Here we go again

It was the last day of term 3 yesterday, so that means that 2016 NZ Gymsports Nationals is here.
Tamsin qualified Aerobics ADP3 for Gymsports Manukau, and Rhythmic Grade IV Group for Auckland, so we're off to Invercargill tomorrow for the week for her to represent two regions in two codes, while I'll be judging Aerobics for every session except hers and Aerodance.
Rumour has it that Invercargill is booked out as 900+ gymnasts and the all the support crew descend on ILT Stadium.

Wish us luck!

Last one for luck

Finally, the "official" 2016 Ribbon Leo got made:

Tamsin has two ribbons: one white with purple and black, the other is black/aqua/purple, so this leo had to match both.

This was an experiment with one of the current European trends for gathered mesh on leos.  I might try it again, I'm not sure. As always, it needs more bling!

Tink wore it at Midlands Champs and National Secondary Schools to some nice comments. My favourite leo this year is still the orange glitter velvet, though.

one day in Te Awamutu

Spiralz of Hamilton hold their annual RG comp at the Te Awamutu Events Centre, a very nice venue and a competition we have always enjoyed.
As Tamsin is competing RG again, we made sure that she was entered (missing ZM3 AER to do so) and the lovely KP of Katherine Paton Photography was on hand to get some lovely shots:

Up In The Air

Action shot of Tink from the Aspire Qualifier/ Akl Secondary Schools competition earlier this month:

Photo courtesy of my lovely neighbour, Clare, 

who also made that amazing leo.

Just in Time

Jess coaches levels 1-3 for Xtreme Rhythmix and one of her girls needed a leotard for the Counties RG Invitational.  After a rummage in the stash, she chose:

Finished in time for Jess to take to the competition for her gymnast to wear.

Jess reported back that it looked great on Ella, and great on the floor - yay!

That same week (i.e. the week prior to the comp) I decided I really didn't like Red Zebra on Tink and that a new hoop leo was required.  Another rummage in the stash, where I pulled out the lycra I had intended to use before the red zebra fabric came home, I put together this:

Tink wore it on Saturday for L6 Hoop, where the substitute Evil Gym Moms (I was elsewhere judging AER) reported back that it looked good on her, good on the floor but showed a tad too much flesh... so a bit more applique and lots of bling required apparently!

Wonder if I'll get that done in time for Auckland Secondary Schools comp that is happening this Wednesday??

Hi-Vis for luck

After making the AER leo for Tamsin, Clare gave me back the fabric I'd bought for it. The piece of glitter orange velvet was big enough to make another leotard:

Definitely hi-vis! To be worn for her ballet medal test in early July (she wore it in class today to check with the teacher that it was ok) and probably as the new interim ribbon leo.
More bling to come: more rows on the back and all along the bottom edge of the skirt.

Procrastination in progress

I'm a procrastinator.  I have no stitching mojo at all right now and haven't had it for months, even though part of me does want to be finishing my many cross stitch WIPs and get started on all the lovely projects in my stash.
Being a slow stitcher does not help, as even when I do put some time into a project, I get so little done that it is discouraging.
Also, it is winter now, and I have very dry skin on my hands that no amount of moisturiser can counter.  This results in cracked skin, meaning holding a needle can be painful and awkward, never mind how much the thread can snag on my fingers.
My get up and make leotards mojo is also on the fritz.  Tink really needs a proper ribbon leo, I'm not happy with the hoop leo and her ball leo needs either more (lots more) bling or an alternative one made; I have 2 more leotards on order plus I need to make some more for stock since my last size 7 was sent to its new owner during the week.
As one excuse, my time is curtailed at the moment as with it being competition season every second weekend has us at either an AER comp or a rhythmic one (if not both!).  This takes up a lot of time and I'm finding it harder to get past them mentally, particularly if I was judging.  Oh yeah, I'm an AER judge - did I ever say?
As is so often the case with procrastinating, once actually started all is ok:  it feels good, progress is made etc etc, making the not starting (or going back to it) all the more frustrating.
Still, I did manage to get a leotard made over the last fortnight:

That I love this colour lycra helped to get this done!

For a very nice Howick gymnast, who liked it so much she wore it home :)

While waiting for inspiration...

Level 6 RG in NZ does 3 apparatus routines, with the rotation for 2016 being hoop, ball and ribbon.  The faithful and observant readers of this blog will now be saying: 'right, so where's the ribbon leo for Tink, then?'
Well, the fabric of choice is in the stash cupboard, but the ideas aren't bubbling up. It's purple glitter velvet and I'm kinda over doing things with velvet right now.
So, in the meantime, just so she has a leo to wear for ribbon until I get my act together, we have:

AXS, black lycra with two shades of purple applique + crystals.

Tink says it's so comfortable she has said not to bother with the 'real' ribbon leo, lol!

On a roll

Third finish for the weekend, from fabric purchased at Angel Fabrics on Saturday.  It just needs crystals to be added.

AXS, for ball (of which she has 3: fuschia, pink/orange glitter and neon orange)

Plus Doris Day music equals floral sundress - why not?

Leotard in a day!

From the stash, just cos I could.  Loving having mesh that matches the lycra.  Angel Fabrics has a really good range of mesh now.

Size 8 slim

Finally, one for Tink

Ten leotards made so far this year, and yet none of them were for Tamsin - and she is double coding this year!  That is, competing both aerobics and rhythmic.  Yes, she's back training competitive rhythmic after a year off doing rec trampoline.
So, surely she needs leotards you say?  Yes, yes she does - and very soon as the first aerobics comp AND the first rhythmic comp are in two weeks, on the same weekend (gah!).
While at Angel Fabrics recently, this fabric came home and is now her 2016 hoop leotard:

One down, ribbon and ball to go.

Her aerobics leotard this year will be a Leotard by Clare.

May the madness that is the comp season commence!

Catching up

Competition season is underway - trampoline have started already, whilst artistic, rhythmic and aerobics start in early May, which is suddenly very soon!

I've been a bit behind posting finished leos, so here's a catch up:

Red glitter velvet with gold digital lycra applique, size 6 - now in Tauranga.

3 colours of metallic mesh with purple lycra butt, size 11 - now in Tauranga.

Adult Small, purple/blue metallic mesh over purple lycra - now in Tauranga.

Adult Small, maroon glitter mesh over black mesh - now in Tauranga.

Size 6, ready for lots of crystals - now in Tauranga.

 Size 8+, blue digital lycra with gold digital lycra applique - now with a Nth Hbr gymnast.

It's been a busy few weeks!