Threads of Indigo :: Planning Day

Before I sat down for some planning this morning, Papa took a quick photo of me in my comfy around-the-house, everyday clothes. Little Miss decided to strike a pose next to the orchard gate and called out “Come on, hurry up – I’m in position for my photo”. I squatted down to fix the neck and shoulders of her long sleeve tee she wears underneath (she’d dressed herself today – it’s never easy to get a long-sleever to sit well under a playsuit) and she chastised me “Leave me alone, I’m fine, I’m a farm girl don’t you know!”

I wanted this first ‘My Style’ post to be real and raw – a true representation of how you’d find me most days as I potter around our home and gardens. I figure since this space is new, it’ll introduce you to the real me a little more – the everyday Mumma; cooking, cleaning, carrying washing, feeding chickens and children. When we’re doing school, I really do try to always look presentable and have pride in how I look, without going over the top – I am my child’s teacher as well as parent and I don’t think I ever saw any of my teacher’s turn up at school in their trackies. Actually, on second thoughts I think my art teacher did on the odd occasion – but aside from that, on reflection, I know my teachers were always conscious of how they presented to us. They were after all modelling a respectable adult figure. Of course, comfort and practicality are still my driving motivators in these instances, but I am more conscious of how I present on these days. However when I’m sitting to plan, pottering in the gardens, cleaning the bathroom or having a relaxing time crafting – comfort definitely outweighs presentability. Chilli ever so graciously still comments “You look pretty today to do your planning Mumma” – oh the sweetness of a 6 year old.

I recently read and loved a post by Emily at The Beetle Shack in amongst one of her ‘wearing’ posts, where she was talking about her motivation behind starting Bohemian Traders, she said something along the lines of “I need easy access to my boobs” – I smiled and thought “I hear ya”… That, with comfort, are my two driving factors in wardrobe selecting. As a breast-feeding Mumma, I do need easy access to my boobs and Graham is always saying I have comfort issues. I wouldn’t call them comfort ‘issues’ so much as just being very particular about what I define as ‘comfy’. If I’m comfy and my boobs are easily accessible then I’m totally happy.

I also identified with Emily’s words somewhere in one of her posts about being through with the days of figure hugging and body defining clothes. Sure, I don’t like to look like I’m wearing a tent and a little bit of shape to the clothes I wear is nice, but let’s just say that my mid section is definitely not as trim as it once was, following growing and birthing two bubba’s as well as being a very busy homemaker. I do have plans to go sweat it out and tone up in a hot yoga studio one day in the near future – but for the minute my exercise is a little more low key; daily farm chores, pine forest walks and all the busyness that comes with running around tending a home.

Therefore long flowing garments are my new best friend. For comfort and practicality I like the loose lines of kaftan style tops. Paired with some organic leggings and a thermal base layer they make for perfect trans-seasonal practical wearing. And no matter what the season, I’ve normally got something draped around my neck. Thicker, cosier hemp and wool threads in the cooler seasons and lighter cotton or bamboo fibres in the warmer times. I feel naked without neckwear, even on the warmest days – and apart from that they not only offer layers for children to hide and play in, they also cover up any spots on tops telling the tale of yesterday – such as the few light drips of Zucchini and Broccoli Soup that I discovered on the front of this top once I was dressed and moving around today!

::Chilli’s playsuit was her boxing day sale splurge – her very first ‘Zimmerman’, she was super excited – I thought the pattern was just gorgeous and the playsuit is very practical for farm-life and play-days::

Without further ado – here’s my first ‘Threads of Indigo’ glimpse, from the inside-out. We only wear natural fibres in our family and wherever possible – organic clothing. I am extremely particular, especially about base layers, being organic.

• Organic cotton undergarments and leggings from Blessed Earth (The organic cotton clothing here, if you buy when they have sales on – which is often, is extremely affordable)
• Engel wool and silk thermal from Lana Bambini (my new favourite thermal wear supplier)
• Cotton kaftan ‘Lotus Pintucks’ from Tree of Life
• Mala Beads made by Smile Cabin on Etsy
• An old Tree of Life scarf that for years has been used as a table cloth and has scald marks to prove it!
• When my hair is freshly washed and loosely hanging to dry – there’s always a hair band at the ready around my wrist to tie my hair back or up for practicality. Little exploring hands love to pull and tug on long, loose hair. Ouch! Natural shampoo and conditioner from Southern Swan. I was using the no-poo mix for many years, but as my hair grew longer after cutting off my dreads, I found the no-poo mix just wasn’t effective anymore. My hair was like straw and I couldn’t get a comb through it. It was a nightmare. I’m really happy with the Rosemary Haircare range handmade by Kate and John at Southern Swan.
• And a band-aid! Can you believe it. I was embarrassed to realise I had a dirty, gross fabric strip on my finger when Graham took this picture! I told you it was real and raw! Yesterday when we were doing some cleaning up in a garden surrounding one of the wallaby ponds I went to pull out some old lomandra that had died back – Ouch! It cut surprisingly deep.
• There’s also still just enough warmth left in the Autumn sun for bare feet – to feel the Earth under my soles and connect to the ground before the season of heavy uggs and woollen socks engulfs us.

So tell me, what’s your comfy, practical staples in your wardrobe that are breast feeding mumma friendly? (I’m always on the look out for other people’s tried and tested garments)