the bird lady

Monday I did my usual stint at Mustard Seeds,  we were quieter this week but of course everyone came in all at once and it was chaos.  This little coffee shop continues to flourish and bring so much joy to these pensioners in our village.

Afterwards I walked home instead of my usual lift home, I had the camera with me  as I wanted to take a photo of our new tablecloths and menu sheets, looking all new and fresh.  

As I passed the mere I spotted "the bird lady" feeding the birds .
This lady calls every day to feed the birds.  They were all enjoying their food when all of a sudden the geese looked across the water...

 

and then took off, everyone followed

 

 

I was pleased I had my camera with me.

I noticed the newcomers were stood observing from a distance looking very regimental

As I left, I noticed the big guys approaching, not sure if they had anything to do with it. 

 Watching the birds behaviour fascinates me, especially the swans.  This mere is such a lovely place and I never take it for granted.  I feel very fortunate it is literally just around the corner from where I live. 

vintage sewing and craft books

Blogging so inspires me.  After reading a post earlier in the day it prompted me to get a couple of books of my shelf and familirise its contents.  

These books are wonderful I love them a great insight into sewing in the 1940's when times were hard, money and supplies sparse and rationed but imagination was unlimited. I just had to share them with you.

 Isnt the inner cover a lovely design, ingeneous.  Once inside the books there are endless patterns and ideas.  Articles on darning and repairing.  Getting wear out of wool jackets by unpicking the whole outfit and turning in inside out for more wear, have you ever heard of anything so bizzare, and even 1940's

recycling

My favourite parts are where they decorate their plain materials to create something unique using simple ribbons, and rick rack.

love the top left trim made from ribbon.

Just look at this collar made from rick rack braid, wouldnt it look lovely on a simple shift dress, and even plain covered button get a makeover.

Here is a 1940's onesie, they called them cleaning overalls, very much like our "onesies" which were selling like hotcakes today in the shops when Christmas shopping. I do hope you liked these books as much as I do. 

Call me "Lazy"

It is cold here at the  moment such a shock to the system after all the lovely weather last month.  I struggle with fashion in the winter months, unless I am heading out for the day  it is so easy just to throw on a pair of jeans, thick socks and a lovely warm jumper.   Its not very exciting on a daily basis but practical.  It all comes down to me being lazy.

In fairness, trousers are definitely warmer than skirts when the weathers at its worst, so I must try and and get to grips with making them, can  anyone recommend a good trouser pattern for a curvy figure.  But somehow I am always drawn to dresses.   So my November garment a month challenge of the month is to use my vintage wool crepe in my stash and sew a dress. Its a bottle green colour.

Pattern choice  Vogue 8667  I like the oatmeal version with the collar, I would like to make a matching buckled belt (not done one of those before)  Some thick wool tights, boots a nice cardi and Im sorted. Just need to make it and pray it doesnt get so cold that I grab the jeans. 

100 posts so let's celebrate with chocolate.. Of course

This is my 100th post. 
In all honesty I am surprised I got this far. At times I wondered if I was writing to myself, and sometimes I thought of giving up, especially when I had writers block. So lets celebrate with chocolate........


and one of my favourites. It so reminds me of Christmas Selection boxes and Easter Eggs.
Yummy!!




The top I made for my "garment a month challenge" is the exact colour of the foil paper on a Cadbury's chocolate bar  and its shiny too!! 

This is made from a piece of fabric that was left over sitting in my stash. I didnt  originally choose this fabric. My daughters choice when I made her a dress a few years ago, but it is a beautiful clear purple and polka dots are always a hit with me.  
The pattern is Butterick 5890.     
I had just enough to make  the shorter version minus the collar. (c)  I also omitted the front seam (why have a seam down the front, to me unsightly).
Do I like it?   Yes I do. Though I dont shy away from colour its very shiny, which I am not used to.  I think I just need to get used to it. I would have preferred the longer version which suits me better but there wasnt enough fabric  This top will give a good splash of colour under a cardigan for autumn/spring.     

The pattern says use a  22" zip.  I just dont see why you need such a long zip on this pattern. I can easily get this top on and off without undoing the zip. Even the  previous version I made which was more fitted I can manage with a zip half that length. 


There is plenty of room in it but it is rising up at the front which gives me the impression it needs to be bigger in the bust. No doubt I will make this again and will correct that next time.  I also made the neckline a little bit deeper as I dont like high round necks on me.  Overall I am happy with it and it will be a good addition to my pinks and greys that I wear a lot of.

A while back I mentioned I was thinking of upgrading my camera. Well I am so pleased to tell you that we have finally got a dlsr.  I have been eyeing these up for sometime.  Its a  Nikon D3100, its a beginner dlsr, I should be able to manage that. I love it, the pics are so much clearer. I need to get a tripod and case ordered for it.  So excited :-)  

We went to visit the in laws this week and took them to Lincoln. Of course I was clicking away like a tourist, considering it was late October when these pictures were taken the weather was incredibly warm, we didnt even wear coats.

I also mentioned that I wanted to finish dh socks , and yes (hooray!)  they are complete.  They were ribbed throughout so they were very time consuming.  At hubbies request he wanted them as long as possible, these socks go on forever.

Left: blue ribbed socks  Right:  daughters socks, made earlier in the year.  Both made from drops fabel sock wool, just different patterns in their wool.  I love their wool and have never been disappointed with the quality, and such a good price, especially when they have offers on. Do check them out.   Christmas pressies,  Dont they look lovely.


With the days getting colder and shorter, I find I struggle to  dressmake on a regular basis.  I am more likely to be sat curled up by the wood burner knitting.  I will still try to complete my challenge a month project.  In the stash is some vintage green wool crepe which will make a nice warm dress.  Just need to choose a pattern.  

On the knitting needles  at the moment is some vintage Jaeger angora Spun.  £2.00 from a charity shop.  A pair of bed socks for my daughter, who feels the cold all year round.  A lovely royal blue, this wool is so incredibly soft and fuzzy. I am so going to enjoy knitting this wool, I may not want to part with them.

Whats on your needles or sewing table at the moment. 

How well do you see colour?

Yesterday, in fact nearly all weekend it rained.  It was one of those weekends that never really got going dark and cold.  So over the weekend I sewed, and I catalogued my patterns online with Evernote.  I can take no credit for this idea as I got it from lululouise's blog.  It will enable me to see what I have if I spot a piece of fabric on my travels and hopefully match it up.  Of course I have only catalogued the illustrations so it will be guess work on the amount of fabric I require.  Has anyone else done this or am I being too organised!  

Now how good are you at colour matching?  My friend says that I have a good eye for colour.  Very useful when dressmaking, matching fabrics, threads etc or general clothes shopping.  My friend however has no colour sense at all. She often asks me "does this go with this".  When sewing I find this very beneficial.  I can go into town without a piece of fabric and bring back the right colour reel of cotton. Now, while surfing the net the other day I came across a  colour test what fun I thought.  So I gave it a go. My score was 8 not bad. Give it a go but beware, it can send you loopy.  Let me know how you get on.

  

My Garment a Month Challenge

 I have joined Sarah Liz's sewalong making one item a month.  Yes I think I should be able to manage that one. However I must make thermal curtains, so while I decide on curtain fabric choice I think I will start my challenge.  
I am still needing to de stash, get these fabrics used up and have a fresh start with different fabrics but I feel like a mouse on a wheel when it comes to de-stashing.  As soon as I sew some of it up I will find a piece of fabric on my travels. 
So  for my October Make a Garment a Month challenge I will be making Butterick 5890.    
I know I have just made this top, but I have just enough of some Rose and Hubble purple/white polka dot fabric left over from a dress I made for my daughter to make this top.  It will go nicely with the 2 skirts I have just made, increasing my mini wardrobe. The style option is dependant on how far the fabric goes.
So what else for October, I really need to finish my coat that must have been sitting in the wardrobe for about 3 years now, all the hard work is done, so why I havent finished it I just dont know. The socks I am knitting for my husband, I  am on the home straight with them now which I am so pleased about, I feel like Ive been knitting them for an eternity.  

So thats it for October.  What are you all sewing/knitting this month? 

Getting organised

It all started when I came across this bag on Yoshimi's blog.  I like bucket bags but I do so hate the way everything collects up at the bottom of the bag.  Yoshimi had cleverly made dividers in hers which was a brilliant idea.  While sorting out and putting away summer clothing I came across an old pair of jeans, so I thought I would recycle them and make  Yoshimi's hatoto bag.  I have to say I like it, just the right  size for me, the straps are not too long and dont fall off my tiny shoulders, I think I would put a fastener on next time.

what is even better is that it 
lays flat for storage.

I like bags, but I havent the space to store lots of different bags to coordinate with my wardrobe, also I am lazy and cannot be bothered to take everything out and of one bag into the other, resulting in me usually using one or two bags through the seasons. 

Which brings me onto my next idea....

What if I made a variety of these bags, some in linens, ultrasuede, cottons for the summer & leatherette and waterproof fabrics for the winter. Of course I could customise them so they are not all the same.  They could all store flat for easy storage (very important for me)  and I make a removable liner that fits inside
Why?
Because (a) I just have to lift all the contents out in one go  and
(b) It makes storing my other bags easier as they wont be as bulky.
So I set about creating one.

It is a quilted inner with outer pockets.  You can even turn
it inside out as well, and have the pockets on the inside if you wish

it has a removable base with polystyrene inside for protection

It hold everything I needs

I am really pleased with it.  What do you think

Vogue 8750 and my Contest Mini Wardrobe Final Entry

For anyone that has not been following me I have entered a competition on pattern review to sew 4 items in 1 month and create at least 4 looks.  
So here is my entry picture.

 My little grey skirt my final piece, which I havent really had chance to post about is included.
I like this skirt, despite sewing the curves and constant unpicking. It proved to be the most difficult piece to do out of all the 4 due to the fabric.  The colour goes wonderfully with the top and it has a silver metallic finish, it reacted terribly to heat resulting in me having to press with a warm iron and a very damp cloth. The fabric was a bane it shrivelled, puckered and I am now unpicking my triple top stitching in an effort to make the skirt look less puckered.  Its too late in the day to redo the photos. But I will continue with my unpicking. 

In honesty looking at the pics some outfits work more than others. The shirt, though the fabric is soft it is somehow rigid which effects its overall appearance, for a start it makes me look bigger than I am.  The whole process was stash busting and using existing patterns, but I had to make a few purchases in the end. Yes I am my own worst critic with my handiwork, there is always improvement.  But  I have so enjoyed this contest its been fun and made me think more about what I was making and how it works with other items, instead of just matching available fabric to a pattern, its also been a great motivator for me.

Vogue.7903 Shirt

This is my third piece of the mini wardrobe competition finished.  Its a shirt, and I haven't done collars for a  very long time , so it was a challenge.  I really like this blouse, especially the yoke.  Originally I was going to add a pleated yoke, but my friend thought it may be too rigid, Im so glad I took her advice as the fabric is quite thick, its a cotton sheet that was in my stash originally purchased to back a quilt.  I still wanted to have a go at cutting into my front shirt piece and recreating something different

I had an old top with inserts that had seen its day, so I carefully unpicked them   and worked out how I could use these short pieces on the yoke.  The effort paid off and I like the result. 

 The only thing I dislike are  the cuffs they are very long and loose (and I have thick wrists)  It makes the shirt feel big , in fact I have turned them back on the second picture. I shall have to review that next time I make one.   I even managed to find some vintage buttons with square inserts to match the ladder effect in the yoke.  Overall I think I have made a nice, crisp classic shirt.

A quick catch up

A quick hello, I am still here ploughing through my September sewing tasks and clearing and rearranging the garden ready for the forthcoming winter.


 My mini wardrobe is coming along and I am on my last piece.  The blouse is finished, washed and in need of a press. It look like nice and fresh on the hanger I am pleased with it especially the yoke insert.  I will show you a proper photo when I do my review for it.
Im now ploughing on with piece 4 a grey skirt, change of colour and fabric, so much for my detailed plan. 

 
I had a great weekend, on Saturday my friend had a stall at a craft market in our local town.  She had decided to de-stash, and I offered to help her, and on Sunday I was in my garden, my sons partner came around and we got so much done. 



 Saturday was a lovely day, (I so love September, my favourite month).  The sun was out and there was a jazz band playing, the market had a lovely vibe.   My friend did well considering it was aimed at a certain few, it amazed me that some people told me they had never used a sewing needle.

Of course I bought something, 2 pieces of fabric, the grey that I am using for my skirt and some patchwork cotton with swimmers on, I like the colours and its fun,  but Im not too sure how I will use it I have 2metres 20 any ideas?