Oddments Top

A little while ago the lovely Jo from Three stories High sent me some offcuts of fabric that she was clearing out for my bag making.  When they arrived I was looking at how they sat together in the bundle and thought I would like to make a top with them if possible and still save little bits for bags.  That idea has sat around in my head for a few weeks and today I got on with it.

The idea being that I would use some of the denim for the side panels and the white and black print for the centre.  I also wanted to use one of the floral fabrics for neck facing and a pocket.  I got the pieces cut out and then I wasn't sure I had picked the right fabric for the pocket.

I stared at it  for a while and then decided to use the other floral that was in the pack, a little darker but still with the right colours.  To be honest I think either would have worked but I had to make a decision.

I am really happy with it and I know i will wear it a lot, I used an existing t-shirt to cut around and just placed the fabrics underneath.  To make the facing show on the outside I simply stitched it the opposite way then topstitched it to the outside.

Now that I have the facing and pocket cut in the other colourway I may have to do another patch top using some of my other pieces.   I made  one similar to this in jerseys earlier in the year and that one is worn often with jeans.

A bag will follow at a later date Jo! This was quite early afternoon and the light was already fading as it has been such a gloomy day.

I did manage to snap a couple of images in the garden of things that made me smile this week, a few lovely flowers that are still coming into bloom this late on.  They are from a mixed  pack of seeds I planted earlier in the year they seen to have taken ages to come up but now they are adding colour as everything else is fading.

They are planted in the planter stand my husband made for me last year so they are up off the ground.

What a colour!  Just what you need after lots of rain, it is just sat there surrounded by dead leaves this one.

I will definitely buy more of the mixed seeds for next year as it is such a nice surprise when they come up and you are not quite sure what to expect.

Also we are still getting cherry tomatoes from the green house, they just keep coming.

Well  I hope you are all having a lovely week, back soon. 

A Gentle Week

Sometimes it is nice to get things done a bit at a time, that is what I am focusing on at the moment and it is working well.  Writing things down does help for me and I don't know why but having to tick it off a list is definitely a sure fire way to make me do things but it can also be demoralising if you put too many things on that list.  I find that if I put start this... do ten minutes of … and so on it gives everything on such lists a chance.  For example I have been doing a bit of cutting or sewing each day, a bit of language learning and sorting small areas like a desk or drawer.  I now write pilates on my list but not how long, so I may do fifteen minutes or I may do half an hour, this allows me breathing space to be tired some days after work and not feel I have failed if I don't do a full half hour.

The little bits of sewing this week added up to this dress...

We also had a nice day to take a photo, I wanted a different location but my helper (my son) did not want to walk over to the field with me to act as photographer.  He said this spot was just fine so I apologise for the repeat in locations.  The fabric is scuba again but this time a lighter version, this will be an autumn /winter dress I am just making the most of the sun today with the bare legs and sandals.  In future it will be worn with tights. 

I have just made a carrot cake, it is very sweet, much sweeter than my usual recipe and way too much carrot. It will probably go quickly as my boys have a sweet tooth but it may be a bit much for me, I will stick to my regular recipe in future.

Earlier this week I sold a bag on etsy so that was a nice surprise, I am now worrying if I have filled the customs label in correctly I did ask the post office to check it but I will only relax when it gets there!  It is the brown bag from my side bar so I will perhaps have to change that image now as I only make one of each style.

Unfortunately I have not had as many walks as I would like this past week as one of my dogs is ill again, this has meant two trips to the vet. He has had antibiotics, injections and paste to help with loose stools but he still doesn't seem right.   The vet said it would be about five days and he would be on the mend  and that was Thursday. He is so thin and I keep giving him extra food but it is such a worry.  It is not as if we can ask them how they feel is it. 

Now I am off to have a read for a little while with a cup of tea, hope you all have a good week. 

GF Baking

Over the past week I have been making a few cakes, I have not really done much baking in recent months and it is probably because I just got used to not having cake.  This was in part because of me being gluten free and things never being quite the same, there is also the fact that I am vegan so that is a bit of a double wammy with baking.  Anyway I mastered the perfect free from scone over the summer and have started to make a few bits now.  As the dark nights are coming I probably need the comfort food too.

I made two banana and dark  chocolate loaves and this is a favourite and something I know everyone will eat.  The bananas give you a bit of security in the GF baking area as you know they will add moisture.  Then on Saturday I tried the Maple and Pistachio cake, again another success both from the same book.  I have tried things from this book in the past and they all come out well so I think I will try some of the more unusual recipes next.

There is almost a full bag of pistachios in there which all needed shelling first, so not exactly a budget cake but at least you know it is nutritious and better your fat comes from nuts than dairy.

The book in the middle is the one with the reliable baking recipes, I have also been going back through this 'Cook ,Share Eat Vegan and planning a few new things  for this week.  I made the rest pesto risotto at the weekend and that was gorgeous, I have bookmarked the walnut kofta and an aubergine dish for later in the week.  I am also currently reading 'The Organised Mind' and 'The Corset' it's good to have a mixture of reading on the go.

My next make is all cut out, I have been in no hurry to make it up though however  I must get on with in the next few days.  I think my feeling has to do with there being plenty of clothes to wear already, I love the making part of it but I| don't want to just add for the sake of it.  I need to think of ways to create that are useful and sustainable. I always keep my eyes open for items to reuse the fabric from in charity shops and recently got two garments for a £1 that will be saved for future projects.

On the sewing table

The cooler months may see me trying my hand at crochet again this year, last year I ended up making fingerless gloves for all family members!  I have seen some gorgeous shawls but then I am not really much of a shawl wearer, ideas please??

We had a long walk at the weekend which resulted in the dogs all needing a bath, we were not going to be put off by the rain but ended up very muddy.  The dogs were rushed upstairs one at a time for a bath and I think they quite enjoyed it after being out in the rain.  One of them always rushes about the house in a mad fit after and I am not sure if that is excitement or some kind of protest. 

The lovely thing about the rain was the double rainbow that followed, I only managed to capture a single one in my image.