This is why I collect 'treasure'

I, like many crafters, collect things. Buttons, scraps, beads etc etc. So when my little sister said she was going to buy some sort of belt for the Summer Ball I asked what sort of thing she was thinking and we collaborated to create a belt buckle design for her.

First I sewed a layer of net to both sides of a felt shape using just running stitch and whip stitch. 

Then I sewed on bugle and seed beads (individually was easiest!) And satin stitched the ends with metallic thread.

Then came various buttons to fill in the remaining space

On the back I surrounded corsetry steel with more net and then used that net to sew it to the back. I added two buckles so that it can be put onto a belt.

Et voila! A belt that is inspired by and matches my sisters handbag. Money spent: £0.00.

...She'll probably kill me for putting this in but this is the only picture at the ball that shows the belt! This is past the midnight marker so not so flattering!

Aprons for Linh's Salon

I made 4 plain green aprons with checker neck and waist ties for my friend Linh and her nail salon - www.linhsalons.com 

This is the last apron I made - for Linh herself so she gets a sweetheart neckline and black lace frill! I originally had pale green ties but she decided she wanted to match the other aprons more! All the edges are finished with more checks and each has a check edged pocket. I also embroidered 'Linh's Salon' on each using the alphabet function on my sewing machine.

The fabric is a breathable waterproof fabric that is ideal for a nail bar - It'll withstand acetone and can even put up with going through the washing machine!

Teddies

I made a teddy for a pregnant lady at work (It was quite a while ago now...) and loved him so much I had to make another before I could give one away...!
The pattern was found here on Cut Out and Keep and was posted by Pauline M :)

Making a Dress on a Dressform Videos (Two Parts)

YAY

It came! Along with multiples of junk mail address to people on several different streets, my Hooked on Exchanging (Because it's Pink) package came through!!

My partner was Carol S and she stitched me Rosebuds and Pearls Fob by the Drawn Thread. She also sent scissors, lip glosses, some great charms, a bookmark, variegated pink embroidery floss and some lovely pink linens to stitch on in the future :)

The fob is now sitting with my other prides of joy on the windowsill :)

Thank you Carol!!

Binding a Quilt with Mitred Corners

I posted this video a while ago and it had a huge number of views early on - turns out someone posted it on a sewing forum where several people have it as a 'favourite' but no-one told me!!!!

Binding Quilt

I've started binding my blue and green quilt with some cream 70mm satin ribbon. YouTube tutorial to come :)

Embroidery

I bought some hand dyed thread skeins from Sharon of Pin Tangle from her Art Fire Store. Since buying, I knew I wanted to use them for something that would eventually be on display/useable in some way. So I started an embroidered bag front with an image based on one of Alphonse Mucha's pictures: 'Woman with Poppies'

As I started I did this stitch which I love but I don't know what it is?!!! All I can come up with after looking at my (still borrowed!) copy of Batsford Encyclopedia of Embroidery Stitches is that its a sort-of-half 'Portugese border stitch'
Weave (not through fabric) beneath two foundation stitches,
Weave through the furthest one again, then repeat.

Costume Making

I haven't bought any clothes since the start of 2009. None. Not even tights yet though I will HAVE to because I need them for my uniform. But I've made it a rule to not buy ANY clothing (apart from tights) for the whole year. Its been hard in some ways but actually hasn't caused me any problems.

Until specific fancy dress is needed. So in a combined time of about 4 hours I managed to make both mine and DBs 'emergency services' fancy dress costumes. Both leave a little to be desired, but I'm still proud!!!

I also managed to efficiently use my mannequin and love how much easier it is to construct a dress :)

Steiner Dolls

I started making two Steiner or Waldorf style dolls. Strictly speaking they aren't as they don't use the finest and purest ingredients of plain wool and cotton. In fact, so far they use child's elbow Tubigrip, old desert uniform t-shirt, shredded polyester quilters wadding and car-boot-sale wool!

This second head now sports a full ponytail of hair but the method I used means she has too much bald spots when you part her hair. I have a few ideas on how to improve and one day I'd like to do a tutorial on how I would do both male and female hair :)

Modifying DBs Hat

DB had a spare uniform hat that he had ripped apart to try to make it more floppy (this makes it look more old fashioned and 'cooler'). But of course putting it back together again requires sewing skills...

So I've ripped out the structural element and sewn it back together again, but then added a nice dark blue satin lining with his surname embroidered in too (obviously smudged out for good reasons).

I also tacked down the edges to give it a head start in getting the best 'droopy' look.

Headset covers

In work we all have these ugly headsets and a lot of people have customised 'knickers' which are the earpiece covers. One new girl turned up with an amazing 'Sully' from Monsters Inc headset cover and told us how at her last base a girl was making all sorts of themed covers for her colleagues for a token cost for the fabrics. I thought I'd have a go to see how expensive and quick they were to make. This was the first and I did a lot of experimenting to get the right sizes, stretchiness for the 'knickers', shape and attaching of the ears and horns and the positions of the poppers that close the headpiece around the top of the headset. All in all it took me around 3 hours but I think I could get it to two :)

Beanbag

I made this beanbag for DB's sister and her husband. They have a cream living room with brown acents, this is just the beanbag - I forgot to take a picture of the cover in my haste to get there for the weekend. The cover is constructed the same way except there is brown piping along the seams, a small circle to cover the joins edged with brown thread to pick up the piping colour, and the bottom is covered with another larger circle that has a large velcro fastening down the centre so it can be removed washed or maybe replaced if they change colour scheme.

Bias Binding

In an attempt to work out how to make and use piping, I made some multi-coloured scraps to make binding :)

Notice the complete lack of ironing!

Then I made a pot holder, I quite like it actually :)

In June...

A pencil roll as per You Go Girl's blog :D

I've had my eyes lazered! This is me after the preliminary checks where they relax your eye muscles to check the prescription... so HUGE pupils!

I waved a flag and cheered as DB paraded

I've been doing lots of fitness classes in BRIGHT clothing

I've been growing in pots.

and taken photos as I talk to them.. heres a morning glory all pretty and rolled up

heres one of the roses from last years bushes

heres some yellowness from a bush I don't know that has always been in this garden since I moved in

More bits and bobs

First attempt at a fabric bird... I looked at lots of tutorials on the internet and am sure I'll try other shapes but this one was made by looking at this pdf from spoolsewing.com. It isn't yet finished but its sitting on the cake stand until I return to it.

Next up are a return to sketching inspired by andrea joseph's sketch blog and lots are challenges from the series 'Every Day Matters' from DannyGregory.com.


Lastly my babies are growing fast, soon I'll put them outside with lots of protection from birds and snails :)

Bits and Bobs

The stitch postcards so far

Plus this one... just lost of herringbone stitches
A bit of chicken scratch attempts, I like the look of it, very lacy :)
Finally been trying out patterns and such with my scraps - I have a little collection of 2" squares and 4" squares
But I've decided I'll try throwing them together in this pattern...