Monday 19 July 2010

Scary Pattern sewing!!!

I am venturing into the unknown with a new project. Fed up of trying to find a Maxi skirt that  looks nice, is made of black Jersey, is Long enough for my 5"11 height yet fits me well, I have decided to make my own. Now I'm not stupid, and I know how one is made, I can pretty much work it out for myself, however, as it is my 1st dip into the clothes making world, I thought buying a pattern would be wise.

The sort of look I am going for!!!

So off to my local Fabric Land I went and looked through their MASSIVE amount of catalogues and chose a cheap-ish, very simple type of skirt. I chose a Kwick Sew pattern and am following the directions!!!

I'm going for skirt A!!!

I bought the prescribed amount of black jersey material, it appears to beWAY too much. But I'm only at the cutting stage, I guess if it all goes wrong I can always make a new one...or a top or something!!! Anyway...photos of the progress and outcome to come later this week, maybe even tomorrow!!!

Friday 16 July 2010

Wedding Bouquets!!



A very good, and very lovely friend of mine, Ani Smith married Pete Taylor on  the VERY VERY hot Saturday the 22nd of May, in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. As my lovely sister was bridesmaid and she was back over from America I also spent the week helping out with wedding organising and creating. The wedding reception was in a beautiful hall in an amazing little 'Jane Austin' type village, and so the theme came quite naturally as a country garden party. Complete with many, many metres of bunting, fairy lights, a hog roast, oodles of flowers, garden games, cup cakes, cricket on the village green and vintage tea cups for all the ladies.
For my part, and the reason for the post, is that the day before the wedding, we were setting up the flowers for the tables, when Ani came in, and (I hope she doesn't mind me saying) had a minor meltdown (every bride is allowed an odd few of these) because the flowers she had orders for the tables and for the bridesmaids bouquets were sooooo much nicer than what she had ordered for her own. These were going to be just plain cream roses in a hand tied bunch, but it woiuld have looked very insignificant next to ALL the other beautiful flowers which included AMAZING peonies, cream and antique yellow roses, stocks, anenomes, ranunculus and cornflowers.
SO, I offered to make her a bouquet up quickly to see if it was more of what she had dreamed of for her own bouquet and yes, (with a few more tears) the decision was made. I would make the bouquets for Ani and her 5 bridemaids. Now, I have done this before, my Mum has done the flowers for ALOT of weddings and I have helped her with those, but I am by no means an expert. But I am putting up the photos cause I am really pleased with how they came out, although, it is mainly due to the flowers Ani chose, rather than my skills.
So here it is in detail,
Pink Peonies in the centre, Blue cornflowers, Red Anemones, cream and yellow roses and there are some white ranunculus, hidden near the base!!!

The handle was tied with cream organza ribbon (from a lovely florist shop who SAVED the day) and then some beautiful cream trimming which Ani had bought to go on small jam jars on the tables. They were secured with cream headed pins.

The Bridesmaids bouquets all had a central peonie, and then cream and yellow roses, white ranunculus and blue cornflowers. The handles were tied with cream organza ribbon and secured with pearl headed pins.

Photos by the lovely and talented Mr.Paul O'Connor. Also an old friend, please contact me if you would like his contact details. 

Thursday 15 July 2010

Tri - Quilt finished and ready to be sold!!!


Sooooooooo here she is, my latest creation, I finished her a few days go, but life seems to be speeding by and I can't keep up!!! But I finally bought some binding (actually it was given to me by a lovely lady from the Brighton Sewing Machine Centre because it wasn't quite what I wanted) and sewed it on and here it is...perfect for a cot, or play mat for someone...


Made from 100% cotton, 52x65 cms, machine washable, can be personalised with names and dates...
£25.00 send me an email or leave me a comment if you are interested.