In my head...

This has been in my head for so so so long! I can't take credit for the design myself, neither can I credit the person who originally designed it as I have no idea where I saw it. I just saved a pic and then recreated it and I think its the best thing I've made for little miss p's bedroom so far. I loved every bit of the process and it came together so so so quickly. I used the english paper piecing method which is so satisfying and easy. The pics aren't great we have been starved of good light in Paris but there were a couple of rays which broke thru the grey clouds so I quickly snapped a few pics just before I finished adding the trunk (notice the pins holding it together!!).

Because its a wall decoration I left the papers in and used good old cellotape to stop them falling out. This process gives it a great 'structure/stability' for putting on the wall. Even the edges were cellotaped so there are no stitch lines on the outside. I was really lazy with the trunk I just bondawebbed it on.

The biggest problem is where to put it, it looks great on every wall so I can't decide. Its currently moved to her door and has a bird next to it to keep it company! I can't wait to make more! I think I'll do 3 more to reflect each season, I could even make them into a quilt... the possibilities are endless!

supersize pincushion

I've been meaning to make this pincushion, desiged by Anna Maria Horner for absoluetly ages. With spring once again in the air and looking like it might be here to stay for more than a day (I started this post before the weather changed!!) I got out my scraps and decided to use ginger blossom fabrics to make it up.

I think I was putting if off as I was worried about sewing the curves as its made up of 8 segments. I have a love hate relationship with curves, I love them, love looking at them, love the shape they make, they are so aesthetically pleasing! But sewing them sometimes sends me doolally. In fact I'm actually stuck on a baby jane block cos I just can't get the curves right. Sorry I digress.

This pattern is so easy and produces a chunky pincushion. I really enjoyed sewing it, little miss P stuffed it with her tiny finger and I finished the base watching more of The Wire, what a perfect way to spend your day!

Doll quilt

This is the first quilt I ever made from start to finish without the aid/support/finishing skills of my mum. Its a doll quilt for the ikea dolls bed we bought for little miss P (this was before we reaslied she doesn't like/play with dolls. She's a 'sofite/cuddly toy.. preferably rabbit' kinda gal. It breaks my heart when she rejects the dolls I make for her. I had such dreams of spending hours dressing dolls and decorating dolls houses.....

This quilt was supposed to be added to an 'upgraded and reworked' version of the full bedding set which IKEA supplies, however, due to aforementioned blip in my vision of my little girls childhood, it never got finished. She never played with it. I always meant to finish it though, so, when I talked about it to a friend who then went on to actually do what I only talk about it inspired me to take action.

So, you'd think I'd make it easy on myself, oohhhnnnooooosireeeeeee. I decided to start with the little pillow which was a blue colour which showed through the fabric. So first I created a cream lining to mask the blue.

I then made an envelope pillow, but I wanted it to tie in with the quilt and I wanted to learn a new skill and creating piping is something I've always wanted to try. I used a tutorial from Portabellopixie


These are a couple of picks of the corners. I can't post a picture of the whole thing as some of went the sides were a bit wonky. I was pleased with my first attempt but need perfect the skill, its harder than it looks but the effect is great!

That dress!

Is it just me or does everyone have a sewing project nemesis? Before xmas I started a dress up cinderalla outfit for little miss p. I did it proper like. Bought a proper pattern. Read all the instructions from start to finish. Bought everything I needed to be able to make it in one sitting, u know like proper sewing folk do. I even made a muslin draft of the bodice so it couldn't go wrong.... ahhhh but it did, it ALL went wrong from start to finish. Everything that could go wrong went wrong. I had to redo the bodice about a million times because I sewed it in the wrong order or upside down. The fabric slipped all over the place when cutting, when sewing. It was like trying to sew jelly and the tuille.... don't get me started. The sleeves didn't fit, EVER, even though I tried 3, yes 3 times!! Needless to say it wasn't finished for xmas.

I must have a screw loose, because to try and lift me from my sewing lull I decided to have one more try. ET voila!!

Post christmas things continued to go wrong, but I wasn't going to be beaten so I made a few changes just to get it done. I cut so many corners its a wonder it didn't turn into a quilt. I got rid of the sleeves and put in elasticated straps instead.

I finally handed it to little miss P today and she loves it (even though its not finished properly and its too big) but it turned out ok, especially the side drapes.

Whilst filing the pattern away into my pile of sewing projects never ever to be repeated I couldn't decide if I'm a crap sewer for not being able to complete the pattern as intened, or in fact I was a genius sewer (yeah right) for being able to adapt it into something that I think works better. Hmmmm, actually what I decided was that I'm going to design a new simpler pattern which anyone can make without the trauma I've been through. I wonder what kind of sewer that makes me then?

killing 2 birds with one stone!

I love scrappy bits of fabric. I find it hard to cut into a beautiful piece of fabric sometimes but with scraps I feel reckless and inspired. So, to get my sewing mojo back I made my first scrappy log cabin block.

First I cut out a 2 inch square. Then I found all my favourite scraps and cut them into 1inch strips. I sewed randomly and tried not to think too hard about colours, and finished with white cotton. A new addiciton methinks! Unfortunately it means even fewer scraps are going to get thrown out now ;)

Oh yeah, and now I can't stop making them!

This one came out a bit wonky but at least I'm sewing again!

Spring is in the air

There hasn't been much sewing going on around here but that doesn't stop me going out and buying fabric ooooonnnnooooosireeeeeeee.

I found these gorgeous, 100% cotton, lightweight, muslin like fabrics which made me smile and think of spring. I have them earmarked for frilly spring/summer nighties for little miss P. Now all I need is the motivation to start sewing again!

My first sewing convention & look what I scored!!

A couple of weeks ago I went to the Fete d'aguille, which literally means needle party. It was basically a sewers delight. It was great to see so many women of different nationalities and there was so much energy, passion and anticipation as we queued to get in. The northern europeans politely stood in line whilst the latins grouped round and all tried to get in at once! It was fab just people watching! I've never seen so many packed lunches in one place talk about GIRL POWER. It was like being part of a special club!

There were loads of stands from which to purchase everything and anything to do with sewing. There was an amazing video about how a channel couture dress/collection is made from start to finish (it even included fly on the wall shots of Karl Largerfield who turns out to be rather an odd man). Its the first time I've been to something like this and I loved every minute of it. What was dissapointing though was the relative lack of fabrics available from new and vibrant fabric designers. A lot of deep reds, browns and more tradditional patchwork styles were in abundance, mixed in with the odd lower key tones from the likes of Sandi Henderson and Amy Butler. But in general the french stands especially were very much 'old style' patchwork.
The highlight of the show was finding these amazing Echino fabrics at bargain prices!! I love Echino and I'd been eyeing these on various stores for ages. I couldn't believe it when I saw them all at a fraction of the prices on-line. The ladies on the stand didn't take credit cards so I just emptied my wallet in their hands and bought what I could!