tiny happy

Kia ora! 

These February days are feeling decidedly "late-summer" in nature (current rainstorm notwithstanding) but looking at this week's photos, mid-summer is still shining through. 

Here are a few more projects and snaps to share with you and hopefully bring a warm breeze through the screen!

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In the first photos, you can see a silk dress I sewed up at the end of last year. We had a wedding to attend in the new year, and I knew it would probably be a hit day – so I made a really loose-fitting and airy dress from a self-drafted pattern. The fabric from The Fabric Store is a sheer crinkled silk – tricky to sew with but lovely and light. I wore it over a black silk slip I sewed last year. My kind sister-in-law sent through the photo of me at the wedding – cheers Gemma!

I've also included faded hydrangeas spotted on a recent walk around the neighbourhood – they're so beautiful at this time of year – papery and almost hand-dyed looking. And a pic of some chocolate brownies I made from a new cookbook I bought Tom for Christmas. It's Nigel Slater's A Cook's Book – a beautiful read if you can find it at your local bookshop or library. The brownies themselves are delicious, especially the next day – you can find his popular recipe here. 

Despite having more than a few projects on the go already, I've cast on for a new cardigan – I'm going to make the Sky Cardi by Carrie Bostick Hoge (Ravelry link here), a pattern in Making magazine issue #5. I'm using Zealana Kiwi yarn which is a combo of merino, possum and cotton and I'm hoping the result will be a lightweight cardigan that will be super useful for work over dresses.

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Are you reading or listening to anything interesting at the moment? I'm enjoying reading Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell and My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout currently.

Through the headphones, I've loved listening to the sweet and soulful voice of Emma Donovan this past week – especially this song. And in the evenings, Tom and I have been watching Succession – dark and funny!

I hope this finds you very well and keeping safe and healthy.

Melissa X