Wednesday 29 January 2014

Weekend

This weekend:

I used my new rotary cutter.  I made a high tech template from a cereal box.

And I cut many triangles.  Why?  
In an altruistic mindstorm at New Year's (no alcohol involved) I offered to make bunting for the scouts that my two older children attend. I spent the stormy New Year's Day, emptying my mum's cupboard of quilting fabrics and trying to think how to use the many small pieces of fabric in it without having to make a quilt myself.  So here I am, using my sewing powers for good.  Anyone else doing some altruistic sewing?

Tuesday 21 January 2014

2013 sewing

This year's sewing was sewing in twos and sewing wardrobe staples:.  Here are the twos:
  • Two Renfrews - yellow and purple, two pairs of Sew Liberated skinny jeans in red and in blue, two staple dresses by April Rhodes, two pairs of shorts from Simplicity 5558 (thank you Phillipa)




navy shorts








  • Two Tovas - grey and white floral
  •  
    grey tova

    spotty tee

    spotty Staple dress

    floral Staple dress

    blue Sew Liberated skinnies




Two Ottobre tunics



And sewn only once (so far)


Minna blouse from Salme patterns (unblogged)
Traveller dress from Sew Lisette
Spotty tee
Vogue green cord skirt

Most of these garments have been worn so much and become my staple everyday uniform, especially the Sew Liberated jeans and in the summer the Simplicity shorts.  The |Renfrews are slightly too big so I wear them but not as often as the Ottobre tunics which I wear and wash, wear and wash at the moment.  So  hurray for sewing wardrobe basics.
I have a few vague plans for 2014, but nothing concrete yet.  I just want to think about getting more creative,  linking sewing to my painting....returning to some form of teaching as I desperately need to earn some money!  Oh and finishing off my ufos of course!  I have recently bought the Lola pattern and the Paula pleated skirt from Maria Denmark so once the UFOs are done, those two patterns are top of my list.  

vogue skirt




Last year I learnt the value of looking after my sewing machine, reading the manual and changing the needle. Could I finally be moving away from being a slapdash sewer?  
Last year I have learnt that I have lots of ideas but I do not have the time or resources to follow them all
through. Maybe I need to focus more.  Hmmmmm...I will get to you about that. 

Thursday 16 January 2014

I must go down to the sea


Longtime, regular readers (or blogging friends as I like to call yous) will say "w..w..h..at?"  and "how time flies" when I tell you that Little Rocket Girl turned two this week.  Much fun was had in celebration, especially if you consider spitting apple juice, ripping up paper and eating chocolate cake fun.  Looking at recent photos I found this fav from the Christmas holidays.  

Some sewing is almost complete....almost ready for sharing


I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
(John Masefield, Sea Fever)