McCall's Shirt Make and Other Sewing

 

Hello I hope you are all having a lovely weekend, a quick catch uo today to show what I have been making and doing this week.  So far I am on track with my intentions, last week I split one of my projects over two days  to take advantage of the dry period on one of the days to get out for a longer walk with my dogs although it did catch us while we were out and the two Jack Russels kept stopping and had to be pulled along. They do not like rain!  The project I split up in sessions was this McCall's shirt and here is my husband in it, he doesn't want his face in the picture though.  The fabric is cotton gingham in a blush pink, my husband really likes this shirt.

I also made two dresses and they are both very bright viscose challis, the red one is lined and the white one ha a lined bodice.

Doesn't this just look like water colours?

I love the colours on this one, the red with the pink is such a good combination and probably not one I would put together when dressing.

The Anthony Horowitz book I was reading A Line to Kill was another good read and I finished that earlier today.  Although I am going to start my library book  before reading the rest of my Anthony Horowitz books as I feel if I read them all in one go it may put me off, too much of the same can do that can't it?

After visiting my mum a few days ago we have arranged to go out later in the week in the day time, this is something I want to try and get her to do more often as she enjoys it once out but can be a bit reluctant when asked, but then feels she is in a lot.  It is just a case of once out and made the effort she enjoys it.

Friday evening we went to see Avatar the way of water, it was so long. Visually really good but being in the cinema for such a long time is not for me.  It seemed everyone was getting a bit fidgety. 

Yesterday I spent a good few hours drawing then adding colour, I chose a ballerina from one of my ballet programmes.  I am really happy with it especially the limbs, also one hand good the other not so much so this needs a lot of practise.  I chose it because I really loved the line of the body, also had fun adding colour to the tull skirt. Later I did some more figures but trying to sketch quickly, I find this hard as I want to stop and rub out and redo. 

I hope you all have a super week, back soon. 

My Sewing Scrapbook

 Hello I hope you are all feeling good and are back into the swing of things now the new year has properly begun.  I know a lot of people were back to work today, me included although that is working from home so it softens the effect but still back into that routine of getting things done.

I have started my sewing scrapbook that I mentioned previously and thought that I would share it with you now before it slips my mind.  If you follow me on instagram you will have already had a peek it was updated as I finished my work for today so I hope this is a habit that will be fun as well as really useful.

Here it is...

I did start with the last projects of December just to get it up and going.

So what I decided to do was divide each page into four boxes because I usually do three work projects per week and then perhaps something of my own, if more I can always go over onto the next side but this will normally give me a week to view.  I know I don't have to write project each time I just wanted it there, I write the pattern, number, view, then list the fabric choices, code if available and any notes if I have altered anything.  For example I may sometimes change things afterwards if they are not entirely to my taste, or make something shorter, slimmer etc.   Also there is a fabric sample and a printed out photograph.

I am hoping this will keep me organised but on the plus side it will be nice to look back on as things get passed on, gifted or returned as in the case of work projects.  There will need to be a little bit of will power involved in filling it in every day, especially if I have been worrking on something complex and it has been a long day.  This will save time later though, in terms of not having to hunt high and low for a pattern number or fabric swatch code.  Oh I almost forgot that I have also added a little pencil line drawing too.

The scrapbook has been in my possesion for about two years so it was destined to be this! Let me know in the comments how you organise yourselves with your sewing, I am always interested in finding new ways to do things.

Have a lovely evening. Back soon. 

New Year, New Start

 Hello everyone and a happy new year to you all. I hope you had a good send off to 2022, personally I just stayed home which is what we always do and that suits us.  We had a couple of drinks and watched a few episodes of Yellowstone, we had to stay up downstairs even though we were tired as the fireworks scare the dogs so we stay and make sure that they are ok and it has all settled down before going to bed. My son went out early to the cinema and then around the pubs with his friends he was telling me how insanley crowded it was, how they couldn't get in anywhere to eat etc.  I thought yes that is exactly how I remember it and give me my evening over that any day!

We have had a nice relaxing day today, got up and did my quick pilates routine, then down with the tree and decorations.  I like it up early but once new year is done we like to clear it all away, though it does look bare without it. Then I made some coffee and walnut muffins in the mini oven.  I bought myself a six muffin tray that just fits my mini oven and I tried it out earlier.  The  idea being to still bake with less electric, they came out well if a few were a little caught on the top.  The thing with the mini oven is that everything is always so close to the elements top and bottom, you don't get that in the standard oven.  It does use a lot less power however and we have used a lot this last month.

Then did a bit of tidying up in the garden and off for a walk with the dogs before making the Sunday lunch when I got back. Also making some roasted pepper humous so I am going to do that shortly.

A  few intentions for this year...

• So one that I mentioned the other day was to do a little bit of art every week, I always used to just do this without any plan but it has somehow dropped off my radar so this will get me back in the habbit. There  will be no definite day for this I just want to create something each week for me, for fun.
• I am going to try and timetable my day a little better.  Work gets done, but sometimes I find myself tagging the dog walk to the end of the day or frantically running to the shop just before my husband gets home.  I also often skip lunch as I am busy sewing and always think to myself I will have something when I am finished but then it is too close to dinner time.  This is not good so I need to give myself some space and factor in some breaks to at least eat or walk the dogs while it is still light.  
• All future sewing projects are going to be noted in my scrapbook rather than just on paper, along with the sample and any notes.
• More trying out new recipes, I did quite well with this but then got into a rut as the year went on this year.  So I will try and document those to keep me on track.

That is as many as I am adding for now, I may add more as time goes on but they do say try to do too much at once and it is asking for failure.  It is also true that it takes a while to develop a new habit so getting a few to stick before adding in more is the way to go. 

Because I felt it was going to feel bleak now that the tree is down my husband took my little bottle from the homemade gin my friend gave me and put some of the little lights inside.  It is now on the mantle piece I just need to take the label off the wire.

It is not blue in real life just a cool white.

Just in case any of you would like a better peak at my sewing space I filmed a little tour for youtube yesterday and here is the link if you want to watch.

See it here, watch the video

Have a lovely evening and I'll be back soon.