Sweet Sewing Adventures

Saturday was a lady pampering day. Well to be truthful all I did was have a haircut, spent some time in my own head (peace is required at least once if not more in the summer) and had a wee whizz around the shops (Miss Rosey's 13th birthday is looming). Now as this was my time, I also had a bit of bookshop browsing and declined my original plan of getting fitted for some much needed new bra's. To whip off my top and bare all to an efficient lady with a tape measure is something I really need to be in the mood for.

Right, leaving bossum's behind and quickly moving back to the bookshop I think. I only went there for a browse, just to see what was what you understand. On the shelves I found complete temptation. It was a book I've lusted after for a while now, but not bought as I know I'm not ready to try my hand at dressmaking in Japanese.

On the front of this copy was a big sticker saying IN ENGLISH. After flicking through I was hooked and so I bought the book quick sharp.

There's so many beautiful patterns in here to make up, all based around six patterns. Basically once you get your head around a shape then it's much quicker to knock out some other bits and bobs. There were quite a few things that I knew the Bun's would want me to make for them as well so I reckoned £14.95 for 23 stunning patterns was blinking brilliant value.

The minute I got home I just had to jump straight in. The sewing urge was upon me. I did have lots of cuddles with everyone first of course and referee'd a girly squabble sucessfully. My lot went off happy to play and stuff and so I got out my new book to make my choices. I settled on starting off with the top up top. I reasoned it looked fairly quick to do, no hideous darts to fiddle with and I knew I had just the right fabric stashed away.

As I'd used up all my dressmaking tracing paper, I stickytaped baking paper sheets together to make my patterns. That was the hardest part to be honest and only because the pattern sheet was so busy it was like reading a map. To be truthful the patterns and instructions are simplified so beautifully that this sewing adventure was absolute bliss. No temper tantrums occured at all. So addicted was I that I managed to finish my top just as Mr Bun was plonking food onto plates and pouring out the fizzy stuff.

I can't believe how well this has turned out, normally something goes horribly wrong when I make clothes and I have to re-think the whole project. It looks like a posh difficult to make type of top and yet it was really really straightforward.

I love the wee ruffle around the neckline, but I'm not too sure about the fluffty sleeves. They do look perfect with the design I know, but I'm not too sure I'm sold on them for me. If I make another one for me, then I might just go for straight drop sleeves.

There it is in all it's finery and then there's me showing you how it looks on a human being.

When I did a twirl in it for my lot, Little Bun asked straight away if she could have one too. Being as it was so straightforward, she asked so nicely and the sewing urge was upon me I got going as soon as I could. She chose the fabric herself from a pile I gave her to have a think about. Now her top is all stitched up too and waiting for her to wake up to.

Now I'm wondering what to have a go at next. I feel drawn to the coat, but I'll need to have a good think about the right fabric for that, something soft and beautifully aged I think.

See you soon.

Happy Home Days

This has been the most marvellous week of lovely home time and now wishing we could stretch it out just a wee while longer. There are so many things I had planned for me and my girls, but time always runs away from us doesn't it.

I've fitted in cupboard reshuffle's and clearouts. We can actually walk across the Bun's bedroom floors again. How long this will last I wonder.

I finished dressing Miss Rosey's wardrobe at long last. Some things I start, then life gets in the way and they have to patiently sit waiting to be properly finished. I gave her a choice of fabrics, hoping she would choose the softened and faded 1950's rose curtains to contrast with the Designers Guild check. She did luckily.

Midweek pancakes were requested. I took my place by the stove and flipped out one after another while hooking up a few new things.

In the middle of the pancake marathon Mr Postie knocked on the door with a delivery just for me. Once the Bun's tums were full I cleared up and took a moment at the kitchen table to have a flick through a book that a lot of people are talking about right now. This is one book that's well worth the pennies. If not just for the makes and ideas, but most definately to look at all the beautiful pictures inside.

My Mr was at home that morning too so he had a peek and declared it a very lovely book. I just love looking at pictures of other peoples fabric stash. Thankfully Rachelle and Tif know this and have included plenty of shots to drool over. I was also tempted by one other book this week as Amazon had such a good deal going. I'll show you that one another day.

That same evening we had a small family Halloween party planned. One of many firsts to get through without my dad joining us. He could always be relied on to do his best vampire in the style of grandpa in the Munsters.

We made jellies with sugary snails and worms in them and collected sweeties together for us and anyone who might knock.

The Bun's made dead finger biscuits while I made my first ever marshmallow frosting to turn into ghosties. Such a simple topping to make and utterly sweetly delicious. I'm no expert at making perfect cake decorations, but they do taste good all the same.

Party time came and with the clan all dressed in their finest spooky gear we got ready to eat and play the games the Bun's had planned. We had pin the wart on the witch, find the bat and who am I to start the ball rolling.

Alfie Blue got in on the act too. He adores grandma and thinks he's her grandson.

After all our cosy home days we were ready to get a good dose of fresh air by Friday. Meeting up with friends we had a wonderful wintery seaside day of eating, walking and playing.

Films, jumble sales and fireworks are planned for the weekend and then it's all too soon back to routine once more. How I wish we could start the week all over again.

Killing Time

I really love Friday's. Friday is my favourite day of the week, especially when it's pay day Friday. Work ends on Thursday, so it's the start of a long weekend. The Bun's have after school drama so lots of me time to play with. Sometimes I'm sociable. Mostly I just love being on my own, in my job I have to talk endlessly all day long.

After kissing Little Bun goodbye in the playground and doing a cool, grown-up goodbye to Miss Rosey I whizzed home to put my plans into action.

Yesterday I'd had a strong urge to make the floral coasters I'd seen at Yvestown a fair while back. Since the blog has been deleted and redesigned I couldn't find the pattern anywhere. That's when a quick google on Pinterest helped me out as tons of other people had saved it.

I got pretty addicted to whizzing these floral dainties up. I loved seeing how they looked in each new colour I picked up. Each one done and off I went creating another one. Not sure what I've made them for really, it was simply good to be making them.

A few hearts flew off my hook too. All just enough to give me the feeling that I'd left the week behind. It's been a rollercoaster of a couple of weeks workwise, not helped with us all feeling so ill and having no time off. Now the light at the end of the tunnel has turned up and it's Fabulous Friday to boot.

For my last making fix of the morning I stitched a couple more hexies for the floral plates that will one day, years ahead from now, become a quilt.

As I had a lunch date planned with my man I had to leave it there. It's a rare thing indeed this meeting in the middle of the day. Having his own business means he's usually hard to pin down.

Mind you he was an hour late, not that it was his fault. An hour to kill and I was in the city, alone and on payday. I sought the best kind of entertainment and spent a few pennies. In Primark I spied the exact shade of wellies for me.

Some great towels and new bedding were added to the pile in my hands and I found I still had time to fill.

There was nothing for it, but to head to the yarn shop and maybe the bookshop too.

The discount bin kindly had a few of the shades of cotton I was looking for.

I got distracted by all the new season Amy Butler prints and dilly dallied a while thinking which would be best for skirts and tops. A top for this one I think.

I had just enough time for a quick browse in the bookshop. All Sewn Up by Chloe Owens appealed to me for it's joyful style. Some books are feel good and inspire me just by having a flick through every so often.

I love the happiness of making that comes out of this book. The other thing that made me love this book is that one of my favourite illustrator's work decorates page after page. She also happens to live in Norwich. If you're a Pug person like us then have a click here to visit the talented world of Gemma Correll.

Eventually Mr Bun arrived and kindly rescued me from the world of shopping. It was bliss to have time just for us, the food was pretty good too.

Before I pop off I want to say hello to new followers and a big thankyou to everyone who stops by here to read or leave a comment. Apologies again if I've been rubbish at getting back to you to say hello as usual. Have a lovely weekend - seems the sun might be shining.

Partying with a Dead Badger

We Halloween'd at home tonight while we waited for Mr Bun to return from the horrors of the dentist. After days of scary pain he finally gave in and came home feeling ohh so much better. Once he'd added the dead badger fright wig we knew he was ready to party.

Two glam wee witches helped me cook up witches stew, with mummys fingers (cheese straws) and squirting eyeballs (profiteroles). We played games like pin the wart on the witch and then curled up and read the daft spooky stories we'd all written.

This last week has gone by far too fast for my liking. Lots of just being and doing what we wanted has gone on. A whole afternoon drawing and eating choc and popcorn was pretty fine.

I rummaged through cupboards searching for lost stuff one morning and found nothing I needed, but lots of things that brought back lovely memories.

 

By the end of the week we were in need of loads of walking and animal stroking, so we popped off to our favourite farm. Poppy and her beautiful foal Grace gave us a great welcome as did the donkeys with their foal Mabel. I fell in love and forgot to take a pic. The star of the day was a pig called Lord Gaga who had a temper tantrum when we walked off and then cooed and grunted when we came back to scratch him some more. Such a relaxing, perfect feel good day for us all. 

Now it's back to the nutty grindstone once more of school and work.

Weekend Preparations

As I'll be leaving just before six tomorrow morning I won't see my lovely ones until the end of the day, so I've bought a few weekend treats for them all. I've promised the Bun's, who have just discovered the joys of bubble gum, that I would find them the proper stuff. Proper stuff being Trebor's Bubbly. This was the one I blew huge pink bubbles with as a child and nothing else compares. in my opinion. Well apart for that wee addiction I had to cherry flavoured gum when I was pregnant with eldest bun.

It tastes perfect, blows great bubbles and best of all the wrapper just makes me smile and feel happy. These are the perfect shades of pink, yellow and blue for sunshine days.

They also have sherbet pips and gummy bears. I've already pinched a few of these sweeties - we don't need to let them know that though do we.

To make the Bun home all flowery for the weekend I was thrilled to find some dahlia's on the market. I thought they had all gone now so I'm very pleased with these orange and red pom poms.

With flowers in hand I went into the wool shop as I was after a bears eye. Poor Parsley bear has had an accident and so needs a bit of treatment. In the wool shop they run a mini craft book library and were selling off some of the stock. Lucky me as I've put off buying this book for ages and now I'm glad I did as it was greatly reduced. I can't wait to try some of these flowers out, especially the butterflies I already have ideas for them.

When I got home I had two packages waiting me for me. First was this fabulous book by Poppy Treffry on freestyle machine embroidery. Something else I'm itching to learn as so much of my work calls out for this fabulous embellishment. I hope I'll be able to get the hang of it.

Parcel two was my mini moo cards. I had no idea how mini they would actually be. They look fabulous, BUT - if you wear glasses as I do you can't read the info on the back unless you have your glasses with you. I love them as my new business cards, but I think I'll be ordering the proper sized ones next. They'll be great for this weekend at Woodbridge though. I'll make sure there's a magnifying glass to hand.

Before I go, I thought you might like to see the finished Bits & Bobs Purses. I've added a contrasting running stitch to each one to hold the outer and lining in place. I'm really pleased with them now. As I'm enjoying patchy things too at the moment I'm tempted to make a few of these in patchy patterns.

Now I've given myself lots of things to be getting on with next week, alongside a spot of part-time teaching and my evening crochet class it looks like another busy busy and fun week.

Righty oh, I'm off to pack boxes and find my ring-a-ding till. Have a fantastic weekend. Hope the sun is still shining for everyone.