socialite? moi?

I feel a little sheepish - the week I host the slow blogger linky party and I am blogging more than usual.  That's just the way it rolls I guess.  And I am just stoked at my latest  (almost) finish, my first for the me me me bee.  Using the AMH Socialite dress pattern I have had for a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ages, I made my first ever top....

I still need to hem it

Here's the thing...it's got no sleeves and it's brown so it's not my usual type of thing.  Obviously it will only be worn with a cardigan. And the colours mean that it could be a cardigan in a number of hues. #result.  It's not finished yet...I still have to hem it (I'm thinking just lower than my hips - sort of a short tunic) and "serge" the seams.  I was planning to do French seams but chickened out last minute and regret that a bit. The gathering around the neckline could have been better. It is so not perfect but I learned heaps making it, like I need to be patient when I cut out, that I'm pretty good at free cutting with a rotary cutter (again slow and steady), that my seam accuracy needs some work, that pinning, pinning, pinning is the way forward.  Och, and loads of other stuff. I could have fussy cut the fabric for the neck line maybe. Oh, and it rammed home how untidy I am as a creative person. There is sh*t everywhere.

I am in love with it, even though it's a teeny bit nippit* and Laughing Boy is less than enthusiastic about it. I am eternally grateful to lovely Di for "lending" me her steam a seam stuff (meant to be for my weekender bag *blush*) which I used to help finish the neckline seams neat and tidy. And, it has made me feel that I can work on stuff for other people this week without being grumpy about it - kind of taking the pressure off - which makes it a win-win AND is totally what the me me me bee is all about  :).  I'm off to sew a kettleboiler label into my new top and plan my school house tunic *wanders off, dazed with delight*

* nippit - Scottish for a little snug

care to join me?

Following yesterday's blog post and some of the lovely comments it has received, I am starting a new Bee!  *ducks head to miss biatch slap*  Hear me out.  This is a Bee with a difference...

here's the link to the Flickr Group

The rules of this bee are simple.  Join up as and when you want, plan to make something for yourself, something that you want to make... not for anyone else.... just made by you for you. A big thing or a small thing, it's up to you.  Do this as little or as often as you need to keep the sewing goddesses happy - a little bit of selfish sewing to redress the balance. If you'd like, we could have a linky party every couple of months or so (now I know how to do it!) and I'm thinking of a little giveaway now and then too.

So...care to join me?

slow, slow, quick, quick, slow....

A big thank you to Catherine for letting me host this month's slow blogger linky party.  As you may know, Catherine champions those of us who are being creative but perhaps at a more relaxed pace to others.  I remember, when I first started blogging, feeling that I couldn't keep up with many of the inspirational people I was following who were so productive all the time.  Of course, it's not a race but sometimes it's good to take the pressure off and remember that life will do its best to butt in and mess up the "To Do" list and that that's ok.  I go through periods of hectic (well hectic for me!) activity often followed by fallow times where I'd rather hang out on the couch with Laughing Boy (football permitting, obvs.) or need to clear the decks.  I like to think I'm on a foxtrot vibe (complete with wafty dress and Hollywood hair!)

I am still in April time in my head (and my To Do list) and can't quite believe it's mid May already!  This week, I am rushing to catch up with bee blocks.  My MIL gave me a thorough telling off last week, complaining that I keep "playing around" with the odd block here and there when I should be creating wonderous things. In some ways she is right, I have over committed myself to Bees and swaps this year. But I do love them and they do push me out of my comfort zone, which is no bad thing.  Of course, it does mean that I often don't sew for myself or get the chance to finish (or even start!) big things like quilts.  So I am on the Bee/swap wagon for the rest of the year - no new sign ups, honest guv'.  You have permission to biatch slap me if you see me sidling up to any new ones, ok?

Hopefully, this means I'll soon get a chance to dive into this pile of loveliness and start making some summer tops....

well they are summery for me!

What are you up to this month? Anything for summer?

around the world, around the world...

... I am in the Daft Punk zone right now!  I am Juliette Lewis!!  Ahem.... wrong song you numpty....where was I?

I've finally cleared the decks of my outstanding Quilts Around The World II bee blocks and I am one relieved bunny that's for sure.

First up, Marian who wanted a limited palette of grey, light blue and yellow and here's what she got...

evening time photo, sorry

I had to use the seam ripper a couple times, because of my cack handedness but I'm chuffed how it turned out.  I wish I'd been a little more fussy cut minded with the middle pebbles though.  Anyway, here are Marian's blocks so far...

pretty cool, huh?

Then it was onto the lovely Joan (who is one of my inspirations so I was so pleased that we ended up in this bee together). She wanted stars in a green/blue on white style and she's a paper piecing queen so I had to do another PP star, which was a pleasure....

one of the Lucky Star blocks

I cheated a little by adding some architextures in the background so I hope Joan likes it.  Her quilt is doing to be fab - here are her blocks so far...

wowsers!

And finally, Anita wanted a global neighbourhood - such a neat idea.  But this kind of block is so out of my comfort zone so I was dreading this one a little.  No option but to dive in, right?  Well, here's how that went....

still needs a good iron, obvs.

I'm not sure it's quite finished yet.  I think it might need a little zhush in the sky area.  I based the house on one of Elizabeth Oh Fransson's blocks from her Modern Patchwork book.  Here are her blocks so far....

a fun collection

The rest of this week is all about bee blocks too.  Modern Mavericks up next.....after I finish dancing like a robot...

lunch is for wimps

I can always tell how my morning has gone wit the wee man by the carnage left when he goes for his lunchtime nap.  Despite having gone out to that toddler group, it looks like a whirlwind has torn through the house and the wee man has been put to bed with no lunch.  I was making lunch but it all became too much for him and he declared himself outta here!  So the house is now quiet and I thought I'd pop in to say hi before having a stiff drink strong coffee.

No sewing of any note this week as my dad came to stay for a long weekend.  It was lovely to have him and the wee man adores him so I don't mind sewing paying the price.  He did, however, provide two great sewing moments. Firstly, he brought me this....

My mum's sewing machine - a Singer Silver Model 2000. So now I am the proud owner of two machines - it feels like a rite of passage somehow ;).  I took it to Tanya's on Wednesday night for Stitching It Together and worked out how to use it (still working out the button hole maker).  Top loading bobbin...love!

He also bought me this....

a foldaway picnic / card table cheap as chips from Morrisons

...so no more cutting out on the floor. Huzzah! And we managed to sneak it past Laughing Boy with a pretence that it was useful at BBQs (he wasn't fooled!).

Then yesterday after a super long day at work marking assignments until my eyes bed, I came home to a parcel from my Modern She Made 3 swap partner, who turned out to be the lovely Jennie from Jennie's Threads.  I whooped with complete joy when I opened it all up and found these beauties....

not one, but TWO tear&share bags of skittles. Squeee!

Jennie stalked me to perfection...a cushion cover to die for, with pieces of architexture and pieced stars (and a beautiful back too...)

Two bags of my favourite Skittles AND a Melody Miller needle case.  I mean...me to an absolute T.  Love love love!  I am so lucky. Jennie is a genius!

I'm hoping to get back on the sewing horse this weekend if I manage to get through the rest of today unscathed! 

May Day

Well, how fast has May come round this year?  We've got a special visitor coming to stay over the bank holiday weekend and I've only just realised that it's this weekend.  Eeek!  *mad tidy up will have to ensue soon*  The visit will also put a kibosh on any sewing but that's OK, he's worth it :).

April wasn't as full of finishes as I'd hoped, partly because of a trip home at the start of the month and my satisfying a hankering to hang out with Laughing Boy of an evening.  But it did bring some fab sewing moments - the weekender bag workshop with the EMMQG ladies and the FQR Kinky Bee meet up certainly fed my sewing appetite and continued to prove that quilty people are just fabulous.  So here's what April ended up looking like...

I finished and gifted Charlie's quilt (huzzah!), bee blocks for the Kinky Bumblies and the QATWII ladies, some clothes for the wee man (from scratch and a bit zhushed) and a mega sewing pouch (or two -shhh!).  Oh and I sandwiched and basted Rory's quilt, cut out most of my weekender bag and got half way through this bee block..

for Marian (QATWII)

Hmmm...worried about the half finished stuff piling up. And it's bee blocks agogo on the To Do list. May is gonna be busy!

 

Linking to Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilts

breenging in*

Having spent a simply marvellous Saturday in London with some of the FQR Kinky Bees (and the odd interloper) and Sunday afternoon trying to persuade the wee man to share his toys with his friends (there were tears and not just from the little people!), I knew I had to buckle down this week to get stuff done.  And that I had to put plans hatched in London on hold for a wee while (#sob)...

AMH linen schoolhouse tunic - can I make it in time for the FQ Retreat?

First up, I have 4 sets of blocks for the QATWII that I need to get moving as soon as. So my plan is to get them all done this week but to send them on one at a time so as to get the loops moving again.  A random choice and Moni's pinwheels and stars set was up first.  My block was number 13...

not quite what was envisioned but it works I think

I had a plan and, as usual, breenged in rather than being fully prepared so my block design didn't quite go to plan but the final block looks ok.  Here are all the blocks so far...

lovely and bright set so far

Not sure whose blocks are up for action tonight....another random choice to be made and hopefully tackled with a little more forward planning #nochance.

Then I realised that I need to get my Modern She Made 3 swap stuff in the mail.  I made the cushion yonks ago but needed to finish off the wee mindings to go with it....

mega sewing pouch (making Rebecca Lynn)

with the cushion and some chocolate (forgot the fat quarter)

The finished pouch is about 15.5" tall and 11.5" wide and so should hold patterns too.  I think I need to make myself one!  Onwards and upwards!

*breenging in: Scottish for plunging in recklessly - love it!