Crafty Happenings - Weeks 8-10

Hello!

We're not talking about my inability to post a weekly post, well, weekly.  Suffice to say I've been rushing around like a blue  a little busy and functioning entirely outside my comfort zone - anybody else fancy speaking to a conference of 400+ people about the wonderful work they do for an organisation that will no longer exist ... at 4 days notice?  I was torn between honoured and scared witless - but I did it, and without falling up the stairs to the stage which was the stuff of my nightmares!

Right, stop wittering woman, this is what I've actually been up to ...

 

 Don't you just love this kitchen fabric?  This was a bag for My Girlie's flatmate - a little birthday gift.  She has a red Kitchenaid so this was perfect

 

 

 

 

I made it at Sewing Club, we meet about once a month - I entirely failed to take photos this time which is sad because we had a super time and I actually made a card for Emmie, the first one I've made in months, I should have evidence!

 I found these in a charity shop - I love old notions.  They were going to charge me 10p for both - I couldn't take them for that so we settled on a £1 - apparently they're not used to people haggling upwards :)

 

 

And I got this brilliant pile of things from Freecycle, the lady had inherited a box of stuff and didn't want to throw it away.

 

There's was lots of stuff I couldn't use but my little 3 year old niece took them home for her craft box so we both had a happy pile of useful things.

 

Isn't this beauty? £20 from eBay.  I'm having fun finding things for my daughter's bedroom as she's taken all her furniture to her new flat.  I can't have a double bedroom standing empty - thought I'd get creative.  This is going to be white with a yellow interior eventually.

 

I've been very busy sanding, priming and painting, all still works in progress

When P and I drove to pick it up the lady who was selling it was clearing her Mum's house, she'd sadly passed away at the age of 86.  She was glad the desk was going to a crafter, I found the knitting needle inside when I got home.

 



 

Just visualise the yellow interior :)

 

 

Imagine my delight when we got there and found this too - £5, I kid you not!

 

No, it doesn't go with the wallpaper - I'm still at the thinking stage with this one :)

 

And this makes me very happy - it's going to be a bedside cabinet/seat

Try and imagine white paint and yellow and white fabric OK?

 

The best bit was we'd driven to collect the desk in my mini - I could not leave without any of these things - P had an interesting time making them fit in the back.

We drove all the way home with me barely able to see over the lampshade on my lap - and holding the lamp stand so that it didn't keep hitting him in the back of the head!

 

 

Finally found a use for the small piece of yellow vintage fabric I bought last March in Chester.

 

Foxes and rabbits and bears - oh my!

 

And finished the baby blanket I've been planning with the fabric I bought in San Francisco.

 

 

 Two more bags - both identical, one is for My Boy's girlfriend, she was with me when I bought the fabric and I know she likes it - just need to get it in the post.

 

And a Baby Tag Blanket from scraps - no idea who for, this was an idea I was trying for using up odds and ends from other projects.

 

 

And another bag from leftovers for my work colleagues wife - who bakes cakes for charity.

 

That's it - perhaps not masses to show for 3 weeks but lots of finished items - and given my tendency to be an Excellent Starter and the Master of WIPS I'm pretty pleased with my progress :)

 

Now I just need to find some time to catch up with all the blog posts I've been missing.

x

Crafty Happenings - Week 4

Well this is a short list but that's irrelevant because it includes

Finished Objects - da, da, dah!

Crochet:

OK, I'm starting with the thing that isn't finished, in fact it isn't started because I have frogged it again :(

 

Oh I've nailed the pattern but for some reason it's enormous, it was over 5' long - it's supposed to be about 4' square when finished (approx. 120 cm) which is pretty generous for a baby shawl I think.

 

No idea what's going on - I have the correct yarn and the required hook size (2.5mm).  Funnily enough my tension is usually fairly tight and I tend to go up half a size - it would have been absolutely massive if I'd done that.

 

So, with maths that has made my brain hurt, I've figured out the pattern repeat/sizing again and I'm going to reduce my starting chain to 225 stitches, not 305.

 

At least when I start for the third time it will be shorter!

 

 

Finished Objects - woo hoo!:

 

 

 

1.  A drawstring bag for A's dressing up clothes - she is mighty pleased with it - we spent all day yesterday carrying fairy treasure in it and fighting off dragons with our magic wands. 

 

You absolutely need a bag for that kind of adventure (I was the Yellow Fairy in case you were wondering, it's something of a supporting role, it mainly requires doing as you're told and being entirely adaptable to an ever-changing storyline!).

 

 

So here's my Finished Object overview
Does my version look like the pattern?
I didn't really use one - it's just a basic drawstring bag with a boxed bottom.  There are a million tutorials out there if anybody needs one.

What skills did I need?
None at all, very basic.  But I was very good and used my overlocker to make sure the seams were good and strong and dragon-proof.

Was the fabric recommendation correct?

I bought a metre of this fabric (last weekend - how's that for superfast turn around of stash?). 

 

I used just over half of it as this is a good-sized bag (to fit in wands and fairy wings).  I'll make another one for Annie with the remainder as she needs somewhere to store her tiaras apparently :)

How long did it take to make? 
About 20 minutes start to finish.

Did I learn anything from the process?
Yes, if you know your audience then the simplest of projects gives great pleasure :)

Total cost?
The fabric was £12.00.  I had to buy co-ordinating ribbon.  No pattern obviously, stash thread - about £7.00.

Will I make it again?

Of course, she's got to store her jewels somewhere!

 

 



 

 

 

2, 3 & 4 Cushions for the Sitting Room

 

 

Finished Object overview
Does my version look like the pattern?
It's just a very basic lapped zip cushion - I didn't want anything fussy and I had very little fabric to play with.

What skills did I need?
Again, none really.  I make it super easy for myself and use a zip longer than the piece of fabric so no fuss at all, I just incorporate it into the side seams and cut the excess off.

Oh, I did have to get creative, one back isn't really lapped - Ernie the kitten ran off with the piece of fabric and I couldn't find it - I had to use the tiny bit I had left.  Of course, the original cut piece turned up after I'd finished!

Was the fabric recommendation correct?

I bought a metre of this fabric (2 weeks ago - another fast turn around of stash, I'm so proud of myself!). 

 

I managed to get 3 plain cushions out of that width, and by cutting the fronts and 2 back pieces out in a different order each cushion front is different.  Result.

How long did it take to make? 
Probably an hour and a half - and at least 20 minutes of that was searching for the fabric Ernie had hidden!

Did I learn anything from the process?
I'm a total skinflint and love making something for almost nothing!

Total cost?
The fabric was £5:00, bought here. I had loads of zips in my stash - I tend to bulk buy in charity shops, they don't match one another but they go with the colours in the fabric (mostly) and you can't see them because they're lapped!  I reused the cushion inserts so I think about £5.30 for all three :)

Will I make it again?

As and when they're needed.  My DD is moving into her first flat on Tuesday - she's bound to need cushions!

 

Over and out!

 

Jacq

x

More Craft Bags

We've been away on holiday to Lanzarote and that, combined with the pre-break manic rush at work, meant I've sewn very Iittle this month.  I have big plans but I've had very little time.  I'm pretty hopeful of getting some non-working days during October - I will start ticking stuff off my list!

Another craft bag for my DS's girlfriend.  She's a dedicated crafter who regularly enters
handmade objects in the local county fair.

I love this lining fabric, I bought it in the Isle of Wight when we were away in the summer

The fabric I used for the pockets was a purchase from Tokyo last year - I had
a super time adding bits and bobs to the print to make it 3D.
I have plenty left to make something else.

And I had enough bits and bobs cut out to make a second version for me!

With the remnants of my Harry Potter Cape lining to finish it off

 

As much as I love this pattern, I think I'm done with the Craftsy bags for a little while.  There are dresses I want to sew, 2 quilts to finish, dressing gowns promised to Paul and my brother ... it's quite a 'To Do' list.  Oh, and the Dress A Girl Around The World project to crack on with.  I really need to get a move on!

 

I am so behind with blogs I follow - I came home to hundreds of posts I want to read, I will catch up and leave comments eventually.


Jacq
x

An 'all manner of stuff' catch up!

Hello people, are there any of you still there?

I have lost count of the number of times I've planned to write a post over the last couple of weeks - the longer it's gone on the harder it is to get started. 

What can I tell you? I'm pants - I mean proper pants, not the kind of underwear your mother thought it was acceptable for you to get run over in (I never did understand that argument to be honest - and I've been run over in real life).  No, I mean sensible, keeping everything warm, no VPL, proper big pants. 

I would like to assure you I'll do better in the future - but I wouldn't hold your breath!  Life is tricksy.  And my beloved non-working days are not happening - sadly the organisation I work for is in a real place of uncertainty and it's all hands on deck.  What will be will be I guess.

Anyway, shall I actually tell you something sewing related?  Yep, OK then ...

One of the reasons I haven't had time to blog is because I have a new machine, I am in love.  Want to see her? ...

Ta, dah!



So I bought a Janome in the end - the TXL 607

I tried several machines - I'm so lucky to have a local sewing machine shop, Maidstone Sewing Centre.  One of the demonstrators, Sue, spent 2 separate mornings with me, letting me try different machines and showing me all the features.  I could have got a cheaper machine but this one has everything on my wishlist (including quilting extension table and all the extra quilting feet) so it's perfect for me. 

I know I'm really lucky to have it.  And she's a joy to work on, I put the buttonholes on my new skirt in minutes - bliss.  P says it's much quieter - partly the machine itself but mostly because it actually works and I've stopped swearing!

I've been trying all the stitches and having a good old play.  I haven't made much yet but I'm familiarising myself with her.  Oh, and thanks to Sue I've a bit more confidence with my overlocker too and I've been using that lots - mostly doing exciting stuff like cutting and neatening the bottom of P's golf trousers before I hem them properly - small steps!

I have even done some actual sewing - and I will blog about it properly (I promise, I promise) but I will just show you this one bag ... a commission from my nephew and niece (aged 6 and 2) for my sister-in-law's birthday today.

F is very into bird watching.  He bought his Daddy (my brother) a bird feeder
for his birthday in April because apparently 'he really wants one' - seriously!
This fabric (from my stash - result!) was perfect.

My new machine does a little bit of writing - this is the
exact wording F asked for.  And the heart shaped button is because
they love their Mammy.

A zipped pocket was essential because Mammy's carry
important stuff.

I can't tell you how chuffed I am to have been able to make a special present for F & A to give to their Mammy.  I love being an Auntie :)

I'll be back!
x

Update - Complete fail on my part, the tutorial I based the bag on is this brilliant one from Very Purple Person - terribly remiss of me not to mention it straight away.

Birds & Oysters

Yesterday I went to Whitstable with my husband, the last day of the Oyster Festival seemed like a good way to spend my day off work. We've seen such a turn around in the weather this week, it was lovely to be on the beach and enjoying the sun. I love Whitstable, one of my favourite places to mooch about and drive P insane by picking stuff out that I love but refuse to buy because I could make it myself. He thinks there is a big difference between being able to make stuff and having the time to make stuff! In fact I picked up some fabric to see if I can replicate a dress I saw - we'll see.

I got to wear my fourth 'me made' item today, a Burdastyle 'Michelle' skirt that I made from Ikea 'Cecilia' fabric. I've seen a few garments on the internet using this fabric which I love. It was a bargainous £5.38 and I managed to make a pair of pj shorts out of the leftovers (as part of Karen's Pyjama Party earlier this year) so I think my skirt worked out at less than £4. I did line it, which the pattern didn't call for (using an old sheet so £0!), and feel it is the better for it, although I'd do it slightly differently in future. I still don't have the fit 100% right at the waist (despite being my second attempt) I apparently cannot measure my own body! Regardless, I have worn it loads of times and have received compliments on it :)

I also used one of the bags I made, from a curtain store remnant. So practically an entire outfit, and 4 out of 5 is pretty good for the week.

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