarters Update

With some help from MrL, Saturday saw us remove the bookshelf from my 'sewing room' (it's now in MrL's study room on the 3rd level!) which gave me a bit more extra space.  I have been very busy cutting and sewing my skirts and thinking of new ideas.  

I have had great feedback in regards to my 'Abu Dhabi' skirt, so I am hoping it'll be a hit once I have sewn a few more, ready to sell.  

As Miss Lily is usually downstairs with me, she's always in and out of the room, annoying me, being cute, hiding from her big sister, playing etc.,

My little sewing table with, with a few little nick-knacks.  Pretty sure my machine needs a service but I'll try and get my hands on some machine oil first and I'll take it from there.

Since MrL and I removed the bookcase from the room, I now have a clothes rail in there which helps me feel a bit more organised.  Once skirts are cut out they're placed into the correct 'nook', already to be sewn together, then hung (waiting for a buyer to come and purchase her - yes, my skirts are female.)

Here's my latest unveiling too - I know you've seen the skirt with the black camel, but not the black skirt with the tanned colour camel.  I posted this photo n FaceBook and some of my dearest and nearest gave me some ideas on possible having both block colours on the same skirt....  Well, perhaps watch this space. lol

You need a happy, clean, clear space to create.  I think I have found it. 

Production Line

It was 'production-line' central here today. Just a pity my two girls are too young to give mum a helping hand in putting the skirts together, but truth be told, I actually really enjoyed sewing, sewing, sewing.  It is a bit of 'me' time and a good outlet for me.

I whipped up three skirts, all in the same fabric, two size Large, one size Small (though still need to make myself a Medium size pattern, but all in due time!)

I actually found it easy to do the three skirts all in a row - doing side after side, zip after zip, hem after hem.  Very satisfying and did not take me as long as one might expect.  Here is one (of the three) finished skirts, now waiting for an owner.

MrL deemed it 'bright', so did Monet, but I love it.  Just as well one of the skirts were for me. *wink wink*

June 29, 1996

2 people.
12 house moves.
1 interstate move.
1 international move.
15 car changes (approximately).
4 London trips.
1 apartment purchase.
(Too many to count), joyous moments.
2 beautiful daughters.
15 years together, today, June 29, 2011.

Happy 15th year together Lyndon.

xx

Oh My Gourd

So I found that without the Internet last week I found that I *ahem* had a lot of free time after cleaning/tidying/sprucing the house. I sewed, what seemed like, a mountain of skirts. Not quite Mount Everest, more like ummm...a small hill.

I had an order from a friend for two skirts and I have a few other orders slowly coming in.  I'm way pleased.

Anyway, here is a sample of a few skirts I made for myself last week.

The first I quite like, though I do have to run it in a touch as it is a bit too roomy on my waist.  But this skirt was the first one where I have incorporated a side hand pocket, sewn on the inside.  It was much easier than I first imagined, as I do remember sewing pockets into shorts way back in high school when I was learning to sew.

Left, front ; Right, back

I'm still not too sure about the blue skirt below- a touch bright perhaps.  Still, it only cost me 10 dirham to make, so I not complain.  I do love my 'Oh My Gourd' skirt though, on the right.  Well, I think they're gourds - the jury is still out on that.  I'm sure my mum will like that one.

I also sewed myself a simple black skirt too.  I am beginning to not have them as flair-y as the the first one I made.  They're dead simple to make now and my sewing is getting neater and the zips are easy to put in.

With 11 weeks of school holidays on my doorstep at the end of next week, my plan is to start making them in allocated sizes. (Though actually finding what correct sizes are, are seriously anyones guess.  And guessing I will be! Lol.)

Fun, fun.

My Sewing Quarters

Since I have the sewing bug, I thought I better get myself properly organised.

My 'sewing room' is located on the bottom floor (we live in a villa which has 3 floor levels), which is an allocated maid's room. And since we don't hire a maid, the room is usually a 'junk room'. Not anymore. After an IKEA visit (to buy some shelving) and a killing of a nasty cockroach, here is the room I choose to sew in.

Little girl having a sticky beak herself!

My current sewing chair is a dining chair, which I plan on replacing soon (depending on skirt demand) with one that doesn't hurt my back so much.

We also house our bookshelf in this room, (hidden behind the door), along with the ironing board and vacuum cleaner.  This is also a little storage area behind a door, behind my sewing table.  And because it is a maid's room there is also a bathroom, but it currently serves as MrL's toolbox (meaning he keeps all of his tools in there like drills and the like.)

Gotta love IKEA for their divided containers and sharp scissors!

I've tried to organise my little set of shelves into some sewing co-ordination - clothing repairs and skirts ready to be sewn, all my knickknacks sorted into appropriate plastic containers, extra fabric, a coffee machine that never gets used anymore....

And here is my machine, a little dusty but well loved, now over 11 years old.  She does a good job and I love her.  Bit scared she may need a service in the near future and hoping there is someone over here in Abu Dhabi that can do the job.  (No doubt there is!)

My Janome One-Step Machine.  I still remember where I bought her, in Oakleigh, Melbourne. =)

So there you go, a little sticky-beak in to my sewing hive. =)

Free Birdie

Meanwhile, back in the house of biglittlesister, in the maid's quarters (a teeny tiny room), I've been busy sewing, sewing, sewing, in between the cooking, cleaning, blogging, looking after a 1 year year old and school drop off and pick ups of a certain 6 year old.

My latest skirt looks like this;

Top - front; Bottom - back

I can just about do sew them with my eyes closed but for fear of sewing across a finger, I don't.

Think I better start taking orders before I end up with a wardrobe overflowing with skirts of different colours and patterns....

OUT

I've gone and 'outed' myself on Facebook.  I've been toying with the idea for a while and thought I'd just bite the bullet.  Why not? *argh....what have I done????* ;p

So hopefully I have found myself some new readers.  (Hi to you if you are one of them!)

I know I'm not the world's most fabulous/witty/interesting/smartest writer or blogger out there, but I enjoy blogging, which is why I do it.  There have been many a times when I wanted to throw in the towel with this blog, but I love to reread times gone by, which is why I continue tapping away at the keys.

I now have a Facebook Fan page, come by and 'Like' me if you'd like! *heehee*  You can do so by clicking HERE.

Feel free to leave me comments here or over there.  It is easy to do.  If my own Mother can, I'm sure you can too!

Mookah Skirt

You may remember a few weeks back that I made my own skirt? Well at the same time, I ordered via the net a skirt made by my long time (school) friend, Leisa of Mookah fame, which is a business run by her and sister Nicole.

Anyway, yesterday my skirt arrived on my doorstep and I love it.

(I'm getting good at taking my own pics of skirts - NOT.)

The skirt is perfect for our current climate here in the UAE - made from a light grey fabric with a screen-printed flying bird and insect, A-Line with zippered waisted. I'm sure it will be a firm favourite and will be in high rotation in the months to come.

If you like it, I suggest you visit the Mookah online store, or drop by their blog page to see what projects the sisters are up too.

An Accomplishment

It's been a while, but I've been sewing again.

Finding nice fabrics on hand in Abu Dhabi is not an easy thing. Most materials you do come by are silk and flowery. I guess that's part of the reason why I like IKEA - there is a more nice choice of fabrics to choose, on hand, from than anywhere else.

So, I've been dreaming up a skirt design in my head for a while and today I put that design into practise. I do need more practising though.

The sewing is a bit shonky and it is something I would never show a professional sewer - they'd probably drop dead to the floor in shock. Also no zips on hand in this neck of the woods, so it was elastic for me (which I was fortunate to find!).

Here's me modelling the final product.

I'm no supermodel either, believe it or not.

I'm just wondering if it is one of many?