Sunday, December 8, 2013

'TIS THE SEASON



'Tis the season...


to lighten up the house with Christmas cheer...


drag out the old decorations..


and pop out to a few parties.

I made a dress in a hurry this week - Vogue V8898 -


(setting aside some black linen lined pants I have struggled with for several weeks.  I remember now why I rarely make trousers)..


A slightly Grecian style dress, made with the last of the fabrics I bought in Emerald in July..


Assymetrical, it has pleats over the right shoulder falling into a draped sleeve, while the left side is sleeveless.

'Twas lovely to wear on a hot summer night in Brisbane, with bare legs and silver sandals...


We dined at Mondo Organics, and I tried pork belly for the first time (I rarely eat meat).  With a lovely apple on top.  Delicious!!


When my children were small, I made a Christmas wall-hanging for them.
Now, the baton has been passed and
it has made the journey to Canada.  Here it hangs - in the entry hall at our daughter's nest.  I hope it charms our grandchildren too.



Agapanthus are showing off...

Have a great week

XXXX



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31 comments:

  1. RosemaryDecember 8, 2013 at 5:40 AM

    Belly pork is delicious if cooked properly, and yours looks perfect.
    This year I said "I am not doing a Christmas tree" and H said "thats OK", but guess what I have spent the morning doing. I always give in finally.

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    1. PatriciaDecember 8, 2013 at 10:48 PM

      That pork was melt-in-the-mouth! I do hope you show us your Christmas tree Rosemary; I'm sure it is absolutely beautiful.

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  2. kristieinbcDecember 8, 2013 at 6:29 AM

    Your dress is beautiful - I love the colours! I'm sure your daughter's family will enjoy having the wall hanging, especially knowing it has been a part of your family's Christmas tradition. It has me thinking I should go through some of my Christmas things and see what I can pass along. :-)

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    1. PatriciaDecember 8, 2013 at 10:50 PM

      Thank you Kristie. I was surprised but delighted when Daughter expressed an interest in the hanging. She likes a bit of tradition too. Now you can plan to pass things to sweet little Lucy :)

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  3. BerylDecember 8, 2013 at 8:33 AM

    I love your wall hanging - it looks like a lot of work, so perfect that your daughter is enjoying it now. Must be a little like having you near at Christmas.

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    1. PatriciaDecember 8, 2013 at 10:51 PM

      Thanks Beryl, it took weeks, but I had a new machine at the time as was practising machine applique. The pattern came from one of the big four pattern books, and was easy to follow. It is nice to think part of 'me' is over there with the little family.

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  4. VallypeeDecember 8, 2013 at 1:28 PM

    Just a lovely selection of lovely things. I so enjoy your posts. The dress is particularly beautiful!

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    1. PatriciaDecember 8, 2013 at 10:52 PM

      Thanks Val, and I'm glad you like my dress. It is cool and easy to wear, so should enjoy itself a rather good Christmas this year!

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  5. Fifi December 8, 2013 at 2:24 PM

    Patricia how lovely is Mondo Organics! Definitely one of my favourite places to eat in Brisbane. Your meal looked delicious. Amazing how you made yourself a dress so quickly. Looks gorgeous and perfect for summer parties. Have a lovely Christmas xx

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    1. PatriciaDecember 8, 2013 at 10:53 PM

      Hi Fifi, and Happy Christmas to you, too. Mondo is the Best!! The only place in town where I leave feeling lighter and healthier than when I went in. That dress pattern was so quick and easy, I wish they were all like that. xx

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  6. greenthumbDecember 8, 2013 at 7:17 PM

    It's looking very festive at you house, love the look of your dress.

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    1. PatriciaDecember 8, 2013 at 10:54 PM

      Hi Greenthumb, we like a house which really goes all out with the Christmas cheer ... HB is in charge of the outside, and has the pretty lights up and twinkling. :)

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  7. Debra TurnerDecember 8, 2013 at 9:06 PM

    Patricia, I wish we could celibrate Christmas in such lovely summer weather. What a beautiful tree and Christmas decorations! Your Grecian dress and silver sandals will be a smash at all the holiday parties. (I will wear a favorite outfit to several events if I like it. If a dress is pretty, I don't mind if people see it again. :)

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    1. Debra TurnerDecember 8, 2013 at 9:08 PM

      "celebrate" - a typo.

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    2. PatriciaDecember 8, 2013 at 10:55 PM

      Hi Debra, summer Christmas is good, as long as there is not a heat-wave (which happens about 50% of the time!) Grecian dress is about to have a good social life in the next few weeks.

      Delete
  8. Michelle RidgwayDecember 8, 2013 at 10:03 PM

    Looking very festive at your nest! I love your new "frock"...you are very clever. How lovely to have such a special family treasure passed on to the next generation.

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    1. PatriciaDecember 9, 2013 at 1:51 AM

      Hi Michelle, I love an easy pattern, and V8898 was it! Was pleased how it turned out, thanks to the lovely fabric I found in Emerald. Passing family treasures to the next generation is my new hobby - he he

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  9. DarlaDecember 9, 2013 at 6:10 AM

    What an attractive and interesting dress. One of the benefits of sewing is having something different. I don't sew but my Mom used to and I loved having a dress no one else had.

    Looking like Christmas at your place.

    Darla

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    1. PatriciaDecember 9, 2013 at 12:38 PM

      Thank you Darla, that is exactly why I like to sew: to have something different from everyone else! Like you, I grew up with my mother making individual creations for her three daughters. We were spoilt for new fashion. Definitely looks like Christmas round here :))

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  10. sandaDecember 9, 2013 at 8:24 AM

    I love all your Christmas decorations, esp. the patchwork quilt/wall hanging in the Christmas wreath design. The dress is quite elegant! I have never tried pork belly at a restaurant but yours looks delicious!

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    1. PatriciaDecember 9, 2013 at 12:40 PM

      Thank you Sanda. I love the patchwork wreath too, which was made by a lovely friend years ago, and is always hung at Christmas-time. I felt quite elegant in the new dress. I think the ancients were onto something with their flowing robes!

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  11. metteDecember 9, 2013 at 10:19 AM

    Though our Christmas decos are super Spartan compared to yours, they suit your environment, the colors of your part of the world.
    A new dress, wishing I had even a tiny bit of your skills.

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    1. PatriciaDecember 9, 2013 at 12:42 PM

      Dear Mette, I am so glad you are still around, reading and commenting. Yes, we have a different style of Christmas here, perhaps due in part to bright light of summertime, and the strong colours of flowering trees at this time of year. I can sometimes run up a dress, but I'll never be able to ride an elegant horse!

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  12. Red Rose AlleyDecember 9, 2013 at 11:11 AM

    Patricia,
    I am in love with that dress! The Emerald is such a pretty color, and that's my birthstone, you know? It does look Grecian and I think that's why I like it so much, as I am part Greek myself. Your tree is so pretty with the colored balls.

    How nice that your wall hanging still hangs in your daughter's home. I can see you are getting into the Christmas spirit, Patrica, and that's nice to see.

    Love,
    ~Sheri

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    1. PatriciaDecember 9, 2013 at 12:45 PM

      Thank you Sheri, I think the emerald in the dress looks quite festive for the season. So you are part Greek, and if you agree that the dress is a bit Grecian, so it is :)) We are enjoying the transformation of our home into a Christmas cave for children and grandchildren. Happy times!!

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  13. Shane PollardDecember 9, 2013 at 11:33 AM

    You are such a whizz at sewing Patricia - I can't imagine cutting into a length of fabric any more - though I used to do all my own sewing way back!!!
    It looks very smart with the silver sandals!

    Christmas is a strange time without the family and grandchildren to share - I imagine much like yours - I just keep praying that one day they will be here with us again!
    Hugs
    Shane

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    1. PatriciaDecember 9, 2013 at 12:47 PM

      Hello Shane, For once, that dress came together very quickly, making up for some of the tricky projects over the year. It is strange to have family on the other side of the world, I know, and completely understand your prayers! We are lucky this year, because our Australian grandson will be here on Christmas Day - Yay!!! Hugs to you, too. P.

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  14. KhammanyDecember 11, 2013 at 8:10 PM

    The dress is gorgeous. I can only hope that one day I'll be half as good as you!

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    1. PatriciaDecember 11, 2013 at 8:51 PM

      Khammany, you are already a wonderful sewist. And you design your own lovely projects! Glad you like my dress, which is very cool and comfy.

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  15. Jenny WoolfDecember 17, 2013 at 12:40 AM

    That's a lovely summery Christmas tree. Strange for us to think of christmas in summer, but as a child I spent 2 or 3 years in Australia and ended up taking it for granted that Christmas could either be summer OR winter, depending on the whims of the grown ups! (or so I thought)

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    1. PatriciaDecember 17, 2013 at 1:46 AM

      Funny what children think, isn't it Jenny. When we are little it seems quite reasonable that the grown ups could choose the weather for Christmas!

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