Cornish booty.....

Well I've had my photos from our hols put on discs to save space on my computer and haven't managed to sort through them all yet, so thought I would just show some of the bits and pieces I picked up at car boots and CS while we were there. Yes I know, aren't we sad, travelling over 300 miles to root about in other peoples rubbish!
I have to say we were amazed at how many CS there were. Every small town seemed to have 3 or 4 and they were the tidiest and best arranged shops I have been in anywhere.
Not a huge haul by any means as we were a bit restricted for space in the car with four suitcases, walking boots etc. but some nice bits all the same.......
Yet another Noddy, this time for my grandson to tempt him away from my much older ones!

Orange beads to add to my stash....have you ever tried to find yellow or navy big beads, it's as if they have all been spirited away. I look at every car boot and CS and I have only ever found one mustard yellow necklace which I wear all the time. I would love to make a bracelet and perhaps another necklace but just can't find the beads!

Another piece of Masons to display on my dresser

This little fella actually came from an Antique and bric a brac shop, isn't he so kitsch? Only cost a couple of pounds but I really love him. Not a true Cornish piskie, but he will be a lovely reminder of a fabulous holiday.

Another cute deer to add to Olive and Edna......

We have decided to move from Facebook to our own website, and are currently setting it up. We are also hoping to do a pop up shop in the next couple of months in a gorgeous local tea room if we can get it arranged. So if you are near to Lincolnshire, keep popping back for further updates.

While I am talking of this I am also looking for broken bits of vintage and modern jewellery to recycle. Odd earrings, pendants chains etc. so if anyone is having a clear out and wants to send them to a good home I will gladly accept them and try to use as many of them as possible in collage pieces.

I also found this.....

I believe it's barkcloth, though I realise it's the cotton equivalent of the original stuff. I am thinking of cushion covers and maybe small vintage style bags, but have not decided yet. The pretty pink flowered is two very narrow curtains and the more autumnal one is one large curtain. Plenty of fabric to play with. Is there anything I should know about laundering this? It is the first time I will have used it and I don't want to spoil it before I begin!
As I said not a great haul but some nice pieces.

I have also picked up a few bits locally since we returned home....

A really pretty pink bead necklace which I couldn't bear to break up, so have gifted it to a friend with a penchant for all things pink....

The most exquisite seed pearl brooch, which I believe to be from around the 30s or earlier as it has the old 'C' clasp. Again this is a keeper and I know I will love wearing it.

And finally this rhinestone button. Not sure if it has any age to it but it is so pretty and will add a bit of bling to one of my new necklaces.

Well that's about it for now, hope you are still awake, it turned out to be a bit of a marathon! Off to wind down with my latest Anne Cleeves book in the Vera Stanhope detective series. The stories are quite gripping and I am enjoying reading again, which I have not done for a little while.

Have a good week

TTFN

                                                                            Jenny xx

Sleeveless top pattern review

OK, so I thought I would review a couple of free printable sleeveless top patterns. A recent cull of my wardrobe revealed that I was sadly lacking in this area. In the past I have bought several from Boden, mostly because of the lovely colours and prints, but in truth unless they are in the sale I really cannot justify the price they charge for such a simple item, so I thought I had better start to make some myself.

So before I spent money on buying a new pattern I thought I would have a go at the Angela Kane sleeveless top and the Collette Sorbetto top. Both free downloads.

Firstly I wear a size 14 UK top and size 12 skirts and trousers, so I am not Mrs average. I also am full busted which really means that this type of top, loose and boxy are not the best for me style wise. However come the warmer weather I would sooner wear a looser cotton top than say a fitted vest and as long as I pair these with a slimmer bottom, either straight skirt or straight jeans I can just about get away with it without looking like a weeble (do you remember those!!)

So first the Colette top. I love the look of the pattern on the site and having googled some more images it did look quite appealing. I read that these patterns come out a bit small so I erred on the side of caution and cut out a size 12 (USA)  size 16 UK. As I was using a light weight cotton which I thought once washed would have a little drape I thought it would still look OK.
First thing I found however was the dart placement!! I found this really out. Then there seemed to be too far too much fullness in the front armscye. This isn't helped I know by my own shape, but I have seen that others have also found this.
Finally I found the top far too short, so added a band to the bottom of mine.
What I did like was the bias bound neck and armholes and the front pleat which I think is a lovely touch.
Once I managed to make the necessary alterations, dropped the darts and shortened them, eased out the fullness in the armscye and added the band, I was quite pleased with the result. I did have to take it in as well which means next time I can make the smaller size.

I think if you were very slim with a tiny bust you may get away with the pattern in your normal size without too much alteration, but as this is meant to be a really simple top I think it might prove a bit challenging to get a good fit if you are anything other than a true average size.

Next the Angela Kane pattern. This is the little top as shown on the Great British Sewing Bee.
First I must confess I actually printed out the wrong size.  If I had looked at the sizing properly I would have seen the the medium would have been amply big enough even for my fuller top, but having printed out the large size I decided that since these patterns have no seam allowance I could just use it as printed without adding any!
Wrong!!!!!!

I had to take make 1.25 inch seams on both sides and of course should have adjusted the armscye  to lose some of the width in the high chest area as well. Having said this and not wanting to waste the fabric I decided to make it up anyway. The darts were perfect, the instructions and video are so clear that you couldn't fail to produce a really professional looking garment and I will make it again in the right size!
Again for me though only 5' 3" it was too short and I lengthened it by 2". I also made little vents in the hem so that it sat better.

It isn't a complete disaster and I will wear it, but I will show you a much better version in due course.
Overall then I do like the top and certainly think that with the video tutorial it would be well within a beginners ability.

In conclusion, would I have been happy to have purchased either pattern.
 The Colette...no, not really. Had I not had some experience and been able to correct the fit it would have gone in the bin!
The Angela Kane, as I would have purchased the correct size.....yes I would.

I hope that some of this might have helped if you were thinking of trying either of these patterns and it would be great to hear how you got on if you  try them yourself.

Back shortly with loads of piccies of our brilliant holiday in Cornwall, that's once I've sifted through the 300 odd I seem to have taken...!

Happy Sewing until next time.....

TTFN

Jenny xx

Are you gown or PJs?.......

Well my sewing mojo is truly back and I have to say my friend Joan's oft said comment about over lockers (sergers), has proved very true. I always said I couldn't see much point to them when my machine did a pretty good imitation of an over lock stitch, but how wrong I was!
It's the time thing really. All that stitching, then trimming then stitching again. Now done in one swift operation. I feel like I've been on the Sewing Bee! Garments being completed in a couple of hours! I can see I will soon make headroom in this stash of mine
So this brings me nicely to the title of this post.
I am a PJ girl. I love to change out of my day wear and into a comfy pair of jammys in the evenings.  Of course I do like them stylish and that's the thing. I don't do satin, my poor rough old hands catch on anything too delicate and much as I think cartoons are lovely for children on the TV I don't want them emblazoned across my chest when I sleep. But you try and find anything else that doesn't cost a fortune.
So this weekend as well as making the toile for a dress for a little girl (long promised but rather delayed) and preparing the fabric for some roman blinds, I have whipped up some PJ bottoms from a free pattern printed off the Internet.

 Down to one and a half hours now! And they are in cotton and colours of my choosing,
Not quite ready to do the Tesco shop in them, but they are soooooo comfy!

How I love the neat finishing....

Are you a PJ girl or is it the full glamorous boudoir look for you? Do tell, I won't let on..........

And talking of neat finishing I think I have mentioned Angela Kane before, but if you haven't heard of her and you are just starting sewing go take a look at her site. 
She has a full subscription system, but by just registering you can download a couple of free printable patterns.
One of these is the sleeveless top from the Great British Sewing Bee. I have just downloaded this as well as the free sleeveless top  from Colette patterns. I have made up one and almost finished the other so I will do a pattern review next time.
Coming back to Angela Kane though, even as a fairly experienced sewer I have found her free video tutorials brilliant. I have learned so many little tips already and I am definitely going to enrol fully. She has patterns for a coat, dress, and some great looking jeans that I want to try. For the time being though I am off to finish that second top.....

Hope the weather where you are is a bit better than here, its chilly with some heavy rain showers. can't believe that only a week or so ago we were enjoying a few days basking in sunshine in the garden. Please keep your fingers crossed for me that it will pick up again soon as its not too long now before we have a little break in Cornwall and I would prefer to where something other than wellies and a mac!

TTFN

Jenny xx

Itching to stitch....

Well, what a busy fortnight we have had. All good I must say. Plenty of sunshine to be able to take the grandsons to the park and games galore on the not so bright ones. We've played hunt the cotton reels a zillion times. 2 buckets, 6 matching cotton reels in each, green for Alfie and blue for Charlie, hiding them in different rooms. We even resorted to camping in my bedroom  complete with cushion fights one day. It's surprising what you can come up with at a push to entertain little ones!

However much as I have loved having them some parcels arrived this week containing some yummy fabrics and I have been itching to stitch!
I've been good though, one evening catching up with the mountain of ironing and then one evening at my machines.
First I made up my good old tee shirt pattern in a plain brown jersey knit.

 I've got lots of mustard, orange and coral in my spring/summer wardrobe this year so I thought this would be very useful.
Next I decided to try out one of my new patterns. New Look 6176.

I made it in a plain amber double knit from Plush Addict, a snip at only £7.99 a metre. Using jersey I completely abandoned the zip. No need, it slips over my head easily and there's no fear of stretching the back seam!

I absolutely adore it and want to make it up in cotton/linen now to see how it hangs done in a different fabric, Although the pattern doesn't have any princess or waist seams I still decided to do an FBA (full bust adjustment) on this pattern as I am a well made girl  and didn't want the top to pull. However on reflexion I should have used a smaller size as although the general fit is good, the neckline is still too wide and I feel that the shoulders are too. I also landed up taking in the side seams a fair bit from the hip line down.
It is so comfortable, but it could easily be dressed up with a little jacket. Although I think this one makes it look a bit frumpy! I should have tried it with the cropped leather biker jacket to give it a bit of an edge.

I now have the problem of deciding which of these delicious knits I am going to make up next.

Intended for tee shirts for my forthcoming holiday and the mustard spot for a 40s inspired dress for my SIL for Twinwood this year. I confess I bought these from myfabrics which appears to be based in Germany and not the UK as I first thought.
They were all in the sale and are a fine cotton jersey with just 4% spandex. I have washed samples to ensure they don't shrink or run and they all seem pretty good. After a few problems with delayed delivery in the past, this time the fabric arrived amazingly quickly so I was pretty thrilled.
I will let you see the results in a future post.

Well that's me for now, off to my sewing room and the job I hate most about sewing....cutting out!

Hope you have a lovely weekend however you spend it and hope the sun shines a little wherever you are. Our weather has been bright but chilly today , much the same for tomorrow, but Sunday's not looking good. A few wet Easter bunnies me thinks.....

TTFN

Jenny xx

A simple piece of plastic.......

It doesn't happen often but just occasionally I come across something that I wonder how I ever managed without.
A simple piece of plastic has transformed some of the pieces in my wardrobe from 'that never feels quite right' to ' ooh I had forgotten how lovely that is.'
And what is this remarkable gadget, nothing but a simple piece of plastic to sew inside your garments to clip onto bra straps and prevent straps sliding down arms, tops slipping off shoulders and generally making your slightly 'wayward' clothes stay in place.

Genius and reasonably priced. Get them from here

Sorted!

TTFN

Jenny xx

NB I'm not sponsored to make any recommendations on my blog, I just like to share anything I find particularly helpful.

Jack of all Trades.....

...but master of none as the old saying goes!!.................

Well look at me two posts in a week, better go steady here lol!

Since I gave up sewing for others I feel I have become a bit of a butterfly crafter, flitting from this to that. Oh sewing will always be my first love, and I have finished off a few WIPs in the dressmaking department in the last few months, but every now and then I feel I want to try something else.

Do you do it....watch these craft programs and think I'd like to try that.

Well my heading sums it up really. A bit of a knitter, a dabble at crochet and now a very amateur beader!  The latter I might add has come about because I am too mean to pay twice the cost of a beautiful bracelet bought me for my retirement to have it made smaller.

Well I've already shown my recent attempts at knitting again ......

I'm pleased to report I am now on the final sleeve so it may still fit my grandson when its done.(And of course there's always his little brother if it takes me too long he he! )

The crochet which my mum taught me over 50 years ago has been revived after being bought this English translation of a Japanese book by my lovely daughter...( Er. she bought it I mean, she didn't write it!!)

so I rifled around my studio and found all these odd balls of wool in a mix of bright and more subdued colours and decided this would be a great project to pick up and do a few motifs when I didn't have lots of time.

This is where the 'master of none' bit comes in....There are no real written instructions, just graphs. However the clue is in the title of the throw 'Honeycomb Afghan'. Honeycomb....hexagon....

Spot the mistake.........even my seven year old grandson knew these were pentagons!!!
However I have done too many now to give them up so will run with it and maybe do the 'proper' one sometime in the future. I have to say I do love the book and there are several other projects I would like to try...If I can read the diagrams properly this time.

And finally the beading. This has been relatively successful in that I have repaired several of my necklaces broken by tiny inquisitive fingers, and those just trying to find something to hang onto! I haven't yet plucked up the courage to tackle the bracelet

(excuse the shocking photo the light was very bad. It is a lovely chartreuse colour really)

But I have made a new coral coloured necklace and a pretty bracelet and my crimping skills are improving!....

So there you have it. Things I am loving having a go at even though I know they are not perfect. I think I would like to take some classes one day just to see if I can conquer the techniques, but then again I'm pretty happy with what I have achieved and at the end of the day that's all that really matters!

. Have a good and productive week whatever you are doing. Mine has so far involved Lego engineering, baking, Wii, pushing swings and buying ice cream and pretty much similar next week.Bored I will certainly not be!!

TTFN

Jenny xx

Where are they?.......

Navy or Natural sandals.

Sandals that make my feet feel as though they are floating on air.........

Sandals that look deliciously feminine but edgy.......

Sandals that don't make me look like some ageing hippy......

All images from Google images (sorry unable to trace original sources)

OK, OK... If I want to pay £300 for something that is going to be ruined by sand sea or our unstable weather, I'm sure I could take my pick. But for the life of me I cannot understand how sandals, having perhaps a quarter of the amount of leather in them than normal winter shoes can cost almost twice as much!

I have been trawling the Internet for weeks trying to find a pair that will suit my style, my budget and fit into my holiday wardrobe. I don't want to take a pair for every outfit! I would like some that would mix and match. I do love colour, but just sometimes neutral is better.

In the end I found these.....from Pavers

Not exactly what I was looking for, but they will do the job.(Note to self...better get those nails manicured before the summer!)

Do you have nightmares trying to find something specific for your wardrobe, or is it just me!!

Have a great week

TTFN

Jenny xx