Serendipitous wrong turns

Found a fantastic shop tucked away on Alma Road after I took a wrong turn on my way to see my sister.

I’m not sure who had more fun at Little Sparrow – me or Piaf.

After kvetching about our throwaway consumerist society, I staggered out with an armful of goodies. As Miz Steiner Shelley said, maybe to assuage my guilt, they will be turned into a few projects. So it seems I haven’t turned into a total Kim Kardashian.

There was so much handmade, wooden and woollen fantabulousness to pick up and look at. Picking up after Piaf wasn’t a hassle because every time I did, I’d see something hiding on a top shelf or at her eye level.

I also got the lowdown on the Steiner Stream at East Bentleigh Primary School. I wasn’t sure if, embedded in the mainstream system, it would be true to the Steiner philosophy.  Shelley – an Abbotsford veteran –  has heard it  works really well. I know from passing Rob Hudson’s electorate office down the road that they’re about to get a veggie garden, a la Stephanie.

So… back to the nest foragings at Little Sparrow. I found these buttons to go with this jacket:

This lay around for months, just waiting for me to attach the binding around the neck. It’s one of three jackets I made out of a workshop I went to last year  at Amitie, run by Trish, who doesn’t believe in detailed pattern instructions (because she doesn’t need them!) but graciously  allowed me to trace her patterns in different sizes to remake this at home.

It’s a bit fiddly to make  - like fabric origami – but very satisfying once you get it right. Many mistakes later – sewing sleeves shut, or sewing them together as one continuous sleeve (very useful, that!) –  I’ve written my own detailed instructions to keep the guesswork down in future.

I finished it this week, inspired by the fact that I’ve done about five Oliver & S popover sundresses, which have taught me a lot about attaching bias binding.

Here’s a close-up of the fabric, which came from Patchwork on Central.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t fit Piaf at all. She’s too long and skinny (definitely takes after her dad who looks like he’s been put through a pasta machine in his childhood photos). But I know that it does fit other kids who have some of that delicious baby plumpness.  I’ve redrafted the pattern to approximate her build, but haven’t tested it.

Next was The Big Gun birthday present for Piaf, who turns two in a few weeks:

Ages seven and up? You kidding me? …. the instrument itself is great. Tried it out, good sounds.

I got a kaleidoscope to round out the birthday package, which will also include these homemade goodies:

Then I got some felted bobbles – some for a birthday banner I’m making, and others just to have around, y’know?

And some chenille, which will be turned into cushions.

And lucky last…. some ribbon to go on an as yet to be thought through pinafore….

There were some amazing wooden chook sheds with felted chooks inside, built by two sisters. Piaf got a peek. And a toadstool house built by same. Made me gasp.

When it was time to leave, Piaf chucked a tantrum. In her shoes, I would’ve too.