A Year of Sewing

 It is an odd start to the year but then I could be wrong and maybe this is just the new normal.  We have all been in school as it is open for key worker children so we are in as a full staff currently. Everyone is feeling a bit put out as lessons were planned and people were feeling ready for a fresh start, let us all hope this is the last push and we will see the back of this thing soon.

I put together a couple of photo grids last week of some of last years sewing makes, one of clothing for me and the other two of my bags.  Of course there was other sewing throughout the year in the form of cushions, accessories, alterations and a few other bits but just looking at my bags and clothes makes me realise I was more productive last year then I thought.

So I ran away with the bag making this year!

This next grid I made first so it has the watermark on the bottom and I have since discovered another way to do this without the writing across it.

We started the new year watching a new drama called the serpent, it was shockingly based on real events. After just a few days we have watched all of it so we now need something new for the dark evenings, any suggestions appreciated.

I have seen a beautiful pattern on the Dee Hardwick page, I looked on there after I made my hare dress in fabric by that designer.  I feel it is stunning but far too ambitious for me, having knitted in the past, it takes me a while and then if don't like the finished garment there is also the cost as materials are not cheap.  I know there are a few of you out there who could whip this up no problem, it is lovely...

So it is from a knitting book, here is the link to the page.

If any of you decide to try this I would love to see it completed, it deserves an accomplished knitter. That is all for today so take care and enjoy the rest of the week. 

 

Rainy Day Sewing

 A rainy day again! So time for a bit more sewing I have made up another Joni dress from the Tilly stretch book.  Of course I no longer have the book as it was a library book but I did trace off the pattern and I have used it a few times.  I like the shape at the top although it does look a bit weird when not being worn due to the twist.  My husband was not a fan of the fabric when it arrived as he says it looks like 70's curtains. How rude! ;)  I love it as the colours are incredible and I do love prints with wild colours and flowers.

No time to try it on as I was straight on to my next make of the day which is a vintage style satin skirt for my son's girlfriend, she loves this style of clothing. I made the pattern myself using her  measurements and a bit of tweaking from another pattern.  Of course she can't be here so I hope it fits ok when she eventually gets to try it on.  Under normal circumstances I would have her here to try on before it was fully finished but I have just had to go for it and finish up.   I am also waiting on the arrival of some red fabric to make her a vintage dress for Christmas but that is not here yet. It may have to be a late gift, I know the post is a bit crazy at the moment with all that is going on.

A few more bags made up this week, one of them with a winter scene and one with dogs...

I finished my book The Shadow of the Wind, it was ok but I won't be dashing to buy the next one, the cover said it will change your life and I think it exaggerated just a bit. All the way through I had a mild interest to see what would happen but nothing more.  It did not leave me eager to read the next chapter at any point and I had no real attachment to any of the characters, so that says it all really.  I picked up a few books in the Charity shop on Saturday and a few for my mum too.  It is hard picking them up for her as I don't know what she has read and I have to think what she will like as our tastes are very different.

A few days ago I started making bows from the envelopes as they are opened, these are to go on gifts and I do try to keep paper waste at a minimum from the wrapping and so on at this time of year.  I have some re-usuable boxes that we get out every year for our boys presents and they have been going since they were small! Not everything fits in these but I also keep all the gift bags that come our way too and use brown paper and trimmings. The metallic paper is the worse to recycle, so if any that can be removed carefully and used again it is best to do that. 

          These are really easy to do it is just strips of paper, any paper, magazine pages work too.

We have watched a really fun series on Netflix this week called Home for Christmas, it is a Norwegian series and this was series two we watched series one last year.  It is funny and worth a look while having the bonus of being a bit festive so maybe put it on your watch list for the coming weeks.

That is all for now, enjoy the week.

December...ing

 As December is well under way I thought it was maybe time for an 'ing' post, just one more week for us in School but out of School I am busy as ever and the weekends just never seem long.  Here goes...

Loving the children's attitudes in School at the moment as they have all been so amazing!  They came back after the summer with everything different and weird after being off for so long, they have taken to constant hand washing, being escorted for every toilet trip and segregated from the rest of the School and still carried on without complaint and lovely smiling faces every day.  I just wanted to say that first of all as I am sure it is the same every where, children are just so adaptable and brilliant.

Reading The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, this is set in Barcelona and the story revolves around a discovered book and its mysterious author. I started it ten days ago so this is slow going for me but it is one of those books you can't rush.  I am fluctuating at the moment between loving it and wondering come on where is this going?   So I will let you know my final thoughts  later.

Also enjoying Imagine a Forest, this is a book on folk art that I treat myself to and it has been inspiring some of my latest handbags.  I am using tips from the book and then adding my own twist, of course it is a bit different as I am creating in fabric so anything I make cannot be too fussy or it would take forever to stitch. 

Making a few bags this past week, as I mentioned I am enjoying the folk theme so this is what I have been working on.  First of all I am trying to get back into writing down what I do each day in a creative way and adding any ideas or doodles to that.  If I get down things on paper as they come to me I find I have more ideas for what to make and in effect I do more. Here are the last two bags...

 

I have still been making my regular bags too, these more recent ones take me more time to complete as ponder what to put where and there is a lot more stitching.  Here are a few of my others...

The difficulty at this time of year is always when to take the photographs, I don't seem to be able to get good daylight in the house even at weekends and in the week it is impossible as you leave in the dark and come home in the dark. Speaking if which...

Walking in the dark and in the rain, there has been plenty of that. Wiping down dogs constantly and cleaning boots.  We went to Chatsworth to see it lit up the other evening as we really wanted to do something a bit Christmasy.  You have to book a slot and ours was 5.30, it was raining and very cold but we wrapped up and went in good spirits.  Now I have been to Chatsworth twice this past year and loved it both times but this did not do it for me.  It was £30 for the three of us and the part that was lit up maybe took twenty minutes to walk around (slowly) you could explore the rest of the gardens if you wished but in the pitch black nobody was doing that of course.  If you had an earlier slot you could have made the most of the rest of the gardens and then just enjoyed the lit part just before you left.  So without sounding like a party pooper please do that if you go and get your slot while it is light.  Other wise the only way you can stay for very long is if you stand around in the lit parts drinking over priced mulled wine.  Here are some very dark shot of it anyway...

As you can see out camera was not up to the task of taking such dark images, the bits we saw were nice but with an hour trip there and back you can see my disappointment that it was such a short event.

We have seen some lovely lights in out local neighbourhood for free, and I would urge anyone with children to take them on a dark walk around your area at the moment to spot all the lovely house lights. These are in the local community garden near the park, they look lovely lit up but I thought I would show them in the daylight so you can actually see what I mean.

Baking chocolate cakes, I have got quite good at vegan gf chocolate cake now though it takes a slightly different theme every time I bake it.  This time it was Belgian dark chocolate, apple and coconut, I know it sounds odd but I just got all involved in it then realised I had no bananas!  So applesauce it was and of course there was coconut milk that needed using up, it all worked a treat and my son preferred it.

This evening I am making date, banana and cashew bars as I now have the bananas and these will keep in the fridge. No images as they are still baking.

Watching The crown still, we are on the final series now and only a few more episodes  to go it has really brought home just how little I know about the royal family.  I know it is a dramatization but all the facts at the end and who they are related to is just so interesting, I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I have.

Wondering what to make with the dress fabric I have bought and also my extra piece from Minerva, I have not been very inspired by the last few Burda magazines and I have two very pretty pieces that Don't want to cut until I am sure what to do.  I have also ordered a piece today to make a vintage style dress for my son's girlfriend for Christmas, that one is from Burda from the vintage edition.  She chose the pattern herself so I will have that to crack on with too. 

Shopping for a few bits for our sons today, we don't go mad here with the whole presents thing but we like to get our children something (well they are grown men now) and then they have money to do as they wish. We ventured out today to get them something to wrap up. 

Feeling very blessed that we are all safe and well, take care everyone and have a good week.

Busy Week

 Hello I hope everyone is having a good day, it has been a bit manic at work today I have to say it was just one of those days where you feel like you are rushing to catch up all day long. Home now and looking forward to my dinner! 

This week I have made a couple of bags and the first sold within minutes to one of my colleagues who is just flamingo crazy, it is this one here...

To be honest I did have her in mind when I saw the fabric in the shop, she just loves anything with flamingos on.  This is a  new faux leather that I have tried out and it is very soft, it comes in a few different shades so I think I will be be trying more of them in the future.  

The next bag I finished yesterday afternoon and it has a unicorn on each side, it is a Tula Pink fabric so a gorgeous vibrant print.  I really love this pattern but I think I need to be able to let them go when I make them!  This one has been listed on my Etsy shop.

It was a b it rubbish weather wise this weekend so we didn't manage to get out on the bikes but we have some exciting news...We are caravan owners once more, we had wanted a van conversion but after weeks of my husband going the through ideas, costs to run and the build cost it did not seem practical for us.  We went to the caravan show earlier   in the year and saw these amazing little tab caravans, so when one came up at the right price this weekend we snapped it up.   Here it is...

They are amazingly spacious inside, this one is a two berth.

We look forward to being able to get around in it and hopefully the restrictions will not last forever!

Well that is a quick round up of my week, I'm off now to  have my dinner and recharge ready for tomorrow, take care everyone.

 

Retro Sewing on a Rainy Day

A little bit of bag making today and I just loved this fabric as soon as I saw it when it arrived in my gift bag from Jo.  The colours are very 1970s I think and I decided to do a little bow design to keep it in that sort of same style, it was really fun to make with a bit of playing around with the bow to get it just the right size in the right spot.

I have used a number of fabrics on this one with three layers in the body, one of them being a waterproof piece as the outer body is not, there was only just a small amount of the black faux leather left so this has just been used as detail at the edges, underneath and on the strap.  Although I would have to say do we ever let our handbags get completely soaked, I think not but the extra layer gives a bit of protection from the damp.

I am happy with how this turned out and I may do other variations of this design, experimenting with where the bow can go and so on.

While I was making this I listened to a couple of videos about etsy, I say listened as it was just people talking so I didn't really need to look.  There were a few interesting tips but I am always left feeling very behind with the whole techy thing whenever I listen to this sort of stuff.  Everyone making these videos always seems so young and they have grown up  with IT as a first language while all us older people are still frantically peddling to catch up.  Or is that just me?

I also made a few more face masks for my friend and I will give those to her tomorrow at work, I really do not relish the idea of having to wear these things for any length of time. It can get very hot behind a mask.

People are making lots of these but I do find them rather boring to make, is because they are now a necessity and things like that are never as much fun?  I went to visit my mum earlier and she has an appointment next month so she will be needing some and my brother asked for some for his girlfriend so obviously I am not done yet.  I had better source some more elastic.

There are some lovely courgette flowers growing in the greenhouse and lots of buds on various plants, it would be nice to see the sun again although I do appreciate the gardens were in need of a good drink.  It is much more fun gardening when the sun is shining and you are not getting blown about, a few of the taller plants are starting to lean due to all the wind and just as they were getting stronger!  Lets hope this cool snap doesn't last long.

I have strarted a new book 'Things in Jars' by Jess Kidd it is nice to be reading something other than War and Peace after all these weeks and a nice change of pace.   I'm not fully into it yet as I have only just started it, I'll let you know if it is any good as the reviews were very mixed as they often are. 

That is all for now, take care. 

Sewing Plans

Today I have been back at work all day, I was in yesterday but only for the morning it is very different at the moment and I will be happy when things are back to normal as I am sure most people will be. When I got home I had another look through my Burda magazine which arrived a few days ago, I do like the look and the layout and I keep picking it up for another skim through.  I think it is the production and styling of it that is just not there in  some of the other sewing magazines.  Experience will tell how well I find the patterns but most people swear by this magazine so I have high hopes.

I have sat and made some plans of what I would like to make from this copy...

 

So first up is that jumpsuit on the front cover, I was in two minds to go for a  tropical print for that but I have followed the rules for once and looked at the fabric suggestions then I found a lovely coral fabric, I ordered that fabric an hour ago so I will have to wait now to make it.

As the fabric is ordered this one is a definite make coming up, after that I saw this little child's jacket that I would like to make for my friend's son possibly both her sons but the sizing doesn't go down far enough so I may have to see what I can do there.  The fabric is ordered for these too but I went for a print, it is styled for a girl in the image but it is a unisex jacket.

There were a couple of other things that caught my eye and one of them I may do as a refashion from a £1 maxi dress from a charity shop I bought a while ago.  It is a top with a ruffle, not always sure how I feeel about ruffles so it is maybe best to try it on some thrifted fabrc first.

There may be some problematic tan lines with that back though!

I will not bombard you with the other ideas just yet but there were a couple more, obviously there will not be time to make everything I like right now and of course I wouldn't spend that much. There were a couple of sales from my bags last week so I felt I could treat myself to some fabric this week.

My latest bag creation is this one...

This was an idea of using this sample so it would do both sides, I also used the red fabric from the shorts ( did you spot it Jo?)

One more thing before I go and it is a little photo of one of my plant babies starting to flower, there are a few that are getting  close now but his is the first of the year from all the seeds I planted.

Bye for now. 

Useful Scraps

Today has just flown by and I have been sewing as usual so maybe that was because I was enjoying myself so much, I had emptied out a scrap bag of fabric bits onto the table this morning and spent some time browsing that.  I don't always know what I will use until I have had a look through and thought about what else I have that might go with it.

There wasn't a very big piece of this strawberry thief fabric left so I have done each side of the bag a little different.  I took the scraps off, or a quick iron and they looked instantly more useable, then I paired them with denim from jeans, some strips of faux leather and recycled duvet sheeting for lining.

I spent so long pondering because I was trying different pieces next to the birds to see what would look good to border it.  It is not always what you initially think, as I certainly didn't have that turquoise in mind originally, I really like it together though.

Here is the other side...

This is what my table looked like and though these are all just little bits you will see them feature in something at some point in the future.

The bag has not been listed yet I may do that tomorrow, I do intend to make a dress tomorrow so  I will be using a whole piece of new fabric ooh!

For todays me made May 2020 day 26 I am wearing an old dress, it has become quite faded on the  black parts now but still wearable.  I often wear it in cooler months with a black top under it and tights so it has been very versatile.  It was made to my own pattern in skater  dress style.

We haven't been very far today one of my dogs has been a bit sick, I am not sure if he is just too hot so we stayed home and I tried to get him to just rest. I hope he picks up tomorrow he has been better this last few hours, or we will be visiting the vet.

That's it for now, take care.

Separates

Hello today for me made May 2020 day 25 (are we there yet??) I am wearing the bibi skirt and the frankie t shirt from the tilly stretch book that I made quite recently.  The good thing about this outfit is that because I used the same fabric on the piping of this skirt as the t shirt front I can wear these together.  I also made a sweatshirt to go with the skirt so when it is cold I can wear those as a set too. at the time it was a case of using up bits of fabric but it actually turned out well.

I do find with this skirt it is a bit of a wriggle to get on, the fabric had the correct amount of stretch I believe but I think I may still add a little concealed zip in one of the seams at the back just for ease.  I wouldn't want to spoil it pulling it on and off.

This morning I finished the  bag I started yesterday and here it is...

So this one is a mixture of recycled bits and bobs, the stag fabric was a bit that was left from when I made a friend of mine a blouse.  A lot of people throw all the bits of leftover fabric away but I never do that.  I also used a little of this a while ago to make a make up bag coupled with another fabric.
The denim is from recycled jeans and the lining is a recycled Paul Smith shirt.

After I had finished that and had a read outside I started another bag this time a bit of a wild design and again I love this one.  An appliquéd design on the front and more recycled denim and shirting.

 Now don't ask me what that is it just sort of took shape, I would say it is some kind of bloom probably because I had been out in the garden looking at the flowers.

My sons have been out playing basketball together again today as they did yesterday, if there is one thing that has come out of this period of being at home is that they have been spending some time together.  They have also been out riding their bikes recently a number of times, normally my oldest would often go straight to his girlfriend's from work so it is nice they have reconnected a bit now that they are older.

We watched a really good film last night based on true events, it is called The 15:17 to Paris I really enjoyed it if you have time it is really worth a look. There is also some real footage at the end of the film, it starts with an event unfolding on a train and then it goes back in time, I'll not give too much away I sometimes think that spoils the viweing.

Have a lovely week everyone.

Orla Kiely

There was a more enjoyable morning of sewing today as I made a bag and I really enjoy  making these. Just restful sewing, however my machine is making some very odd noises at the moment.  I do understand that it probably gets more use  and wear than a lot of machines as I am often forcing faux leather through it and it is only a domestic machine.  I think I will give it a good once over tomorrow to see what is going on.

Anyway here is todays creation...

Like this on one side.

Like this on the other, now this is Orla Kiely upholstery fabric and the print is too big for a handbag unless you are making a really big one. So I cut it down the middle and I like the half pattern look.

There is repurposed duvet fabric for the lining and a recycled denim pocket, I am already wondering what to make next.  The good news is I just sold one bag so I feel justified making another each time one sells.

Earlier today I had another  look at those dodgy shorts that I was working on and I feel that with a bit of tweaking (removing the ridiculous high waist and possibly putting in a proper waistband) they may look better.  I sent my friend a picture of me in them as she wanted to see, and have a laugh  and she agrees they would look better without the high waist. 

Today for me made May day 22 I have on a self drafted a-line skirt fully lined, and a self drafted v-neck t shirt. I watched a really good youtube when I made the t-shirt that shows you how to do a perfect v, it turned out much better than ones I have done in the past.

I went for a very windy walk earlier with the dogs and they ran around the field going mad, what is it with dogs and wind?  Although I have noticed it can also have a rather odd effect on children too. When I got back I made the discovery that the burda magazine I thought I had bought I had only bid on!  Honestly you would think I have never used ebay before, the thing is I was looking at buy it now ones so that must have thrown me off.  It went for £6.80, for a used magazine I don't think so you can buy it in the shops!   I have been looking at a subscription today and wondering whether to treat myself, not sure if it would be worth it as I make so many things without patterns, I think I just like the idea of a magazine treat each month to look forward to.   

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

An Old Favourite

Today has been quite busy, finishing up a bag and planning another, making a couple of face masks for my friend and sorting a few things on my laptop.  I can say I needn't have worried, my son sorted it out with the new part, restored everything and it is now running much faster.  It is difficult sometimes to remember they are now grown up and capable of so much, where does the time go? I was talking to grown up son earlier about something and he said 'do you want me to come and have a look?' I said no it is fine I'll sort it. Ha! what is going on there, how the tables turn, wasn't I just teaching him to tie his shoes and now here he is building computers.

For me made May day 13 I have on a favourite dress, again a number of years old but I love it.  Now I did find it is now a little tight across the chest, not too tight just so you can feel it.  If I gain even the slightest it will not fit  and that will be such a shame.  It is a self drafted, fitted shift with a satin lining and side zip.  I do tend to make things so they really fit but then that doesn't leave any room for slight gain or even a large lunch;)

Leggings with this one today as it has been so cold, when I took the dogs out it was paired with a big fleece and trainers.  Still no jeans this month, aren't I doing well I made a promise to wear this little lot this month and get through it I will!

I feel I ought to stress I do not spend a lot on clothes, and wearing all these outfits it might seem as if I do but no.  I keep my clothes a number of years, new ones I make are usually the result of fabric bought with birthday money.  I have a good eye for getting all sorts out of just one metre of fabric, recycling charity shop fabric when I can, and more recently this last year or so I have been fortunate to fabric test for Minerva  so that has provided me with some lovely fabrics to try out. One product that I got to test was a grab bag with lots of offcuts in it, I made all sorts from that  including a lovely little shirt and matching hat for my friends son, all completely free!

Yesterday I shared a bag make that was to be for me, well there has been a development and I have decided to list that one and keep the grey one I completed today.  The grey is more quirky and I like that with the brown more traditional. My husband said maybe list the one that is more suitable for sale, well that is hard to know as I liked them both but do people prefer unusual?   Anyway I rant on, I am keeping this grey one here...

 This grey faux leather is a bit different and I like the colour differences in it, I have used it on the reverse of the strap as I did on the brown one too.

After watching the one show last night and the talk of making face masks I thought I would make a couple as my friend has requested one, so she can have one to wear and one to wash.  I am not sure of the size so one is slightly larger.  They were just the basic pleated version as shown on the show but there was no real talk of how big.

They are double thickness, I had a bit of elastic but will need to order more so one has very slightly thicker elastics.  I have seen images of these all over the place but I am still holding out hope we won't have to wear them unless in really confined spaces. How sad if everyone was always covered by a mask we want to be safe but to never see people smile...

Take care.

Mending and Making

A quick  bit about todays  me made May first, another self drafted dress this time with set in sleeves the quick and easy elastic waist with ties and a lovely strawberry thief fabric ( not liberty but it looks like it).

I have seen fabric like this at twenty pounds a metre and more but this one was seven pounds a metre so much more affordable.  I would say where from but I can't remember, online I know that much.

My husband has walked down the back of his jeans, he does this a lot rather than have me turn them up when they are new he insists on wearing them too long until eventually there is a tatty bit at the back.  They had reached the point where they had to be sorted but due to the nature of the rip it didn't leave much to hem as you can see here I have had to cut up to the torn part and taper it a litte.  I had some other denim scraps so I have cut some thin strips that I joined to the hem to give me something to turn up.

After I stitched the strips on I overlocked them in navy and then turned the hem very close to the join.

Here it is on the right side and fortunately we have hardly lost much length just the amount that should have come off before they were ruined!

So that was one job done then there were a few holes that needed attention.  This style of denim is distressed but the trouble with that is they go through quickly on the faded shabby parts.

I patched them on the wrong side and then stitched on the right side too where the denim may fray out.

Here are the little holes on the right side, I don't quite get why it was distressed in this way to begin with just random bits on the back it is a bit odd.

My making for today was a new bag for myself, I have cut out two, one for me and one for my Etsy shop both different of course but using the same foxy fabric.  I decided to do this today as I keep collecting these little bits of fabric and then I am loath to part with them, so I thought I would do two styles and one is for me.  

So this is a gift to myself, it is a bit autumnal I know but I just loved the colours, the other one is almost finished and that one is grey with the fabric on the diagonal. 

What have you all been up to? Maybe a few have returned to work or managed to get out for a little longer in the fresh air.  Keep yourselves safe whatever you are doing, back soon.