tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83430522209758278932024-02-02T12:33:42.096+00:00by GAENORGaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-32808628311070007112014-09-11T13:22:00.000+01:002014-09-11T13:22:31.899+01:00Not a total write off…In its usual, relentless, fashion the summer holidays have steam-rollered through July and August, resulting in the usual lack of summer makes. On top of that, while the children were away for the week, I developed shingles, and spent about 8 days flat out in bed. A week on, and I still haven’t made it back to the machine (tbh, been a bit busy – family days out, and all that).<br />
However, before I was struck down I did manage to make a couple of things. First up was a dress for Piper (she wanted to be involved in making one from scratch). I used one my Mum’s uncut patterns from the 1970s and positively whipped up a little princess line number from a rose patterned St Michael’s sheet. And lined it with the final remnant of “the sheet which kept on giving” (off the top of my head, I’ve used it to make a toga, interline a bag and line three reversible aprons). <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjARlvcjC_VEV4WdfW3U8Dx4DpMf2hEczVq-evw5kBkxoV6IsmN66mIjFJ0_i0jsOjcRGycZOUfh4m4amSdA4-TBpNElmj7vSkb7U_RpT1sDVsaSvnjJiZgIDaSDvylD_BBoEnNGkkjg/s1600-h/Piper%252520dress%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Piper dress" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvThq2gzMhyphenhyphenUEy1ZmBzsxfvAFHXa20FimFTgriudBpOHTzsDEDgrh70tNd20JPuoU7qeK0rOFaenYL6lJ_xY_Epc3WkGiz2E38HWTzKcKKPVYx251gQA_l7H0fwxWBtP2hKj1uByTnkNc/?imgmax=800" height="363" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Piper dress" width="515" /></a><br />
This was followed by a partially successful attempt to make my lounge curtains (I have had the fabric put by for a couple of years now). Our lounge is a through room with a bay at one end and patio doors at the other, so the plan was to make a wide pair for the bay, and a long pair for the doors. I (mostly) made the pair for the bay, and I am very happy with them. I just held off hemming them because I couldn’t tell how much they might drop. At this point I fell ill (and about time too – turns out curtains are really dull to make!) so the other pair will have to wait a while, just hopefully not another two years.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsd2YSpNzbFyfpVGq7ecNiLywcpDbfyIKBkBIuEb0HW5P8NoFTRQWfZbKiyMS3DXn6J76kS6muZzT_44cnYEYpq1hCsWK5Vn7YexlWhmHkAWQr4K9DqIe7_TZaqTx9_b7TIwODb7reLSY/s1600-h/Bay%252520Curtains%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Bay Curtains" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0gl-FHzX-VqKUSyxNo35mFchnMYWzE9jpxo01yoytCF7qvlZtgJWZtJ5AdiBaUqZjH0QO7DmDjY6YjL7V3VF4ZEPj6GdEUOZWn1cpYExqR6XUfFzsPWTh2vV5AlV__uz6o1XwgVhj-w/?imgmax=800" height="262" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Bay Curtains" width="520" /></a><br />
My highlight of the summer though is my <a href="http://www.jenniferlaurenvintage.com/2014/06/introducing-bronte-top-pattern-number.html" target="_blank">Bronte top</a>, in a dark murky grey, with mother of pearl button. As yet un-photographed (I tried a few mirror shots, but they always end up unflatteringly wonky), it has fast become one of my most worn t-shirts, and I already have the next one lined up to make. This top was brilliantly easy and the extra sewalong tips really helped as this was my first time sewing with t-shirting. Best of all my Mum loved it so much she has requested one too!Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-46102196471354746442014-08-02T10:52:00.000+01:002014-08-02T10:53:33.318+01:00End of School<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsI6XVj_u3j49GLGJF1jglR3iAU0N37Ca3V60OCK2C2pXhSttcSHcPcSHfH-ZW7Fd5O67eMl6OjKx6g0DWqVi9BZU_vpx_bKHlVeddvR_D1hFPFwEQedBcdVNiwjt_DPwstcC2CpTa_I0/s1600-h/Butterfly3.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Butterfly" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBzFux27WmpC0jzRFFINqaSgyTo1Xys7S1sqEpveIQw_IKp8Py5Hqz_W1M_LKW2M5kPAQWZZtpmKZccs0zEq1Q0let1O1A5H114yWfZ0ysCORqSZNBc939eJY7uCCk389AlfjJlrkgkY/?imgmax=800" height="240" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Butterfly" width="142" /></a>Which of course means teacher presents – and I sort of forgot for a minute that I now have two children at primary school, which meant twice the number of presents…<br />
<br />
So, 2 Teachers and 2 TAs, plus a leaving present for pre-school as my youngest says goodbye to them. The pre-school was easy though, as Robin regularly wore her <a href="http://www.bygaenor.blogspot.co.uk/2014_02_01_archive.html" target="_blank">butterfly costume</a> to school where it was greatly admired, so I made another one for pre-school. (I “slightly” overestimated how much fleece I would need first time around, so had plenty on hand!)<br />
<br />
Traditionally I have made reversible totes for Matthew’s teachers (well, TAs really, as until this year he hasn’t had a teacher last out the year), which as they were all ladies worked well, but this year I had the challenge of a male teacher (couldn’t picture him with one of my bags…) But he is a tie-wearer, so courtesy of the <a href="http://www.coletterie.com/tutorials-tips-tricks/free-pattern-a-gentlemans-necktie" target="_blank">free pattern at Coletterie</a> I had a go (with some <em>more</em> of the linen from Cathy’s wedding). <br />
<br />
The bags came together very nicely. As usual each bag is lined in a sturdy fabric to reinforce the decorative side, with a large pocket from the contrast fabric on it. In this case the blue and green bags had a calico lining, while the fern pattern fabric was paired with dark heavyweight denim. (Of course, the whole bag can be reversed so that the plain/pocketed side is on the outside, and the more decorative side tucked away discreetly inside the bag.) I even remember to sew tag in before stitching the side seams, and put the handles and ties in the right way round FIRST TIME!! <br />
<br />
The tie was straightforward, but, unless I misinterpreted the instructions for folding, came up far too wide around the neck, so I ended up tracing some changes onto the lining from one of Robert’s ties, trimming it down and refolding everything. Came together beautifully the second time around, which isn’t bad for a first time make. And I think we had four happy teachers (the tie was even being worn by the end of the day). <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnc8J299kk2rzZamov6otbTjlqfFFJHoZVK6Y47b3K8IAk_Y987gMLJ1GUeStXdaQYPL3jHBX-yIznH5yKa5P-ShV9W7Sfs9VfXivCFFWvEcQteokN7EzOGrp6-TO-MY6sBojVRZBfRbs/s1600-h/Bags%252520and%252520tie%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Bags and tie" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTXFnoztz2Wb8Pr8PAt4QdgG5cibrybcZtj0HRs2ajKRNwAZiuHsUrnQjXqOCd3AJTTCa1byVXkfAV92rVGNwZAgPJj-tt12hXa0SVF9IKlJYLtK7XThIJiwujKE3dSJHK5As6RN-xhw/?imgmax=800" height="354" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Bags and tie" width="515" /></a>Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-3808861239941324152014-06-30T11:57:00.000+01:002014-06-30T11:57:55.786+01:00Pyjamas for Peter Rabbit<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tGHGq1CuikQASSrahP0tDo4azBOAfu2M8YAvD3IslB4Y21jzJQPXi_NVP9ypWL76hNwRsLUGErvt5rZvRhe6hcZOsWeVK4A9jO0b52eNdS44aYwbQOIeqztlwkXw0-3B1wpCJnw02FI/s1600-h/PJ1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="PJ1" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCcWnKYypOgKF1qSFwSR9DtL02hbBKJByPtq2_dGdqtdwQ7YO1hbpfKhzZd5Q8RdLdy6PSIe4aFhWq8J5AkKwZBHjMrJd7IJgEwkRoFxGUfKTI1e1d15qhQkat3jl7J74Yaokk1l8cfk/?imgmax=800" height="251" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="PJ1" width="136" /></a>Smallest of all had her 4th birthday a couple of weeks ago and I had a last minute present inspiration for her. Frankly she has so many clothes that I was struggling to justify making her another dress, but when I saw a very lightweight cotton tablecloth (with yellow flowers and a brown border print) in the charity shop (£1.99) it screamed pyjamas at me. And it has to be said, her current pyjamas are all getting a little snug. <br />
I then found a <a href="http://shwinandshwin.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/pajama-rama-christmas-pajamas-free-pdf.html" target="_blank">free pdf pyjama pattern</a> and away I went. Although the original pattern was drafted for a child apparently the same size as mine I did a little enlarging. This all worked fine, except for the sleeve head – arm scye <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5s4fxVw5VB3I1pmb6n3allIokxIpUFby99X_Q8guspozzBtFM-D_Gl_bNauxyXA_HjPMlk50VW1ME3vsr9jEJLaT_dhbEHjWiuk5e9YJsXotpfapMsYukvVDyOEsCSCZv5kuJ2ztFdk/s1600-h/PJ2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="PJ2" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpi_8s6HRCAE_W1tg0eMwPKYRXIZZ388gCiUGBLsIvkSbzxJDK1ulT66y9rX_UlXKvM7GId4_xv1RoAwhRRtT4V8wICq9bCq3HF73kTJDeFm9Ae8_-nfEnfYCN4bDBa2aiJXgMSbRvZng/?imgmax=800" height="240" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="PJ2" width="135" /></a>relationship (somehow I didn’t make the sleeve head large enough), but having fudged it by tapering the body in under the arm to make the two bits fit together, the top fits her fine. I also had to add an extra inch to the trousers to bring the waistband further up her body – I can only assume she is long in the body like her brother. <br />
Obviously I bought fabric for this project, but I did manage to bust some of my button stash!! A couple of years ago I was given a card of Beatrix Potter buttons and I have been hoarding them, waiting for the right thing to put them on – and this was it! The colour density on the buttons and the style of the fabric just seemed to fit together, and given that Robin loves the current Peter Rabbit animated series it was a winner. Although she didn’t want the Old Brown button, because “he is a bad one”.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShABXuR3bJ9Y8abufPMcuwXoSD4AktlpeKFk7k3l5VLmtd2cYAKPmdDBfcurin7fAnnA_wJchvikLlDTEV_Meh2b-LRZZd_iZRsbl6O556DPljr7k6x3feb6mxAsn_5BCpwHovMscvXw/s1600-h/PJ6%252520Buttons%252520cropped%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="PJ6 Buttons cropped" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-x0-RGw0d6Y8HeLDUfVkk-_svspYugAR8gR3P_qLz1XsGPfTsIN5WPJeXyRj004Ms7fbs6QTuY-8Lw9LbCEx-4Yyi2xJNUtrpza6pLYyk0lNN8VYilbW0J9qu3jT6RoGCZnOTCXYvblQ/?imgmax=800" height="496" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 9px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="PJ6 Buttons cropped" width="250" /></a><br />
Aside from Robin’s delight, I am really pleased with this make. Especially with all the cutting and pattern matching. In fact every time I see how the border print lines up makes me smile (although not as much as Robin, apparently).<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGI1v5yqnndPW8Y9xITWrox7yWBx6CKrtaO3n1EEkZ2xvsFsh72qfSfOSX9-BR6n5vMkVePS-yEBweLKjjVNbFwzC6u64CaGW8Fq8JcXbIjiJOYLg6xNnLO-DWHK42LI-ImvZD_PWj1_o/s1600-h/PJ3%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="PJ3" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4ywIBUAUmBNe6oO0pxBwQVu3qwFTpyG3hv6DGpMeXhF7yYVGc0BDGNK-7XyPtfQrY5bx4GqF-rWh1tuZ7STU_F9F3hIB94EeDtlnNht4QKRH4qKbRsmch3XUn0KVB8VGy3E-lLmQ2Kg/?imgmax=800" height="240" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin: 7px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="PJ3" width="135" /></a>Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-20675546636809462942014-06-09T23:31:00.000+01:002014-06-09T23:31:06.875+01:00Wardrobe MakeoverWell, it is a kind of stashbusting. In that we no longer have to edge into the garage and complain about not being able to find anything “because there’s a wardrobe there”. :-)<br />
My online presence has been little bit sketchy over the last couple of months. I nearly blogged on my April makes, but with two lots of school holidays, plus some other things to be doing, I feel like I got sucked into limbo and have just been spat out again. <br />
My big (non-sewing) project was a long-awaited paint job on the wardrobe I promised Matthew <strong>last summer</strong>.<strong> </strong>It arrived then as a plain, beaten up, scribbled on pine wardrobe (£12, ebay). Summer 2013, before the sun went away, I let the children help me prime it (why???) and then it got mothballed in the garage while it rained. End of April/beginning of May I made some space in the living room, and spent the next few weeks giving it a top coat and then decorating in the previously approved fashion, while fending off offers of help from the children. It is now residing in Matthew’s tiny bedroom (it fits under his loft bed!) <br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 501px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="249"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9l-AzK6a3Ace8H8sEASYcs43E0N8PWJGaRFFUPEAN1pAchGdWOorNCROnKKE8KpFMjglFTQRtUuODDcv8TQureRaDQWrhpVUZvtoz0fbKG6uA_Umg5BSK-hANOnjxDiaVhjFZkhvgJA/s1600-h/Wardrobe%252520stage%2525201%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Wardrobe stage 1" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfWShiDQT2Z0GpatUAKYPq4j16Cyt46kWvKdEdAHwqoqymlrCoenoSIT08mOM7IF2RAe71eXXytsSxf-SvXUQpcTE7sP-SwhcH0vyLApPXXhMlCnDnPckdsk5uqloqw0GulSYYraxXM8/?imgmax=800" height="455" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Wardrobe stage 1" width="228" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="250"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSFGYS8iJ_U-eSWc43DI1wQlCEgpy-KDXeytmZMlXvYErEpJ3zscXaB9z3KvsxV9BVKKqCMgpICizCK5QjY2usBW4p5NMF275c1mxOR-sjdH79xYrz0qvwlYLDUkXjyU_A8o0lXXS0ms/s1600-h/Wardrobe%252520side%252520pulleys%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Wardrobe side pulleys" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cldR5hMZBl-oNGWOTTs_KdoRtMMjSFfbS9YylOuxbDNb16oll-htVogQUpdNwpzTMBiwG44zVbd-Ao0WCrfFuPckCeGvMZ2JrjhdI7bLItQ-jVA2vCE_r_Mfd7UE8Icz6rdCv3ykC1I/?imgmax=800" height="442" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Wardrobe side pulleys" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLynquMhF8DRwwQoyX2U_DscraMpAiJwKKflqcrJdnFZ0bilCz2aUW6mC-qzTP2wZ_D6vxdWlLOCmq-uBFC1tCEHEiHZ3-KEQ05bkqR6_sLkSPlrOtoba84-5YVX4nV4FIhEe-iIllGpc/s1600-h/Wardrobe%252520finished%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Wardrobe finished" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ty9HcE8RVBpnka6SM43F-SpvB7_mbxnhYtWUh3Uqm-WmfaKF5ZAhljqZ4kibXulBlP9kTMhSzw3Z_Ab0yWfJtKFV5M_Rs8mooBFjS9u9tf_vUkeIQoyh0Xcfyl__0LL3QN8TWxz7rx4/?imgmax=800" height="412" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Wardrobe finished" width="306" /></a><br />
I did do some sewing, but nothing that needs much explanation…<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 500px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="249"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUCJF8BNkmeUc7FoSnwfOkqLog4PJGKr7xAGvB1H8_Td8VegzWoi1e4xIxr2V7IOKXA7rpVMcohnTHVwJavRjYcB9YUjxWL7oAHoH3BkOM1a-2AkmJ20l0jvEyL8c3i1lU8aBzBqwb6s/s1600-h/2014_04_01_14_23_11%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="2014_04_01_14_23_11" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQFiAcq6Asbxa06KBxF1M44B23MutLh2nQ9OKN_Z9LVbX3gwW8b9-2t2xV29yphumueDNVd3IGEIjTfgSYChe9EOeLGbokXWe23vV16xnAaX17dv8bIw9pMZaWlOsGipaVez0uzK9vLo/?imgmax=800" height="318" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="2014_04_01_14_23_11" width="179" /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Leaving present for my son’s fab Maths teacher</span></td> <td valign="top" width="249"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlluqoo7Bfjy-lXfTi2a_GmJT67qpr8eto_cdqiFSXaAqPI1lMa7Nh8uiWOC6Mio7hk4fR-sT15LAyfMv8hP48likaZu4SdYy3UKEddg0J2TbNUeKrgtNLT2JlVFYnFYJkPm05oBS7sA/s1600-h/Easter%252520presents%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Easter presents" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyqQ8zOc6zeqnr05NYRFILA00XwrZk9J6zDR19AW7TG1WoYlJilQNjgMX2ikPP1sVDm4BoxPeS8cbmQJMdJBARZ5w2Sk2BVqD1aK75wjpp_aQqsIBt2sFVg4QcExBnCu9Iwhr1txvBRk/?imgmax=800" height="309" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Easter presents" width="211" /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">non-food items for the Easter Egg Hunt.</span></td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="249"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ekw1FHJWtAkH2zFo4sWouY78sUipZ_pbzfTGvpvHqSTNfuNCENSwrcq883VU-oQ7KrAKFVQH5cpeBzVTopfqjNrB_adTa1y5FSnLsGNntc275lBFk75QXH3bBfV2o01y8zqkvU4NnG4/s1600-h/2014_05_12_11_18_08%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="2014_05_12_11_18_08" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbGvil20NouDsrpk3pHP94kTD8fZJY1OaIKwW5i0IR4q742PseimcDhe9eOTMqbR1SRnYuSqcrwF83N3zvLo6nC-_RoyngvImguninb_EfWAUj5jUfgH8bZgLpZx7NUW8LkBtAtRsmDo/?imgmax=800" height="135" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="2014_05_12_11_18_08" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">money pouch, using vintage linings from my grandmother’s stash…</span></td> <td valign="top" width="250"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgbE6Dq6OUexYPqY-jq9TDe6y-SQqoaGgzyoJnUXRqDkWTVLLIV3CY920uoPHBrZGlkfPxAGio_7tbNtQDcEfiNEJRvKnxzn4sGNM5-ThOUmjTKopWUBLtyIWqPEW3lpunubTOoBFpX4/s1600-h/2014_05_12_11_36_23%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="2014_05_12_11_36_23" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmbKAifLZyF7NnuolFXwplsFzU6NBYp4BRBY2p4KXqfp5RBebiMM6IU3HRGHSDJkkxx68zPOV2Jz4zwltf7pizTCLf4NgBkyGyeKQWRiQrzOhIFfL3baiUhot6bzOw8Obk5HUkphcNKs/?imgmax=800" height="135" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="2014_05_12_11_36_23" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Leather brooch made at a workshop at the fab <a href="http://lovefromhettyanddave.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">Love From Hetty & Dave.</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I also made two items of clothing – a frilled, polka dot crimplene skirt for Robin, and a green and orange linen shirt for my 1 year old nephew, only “Failure to Fotograph” struck again so no photos. (Sorry, alliteration was too good to resist). <br />
And I moved my sewing machines from the dining room to the recently vacated garden office (or “shed”). This has had an impact on my sewing too, as I have to go outside to get things done, but it is also helping my to think about how I approach my sewing tasks, and what state I leave everything in at the end of the day!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yz6Erq0dpWGm59z8wmJVxuHehTlJgL7lHzd3A8mxWB2WNRPAX9MsfUPW3SVbTjCxhs_s1Ug6PygiLdWkWg7E7cJvuHMmb0h0t_ELTYfp_lZ34s7XJIskaYaZ2_vMgvt7jU3Rwc_szT0/s1600-h/2014_05_09_10_59_50%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="2014_05_09_10_59_50" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaDrtudlZZ3PQs3d1LNFbIzQRoCvuW33ndz-0ggrHaSPr59qKgsVGA94PmuGgYfDl-MEDct8V5pLeiZrL1sWh1sz2zbLfYPk9qLoaIkOsHzVBvafnzgjYSLAU1oSx0ogwCmNH1m_9d0Y/?imgmax=800" height="234" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="2014_05_09_10_59_50" width="415" /></a><br />
Here’s to a more productive June/July, before 6 weeks of no sewing hits me. Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-5681878445425957252014-03-28T10:47:00.000+00:002014-03-28T10:47:01.057+00:00The MoustachathonProject no. 3 for March – an utterly seasonal marathon running costume! <br />
In a couple of weeks’ time my elder sister will be running the London Marathon (again) and felt that her earlier foray into Marathon/Moustache combos was just too low key and commissioned something like this but out of felt.<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMEg6ZEYac7Umdcd-xgJ7WeHRwYifU-0lz-cPZBwE4X4-QXt7Nt9FgGVM5MORoKTGmXAxo4bpPvHC6NuGcuWoPgyzs4OFZjqgtoeNX5pBOxDVEd5YjycDCXIW70Ipl2-XLkvwctvNmE0/s1600-h/inspiration%252520photo%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="inspiration photo" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdhbBzMxO934_7WEm9iY7v3Zft7tZQCqADzzCy1qEs01Zc-qOCukz-xKOOZQ03cziGiriJ2Gb5ZDpVNMZ2qPzUiMLC-DkymvDfCqoeuKQONwTl6-G6ColI1W5uSxB_XLj0kUltHVgJFI/?imgmax=800" height="179" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="inspiration photo" width="240" /></a><a href="http://circle.sewweekly.com/photo/giant-mustache-halloween-costume" title="http://circle.sewweekly.com/photo/giant-mustache-halloween-costume"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://circle.sewweekly.com/photo/giant-mustache-halloween-costume</span></a></div>
Pretty straight forward to make – 1.5m of black felt, some kind of covered wire I was gifted last year when corset making, and lots of black thread. (We considered using cardboard, but thought it might be harder to run in, especially if it rained). I broke out the zigzag machine for this one, and having cut out two layers of moustache shaped felt zigzagged over the wire to attach it to one of the layers. If I hadn’t been trying to work it all out on the fly I would have then done the same thing with a wide H shape of wire (to provide vertical and horizontal support) and repeated for the other piece. As it was I attached the two layers a bit too soon, so had to be a bit more creative. Especially as it needed a little bit of padding to give the curves some character. However, by dint of layering in some spare felt/wire/batting and then painstakingly sewing in some more wire to the lower edge of the front piece for support, attaching it to the RTW black tutu at regular intervals, and stitching more bits closed to get it to hang right when worn we ended up with “the vision”. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5RG6JMgM8C_iYYKKNmdR5qHoSajRDXESBJA87GpRytpPcbj4FMnFAeg9720MTePUDQ9qaq_hF1k-GxaXzpX2tWJN-ZtuWplTy-SqUbw3Ln44kezB_jD4hB52WqSTDaQYMYHeGStHXUQ/s1600-h/Cathy%252520Full%252520Moustach%2525202%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Cathy Full Moustach 2" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CAsNXrCPSVME1YV4_05XvU8HdD4qvVGS2PHq4U2Ydq-NQpuQmlfINMU6l017HW6uOwBUlgEz9LT4fQcxMzd-YUTIViYdyzujlEJobDw4IkePwb8MiEvAKCpft9-KGIuxbJ6Y-GzCH94/?imgmax=800" height="120" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Cathy Full Moustach 2" width="350" /></a><br />
And a bonus piece of theming is the comedy facial moustache that no-one can miss!<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 501px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="249"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzYdCtlA-Mscxm2H5tUbVAbR20pFYBFALLEA0As9OJFBVi5f8FdcEvviVzAWpXGuyE54ObsxTgMxJP_6XLzTvglA_2RZa3pUHWZt8jcLfYTOhGVGxw0DEh1lBABdXRitpxPDMlCq0JmM/s1600-h/Matthew%252520Face%252520Moustache%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Matthew Face Moustache" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAOa_xF_iCrCFTlFzwpRfIkvi_oTm_pMkM_fnGmZjWIIfZoz0TQ8pBA2i3nuDxfvPOEFUbQrv3T8ANfJTMgfOQV974n5fGw-HVl9vZq06sP9nLwoFmbxgLmMCPFL2ZEoLN8p4nZ-3rEds/?imgmax=800" height="135" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Matthew Face Moustache" width="240" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="250"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrajW5P4FU1LEyZCVvQYwjt8E4zl4t3ri5VD2yGzZu75rbtytPmggq9rVOlD_oSHkYdoqx_xxgJQIPqQNg0fb-CJvY-8qEpCCCTGCN8geF8VoeH6xoiplj9ybP2rd0lo57bz7Ro3yrVjM/s1600-h/Robin%252520Face%252520Moustach%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Robin Face Moustach" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2w4sUybrYkqJgJrCgj4gk6hEZd836k1y1PE78apPGL1qxl2F16u6oGRfTwax_UvtnhobI-x3y0LzrJ3h5y9vJ-PXinLEzwdq2cViWFV4OyFxcYzJP0o9FWT81b5VIKdiPZJxBNIPm5U8/?imgmax=800" height="135" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Robin Face Moustach" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="249"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMiQvxBi7aD13eDZYwtoE2xYVUtattZeN2cGc9tGDwteMKpmrDK5ds3x3eK6O0WxalnRl3lujMUalPPZNrBNHkhCWmVRDPsJMAAVQEzvC8CfxqOybVbw-kzrF6EvObUj8OvfW3FHlFHE/s1600-h/Piper%252520face%252520Moustache%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Piper face Moustache" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZVysFuTHWJt9TKOULDY36NHY86fHv62U6P_pa1NYoOiftFd4fzQgmYsTEH8n1i1d0Bhefsacd3YFYCYareD_3JEgbIC4eA0uDDwHcdV_BqFZsMbn6lci_CFjjU8DWgpqw8L4syOBYx8/?imgmax=800" height="175" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Piper face Moustache" width="240" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="250"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHx697G_mgip40gAblCy3wViakOp-veVd0KXwIg6aXUkjlZYm_kAOuWMeXULP8X6Qx4cctbLbPE6PUYPZTuAhzvA3UZKei9C_2Jv5kda_yyMM9M0NPWzHddDoZLfeLmtezmEhb0B9L-4g/s1600-h/Cathy%252520face%252520moustache%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Cathy face moustache" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_PBfN2J1dke6wuH8TIA0IPqM3ZRe_t3wPboFt_vIN97bZ-5J431V8a6U4jeIKcjUpk_mn6dZoq-GYai1XzUnzUlZhARTfcVHCEDB6F7j3acaVDw-DEiSI6re26kzrXlqWFCvsVdMwUM/?imgmax=800" height="175" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Cathy face moustache" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you want to sponsor Cathy then please visit her <a href="http://m.virginmoneygiving.com/mt/uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=CathyBasiel&faId=409158&isTeam=false" target="_blank">sponsorship page here</a>.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB740zJ6IOu955hRTJBDkS-flnphgi0AMMwMN8Y9KMV7cqT0g1EehpoNWCoUzv3BcPZpoSlrItzsd6V0l8NL6A74Pu0Q0W-eTMA4EeH25idPIwo92L4Q6Ox_NVu7REEeQ8-u1d5ZFrt2o/s1600-h/Cathy%252520Full%252520Moustache%2525201%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Cathy Full Moustache 1" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCx6bKoCCIkjbx_ECzQrPAziNT0K9aPDMu11QzZqVUT7nehRi-xvs0DDdKVmUjEg9AFL-9gtFQBOBytjMNZoah4OmMfJ6aDS7-M7J4o_aDdHpfDIkXnXHp6gbI-QOhFdTVCPLgwzd3PY/?imgmax=800" height="477" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Cathy Full Moustache 1" width="300" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">p.s. apologies for the quality of the photos – the light was poor, the house was a mess and I was using my mobile phone – never a good combination.</span>Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-62805778261269038392014-03-09T21:48:00.003+00:002014-03-09T21:48:21.703+00:00World Book DayApparently this was the 17th <a href="http://www.worldbookday.com/" target="_blank">World Book Day</a> (the fourth since I first heard about it – when Matthew started school) and I love it. The notion of having a day to celebrate the joy of reading a book, and even better, going to school in costume to illustrate it and to share new books and characters with your friends! <br />
This year Matthew and Piper both came up with really clear ideas of which characters they wanted to go as. And posed for LOTS of photos.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MFG8LJVY1ka3QeCs-Tdd63lervypecm4G7Drx0IepMeqlU4qjKOfajmsddNWCTGNY4VagVidxE95qGdAekYp350AKO4ig-Vzc0G0ltkDx3EayVrzJ_au9EiVJTOVSk4uKZvKzjqWik0/s1600-h/World%252520Book%252520Day%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="World Book Day" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlNv3nsB-1Nw2DfRQ22MGkbgMiZsw_7DQiwGlT1jwoFrk_YOHTLytujuWeAJR949b2Wi5Gq2cphPrQQx2dzgtB6I7VHAt41QGDs6Tv-9GXChE9-lWiEuI0904NcHI_lihVLp7JBt6j3E/?imgmax=800" height="440" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="World Book Day" width="500" /></a><br />
Piper chose Katie Morag (recently made into a TV series, but we have a couple of the original books at home too). The key items of this costume are a cream chunky knit sweater (with some blue detailing), a green check skirt and a pair of wellies. Well, the boots we already had and the basic jumper I found in Tesco marked down from £10 to £4! The skirt was trickier though as it is a very green on green check, and didn’t quite fit any of the tartans or checked fabrics I could find locally. It also bugged me that I wasn’t going to be able to use anything out of my stash – until I realised I had the perfect base fabric for the skirt. Then I just cut out the pieces I needed (traced from one of her school skirts) and I used fabric paints to print the squares and draw the lines. A few hours later and I had the perfect print, mimicking the watercolour style of the original illustrations! The skirt then just needed sewing together, I couched a length of blue yard onto the jumper to create the decorative element Katie Morag has on her sweater and I had one happy Piper.<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 500px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="166"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQ6Wow5ODlrK0VXopn8Cfs8fi0zsoJRRARyKOuWy8QuzJtm5GqKZeBEtVua_SJmogl3V1ah2ShyphenhyphenHvBA4A9BNWKrx3SUU1rViDo6Y5eA0vkl80fN10vdC5TofLsjoSElvPzwlNOoNKCAA/s1600-h/KatieMorag%25255B5%25255D.png"><img alt="KatieMorag" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTH4tpkNod-x53vHJvXQOfecPGBg4W96ojUU0gia9jZLiE2CSVHcG-KrvHcFCx_Y9KhM6bN-TsJmLcV96TUgie3DurHPZjgIA5A5dvrXNRMnSbUJNKWwRXp8Di_yWBhGbLm8ib6KWmTg/?imgmax=800" height="179" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 26px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="KatieMorag" width="160" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="166"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzbPDGgxJqyo1HcB09NJv87dFeELm0xa0DyfxfNN6g-7UQcchMczeR99YOdx4qKoDa9tyE_51XfyOePUmCa6MjOOm07G8OxzE31F4UfllTCz-SGOfGC1GNcHkpnbN_EsBrwgJG1dGhs4/s1600-h/KM%252520Dance%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="KM Dance" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh46AO3VouOwp1AeIvLCwmZLYjJLSrA3TpIaNpxvIrUwVbtFdtF9FeliIcJRuX2wvaDbkcdFGXBAoUmqzVRL78rJYfT1nFncblNf3q5rS2lbNrKVXYevnVDglm-f0kpYlwlAOtOORunoc/?imgmax=800" height="222" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 3px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="KM Dance" width="160" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="166"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRt40fLEUtNqsJN81swu6ug0hJJc-xL_ZNepQtd8pkSJspCacGguNRCsESGeiK9PWGfS7nCMWPCAwZmTdT1qN2Zpw0_-a8dvQsX5FYtoSa6BYLtEewqk2a5sHy1Ol3smtCUftTSY5Pls/s1600-h/KM%252520Skipping%2525202%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="KM Skipping 2" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfV0uQDZM3PyHC1Rf-oFzwx_u1s0md0bE9k_h3rP3LBf_rvQAMIZzVvW82b7e2ppcEUhEDvb_2ODhrKCYZ1iQxTlfyIrN8Kmky_fE7eqp7hyphenhyphenti72oClMO5EptZKi6WiEUJxTNV__DkzNo/?imgmax=800" height="229" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="KM Skipping 2" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="166"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XQUXBTm4Y9DkOAQOSF1CTTW0eQX83swYzYX31XixCq7qWrUHuYELvMaHlqfZoFOHVAQRRcCypifX5X2E3h9-pAl9fLoDfCbtnp029gnT-HixRsQJs_Ukw0aqOjzpKvfsIa8HUZUThNw/s1600-h/KM%252520Skipping%2525204%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="KM Skipping 4" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgECh7VuZgOJ3a_wQhYIC9Z_y0OPG72AyAdWpvt1j4YKSJ9FII8nx_kDioWkb5_k0adhMJQjhAz-dqBtiGNYFm6kUrw9mLa9vvMsN3Z5jitaeTaJ8nHfrkLGb94isXtZaSIadHIJWXEw/?imgmax=800" height="190" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="KM Skipping 4" width="160" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="166"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44Tm9cOBnAOBKZIefkjnsA4tCa-2iQMpn_sBbM5YrChsgM1wh3ZR0k3HDYxQLsXZsqiTQhyphenhyphent2Hp7uKr1fNgtZh9LVRZ7FnxLyfh5dF3SWp1dk6FwFMcVngY-Bb72gTBulhxR4-XkGaHc/s1600-h/KM%252520Skipping%2525203%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="KM Skipping 3" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkAsDLnhd7M0OVAkQ571RUAg6wO0D4-wab8Kpdde5p2g0fGbe-HFng55fuWM0yVYnqqmNneX4NV00aqAyz3h2TBxVTbRXIclmHgt5d-gw-yL9u6Zwy8-TTXhWUyA4a2OW6Ho_b-CTqwc/?imgmax=800" height="203" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="KM Skipping 3" width="160" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="166"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEro9BW_5lZehkM53aNJl0b2PPNwzPNBYuQtAq2e5Rhd-CwWYa86AIGO07seQD-nCekKEwnZ1zqIaJ4K5Weg1zmlwdB0MX4eHaT0xg8oXnBu2yK_yxYYaTjM1fZoanM96VM2C_Gwt5EiQ/s1600-h/KM%252520Skipping%2525201%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="KM Skipping 1" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BOKLYYEGOv9juiUH5e1IiNJAQMpGa5KB0T-2uTKgMeqy1tqNPeiEs1eBya7srhshJXJdcOA0mSPCCWcvHTpcEOfGkBVjTOHkUTXNoSVbV5OzIMIs6g7nn0bBsnNQgCqeSmdlwptwIhA/?imgmax=800" height="190" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="KM Skipping 1" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="166"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JDLnxJc0cUP0Wi8nrQNi38xRhMjI8LeK1JvKbMfYZ7tHFi9OX72YGcfu5HHdIt-LboIcPIvVavxP8QtixEIsMzz8omLJk-vk7ptYSVW_pO8Kr6ICJs0tKpxiGhGTBieHAPUmwxcmnx0/s1600-h/KM%252520Full%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="KM Full" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivD8os7V5-Xrk7nxf_FWQos-QoASDvLAMckLTcRvKun5y_blpR3EMAc9-zu5Flg2D_P9nCzL_AI8CQ58cr-xDdfX1C1JA1wuskyhZ3EUalwWojsaNgvGTfnvMESeGezKL4U3QjeL_0CUs/?imgmax=800" height="240" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="KM Full" width="160" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="166"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzpfgFmRvmhi5nxlxegdN6UgwaJq_zlYRBGhUNRbadFQkjLz01lM5TCQrj_TO0NYEInWKPDau-3YCDN9DZSZh4DOetpwl6agSBD_UxlnDSMAlsJpO5nEzYHK6NL8plvlMjUVpmn92frc/s1600-h/KM%252520Back%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="KM Back" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSK6jmdEny0juStqjevhIl9RX4ya2u8BXLidIHAFdkXrpqET0qvCFRhpL6eErki2YijZKB51kxu_o_ws1fYJql4pGn6gkJLazoDU_xakPb3DWDzT_QTWhUZhw9Jh3iNJ0R2gg2qyy0CY/?imgmax=800" height="240" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="KM Back" width="160" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="166"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHLlHoTcTnXgcS8WvJgAd8LVIYXIk7cOfdutPkKf9mIPLqQxSXSyVOI12gFofgatjQn6Q3nMUk8HITFDX-4FgAmZOx2x8-9d3wetnUJkKuvryhNXs2l6YVBTrRjaEV2jLuabJBSLKz74/s1600-h/KM%252520Jumper%252520close%252520up%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="KM Jumper close up" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMAPN2rXLXSkEi-XovZ0zejqLf6goi-ml-jl2hsls5KUqqTxEx16NXNR3Q0_M7qbVrLkEAI75R7IG_XloHmPRcxIIrTHaW9caBcCRzSNcXN5rIxtNJXJMPQh_RHtgy0YvpVSvmdFdgy0/?imgmax=800" height="240" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="KM Jumper close up" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="166"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0W8hlg6yGnELS0ZeQsYbZeXHeg-M4WDpFBoaiAQUVWYy2lmb87TcXfSh_PNfIEgt7i5UNIHi3YvS-HtlkVaR3QxzirsLVgcaNtkn1-1-AMK7osWbr2jGekgaFWi3zTornoKiTcy8mpU/s1600-h/KM%252520Skirt%252520front%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="KM Skirt front" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNFP6lh6HXaJHIRwXrVHwYaaB-EpwDqWP_JVq-G3NODflWScJjDNsM6usstQOSK70oE_ZDUltEhCOwsrZ9f-Vpx4WnFZ6pPMUByjgRPN_o8v-Bv6cMj1hUkTDe0o9jxYCgLAzIzI0gUU/?imgmax=800" height="240" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="KM Skirt front" width="160" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="166"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYS3LsK9Pc4DRO4dqwoivG05ra59lyYEwwMIjLuW0abdg_cUDn1BR0_K2HMgXIFDcSv1KjEQGZmdgna9htFqNVbwVB91BtxIINfSnEHV9v_WMSc3vhNIjsDeQsT5oWk7Zrkxmrs6ok5w/s1600-h/KM%252520Skirt%252520back%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="KM Skirt back" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbAVhQra1xXXZzJHdNPFY0XyNOR-0b6JNMdh9USoz4e5t3_23MEo_D_YNf4vnMeNOtsLCesPLHitFXw5rU1QswMuZZhDrdHn6YR84QFYjVu44yFHeruoUeOyvxchn5I5wmQO_4zWxCDo/?imgmax=800" height="240" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="KM Skirt back" width="160" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="166"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pwnU4U1jU2nZdMm88O90Pc3cIkpVWwsvnA-4onUp28EsxIowp9XjsuffTLCZfV8cPiDi_2oQIfI2Mtth3uAYzWrSyES8M-mHJoEmEPJkirsbjcSikqZV5ybMfiJbbLwAFDIe98fLtKI/s1600-h/KM%252520Jumper%2525202%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="KM Jumper 2" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuNLtCcoVj_qfDTJqULBBC7rovbQaPoS4-YfQGHyu8A4FbPYifsPWAT8JuDy3_abt7-mu0KvDekdBYPgznVKed73TdP53DOzn3O20hu5G_vJ-SNPqYjyquwV10AZt3ZxHTVhZXM8vvT4/?imgmax=800" height="240" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="KM Jumper 2" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Matthew selected a brilliant character costume that is completely his style, and couldn’t have been more obscure if he tried! One of his most read books is one I bought when I was his age called “Aliens in the Family” by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Works_by_Margaret_Mahy" target="_blank">Margaret Mahy</a>. Bond is a shape changing alien sent to Earth on a fact finding mission. He disguises himself as a human in order to not stand out. His clothing is described in detail: “Pockets of orange, green and gold, all differently shaped, were sewn down the legs of his blue jeans, and there were others like bright windows on his brown shirt.” The book also makes reference to his white hair and the red and black tattoos on his neck which in his real form are his gills and there is a plot element where he acquires a transistor radio with ear piece which he carries around everywhere.<br />
One charity shop shirt, one existing pair of jeans, and some more wedding linen from the stash (plus some junk from Robert's collection of broken tech that he hasn't thrown away yet) and we had it!<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 514px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="256"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinApC1RM_BnJ-wEqGQPJO-VylIl9_W3P5Ejm_qrZovDe_7HwKAJYQ71oKiUmWS-22L3DTHamM5PlMEn4jS7HdWsx2GAo_pKgJEWNvuhpopHL1314_iWebTGTKF4LW0FY2H0nNFXH2vVEM/s1600-h/Alien%252520Tattoo%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Alien Tattoo" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFgWLB0y-N1NyYCEZSH3PMe413s6Ipg494dAK5Db7tJQ72fPyyKvMUPBSg7TdY8iuUIG4AtbzHc_KN81x3AQdwSmzflqHjdWDcKF9h6R3Yo_hmm9G1YronvCNimEooDBO0pNob0EZ9eE/?imgmax=800" height="375" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Alien Tattoo" width="250" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="256"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLT0xwFhDWZN1_W63s85QY7wglXjEADu4V6oI_JkVAgvIumqdDxtzE3eFUZFEbgGuOYPEHbwVrwALuDbyDm4Z0PDem9VB941OAR8IMkOcIKpMigpVOi6vfSzaqsWiDQwUZXZy7kYNgV8/s1600-h/Alien%252520Full%252520Face%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Alien Full Face" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFpyvZ0fWbadoHkrEj3nFPXmJ4uDUnTh9aFd8jmhRjvpamrDY77405tZFDBqfzaZLa-T7m6kk1BliAUfjBC0w2Ic7WUo_lheZliRenJZMIkgBsZCYmlBfEpgNo_SLDrvZ6sFlPFzNRRw/?imgmax=800" height="375" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Alien Full Face" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="256"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_T8Zylsw0ReibRbMSO6N-HSlCo6wPdhBjUm_ta35I58hsCkhmHvBU54yV6abyUjKnrI5yYCM9vwN5nrEasGQQTHV3asrv47lZjS6FYoEjsENDhzpHqkHfSUCLBiv1jDu7zqDgeB7fU4/s1600-h/Alien%252520Bodycrop%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Alien Bodycrop" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceLB3yy-T396iZmlRSOppMqiLmpAZTpY836zxD6EMW9fpO_LAiUi4CCo_fFszbzeRu1yBjIQqAD46_23RZJPAGekrmQWw3kxRlBa7xPJCPZ8D8mC-tjWpsF6b0-ed5H_qHvsYkdIhe2w/?imgmax=800" height="357" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Alien Bodycrop" width="250" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="256"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeQmn2ILaAW2PiIC6awtBXZYxILaLJX8AtmqRgQpYLXq0-NENf4N1lV4ESPzTpBfBlrie_A_SLxsy9cjhIjV6vMw58BlMXdr8ktLbyZV_f9NlN7I-veN49UlqSxbSx4eRA3glbtAhPbk/s1600-h/Alien%252520Pout%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Alien Pout" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKwuDNsAl8bib9P77eGo3J4SnZ88Msyrh8Y59IWk1eoAkYL12fs_t0HonwV2AxakcRgagkFu9XFU7AkW48goG_lkitBWbewLhywvCtxmCrDxJk5rAA0acf9Eg1VcCikADLFRQj4fX4JA/?imgmax=800" height="353" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Alien Pout" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="256"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIToumjrisRsEaK2y6mbuQK5ae7TIUJJ8sBOmnr1kDnts5oTqxKn0pT0hGQMpgbAcuF8isj6UOx6dveVSf9xLzH6w0QsIHIQ9Prkae4Rvhsym61uh6LuwjNdiX0sbgHUcNh9sSYxmxw4U/s1600-h/Alien%252520Pout%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Alien Pout" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSMCHJt4M_tf3b7dhKzae0K8xBqSdy-lEtH2edWY3Aqauvp373-xORD8fhHMx5efsFVXrqYHpldxbg97Ja5dIWLRasBlC8gp23T0Le0fPfhWc3XrywFZewoNp-RaboP_j15Jy2qhbSgg/?imgmax=800" height="353" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Alien Pout" width="250" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="256"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qfHc5_k5f00gD26-gwYwpz_wzT0qIefesSXP5BZd2uidK1USUYcaUoUKEkKtYHVakJtQSPTT15jzSQDYFEerCv3m3vhh0X-khzW6YltHcc8O9EzDi5weIy4uRHKQIY-7QY4PnR9VnyY/s1600-h/Alien%252520Headshot%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Alien Headshot" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGfBAQ-bvkW-sNNxUrF5WDV8IRBwyD_9u6Kn1DF6lFtD9MRHZgutJOElTS9y-u7DweL6SshYdluI0bY8_B5YN7gy7pnT7LfIXIg8VdNhvK7L0AA-wmSaMI-NzYndn08SnjF20KFhGan0/?imgmax=800" height="219" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Alien Headshot" width="250" /></a><br />
In progress shot – tattoos applied, and hair spray in progress – outside!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I love World Book Day, and I think they did too. Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-4658557026439642622014-03-03T11:39:00.000+00:002014-03-03T11:40:54.995+00:00A little bit of Love<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipK3xL4187LbNRH3LJ-3pNg6EiJrR1GLrHxHram0NXes0FrFIdBgR8YUT4QaQCck4KjmGKIbznOmle_H_T58RmN0XH7Ctkj15h65sYYCbEsb32gDJpT8-LKXgYP_xqAEkLqMPbCVd_AKQ/s1600-h/SuperPiper%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="SuperPiper" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2V57wIcZT1P6ErbmVWboNabi-PAUV6ehRGOSsJ_dxG_WijHQzntXJODzxn5TOgfINYk3TjUubv44Ofo8_VXoFwkxKhRlfk3XA2LfR51tLEmGSFDWGalSPxaNWtIe6qtJI0Q-QvfrlJQ/?imgmax=800" height="335" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="SuperPiper" width="184" /></a>Stashbusting in February has been going very well – and with a brief to make either something I love, or for someone I love it was very easy to fit with other practical considerations.<br />
First up was Superhero Day at school (much admired already by my fellow stashbusters. Most of the costume was made a couple of years ago for Matthew, but Piper is a different kind of superhero, so she definitely needed a red skirt to really work her superhero status.<br />
<br />
February is also a birthday month and sister in law Sue wanted a barista style apron. Half a remnant later (plus some leftovers from Robert’s shirt) we have an apron. I was undecided on a pocket, so left it for now and will add one to Sue’s requirements next time they visit. <br />
Sister in law LJ’s birthday was soon after, and in a spectacularly unimaginative move made her an apron too! However as they have utterly different styles I was able to be much more creative in my fabric choices.<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCCPa6E5KuSFvW8qDNArGmMtKixgoWLCqK2bhWFiYhJsw2GPvunH93YJxO3dJu_YlouK7wowXXvC3MMBWcLda0ubit_RLXrR3SiSBoCL6Bt5lQiG6Y7RODCbH_PDksVFPS_Uz6uGG5Jk/s1600-h/Aprons%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Aprons" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaBM9yA3V-uvk0tY5tmKQHPQqFVo-hHvXs6I3sRLZbadCXwireEa_FIFp2TkpGFn1ZUuaK3UpP4VCTPExItEEubk-bL24ySHe7APPdh7uTvGkaFWRMkIoSFpJfm52n92BYmjo31sxeBw/?imgmax=800" height="373" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 5px auto 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Aprons" width="420" /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(modelled by Robert and Matthew!)</span></div>
<br />
Contrary to all the clues this is in fact NOT a valentine! Except in the sense of <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHTM-_rsBteBe-9_nmGdj7LC3McqwIyXqeA4uT8_JIZbAlKNopS6JydS_R5UfS89QqVaoqHNRzauKhhbgGRsv1gyAKBHIIfLiiFWmXdzS4LrU6Cz7NtXhMjDYMZNERZFkNYmra-P_X2o/s1600-h/I%252520love%252520you%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="I love you" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7ueecL2O4pqTdiwC2mq55PwYI4_xSspho1qUlSdd9r-9pKLvBS7mEY2SSrGanZIXwaXUN65uUo9pJBz0W5ddKyURoc-sTNY9IIR2b6QJ0weexAplejr1l8vyJTzwOgCuxlNKVckAYsI/?imgmax=800" height="165" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I love you" width="240" /></a>being an enduring reminder of my love. I wanted to provide my little sister with something that would remind her how much she is loved on the days when everything is a battle. As a first pass I made this simple needlework design using a piece of the leftover wedding fabric. The embroidery hoop was just for the making. I ended up gluing it to a postcard, and backing it with another piece of card to hide the edges, so that she can lean it on a shelf or stick it to the wall easily.<br />
<br />
Finally(ish) my other sister came to visit over half term, bringing with her a onesie which needed to be altered to make a Max (from Where The Wild Things Are) for <a href="http://www.worldbookday.com/" target="_blank">World Book Day</a>. This was great fun, working out how to achieve the look without drastically altering the original garment. I turned the round bear ears into horns by twisting them up and stitching in place. Then I raided my cupboard for black covered wire (I don’t know what this generally used for, but someone gave it to me when I was corset making…) for wonky whiskers and some white fabric for the tail. Finally I added four large buttons down the front – and added white stickers to the front of each one to make them more like Max’s. One happy Robin… I mean Cathy. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0iSguXZwWpYVN-lzl3mXdAB0hn99W27M4tgGCbiIM9mtE-NjpEVMrAWaOWteU5u35VJw2th5Of6qtP1lt6KOwPBzemrEE1dt6KNeYxhwErmwx68kEdjJwcAX68KlGwEtZm1bA9YKZhA/s1600-h/WTWTA%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="WTWTA" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGpSVp0V8OtcfZ6x4odTJXiDemaR5M_C5NWu3-s2EGOJgaDomWa-RimFrhq3t5RLZEzUT6XMRpjuN6eYNw3SFcM5F06E0d01giGVpZO25BuE9n0LAVOh0xvYSfegG7r2pehBgzYttENg/?imgmax=800" height="444" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="WTWTA" width="500" /></a><br />
Next up, more World Book Day costumes. :-)Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-25829718714737457222014-02-10T13:40:00.000+00:002014-02-10T14:01:09.042+00:00The Christmas 2013 Picture Extravaganza!<p>Otherwise known as a somewhat belated, picture heavy, recap on Christmas. </p> <p>Teatowels (I cheated – in the interests of sanity, and not having to go to the fabric shop again, I bought ready made tea towels!)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUMbbeL5lDxEzIPFDnxwxsbJDvbD7saGG0boY_cohdg7JJY5a18ZnSm7v3SIhGv9oCo4i9YhhGI5qDVG_ieOZStpF9DwGGQKNzY98IP64HejgmiDTAC_sfVvo8UZna0slMAzETB9ltU4/s1600-h/Teatowels%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="Teatowels" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 6px 0px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Teatowels" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxT0bJGMWEWSooO-RCs01Ctwu0aRxVtWQe_I8v2nEN61oe8d4Kpn_ktrffGF5zsGFEjRi6iujSyyay2TRTmGyBx3UX6o1f3Cd9lkn58cezjCUzj5xTrEVR2uBoDPOsW4TarMOP5UQfIg/?imgmax=800" width="510" height="189"></a></p> <p>Aprons – for two utterly different people! And modelled manfully by Robert and, er… the door!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUj_F72gfFItDTiqhGpbJS6Hro98oCRUbE_ET4VgDu6SJ0iFK7KuVLBTbcd0silfpgjF9bz_jFyEWKQmJM_o29zXXG3L6GA2z3uQpldI3gDjnDeHtvo4zj-mvrm-Gc6wJX7n6D-vV8jw/s1600-h/Aprons%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Aprons" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 6px auto 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Aprons" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCf4N-5gf7Oi-bWU1iiLwLEd3SxxdHLk6rBqkSH9iDAqfX8fLdsdy5G0KZFR7oKTxnhuH5-B3TXDy0Y_sxncnQnCNjp5APMnwjHOCwe5TzDwECxuBEuDxhHs5sM56X4uZ56yREzLwZT4/?imgmax=800" width="400" height="370"></a></p> <p>Butterflies – courtesy of <a href="http://www.ikatbag.com/2013/06/bug-party-butterfly-wings-tutorial.html" target="_blank">Lier of Ikatbag’s brilliant and simple tutorial.</a> Unfortunately my really careful calculations for the amount of fabric needed missed a bit and I now I have about 3 metres of really quite pink fleece lurking in my stash. :-/<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CuNaZNAeQdzQbDxL77z0x3oLjVYFWd5Hmy1CdPo4d7xGbCG0iGoKr2lrEjhyRcW6XY73DiXCtFzBEXpSPi2g2Jg2AhmQckSHkMXac-kDDesynKLWcttGuYUiiXHpmL2_SxQ706p0u8Q/s1600-h/Butterflies%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="Butterflies" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 6px auto 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Butterflies" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59T2oZ37jse8KpiG_EV7ACPHk_-NNFdTtQQyBUGpoT1f1gNsTu-sQX9VkXsIxUk-S0oxOavyisgQfKhuP-ZYmznaWFYnTdIiEepj9FitbuaS37Ps6rQN1e4vo0Ivcu6fgrFc9NO1PFhU/?imgmax=800" width="500" height="321"></a></p> <p>Slippers (again), this time made from one of <a href="http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+jojo-multi-stripe-cotton-pocket-highchair-in-baby-booster-highchairs-and-bouncers+b9017" target="_blank">these</a> – perfect for my little big sister (as modelled by Piper, which is why they look a bit roomy).<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXm2ipdbpbR98B-kaP-Y3BsBNabO5Exlfy3VHFVvIY4cdQ0z0ZgVK7_ZeYUtGCy0-7NZYTWIPCWjB0XWT6pnV0eK1UeAbvz7TwKlh2sGSkgjk1sNVXEn2IL-OmPVe4UKy_31BdmEWDLvA/s1600-h/Stripy%252520Slippers%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Stripy Slippers" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 6px auto 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Stripy Slippers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDunPuudjU1UHFdtUdOng5wkYd9ZclNFh7TQHPu87VoNdULvon-IRv2QdMUINF9DNmhHxCyZezrUYBQ1IDvF6QIYn9C0vaJAFUjGY7_Mh2-f4gADscKoEXETtGj9ZfodI2hyphenhyphen4GPcI1lk/?imgmax=800" width="300" height="195"></a></p> <p>Rompers for my nephew – NOT FROM SCRAPS!! I actually won this in a giveaway at <a href="http://www.myhappysewingplace.com/" target="_blank">My Happy Sewing Place</a>. Katie from <a href="http://www.littledresskits.co.uk/" target="_blank">Little Dress Kits</a> had kindly given Debi one of her kits to give to one of her readers, and it was me! Aside from some slight heavy handedness on my part it was great. Once I had finished cannibalising the cutting process the whole thing came together very well. I have yet to see small Stocks in it, so we will all have to make do with Pyjama Dog standing in.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBS_yYps7ni6x24P-QqdxgGnLgpaqluAo5drwOwnOu3gzC5G6aWRDThMlKy8BhNDQTBfDINj4ucX04Mmk2UY1fi8bKzjZuuQ87MTJL84RQjkzuSG9c6la9vaz8ndTqoD8q55avbuyXwGU/s1600-h/Rompers%252520all%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Rompers all" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 6px auto 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Rompers all" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDylDh0qCkcyIst-vPpuxH7OnzuwGmO0Q9_WQkX-7CZ5-CuM0ngUHl5bqmW5nJt3TsO-4Sr1h-KlLLTIHA4OC8Z3NTdI-rm1htkgxZX3_71WZ7ZzOLGZthJ4h1Ks2ykRA5dYLrlpjhXo/?imgmax=800" width="510" height="251"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJ6gtJGkTAtDYr1uP1gmjJ8ETKNyU5btrkqghMU29G9iWmctQ7nN3ihuPxT_-_rn93yb_N94XA8tvjgdeDUhfdF5Ry2zNG951JdCW47iuNPXh_vYfWKICj3uOk3qGH-CPnpval7MYIqU/s1600-h/Cody%252520Bag%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Cody Bag" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Cody Bag" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPesMTFvfRuGVdOc_IwicgVYYVbGbY0KJ_D7T_8szPPI3SzqUuOgmhYUchCGKAnYe55bIRHnw5x_kuW4ukWJY5kzxBXv2KV-HmsZb0W0h4BJrwZ1cCrsXSwS549LQkvOBJUn53s0qkSPY/?imgmax=800" width="300" height="450"></a>And a bag for my newly acquired but much older nephew. </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Inspired by <a href="http://didyoumakethat.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Karen of Did you make that?</a> I made some quilted mats. <br>A seasonal table mat:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpOZOKD3ZkFSXS-DDE1lOec8PxHt-XSKIyWLakf50SH__yY7F3tzK2J58-D5dExkk6xQMXaKQ8hJVsfjrYXLSblcJXk-2SU-PIyFId58ciPZMsjFj17vl0kf8cQ8sh9KWGvqIku0_s2U/s1600-h/Place%252520Mat%2525202%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Place Mat 2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 6px auto 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Place Mat 2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgte_iqI2c_wlVyLQYGnvh3bKA9woaMQRu3J3nJOfHi6GJMjg36kmUbBhFWB2zJozhl0mYmmppMHv8VGkjJ7TFxv8h2B7khq4uDscrz0Brk0ei3kLxN7gk9FiBWId2CtSMIk26HVkki_pw/?imgmax=800" width="510" height="147"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQd1arvM3f433sFSWNXhyphenhyphen5yEUK1v-ZWJ33phx9uzZ03a3o0-bZZ0at8XbX8tLCzBA5b0XSJB7uoTbGrI-vtb4YguPmjXlJH-UsyqdMJP5fXxDml9nAtww8v04JhaqhxNnDwDXFSYr00g/s1600-h/Coasters%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="Coasters" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 6px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Coasters" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfiGELyDlaIQyHmDmEBecFIKqEy4GEBx8MsymczwkT89lJbRk9KA5Jkm2axujCFrLTj-TJ3wdX0-NE1wcKCmHM10QRVdZwJotXHPe5_MceNyHHDX4bvDM2Sf6YiysQiKhGDdNR5ToeAI/?imgmax=800" width="350" height="257"></a>and two sets of coasters – one in seasonal fabric. The other was for my new Brother in law – and true to form I failed to photograph! However somewhat like the first set of coasters, but made out of remnants waistcoats from the Cathy & Skip Wedding Show. </p> <p><br><font size="7" face="Edwardian Script ITC">nearly there</font></p> <p><br>Patchwork denim cushion…<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDO3COtQk5uHvAb6SsmGq5PhqU1OKYJ0GLdaFHLlr3b-rV9Q6nWyPTRvfkvsrF1_qYR2MCA5V5u1aXFn6uq9jW7ZBMn_2N4ythVs4IZkWs0csGygbM9zgF1aPKPv9wmQAnEQIsPH0HdI/s1600-h/Denim%252520Cushion%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Denim Cushion" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Denim Cushion" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SzRzckeI0g5p3tXzEXj9YEV6QoeDSx3SYYsQj5TUvfGHS-tUg1g0H2ySL7m5iLu1JBHbN_FLk1nZ0G2HpU7LB0qTX-of7kKsQooaXhmNQQLbF3j7b1afJAve-oL4fbzXN92aAz4qjSg/?imgmax=800" width="300" height="179"></a></p> <p>A <a href="http://www.anoregoncottage.com/how-to-make-canvas-log-carrier/" target="_blank">log carrier</a> for my country dwelling parents made of this…</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0yadnDn7gAjDMyUGryjIDeC3lC13cHg2pxYIg0Yx9sWOpuPu8VbuRrgpiaEGuYKehuIWMJzoMqnHwQJvefpN19c2MI8MndbTQy31iHsdlWFi7Qy8PYcF76pNO6cWnwZPnB2hw6NkfPw/s1600-h/Log%252520Carrier%252520Fabric%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Log Carrier Fabric" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Log Carrier Fabric" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0IMoIeST_ZcbdbxZdpNQWXzSWyjSBp4ynt1oJMbHLgqMx4NfUqKAEmlE2_qbRwveDGJ8tn8mmVgQJWO55LDqHYAtTrgCS4EjYqOhjBF4UQgDyYK8o_bGAxUa4Kk85LQkjSQdN7Axvr0/?imgmax=800" width="300" height="232"></a></p> <p>And finally, two candle holders made of salvaged wood from Robert’s workshop. One was a piece of fence post, which once it had been planed and sanded turned out to have a delicate pink cast one one side. I indulged in a little light stencilling (pun fully intended) and waxing. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2QHRaDfMtgZ3WKQpQuHzUbjgRGD-kfZxHRQRu80nR0II8PaQJmorA1ymOM71wwX7AfFiCkC8ThKkNl7ozsMiY-QVjJHQKWAslawnVOLrP9EVZVnKMxgbAiO8f6dmxjnCvSuYgwL2MlU/s1600-h/Candle%252520Light%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Candle Light" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 6px auto 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Candle Light" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQLrWrcBddmmkz7uRvHtUdNwMyZ_66SG4vg__yI8AWvkfiPuoUiDOWA5P32DgQFx9isflaIXW7Ya1ER0cN6pOxln2IHNDueGrT5Z0uEf7XU6btzITynTp4Eik4zX09lZ8lg_Oazc7W_Q/?imgmax=800" width="510" height="382"></a></p> <p>The other – a piece of joist - was a bit more worn, but the woodworm tracks add a nice texture, and the nail holes were camouflaged with a flourish of butterflies.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGh-26rLL22A73hl_tsaGiaQuTL0JGedEythF_DScslKHakLbkvKEefzNrd909_lFeh3P5S4hKiocWI0lu8BrNe84t7HMfUkot-QCqppBATxTzlC8v2GkFA0ReXAllczhe66R69gFEKyE/s1600-h/Butterfly%252520candle%252520holder%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Butterfly candle holder" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 6px auto 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Butterfly candle holder" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqL9z1viHOgug1pcT6flc-X87fBbD3Me3l-SznnfvtQZCC_SFsb7Jwi0ajnF7PxpJZbrbotCH-oOp-OJJ7iwfq3kYo8A65jFRpgc6oto_l5BKH1RF9AAhcdl0otIGNnOsbA98nEpDtMsU/?imgmax=800" width="350" height="335"></a></p> <p align="center">thank you, and </p> <p align="center"><font size="7" face="Edwardian Script ITC">The End</font></p> Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-68285192709648226992014-01-29T11:52:00.000+00:002014-01-29T11:53:13.781+00:00So far, so good!See, not even a week later, and here is my second post of the year. The Stashbusting Sewalong was so popular last year that it is running again for 2014. My pledge this year is to make at least 2-3 items out of stash every month. As soon as I have wrapped my head around it I will update the button on the right of the screen. All the stashbusting group action is taking place on facebook, but I will also be blogging about the (hopefully) interesting stuff here too. <br />
<br />
There are themes for each month again, but the emphasis is on stash busting rather following the themes if they don’t fit. For example this month’s theme is “Itty Bitty Scraps”, but my two January makes have used up about 2 1/2 metres each!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBVJMj6eOIGv2728Jfo9gUoXMg_dMfJRmQWBRDPmsJjpwLnUAsTAvUh8vxNGNuum5D3nRx_Pk-8zH_ThNtQzW36HsUdXDfWUyS4MuWI-yakhynPcvozmdmblNffoWWZxj32bTbLF33tQ/s1600-h/Robert-shirt9.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Robert shirt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rR1hu34yZDD7tdRD3Gu2sCJBQGLlqOCit7UiBTM_ChEZVyPdwcUfdqoa1UhiPZcXvdMYbCJyjc3jHcf48f7-M4-m_4whfEw0DVfxJgHnb1vkaUsLMuyWAxUoEge5Wguhi5sYGrKJU0Y/?imgmax=800" height="432" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 7px 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Robert shirt" width="200" /></a>First up this year was Robert’s Birthday Shirt - not to be confused with his birthday suit ;-) This just about counts as stashbusting – I bought everything intending to make it for Christmas, but reality got in the way again, so it got deferred to January. I used the Colette Pattern <a href="https://www.colettepatterns.com/shop/negroni">Negroni</a>, which comes with a really detailed book of instructions. In addition the ever entertaining <a href="http://malepatternboldness.blogspot.co.uk/">Peter of Male Pattern Boldness</a> ran a Sewalong with this pattern a couple of years ago, and this was really helpful in giving all those hints and tips a first timer really needs, plus some extra photos of the complicated bits. Plus of course his recommendation of the Singer Buttonholer attachment, which I bought last year, and means that Robert doesn’t have to make do with velcro or popper fastenings on all his clothes!<br />
<br />
Very satisfied with the first go – especially as it was a secret from him, so I didn’t measure Robert, just his shirts to get the fit right. In fact Robert asked if I can make all his shirts from now on! Now I feel I just need to work on my photo skills – and Robert on his poses!Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-75642170643351419352014-01-24T11:26:00.000+00:002014-01-24T11:26:19.435+00:00Well, hello there.Turns out last year got quite busy, and I utterly failed to post anything after the start of October. <br />
To put this into context, the rest of October was spend frantically sewing for the wedding including the essential, if last minute, aprons for the bridesmaids. This was followed by the frantic baking of three different flavour wedding cakes, and then a convoluted system of travel to get everyone and everything from Dorset to London plus two days of church and venue decorating.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKV57DdSFMELDDNLNeLB0kJJ0FuQ5PeTf6Wi9foHKT9plZYhYW2cIISoOutiCrfPTPGkT7J6TW-fOHmqgK38Qu2qgJg9hNvCjTxrjLcssc8kmvhyunkKp0LKYQ-j7oKelSwHn5YJbYm4/s1600-h/Wedding%252520montage%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Wedding montage" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxA6Am4F79PyKJWbLoraEya04fBh8x_f-a4Rmk6Z8RIYrkbGN4j-A9gmIKcsR84O50WYkyi-cOAmg3eTx_iO3fA7ZZeW5g0DMNpPDiGZf5VUKj4-HI2J0VRgkREPCeQpb8AaMvGhukeXY/?imgmax=800" height="307" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Wedding montage" width="516" /></a><br />
Wedding was lovely. <br />
From London we went directly to Cornwall for our hectic and ridiculously stormy half-term holiday, and once we got back it was Christmas all the way! Christmas was a personal stash-busting special, so I will be posting about that separately, but suffice to say, with 20 presents to make over two months I was a bit busy. Especially as it turns out that the whole family still wanted feeding on a regular basis! Oh, and I have been running our church choir, so we had 3 “events” to prepare for, and I accidentally invited them all home for a Christmas party so had to do housework too! If I wasn’t so haphazard I might even be accused of overachieving. <br />
On top of all that we spent Christmas out in the countryside and the storms knocked out the phones and internet so we had a low-tech Christmas (no bad thing) followed by more hospitality back home before the children <em>finally</em> went back to school.<br />
I have every intention of now being much more organised and consistent, but we all know how that one goes…Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-91062706545151253702013-10-02T14:45:00.000+01:002013-10-02T14:45:37.256+01:00September StashbustingSeptember… September? Oh, right the one between August and October when everything happens and there is no time to blog? I remember. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjE-x5R2nXcqNEt08xp5Ck6-luoYEWisrXSeo5Le3zckDeUPBKxqnDS0-3cJ-s2OwFi-KeB2r1DpKv2Ugeh-W_yc_BrA_L-NpodOhPM-8hQXuOGi-HE08b_LdJWUzKrmexpvx0wPXycgg/s1600-h/September%2525202013%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="September 2013" border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlqB0NVEqVLRWSui0qpQL6iZFEZODqTp3KleDn3bpNQb9QlnhJYCIHvYN9Ha0LwhLYwGN0BSwLo6Z1rg_PlPF9dgEw5-RiGOKEr5jArDHbYe1kf26pOgmtZbUeOMUkMc3Dv_RboUzjZs/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="September 2013" width="174" /></a>This month’s theme was sewing for kids, which frankly is what most of my sewing is anyway; unfortunately this month’s crop wasn’t very newsworthy…<br />
We had a vast amount of label sewing (using up my label stash one by one… stretching a point too far? oh, alright then.) Combined of course with the annual sewing of the school trouser turn-ups.<br />
Then there was the last minute swimming bag, which actually used stash material. I forgot until the night before his first session that Matthew didn’t actually have an appropriate bag. And I can’t even show a photo as I didn’t snap one earlier, and today is swimming day. <br />
In fact the highlight seems to be Piper’s <a href="http://www.bygaenor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/hedgehog-day.html">birthday hedgehogs.</a><br />
My Mum and I have of course been making wedding clothes for all and sundry, including our four diminutive bridesmaids, but I can’t release photos of those in all their glory until next month. Sorry. <br />
Ah, well, roll on October with it’s theme of Unselfish Sewing, into which 2 out of my 3 scheduled projects should fit. Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-69284225998660879482013-09-18T20:19:00.000+01:002013-09-18T20:19:08.525+01:00Hedgehog DayAlso known as Piper’s birthday. Which, as she has been telling anyone who will listen over the last few weeks, means Bolognese and Hedgehog Cake for dinner.<br />
At one point she had grand ideas of hedgehog decorations and hedgehog costumes for all the (adult) guests but we were able to manage her expectations back to just the hedgehog cake. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVpLrJMfiOjXPV_cQUJLs9Cq1pk5mBLgvpEw7uLYVv6eNrXw_XYUGY-toueWsjh4cqj7qcjZrHT9Q8DGL5-uwlpZklOIpfztGBpLzEeDrY6eoyTimQnLejXGcsi690jihdU2LH5kDER0/s1600-h/Hedgehog%252520Cake%252520Piper2013%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Hedgehog Cake Piper2013" border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mCZl5j4GH2vmq5_bk55tJDMxFh9bI8ywfS2gbjwM5TmoBwN2kM5e_qY1k3HoPIZS1s70nygzfmaIYd3ZcBLQ32hn0pxPQMqM0EZZ-8P26Dt9N7gxrL5iBuMMjd-pZfZ4hxFO9Fdu-Yo/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Hedgehog Cake Piper2013" width="504" /></a><br />
As a special gift for her I used some of her beloved “slug scraps”* to make a little hedgehog brooch, now known as Hedgy. Not my greatest achievement, but after the third go I gave up trying to improve the shape, and besides which Piper seems to like him, which was the point really. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnCd6vw1f3n4n-QK2Z5zM09U5BU5BT2lk0OJR3XaSK8dvsAccc-ykIt3Ct5Ud-oAgqlPY8Kxu-IeQgcrNBQBjjdlnxPAHDzgAqzh-twMqRU_7xbufqAk3f5zS-I1pHNOqre3kFXBZWXU/s1600-h/Hedgehog%252520brooch%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Hedgehog brooch" border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4MRopdAP6Ny8XoZm50bn2dPz-x6-wvGvt51fK7Nl18HCZHndt3l61v14qEPHWxntFRaOWbhfTKK1U5Jop385dYFCfl2c_4-1R1d0bI8VZGziDKdLu01LXqs8FtOezRFakgufuIwa-44/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Hedgehog brooch" width="470" /></a><br />
* A local (and online) shop called <a href="http://lovefromhettyanddave.bigcartel.com/product/dapper-slug-draught-excluder-cuthbert">Love From Hetty & Dave makes these fantastic slugs</a>, which Piper likes to go and visit. Last time we were there Zoe kindly gave Piper some tweed scraps from the slug she was making. Piper is quite attached to them. And has a postcard of one of the slugs on her bedroom wall. Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-5852847832457637952013-09-04T16:06:00.001+01:002013-09-04T16:06:35.387+01:00Not a portal to Narnia*<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yYzFS6m-aRffwtWHGRmkxFHGR-eDk-pZwn05mKlEYkuilFk5WIyAf3mFzpkdZ_jdu-fjRWMNnAe9ajH9p9YWB6HOrohNMYEjTubEyY4pAt5fh9XnMxBmtnb9KT7MXuFtJbL_jM1f6aM/s1600-h/141041301138_1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="141041301138_1" border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMDexsSe08W5Dccibpvyl4-B-LsTHvILgH3Ft2YBJ6wxQanIX1iTTEZpj6TxnNxyPotIQWjs5a3c4drvJiAcWmyUn40EkJzVGQVMCwlfO-GA6Ck7wwbdlpJRo8o1E4NnYr3zps6KwerU/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="141041301138_1" width="135" /></a>We recently invested in a wardrobe for my son’s bedroom – but it had to be small enough to fit underneath his IKEA loft bed. And cost almost nothing. So Ebay it was. After three days of searching and bidding I then got the wardrobe I kind of wanted from the beginning (main criteria being size and price). It does need some love though. Aside from repositioning the hanging bar inside, we want to do something special with the outside. <br />
We asked Matthew what he wanted and he responded “cogs and pulleys!” Robert’s response was “ooh, steampunk!” but I was a little more cautious in embracing this notion as: <br />a) Matthew is 7 and he hasn’t come across steampunk yet and <br />b) if it doesn’t contain bright colours he doesn’t want it; brass and sepia just don’t fit into this picture. <br />
After a little more conversation I had a clearer picture of brightly coloured stencilled cogs connected by the occasional belt. A further search of Ebay, and a couple of hours later I had these:<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 515px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="258"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs35cfZZ2JFBgYqf8fz23k2AtXv_tp7StrAPz10atA5P8snshvixDkYIe55386taeEaYTaJ7CKMHUEcwFQxgdmL7O_1ECy_5p9m1isK6ppCvN6YNKg5dSGw4UzvkOb73mj5eZou164xf4/s1600-h/Vintage%252520Meccano%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Vintage Meccano" border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQ3fOxll-gJanoOHFgYaJAQY_Vt5Epws8g-Y7HjRNVxTM41XkK2fCnYINQ8cARU8hrU1RT1s-KCkgbG6zMJffBBRbfT3zv6gS2HWX882PDftPNk5L2wBQ08mF7Hvs5syi-wfCsa0GyxY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Vintage Meccano" width="240" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="255"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EVVU9n1nK4NckNvIR94ONaLi9aAY5QaDszGkwE1b6GHa2Ud8-08gy5CGi754x8V9tDSXWkhkQxfcWyYEJZ8ueds7xR6DMmeWd7khp-z4n6c9MThRLGRf7evqB1LTWnPLsWHQtqledp4/s1600-h/Yellow%252520Gear%252520Wheels%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Yellow Gear Wheels" border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnUhepj_aHhL1kOC2FbMmyu_vF2fxiDye62kLukRYpvIs7ZWo8UO6kllwuPf4n2IG6ohyphenhyphenVwwzrUIgvBw5vDxNqnh34II9i3sl7QDI4AGzlCQakEhJFbIraIKP-1fCl5E0BId0gN6eSUs/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellow Gear Wheels" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Watch this space… possibly for a really long time, nothing happens fast around here.<br />
<br />
* the actual portal to Narnia lives <a href="http://victoriaelizabethbarnes.com/share-your-favorite-find/">here</a>. (no, honestly, just scroll down!)Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-66861229412948800642013-08-27T07:59:00.000+01:002013-08-27T07:59:43.133+01:00Stopping by…School holidays this month, so we have been very busy in not obviously productive ways. Apart from the sheer number of name tapes I have been sewing into school uniforms now that I have two in school from next month. Haven’t got around to checking the length of the new school trousers and sewing turn-ups yet. That can wait until the night before.<br />
In addition I have half made a handful of dresses, but nothing to show as progress. <br />
This month’s sewalong is aimed at the UFO – unfinished objects – but I’ve got a bit sidelined as I don’t really have any sewing UFOs, just DIY ones. Our biggest one is our lounge. We massively renovated it last summer, but that left us with a bare room, which we managed to paint in time for Christmas. This year we took the floor up (again) to fix the wobbly bits we didn’t notice last year, and we have installed 2/3 of the skirting board. Now we just have to install the final 1/3 (which involves moving all the really big bits of furniture) and then paint 22 metres of board. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMI67CmHiWgTssNxVZ36hswUjydaCJVhHdpo2yltbMOOD4o__TTFlIuKiVOo5B-PeG25WVBifEVMNg_LBdhCZ0Hjgi5fFTSHE1Kzg3syBtMAp00JctDEpMkK9qfrNqtfB1AYJol3wjR8/s1600-h/Progress%2525202013%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Progress 2013" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWReN8I7HDvi2UWIfU_hUSHlfvpCbtgrPCCIsI4qCtfBKZCzql35I-FA8DgfcPoY0hRgbL1ilkeZlVRkqJvAyvM2BYXidOCSjEdZvde5BB2n07n-KycJhnGIsuxLl4WxlnEo6PIe7wzo/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 0px 0px 16px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Progress 2013" width="480" /></a><br />
We have also built three radiator covers (I say we, I mean Robert) and am in the process of painting those too. Another few weeks and most of everything <em>should </em>be finished. Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-66492770501680940592013-08-05T15:12:00.000+01:002013-08-05T15:12:10.497+01:00Fancy-dress<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0f7xJK2bpvnkgEOPZYghPiAgBzBOTJX6-Dxf2DADPcOhn8DKI7rPtszRyGzskrbAeMMjPFzj2loMt3CH1MmAGpzGH_J1soRCplDZT15Uxreoj4_qxdsTSN3jZiyrH2I0W6OQ3s4F-MVw/s1600-h/Pirate%252520Piper%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Pirate Piper" border="0" height="541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqksAHiUZUjwNfd1olgncZoq3YjC-AGtssTJ0Y91ZaVDlSh2qL1FH6cwu0_6l8a3_1yydsMkNti-Pggw73HreH6WUFrT-aCqBpETB8neDYZ0rBB4xqHVGRK_FV79GyCNYGdJloxGPLFbo/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Pirate Piper" width="251" /></a>In the midst of all my dress planning we had another birthday come up (every year!) This time my 4 year old niece who, I have been told, is into all things pirates (Arrr!).<br />
So it was pirate costume time. Thanks again to <a href="http://www.danamadeit.com/2008/07/tutorial-pirate-life-costume.html">Dana of MADE for her pirate waistcoat tutorial/pattern</a>. It needed a little resizing because Cali is bigger than the paper pattern she provides, but with a my own 4 and 7 year olds to measure up I think I achieved the right size. <br />
A quick rummage through my newly organised fabric stash and I had some purple velvety stuff for the waistcoat, some blue voile for the sash and some blue and white paisley-ish cotton print for the trim and headscarf. Also thanks to my Mum who provided the ugliest/most pirate treasure-y buckle for the sash (4 year olds and knots aren’t a great combination). <br />
And the finished product (as modelled by Piper, just before it went in the post – and don’t worry, she hasn’t lost an arm in battle). Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-88286899766498437982013-08-02T17:11:00.000+01:002013-08-02T17:11:21.578+01:00My DressI have a plan!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX74CBPOjrq1foTgFltAq1TM4MZDgQNM0i4MkUaquMIbJK9x8AhTl5GaN2axNR9kIy_yTa4957wLiPJC82kFOROXACods1Lhn6CmjvFSKjhCs5QJN8D1d1MOvF6waa0Lq6FfNlxpBZwoM/s1600-h/Dress%252520Pattern%252520V2902_2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Dress Pattern V2902_2" border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4oHzU3wGlum2TIh0Zwg_-G3S2w7e3CyrRMVAOO50ESgUv9rh8j-WKDimVyePBxR-tnf5zivFcRvcDxdzSsThG-9elBL_u-ThgpZ9xhyphenhyphen_pzbjd6ylC9X_Y2x-NK50r8Sp50uoz3cQxyc/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 9px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Dress Pattern V2902_2" width="195" /></a>I have a pattern <br />
and I have the fabric<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1ZgugvwIxJvOQYCKm6__cAxIkpeA7fNxBECWd7F5vIKdclXF_cz7GHf3AacCvezPVk8N3M55H2FYi5OmFQJI9ElI1bHI_8edUYbJn2HGOuhm2NXYeFHEmOTkiVc4gX2wKZ0FtZH55gA/s1600-h/Fabric%252520Cropped%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Fabric Cropped" border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-bzRNyXnbrgT3FdedlxhSyu_-cFrd_foJVmEBdZaj2zeQXa6PPIIAR13_NE1Ti8kPf7xAmuUrR2uBBnyehWKqNMpBIKDTeHNi9J28Giwi1vC42O4PuZ4IhY3ETtXQ_Zyg6EzA7Xu_No/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Fabric Cropped" width="240" /></a><br />
I even have the perfect occasion to wear it (smart Hen Lunch in London next month). <br />
AND I have started making it!!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWt0C03aZ7k1HwNy7xt1aDOOJGGgan2fE3pzPliQekUFZpUcMPqzD1TXL1NS-EBYL2OaAaJplOYzp04aRfoDqyvzqRXJJANGZ3bhhhiDcw2HMHJw4h5JPw5Z64ZbDa28B8IEueAMDOu4M/s1600-h/Bodice%252520Toile%252520Cropped%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Bodice Toile Cropped" border="0" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zclavUZH85cS7vwAaK3o7oicYKIDE35EFmx5dm7pa7QqkOeKj7uS2sb3bIW2s46sDMY1FwsMiCTqYhJXjMift_nRRGxWHeABZHzX2N7q2jqyfuj3OQTE6DLlieJLNw53AzQgsgVVR8g/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Bodice Toile Cropped" width="451" /></a><br />
Rest assured this is NOT the final look. I do not wear yellow (even if it looks white), and it will have a skirt! This is however a toile (or the rough draft). I get to mark all the changes I need to make on it, try them out, try it on again, and assuming it fits properly then transfer the changes back to my original pattern pieces and do it for real in the actual fabric.<br />
Watch this space for the completed item…Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-77365688933892828482013-07-24T16:15:00.001+01:002013-07-24T16:15:43.316+01:00The Clothkits Peekaboo dressMost mornings my elder daughter hops out bed and says something along the lines of “I want to wear this [insert description here] dress today”. Trouble is she keeps growing, so her selection of dresses is being whittled down to a very small number. So last week, instead of starting on my dress (no, NOT procrastinating) I reached for one of the Clothkits dresses that I was gifted from a friend, whose daughters had grown too big for them. <br />
It came together very nicely. My only real error was cutting it to fit Piper’s chest (age 4) and forgetting about her length (nearer age 5). So after realising that it sat too high in the neck and under the arm I spent the rest of the day unpicking everything that I had painstakingly sewn together. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9FDt96fcXreKd93GMikOpXl65WODp3P7HnOtj5pBVpghYXDO-8KmclDSh5GRZ5K1rwJELerIDX8AnTSK8OtHHNM1bnoSUROtcN0n3fFioIZIwx7CSnHH0pd79CM4d-cV9XV-OKYfRM4/s1600-h/Too%252520Small%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Too Small" border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIWphMTo_fMfds7QP6X67GKSsmcvu7NYqdjx2Lx-1zEOgXt0xtWtN5Nl3EGZWEWh3wDKwr9XhVgV7ATMNiK4-8aCGf62lW-ydiQ33tzWGGZ47-YaRmwy7ONnTVU47MOCYR3Z6-hnwQ9g/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Too Small" width="507" /></a><br />
I used the remains of the visible markings to extend the neckline and armhole and sewed the whole thing back together. Then I just had to wrestle with the placket. A lot. May add an invisible zip next time instead…<br />
I must admit, I cheated on the button holes, as I was sewing it up at Mum’s house, and rather than learn the process on her fancy computerised machine, I just worked out the spacing, marked their positions and let Mum work the machine. Next time buttons, next time.<br />
(I feel like I made up for this though by being more creative with my button choices!)<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 501px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="167"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEN8liJkYef17AYRSTVcPaxTruj1AjFtJPiXFr8xFHwAMKw4O4BYAWN8KaJ455IBRFO0hnwYgFk_r5EYPoDq-I9ukxIHLN_-uTrAeLGGjlxuMT1jtlnsa4IAycMrunbrJ00UrPVvrSTU/s1600-h/Dress%252520Front%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Dress Front" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeZbyBj7Da8LWH3YtuxquM7YeU7FbN4BfYnXNOzbOpnwblaPO7rXtvWmaw94GVkbnECOnYHeAlPN19Mv1QA6l6-IKwIg9QSQnAS9KaOvey6M2_BjiBsZ6prYgKUouz5qRsxXdPpKMtbw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Dress Front" width="139" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="163"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6v3CDp71q-zknKpzF7C1-O9QlMLeVlLN_ibhnDcJMQlc64mlpMl94vw_9PzX25tqQnsPM8Z_0onybzea-dA08ljngomfwKV3csRadNirUrjJz6aia7iYzdWijSqSMk18Yr2n7fqy8hi0/s1600-h/Dress%252520Buttons%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Dress Buttons" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FKF1L2y9IZduCr4pSAVHts4_p_gPbprIjbUxViDDHta_w92sYugfD96c_QjOftsowRl8HSqgW3AhQACV57kA0swAD3Gt0W7qlGfwvGXs8wDsf6dO9Ch6AZr8ofzk8if29_mEWSEw2Z4/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Dress Buttons" width="117" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="169"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_MQi0v9kO2ei8SOiXVffl-qSoES7aOcU-7-RCQp7MW6dj6wmgVhoojr-3G7CvPQoOYUDtXZlkU8pbwvfCR_4-hdDKPG16CUXHscA71mqpmLwfG-l47Tr_kRWKYe5EIJ5D67dO9rsgkg/s1600-h/Dress%252520Profile%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Dress Profile" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WLJq4L65SAkThOACmR1uG95EMYQn6iqdgrQJNWbdaKZjJBEDbstv7AtemsNyfR7CgQuwwzSgNpbOPLEHaK8krMtghaJrijkTKo5NEuJ2UyKFh5fwR38AuOluzYIvMoZK853Q_AXk9mM/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Dress Profile" width="153" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
However Piper and I are both really happy with this – apart from the fact that it needs washing all the time – and it is already one of her go-to dresses.Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-59822437863292867902013-07-17T12:23:00.000+01:002013-07-17T12:23:24.904+01:00And some of the other stuff…Aside from the birthday fun we had in June I have been kept quite busy on other projects. <br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 507px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="505">One of the school mums seems to have fallen in love with the backpacks I have been making for children’s birthday presents, and has been spreading that love among her friends (thank you!) so I had another four bags to make last month – three Butterfly Backpacks and a Simply Stripy one. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 506px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="309"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFMOG62Ei9tMBnEq9MvSpEknE9R2xf5VC6l1Kj88vToTWj0oi2qDaqmTWUzfIvQNvJIlx1lVJauNEAq-3eeVWu_bStxPAav630fgb-LqkC5BwEVT-R28HbyKc9KonEWamzuCP0Rzauis/s1600-h/Butterfly-Bags11.jpg"><img alt="Butterfly Bags" border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguENf_TU9Zti7X3z_jj-Q21eSCyRh18oS1Wdd8hDJ96QgeUdjoduq9tGldPFUYRSDvM8VbCrpayjRhxNk-6VMdS6DcE0Re6VONV9wQQRqUQqham1_q2LCzhgDXqGTrL59HcavVrCtHlDg/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Butterfly Bags" width="303" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="195"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsR8NRYWjTjXN2ZAMP_6wSI2Uo9SLimbmglqvb3gDcXCmRo9SoLO37KYFuwlYrz4eDqxt1hi5yk5wLcBqaqXCqExjjwRPOPa2JWN68YfsdE1oCe2oeR5WctEpExnhmTyw4uJQ2yy7s8nI/s1600-h/Stripy-Bag9.jpg"><img alt="Stripy Bag" border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywxuA-aaBxOLYsLaZAccLASchY08v3GHtIwLIf9u5tTh4VtSmdF8iAWohYppY9V9Lm5jI1qso0UoZc5xFTRfOj2SAyO9UVNO_XIjFOnevaINssarnPlZ1RMRuN01hKSimVgd4vUVsc1g/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Stripy Bag" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 507px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="505">And then our soon-to-be brother-in-law Skip had a birthday. Cathy is trying to train him in her use of all the different towels and cloths to be found in the kitchen, so a while back mentioned tea-towels as a useful present. And because the children have great memories of scoffing raspberries straight out of his garden that is what we put on them. </td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="505"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4r8WxgYGE98DD5HolWcqt3MP9osI39X4OELgAj5TA3V7zXGX7stsZs9XuYw5pP70TwvB6opZl_qT75uuIu4zEf2jZ8IR8qL81qG5FVw6SvT-pl59GZGcUW49byXTUy_mHM66lVBbc0yc/s1600-h/Raspberry-Tea-Towels8.jpg"><img alt="Raspberry Tea Towels" border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWv9fvcbnhi6a2lPd6imr7ulGo5u1aqTrSVtIcEJabumQBI7OtJWVNhxhWpvNlCeNCjLrDQ12MigNol02n4FJqky_p0bPV2C2J1uwJPgvQ6uFLMbV0SsbWkPB4ElxNgJdmpIuMMD7nZWY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Raspberry Tea Towels" width="419" /></a></td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="505">This was swiftly followed by an emergency birthday present make for one of Matthew’s friends as we received a belated invitation to her birthday party. She already had a butterfly bag (the first one!) so she was due a pencil case this year. </td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="505"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CsPn49xi_8VolL3DrgmVNHynMXF-wdK5kBlF-Wfg1msk3A2RxRm9Zmv5KtWtFsuo8YkT2tcsQgW2BwV5O-u3XpEcD5TvoT35EB66RnZOFgPAyY_K1d4PUMosRPzOVNH3c27TL1cgy9w/s1600-h/How-does-you-garden-grow-pencil-case%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="How does you garden grow pencil case" border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzpDaVIzRNzGzcQNsNPcNWK1OWUE1AzYS4bHun7RwhiyyQCwGZjaGfLvMxsOz3-Ze3VJf1LV2YyTh-YtNZ8FgjEjugiUxCOryFqebPOSjnP15LTQnWcIfZEU0IPeBTXZ2eG5hnaCIypk/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="How does you garden grow pencil case" width="340" /></a></td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="505"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobWydNN6sr8LFv171Gfs5m2ri8wk1rD_IVV4G45bAB6h5TY2mDfSviYwOJnayBaX9J6MdnpKUru9Y2BsuIL6JECTn2q3RZSZKp_lfuoDMJzlAqvHoPlhznsfLmbV8AKtRwn0PqnzXM6U/s1600-h/Carrier-Bag-Holder3.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Carrier Bag Holder" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxQSvc7skKmhhqvhKTb-xfDZq8F1GGzY5-ichEXCW_xQecbrkSecfeDl4EACLc9eHioUOe-rDNczyU0Vd_ecSb6pfgYXWSmVj2OHlLefAnAM08Nte-UJ-4-4ZDun8xYHEhCe_WISsAMs/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Carrier Bag Holder" width="78" /></a>My other sister also had a birthday, and she too is trying to get her house sorted out, so she got a carrier bag holder, a couple of lavender sachets (to match last year’s cushion) and a Beezer annual fro<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIruf3viZOu4Roc5E8pgS00yJV-nDVr8SMMi2ziWe_Ex_VXWz9X-KUJWlXScAuOqEPJED024KKEXuKcWGwVac_PYaoZgm3bR3i3fos37Kx6LObtM5fwjUq6KJHp_sd1LKmAWUcHpMwh8/s1600-h/Lavender-Sachets3.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Lavender Sachets" border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyb7gRLcixcKXlypq6ywuMLbaG5JvBJ9L8zvT8wJad35hcrlmvFQNhSx1F0hYZztw1WxUHQbFEKYxrLBfUj3jk7D9L1omVxg8YkWBou4ro3mtKB-xDqigMCdShh2O-KhA8QIO2eFO_z24/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 11px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Lavender Sachets" width="240" /></a>m 1979 (her birth year). </td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="505">And then of course there were the bean bags. *sigh*<br />
I had made both bean bags on other occasions, but had slightly under-stuffed them so when the one my sister had commissioned came back I not only topped that one up, but also <a href="http://bygaenor.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/sunbathing-in-october.html">Matthew’s bean bag</a> which was a little limp. <br />
The (big) downside was that my house was full of small polystyrene beads AGAIN (I am still finding them lurking in corners that I thought I had already vacuumed). he plus point was that I finally got to photograph the other bean bag which I made back around Christmas and despatched so quickly that my camera never got near it. </td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="505"><div align="center">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lulEUqV4GuVh6OObOoyjAfT1mfMasaTzpA43pW-3leJVmuG_qbPvOsaO__6o5aGUv7q7leho9eNLnqngTZDFMjF5eylZjppE6Lp8bjKrUkRScGKMhQWvirP6xNiyizj-jbEjrQuazqo/s1600-h/Beanbag---purple7.jpg"><img alt="Beanbag - purple" border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Adrcsh9qpGX2c6vzwa2LMKLknKzVhJQ0FHOWumAbS801_srYe3OS01tJf78QILJ_OzDLtvXJIY5aU28VNdxD8FSmXUw7wty-nprbj5pBI4QvJS7rQFSWuMQk0WoWhJ9zvtZN64TpvvM/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Beanbag - purple" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">one very badly edited photo of the purple bean bag</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="505">On top of that I did LOTS of wedding related laundry – but no photos as they would be spoilers! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-83887393273158613272013-07-01T17:32:00.002+01:002013-07-01T17:32:35.513+01:00Tent for threeA few weeks ago we celebrated the all important third birthday of our little Robin <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirT4BALfcUEQwj1mnhf0vqOLxF8nF3lgMSH-CWwbBai-4MHZXegTBoXGVj_de1_cyiJL5k-rAyzGFstwmdacmzdAMC9KePh9JUsYBTEDXNKX_bnPdo-FwvPsktMMNSjsmPwzLr2Njwre8/s1600-h/tent%252520%252526%252520bunting%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="tent & bunting" border="0" height="521" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIs4xTj9nyR3LeQaMFOrvz38DbwGOTDDsxXXpGy3Iy_9Sfco3PLCA5gddQtw_edO4kHhuYigLVNncqauer2GH86bcJ87xPLsC0r8TFUAI4ZvevsKmPJg4BlGZXWBx4jVTLECo9uXJ7qYw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="tent & bunting" width="236" /></a>(she has been looking forward to it for the last 9 months). Our dilemma was what to give her as a present when she already has everything the other two enjoyed when they were 3. After some trawling of the internet, and a chance comment from my Dad, I settled (and why not?) on a tent. And just in case it isn’t clear, there is also room for all three of them to fit inside. <br />
<br />
My inspiration came from <a href="http://ana-white.com/2011/06/easy-kids-tent-reading-nook">this reading nook tent I saw on Ana White’s blog</a>, we just gave it our own take, especially as we wanted ours to be used in the garden. So a few lengths of timber and a couple of curtains from my stash later and we had something resembling a tent. <br />
<br />
Not anything like pretty enough though, so I then spent some rather too much perfectly good sleeping time sewing up tapes to tie the canvas/curtains to the frame, and making bunting to wrap around it instead. This used up some more of two vintage sheets that I had already cut into for other projects. <br />
<br />
Although I could make a case for this project meeting the June stash busting theme of “containment” – the tent has pockets in the side to hold books and toys - thanks to a <a href="http://cationdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/half-year-of-stashbusting.html">quick redefinition</a> I definitely get to submit this to the stashbusting challenge – and using up two curtains does make a nice hole in my stash! (well one box of stashness anyway). Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-78509290943863814012013-06-17T10:51:00.000+01:002013-06-17T10:51:03.922+01:00Giraffes and GeraniumsOne of my friends (after a <em>really</em> hard pregnancy and delivery) finally arrived home with her new little girl. Definitely worthy of a present, but more than that, her son, who is a school friend of Matthew, really needed something too having had a crazy few months in the build up. <br />
<br />
While newbies don’t wear the same clothes for very long this one is so tiny that she will probably get more use out of her first clothes than mine did, so I decided to go with making her a dress. I used the <a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/2013/01/free-little-geranium-dress-pattern/">Little Geranium dress pattern from Made-By-Rae</a>. She has made the newborn size available for free, and if it wasn’t that my girls are nearly too old for the sizing I would probably buy the full pattern.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTP1vOv4qe5dE0AgPT_rkW8gjfONSppY-mi3Sp3RA3rqQ14RB_aw9EINCq1_iTyp1oI9tKqTLWYufYGBPqLXEXqGIrwVoqMN5Pgw7wWUh1jM-mDK7FwfHbIqBSLLF970S3Z7K_07PU6LA/s1600-h/Geranium1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Geranium1" border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOfzPpEuSTmSlBj4T5TGCtOpBlwPBT1Zb7QKz2Ua7juPQiJcBrhbWeVIDiuJ6VcNoeE2IIkwVo77e1Q7vOlymIE38yIMXOSQBVTQ8JeZJiNOtUptZlbRXFrgTMmLs4BJ9TP49oLBDKeY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Geranium1" width="197" /></a><br />
<br />
To tie in with big brother, who loves giraffes, I decided the dress – and a t-shirt for him – should have giraffes stencilled on them. This was by far the most fiddly part – cutting out freezer paper stencils for both items (and giraffes have lots of detail with their patterning). Then mixing the right giraffe colour and away we paint<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwFIsLfIueYZciWrTAKkFFXgwrfuWJP42-KtOELJ4MJoPIfOC-M_EaA12xk4P4MZUEZHld1SB563shyphenhyphen9d98yGFhcatVde1yxAhPA9ZV6OgfjswVsdH1DEZPY0jKqmx7Ur91hiME63pL0/s1600-h/Painting%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Painting" border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh16vKBGCFbRXhceVr2YUczR2nff0X-7qhSM5SOSCl4lFsf2dJSL8F0qGV7jTaTb-EvY_fRetuXNdushZ9cPOoGSJXiTFWUQr18AJByBPfvFaWsFFUyzsSOl-KX2jUy9i6knpkOVBxzLw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Painting" width="325" /></a><br />
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
. Happiness all around with the end result. </div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5CTEshPI-cpDzHloVf-M-94qFme_piVgxCAxJ-Hfr3UIWQJa1tzcUZM2jdMGkHu9ziGOGBHrzPqePQ43nFH6XwLpyo1J_ef-GqMwqrOI0pBkspHgWBD_o6ueL98oSw7ZQbNmmSOyRbc/s1600-h/t-shirt%252520and%252520dress%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img alt="t-shirt and dress" border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpf6B0atnN9uy9TFjIcHySDjZ73SrtrFj38Qv54oFhJjWuwr5op-VIda_cQD2XxbAIsfLRY1p8M04seylGyRxPYr2e_eYfkfq_XKGlY7V23-62Qw1DMFHeOathtL4ov6zOqDaUHEWECi4/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="t-shirt and dress" width="495" /></a>Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-15733144383021811322013-05-24T17:40:00.000+01:002013-05-24T17:40:09.772+01:00Mmm… Coffee CakeMay has turned out to be such a productive month so far that I completely failed to blog about one of my projects! Way back at the start of the month was my Mum’s birthday. Which of course called for Coffee Cake (with capitals, given the amount of coffee I use!). My Mum likes her cake to REALLY taste of coffee, so I often triple the recommended amount, which has got even easier since discovering instant espresso powder, rather than trying to use ordinary instant coffee and failing to get it to dissolve properly in such tiny amounts of water. <br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_BomND7KE53cGJOpGPqkIeXA-gv2CZYB4YXmLuYyEUmjJ8S1jQPJvtDvg-DvRDx9147vYp-y1akG1eazUmsweLqT0X53diuycWwnnxczBB7P2Qti2DmVqUZQcIYFX7cxJS3_7Q5F6zQ/s1600-h/Co4ffee%252520Cake%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Co4ffee Cake" border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pb1jyHHBq6n2dPVD2Jo73bltBQrpTFuZlAGo4FZ3S6gs5pjK8nM2VIEMklwCzg6ZpRtk2iR61J-WaY7MAea6byvGwgwSUFPAuuISos6mQkxYnuUaCTWCW_d5GrU7k_AZYSSU-21c5Ak/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Co4ffee Cake" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The perceptive among you may notice that this is actually </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Robert’s belated birthday cake, but Mum’s (<br />apparently unphotographed) cake looked just like this, except for the sunshine.</span></div>
<br />
However, cake on its own isn’t really a present (not when you’re known for making cake for much flimsier reasons than a birthday). So I ventured into screen printing, and converted a remnant of table cloth into a set of eight napkins (we’re a big family). <br />
<br />
I used the “contact vinyl” technique described by <a href="http://www.lilblueboo.com/2010/01/screenprinting-techniques-using-contact.html?replytocom=5188">Lil Blue Boo</a> (as far as I can tell “sticky back plastic” in the UK) and an old screen I had in a card making kit and off I went…<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 515px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="264"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiods-brWYX_BPo45Ff145Znm547CAfm3Epbj4LlwEoLQKkYep7QU8eqShiJUGcntrC9qtV3obDbAGgHQIl70YYOKbwFkbBX16C4U5bH1yuLR6Bu0wDiOxHYFOq0furdzqowthGej9gO0c/s1600-h/Coffee%252520Cake%2525201%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Coffee Cake 1" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEl4RWJqqrMpHeeR3enYQzYEdTRZvBA65-ppGshL2kotC1XPzB9MDsNFXQPUubfQDigksl0BVe2Gv1_BeRMKUZVqeUGkkHrRF-waSFzJ9GT-HNxwf6CGEprvsmnCCRmfOfPHrcp3pbeU/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Coffee Cake 1" width="240" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="249"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuATjYWKd-vvBsfrUvZ4IlMSghTV8s70V_JE7OVVcGWUp9gJFcvgO1wi-8H7q73LDofnm85ftbAT-3JbpGB0rLF4EdDuqNzrBEIlfd9tn7xnE5LNGRTU51_uXm1w_ftLq2v2_9xwaqEE/s1600-h/Coffee%252520Cake%2525202%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Coffee Cake 2" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmDg8Hf9vC_WduLNLhphUrYpr9hHaKUOU6vd6GstEvvQ6xM-9G7J58ala2XKutJI3La0tJ4vi3dDOjog56VR7f2DPNPcxoOLnG_7RXPc6_ZKn_aDUjf7hOAy12UVHv0KyyfK1HDT2ZPU/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Coffee Cake 2" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="264"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDu5L_hxb6InmIC2EhRHiumjMOrSUcio1eRNhSs0r2tiVzdKMd5rIP4Fs7a1o-rRHnaVsthVHG8EBOLggkAnq9xJHiv5U6SOD3LzdlWiqWuIyZJUPJWXPRH14O85aM98cCZe52So7OIM/s1600-h/Coffee%252520Cake%2525203%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Coffee Cake 3" border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyeGXQD71QGjPmT5JDdBuLCn2lcO3QBKjF-BIw_bL6JxwGXTz5HJB7Pu7csGm-AoKo_sV2O98QRhzGQ5TXO_NtqRMGok7XDxCXKkYuLGUf5Wajwxqc2YGYdzXakLa4MyGzRz3-_wnf6I/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Coffee Cake 3" width="240" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="249"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3Udr876K1YUGpdiabxeLXZAkX0IhyphenhyphenufNzaUVzK-gV5slfjGHs44xHkZVJLsIPAjSigmuKryq2bxKoDerLwdyM1N82c4OO059WJt_fgh48rQXemA177gr63A6HvKkVAIyY8NJqumlHxI/s1600-h/Coffee%252520Cake%2525204%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Coffee Cake 4" border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmn11czXcv7xRa2_ITQbm1BRGr4gKyszIANUNVecci6SAFBxly6YEYhgX4D1Rc0JNws9zbW2yLZ9ddw5-U2ISFTd1scSbXSXX4_i1s1CMC8_kKiNmSIKtpWcxb4hM5sgRQChKra9rp4AI/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Coffee Cake 4" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A bit fiddly, and not all came out perfectly, but was much easier than hand stencilling the same design 8 times, and it all went down very nicely with Mum. <br />
<br />
Especially the cake. Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-69540699552524020732013-05-19T17:24:00.000+01:002013-05-19T17:24:13.713+01:00A change is as good as a holidayHaving had a tiring, but really good weekend away last week, I seem to have come back exhausted, but extra motivated. <br />
This week I have mended a record 8 pairs of trousers (the other leg of most of the ones I fixed last month), and made 2 stash-busting skirts. I managed to use up the best part of a frantically floral single sheet. <br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">Warning!! Photos of overly cute and delighted pink children coming up.</span></strong><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqcqfwzRNx9Fc-tYntSEngO7jE4SBsKDUr_FKl3UGWyY7rnIVpStvSNbIG2KXMG6mEXt8C66QvXg3PqSMq4-i4WP3egrISTBf3F68mn6F5EuihmFu_dhbbw7PINObHJt-OSRFemu4gyc/s1600-h/Piper%252520%252526%252520Robin%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Piper & Robin" border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mP0a1Pta5AqzLHdrbsRGHhVg-IHa2XjSyKuTwXfWV7FIcW84a3NAmwPs3FCADqUgjSwgT5foUcYlWi8M5K_ng2owjsVVKR_fS2d7GbEM5vVQF027KwfudFOMUATY2l8QeysOo_YrlJw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Piper & Robin" width="234" /></a><br />
I made Piper’s wraparound skirt using <a href="http://www.simplesimonandco.com/2011/08/wrap-skirt-made-from-circle-skirt.html">this tutorial</a> from <a href="http://www.simplesimonandco.com/">Simple Simon & Co</a>, and given free choice she picked the pink sheet. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50UphCkDh9D9adETvUdnT6zuUH7_5dYfmP3cLQt34nDY1cTh2E7jXNwVE0pD1P9Qml2eRz2rVWzbfxkdCcEgOBi6xwRSR-OXxW4qaX55m5P0WIOjepXQz2bVRMMYY4Ki1i1xR9qZumwE/s1600-h/Piper%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Piper" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjCKidc6pKbm2CsUaigjmSoJ79g0nseXxerjh4bTLHHUJ26lrtUGklTiw3rK_eEt7PudL_6G82dQwQMWCwYm4bhNZXdhbjgYk4bwPKFhOT69eOpecMGlIHJH9PgS5bFNfnvx5KhAjEcY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Piper" width="147" /></a><br />
The next day I asked Robin what she would like and showed her a handful of other fabrics – the blue one, the green one, the spotty one…. But she was adamant that she wanted the same as Piper. So I made a different skirt – using <a href="http://www.danamadeit.com/2008/07/tutorial-the-circle-skirt.html">Dana’s circle skirt tutorial</a> – using the same very pink fabric. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGvyD4VVidCKCi1avYIhxuN-7YMRzwaOXGWPop4DIiRNmXz40UkDtowH876g3l9_Qvr28yrPp2mhW4B5M5RTFFhwy8nWtJkRFPspIIMrjYmusZLdSuiWZ4wJVYJMfmwHNG8-MYmOMoI8/s1600-h/Robin%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Robin" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaZkwiMagoHWUiCHGZbhYRhA15rVguq53bmCrERoIC3w3_AIiU4jKis1eSLEuTEXYu817EVWeZKXhwad430YcLaW6NbBWekbYiVIqR5RcnGQXFX2v2DDDRyUQ6Iwunpp7ytLXeXQfA_U/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Robin" width="131" /></a><br />
Next time I’ll hide the pink stuff when I offer them choices.Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-19486883703104424902013-05-16T22:32:00.000+01:002013-05-16T22:32:35.135+01:00The day I went to Walthamstow.My sister has just got engaged, which means lots of fantastic outfits, all of which my Mum and I have volunteered to make. 1 bride, 4 bridesmaids, additional items for a few men, plus material for the dress I am going to make for myself all adds up to a lot of fabric, so we went shopping.<br />
<br />
I had heard tell (<a href="http://didyoumakethat.wordpress.com/2010/06/29/walthamstow-fabric-shopping/" target="_blank">on the internet</a>) that Walthamstow Market was the place to go to for a massive range of very reasonably priced fabric, which was quite handy as Cathy lives 2 tube stops away. The reality was beyond my wildest expectations! It seemed that almost every fifth shop or stall sold fabric or notions or fantastic trim. And they have multiple charity shops too. It was wonderful.<br />
<br />
Between the market and Goldhawk Road – which was equally amazing and abundant, but slightly more expensive – we bought everything we needed, and for a ridiculous price. Then we had to lug it all back to Dorset by train – 50 metres of assorted fabrics is quite heavy!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGx-jHTNYTQ41DhABiZi-E3FGXt7nAwPIMYmLUlw9QvTgQhE8q41QovlFsCl1Wu74Fe1aZ-YBG92M8XgR-auCTHPQQP6QF5rUPM1phj76MtoIjED-5vEEMvjF0-SAQ6D71fHZ5VTRkjf0/s1600-h/Walthamstow%252520Fabric%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Walthamstow Fabric" border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaPIBVMWAOLI2AD4H_ikRBSRWUAvtzrzVEotswxWx5BUHq-VeCgGkEDgGfiyU1WjTREzONdFM-Q8Cv-L8SfZpvpf-ThRRONTO7eO62xgGjRgkSEcAtso5cxpLfdv6qB0s4AxvH3pkJx8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Walthamstow Fabric" width="239" /></a><br />
<br />
Of course this is all I can show you, and most of that is the floral sheet I picked up in a charity shop and the blue floral cotton for practising my dress, but we don’t want to let too much out before the event. But it is all VERY EXCITING. <br />
<br />
Thank you. Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-25518495206956580252013-04-27T19:35:00.001+01:002013-04-27T19:35:15.196+01:00Gone Sailing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSsnnGOtwk0_nAp2Q_S94W1YvGubh_rkb73vMGO4mG5YV5OByswNOcCDzf85csec9fpjENCCB27CTXM7hzf2oDTQMO_xe6MpQ8DBEypAs59JwWn_mZeec6XmmD_su_oBWu1JKWybRM7U/s1600-h/Quilt%252520-%252520ALL%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Quilt - ALL" border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVOR_ktdvGFPsC-xYP0-pniGIHULuWLtjPNHs6MT09ulnRciX43oMFZSaSTFJ9LGunV-K2b7idYOxYApWzUR_VxI6mPqdOPfT-Q_NcEESqThXQfP7t-JmBBRLfd3wDkiccqVXswzz1Yk/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Quilt - ALL" width="223" /></a><br />
In celebration of the imminent arrival of our new nephew I have been working on my first quilt. It was inspired by one I saw on the <a href="http://www.landofnod.com/baby-blankets/kids-gear/sail-on-crib-quilt/f11778">Land of Nod</a> website. I had a great time practicing loads of different techniques – blanket stitch, chain stitch, back stitch, satin stitch seagulls and I got to crack out Little Brother to do some zigzagging. On top of that I was really able to go to town amongst my stash, finding all the most suitable bits of fabric to build up the picture. Conveniently, there are some good bright colours here which fit with April’s Stashbusting Sewalong Vibrant Colour Challenge.<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 534px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="250"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdkAP5zt7wySwzZkI0i6cMN9LsX_eLvqCAawx795jsq7U6HE1bfjb0OcDdfKQY18qVCPEVmbfhndOteYkkmzzPQ_FDiEMBeuvKM2KyRYZSL8cGBLldiAK2UfT3mKSZwDI3xeLTE0tAWA/s1600-h/Quilt%252520-%252520boat%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Quilt - boat" border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsJVHICXb2PajWUrTkTynyQVml3CFT_lykPU2Aju8ab8plw_7oEuiaTnm26-w5OD9q0souQn7q3ZLdyV11SdvEQOu2PN6WvLMiCs8ewjMhrNE9P9GSLt_Csq9vEYHfCIK3n9Y5xSWZlI/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Quilt - boat" width="240" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="282"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CYEi0pJRRccvqk4kbr_oU0Nn8the_71Mthx3JedSbOPMyuDXEuuw5cnbqQEVDltMo3QykxSrPk7e8XAJnW99o_Oq_G1LfUQp7SUBiCS9tl4Tui0r8WgBQBtf9otCdcJXBIDHB89_qaQ/s1600-h/Quilt%252520-%252520sun%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Quilt - sun" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicd8TtDJV-jl3tuJ_XjJ3DsstAQGVsKr1ifGPl68zQxb7bxhJ5Y8QjUFZ9dNsQp0cWy-DyK2qPV7cAQRE38n6BtQOQwQsXRCtL_gswhpca-zYeN_sP1q7wsdfbFbmEidGyenFas8ouTNQ/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Quilt - sun" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="250"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GBFIz33wYWhOEC1DZqqsMFtM9bDSgfKfhq_PuzIWr9b4E2E4vI3NJRNV8Fvjr_D3cOhCGGwkAYS_tYzXmeR-a0Zddy9Tl4_6Ik-zG7t8xMFERPlPx7j2RlNF3FEtsAhDibi40j7g4es/s1600-h/Quilt%252520-%252520seagull%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Quilt - seagull" border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGly8zoUQUR8Nl_9g_sYtg7Qw6gywh_DCe28rczN3WVLhxJWjK2aPLVmQIbCwniaxsRM5u9Avole5W9tY_IWz8HvsBDUaNrlz0up6LVFxQhf36Lz7gjWW0kFcI1MD4fWHd5iOPWsrmuE/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Quilt - seagull" width="240" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="282"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsA4QLCRc7QGMEtmrBS7A5d4XlEoP5_jnqvgjfj_vHO7GIvLPQd1ENpbnn1mWGe5J0H6wuB46OLB1HpvMQqVtHm-q5H-rHbclFKzQNo51xCY66sJT-sVT4v9o18yHyFrTJhtSuGFyowlQ/s1600-h/Quilt%252520-%252520mid%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Quilt - mid" border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzB5V2sb2TxHJ6Ycfof4ajykgCWzwbnDELlA7-UhOrt4dbwFVWQbP4757k5eFwq0ZtXhgjOXyBntqI4aAFKsMmX3SBX7MnqBtxrbI1DvL9TbbNDNTcjz3v6n5PfrKl6cVJm29hjS07E4/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Quilt - mid" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Just in case that all sounded too positive, let me assure you that while creating the picture went swimmingly, the actually quilting part was decidedly more challenging, and as for binding the edges… <br />
<br />
Let’s just say it took some time and I have no skin left on my fingertips. (I know, I know, thimbles.) I also finished it at 1:30 the night before it was needed, away from home and completely forgot to take a tag to sew into it, so I had to improvise the next morning… <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq97O6TG1FcNl8uWM-Io4AXvoD7mZ3s75nn6jqkMeWgglsF-V5bnFF3j8GixJuPKU4oSX8fQSgdPVv9krLF4RstshiwJ6cDHoHF9JqcBDvIe3qo_P6RKzAHLjgnzqB08E-lEZ-8pUQXo4/s1600-h/Quilt%252520-%252520signature%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Quilt - signature" border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfbSBHPgemTs4qnng2RFmsmsGrgDD7OAzxSDWEgMIzf12Fz8mkFCmt9_UJ54JjF36aksfXxrD5FzegwCvgEwrHK1Ss4IRwBE3xkCP-QnyzPDcb2lCSIJ9jdDCsZYh1CLNfNlOQncns8I/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Quilt - signature" width="205" /></a><br />
However, despite all it’s flaws and character (or talking points) I am really happy with it.<br />
<br />
The new small one has now arrived, and we are visiting, so the quilt has been handed over and I never have to do that again. <br />
<br />
Unless I want to of course. Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343052220975827893.post-84459303248719177722013-04-22T23:06:00.000+01:002013-04-22T23:11:25.440+01:00Better Late Than Never… …In oh, so many ways.<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 481px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="236">Firstly this is the belated completion of my March stash busting sew-along item which should have been completed by the end of March (although in my defence it was a “change of season” challenge, and the seasons haven’t changed yet). </td> <td valign="top" width="243"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvh2v_ZFXWcrs47PcyBKSfyctczpo5AIQFQr4aOeJmwQJILjEDNfb84h0GchWl9b02RNiA7X1CvF4usrlW2n6GgnHpQg2m8Ss8rq2Kh2gcAo__TqZ6A9DMQErbnfJLdKcWDktAAjrqhqQ/s1600-h/Skirt%252520-%252520nearly%252520finished%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Skirt - nearly finished" border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF7dRe5SP90S9cKRgHWAuka3FMWyFiU7dRrJ0jVdo1oX8Biz2W03DRGjmYnuKY7Vj6z-pGWP_KssX2BnZsYyTVqUs4e46G1l_56hJq-3gQv7qPW4Vuy4Yd6iwcuu_i1rfrZ5U2hnKOIs/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Skirt - nearly finished" width="212" /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Nearly</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> finished and all spread out on the ground so I could straighten the bottom.</span></td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="233">Secondly I bought this fabric at the Knitting and Stitching Exhibition last October with the direct intention of making a skirt, and aside from crazy Christmas sewing the rest of the time has been largely spent mentally preparing for this project.<br />
I think too much. <br />
<br />
<br />
Thirdly and most especially I have now been sewing for 2 years and this is the first garment I have made for me (and frankly the only other clothing I have made has been simple gathered skirts for toddlers). Now though I have not only scaled up a pattern but put darts into it (on account of cutting it with slightly too much room for comfort). Big learning curve.</td> <td valign="top" width="246"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXx9hpH1IhsE7V2jZAIvWnbkTv_5xB8TIDGRANX_B4KXh-bFjEGIV9rEAabZ2dT6wzZfKAkrUFdAV4QaoW1BD-FVe0NBrnWz-D09MOabhYa5CRG0ArvlZJiDnY6gpofkMLtCBfBIEvolM/s1600-h/Finished%252520Skirt%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Finished Skirt" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYEzoqqb-jh1fwQbdMMlfZCqOsUfyDOuRZ79E9AVzYYglf_61TKIhkSjyPE4ngby4OHFOXPK7U-pQPwRVrLF-LGE8aPwazNXzvzFJr88s6TS7yGLDCo8b2fQrkAkrsnOnh1UPBmfEJSk/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Finished Skirt" width="209" /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />The finished article, plus a little photo bomber.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In addition I feel like I suddenly understand the real buzz of sewing my own clothes, and a renewed sense of confidence in how to dress given that since I finished working in an office seven years ago and had children I pretty much stopped wearing anything but jeans and t-shirts. Partly due to extra wobbly bits, and partly through practicality as it is easier to crawl around on the floor to play and clean up in trousers; but my youngest is nearly three so that requirement is on the wane. Here’s to the next garment…Gaenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596486699413594213noreply@blogger.com0