To Do List 4

Hello There!

How was everyone's lovely long weekend? Mine was nice and relaxed, and not at all diet friendly but hey ho I had fun so you have to live eh?

I went to the zoo on Saturday, shopping Sunday (with very limited success and watched a mouse run around a shop for a couple of minutes) and then yesterday met with a lovely friend, had a few drinks and a YUM vietnamese meal (if you like Viet food and are in London I would HIGHLY recommend this place)

I haven't done too bad on the last to do list and managed to get quite a few ticked off:

Seamwork Osaka V2                                                  

1. Sew button holes
2. Sew on buttons

Concord tee 

6. Finish cutting

Charity Shop Refashion

11. Blog

Fabric Swap

12. Book Venue URGENT

Baby Girl Gifts

V1
26. Handsew side
27. Add buttonholes
28. Add buttons

V2
29. Handsew side
30. Add buttonholes
31. Add buttons

V3
32. Handsew side
33. Add buttonholes
34. Add buttons

V4
35. Handsew side
36. Add buttonholes
37. Add buttons

V2 Miette

38. Sew up

Handbag

42. Tape pattern

44. Cut lining fabric

Ties for Richard

49. Tape pattern

21 out of 51 is not a bad effort!!

I may have also cut a new delphine skirt too...ooops! 

So here is week 4! Done in word and posted as a capture as Blogger really does not like formatting into columns

Have a great week everyone! 

Kristy xx

Charity Shop Refashion

Very Happy Thursday to you!

And a 3 day weekend is fastly approaching, BONUS!

Many plans? I think I am going to the zoo one day (I LOVE THE ZOO!) and the rest will be sewing and relaxing! Bliss!

So I just wanted to show you the very simple refashion I did to this skirt:

I really should have got a better picture before I got set loose with my seam ripper!

There was two problems with this skirt, the front was pleated at the waist and laid oh so unflattering, and it had a cross-grain ribbon waistband

The waistband had zero give in it and it just cut me in half when sat down.

So I ripped off the waistband, took out the lining (just wasnt needed) and made a new waistband out of black polycotton from my stash. I took out the extra fabric from the pleats so it sat neatly on my hips rather than my waist.

I added the waistband, reinserted the concealed zip and used the same hem line! Easy Peasy!

In the interests of full disclosure, I did have a wee seam ripper accident...

But I sewed it up and no one can tell! Yay!

I used this skirt as part of my #MMMay16 pledge too so yayyy!

Not bad for a £4 skirt and it ticks off one of my 2016 Challenges!

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Kristy xxx

The Foldline Fabric/Pattern Swap 4th June

Hello,

Just a quick one, I have organised a fabric/pattern swap on the 4th of June through The Foldline.

If you would like to come, if you could just let me know so can make sure booked the table for enough people!

1pm at Waxy's Little Sister, I will be upstairs waiting :)

The Simplicity Sewing Challenge

2 posts in the same day?! What is going on there?!

Just a quick one really as I have just signed up to The Simplicity Sewing Challenge and I am excited!

I have never entered a competition and I have a feeling this will be scary as hell and I am worried about failing but, hey, it is worth a shot!

These are the posters from the website.

I was going to go for the Newcomer category but the problem is that I just don't think I will wear the skirt as I do not suit a waistband, whereas a princess seamed, well fitted (hopefully!) dress may will be a good addition to my wardrobe!

I have emailed today so I will await my pattern and get a muslin done! 3 months until deadline...scary!

Are you joining in?

#simplicitysewingchallenge

(P.S. I have updated my To Do list to show this challenge - GAME ON!)

To Do List 3

Hello!

Hope everyone has had a lovely weekend, mine was very relaxing, and definitely what was needed!

I am really enjoying this list making but can totally understand that others will find it boring to do a 'to do list' and a 'to do list review' each week so I will put up this weeks list today in hope that I will do something mid week and include a review of what I got done this weekend and hopefully this will allow me to do posts once a week and that be plenty!

I totally forgot I had bought this lovely notebook ages ago so this is where my to do list now lives when not in cyber world!

Things I got done:

8.Sew up 6 cushions

9.Buy cushion inserts

Unfortunately this is where the pictures stop! And I really should have tidied up the sofa a bit more!

10. Photograph charity shop refashion

14. Finished fabric mat for my mum

21. Picked pattern for baby girls gift

22. Printed pattern for baby girls gifts

23. Tape together pattern for baby girls gifts

24. Cut baby girls gifts (4 versions, just couldn't resist as was soooo cute!)

25. Sewed up V1, V2, V3, V4 of babies gifts

31. Print handbag Pattern

36. Find a tie pattern for Richard

37. Print Tie Pattern for Richard

So 12 out of 42 isn't too bad - and as I am breaking the list into detail it means I get to tick things off very quickly, it is so motivating! (Sad but true!)

So here is Week 3!

Seamwork Osaka V2                                                  

1. Sew button holes
2. Sew on buttons
3. Photograph
4. Blog
5. Update costs

Concord tee 

6. Finish cutting
7. Sew up
8. Photograph
9. Blog
10. Update costs

Charity Shop Refashion

11. Blog

Fabric Swap

12. Book Venue URGENT
13. Sort out patterns
14. Sort out fabric

Mum

15. Finish basket
16. Iron mat
17. Post to Momma

Laurel V5

18. Sew up
19. Photograph
20. Blog
21. Update costs

Laurel V6

22. Sew up
23. Photograph
24. Blog
25. Update Costs

Baby Girl Gifts

V1
26. Handsew side
27. Add buttonholes
28. Add buttons

V2
29. Handsew side
30. Add buttonholes
31. Add buttons

V3
32. Handsew side
33. Add buttonholes
34. Add buttons

V4
35. Handsew side
36. Add buttonholes
37. Add buttons

V2 Miette

38. Sew up
39. Photograph
40. Blog
41. Update costs

Handbag

42. Tape pattern
43. Cut leather
44. Cut lining fabric
45. Sew
46. Photo
47. Blog
48. Update costs

Ties for Richard

49. Tape pattern
50. Cut practise
51. Sew practise

Next projects - not numbering these until I start them

• Muslin Simplicity 1458 
• Tape appleton dress pattern together
• Muslin appleton
• Muslin Megan
• Muslin Pussy Bow
• Muslin Simplicity 1364 (I may have bought this by accident!!!)
• Summer skirts
• Pajama bottoms - Tillys Margot pants
• Think about xmas presents
• Think about quiet books
• Make bias binding out of scraps

To Do List 2

Happy Friday!

Not sure if this To Do List thingy is going to get lame, but it helps me so I am going to do it until I am bored or I simply just forget! If I have a busy weekend I probably won't be doing much but lets see how it goes!

This list has been in my drafts since Monday and as I keep getting ideas I am adding them, it is a good way to get them out of my head. It is also getting very detailed!

I am publishing this and realising just how tired I am today, maybe I won't get much done this weekend! But hey ho, here is my list!

1. Add button holes to V2 of Seamwork Osaka
2. Sew button holes onto V2 of Seamwork Osaka
3. Photograph V2 of Seamwork Osaka
4. Blog V2 of Seamwork Osaka
5. Update costs (fabric and wardrobe) pages
6. Finish cutting Cashmerette Concord
7. Sew up Cashmerette Concord
8. Sew up cushion covers
9. Buy cushion inserts
10. Photograph charity shop refashion
11. Blog charity shop refashion
12. Tidy up patterns/book shelf - decide what to take to the swap I am organising through The Foldline
13. Book a venue for the fabric swap
14. Finish the fabric basket and mat for my mum - same as what I made for Mothers Day presents
15. Sew up V5 of Colette Laurel
16. Sew up V6 of Colette Laurel
17. Photograph V5 and V6 Colette Laurel
18. Blog V5 and V6 Colette Laurel
19. Make the first muslin of the Pussy Bow Blouse from issue 26 of Love Sewing
20. Sort through scrap bag to see if actually usable pieces in there 
21. Plan what to make for friends baby girl (deadline for final pieces 18th June)
22. Print out some patterns for baby girl
23. Tape together patterns for baby girl
24. Cut baby girls gifts
25. Sew baby girls gifts
26. Sew up V2 Miette skirt
27. Photograph V2 Miette skirt
28. Blog V2 Miette skirt
29. Update costs (fabric and wardrobe) pages
30. Make a muslin of TATB Megan dress (I keep seeing amazing versions and think it will be flattering on me)
31. Print handbag patterns
32. Tape together handbag patterns
33. Cut handbag
34. Sew Handbag
35. Start to plan quiet book gifts
36. Find a tie pattern for Richard
37. Print out tie pattern and instructions
38. Make a practise version
39. Scout for fabrics for ties for Richard
40. Print Cashmerette Appleton
41. Tape together Cashmerette Appleton (urgh - the Concord was 32 pages!!!)
42. Cut Cashmerette Appleton muslin

Free Cake For Kids

Happy Thursday Everyone, the weekend is in sight! Woooo!

Today's post is a bit of a diversion from sewing but I just wanted to share a lovely little charity I have been working with, with hope that you may want to get involved too!

The charity is called Free Cakes For Kids UK

The idea is simple and will take a direct quote from their website (as they explain it better than I could!)

'' The idea behind Free Cakes for Kids is simple: we bake for families, who find it difficult to provide a birthday cake for their child. All cakes are baked 100% by volunteers, who operate locally and independently in their own private kitchens.''

I found a local co-ordinator through their website, contacted them with my details and I  I had to fill in a form to say I will work cleanly and never have any nut products in my cakes and then I was added to the mailing list.

I get an email pretty regular with available cakes and it is on a first reply basis as to who gets to bake them! 

I have decided I will do one a month and I have just completed my second.

When you hear about these little children's lives (is this the correct grammar? Apologies if it isn't!) and how their situation just doesn't allow their parents to bake them a birthday cake it really spurs you on to do the best job you can! Every kid deserves a birthday cake don't they????

The first cake I baked was a little 4 year old girl that loved chocolate cake, rainbows and pink and ballerinas - not the easiest of briefs! I rummaged through Pinterest for some inspiration AKA my favourite pastime and came up with these two images:

Pinterest link

Pinterest Link

I made my own topper (cut around a silhouette from google onto glitter card and stuck it to a lollipop stick) to mainly save money as on Etsy they were about £6 each inc. postage from UK sellers. And I have zero idea how to get the colours of buttercream so bright, I really struggled with this part! I think you must be able to buy really intense food colouring if don't get it from Morrisons! But all in all I was really happy:

My first ever attempt at using a piping bag! 

And more importantly, so was the recipient, I got a lovely text off of her mum afterwards. 

And the second one is currently sat at my desk for me to deliver on my lunch break.

Omar is two today and loves cars, trains and any other forms of transportation. With a little help of eBay sellers and their fondant cutters, YouTube tutorials and some pre-bought icing this is what I created:

My first attempt at icing a cake!

Plunge cutters are BRILLIANT!!!

I have tried my best to keep the costs to a minimum on these cakes, I used the same cake recipe (thank you Mary Berry) for both, so I had the main ingredients in the second time around. I would say these cost about £10 each and then I have bought lots of fondant cutters but they will keep forever!

If you like baking, you don't even have to be any good at it (see above!) then please contact this charity, its a lovely thing to give a child a birthday cake! Every kid should get a cake on their birthday shouldn't they????

Thanks for reading :)

Kristy xxx

To Do List Review

Happy Monday Peeps!

How are we all? Did you have a nice weekend? I had a very productive Saturday, all helped by my To Do List!

I did not have a productive sunday, I went out and got drunk and I am absolutely hanging today, work is too much today! Trying to get students through some calculations has hurt!! Bleurgh

So here is what I crossed off

1. Add button holes to V2 of Seamwork Osaka
2. Sew button holes onto V2 of Seamwork Osaka
3. Photograph V2 of Seamwork Osaka
4. Blog V2 of Seamwork Osaka
5. Update costs (fabric and wardrobe) pages
6. Finish cutting Cashmerette Concord
7. Sew up Cashmerette Concord
8. Cut up fabric for cushion covers
9. Sew up cushion covers
10. Buy cushion inserts
11. Hem the Tilly and the Buttons Miette Skirt that is lurking in the back of the wardrobe
12. Wear the Miette Skirt for my #MMMay16 pledge
13. Refashion charity shop skirt
14. Photograph charity shop refashion
15. Blog charity shop refashion
16. Tidy/clean out my sewing storage box
17. Tidy and refold fabric stash draw - decide what to take to the Fabric swap I am organising through The Foldline
18. Tidy up patterns/book shelf - decide what to take to the swap 
19. Book a venue for the fabric swap
20. Rip apart the second hand leather coat I bought to use the leather
21. Finish the fabric basket and mat for my mum - same as what I made for Mothers Day presents
22. Sew up V5 of Colette Laurel
23. Sew up V6 of Colette Laurel
24. Photograph V5 and V6 Colette Laurel
25. Blog V5 and V6 Colette Laurel
26. Make the first muslin of the Pussy Bow Blouse from issue 26 of Love Sewing
27. Make some summer skirts - STARTED
28. Sort through scrap bag to see if actually usable pieces in there 
29. Plan what to make for friends baby girl (deadline for final pieces 18th June)

So 7 out of 29 crossed off and one started! Not too shabby! 

I think you will be seeing many more to do lists on this blog as it really does help!

Here are a few photos as proof!

the lid will now close!

So messy!

Much better

Two neat layers of fabric - and there is still room for more! :)

Cushions cut but I realised I have 5 fabrics so ordered one more, will sew them all up in one go

All finished, will write a proper blog post about this at some point, the skirt is currently in the wash though (pesky yellow chalk lines!)

All hemmed and wore yesterday for #MMMay16

To Do List

Happy Friday!

I was just sat thinking of my nice non-interrupted weekend ahead of me and what I want to get done. I started writing a list in my head but I felt the need to write it down (mainly so I can tick it off!) and I thought I would make the list official by publishing it on here! I may make this a regular feature - if I remember!

I love lists, I write them at work ALL the time but I don't seem to write them at home as much, I am hoping this means if I cross some off I will feel a bit more accomplished. At the same time sewing is for pleasure so I don't want too many deadlines! I like breaking down tasks into managable chunks which obviously creates a very long list of 'To Do's' but crossing them off is soooo satisfying!

1. Add button holes to V2 of Seamwork Osaka
2. Sew button holes onto V2 of Seamwork Osaka
3. Photograph V2 of Seamwork Osaka
4. Blog V2 of Seamwork Osaka
5. Update costs (fabric and wardrobe) pages
6. Finish cutting Cashmerette Concord
7. Sew up Cashmerette Concord
8. Cut up fabric for cushion covers
9. Sew up cushion covers
10. Buy cushion inserts
11. Hem the Tilly and the Buttons Miette Skirt that is lurking in the back of the wardrobe
12. Wear the Miette Skirt for my #MMMay16 pledge
13. Refashion charity shop skirt
14. Photograph charity shop refashion
15. Blog charity shop refashion
16. Tidy/clean out my sewing storage box
17. Tidy and refold fabric stash draw - decide what to take to the Fabric swap I am organising through The Foldline
18. Tidy up patterns/book shelf - decide what to take to the swap 
19. Book a venue for the fabric swap
20. Rip apart the second hand leather coat I bought to use the leather
21. Finish the fabric basket and mat for my mum - same as what I made for Mothers Day presents
22. Sew up V5 of Colette Laurel
23. Sew up V6 of Colette Laurel
24. Photograph V5 and V6 Colette Laurel
25. Blog V5 and V6 Colette Laurel
26. Make the first muslin of the Pussy Bow Blouse from issue 26 of Love Sewing
27. Make some summer skirts
28. Sort through scrap bag to see if actually usable pieces in there 
29. Plan what to make for friends baby girl (deadline for final pieces 18th June)

This is all I can rattle out right now, I am sure this will change when I see some pretty fabric...

Have a productive weekend everyone :)

Colette Laurel Part 5

Hello!

Happy Wednesday! I don't know about you but this week feels all wrong, all merged into one, not complaining though it means the weekend is closer!

This is a really quick post!

I finished up another Colette Laurel, this is version 4 but only the second one that is wearable!

And wear it I did:

Derpy face and not standing straight in my Flowery Laurel

I just do not understand what has happened on my last 2 versions, very infuriating

Mirror smudge makes me look like I have a deformed eye!

This was my first wear and first towards my #MMMay16 pledge

I have decided to keep my two other cut versions in the background and just do bits on them as and when, I am really bored by this pattern and its non-fitting issues...and I want to crack on with new projects!

Enjoy the rest of your week ;)
Thanks for reading,
Kristy xxx

P.S. As always, my pages for costs and fabrics etc have been updated!

Fabric Shopping 6

Hello Lovelies,

I am back from a lovely break, Benidorm was much nicer than expected I have to say! I feel nice and relaxed and ended the week with a fabric shopping trip....

I had such a nice day on Saturday at the fabric shopping meet up I organised through The Foldline - there was about 20 of us, totally crazy!

Anyway I went a bit mad! Oooops! But it is sooooooooo cheap that I didn't spend much! Bonus.

Here are my spoils:

From The Textile Centre:

A soft viscose (I think!) 2m at £2.20/m

Not sure what this is, either cotton or a poly but it is gorgeous, £2.75/m and again bought 2

 The Man Outside Sainsburys:

A seersucker gingham, 2m at £3/m

I don;t know the name of the shops I bought these from!

Again, no idea of composition but it is lovely and drapey but not very wide, bought 3m at £1.50 a metre

Very creased and again I think its viscose - £1 (!!!!) a metre and I got the last 2m

I think this is the bargain of the day! One of the ladies (Amanda I think) was telling me she bought the exact same jersey at John Lewis for A LOT more than the £1/m here - I bought this as muslin fabric really but it is gorgeous and much higher quality than a lot of the jersey fabrics I wear regular - think I need to buy the Cashmerette tshirt pattern ASAP!

In other news, after a very long 8 months of unemployment my other half has been offered a job - WOOOO! Very nice ending to a long week off of work...now back to the grindstone!

I have a couple of posts to write so I think you will see a bit more of me over this week...

enjoy!
Kristy xxx