October Plans

 Hello everyone I hope you are all well. This past weekend I attended the Minerva Pop up shop in Manchester and was there all day. If you were there too you may have spoken with me, I met lots of lovely people who love sewing and it was such a nice atmosphere. Now that it is all over I may keep adding in a few of the recent makes I did for it as I was uncertain about sharing before the event.  I also have a few things to make for myself now that the rush is over. 

Unfortunately one of the things i had planned I put in my order for on Sunday then today recieved a message that there wasn't enough fabric left so I have had to cancel the whole order as it contained matching thread, buttons zip etc which were no good without the fabric, also sadly it cannot be reordered.  It was a lovely dusky pink twill for some cargo trousers, oh well I will have to choose another shade.

I have just finished reading Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue, the story was very engaging and she writes very well but I have to say a bit vivid in places! I am always interested in books that are based on real life people or historic events. As we are in the Autumn now I feel the need for some spooky reading so I will choose later which book to start next.

This week is a slightly slower pace as I am waiting on some work, I do however have a bag to make for my friend which is almost complete.  I have been working on it all morning while listening to a podcast, now I can't normally do that when I am filming.

October has a few plans ahead, we don't normally have very much going on but this month we have a birthday, an anniversary, a meal out with family, a meet up with friends and a trip to the ballet at Buxton planned.  That is a very busy month for me, I think I am very much a close to home person and I have accepted that is ok as we are not all the same.

Here are a few recent makes, some of these are actually for me and a couple were event pieces at the bottom.  First up is the croissant bag that I spoke of in a recent post, I opted to make it in a leftover pieces of cotton sateen, I backed it in linen, lined it in lining fabric and also did a youtube for it here is the link I haven't used it yet but as we are out  for a meal soon I will use it then.

So the bag was from Burda September as was this next make, and this is a zip through top also in leftover fabric but this time a vsicose jersey.  I am making the most of all these bits I have left. 

A very easy top that I have worn twice already as it is so comfy, I had to do the sleeves in two sections as in scrap busting there wasn't enough fabric to cut them all in on piece.

For the event I made two more coats recently, the named Isla trench coat...

This was a very time hungry make, I had thought I may make one for me but realistally I am thinking when would I wear this, unless I modify and make it a short version so perhaps I will do that.

Then I made the kelly anorak...

I had to save a frame from a video here as I can't find my still images of it, my son took a fancy to this as I think it is quite neutral. 

So that is all for now as the dogs need walking, enjoy your sewing whatever you are making this week and I'll be back soon. Take care.

Spring start

 Hello everyone I hope you are all well. It is starting to get a little brighter now so that is really lifting my energy, I think I slow down a little during the darker months no matter how I try to avoid it.  It is as though I am solar powered, not a great way to be living in rainy England but I suppose we all have our favourite seasons.  

The garden is bursting into life and every day I spot something new appearing through the soil, I have put in a few seeds but I never hold out much hope for the ones I plant straight into the soil as the ones started in the greenhouse always do better.  This is strange as the things that self seed manage perfectly well don't they? So that is ever a mystery to me, it is bound to be me that is doing something wrong.

We have just taken delivery of a rather large dog cart to pull Bonnie one of our older dogs around in on holiday, we always take our dogs with us and she can't walk far now but we of course wnat to be able to go on  long walks.  This is mainly what we do on holiday, so the cart is big enough to take her and her brother, there are harnesses inside it too.  Then we can let them get out and have an explore for a little while then get back in when they have had enough.  I will let you know how we get on with it.

Last month I made a blouse for #sewfrugal23 from a pattern company I have not used before, Maison Fauve.  Sam at #frugalisama shared this company as they had a free pattern to print off so I thought I would give that a go.  The sizing I found really good although next time I will lengthen the arms as they need to be longer on me.  It has a nice effect with the panel details and also looks good in three different fabrics, a good one for stash busting.  It is called La Blouse Tribeca.

I used gifted fabric from the stash I was given by the lady whose mother recently passed away, the navy is a cotton lawn from John Lewis and I am not sure of the pink a crepe I think.

I really enjoyed seeing all the things that other people had made too by using up their stash and all the free patterns that are available. 

 We went for a meal at a favourite restaurant last week in the evening, so I took this opprtinity to wear my new blouse. I have to say I did not enjoy the meal.  I think the sparkle may have worn off this particular place, we don't go out often and it is not cheap so you want to at least love what you eat.

While on the subject of food, my husband ordered me a food mixer a few weeks ago.  It looked lovely and was pretty shade of mint green too.  However as I had expalined to him I have never had one as my GF baking is not to be over worked, it was also very large and our worktop space is limited so we sent it back. I felt a bit ungrateful but there is no point spending money on things you won't use and that take up lots of space.  He understands, I could really do with a nice mixing bowl and jug  as mine are old and plastic. 

 This is a dog I made for a recent work project, I am very pleased with it although a lot of people have thought it a bunny.  There is a bunny on the pattern but this one is a dog, very easy to make too.

This was a very lovely carrot cake I made last week, gf and vegan of course I don't use a recipe as such for this it is rather my own version and I always sort of wing it a bit depending on if I have to sub a few ingredients it never lasts long.   This week I made a lemon cake.

My husband very kindly got the glass out of the oven door so it could have a good clean and I can now see what is going on in the oven again.

This was my lunch yesterday, I made a pink potato salad with some oven roasted chickpeas in maple syrup and chilli.  The crackers are nairns Gf seeded they are definitely some of the better ones.  I am trying to make sure I eat at lunch time as I work from home I often don't and I don't think that helps with my energy levels.

While we were shopping the other day I was looking for a bunch of flowers for my table and found these gorgeous tulips reduced to 75p a bunch so I bought two.  They looked as good as the regular priced ones, in fact the others were very overpriced.  I am thrilled with them, someone said put 2p in the vases so I have done.  It is supposed to keep them upright longer.

The downside is the water discolours straight away from the coin.

In other sewing news I have made a few bags using patchwork in a bid to use up my fabric scraps, I am going for more of a tote bag as these do not require all the various fittings my handbags do.  It is proving a good way to use them up, fun and if they don't sell I will have the most glamorous collection of shopping bags.

They are lined inside to make them more sturdy.

I have been keeping up with my reading and have actually really enjoyed the last few books, most recently I have read 'Educated' by Tara Westover.  This was shocking in places but also very inspiring in terms of perseverence and well worth a look, it is a memoir.   The Lamp Lighters by Emma Stonex was last weeks book and again I really enjoyed this, there were things about lighthouses and how they used to be that I had not really considered and the story is very descriptive.  The Family Upstairs was another good one, now I picked this one up in a charity shop when out with friends and I am glad I did.  My friend had heard of it so that encouraged me to buy it.  I have been keeping track of them all by posting them on instagram each week so if you want to follow me there you can @sewingreenlady.

Well that is all for today, have a lovely week and enjoy the beginning of spring.  (if you are on this side of the world that is;)

The Megan Dress

 Hello everyone I hope you are having a restful weekend.  I have had a good week, yesterday I made the Megan Dress from the the Love at first stitch book that I got from the library.  I am currently working through it and making videos for that on each item so I will link that below if you want to take a look.  If you do can you please subscribe and leave a comment as it is like a drop in the ocean being on there and I don't know how you ever get seen! 

Anyway I enjoyed making the dress and I used fabric that I bought a while ago as a treat but have not used because I was saving it until I knew what I wanted to do with it.  So this dress was on my mind but I only had 1 meter.  Well the fabric suggestions always state too much don't they so I got out the fabric and faffed about with the pieces until they fit and hey presto they did!  I was very pleased about that and I think the simple style of the dress goes well with the patterned fabric. 

A few adjustments that I did make were...

• Altering the shoulder as things tend to stand up on my small shoulders so I have taken a cm out of each side.
• I used a regular zip then topstitched down each side to hide it. (I like to use what I have in. )
• The hem is finished with bias binding as I had to cut the length  a fraction smaller to fit the pieces on the 1 meter of fabric, binding the hem means it still has a good hem on the inside.
• The sleeves are also about a cm shorter but that is not much is it?

So I would recommend making this dress it is easy to follow and if you are not sure just watch my video 😊  as I go through it with you step by step. 

                                                   Sew along video for the Megan Dress

We also had a night away in our caravan last weekend, I did think it was a bit much going for one night with all the stuff and getting the caravan off the drive but it went smoothly the weather was lovely and it actually made the weekend seem longer!  We went to Carsington water, we have been there before when our boys were young twice and it is lovely, plus it is just about 1 hour 20 minutes away so not too bad for a quick get away.  We did the walk and it felt longer than it use to, we must be getting on.  Lots of families with children refusing to go any further, hah, that brought back memories.   Here are a few photos...

How glorious is that sky?  You don't have to go far to see such beautiful places.

Lots of lambs in the fields too and that is always lovely to see.

Of course I have to pop in a picture of our little orange holiday home. 

We didn't bother with the awning as it was just for the night, as it was dry this ok.  Sometimes it is better to have the awning up if it is wet so you can store things out there in it but the weather was gorgeous.

There was a bit of bag making at the beginning of the week too here is the latest one...

Find my etsy shop here

Well that is all for now have a super week and take care. 

Sewing this and that

 Hello, we have been having a few more brighter days so the weather has definitley improved from the dark dreary days of a few weeks ago.  My daily walks have been bright but cold, I hope it has been as nice where you are.

I have got into a little pattern of going straight to my room to do my sewing every day, editing my listings on Etsy and writing everything down so that I don't forget.  I have started making brooches this week and I am enjoying doing that as it is a great way to use every last bit of fabric and mix all the colourful bits together.  Here a re a few few of those below...

Fortunately I had some card with butterflies on with my card making supplies they are just right to mount them on.  I may run out quite quickly though as there were only a few sheets I will have to create something else myself. They are about 15cm at the longest point so they are not a small thing. 

We have been watching Ozark this week and as we watch an episode every evening we are all caught up with that now.  I sometimes wonder if it was a better idea when we had to wait for the next episode a week as now we just watch things all in one week.

I made another Windmill cushion and a little lesson to go with it, if it is not required I will post it on one of my own areas such as here or YouTube.   

I have a few of these as I love making them they are such a good way to use up fabrics and make something pretty and useful.

In bag making here is todays make...

                                                                               Etsy Shop

Also watching more of The Last Homely House on YouTube, I mentioned this in my last post and Kate is such an industrious, creative lady, full of ideas and very easy to watch so if you love watching craft videos go and have a look.  I have it on in the kitchen sometimes while I am chopping veg and prepairing the evening meal it is like having a friend in the kitchen with you while you cook. 

Well I need to get on with more sewing now as I usually get back to it after tea for an hour or so, I hope you are having a good week and looking after yourselves. 

Week Three

 Hello everyone, well I began the week with a broken tooth/filling! I wasn't even eating anything hard oh dear, hopefully I am not falling to bits.  I managed to get in the dentist  Wednesday so that is all fixed, she was able to just redo the side of it without any need for numbing, I think that is always the worst bit so at least I was spared that. So possibly I will be eating very carefully around that tooth now for ever more, or at least until I forget. 

I have been watching some lovely videos on youtube at The last Homely House if you have never seen any of these go and have a look she makes the most amazing quilts and does all kinds of crafting plus she is a lovely lady to listen to and chats about all sorts, like listening to a friend. 

Tuesday I thought I had discovered the best ever GF Wraps and had two for lunch, only to find I had the most horrendous stomach ache for the rest of the day and all night.  After looking at the packet I noticed Xanthan gum!  Well that will teach me not to look, I had to throw this away when I had some as it plays havoc with me and unfortunatley most Gf recipes for bread have it listed.  That is why I bought some a few years ago but I soon got rid of it, it is tricky though as they sneak it in all sorts,  that and certain preservatives or artificial sweeteners they are another trigger, I know I think I just wont eat!  Bananas are good I'm ok with those 😀

Keeping up with the list making but I have noticed one thing I had one item that got moved three days running! Perhaps because I do put rarher a lot on these lists and also because I sometimes underestimate just how long things take. So my soloution to this is the item has gone to the top of todays list and it is the first thing I am doing this morning. 

Yesterday I made a bag that I am not sure I can part with, well I have listed it in my Etsy shop however I keep looking at it, it is so colourful and the flower turned out so well.  Some of my gifted  recycled fabric here, plus lots of odd bits.  This was one of the jobs I mean where I allocated time then it took twice as long, mainly because I was experimenting with the fabrics and colours then putting it all together.

Etsy shop here

I do a number of layers of fabric between the lining and the outer fabric so they are very stable, all recycled and a zip on this one also recycled.

Today on the list is to take some declutter to the charity shop, I have a confession to make I did buy three books last week from the charity shop, so this may sound like it is defeating the object of decluttering. However I am looking at it like this I am making sure  more goes out than comes in so that way I stay on top and I don't buy books every week it is just if I see them plus it supports the charity shop too. 

Here are the ones I picked up...

The one on the end is by the same author as The Mercies which I have just read and really enjoyed so I thought I would give that a go. The middle one was up on a shelf and just caught my eye, The travelling Cat Chronicles just looked a bit different. Waterstones eat your heart out ha ha. 

Well I am off now to get on with todays list, have a lovely weekend where ever you are. 

January...ing

 Here we are halfway through the month already so I thought it was time for an 'ing' post.  I am loving the month so far and trying my best to stay on track with all the things I want to do. How are things where you are?  Is the new year treating you well? I'll get on with it then...

Planning a couple of trips away in our caravan, so we are in a group on Facebook for people who own T@B caravans like ours and the good thing about that is that everyone ahres all the lovely sites they are on and pictures too.  So you get reviews on where is good to go,  I had spotted one site last year that someone had shared and we have got in touch and will be having a  weekend away at the same site.  It is not for a few months so I will share that at the time. Another one we booked is a place we visited last year while in the lake district,  we were not actually staying there but loved the place it is called Grangeover sands so we have booked a site near there too that one is for a week.  

Walking daily, I have always walked a lot because I have dogs but not always as far and as much as I'd like week days as the dark nights and being out all day affected when  I could do this.  Well now I am taking advantage of the weather at different times of the day and fitting what I do around that, it is much better and very good for the mood to be out in daylight in the winter.

Here is the glorious sky in the park yesterday, today we went early while everything was frozen, again beautiful but in a different way but no image as I didn't have my phone with me.  Many teenagers would gasp in horror at that statement!

Watching a few new things on the TV, so we have NOW occasionally, and other things based on offers my husband spots but not all the time.  Recently we have had these things so have had the option to watch a few things. Yellow Jackets has been good, a bit of a blast from the past with the music, we have loved the soundtrack to this series and it is worth a look.  We watched a film last night called The Tender Bar, based on a memoir, starring Ben Afleck and I really enjoyed that. I nned to find something else now, 9 in the evening is my sit down viewing time. 

Reading  The Dutch House, I have just started this and I am enjoying so far but it is early days I do hope it goes somewhere if you know what I mean.  The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People now I know I read this years ago but it doesn't hurt to reread some things and we are always different when we read stuff years later so it is on round two. 

Eating something different for breakfast each day in an attempt to trick my stomach, still not quite right so I though I would try and pin point the culprit that bothers me.  So far it is not working  so I guess I am just having a not so good month with this, I do get like this now and again then things settle down. This morning my husband came doen to find me making Gf fruit scones early as another option to have, he said it's like living with Mary Berry, ha ha not quite;)

Sorting through my fabric scraps still, the issue is where to put them all in a more orderely fashion,  I use them for my bags and I am quite hap hazard at creating with them so they are in lots of places.  I don't want things to be too pristine that I don't want to disturb them but I want some sort of sytem.  Keep working on it is my motto for this one.

Sewing all kinds of things this week, still not sure what I am allowed to share at this point from the video making projects so I am linking a few on the Minerva blog feed if you follow me there.

Then I made this Freya top and a video for youtube to go with it, please have a look and if you do could you like, subscribe and comment please that would be a big help.  The link is below

Freya Top, How to

Bag making, a few so far as you may have seen and here is the latest...

Find my bags here

The lovely pink upholstery fabric in two shades thank you to Jo at Three Stories High, a butterfly lining some striped canvas I have left from another project and a few craft cottons.  My messy approach to bag planning worked well here again.  A note here, this bag sold immediatley to a friend. 

So what are you all up to ? Please let me know in the comments I love to read them, take care and have a good weekend. 

Treat Yourself

 Hello week two of the new year and all is going well so far, I am keeping an eye out for objects to declutter and sticking to my daily lists they are really helping me.  I hope you are all keeping up with your good intentions.  I did  hear someone say the other day that January is the worst for motivation due to the gloom but we can only try to do what we can.

The meals have been looking a bit more intersting as I try new things from my books, also a few made up side dishes with potatoes.  We are having something I know we all like this evening and that is jackfruit with wraps and my special rice. I do have to add a bit of meat for my son as he is not meat free so I just cook him a portion in the oven and add it at the table.

Looking for little ways to reward yourself on a dark day is the wasy to go I think, there was this little chocolate bar in the cupboard that a friend bought me so I had that yesterday with a cup of Christmas tea ( I know it is not Christmas anymore but I can drink the tea!)  How do you treat yourself during the dark winter days?

I finished The Mercies, a few days ago and I have to say I loved this book, I do have another by the same author that I picked up in a charity shop but then realised it is a childrens book I will read that one now anyway as she writes very well. 

  So The Mercies is set in Vardo, a Norwegian Island in 1617 and during a storm forty fishermen drown during a terrible storm.  The book is about the women left behind and the actual event did happen, the  focus is on relationships, how they coped and the consequences of being strong women in a time when women were seen as something to be feared if they did not fit a certain mould or ideal of what a woman should be or do.  I love anything that has basis of truth to it and it always inspires me to look further into that part of history, the location and so on.  The author Kiran Millwood Hargrave, did a beautiful job of capturing the characters in the story, I hope you will  give this one a try if you are a reader.

Here is another little bag with various bits and think they go very well together if a little quirky ,but then I do like quirky.

Well enjoy the rest of the week and be well. 

Middle of the Week

 The middle of the week already, time passes so quickly I walked my dogs earlier and got caught in the school rush coming out.  We have a large secondary school near us and if you don't time it right you are faced with hundreds of teenagers walking towards you at once, somehow they don't know how to step to the side like we grown ups do  but remain in a block shoulder to shoulder.  It was a quick get out while my stomach is settled I will have to have a week on the FODMAP to get me back to normal as it feels like everything I eat I am at war with at the moment!

Here are  a few pics from my walk, as the sky was looking so lovely...

The dogs are  there charging ahead they have this little contest about how can be just a tad in front of the others at all times.  Still a very lovely winters day again today, I am making the most of every day despite my stomach trying sabotage things.

Here is the bag that I made up last night, Jo if you are reading you may recognise a couple of fabric bits.

The combination of offcuts worked well here again and the black fabric used to be a skirt. 

Every now and then I have the thought that I can't keep making all the bags different as I will not have enough variations but it has not happened so far and there are lots of different ways you can put fabric together.  My hudband said well they are the same shape and yes they are but I like to keep that bit simple and just play around with the fabrics I use or put on them.  The main thing is |I have fun doing it and hope the people who receive them enjoy them and appreciate that they are all different.

I will end with sharing this crepe top with you, very nice fabric to work with this one.  Ripple crepe from Minerva and burda pattern 6225. It hangs very well and was a pleasure to sew.

Have a super end to the week, and look after yourselves.

A Good Start

 The sun is shining and it is a beautiful day, what a good start to the year.  We have just been out with the dogs and came back to have a sandwich and some crisps.  The park was full so maybe everyone has the same idea to get out while the sun is shining.

As I don't eat regular bread I have used the last of my little gf rolls, so if anyone knows of a really quick little bread that can be made daily in small amounts please let me know.  I know how to make a full size gf loaf but it doesn't keep, it is only really good on the day and only me that eats it.  I buy the schar ones occasionally but they are so expensive for what you get so I need a really quick fix maybe something yeast free?  I had thought of adapting my scone recipe but there is plant spread in that so not so light as a bread, just a thought is thee such a thing as a scone bread?

Yesterday I finished my bag and listed that, I actually got all the photographs done only to find i had not added a label to the front.  As I have bought these bag labels they ought to be used so I handstitched one on and redid the photos again!  It is a good combination of colours this one, a bit of good news too when I got up this morning to see I had sold another bag, that always makes me happy.

First bag of the year this one, watch out for many more I do enjoy making them. 

 After lunch I have listed a few items on Ebay, I haven't done this for a while but thought I would give it a go.  They are clothes I don't wear anymore all in good condition back from the days of me buying in the next sale.  That was sometime ago as I make everything now but they are classic work wear styles so nothing that is out of fashion.  Step one for me of letting go of what I don't use, I look at them and they are nice but never wear them so someone else could be using them.

We have been watching Around The World in Eighty days and I am enjoying that, it is nice to see some easy to watch TV.  Also watching The Tourist, they do tend to start the new year with a bit of good viewing.

I have commented on the weather too soon as I have been typing this the sky has gone dark and it is now pouring.  We got out just at the right time. That is where my flexible plans for my days will come in handy, to get out while it's good and never put off a dog walk while the sky is blue. 

The tree came down this morning, it is always a little sad to say goodbye to Christmas.  Many people do leave their trimmings up a while yet but once it is new year we always tend to tidy them away for a fresh start.  It is just bare in the window without the twinkling lights.   We pop everything back in the loft in the same place each year so it is easy to find, the little counter top tree I had in the kitchen has been put in a bag with all the baubles still on it ready for next year.  Do you do the same or do you have a change each year?  I like to stick with the same decorations but if you like to mix things up I suppose you could do a swap with a friend or relative to save on waste. 

Have a lovely day everyone.