Hello there from a very wet, cold and windy England !
I feel I need a month in the sun, this weather that we are having is so depressing, and it’s done nothing for either my mojo OR the produce growing in my garden :-(
I didn't manage to get round to the 3 skirts, I just made one ! I needed to change the pattern a little, and wanted to check it was all ok before cutting fabrics. Just in case. You know how it is.
I used up the green polka dot fabric and am really happy with the result, but you can definitely see me coming when I am wearing it, it’s pretty darn LOUD.
So you are probably wondering where the photos are. I can’t tell you how bleak this last week has been weather wise and as such no photos have been snapped. But I will take some snaps tomorrow, I promise.
Next up I would like to try a Sorbetto (late to the party I know) and the Sewaholic Cambie Dress. How much do I love that dress by the way ! the only problem is that I don’t fit the pattern right out the envelope (such a drag !) and I am not really sure how to change it so it fits me. Oh well I guess I will have to try and have a go as I cant bear to be without that dress for much longer. I have even purchased 2 lengths of floral’s in order to create.
In other news studying has been hectic, but I am rewarded with my last 2 assignment scores both being 88% ! I know, right ?
I also was lucky enough to get an iPad from Mr P as an early birthday present, and I have become TOTALLY ADDICTED to the games 'Camelot' and 'Drawsome'. My word those 2 little apps can suck up time like no ones business.
So, I hope for some time to sew tonight, maybe the sorbetto. But not sure if I want to try sans pleat first, I guess I will see how I feel later. I have a lovely sheer Swiss dot fabric, white with yellow spots that I want to use.
And thanks again people for keeping me thoroughly infused with sewing goodness when I seem to barely have enough time to sleep, let alone sew !
Happy Friday people, I hope you all have magical weekends !
K xxx
Friday, 22 June 2012
Monday, 11 June 2012
A trip back home
I do miss home sometimes (Bournemouth), as much as I love living with Mr P here in North Devon.
I had last week off work, I did have lots of studying to do, but I did sneak in a trip back home and it was nice to catch up with my mum, my aunts and my friends. Especially my best friends !
Me and my besties did a little kayaking, which was great. Even with the friend who was driving losing her car keys so we were stranded in wetsuits etc for most of the day with no access to clothes, water, money etc. The guy that ran the kayaking was great, lending us his phone and some cash so we could get some drinks.
Even with all that, I had a wonderful day in a back to basics bonding with your besties way.
This post is quite picture heavy - just so you know !! And thanks Mr P for lending me your splash proof camera !
Well, that concludes the kayak trip. I swear after my arms started burning 10 minutes in, I did think 'I cant do this', but was still going strong after 3 hours. LOVED IT.
NOW WANT A KAYAK.
K xxx
I had last week off work, I did have lots of studying to do, but I did sneak in a trip back home and it was nice to catch up with my mum, my aunts and my friends. Especially my best friends !
Me and my besties did a little kayaking, which was great. Even with the friend who was driving losing her car keys so we were stranded in wetsuits etc for most of the day with no access to clothes, water, money etc. The guy that ran the kayaking was great, lending us his phone and some cash so we could get some drinks.
Even with all that, I had a wonderful day in a back to basics bonding with your besties way.
This post is quite picture heavy - just so you know !! And thanks Mr P for lending me your splash proof camera !
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| The gang |
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| Besties Who NEVER grew up |
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| Sports mad ! |
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| Look out, Miss G is about ! |
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| Just taking a rest Work harder boy !!! |
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| Say cheese ! |
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| What a beautiful place to live ! Tranquil |
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| Obligatory action foot shot ! Thems my feets ! |
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| I dont think he read the sign ! |
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| The hire place Who was amazing and lent us phones and money Legend |
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| Muddiford quay Lovely non ? |
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| Pretty darn beautiful **sigh** |
Well, that concludes the kayak trip. I swear after my arms started burning 10 minutes in, I did think 'I cant do this', but was still going strong after 3 hours. LOVED IT.
NOW WANT A KAYAK.
K xxx
Sunday, 10 June 2012
The most delicious jam in the whole world !!
Yes you read the title right !
I am only ruddy proclaiming to have made the most delicious jam in the whole world.
Open your minds to this - it tastes a darn sight better than it sounds.
Rhubarb and Vanilla. You heard right.
I swear this is the most delicious jam in the world.
I am a new convert into jam making, I never made a pot before a month ago, and now I am pretty famous for it amongst my neighbours. I am sure that there are plenty of recipes that you can use to make this jam, but this is what I did to make 4 large pots. (I dont like making massive batches as I like a few pots of lots of different flavours).
I used :
750 g of rhubarb cut into 2 inch segments
water to cover
750 g normal white granulated sugar
juice of one lemon
2 tablespoons pectin (I use Certo)
1 teaspoon of vanilla (I use the concentrated paste but you can use a pod if you have one)
Clean empty jars for filling.
Waxed discs for the tops
Method :
Put a saucer in the freezer (we will use this to test the set)
Put the jars on a baking tray, upside down and the lids as well. Into an oven 140 degrees. This sterilises the jars. Leave them in until you are ready to fill them.
Wash and chop the rhubarb and put in a deep pan (I dont have no fancy jam pans, just a normal saucepan). Put water in the pan to almost cover the rhubarb.
Simmer on a low heat until the rhubarb is breaking up, anywhere from around 20 - 35 minutes.
Lower the heat and add the 2 tablespoons of pectin, juice of the lemon and the sugar.
Make sure that you keep stirring all the while, and keep stirring until every grain of sugar is dissolved (this stops the jam from crystallizing)
Then turn the heat up on that mutha until you have a rolling boil.
You need to stir occasionally to stop the mixture from burning. Be careful as hot jam mixture can mean hideous burns ! I kept my mixture on a rolling boil for about 35 minutes, but you want to start testing your jam from about 25 minutes.
In order to test the set, get the saucer from the freezer and drop some of the mixture onto it. Put it back in the freezer for around 5 minutes and then take it out. Push the jam with your finger to see if it has the correct consistency, if it does not, keep boiling the mixture and checking using the saucer method every 5 minutes or so.
Once the consistency is right, take the pan off the boil and remove any scum with a slotted spoon.
Then add just over 1 teaspoon of vanilla paste, or the seeds from one vanilla bean.
Stir in the vanilla well.
Take out the jars from the oven, be careful as they will be hot. Obvs.
Ladle the jam into the pots and cover with a wax disc (I cut these myself from baking paper). Put the lid on the jars.
Clean the jars off (ladelling is messy, I am sure this works better with a funnel !)
Leave to cool and label the jars with the flavour and the date.
Pass out to neighbours (scoring karma points for future favours ! But I promise that is not why I do it !)
There you have it ! I swear its absolutely the most lush jam I have EVER HAD.
Enjoy !
K xxx
I am only ruddy proclaiming to have made the most delicious jam in the whole world.
Open your minds to this - it tastes a darn sight better than it sounds.
Rhubarb and Vanilla. You heard right.
I swear this is the most delicious jam in the world.
I am a new convert into jam making, I never made a pot before a month ago, and now I am pretty famous for it amongst my neighbours. I am sure that there are plenty of recipes that you can use to make this jam, but this is what I did to make 4 large pots. (I dont like making massive batches as I like a few pots of lots of different flavours).
I used :
750 g of rhubarb cut into 2 inch segments
water to cover
750 g normal white granulated sugar
juice of one lemon
2 tablespoons pectin (I use Certo)
1 teaspoon of vanilla (I use the concentrated paste but you can use a pod if you have one)
Clean empty jars for filling.
Waxed discs for the tops
Method :
Put a saucer in the freezer (we will use this to test the set)
Put the jars on a baking tray, upside down and the lids as well. Into an oven 140 degrees. This sterilises the jars. Leave them in until you are ready to fill them.
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| Everything face down on a baking tray |
 |
| Water just to cover |
Simmer on a low heat until the rhubarb is breaking up, anywhere from around 20 - 35 minutes.
Lower the heat and add the 2 tablespoons of pectin, juice of the lemon and the sugar.
Make sure that you keep stirring all the while, and keep stirring until every grain of sugar is dissolved (this stops the jam from crystallizing)
Then turn the heat up on that mutha until you have a rolling boil.
You need to stir occasionally to stop the mixture from burning. Be careful as hot jam mixture can mean hideous burns ! I kept my mixture on a rolling boil for about 35 minutes, but you want to start testing your jam from about 25 minutes.
In order to test the set, get the saucer from the freezer and drop some of the mixture onto it. Put it back in the freezer for around 5 minutes and then take it out. Push the jam with your finger to see if it has the correct consistency, if it does not, keep boiling the mixture and checking using the saucer method every 5 minutes or so.
Once the consistency is right, take the pan off the boil and remove any scum with a slotted spoon.
Then add just over 1 teaspoon of vanilla paste, or the seeds from one vanilla bean.
Stir in the vanilla well.
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| The brands of vanilla and pectin that I use. |
Ladle the jam into the pots and cover with a wax disc (I cut these myself from baking paper). Put the lid on the jars.
Clean the jars off (ladelling is messy, I am sure this works better with a funnel !)
Leave to cool and label the jars with the flavour and the date.
Pass out to neighbours (scoring karma points for future favours ! But I promise that is not why I do it !)
There you have it ! I swear its absolutely the most lush jam I have EVER HAD.
Enjoy !
K xxx
Saturday, 9 June 2012
Jubilee weekend
I know I am a little late to the party, but I did want to prove my participation in the Jubilee celebrations....
The BBQ tasted better thank it looked, I swear !!
K xxx
The BBQ tasted better thank it looked, I swear !!
K xxx
Friday, 8 June 2012
Fabric choices for yet more Frankenstein skirts !
Ha ! Thats right !
Back again :-)
I need quick projects to give me an injection of sewing love. I have had 00000000 time as I eluded to earlier but am rewarding myself with quality postings and sewing time as I have worked NON STOP on my latest assignment for the last 2 days and it is almost complete.
So I am stopping further work on it until Monday and am going to reward myself with sewing up a storm, as such I need an easy project that does not take lots of time to finish.
I thought it will be probably just as quick to cut and sew 3 skirts as it would 1, and that's my plan for the weekend.
I am going to use these fabrics:
As these are all shades of blue and green they should already go with my current selection of clothing with is ace. No orphans from a surprisingly lairy lot of fabric.
The first 2 fabrics I have had for around 2 years, and the third was a recent addition. That, my friends, is stashbustin ! 1 in for every 2 out ! Thems my kind of stats.
Wish me luck !
K xxx
Back again :-)
I need quick projects to give me an injection of sewing love. I have had 00000000 time as I eluded to earlier but am rewarding myself with quality postings and sewing time as I have worked NON STOP on my latest assignment for the last 2 days and it is almost complete.
So I am stopping further work on it until Monday and am going to reward myself with sewing up a storm, as such I need an easy project that does not take lots of time to finish.
I thought it will be probably just as quick to cut and sew 3 skirts as it would 1, and that's my plan for the weekend.
I am going to use these fabrics:
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| Big crazy birds |
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| Circles in blue and green |
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| Green and while polka dots |
The first 2 fabrics I have had for around 2 years, and the third was a recent addition. That, my friends, is stashbustin ! 1 in for every 2 out ! Thems my kind of stats.
Wish me luck !
K xxx
Crikey
'been a long time' to quote my favourite Led Zeppelin, but friends, I hope you will forgive the absence.
I have been SUPER busy with work and university work, and have had 2 assignments to write in the last 3 weeks ! It been pretty darn crazy here at Clovelly Towers. I also managed to fit in a trip to see some friends and relatives, and have had the last few days off work to try and catch up with coursework and assignments. Gah !
But the good news is I have 2 clear days before going back to work and I hope to sew 3 new skirts. ( I need quick hard gulps of sewing goodness before I drown again in work! As such all bets are off on the 6 muslin dress until further notice !) I will share the 3 fabric selections with you a little later, you can tell me what you think.
Now that I am writing, I realise I have missed my little bloggy do and as such will restart blogging post haste ! I just have the small matter of an assignment to finish today, boo.
You lot have helped me keep my creative pecker up during these drab days, and so for that I thank you !
K xxx
I have been SUPER busy with work and university work, and have had 2 assignments to write in the last 3 weeks ! It been pretty darn crazy here at Clovelly Towers. I also managed to fit in a trip to see some friends and relatives, and have had the last few days off work to try and catch up with coursework and assignments. Gah !
But the good news is I have 2 clear days before going back to work and I hope to sew 3 new skirts. ( I need quick hard gulps of sewing goodness before I drown again in work! As such all bets are off on the 6 muslin dress until further notice !) I will share the 3 fabric selections with you a little later, you can tell me what you think.
Now that I am writing, I realise I have missed my little bloggy do and as such will restart blogging post haste ! I just have the small matter of an assignment to finish today, boo.
You lot have helped me keep my creative pecker up during these drab days, and so for that I thank you !
K xxx
Thursday, 10 May 2012
Headaches all round
Hello wondrous folk !
So, I have been working on the bodice muslin for a new dress and have made 6, 6!!!!! muslins ! The pattern didnt go to my size, so I had to work that out for starters, and that was before trying to account on the pattern for bumpy body bits !
Its given me a headache to be fair. So as much as I desire all your suggestions for improvements I cant bring myself to photograph the muslin selection as yet.
Lets just say I was more than a little proud of myself for getting rid of the busty lady's armhole gape ! Its amazing how easy it was. I think I will share my before and after pattern pieces with you as its incredible the amount of changes that I have had to make. Let me know if you wnat me to share how to get rid of the gape - it really is super easy !
In other news I FINALLY printed off the Sorbetto and will be making a version of that probably at the weekend, I need something simple to play with now as this dress making is HARD.
I have also loved lurking all of your MMM posts ! You lot are one big massive talented bunch !
I have not had much time to sew this last couple of weeks as I been busy with my science degree and work ! And really some of my current clients are doing their best to zap every ounce of positivity from my usually supremely positive body ! THEY are also giving me a massive headache !
Still, only a couple more sleeps til the weekend, you cant say fairer than that !
K xxx
So, I have been working on the bodice muslin for a new dress and have made 6, 6!!!!! muslins ! The pattern didnt go to my size, so I had to work that out for starters, and that was before trying to account on the pattern for bumpy body bits !
Its given me a headache to be fair. So as much as I desire all your suggestions for improvements I cant bring myself to photograph the muslin selection as yet.
Lets just say I was more than a little proud of myself for getting rid of the busty lady's armhole gape ! Its amazing how easy it was. I think I will share my before and after pattern pieces with you as its incredible the amount of changes that I have had to make. Let me know if you wnat me to share how to get rid of the gape - it really is super easy !
In other news I FINALLY printed off the Sorbetto and will be making a version of that probably at the weekend, I need something simple to play with now as this dress making is HARD.
I have also loved lurking all of your MMM posts ! You lot are one big massive talented bunch !
I have not had much time to sew this last couple of weeks as I been busy with my science degree and work ! And really some of my current clients are doing their best to zap every ounce of positivity from my usually supremely positive body ! THEY are also giving me a massive headache !
Still, only a couple more sleeps til the weekend, you cant say fairer than that !
K xxx
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Pay it forward !
Hello beautiful people !
I have really enjoyed lurking the first day of MMM, you lot are a talented bunch ! Well jel.
So, I just saw this amazing idea over at Marie's place and basically the first 3 comments on this blog will receive a handmade gift from me (its a surprise !) which I will send to you at some stage over the next 365 days. :-))
In order to play you need to:
Leave me a comment, (and your email address if you are not linked back) letting me know what colours you love (or hate !).
You also have to play along by posting something similar to the above and agreeing to make something for the first 3 people who comment !
What a brilliant idea !!
I am IN !
Hopefully some of you lot want to play along too !
K xxx
Friday, 27 April 2012
Burda Style May 2012
Friends,
Well well well, seems I forgot to show you my April picks !
Oh well, May more than makes up for my previous sloppiness !! There are some beauties this month.
Without further ado lets see some of what May has to offer. As always these are just my own picks.
I need ALL of these !
The source for all these lovely images can be found here
There are quite a few beauties in the May issue, but I will leave you to make the discoveries for yourself :-)
I pretty much love this whole 'plus' collection, and really hope to gather up the courage to try and sew the middle dress up, it really is an absolute beaut, and would be very flattering I reckon !
There is no other news today, I have been too busy trying to study. I say trying as I don't seem to be able to muster up any motivation at the minute as my head is chock full with thoughts of sewing ! :-/
I hope you all have much more enthusiasm for whatever you are doing right now ! :-)
K xxx
Well well well, seems I forgot to show you my April picks !
Oh well, May more than makes up for my previous sloppiness !! There are some beauties this month.
Without further ado lets see some of what May has to offer. As always these are just my own picks.
I need ALL of these !
The source for all these lovely images can be found here
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| Love both the skirt AND the top. Gert Lush |
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| I NEED THIS DRESS |
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| Pretty gypsy style bodice on this dress. LOVE. |
I pretty much love this whole 'plus' collection, and really hope to gather up the courage to try and sew the middle dress up, it really is an absolute beaut, and would be very flattering I reckon !
There is no other news today, I have been too busy trying to study. I say trying as I don't seem to be able to muster up any motivation at the minute as my head is chock full with thoughts of sewing ! :-/
I hope you all have much more enthusiasm for whatever you are doing right now ! :-)
K xxx
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
I got the blues
Hello !
So, I snapped some pics of my latest make, let me introduce the 'I got the blues' skirt ! (BTW I don't have the blues, but I could not think of another natty title containing the word 'blue' :-)
Drumroll please, its Frankenstein skirt version 5 ! (I REALLY need to start sewing something different, but I wear these skirts pretty much every day).
I have inadvertently 'stash busted' in the making of this skirt, using a dark indigo denim with a bit of 'give' in it. I bought the fabric when I first started to sew clothing and bought FAR TOO MUCH. Like 5 meters or something else equally ridiculous. I have made this skirt, and a dress with it, and sill have enough to make the same again.
Thank god I learned how much fabric I actually need for a project, otherwise this sewing marlarky would have bankrupted me !
This skirt is much more tapered at the side seams than previous versions to give more of a classic pencil shape (with NO room to walk), and as such I had to add a vent. I used Sunni's excellent tutorial to add a vent to my un-vented pattern piece and I must say that I am super pleased with the result, but I think next time I may make a longer vent. I am such a hussy.
I did not line this denim in any way as it didn't need it. I also didn't pretty up the hem. This was a fast and dirty make. I even machine sewed in the zip.
I used a fabulous method, I basically used sellotape to mark out totally straight lines the same width apart from the zipper. Using these as a guide I top-stitched the zip on.
I did catch stitch the hem, but this type of hand sewing never feels a chore to me.
In other news I have not progressed with my pyjamas as I hate the fabric so ! I may look at them again in the next couple of days, but I am considering starting over and using cotton. In fact I am just sat here thinking brushed cotton now, rather than silk !
I hope you have all had a wonderful week so far.
I ask myself if I should be making another Frankenstein skirt - now where is that Babooshka fabric ?
Love,
K xxx
So, I snapped some pics of my latest make, let me introduce the 'I got the blues' skirt ! (BTW I don't have the blues, but I could not think of another natty title containing the word 'blue' :-)
Drumroll please, its Frankenstein skirt version 5 ! (I REALLY need to start sewing something different, but I wear these skirts pretty much every day).
 |
| Oh Dear Another 'smug' look I cant help it ! I LOVE this skirt |
I have inadvertently 'stash busted' in the making of this skirt, using a dark indigo denim with a bit of 'give' in it. I bought the fabric when I first started to sew clothing and bought FAR TOO MUCH. Like 5 meters or something else equally ridiculous. I have made this skirt, and a dress with it, and sill have enough to make the same again.
Thank god I learned how much fabric I actually need for a project, otherwise this sewing marlarky would have bankrupted me !
This skirt is much more tapered at the side seams than previous versions to give more of a classic pencil shape (with NO room to walk), and as such I had to add a vent. I used Sunni's excellent tutorial to add a vent to my un-vented pattern piece and I must say that I am super pleased with the result, but I think next time I may make a longer vent. I am such a hussy.
 |
| This vent helps when I am trying to climb up into the cab of my campervan |
I used a fabulous method, I basically used sellotape to mark out totally straight lines the same width apart from the zipper. Using these as a guide I top-stitched the zip on.
I did catch stitch the hem, but this type of hand sewing never feels a chore to me.
In other news I have not progressed with my pyjamas as I hate the fabric so ! I may look at them again in the next couple of days, but I am considering starting over and using cotton. In fact I am just sat here thinking brushed cotton now, rather than silk !
I hope you have all had a wonderful week so far.
I ask myself if I should be making another Frankenstein skirt - now where is that Babooshka fabric ?
Love,
K xxx
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