Sorry - eeek

Oh, gosh...I am not very good at this. I find talking so easy...I really thought that I would enjoy blogging...or at least be consistent!

I have not been doing much sewing - or perhaps I am...I did do some last week. I made a couple of gorgeous baby slippers (from SEW magazine tutorial...so simple an easy - sorry can't remember what issue). Fleecy wonderfulness - so cozy for little baby toes :)

But, I have yet to do any this week. I get organised - I clean my dining room work table. Then I just don't seem to bring my material box out...I have no idea why. I am going to blame the cold - it makes me tired and then I want to sit in front of the fire...and not sew! This technique is NOT helpful when I have decided to sew Christmas present for hordes of people!

This has been a bit of a none blog entry! I am to sew more this week...I have recently read a blog which follows something called "sew and tell". This helps the seamstress to work to a deadline and so stay motivated to finish those projects which would otherwise flounder at the back of your sewing cupboard. (Or is that just me?)

Made a Start

So I have made a start, I have actually started the Christmas presents! I have enjoyed it..so far. I have just cut out some of the patterns.

Strangely, I have ended up putting people onto my Christmas present list who I wouldn't normally buy presents for. Why is that? If they wouldn't make the "bought" Christmas list, why am I willing to give up my time to make them a present? The list includes 10 adults and 9 children. I wonder if I will finish them all.

Also, I have my Mum's 65th birthday coming up, my Dad's 60th and my best friend's 30th BEFORE Christmas. As those are such important birthdays I feel like they should have handmade pressies too. I can't see that happening - any present ideas/inspiration?

I got round to finishing off an apron dress I made for my eldest. I avoided the rain and took an afternoon to sew this sweet pattern. I finished all the inside seams beautifully (1st time I have bothered with that!). Tried it on my eldest, and it didn't fit....tried it on my youngest and it STILL didn't fit! Unpicked the dress....took a week to psych myself up to redo it and completed it yesterday. I added 2 inch panels (in jersey) on the sides. It looks cute, I am happy with it.

 Can you see the crossover straps at the back. ALL her dresses have straps that constantly fall down. I hope this solves the problem.

Our plans for the bank holiday weekend have gone to the wayside - as YET another wet weekend looms. What shall I be doing? Oh yes, seing Christmas gifts :)

Christmas?

So, last year I forced my close friends to make handmade presents for Christmas. We did it as a Secret Santa - so we only had to make one present. This was before I could sew. Everyone did really well...except me - and it was my idea! There were cookies made, badges created, pillows cases sewn...and random things put into a bag from me!

But THIS year, I actually have a slight skill that I can put to good use. It will mark a whole year of sewing for me!

This requires planning - if the gifts are going to be any good. Which means starting Christmas presents now - yes NOW, in AUGUST!

I have a few ideas in mind for some of my close friends and their children. Can't quite get my head around the fact that I am actually planning Christmas this early (I am not the most organised person!).

Although, to be fair, I haven't actually started making anything!!

Plan B

We had mother-in-law look after the kids last night, much to her delight, and hubby and I went to the Eden Project to watch Plan B. Amazing location and a brilliant gig. MUST go to see more live music, I had forgotten how much I enjoyed it.

Aren't I lucky

Look at the beautiful countryside that surrounds where I live. Beautiful :-)

A bit of photography!

Lack of Motivation

Haven't been sewing much since I started this blog...I think it is because my sewing "area" is actually a kitchen cupboard. Whenever I fancy sewing I have to unpack the whole cupboard to get to the bits I need. This has resulted in me not bothering! (Solution to this problem....I am now house hunting - although we can't afford it - for a house with a sewing room!)

I did manage to motivate myself, a friend was going to a surprise baby shower. I said I would make slippers for the twin girls that are expected at the end of next month.
 I am really happy with how these turned out. Although, I think they are going to be far to big, especially as the twins are going to be born a month early by c-section!

Other News

I have download the instagram app - I am enjoying it...although I don't have "an eye" for photography I like messing about with the pictures I have taken.



 

My eldest daughter exploring a hidden garden





Snatched Success

Ah ha! Have managed to grasp success after my youngest daughter's coat was a complete failure. I thought that there would be no saving it...
It looks messy from the inside, as I had to cut open the lining and couldn't think of a different neater way to sew it all back together (and there are still some holes in the oilcloth outer that I can't stitch together without it looking even more of a mess!). But it fits! I removed HUGE chunks of material and all the "caught" material was removed! It isn't perfect, and it certainly isn't what I was expecting...but I like it :)

Sorry about the quality of this picture...it is from my phone camera...will have to do a "real" photo shoot at some point in the future!
I don't know if you can see...but the coat is in a sage oilcloth with cream polka dots, and the lining is white with vintage roses on it. Very cute - give it a go!

This coat no longer fits, so I have cut it up to make a wallet. Follow the progress on this blog.

Failure

I knew it would be too much....

The coat that I mentioned in a previous post. Well I sewed it all together last night - I was so excited to try it on my little girl this morning....it doesn't fit. Worse than that I seem to have caught some of the material in some of the arm and hood seams...(how did I do that?!). Worse still, it has a lining AND I edged stitch in tiny stitches ALL around the outside of the coat (why, why, why didn't I try it on her BEFORE finishing it?!).
So, a failure...a waste of material, what am I going to do?
Wonder if I can cut it up and use if for something else...I have seen a really great organiser wallet (https://elily00.wordpress.com/tutorials/wallet/) - perhaps I will try that?

Actual sewing!

So, I have got back into sewing after going off camping, and meeting my best friend's new baby (it was a fab weekend).
I have a couple of sewing projects on the back burner... as  mentioned in the previous post, a coat for youngest daughter, and also a tent I decided to make for the Preschool where I work. But these will have to wait.
My husband has decorated our living room for the first time since we moved in 5 years ago. My bright idea ... to sew a quilt to go with our new decoration. Life is now on hold until it is finished! Here is the start of it 

I thought I would do 9 squares with a wide margin between each 9. I think it may take me a while

Aiming Too High

Poncho Raincoat

I have decided to sew my youngest daughter a coat...a raincoat to be specific. I thought I may give this a try. But, now that I have cut out the oilcloth and committed myself I am worried that this is somewhat beyond my sewing skill level.
I guess I will have to continue with this project 1) because the child needs some sort of waterproof outwear as the British Summer is typically rainy 2) because I have already cut out the shapes in the oilcloth (oilcloth is quite expensive...) and 3) because I was meant to use the oilcloth to make my friend a nappy roll and lost motivation...if I don't now make the coat I will feel even more guilty for not making the nappy roll!
If you happen to get round to sewing it before me - I would like to see your attempts! It may encourage me :)
There may be pictures to follow...watch this space! Ha!

First Blog Post...Ever

Number 1!

This is going to be like the 1st post of most blogs that I have read. I thought I may give bogging a try...
I am not sure what I want to share, or why. I craft - sewing mainly, and I like showing off my finished items (well the ones that work anyway!). So perhaps that is my main motive...I am half hoping to sell some things - so anything you like - let me know.
I have children - 2 so far! I enjoy parenting, but they are hard work! I am hoping to share our ups and downs and some blogs I like reading to get ideas (that goes for sewing too).
As  a disclaimer - I don't know what I am doing (on this blog or in real life!) but hope that some of my experiences will help someone - better to learn from my mistakes than your own?!
I would add a photo - but I can't find a nice one of myself...think I will have to get organised!