Autumn Musings

 Hello, there is a definite chill in the air now so I have been planning what I need to add to my wardrobe.  A lot of what I have made this year has been for the summer months mainly due to work that I have been doing.  Lots of gorgeous prints and so on but now is the time that I am looking for ways to extend the life of these clothes, or pack them away for next year. I do find that with lots of things I can add a cami underneath, a long sleeved t shirt and I am good to go, or maybe the base layer and a cardi over.  Some items though are just too summery to do that with so they have been rolled and placed in a lidded box, a sad sign to the end of summer!  

I have just planned another coat, my husband will say this is not required as my wardrobe is full but the fabric was gifted from a friend when she was destashing and the patterns I already have.  In a recent video that I made for youtube I gave a few options of what I might make with it, now it is just a case of making the fabric fit what I choose.

Another little crafty thing that I did recently was to upcyle an old picture frame into a mini notice board for my sewing room.  I wanted to keep some of my personalty to it so I didn't want to buy one same as everyone else and also I am always all for keeping costs down.  So I painted the gold frame white, removed the glass and also painted the board at the back of the picture white.  Now this his taked about four coats as the board just drinks up the paint, the paint I had already so no extra cost there.  When it was all dry I made mini bunting, added fabric samples, a tape measure, a little sewing image, a few threads and a holder for my current pattern.  I am really happy with how it turned out and I think it does the trick.  I had been requested to add some colour to my space and I am all for colour but for the last year I had been under the impression I had to keep things plain professional and white background.  It does look more inviting with some colour, I also have to watch for darkening the space too much as it is a small room and my phone is not an iphone so I do all I can to keep the light in there.  Here it is below...

For research purposes I have been looking at the background of others in the sewing community but a lot appear to be in a much bigger space than me so if I start adding shelves and lots of stuff to walls I may lose a lot of the light quality.  I have been looking at second hand iphones, after years of saying never, I did look at filming cameras but got a bit overwhelmed by it all. 

Do any of you follow Kate at The Last Homely House on you tube?  Well this week I watched a video of her taking down her granddaughters quilt from her board, it is English paper pieced and the colours are just out of this world.  If you are not familiar with her channel go and have a look as her quilting is so beautiful and really they are works of art.   It has me inspired to have a go, she has been making it for the last three years, this is inbetween all the other things she makes and in the last video she also made a couple of quilted cushions to go with it, this was to teach people how to finish the edges. 

Other news, I am currently enjoyng House of  the Dragon, the Game of Thrones spin off, I have also been watching Bad sisters.  I don't really watch an regular tv we just pick a series to watch together then watch one in the evening usually after nine. 

For the rest of this month we have a few things planned, a night out for a curry for a family birthday, a long weekend away in the caravan to North yorkshire (Near Leyburn)  a  trip to the theatre to see a Buddy Holly tribute night and I paln to see a few friends for lunch one day.  So a few things going on, I don't usually have a very full month socially and that looks pretty full for me. 

I have been reading The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood and it is just plodding along, so it has taken me longer than usual I am almost done.  Also read  The Penelopiad by her also dull, maybe I need to give her books a miss now? Also started After Alice but this is not grabbing me either, every now and then I  have a run of bad books and it makes you think this is why some people don't like reading, if they tried to get into it then made a few bad choices it would put them off carrying on.  Maybe I need to start and just bring home a reall random armful from the library and then just put them down if they are dull, my trouble is I try to carry on as I hate leaving them unfinished.

Yesterday I checked out a Sewing magazine from the inline library and it reminded me why I don't buy them.  I must have flicked through it in no time, lots of ads, space fillers and just afew articles.  Good that you have this option online to look at magazines though.

Well that is my bit of a ramble for today I will link my latest youtube video below just in  case you want to watch,  Have a good week.

                                                                        Find the video here

Makes and Trips

 Hello everyone I thought I would do a catch up as September has just gone in a flash!  We have been away last weekend to Leek in our Caravan and then we have just one more weekend away in it booked for this year and then that will be it for the caravanning for this year until next spring.  I know people still use theirs in the winter months but I would rather be home when it is very cold to be honest, and go out from here, it is so much easier to get the dogs dry and warm if it is a wet miserable day. 

So we went to Leek and that was very lovely, while we were their we also had a really good walk at The Roaches, staffordshire to Ludds church, which is actually caves and quite a workout on the way back up. 

As you can see from my images we are already experiencing the darker days on our little trips out, I am in full Autumn mode here with the candles it every night and a fleecy blanket to  hand.  We have checked the heating still works today then promptly turned it back off again, we will not go cold but we are trying our best to hold off as long as we can.  They are not profiteering off me!  Bizarre as it sound having the candles lit does make it feel warmer, or am I just imagining that? Either way it's good. 

I have made quite a few things this past month so I will share a few below, all in viscose challis...

Simplicity 1107 in Pebble stone (minerva).  I really like the shape of this one but it has definitely had its season so will  be worn next year now.

Simplicity 1609 in Pop Cheetah  Loving these colours and think I may be able to get away with some wild tights and a long sleeved t shirt under this  to extend its across season wearablity.

     Simplicity 9133 view E in popcorn Jelly.  T-shirts always  handy, a sweater can over this one to keep me toasty.  Notice I have keeping warm on the brain.

                Simplicity 8921 in Urban Cheetah  view B, a balck top under this would work I think.

Simplicity 9122 in expressive butterflies, agian I can layer up!

That is just some of them and I have also had to repair my patchwork quilt that I have on my sofa and one of the dogs sits on it and sort of rubs it to get comfy.  Well he has managed to make holes here and there with his burrowing so I have has to add to the design I will get a photo one day when the lighting is better. 

I would like to do more patchwork as I have so many scraps and I do hate waste, I have not done as much bag making this year as I have had very few sales and storing them is the thing plus paying out fees all year ok  the listing fees aren't  massive (they make on you when you sell!) but they all add up. Quilting may be the way to go with them but I am not super accurate with all the shapes, I watch Kate at the last homely house on you tube as she works it all out and I think no, my work is a lot more haphazard than that when it comes to patchwork!

Just having a catch up now on all your blogs, I feel as though I have not  really had much time this month for just having a read through, lots of making and editing, also been a bit unwell and very low in energy.  Hoping to shake that off and start the Winter good and strong. 

Well I hope you are all keeping warm, saving the pennies, and enjoying lots of making.  I am off to read your blogs now so have a good weekend. Take care. 

Vintage Sewing 1940's

 Hello, today I thought I would share this little set that I made a few weeks ago for work. It is such a cute make and at first I wasn't sure when I would wear this becuase of the style of it but last week when we ent on a bike ride it was just the thing.  The shorts are really comfortable while still being pretty and the top is made from the same fabric inside and out (self lined) so a nice make there.  I enjoyed making this and I also love the fabric, I have a dress in the same fabric and it is so  cheerful.  Now on the cover of the pattern the lady is wearing the top with nothing underneath, well I wasn't going to wear it like that riding around town, maybe on a beach holiday it would be more fitting.  So I layered it with a strappy top underneath and I think it worked really well.

One thing my husband noticed was that the top of my shorts were catching my back wheel every now and then, I didn't appear to be dusty or get caught at any point and I didn't feel like it was catching so maybe it was just an illusion of him riding behind me. If you didn't want to make the shorts the pattern also had the option to make a skirt, but I think the shorts give you the best of both as they are quite shapely and have these nice pleats around the top.  My matching trainers were not planned that is just the colour! 

Here is a clearer image indoors when I had just finished it...

So a bit about the pattern, it is a Simplicity pattern number 8654 and I think it is a good make for a beginner as the top has a really nice simple shape to it.  The skirt would also be a nice easy make, the pleats just take a bit of care and also you need to be able to insert a zip but if you were just starting out you could make the top and the shorts could be something to work towards.  I don't have many vintage patterns but the ones I do have always have such lovely shapes and fit, as I do like clothes with nice details and fit maybe I should be making more of these kinds of patterns.

This week I have made some fabulous little savoury/vegan GF scones in my mini oven, I was trying it out for baking seeing as how I intend to use it more.  They came out really well and I enjoyed as a sort of open top sandwich being as I don't eat bread.  I just did two large ones to try, a small amount of mixture and little energy used.  They were experimental.  The only downside is that they are great when just made but quickly go dry even in a airtight container  more negatives for the gf baking!

That's all for now, have a good weekend.