HOLIDAYS ....

GONE TO STRADBROKE, MIGHT BE BACK SOON?

TEA AND CHOCOLATE.

Wednesday the 3rd September wasn't the best day and it went something like this.

• Stuck in traffic at a crawl for no good reason
• On my way for  a swim and the rain set in, I made the decision to abandon swim
• Went to a different supermarket, bought perishables but they didn't have everything I wanted
• Sun came out, perishables in the car, swim definitely abandoned
• Went to second supermarket, left shopping behind
• Made coin purse, approx. 10cm x10cm  and had to unpick 
• Assembled purse and got glue everywhere

 

 

The coin purse wasn't hard to make and it's a great use of leftover pieces of fabric and the lining can be anything. I will make more as they will make great gifts.

 Ha, ha the only thing left to do is work out how to remove the glue from the frame?

Image via Pinterest

Things only got better when I had a cup of tea and chocolate.....



 Because.....




....Where there's tea and chocolate, there's hope.

Image via Pinterest



NEW LOOK 6145

I was inspired by a combo of Sew Gorgeous' New Look 6909 dress http://sewgorgeousblog.blogspot.com.au/ and this Amy Butler fabric.

 

 

New Look  6145 looked like a good option. A -line I can make and love to wear. I liked the fitted look of the princess seams but the A-line seemed like an easier choice, as I have never done a collar before this one looked easier .

 

 

This was a very easy dress to make and the pattern was easy to follow. I made a size 10 with only  a few minor adjustments through the hips. Really I could bypass the zip as with the Colette Laurel and if I can, I might as well. The collar was easy to fit and I managed to get it even first time! However there is a lot of bulk under the collar. Two layers from the collar itself,  one layer which is the dress and one more from the facing. Whilst these layers need to be layered to reduce the thickness I think it is still bulky. I am wondering if bias binding would work in place of the facing? I might try bias next time as I will definitely make this dress again. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please follow this link and vote for Colette Patterns. Colette Patterns are a great product, if you haven't used one, then try one, you will be surprised.

 

 

LAUREL TIMES TWO

I have been sewing, I just haven't posted for a while. I was inspired by the Colette Laurel competition and all the images on Flckr  http://www.flickr.com/photos/94393713@N08/8626672018/

 

Colette pattern


I bought the laurel pattern online and downloaded it. I quite like getting this way, it's pretty much instant and it's like putting a jig saw puzzle together, just easier as the pages are numbered. Once together I resisted cutting it and traced the pattern. That's a good thing too as I still have a hard copy to retrace and tweak as many times as I want.
.

 

Having never been a fan of the colour orange I was surprised when I fell in love with this Amy Butler fabric.


Laurel was a very easy pattern, I know it's like all my other A-line dress patterns just with sleeves. The Collette pattern was lovely to use, the instructions are detailed and easy to follow. Colette has a tutorial for just about everything if you need to clarify something. Whilst I have done it several times, sometimes I just can't visualize "under stitching." I use Colette's tutorial to refresh my memory.

I made the size 10 and had to take it in significantly and will try a muslin for the size 8 though that sounds to small. I had trouble with the invisible zip, even using a zipper foot. With this style of dress I can just slip it over my head so  am better off not even bothering with a zip.

My second version is in a grey linen. a friend suggested the contrasting cuffs and I am so glad I took that advice.

 

 

Do I recommend this pattern? Yes, definitely.

Would I make it again?  Yes, yes. yes. Sleeveless for summer and maybe in a light wool for winter.

 

IN THE MIDDLE and a little more....

"In the middle, in the middle, in the middle of a dream" -  Paul Kelly \ 
                                                                                              

                                                    



Well I am not in the middle of a dream but a little past the middle of the year. 
 
I have been AWOL from my Blog for awhile, same excuse as always, the day, weeks, months are just rolling past and that brings us past the start of a new month. AUGUST!

I thought it timely to revisit my new years to do list and to see what has come to fruition, what has, what  hasn't and what's in progress.

Learn Spanish, - No sucede,  -  (not happening)

 

Spend less and live simply-  YES whenever possible 

 

Be happy and have fun - YES, yes, yes doing it!

 

Less wine, sugar and wheat-  more Bollinger - NO not happening

 

Attend a fortnightly Yoga class-   NO not happening

 

Cook something new every 2 weeks  - YES mostly

 

Sew more - YES whenever I can

 

Garden more - YEs doing it.

Market more - NO not happening 

 

See a film monthly - NO, where are my months going?

 

Have a murder -NO, still planning

 

Learn to Astral travel - for virtual holidays.- NO haven't left the country ...yet.

 

 

Hmm, 5/12. less than half but not bad, time for chocolate. 

 

 

 

 

 

Please leave a comment about your 2013 goals.

 

 

 

SAY CHEESE

My biggest lament in life right now is that not enough people smile, laugh or hug (and I can't find quality striped cotton/jersey, but that's another post).

Add caption

Recently I saw the World press photos on display at the powerhouse Brisbane. What can I say, they were award winning news photos, graphic and confronting. Not one photo was celebratory or happy. Joy and happiness don't win awards.

The sport photos didn't show triumph, it was sumo wrestlers grimacing and the gymnasts didn't look comfortable or happy in the positions that they were in.

 

Yes, there is a lot of tragedy and heartache in our lives and in the world but to share a smile and a laugh is good for the soul.

 

image from sohomode.co

 

 In the Adelaide Hills region the common form of greeting is a hug.

Image from scaredtoast.com

t
There is an art to the "Hills Hug" and just to make sure I perfect it, I better visit again...soon.

 

 

The two mantras of my daily life are:

 

"Smile  more, laugh more, hug more." and ....

 

"Life's short, buy the shoes."

P.S Don't stop here, keep scrolling down

 



image from adelaidenow.com.au

 



FINALLY

 

Finally I have successfully made something using cotton jersey! Now I am really happy!

I downloaded Tessuti's     www.tessuti.com.au "Fave Top" pattern and voila.

 

 

I used a new ballpoint needle and made sure that I cut the fabric with the grain. I can see why

Tessuti call it their "Fave Top" as it is so comfortable to wear as only cotton jersey can be.

The pattern was super easy and it was free. I will be making more of these tops. The only problem I am having is finding quality striped cotton jersey?

 

 

 

 

Thanks to my good friend Sharron for being my photographer. These photos were taken at New Farm Park on a glorious Brisbane winter day. As you can see I was rugged up in jeans and a T-shirt!

Sew Happy

Image courtesy Sew Liberated Schoolhouse Tunic pattern.

Life continues to be happy and wonderful, esp when a sewing project comes together.

I made Sew Liberated School House Tunic on the recommendation of the really nice girl I was talking to at the fabric shop. I was buying fabric for another project and, chatting away, I got caught up in the moment and, do I need another pattern?, Oh well what the hell....?

http://sewliberated.com/products/schoolhouse-tunic-sewing-pattern








My tunic/dress came together well, the sleeves were really easy to fit,  just as the sales person said they would be.

I traced the pattern, made the muslin and adjusted the sizing but not too much and I am happy with the result.


Whilst I made the dress length I am a little uncertain about it. This length really cannot be worn by "women of a certain age" without thick tights, leggings or over jeans.

 

 

 

And, YES I am happy, I have a wonderful life and I have been clearing out the clutter. Not so much "out with the old , in with the new" but streamlining, minimalizing  and making life simpler.

 

 

 

May days in  QLD  make me happy, clear blue skies, 26 deg temps in the days and a little cooler at night, why would you live anywhere else????

 

 

Dancing in the rain makes me happy.

Be Happy in the Moment

I haven't posted for ages, no excuse except my poor time management.

Over the past weeks I have done a little sewing, started an online course, had some Etsy sales, and done a little more sewing. With one thing and another the days have rolled into weeks, rolled into months and here we are in May.

 

 I have been harvesting and drying my lavender and making these lovely muslin bags for my Etsy store.

The happiness Project http://www.happiness-project.com/  in book form is next to my bed waiting to be read.

On my long walk with my dog this morning I was thinking what  makes me happy? Of course my family and friends make me happy but what things that cost nothing and are around us all the time make be happy, things we probably take for granted.

Well my list goes something like this;


  
                                FAT RAIN  DROPS

RAINBOWS  ruthangus.co.uk                       

                                                                      

                                                             

                                                                        

                                                                                                    lifeofadoctorswife.wordpress.com  -  

 

GREEN FROGS, BEES, FLOWERS, SMILES, PUPPIES, CATS and so on.

 

Each time I post I am going to include something that makes me happy, makes me smile and brings me joy. I think it's important to grab onto these happy moments and keep them with us. Oh and I'll let you know how The Happiness Project Goes.

 

ELVIS always makes me smile.

Wooloongabba Brisbane

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            

CLAIM THE DAY.

 

TIME, what is it?

/tīm/

Noun The indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.

Verb Plan, schedule, or arrange when (something) should happen or be done: "the first race is timed for 11:15". Synonyms period - age - season - epoch - hour - term - date - era

However you want to define it, time is important and it is important to take some time for yourself.  Saying that , I just don't do it enough. Recently I did it, I took some time for myself. I claimed last Tuesday as Kate's Day and to escape the repetition of day to day I went to a Yoga class at Calma Yoga. I have been before, I love it and , as I said,  I just don' t do it enough. http://www.calmayoga.com/

The moment I walk through these beautiful doors I start to relax. 

The Ides of March

March has not been the best of months.

It started out with promise but has gone downhill pretty quickly. I started on what I thought would be a simple sewing project, no zips or darts and it went from bad to worse.

Responsibility, lies with me, I admit it. Whilst I couldn't find any reviews of Kwik Sew . K3928 I thought it looked so easy I would charge ahead regardless. I didn't make a muslin and sin of sins I cut the pattern, I didn't trace it and as a result the garment I ended up with is 2 sizes too big!  

There is no going back once the pattern has been cut. I made it in chocolate brown linen and I look like a Franciscan monk in robes that are  too big! Aaagghhh!  I am definitely NOT posting a photo of that disaster!

The positive, apart from the lesson learnt, is that I bought both the pattern and linen on sale. I have a meter of linen left and hopefully I can salvage the fabric from the dress  and make something else.

 Q  Seriously, how can you stuff up a pattern this easy?

                  A Overconfident and lazy  - that's how.                                        

 

Along with that in the  month of March we have a leaking toilet, there is a leak in the pool (yet to be found) and the motor for the garage door blew up. 

 I did salvage this beautiful piece of voile I bought at The Fabric Store http://www.thefabricstore.com.au

Free forming this, it came together. Squares really, square for the front , square for the back and squares for the sleeves. No darts, no zips, no facings I used bias binding. it's far from perfect but I like it. 

 

BTW check out Sew Gorgeous' Blog http://sewgorgeousblog.blogspot.com.au/
 
It is very inspiring and ....roll on April.

This term Kenmore State High School's year 11 drama is producing Animal Farm. They have worked hard and we will see it on Wed night, more reports later but here is Jack in costume, Jack plays Karl Marx.

The positives of March:  a bit more sun and some cooler weather combined with all the rain has given me beautiful orchids. Flowering later than usual they are still spectacular.



Magnolias most magnificent

We have had a lot of rain here in sunny QLD this summer. last weekend we went Sth, over the border, to Fingal Head, our favourite beach, Whilst still beautiful the ravages of the weather were evident.

Driftwood on Fingal

Looking stormy

PERFECT MATCH

 

RAINY DAYS AND SEWING are a match made in heaven. My ingredients for a perfect rainy day are  a sewing project, endless cups of tea and chocolate.  

These cushions were a happy infusion of bright and beautiful fabric in an otherwise wet day.