I've had a very busy sewing day today. Firstly I was working on a custom order,then I altered the wrap blouse I made the other day to be more flattering. I added darts and used the belt to make ties at the side. You'll have to just believe me that it looks better on than it did,because I might break the camera if I take a photo of myself today.
Then I made another lunchbag,this time for India and using fleece as an insulating layer. I used fleece simply because I have rather a lot of it,and India is pleased with it. I think it's a touch too bulky,and prefer the one I made me with heavyweight interfacing.Though I might buy some insul brite if I make any more.
I am pondering adding a tutorial for the lunch bags to the blog if anyone is interested? I took pics today as I went along,so I could add one tomorrow.
I also finally got to grips with the rolled hem on my overlocker and ran up some napkins and some hankies. I used some Indian cotton fat quarters I've had in my stash for some time.
Phew! That's it for today.
I'm not a great knitter,but I finished this today. Made from this pattern.
Not so exciting this time. I've finally got around to listing the XS and S nappies for sale in my store,but these two have slight faults on them.
The seahorse print nappy is size medium,100% cotton outer,and 100% cotton velour lining with 100% hemp fleece soaker layers. Snap fastening. Only problem is I forgot to add the back waist elastic,so I've added a couple of extra snaps at the front,and it will work just fine.
The ABC nappy is size XS,perfect for a little newborn or for a baby doll. 100% cotton outer,100% cotton velour lining and 100% hemp fleece soaker layers. Snap fastening. This one has a slight stitching fault.
So,if you'd like these nappies just leave me a comment,tell me what your fave saturday afternoon activity is,and using random.org I'll pick a winner on Monday at 6pm.
My fave Saturday afternoon activity is curling up on the sofa and watching a jolly good old movie. I don't get to do that too often,but today I'm making an exception and going to watch "Move Over Darling" with the lovely Doris Day.
Congratulations Flossy,you win the Zidee podeagi giveaway.
If you would email me jeanette@tiddlybums.co.uk with your addressI'll pop the podeagi in the post on Monday.
I used random.org to pick a winner for those interested.
Urgghhh,and I hate no pics on a post....
tuppence a bag..
I had that song in my head the whole time I was sewing up this lunchbag for me.
This time I used these gorgeous fabrics from Cicada Studio,and made a co ordinating napkin.
I spotted the cutest fabric lunch bags on Etsy earlier,and as Eden's current lunch bag is full of holes,I thought I'd have a go at making her a similar one. This took only 30 mins to run up including the time we spent choosing the fabrics. 
I've used Japanese cotton lined with heavyweight calico. I haven't insulated this one,but might make a slightly larger one for India with a stabiliser/insulating layer.
Really not sure about this. DH says it looks nicer in real life,and with my head on. I'm just not sure..
The pattern is from Burdastyle, the lovely Kim from Spoonflower sent me the link after I admired the blouse she made from the pattern.
Wrap styles usually flatter my curvy figure,but this is slightly different in that it has a seperate tie belt.
I dunno, "sack o'spuds tied in the middle" springs to mind...
Well very nearly! A few bits of touching up to do,and flooring to finish,but it's a whole lot better than it was.
This pic was taken from the dining room,so you can see the archway.
I'll be honest the paint job on the cupboards isn't as good as I'd hoped,but I think I can live with it.
Note the lightshade in drawing room fabric to match the dining room curtains. I just need to make a new tea cosy and oven mitt,possibly an apron too.
Today we had fun getting lost in a maize maze. we've never been to one before and were not sure what to expect. We got there early expecting rain,but the sun came out and it turned into a lovely day.
we are already planning a trip back there next year,when hopefully Sid will be up to walking the whole way.
Still painting the kitchen,pics tomorrow.
I think I may be addicted to Spoonflower. I just ordered a yard of this design. It's a large print,the flower heads are about 3 1/2 " across.
I really ordered a yard to see how it works before I do some more work with this theme,but if it works out I'm thinking it might become part of a winter bag.
Oh and on the subject of spoonflower check out Petchy's blog. She's got a freebie design to download and get spoonflowered,and is thinking of selling designs in the future too.
I've been super busy this weekend trying to finish decorating my kitchen,I've painted the walls,and half of the cupboards...need to buy more paint today. Though first we are off to a maize maze with the children,I think we'll need wellies and raincoats!
Pics to follow.
PS, don't forget my Zidee Podeagi giveaway.
This pod ( well it's twin to be absolutely correct ) was featured at this years Summer Sling Show,fashion show. I was rather surprised to have it returned to me this week,I had thought it might be raffled at the show,but anyway their loss is my readers gain cos I'm giving it away!
Now this could be scary,I might have such a teeny tiny response to this give away that I'll have to go and cry in a dark corner of my work space.
The pod is a standard size Zidee,the blanket is made with gorgeous japanese cotton reversing to pewter dupion silk.The straps and headrest are aubergine corduroy,and I'll stitch on one of my lovely new labels before I ship it off to the lucky winner.
So, leave me a comment,and tell me what made you smile today.
I'll use a random number generator to pick the winner,unless there's only two of you then I'll do eeny meeny ...
I'll draw the winner next Friday 29th August .
ETA: I forgot to say what made me smile today; it was seeing the latest video from spoonflower on their blog,that dancing made me smile.
I'm really very pleased with these. I wasn't sure how they would work out. The colours are more muted than my original design,but I like them.
Obviously they have to be cut out to be sewn on,and as I only received them today I haven't tried that out yet,but I don't forsee any problems.
I will be ordering more.
I love Spoonflower!!
I haven't made this many nappies in one go for ages! All of these were made today, sixteen nappies. Some are for a friend ( yes Rachel if you are reading I finally made them! ) ,and the rest will probably go in my Etsy shop which has been sadly neglected for the past 18 months or so.
Weirdly I kinda enjoyed making these,maybe because I haven't made any for such a long time. I don't plan to start selling lots again though,and anyway I'm now pretty much out of nappy making fabrics!
Now to put on the snaps....
I've hung on to this painting for some time,it's unfinished,and a bit of a muddle,but there are elements I still like,so today I had a play,and came up with a few ideas.
Really a work in progress,but here's what I've been up to today.
Florals printed on felt and silk:
I think I'm going to hand embroider/stitch some detail into the felt ones,maybe keep them in embroidery hoops. Not sure yet.
I got a couple of repeat patterns finished.
And I had a play printing these on paper,handmade paper,silk and cotton.
Apologies for the quality of the pics,the light was fading fast when I took them.
Today I have been taking advantage of the sunny weather to work on my bellycast.
This was cast when I was pregnant with Sid,and has sat in storage for over three years while I decided what to do with it. It was rather battered and a bit thin,so Woody suggested I strengthen it with car filler. The car filler has worked wonderfully well,and I now have a much sturdier cast that I can sand down and paint ready to hang above our loft stairs.
Just need to decide what to paint. I have a few ideas,but nothing certain yet.
We had a long and busy day out with the children yesterday,by the end Sid was exhausted.I had a pod in my bag just in case and so it was time for a ride on Daddy's back.
This pod was one of the first I made,there have been a couple of design changes since then,but it still works nicely.
Today was a day for inspiration,and good company. I spent the day with two friends at the Tate Gallery in Liverpool,at the Gustav Klimt exhibition.
Bought more trim,and now it's finished.
Loving the fit of my spoonflower skirt,I thought I'd make another with this Ikea cotton print.
I used a different finish and trim on the pockets this time.
This ribbon was found in a bargain bin in Hobbycraft,sadly there isn't enough left to trim the hem of the skirt,but I'm going to pop in there tomorrow to see if I can find some more.
This skirt is a bargain all in all, the cotton was only £1.59 a metre,and I used about 2 1/2 metres,and the ribbon was £1.99 for three reels.
I am so pleased with this,made with my spoonflower fabric from a Japanese pattern.
The pockets are trimmed with satin bias binding,and the hem is trimmed with grossgrain ribbon.
Finally I have finished the big sort out in our loft,and have even managed to buy frames for these lovely prints from Amy Schimler.
I've even found a more practical space for my pencils ,brushes and sketchbooks,so might even get some drawing done this summer.
And how about this lovely necklace that arrived today?
The result of my Etsy shopping spree on Saturday.
I love a good cupboard clear out,and this week with Woody off work I've been having a jolly good tidy of our loft and my craft space.
Woody has hung new rails in our wardrobe space,which has created lots more space for fabric...yay!
My printed/pattern fabrics were all in an underbed storage basket,but I much prefer this,I can see at a glance what I have...it also looks a lot less this way!
I've even re organised my scraps into small colour coded boxes.
I've also sorted all my jewellery by simply pinning it to my fabric covered notice boards behind my desk. I like to look at all the sparkliness while I work,and it's so much easier now to wear a different necklace everyday.
I used these cute heart headed pins,aren't they sweet?
I got them from here.
Now I've got to pass on the award to seven others....lets have a think about that. (Oh yes and being the techy dunce I am,it may take me a while to figure out how to add the little award logo here!)
Now do i make a new cover for my little craft ironing board too?
I still haven't found a label for my podeagi that I'm 100% happy with. I started out embroidering and piecing each label from silk and cotton scraps,but that became horribly time consuming,so I temporarily switched to bought generic labels,then some printed ones,but I'm not really happy with those either.
Still not feeling well enough to do much except shop on Etsy,I decided I should try and have a go at designing some labels myself.
I'm not a graphic designer (as you can clearly see),but not having the funds to employ one (and I guess I could just nip next door to my graphic designer neighbour,we were at art college together many years ago!) I have little choice than to at least have a go.
This is my attempt,each label measures 2x4" and I've ordered a fat quarter of them from spoonflower. I hope they'll print ok...we'll just have to wait and see.....
I'm so excited,we have baby courgettes. Our veg growing has been severely hampered by bad weather and slugs this year,but lookie,we have baby courgettes !!
Fabric cuffs are cool amongst my daughters friends! Who knew? This matching cuff and headband are a gift for India's friend who is having a summer party tomorrow. India went off to another friends this morning leaving me instructions to make them in time for tomorrow. Not as easy as it sounds since I've been fighting a losing battle with some nasties and a fever for the past two days.
Since I was at the sewing machine anyway,and Eden was so helpful today (she sorted out my buttons,trims and elastic boxes.) I whipped one up for her too.
