Wednesday 30 January 2013

Scrapbusting Slippers

This month’s theme for the scrapbusting sewalong was “itty bits”, namely lengths of fabric of less than a yard. I managed two already, despite having a really nasty cold which meant that I just wanted to be in bed and not even watching the TV, let alone sewing. I didn’t even make birthday cakes for Robert and me, I was that under the weather.
I did however make Robert’s birthday present (out of remnants of calico and some black bias binding left over from another project). For his inner (and outer) geek:Geek Bags
Not surprisingly he uses them to store and transport his collection of cables and his headphones that he takes to church each week.

Slippers
I have also been experimenting with making slippers – I bought a pattern in the post-Christmas sales, and despite completely messing up my size selection for my first go I think they are not bad.
Apart from some of the wobbly stitching. And the fact that the fabric is a bit thin. But this will all be corrected next time around. This pair is made from a remnant of a sheet which I had already cut up for making aprons, and a pillow case.
On to February with its Love Challenge!


**** UPDATE ****
Here is another pair of slippers which just made it into January - but not gifted until February 2nd, so I had to wait to include them here. Made of some old jeans, remnant of cotton, and a drawstring bag hastily constructed from an old trouser leg.

Monday 21 January 2013

Joining in

In an uncharacteristic turn I have signed up to join in a community activity. Admittedly this is an online community activity, not a real life one, but it is definitely pushing my comfort zone. On top of that I have committed to making  things, as per our shared monthly goals and challenges, out of some of the fabric I have stashed around the house – you know, in my sewing corner, in the stationery cupboard (yeah, I know), disguised as household linens, a box in the loft… This month’s goal is to use up some of the smaller scraps, which is going well so far.
I am also determined to actually make some clothing this year – especially as I have  a length of fabric bought specifically to make a skirt, which hasn’t happened yet. I also earmarked a couple of charity shop finds to make dresses for my daughters that really need to happen in time for this summer.
 Sewalong fabric
Watch this space…

Sunday 6 January 2013

Christmas round-up

This year I thought I might actually post about all the Christmas making I did before next Christmas rolls around and the whole thing becomes irrelevant. Not that it is terribly relevant now, as those people who received handmade gifts know what they look like and those who didn’t probably don’t care. But it makes me feel validated, and offers some kind of justification for working flat out for the last month.
There were:
Christmas-scented decorations -
Decorations 1 Decorations 2

Fridge Magnets -
Fridge Magnets Pink Fridge Magnets Rose

Memo Boards -
Memo Board - gold Memo Boards - pink and green

Pencil Cases, Tea Towels, a Bow Tie, a Cushion and some Bookmarks -
Pencil Cases Penguin tea towels
Bow Tie WP_001152
Black bookmarks And apparently I completely failed to photograph (!) the shirt style peg bag I made.
Not to mention the awesome superhero cape and mask for Super Cali (and her dad).


So... on to the next year…