Booya!

Feeling well and truly motivated. 

I have missed this feeling...the NEED to sew.

I have been helping out a fellow, local crafter with some embroidery and it has re-invigorated me! To see a picture of a little elf I have made check out my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/littlehomemadeproduct

I have received my latest issue of Sew Magazine (issue 54!) which contains a little bear pattern. I am thinking that I will make that for the littlest Little with an outfit (maybe 2 or 3 depending on how they turn out!). This will go along with the Rapunzel doll for the biggest Little and the 2 horses.

Am currently wishing that I didn't have to go to work - I just want to sew all the time :) And just in time for Christmas.

Do you have periods of time where you loose the need to sew? I am loving having my mojo back :) I may even buy myself an overlocker as a treat!!

Isn't it amazing?

Since the last post I have purchased a new sewing cupboard (bargain at £10!) - I have painted it a lovely pastel shade of yellow. I think that it used to be an old computer desk/cupboard, but it is perfect for my sewing stash.

Sorry about the rubbish lighting - it was night time

It is organised, I promise!

And what a difference it has made. I can lay my hand on any piece of fabric I own really easily (even found some that I had forgotten about!).

I can store my "to do" projects and access them as and when I decide to sew them.

It has certainly helped my motivation, it just makes the whole sewing experience soooo much easier.

I have sewn my first curtain - not for me. A MASSIVE patio door single curtain (I can see why curtains come in pairs - what a mission sewing that much fabric all in one go!). I have also sewn one small blind, of the roman variety and am now cutting and pinning (how much hemming?!) a larger version. I am really happy with the results - so much so that I want to sew all new curtains for every window in my own house!

Once again Christmas seems to be looming.

I have left it a bit late to do that mission of homemade gifts that I did last year. I am limiting myself to smaller gifts this year.


Requests from my children are a unicorn (see previous posts)

and a Rapunzel doll. I have done a bit of a Google search and think that I will use this tutorial and pattern. But instead of felt hair I will probably do long woollen locks so that they can be plaited and put into pony tails.

I was also considering making jam (my husband has found a surplus of plums in a garden of a house that he is working at) and giving them away...and perhaps some stewed apples.

What are you sewing for Christmas? Do you have a long list or do you limit your homemade goodies to close friends and family?

Christmas round-up

So, finally finished the mammoth task of making Christmas presents. They mainly turned out ok...I made 25 in the end (many more than I would have bought!). I got a really touching reaction to a cat doorstop I made for my step-mother-in-law, she thought it was lovely that I had gone to the effort of making her a present - it made me feel really good!


Santa sack...think I would make this a bit bigger - it ended up being a bit narrow

I used a pattern that I found on the internet (no longer have the link)...but I made several of these. It was the 1st time I cut multiple pattern pieces at the same. Unfortunately all the bears ended up with saggy bums! Something wrong with the dart placement I think.

Some presents were stranger than others....I particularly enjoyed making the patchwork stocking (from here).

Overall, it was a rewarding experience. I would definitely consider doing it again for this year (are we really in 2013 already?!).

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!!