Lilys House

one down.....

....the other to finish. It's all made up but I'm attempting some embroidery....we shall see how it turns out ;)

This was pretty easy to make actually. I used part of a pattern I had for the top and just cut a nice wide skirt to gather for the bottom half. I'm pleased with the way the scalloped edge worked at the hem. I did have a little bit of trouble when the machine decided it wasn't going to play ball with the buttonholes but we got there in the end after much swearing and exasperation. I found some pretty pale blue trim that my Mum had given me (and had used on my clothes I think), so that tied in nicely with the vintagey feel.

She likes it too, most importantly. Satisfaction !

new nighties

Managed to score a lovely small, cotton sheet for 50p. One edge is scalloped and I'll use this as the hem for one of the nighties. I need to get these made to tempt Maddie away from the nasty sweaty, synthetic, red affair she insists on wearing !

Bit of retro embroidery will look rather cute too, don't you think ? Hope to get these finished over the weekend...

a twirling skirt

Trousers are the norm here most of the time. Dog walks, mud and ('til recently) cold, all cry out for warm and cosy legs. Maddie has a couple of favourite skirts, of the full and twirly variety and these are always brought out hopefully and laid before me. She is just such a nature girl and loves getting her legs and feet out.
Since discovering trouser making I've made a couple of pairs for the warmer weather (not finished off yet so no show and tell for now.) Remembering the skirt preference and halting myself before too many pairs of trousers flew off the machine, I decided to make her this from the only pattern book I own (are you getting bored with this book yet ?) to balance it out a bit. Lovely and full and a bit more challenging to make.
The bizarre thing is, I get on better not being able to read the instructions. The diagrams are good and if I'm not sure I just look more carefully and logically and the way becomes clear. Previous dressmaking adventures using normal paper patterns just confused me. It's like I didn't understand the language. Give me a diagram anytime.
I was hoping to get some pics of it being worn but that is just not going to happen today. Maddie has to be in the right mood to 'model'......as I said, not today ;)
(she just saw me previewing this post and shouted and pointed "my pretty skirt again".....so I know it will be worn......the seal of approval - phew!)

looks uneven but it's just the way it's hanging

pocket detail

I'm off for a few days from tomorrow, visiting family, so see you next week!

new cushions...

The old cover was the most gorgeous 70's animal design but sadly had seen too much wear and tear, splitting all over the place. I bought this wonderful fabric at least 6 months ago to make a new one... but you know how it is. Anyway it's done. The flip side is the classic pink M&S sheet from years ago. I came across a glut of this design in various colours last year. Harrys bed further down is the yellow heavyweight curtain version. Very jazzy for such a laid back hound.

I was going to do both sides the same but as I was measuring out it struck me that it would be fun for her to be able to choose which side she wants on display......and then I'd have spare fabric for something else, (cute pair of summer trousers coming to this space soon!).
........

Harry had one of those huge plastic beds. It was constantly in the way. Knowing that the soft squishy beds are super expensive (been there, done that..until a nasty turn forced it's disposal...), I decided to make my own. I just bought one of those cheapo duvets, folded it in quarters and put a few stitches round the edge to stop slippage. Whipped up a cover from a suitably robust fabric and hey presto....new bed for under a fiver. I put a zip in for easy removal and washing. I'm pleased with myself - can you tell !! It's much more groovetastic than the boring old pet shop versions and I can kick it under the sofa when I need it out of the way - perfect.

Only one problem though...the blinking cats have totally taken it over and Harry is not a very forceful chap, he just stands there unsure what to do, looking all hurt. Still there's still the sofa eh Harry ? (not quite what I had in mind..)

sun and showers

Pretty much sums up the weekend. Bizarre weather......from this ..

(new togs courtesy of Girly Style Wardrobe again. As you can tell I'm in love with this book..)

and this..

(note swimming costume over a thick dress...she looked like superman with bulging pecs. I just let her get on with it ;)

to this....

in the space of about half an hour . And back and forth and back and forth all weekend.

Those kids were so excited and stood outside collecting all the 'snow', which is now in lumps in the freezer ...... this may seem like small fry to any of you coming out of a severe winter, but to us snow starved individuals it was like Christmas so to speak. Very sad I know....
If you click on the pic you will also notice Maddie taking advantage of my distraction and helping herself to the scrapings out of the rice pudding tin... No sharp edges involved you'll be pleased to know.

There has been quite a bit more 'making' going on too, nothing fantastically exciting, just some practical stuff. You know, the more 'boring' sewing. Will take some pics and show soon. Don't die of anticipation ;)

I've been playing with my new 'toy'. Well not really new..It was given to me (I mean loaned, Dad..) back last summer and to be honest I was too scared of it to try it. How very silly I was. This thing ROCKS baby !!
There was a learning curve to be sure, one I have not completed yet - but still, the potential...my sewing life has suddenly become a lot easier and that can't be bad. Can you spot it, on the end of the table ?

I know it drives Nick bonkers but I love the fact that the kitchen table has hair straighteners (Lilys new toy...at 10...I ask you..bought with birthday money so don't blame me) toys, overlocker, sewing stuff etc. It's us. We do manage to be tidy too but it was Sunday morning, so don't judge to harshly !

The childrens Easter break is upon us and that means, most importantly, no school run, breakfast and dressing panic, shouting and stressing to get out of the house. Two weeks of pure heaven.

oooooh...my back.....

has totally given out !
I'm standing at the kitchen counter right now...standing still seems to be the least painful but I know I've got to move around to loosen it up a bit. I absolutley can't bend without shrieking, so that's the dishwasher out then - there is a plus side!
The first warning twinge was yesterday whilst in the loft doing some stupid stretch, twist and reach action, searching through bags of Lilys old clothes for summer dresses to fit Maddie (I'm going early....now I've had a glimpse of sun I want more). It passed off and I forgot about it. This morning whilst wiping mud off the dog it went completely, numb leg, feeling sick etc. I was stranded outside of the car, Maddie inside, peeing rain, mobile of course left handily at home. Gawd knows how we got home, mind over matter. But we did. I sort of threw myself backwards into the car half screaming and half holding my breath. I'm laughing as I write, thinking of what the hell I must have looked like, so don't feel too sorry for me ;) Then drove home at 10 mph like some 90 yr old.
A lovely friend will help me out with the pre school run and poor Nick is on his way back from work, luckily he was owed a half day.

I'm more annoyed than anything else as I really wanted to work on some more little outfits for Maddie, bought the material and everything ....had a little photo session yesterday..

and I guess I should show you the dresses from the loft....my Grandmother (Mama I call her)..made these for Lily ...I can't believe Maddie will be in them this summer...

There are many more too and hopefully with the things I make her, she will be able to wear mostly handmade this summer and that really warms my heart, especially as Mamas dresses will be in use again.

Apologies if I haven't responded to any comments left here, ....I'll try and catch up over the weekend. I think blogging is going to have to go on a back burner (pad pun !)..till I get back on my feet so to speak.

Happy weekend !

a little outfit

Girly Style Wardrobe

I think I'm the last one to the ball in terms of raving over this book. I got it from Ebay and it's my only Japanese book. Oh, I just remembered I do have another with gorgeous embroidery ideas....but as far as sewing goes, this is it. I purchased it solely on strength of the too cute photos, I'm ashamed to admit.......
After doing a lot of reading or rather working out how the things are put together from the diagrams, I decided on this little dress

it may even be a top...it came out pretty short, so I added another few inches on afterwards, cleverly disguised by the braid. ( I may well have traced the wrong bit from the pattern...my eyes were going mighty funny by the time I had finished...millions of lines and Japanese writing, with me desperately searching for the ones that related to 'r', my pattern letter). Still I am truly pleased with the result. It was actually very easy to make. Despite my confusion regarding the tracing and cutting (that's just me, not the books fault), the little diagrams are very straight forward, guiding you through every step. If you've had a little dressmaking experience I'm sure its easy peasy. I'm a newbie in this field and I managed. I think I could have matched up the pattern a little better for the front, now I know how the dress works I may be able to manage that next time. The cross over pieces are cut separately from the bottom half and it didn't even occur to me to check that the pattern vaguely carried over from one to the other. It's not an issue though, just something I'm now aware of.
There is a lovely piece written about using Japanese sewing books over at Thought and Thimble with some great links to suppliers and other useful resources. Amy has also had some fun with this book (told you I was bringing up the rear!) and has some glimpses into other books too.

She likes it ! Any worries I had about it being too boxy were quelled once it was on

I'm definitely going to make more and may even branch out and make one of the other dresses... (steady, girl.....)

As for other news...I'm just getting over the headache from hell that hit me on Friday , the most piercing, stabbing affair where I had to keep my head
c o m p l e t e l y s t i l l , coupled with full body pain. It felt like thousands of tiny needles were being pushed in all over...truly ghastly. No doubt some hideous variation of the flu thats going round. It goes without saying that life continued as normal around me..yelling, screeching, crashing and banging....but I did get lots of kisses for my poorly head from Mads in between bouts of noise ;)
Lils returned from her trip, with dreadlocked hair and fingernails that could have grown potatoes. The hair thanks to jumping in a freezing lake (fully clothed of course)...it was optional...and she chose to do it..I ask you. The nails were the legacy of the caving expedition the previous day (their room had an en suite, was it used much ?...I think not). All in all, the signs of a truly fantastic time, if she'd come home clean there would have been something amiss. Lovely to have her back in the fold.