Something New

I have had this little embroidery hoop sitting around for a while and had been saving it until inspiration struck but you know how that goes and if you don't do something you don't do anything so I had a go. Having looked at my saved ideas I felt even more intimidated by how brilliant they all are so decided to jump in and have a try.  The words are from a journaling book and the other bits I just put together from seeing different designs, it is rustic and I know something I need to work on but I did find it enjoyable so I will be doing more.  This one will be added to and improved over the coming week.

I couldn't see my pencil marks clearly so the writing could have been better, the 'i' has been unpicked and re-joined correctly as it was only when I looked at this image that I saw I had weirdly joined it at the top!  I must have been distracted when I did that. I think it also needs some purple in there but that would have to be done in regular cotton.
The backing is just some scrap drill fabric, my needle was also just a yarn needle quite thick and hard to push through this fabric, I was just basically using what I had so please forgive my crude attempt I do aim to improve.

Little designs could be nice to put on other textiles like bag and cushions I know a lot of people do just leave them in the hoop to hang.  When I have a bit more experience I will try one in a bag panel and see how that turns out.

We have been waking vey early here due to the light mornings and I am very happy they are finally here. It is very quiet however due to fewer cars on the road and that would be a nice thing if not for it being a reminder of why that is the moment you wake up.

Yesterday I started reading The Scarlet Letter, now I have a feeling I read this when I was young as I have a vague recollection of the story but no harm in reading it again.  My reading is always a bit random, something modern, something classical then a non fiction book.  It doesn't work for me to stick with the same genre all the time, I generally walk in the library with no idea what I would like.

Well keep busy everyone I will be looking for my next make for tomorrow.

Sewing Birds

Day one of my little pinterest challenge for myself and I chose to make a little bird.  This is another great way of using up tiny bits of fabric (or bigger pieces depending hoe big you want it) and also a nice little project that can be finished in front of the T.V for adding the bead eyes and wings.  I actually clicked on the link on pinterest but couldn't see the templates, maybe I wasn't looking hard enough, here is the link if you want to see the original here. So I just drew my own, it is quite a basic shape for a bird but if you need you can always google bird silhouettes and print one from there I expect.

I had fun going through the scrap bag to see which fabrics would look well together, I have a feeling there will be more of these popping up all over the house I think they may be quite addictive!  As an added bonus my mothers day plant proved to be just the setting for a picture and the colours go well too.

It is different fabric on each side, also the underbelly bit is also different.  I chose to do the wings in felt but if you are hand stitching the whole bird would work well in felt and then you wouldn't have to turn in the fiddly seams.

I couldn't put my hands on embroidery thread (I know another sort out is in order)  so I just used regular thread doubled up.  There is some somewhere I will have to find it for the next one.

For stuffing I cut up some little bits of scrap fleece, so all of the bits are recycled.  In the pinterest image these birds were hanging with thread from a twig and that looked cute, you could also put a keyring on them.  For now this one is sat beside my machine waiting for the rest of the flock.
Here are the shapes that I drew and cut out but I decided not to use tail feather piece it just didn't add anything, maybe on a bigger bird it would work.

The piece for under the belly didn't need to be that long either or as wide it sort of evolved as I stitched it.

On another note this last few evenings we have started watching My Brilliant Friend on Now T.V it is based on the book by Elena Ferrante and I am really enjoying it, so if you like watching drama with subtitles (it is in Italian) this may be for you.  It follows the friendship of two girls and I have to say the actors both play excellent parts.  If you would rather read the book it is available from the library in digital format that I mentioned yesterday, just add rbdigital then log into your library account.  I may read it after I have watched it, my husband doesn't get it when I do that but sometimes it is good to compare.

Back soon, take care.

The Liberty Dress

Hello I hope you are all keeping safe, I am trying to do a variety of things to keep things interesting and yesterday I checked my compost bin to see if any of it was ready and at the bottom there was dark rich looking stuff!  So I have planted to some flower seeds in my greenhouse.  Now I know I am supposed to use seed potting compost but as I have been unable to get out to get any I am doing this experiment to see if they will still grow.  You can plant some seeds straight into the ground so I am not entirely sure why it would be so wrong but I am just trying things out.

I did get a lot of the garden tidied up this week as I am sure many of you are doing the same, making the most of this lovely weather while we are at home, I found a couple of stray pansies growing out of the side of the path and gravel so I transplanted them to a bed.  Those sort of free plants are super don't you think?  I found quite a few last year springing up in odd places and a little collection filled a planter.

Sewing wise I made the liberty dress from Simply Sewing magazine, it seems a bit odd to call it that as in the pattern images they have used liberty style fabrics.  I on the other hand have used this John Kaldor stretch sateen from Minerva.  I did make the dress with the three quarter sleeves and knee length to begin with but I didn't really like it like that so I shortened both the sleeves and the hem.  I think it was my fabric choice with the pattern, in my head it looked different but we all have our off days and I am usually better at matching pattern to fabric.  That said I am happy with the result in its current version.

Here it is now, complete with dog bowls!  Then below the first take looking a little more dowdy I think.

So I have now utilised two patterns from the first simply sewing magazine I received, a few weeks a go I used the simple burda top pattern to make the top for my mock jumpsuit here.   The aim is to try and make something form each copy although I know this may be tricky if they replicate items I already have/make or if I just don't like what is on offer, so we will have to see.

You can see the lovely sheen and colour of the fabric in this image.

There has been lots of reading going on both on and off line, my current paper book is The Milkman by Anna Burns and was winner of The Man Booker prize 2018, now I am not always a fan of books that win awards some are fabulous and others leave you wondering what the judges were thinking. However I have enjoyed this but it is not a quick and easy read, she has a very different style of writing and episodes of rambling that leave you either laughing out loud or wondering what on earth is going on. It is very thought provoking and witty, it also reminded me of my childhood and hearing about the troubles in Northern Ireland on the news or from family ( my uncle lived there as my auntie is Irish).  We hear about things on the news with no idea what life must be like for those involved, restricted movements, freedoms and having your choices taken away, currently we are all having to live differently to try and slow this awful virus.  

Just today I have also been browsing the elibrary set up, I got a message from the library as we are unable to borrow actual books at the moment saying we should make the most of this service.  While I do have a few library books left I thought I would take a look, well it worked fine on my phone but I needed support from my son to get it on my laptop.  You have to download RBdigital which is fine on a phone or tablet but will vary on your laptops, have  look around but there is an icon at the bottom of their homepage for adobe at the bottom right so click on that if need be.  Using that app I read half a book this morning then got bored with it, at least it didn't cost me, there are also lots of audio books on there to listen to while sewing.

Another thing I have been doing is looking through my pinterest boards, I actually have one called stuff to make.  I have decided to work my way through it over the next few weeks, some of the things are very small and some are slightly bigger  and with that in mind I will be trying to post more frequently.  That may be each day or every other day as a way to share ideas that may help  keep you busy but also to keep my brain focused on an actual goal.

What have you all been up to? Please feel free to share in the comments I always enjoy reading them. 

The Bibi Skirt

Well here is my latest make from the Tilly Walnes Stretch book, I don't think I will make all the items from the book as I have very similar patterns already but the ones I have made are very nice.  I didn't have a contrasting fabric in jersey to make this the same as it is in the book but I did have some scrap pieces so I made mock piping to go down each seam so you would still get he effect of the panels in the skirt.   I really like the effect and I will do this again, so having less really does force you to be creative as I do not have the fabric stash of some sewers just a few pieces but lots of random bits that are not big enough for garment but might come in handy!

Here I have the top of the sweater tucked in but I don't wear it that way I just wanted to show the top of the skirt.

I am still undecided about the sleeves on this sweater but as I have been wearing it loads as it is so comfy and warm it can't be bothering me that much can it? Plus I was told it looked designer so I'll take that ha, ha.

With  the sizing on this skirt I played it safe and made the next size up but then it was too big so I just had to redo my seams, no big deal.  I think I was over cautious  as the first item I made from the book  the sleeves were a little snug and had to be redone and I always think it is much easier to take things in a little.

This is the cute version in the book with the two fabrics together, I do now have some stripy fabric but I have other plans for that.

While I was rooting around looking at left over bits of fabric I also found one my boys old t-shirts from when they were younger.  I managed to cut out the sleeves for another Frankie t-shirt and again used up various left over bits.  I  really love this make and my son said it looks like something you pay a lot for in a shop, high praise indeed.

I had to send these to myself from my phone and I have no idea why, wouldn't then save properly so screen shot from my email!  Weird, I hope these last few are clear enough.

I just have a feeling I am going to be making these tops for some time using all sorts scraps, oldest son has plans on one already.

This past week I finished The Handmaids Tale, remember I said I was reading them in reverse.
 I did really enjoy it.
I also read The subtle Art of not Giving a Fxxx.  I know, apologies if you are sensitive and he does use that word a fair few times in the book but I did watch a talk he did some time ago and he made a lot of sense.  The book was not about not caring about anything but the fact that what we care about day to day is just irrelevant and usually what people think of us, and that of course will really not matter and in a week or maybe even a day.  Priorities and finding what you really care about was really the message.  So if you can avoid the bad language and the fact that he can talk rubbish also sometimes (which he does of course admit his failings) then you will find some gems of wisdom in here too.

We will not be going anywhere anytime soon as my husband is now not well, constant cough and hot to touch. He is at the moment sleeping, we went online and of course we have to isolate too.   He was on the rota to work from home next week as was my son so if he feels ok he will still be able to get something done, at the moment I think he is too tired.

It is a worry for all the small businesses out there, I hope there is enough support  so that they don't go under but also wonder how long this period will last.  Stay safe everyone.

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The Frankie T-shirt

This past week I have made another garment from the Tilly Walnes Stretch book, this time the Frankie T-shirt.  I chose this because I like this style and I have made it before but using my own pattern.  When I did that I found my sleeves were not as wide at the top as maybe they should have been so it was interesting to see how they worked on this pattern.  I felt that this was an easy make so great for any beginners however I did find the fit very loose, far too loose for me in the body so I took it in by quite a chunk at the sides.  That said I love it and already have another cut out, it is great for using up small leftover bits of jersey for the arms and that is what I did here with mine.

I was in a hurry to wear it so a rather quick selfie here, I made a white t-shirt a while ago and these pieces for the sleeves were left over.  I did in fact have to put a mock seam part way up my sleeves as I wanted the see through stripe to lie horizontally on them and that was the only way to make them fit.  It is fine as the seam hides in the stripe.  My only worry now is that the red doesn't wash pink into the white sleeves.

For the neck facing I just turned the spotty fabric to the wrong side so that I could have it plain around the neck.

So far so good with that book and a bonus having got  from the library and another library order arrived just over a week ago too and that is The Testamnets by Margaret Atwood.  I ordered it months ago as I was on a list but it came and I read it this week.

 I enjoyed it and I was happy with the ending which is not always the case however The Handmaids Tale is now in for collection that I ordered at the same time!

  So I am reading them in reverse, I did know the story as I have watched the TV version but it will be interesting to read the original as the books are usually better.  I couldn't have saved this one either as there is such a long wait list for it you can't renew.   I did consider buying them both  before I ordered them but went with patience, after all they only sit on my book shelf once read and if I had bought and kept every book I ever read we would be a bit pushed for space.

 I tend to have a sort through every now and then and just keep my absolute favourites for my bookshelf.  Unfortunately I have lost a  few favourites along the way as I will lend them to people and then they are never returned,  that seems to happen with the best ones!

Last night I made a saag aloo to go with my other homemade curries that we were having for tea, I followed a recipe and decided the potatoes were too firm but it was tasty.  Next time I will be part cooking the potatoes before they go in the pan and I am sure it will be perfect then.  Honestly I don't think all recipes are tested  as I followed it exactly, well I actually gave it a little longer but it wasn't long enough to cook the potatoes through.

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

The Joni Dress

Hello, I had a nice surprise this week as a book I ordered from the library had just arrived, It is the Tilly and the Buttons  Sewing Stretch book.  I have watched a couple of vlogs of people who have made some of the items in this and they look really nice so I thought I would give it a go.  Fortunately for me it was in the library system and looking at it  I think I must be the first person to get it.  It is a lovely book, I picked it up on Saturday and yesterday I traced off the Joni dress and made it!   It was the first pattern that caught my eye that I thought I have to make that, also I had some fabric from Minerva that I pondering what to make with and this has been the perfect match for it.

Here is my dress...

I have to say that when I first made the twist bit at the front I thought it didn't look right but when it was all made up and on it hangs lovely.

I chose this navy as I wanted more work dresses but as you can see I will feel far too dressed up for work in this this!  It may be a rare going out dress but then that will feel such as shame as I do love it.

I won't put too  much about the process here as I want to do a full review of the fabric for Minerva but the book is definitely worth checking out.  I think it would be a wonderful birthday gift for someone and the directions are very clear.  My one gripe with this is that the sizing was perfect for me on this garment except for the arms which were too tight.  I am ok as I can redo the sleeves but as you can see I do not have massive arms in comparison to the rest of me and the rest of the fit is spot on.  Just be aware and cut your sleeves a little bigger as you can always run them in if too big but making them bigger is more of a job.

Here is the book...

So I have this book for three weeks as many people will have it on order so I have to trace off and make my way  through it in that time.  There is a raglan sleeve t-shirt that I am going to make next and I think I will use up leftover fabrics on that one.  Please let me know if you have this book and what your favourite makes were.  There is nothing like a deadline to focus the mind and I am beginning to think I maybe need deadlines, although that said there is an article in the book about slow sewing and enjoying the process which of course is great and I did enjoy my day of making yesterday.  I am sure that Tilly didn't have my three week library loan in mind when  she wrote that though. 

While I am on the subject of books I also had The Librarian of Auschwitz on one week loan last week and that was a very good book, hard of course given the subject but also I think amazing to think how people clung to hope and how important it is to keep people's stories alive from that experience.

I have tried a few new recipes this week, and this particular one I am not too sure about but they were best when just out of the oven.  They are strawberry and blueberry gf scones, due to the fruit in them they seem a bit soggy when they cool but most of them were consumed.

Mine look a bit flat don't they, not at all like the ones in the photo in the book.  I am dubious as to whether she followed her own recipe.

Anyway never mind I did make my own version of a walnut cake that I adapted from another recipe that came out really light and fluffy but that went really quickly, also my own version of a vegan carbonara.

How is your week going and what are you all making? Let me know in the comments.

February...ing

Here we are half way through February so I thought I would do an 'ing' post, the mornings are getting lighter so at least we are moving in the right direction as dark mornings are really not my thing.

Making more bags, as after a little lull I have sold two this past week so I thought I would do a little restock. It does make me happy to think that people want to buy the things I make and I always enjoy reading the feedback so here is to hoping the last two sales were well received.  I know not everyone leaves feedback so that makes the ones that do all the more special.  Here are the two bags I made this week and below the latest one I started to work on yesterday.

I have a shirt in this zebra fabric so the bits I used were left over from quite some time ago when I made that, it always pays to save your scraps you never know what you might use them for.

The mint on the table is what I used to draw around for the partial circle shape, use what you have on hand, ha ha.

Learning a new song on my guitar, now I tried to find a basic chord sequence for it online but I couldn't, there only seemed to be very complicated ones for experienced players.  So after two hours of tinkering around I think I have figured it out for myself, I played it for my husband and he said it sounded like the song so I am pleased with it, it may not be perfect but this is something for me I don't have plans to go on stage or anything!  The song is Secret Place by Phil Wickham and I keep playing it now to try and get it to stick.

Drawing a little something everyday, I got this idea from an excerpt I read from a book.  They are only little quick sketches and so far I am just doing them in my diary as a reminder to do it.  The idea is to keep your creativity flowing and I do really like drawing it is something that we just don't do very often and I don't really know why.  I am trying to build it in as a new habit, I may share them later if I feel brave enough, again this is not something I have any expertise in it is just something to enjoy.   The book I read the excerpt from is Conscious Creativity by Phillipa Stanton I am currently wondering whether to treat myself to the book as it is not available form the library.

Feeling under the weather, ok this is my one bit of negativity as it is half term again and I have had a cold. Anyone who works in a school will know this strange phenomenon it is like your body holds on until the last day of term then says 'that it you can be ill now!'  For me personally it seems to happen every school holiday but on a plus note you could say at least I don't have to worry about work and can just rest through it, every cloud eh?

Enjoying a course I have been doing on Open Learn called from Sound to Meaning, all free and there is so much on there so if you interested in learning anything new go and have a look at all the courses on offer.  I am about seventy per cent through it now but I do write down everything, I have to say my note taking is not very concise I will go back through it after and gradually condense it all down, that is just the way I learn.

Planning on making better use of my cook books over the coming months, I do cook from scratch all the time but think I'm maybe sticking to the same dishes a lot recently so I will  be trying to work on this and will of course share this as I go.  Since last November my husband has also been vegetarian  ( I went vegetarian at twenty and vegan three years ago) and I am so impressed with how he has stuck with it, due to this I have been buying more meat substitutes to ease him in but I feel now is the time to try and expand on that a little, we'll see how that goes  I enjoy all kinds of beans and veg dishes but I think the substitutes have helped him a lot.

That's all for now, I'm hoping for more days out and dry weather over the next month. Take care.