TALE OF A FLIGHTY BIRD.......

Now before any of you get excited about me spilling the beans re some new love interest, I have to state now that there is only one of those in my life ( in fact for the last 48 years really) and despite the odd wrinkle (wonder if I dare introduce him to moisturiser!) and the sprinkle of grey hair, he can still set my heart aflutter. So sorry to disappoint on that score!...No my flightiness is all to do with my sewing and craft projects...

Having bent your ears about our next makeover and all the things I intend to do, I seem to have got a bit waylaid.......

It is at this point I would suggest getting in your rations....glass of something, snacks etc...It's going to be a long haul........

It all started about 2 weeks ago whilst out shopping with my DD for her glam dress for the Wedding Ideas magazine awards in London......At which I am proud to announce she and her partner won the 'Best Special Touches' category ....for the second year running.....very proud mum here....so I don't apologise for the blatant plug.

Anyway whilst on our shopping trip I spied a mannequin in John Lewis dressed in  a navy and white striped top (which I have), a navy parka lined with navy and white striped lining (I have similar with a plain lining) teamed with green straight jeans (a lovely grass green not the emerald which they tell us will be the colour for spring!) which I certainly do not have. I loved these jeans, unfortunately they did not love me. Why Oh why do most manufacturers think that all English women need jodhpurs to squeeze our obviously ample hips into.
I am straight at the hips, as are many of my female acquaintances, regardless of their size, and I am not prepared to buy jeans costing £65 that I then have to alter to fit! In truth I would not pay £65 anyway. So the point of this is that as soon as I got home my thoughts were far away from new cushions and bed throws and totally on finding these elusive jeans at a price and fit I liked.
To no avail, and then my friend asked quite simply, why don't make some and I thought why don't I? So then my quest became the perfect pattern and the fabric. I found the pattern at Burda .com, a print it yourself pattern for only $4....wow!  Never done this before so I wasn't totally convinced I had done the right thing,

but having battled a little with accurate cutting and sticking together, I did get a pattern I could use and have made up a test pair out of some stretch canvass I had in my stash.

 Although I now know that I needed to make them at least one size if not two less than the instructions advised for my measurements, I am pretty pleased with the outcome and am now awaiting samples of the lovely coloured denim I found on line. .......Yeah they arrived!!

 The only drawback here is that although it is listed as a UK website the samples actually came from Germany! The fabric is a fine but firm denim with about a 5% stretch, and lovely quality and at £9.50 a metre not a bad price either.. It would make lovely skirts too. However if any of you savvy shoppers/dressmakers know where I can purchase similar at a similar price in the UK I would love to hear.

So did this little detour away from my intended projects satisfy? Not a bit of it! Some time ago like many of you I suspect I signed up to pinterest...don't ask me why I did, since I never really sit at the computer for browsing sake and quite honestly have not really got into it. But having done so I now get emails about the few people I followed and what they're loving. Needless to say one of them is my DD and she has done some lovely mood boards among which are a couple dedicated to her sons' bedroom makeovers. For her youngest she has chosen a woodland theme, and there among her favourite bits and bobs was a link to a pattern for some cute felt woodland creatures from little dear.

 You know exactly whats coming next....purchase pattern, purchase felt and start making said animals.......but that was not the end Oh no!....What drops through my letterbox but the latest copy of Molly Makes and you guessed it, on the front are pictures of the cutest fox and raccoon with patterns for making them included.........

I am a Libran and always being told I am indecisive..........Oh I can decide all right ...decide to do anything other than the  pile of things already planned.....When did I say this bedroom would be done....I didn't...Oh good, that's a relief, 'cos goodness knows what urgent new project I might next fall upon.........

That is of course once I finish the magicians cape and top hat for grandson number 1's Magic themed birthday party, and 30+ of these candy white bunnies to pop in their goody bags....... complete of course with candies in their see through tummies

So for now this flighty bird is off to ummmmm...... get a glass of wine.....and then I might just.........

TTFN

Jenny xx

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON.....?

Can it be a whole month since I last wrote a post. I was so diligent when I first started this blog and though I certainly haven't lost my enthusiasm and thoroughly enjoy reading other posts I do seem to find less and less time to actually write. And as you will know I am not usually lost for words!!

Any way I am just sorting out my pictures from the most enjoyable holiday on the Isle of Wight which I will share with you soon, so thought I would break my silence and show you a few bits I have been doing recently.

I am a subscriber to Molly Makes and though I do not love everything about the magazine occasionally something just hits the right spot. Well the recent article on needle felted 'Petite Pooches' created by Gretel Parker did just that!

My first attempt was OK though he turned out about twice the size he should.....

 I gave him to my DD who didn't seem to mind his size....

My second attempt was a little nearer the original I think.....

 I just love him and have called him Claude..... just one of those silly little things that I really enjoyed making....what about you...do you just go off on a tangent when something catches your imagination or are you a one craft being and stick to that.........?

As well as these little things I have made more slippers, some for my grandson...

and a pair for a darling little little baby whose path in life is not going to be the easiest....

His were named but these are the same design......

Well now I am off to make an Iggle Piggle blanket for Charlie. He has a little 'In the Night Garden' book with Iggle Piggle in and he is so attached to it I decided to make him his own comforter. I have therefore scanned a picture of Iggle Piggle, converted it to embroidery and am about to see if it works out OK....I will show you the result later (that's if it's not a disaster)

Have a good rest of the weekend and I hope the weather next week is a little kinder to everyone, though I have to say this weekend here has been a great improvement.

TTFN

Jenny xx