Cute as a button

I just love buttons. I can't resist when I walk past them. Their jewel like quality appeals to my inner magpie.

The only thing I don't like about buttons is how expensive they are. The price of some of the most beautiful of these jewels has been known to make me weep. And leave empty handed. 

Beautiful beautiful buttons. 

K xxx

Claimed !! :))

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3169104/?claim=nyjegr8y9v4">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

I think !! Lol !!

Cheerio

K xxx

Before and after

Hiiiii

I thought I would share with you one of the adjusted pattern pieces from the world famous Elisalex dress. Of course the pattern didn't fit my body right out of the tin, so I had to do quite a lot of work with paper, scissors and tape ;)

I must say I have made 2 of these dresses (not including various muslins) and am pretty happy with the fit. I'm hoping to take a photo of the dress later, as I'm wearing the second incarnation today :)

As you can see I had to do quite a lot of work to get even this one piece to fit !! Including an FBA using the directions on the 'By Hand London' site. It actually wasn't difficult to do, just time consuming. 

If I'm honest I added a little too much to the waist seams, so have shaved a little off for my third version, maybe ill take off more for the 4th !! 

I didn't make the tulip skirt, I'm just too hippy ;) so I have frankenpatterned the bodice of Elisalex with Gerties pencil skirt. It took a while but I'm super happy with the results. 

This floral version I am wearing today I just love. Such a flattering bodice (when it fits well :) ) 

Ooo I know I'm a tease !! If it wasn't pissing down with rain here (as usual) I would have snapped a pic ;) 

Mañana mañana 

K xxx  

Beach huts and seagulls

Hiiiiii

I realised yesterday that it had been over a year !?! Since I had posted a picture on this blog !! And that was of me partaking in water sports !! Nothing sewing related !!

This sometime seamstress would seem to be very sometimes indeed according to this blog, which is crazy as I live and breathe sewing !! My love affair with it has grown, as has my output. My ability to change flat patterns to accommodate my frame has come along in leaps and bounds. But you wouldn't know that from looking at this blog.

Add to that my loathing of self photography and my move onto an iPad a year ago in May (for which I struggled to create a publishable blog post until I found the blogger ap yesterday !!) my little blog a log has been sadly lacking. 

This is not what I had envisioned when I started this blog. 

I can now write posts on iPad !! Hurrah !!

I can take little snapshots using Instagram !! Yay !!

I found out (finally) how to insert a photo into my blog post using iPad !! Stop the phone !!

So rather than be a bit of a chore, blogging has become fun for me again. Yes I know I need to post the finished garments, but I feel ready to tackle that, you just wait and see.

Also, just because I now know how, I am showing you some other cute hem trims that I am yet to use in a project. I have my eye on the grey seagulls next, how cute are they ?!?

Anyhow expect to see a whole lot more postings wise round these parts. And thank you for sticking with me. I didn't ever start this blog with the intention of being popular, but it is nice to know that folks care, and continue to show their support by reading my little blog a log.

And to thank you for this I will be hosting a couple of little give aways over the next couple of weeks. So check back for that, especially if any of the pretty trims above tickle your fancy :)

Cheerio

K xxx

Pretty hems

Hiiii

I know it's been a while right ?! But even though I have not been posting I have still been keeping up to date with all your wonderful blogs !! And I have been doing even more sewing !!

As usual I enjoyed sewing a pretty hem on my projects and can share some of that goodness with you at least. I really MUST get round to posting up some pics, but hot damn !! I can't stand taking my own photos, I always feel such a benny !! (Apologies if your name is Benny, I am sure you are very nice :) and are most excellent at taking self portraits !!)

So in an attempt to revive my poorly blog I have found Instagram and have taken some snaps of pretty hems to show you :) (I did have some trouble with uploading photos so I hope this post works).

I was going to try a photo shoot last Saturday, but I tore my calf muscle (yes always something I know !!) so can only use one leg right now. The left one if you are interested ;) Not my finest hour !!

So without further delay, proof positive that I have been sewing up a storm !!

So a sneak preview of 2 of my recent makes :)

Now to get over my bad self and my aversion to self portraits !

See you much sooner than in another 6 months I promise.

Cheerio for now,

Kxxx

Happy new year !!! Here is to 2013 !!!

So, it's 2013 already !! Wow !!! Can you believe how quickly this year has flown by ?!?

So, Mr P and I stayed in last night and to be honest I was pleased for the lack of hangover. Instead of going out I toasted the new year by sewing ! Yesterday I started and finished another Gertie pencil skirt. I made a few changes after my last one and I'm super happy with the results.

As an aside when I was trawling the net, I found a tutorial from the lovely Gertie demonstrating the boning of the curved waistband on the very skirt that she includes in her book. I recognise that red fabric anywhere :))

So here is the link to Gerties tutorial.

http://www.blogforbettersewing.com/2011/05/tutorial-adding-boning-to-high.html?m=1

Soooo anyway that's now 5 projects to post lol. New Years resolution, take some finished objects 
pictures !!

So to tally what I need to post (for my own reminder !!)
2 x Gertie pencil skirts
2 x banksia tops
1 x Frankenstein skirt

In other news I'm not really making any resolutions but I'm going to keep a jar and everytime something
good happens I'm going to note it and put it in my jar :() then instead of feeling disappointed with 
failed resolutions - I'll feel happy to remember all the good times I've had when I look in my jar this
time next year !!!

Well I wish you all a happy and prosperous new year, full of happiness, health and love 

K xxx 

Little piece of history

Howdy folks !!

:-)

I needed to record this moment, in fact I felt that I had too !!

I am publishing this post at 12:12  12/12/12

How awesome is that ?!


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


As an aside I am listing my finished objects here so I boot myself up the bum to post photos of them.

WAAAAAAA I wish I didn't detest photos of me so madly !! Then there would be no fear about getting these FO's posted up for all to see  :-) maybe I should post a la scruffy badger and go comedy !!

I have recently completed the following:

Gerties pencil skirt in Navy (I lined this puppy and everything - now that my friends was a learning curve of the extreme !)
Banksia Top in yellow floral
Banksia top in blue stars
Frankenstein skirt in green and white polka dots

See !! I have been sewing and I have also sewed things other than frankenstein skirts lol !!

I have also been working on grading a simplicity skirt. I have made 2 muslins, one far too small and one far to big.

I have also ordered a fitting shell from Your Perfect Fit. I just need someone to help me  with the 33 measurements that I must take ! I am hoping that I can then use the shells to make trousers and dresses as these are problems for me. I hope it works !!

Well friends, I hope that you are enjoying this historic day !

K xxx

Battern down the hatches....

And sew up a storm !!! ;))

Well friends, the weather is pretty crazy here in the South West of the UK. I have had the week off and I have been using it to sew :)

So far I have made 3 items ! Very exciting. I just need to snap em and share em ;)

I'm working on something else today :) and hoping to sew more over the next couple of days. Friends I'm not sure ill even dress today, it may be a pjs, Columbo and fire on day. Hunkered down with my machines :()

By the way - Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends :)

Folks in the uk, stay safe and dry :)

Anyone else heyyyyyyyy :)

I hope that whatever you guys are up too, you are all happy and safe.

Cya back here soon for some photographic evidence of my toils.

K xxx

HMPH !!

Hello folks  :-)

I fully intended to do all the things per my previous post but the night of writing it brought a severe tooth ache, which then turned into a hideous abscess, the pain of which I have never known and everything went out of the window !

It was too painful to finish my course (I did submit just in time, but not to the standard I would have hoped for). I could not work (I had the WHOLE of last week off, I have never had that much time off ill in my whole life), and to top it all I am still not right :-(

Oh well, the pain is decreasing slowly, and at least myself and my dentist are now on first name terms, we are almost besties ! 

So, I have been thinking sewing, but not doing !

I have made a plan tho :-)  and it goes a little something like this (I cant remember all of the aspects, i will add to this once home!)

1. Anise coat, navy wool. Pattern purchased but not yet arrived.
2. Juniper trousers, denim fabric. Wanted to do Thurlow sew along but I feel that the juniper may be a better pattern to start with, looks a little simpler than the Thurlow and as such hopefully easier to fit.
3 Gerties bow tie blouse. Oatmeal double knit.
4. Simplicity skirt, you know the one, Zoe makes it and has made it famous. Navy cotton, and intend to line it (never properly lined before)
5. Kimono t's in lilac and white. The ones that Scruffy Badger has made her own. There is a free download, I will share later.

All of these will work together to create a mini wardrobe, and each piece will bring me new skills to learn, for example

• Bound button holes
• Lining, proper lining not underling lol
• Trouser fitting and making
• Sewing with a double needle
• Sewing with knits

And these are but a few. I feel very excited to be sewing with a plan, and as I am working in Tiverton today I will be frequenting heathcotes later for supplies ! I even have a list and everything, I am on it like a car bonnet lol :-)

So, I had better go, I just wanted to apologise for getting all lary on here, saying I'm back and that, and then disappearing again !

Friends, toothache sucks big style, but not sewing my winter wardrobe sucks more !

See you all soooooooooon

K xxx

The end is nigh

Dont worry folks, I am not tolling the bell for impending doom !!   :-)

This super busy lady finishes her course on Monday !!  Ya   (fekkin) hoooo !! I just have a few hectic days to go and then I am freeeeeee ! (Til January at least).

I feel bad that I have neglected my blog, I have missed it, and you, but I hope that you understand why :-) It would be so so cool if I could get a 2.1 on my science degree !

I will have some posts for you next week, including my last make (which I have worn to faded lol, but it still counts right ?), a post on the newest addition to our family (nope ! not a baby lol, an embroidery machine - love love love) and plans for a hectic few months of sewing.

I also HAVE to discuss this months Burda style. Hideous ! Dated ! Un-wearable !

I know I have not been commenting on your blogs so much, but I have been lurking ! And I am looking forward to resuming my 'business as usual' relationship with you all.

I am also thinking of joining Lladybirds trouser sew along, and have even purchased the pattern. Join the fun here. Damn that lady looks fine in her denims, if only I had that back view lol !

I am also hoping to make a coat ! Tres exciting ! The Anise from Collette patterns. man I inhaled that PDF companion in one sitting and I feel excited to start. And can you believe that they are also hosting a sew along ? Check it out !

Yes there will probably be a few more frankenstein skirts along the way, but its time this sometime seamstress busted out of the comfort zone ;-)

I'll probably end up looking like Worzel Gummage (google him lol) in my new strides and coat, but you know what I am ITCHING thats right ITCHING to sit back at my machines !!!

Well, my friends, until next week !

(I'm excited ! Can you tell I AM EXCITED !!)

MWAH !!!