PUTTING YOURSELF UNDER PRESSURE...........

Why do we do it?  Constantly putting ourselves under pressure to achieve something. I like so many had so much pressure when I worked that eventually my hair started coming out! Yet here I am retired, well, not too poor and possibly the envy of a lot if today's workers and I am still giving myself time schedules as if it really mattered to anyone but me. Daft I know, but how to cure myself I have no clue.
At the moment I am cross with myself because my decorating mojo seems to have left the building. Whether its the combination of short dark days, freezing temperatures and the occasional snow blizzard,

(A pain but oh so beautiful)

or just a case of too much in a short space of time before Christmas. Whatever the reason I cannot motivate myself and so I have decided to stop beating myself up about it and to concentrate on those things that have to be done, customers orders and decorations for our grandson's birthday party at the end of the month and then to just do whatever takes my fancy!

At the moment this means dressmaking and alterations.
My wardrobe cull is going well, several coats and dresses sold on EBay and more ready to go, and a fair pile for the local charity shop. All good stuff I hasten to add, having watched that Mary Portas programme on the tat that is offloaded to many of the shops, and I am trying to stick to my new mantra one in one out!
So during the cull I came across several items I really liked, but no longer fitted. Some were colours which I have had to really search for and I was loathe to get rid of. So what do you do but become your own alterations shop and I am very pleased with the items I have done so far. One pair of dark brown bootleg cords now straight leg, one pair of rather wide legged tweed trousers which not only fit but are a much better width for my small frame (and height! being decidedly vertically challenged),  and the chartreuse skirt which I made a while ago now several inches smaller. So three more items I don't have to replace.

And then  I came across this Vogue pattern from several years ago, which I never made up.

 Vogue 2659 

 So I rummaged through my boxes of fabric and found some fairly firm brown jersey and in a couple of hours had this......

 So I don't quite look like the model, but I love it and am so taken with the fit have found this rather super piece of stretch denim fabric to make up the skirt and am trying to decide what colour tee and jacket to make.

 Not too sure about the crops though I suppose I could again use stretch denim or something similar to make them a bit more classic for this old bird.

So you see although I am a bit sorry not to be reporting on my brand new bedroom, my hands will never be idle, nor I suspect will my wardrobe be empty!!

Off to track down some lovely gabardine, and perhaps some striped jersey.............

TTFN

Jenny xx

BAG YOURSELF SOME VINTAGE STORAGE......A Tutorial....

Hi lovely sewers
This week as well as churning out candy bunnies, I have been giving a bit of thought to the bedroom makeover. I have a walk in wardrobe, and in it storage baskets in a frame in which I keep all my lingerie and hose. However my socks and tights are fighting for space so I decided I could do with a drawstring bag to add to the storage and which could be hung decoratively on the built in cupboard doors.
So I chose a couple of pieces of the fabric I had already sorted as possibilities for the room, and set to.

This is how I did it....a little tutorial.....

You will need..

1/2 yard of cotton fabric, either medium furnishing weight or patchwork fabric for the outer layer
1/2 yard of a contrasting or toning cotton, similar weight. ( both about 45 inches wide ) for the lining.
3/4 yard to 1 yard  of piping cord.
1 yard cotton tape, ribbon or string.
Matching thread.

First find a template to draw a 10 inch circle. I could only find the base of a 9 inch cake tin so used that and added 1/2 inch all round for my seams. Starting at the edge of your fabric cut one circle out of each of your fabrics.
Cut a rectangle from each fabric 14 inches by 27 inches
Cut two strips from the lining fabric, one 28 inches by 1 1/2inches and the second 28 inches by 2 inches.

Take the 1 1/2 inch strip and fold in half along the length, wrong sides together. Take the piping cord and place it right up against the inside of the fold. Starting a couple of inches away from the end and using a zipper foot stitch as close as possible to the cord and continue to within 2 inches of the end of the cotton strip.

Take the circle cut from the outer fabric, and starting where your stitching began, carefully pin the corded strip around the outer edge of the circle keeping the cut edges matching. It is usual to have binding cut on the bias when using piping cord, but this does take rather a lot of fabric and as I was using some vintage fabric, I didn't want to waste any. For this project it worked OK, even though I did not snip into the curved seam, but I would not recommend this for anything on a bigger scale.
 

When you have pinned all around, again using the zipper foot carefully stitch the piped strip around the circle again starting and finishing where your original stitching on the tape began and ended. You should have a small amount that is not yet attached. This is where you cut the cord so that it meets flush and turn in one end of the tape and let it overlap the other end to give a neat join. Pin when done and finish stitching this portion.

Next take one of the rectangles and with right sides facing sew a half inch seam down the short sides, creating a tube. Do the same with the lining piece. Press the seams open.

Now you will join the outer tube to the already piped circle. With right sides facing pin the tube to the outer edge of the circle and again using your zipper foot stitch close to the piping.
Next with right sides facing join the lining tube to the lining circle in the same way, this time you need a 1/2 inch seam as there is no piping to sew against.

Having the outer bag piece inside out, and the lining bag piece the correct way, slide the lining inside the outer bag. The right sides should now be facing and the top of the bag pieces level.. Stitch around the top with a 1/2 inch seam leaving about 4 inches unsewn to turn the bag right sides out.  Pull both parts of the bag through this gap and then push the lining down inside the outer bag and press the top edge before top stitching all around closing the gap as you do.

Take the remaining 2 inch strip and fold it in half lengthwise with the right sides facing. Stitch the long edge with a 1/4 inch seam. Fasten both ends of your stitching securely as you will now turn this tube right side out. Press the tube with the seam centred at the back. Turn one short end in and neaten with hand stitching.

Now mark a line on the outer bag about 2 inches from the top all around. This is the placement line for the  casing you have just made. Pin the top of the casing under this line starting with the neatened edge about 1/4 inch away from the back seam, and finish the same distance from the other side, if necessary cut the casing to fit allowing about 1/4 inch to tuck in and neaten as you did at the beginning. Attach the casing by stitching close to both the top and bottom edges ensuring that you secure it well at both the start and end on each row of stitching as this is where you will thread your ribbon or tape to draw the bag closed.

Finally thread your tape through the casing and then either knot or neaten the ends before knotting them together and voila....

one useful drawstring bag for all manner of things....hosiery, hair equipment, face cloths in a bathroom...the uses are endless and the look too depending on your fabric choice. You could even use lightweight velvet and store your jewellery, or use fun 50s nursery prints and use as pyjama cases.

I would love to see your versions if you decide to have a go......

Must be wine o'clock by now so will bid you all goodnight and happy sewing.

TTFN

Jenny xx

OOOH BETTY!

Let me say that again OOOH BETTY and I do mean that in the best possible way!!

I won the lovely  Emma's give away, and yesterday I was stunned by the contents of a little package that was pushed through my door. Now if I had known who occupied this package I would have been straight outside to the postie to rap his knuckles for squeezing him through my letterbox.....Let me introduce......

Basil (like a king, royal, majestic) the Badger

He is exquisite, beautifully made, and presented in such an original way, (Badger in a bag). I am over the moon with him. In fact when I entered my comment to be put in the draw I even stated he would be given to my grandson who is having this woodland themed room. But the truth is I don't want to part with him, so he is staying with me for the foreseeable future!!

 The attention to detail and the neatness of the makeup is fabulous. Just look at that little bag and his knitted jumper!! I like to think that I take a pride in my sewing, particularly in the things I make to sell, but this is awesome. 

And of course he wasn't the only treasure to fill my parcel....I also received these beautiful crocheted table mats....

 As you can see one has already been commandeered for the kitchen table...

And this pretty little pack of fabric trim and buttons, which  I will take great pleasure in finding a suitable project for...

So thank you so much Emma, this really was a lovely surprise. (Even my DH is quite taken with him) .

Right off to celebrate his adoption with a wee glass, Cheers for now.....

Jenny xx

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

ONWARDS & UPWARDS...my 2013 challenges

And so here we go again and more makeovers for 2013.....our first the master bedroom....

Inspired by this fabulous book 'Home Sewn' by Kaari Meng of 'French General' and my love of all things truly shabby chic, the colour scheme is all naturals with a touch of deep browny red.

If you like the French vibe this book really does have some lovely and practical projects and includes full size pattern sheets. These range from lavender filled heart pillows to pinafores and scalloped table cloths. It is one of my favourites and the photography by Jon Zabala is beautiful and really evocative.

Way back in 2012 I found this piece of unused French linen purchased from EBay.

Having nearly ruined it by not reading the brilliant instructions provided by the seller on how to deal with this old fabric (soaking first to remove the size) I now have a beautiful length of linen to create my bed throw.

I want to create a wide border with one of the natural and red patterned fabrics I have collected,

 to tie in with this cushion already made.

 I may then add some embroidered script, but am not certain about this yet.
We already have the new light fittings installed and the room will be stripped out and repainted in the next few weeks.
My beautiful half tester bed is to be painted cream and distressed, and hung with new cream drapes to keep the look light as it is an old house and can be quite dark.

We last decorated it in a rather rustic style with denim and red gingham and it is ready for its makeover!. The strange wall behind the bed is a false one as we have a large walk in wardrobe hidden in there, with a door each side of the bed. The room is still huge though and saved us having to buy separate wardrobes,(and the painting of them....phew!!).

An added element will also be a crocheted throw......That is of course if I manage to finish it. I got a copy of this book ....

written by Tif Fussell ( dottie angel)and Rachel Blondel (ted & agnes). It is full of quirky bits and pieces and is as much about the styling and the fabulous photographs as the actual projects included, though there are a few I would like to have a go at. It is definitely kitsch and possibly not everyone's cup of tea but I love it!
And among all the projects were the instructions for a textured crochet throw. The stitches are simple but the look is pure designer granny chic. However as it has taken me a whole evening to complete just 3 rows, I can see this being a year long project and my aim is to finish it come what may.....wish me luck.....

Oh no, a PS is needed here. Was just checking out my links to ted and agnes when I came across this post http://talesoftedandagnes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/granny-chic-tale-of-2-comas.html It would appear that there is a small but significant error in the crochet instructions for both the tea cosy and the Granny puff blanket.
I will have to unravel my evenings work!!!! It is a plot to stop me achieving my goal....but I will not give in, I will complete my throw...you have heard it here!

What plans do you have.....or even any tips or projects you have found that would fit in with my scheme? I am always excited to hear others input......
Off now to do some more hooking........I will be back.......

TTFN

Jenny xx