Renfrew Giveaway Winner (and Jackie's cakes)

Hello people

The random generator has spoken and Andrea B - you won ! Yay !

I have mailed you to get your address, please let me know if you didn't get it.

Sorry I could not let you all have a copy  :-((

To make up here are a few recent 'Jackies cakes' to take away the sting. ) I know there are loads, but you are worth it !  :-)

I was not in first on this day

Nor this

So pretty ! I feel loved !

HA ! First in on this day.
See how they all lay there
Pristine

Green cakes !
WOWWEEEEE !!

Pretty butterflies
dont fly away

What a sweetie
Pretty and delicious

Love these ones !
They look like sky !

I still have not snapped any pictures for my 2 new skirts, but I will do so soon as ! (I just hate having my picture taken - URGH !)

I am going to start on a dress this weekend and feel very excited to deal with all my wonderful fitting issues. NOT  ;-)) However I will be pleased to make something other than a skirt (although I have a few more version lined up in my head !)

I hope you are all having a wonderful week so far,

K xxx

Thank you

Hello there

Can I just say how overwhelmed I am feeling with all of you glorious people recent comments.

There are too many for me to respond to personally so please know that my heart feels warm, right down to its core.

I also want to welcome new people joining me on my adventures.

                                                                I am 100% SEW GRATEFUL.

To celebrate - lets share a Jackie Cake !

Cake jewellery
A delicious silver and turquoise bangle 

I am a vision
I look like a cake version of Boracay Beach

In other news I will be spending tonight mostly sewing and am looking forward to sharing with you.

I hope that whatever you are doing tonight makes you nothing but happy   :-)

K xxx

Jackie's Cakes ! ( and a very Happy Friday !)

Dear friends

Happy Friday !!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend planned.

By popular demand ! - and without further ado - here are this weeks cakes from Jackie !  (we were lucky enough to have a second cake on Thursday as Jackie had an order in and made extra for us !!  YAY !!)

                                ***** WARNING !!  THIS POST IS CAKE HEAVY !! *****

Here is Mondays cake...

I am a vision of toffeeness ! See my golden body.
Razzle Dazzle.

Let me share my perfectly formed head.
I am like a vision in cream.
Needless to say, I didn't last long.

And these are Jackie's Thursday offerings !!  They were pink and orange - 2 variations on a theme. Jackie said she was not that fond of the colour scheme for these ones - but I honestly believe that these are my favourites so far !!

Lets see why !!

Type A.
Tangerine dream.
Gorgeousness personified.
Alas, a beauty which does not last.

Type A
Profile.
Well why not ? Especially when you look like THIS.

Type B
Pretty in pink.
Inhaled immediately. It was almost magical the way I disappeared !
I should get a job on a magic show. Look out Debbie McGee !

Type B
Profile.
Well if she can - I can too !

Glorious !!
Absolutely Glorious !
See our coordinated cases and flower tops.
For twins we are pretty classy.
Especially when compared to the 'Cheeky Girls' !

WOWSERS that Jackie - she is indeed a legend !! I wish you could have a gorgeous baker in your life who thinks nothing of spending time whipping up magic for her fellow colleagues.

                                                          Jackie I think I LOVE YOU.

I bet you cant wait to see what she bakes up Monday !

Wishing you all the best weekend EVER.

MWAH

K xxx

Burda Style February 2012

Hellooooo there !

I have just got back from a ski trip (Flaine, France) which I will share with you tomorrow as I am totally knackered. In my absence Burda waved its wand and deposited its goodness in my front hall. Lets take a little looksie at my February picks shall we ? I must admit, for me - there were very few stunners this month, however I still feel it is worth the cover price on the whole. Burda Style for me is a little like a lucky dip - you pays your pennies and take your chances. Sometimes you are happy, sometimes sad !

                                       The source of all these lovely images can be found here

LOVE this skirt !
I hope it can be made without the full length zip. Not sure that my derrier is up to that amount of scrutiny !

Lovely lines - I think would make a smashing work dress in a wool crepe. LUSH.

Pretty shape - simple and I think would look fab on pear shapes.

A little SAD. F.M. I know - but I do love a Kimono.
Would be lush in an actual kimono silk.
Dream ON - anyone seen how expensive that sh1t is ?

LOVE IT ! Feels like its should have been in Kill Bill.
Uma Thurman would have looked HOT in this  number !
Not certain of exactly the same effect on my own body.

hmmmm hideous deck chair trousers anyone ?
Thought not.

TA DA !
May I present myself as one of the most hideous skirts ever seen.
The Fabric ! The Cut ! The Hideousness !

The source of all these lovely images can be found here

I need to point out at this stage that my Burda picks are just that - mine.

I probably don't have the same tastes as everyone else, and that is fine. If you happen to love the deck chair trousers, that totally rocks.
Don't EVER let my own views detract from your own taste, it is good to be different  :-)

In other news I was also excited to come home to a little giftage from the gorgeous Ginger Makes - it's a brown and black neck scarf and I cant tell you how much I LOVE it !  Thanks Ginger ! I will post a snap of it tomorrow if I can. I am still always amazed by the generosity of fellow bloggers.  If you have not already seen Gingers blog I suggest you go there right now and take a peek !   :-)

I feel I have been quite lucky this year in terms of receiving gorgeous stuff from other people and as such I will be giving something away this week (I do believe in Karma) - more on that in a few days. But it will be open to anyone, anywhere, and I hope that you will like it.

Also - because you have been so good - I have 2 (yes 2!)  'Jackie's cakes' to show ! Hot DAMN that lady can bake. I count my stars every Monday for her cupcake cheer. Almost makes a Monday bearable. Almost.

Toffee gorgeousness right there.
Yes I am pretty snazzy.
Unfortunately my life span was not so long.

Er, my creator apologised for me and said I was boring !
ahem ahem !
Have you SEEN the orange chocolate loveliness of my hot body ?
I rest my case. 

Right - off to bed for me.

I will be back tomorrow with some photos of Flaine, pictures of my new neck scarf and details of my give away. As it is a Monday there will also be a special cake post ! Can you wait for all that excitement ? MAN I don't think I can !

Hoo ha,

K xxx

Using the Colette Sewing Book (and Jackie's Cakes !)

Hello people

Well, we are well and truly into 2012 now- can you believe how quickly time flies ?

I have just been having a gander at the new folks up on the Sew Weekly site  (you can too here), and although I will miss seeing Debi, Veronica Darling, Oona and co, I am excited to get to know and see what the new gang are going to be making  :-)  I always feel so inspired seeing other people's makes, and I love the format of the Sew Weekly where we can see LOTS of makes, every week, from different people.

Exciting !

I have been working on the Jasmine, and although I cant share the finished garment yet (as it's not finished ! I have cut and interfaced the fabric, sewed the darts, but am yet to stitch it together) I hope to 'show and tell' soon.

I thought I would share my first experience of using the Colette Sewing Book as an actual reference book. Whilst sewing ! Wooop wooop ! Which actually is very easy with this book due to the way its spiral bound !

I referenced page 84, to be exact, as I needed to make the waist larger on the pattern and so I traced the pattern and then slashed and pivoted as shown in the book.

I must admit I found making these changes much easier using a cardboard table. Actually I have wanted one of these tables after watching Fit for Real People -The Basics DVD, and have spent many a happy hour browsing for one, without any luck (thank god otherwise I would have spent money on one !). Then, this weekend I thought what a waste of money buying one when I can use a large old box. For FREE. And that people, is exactly what I did !

It was amazing ! I laid an old piece of thin decorating vinyl material over it, which thoughtfully of the fabric was gridded, and I used my new table (well actually a flat piece of thick card covered in vinyl to be exact)  to anchor the pattern while I made my adjustments.

Here are the changes that I made to the pattern in practice (and although I did change both the length and  width by 1.5 inches, I later reduced the extra width after making a muslin - it was too much ! Eventually I widened by 6/8 of an inch.

Slashing to make a 'hinge'

Slashing and using my new cardboard 'table' to anchor the pattern pieces, LOVE IT !

Birds eye view

The book advises to mark the seam line on the pattern, and slash at the place where the side seam and underarm seam meet - however - you cant do that on the Jasmine pattern because as you can see above, due to the shapes of the seams, a slash would not be possible at this point. As such I slashed it as near as I could to that point, whilst making sure I had some tissue either side of my slash.

Make sure you add width at the stitching line

Using a pin to drag tissue paper under the pattern - STILL loving the cardboard !

Tissue added - now to tape down and trim off the excess.

Hmm - now the dart needs fixing !

Easy peasy !!   :-) Just match up the ends to the point !

I made a muslin and it seemed to fit pretty well, but I made it a little too wide ! Doh !

I took a gamble and did not make another muslin, I reduced the width on the pattern and just cut the fabric as I am certain that it will fit. Especially because the fabric is drapey, and I plan to wear it tucked in, so a little extra around the midriff is not going to hurt. I draped the pieces over Dolly, and it looks good so far. I made a hybrid of the 2 versions, using the collar from version 1, and the sleeves from version 2. I am using a silk/cotton blend and cutting on the bias, both firsts for me, and I no likey cutting on the bias. I especially no likey trying to mark the darts etc.

Anyone got any good marking tips, especially when cutting on the bias ? Chalk just dragged and I didn't have much luck with tailor tacks.

Hopefully I can finish it at the weekend - it will be nice to start the year with a freshly made garment. I especially love thinking about what I can wear with a new garment to make an outfit !

I other news - I took a picture of a cake, but not just any cake. My colleague makes them every Monday - and they are so beautiful ! I think I may start a little feature called 'Jackies Cakes' so I can share her amazingness with the world !

And - to be fair - after this gigantic post if you made it this far - you deserve a treat !!

YUM !! And soooo pretty !

I hope 2012 has been kind to you so far. And that you have a lovely person in your life who makes you beautiful cakes !

K xxx