Serious Stuff

At the start of the new school year, I was roped in to help at the village youth club. I am now officially in charge of the tuck shop. What a chore! For someone who loves sweets, this is an ideal post (I am even talking in an official capacity!)

One of the downfalls of being a faffer is that I just can't leave anything alone. After manning tuck last week, I decided that the whole thing lacked something. Something I have made up for this week.

I felt I lacked a certain gravitas - after all, I am in charge of tuck. Let's not beat about the bush here. After having a chat with Keanan who informed me that I would embarrass him beyond belief if I wore a full apron, I went with the half apron (with Keanan's consent).


Also popped into the youth club bag, ready to go, is a table cloth for the tuck. After all, I can't stand there in all my finery, with my wares displayed on a old chipped formica table can I?

Back to School

Today was week one of adult education classes. Although I sew, dressmaking is not a skill I possess. Because I can sew, I have joined Dressmaking for Improvers.

The first part of the project was choosing the fabric. I picked up a vintage duvet cover over the summer holidays with the intent on using it to make some bags. But after having a good look at it, decided it would be better used to make a skirt with.


After today's class the pattern pieces have been cut out. Next on the agenda is the lining fabric. And I am hopeful that I will be able to take the skirt and lining into class next week, tacked and ready to sew.

The pattern?



I chose it as it is relatively simple: 6 panels and there is a zip. A zip has always been something that eludes me. So I can't wait until I finally get taught how to insert a zip.

Roll on week two!

Weighty Issues

After all that awful weather during the summer holidays, this week has been glorious. I've even managed to dry washing on the line!


So it's ironic that I have started thinking about Christmas presents. But needs must and all hat. I decided to go down the practical route and make two doorstops that I managed to squeeze out from a remnant of chenille fabric.


Although I have kept the doorstop a manageable size. it still took some filling. But that's one present down. After making one for someone else, the thought occurred to me that I should have made an extra one for myself. Arthur careering through our fully glazed door is a regular event in our house.

So it's back to the sewing machine for me!

Small but Perfectly Formed

Not talking about me here, but bunting. Although I do like the larger flags that are usually associated with bunting, I thought that smaller ones would be more suited to inside use. After all what little summer we have had, has been and gone.


So to try and prolong summer I have raided my quilting cotton stash and made up some bunting in smaller, more appropriate prints. And just in case you don't want to keep the bunting up all the time, a handy drawstring bag to store it in when it isn't being used. After all no one wants grubby bunting.


And because once I started I just couldn't stop, I have added an applique detail made using vintage fabric and a mother of pearl button.


As the bunting is slightly smaller than usual it's perfect to hang up inside the house - mine is hanging on my dresser permanently. The drawstring bag means it also makes a ready wrapped gift.


And just in case you may have missed the hint, it's on sale here!

Bits and Pieces

Not a very inspired title for this post - but it sums up just how things are are the moment. Flitting about (sewing wise) all over the place and only a few things to show for it.


I am rather fickle with my pincushions and regularly make new ones that are flavour of the month until I get fed up with them. After seeing these felted pincushions on Betz White's blog, I was thrilled to discover her book in the local library. How could I not check it out?


Out came the box with all the felted sweaters in and I finally finished choosing the wool and made two pincushions. One for me and one for a friend Jo.

I have decided to learn some new skills this year and with that in mind, have signed up for dressmaking classes. As I am able to use a sewing machine, I have been told to sign up for the Improvers Class - am now having serious doubts about my ability. Making bags/pincushions/cushions etc, no problem. But clothes?


So it was with the course in mind that I bought this piece of vintage fabric on my charity shop trawls. What is it destined for? Not entirely sure at this point in time. But maybe a duster jacket. I think I am going to have to see how the dressmaking course pans out!

And also on my travels I found this hand knitted lion.


How could I leave him there? He is destined as a gift for a friend who has had a baby. I thought the little lion with a small tote bag and maybe a book. Which means another one to add to my To Do List.

Finished Project

Thanks for your tips on how to move photos to where I would like them. I would never have thought of copy and pasting/click and drag - that would have seemed far too simple for me!

Anyway, I thought I would show you all my (finally) finished dresser that I won on e-Bay eons ago.


Not a job to be taken lightly. Apart from the fact that the dresser is about 6 feet in length and apporximately the same in height, it needed two coats of undercoat and two of Farrow & Ball eggshell. Each coat took me about 2 hours to do as there are so many damn fiddly bits. A wee bit of pride has kicked in though as I am very pleased with the end result.


As the dresser is so big, there is plenty of room for the "treasures" that I am likely on find on my trawls. Plus the board games and pencils etc. are also stored away. And there was a distinct tone of superiority in my voice when I told Stephen that there is enough room left over to put in extra food etc at Christmas time and birthday. Of course we have always managed to squeeze it all in somewhere before, but I wasn't going to mention that. And I can guarantee that I am not going to be re-painting this again soon!

Bags of fun

Well, better late than never I say. Remember the bags I posted about a long time ago when (a) I was still with Typepad, (b) still had a working digital camera and (c) didn't have a dodgy Internet connection? No? Well, I have vaugue recollections.

But I did managed to get outside inbetween showers and photograph them. Here they are:

Remember summer? Well it may well have passed us by, but it is here in all it's full glory on this charming linen bag.

SOLD - THANKS!

This bag certainly is zingy


I just couldn't resist putting this gorgeous vintage embroidery panel together with vintage velvet


I think the floral bag with the detachable corsage is my favourite and unfortunately I only had enough fabric for one bag

SOLD - THANKS!

The penultimate bag is this sweet (couldn't resist that!) bag made using vintage liquorice allsorts fabric

And lastly a darling little bag, made using vintage fabric that I have hoarded for at least 4 years.

And because I wasn't quite as daring as I hoped, but still daring enough to try out something new, they are all up for sale here!

Bear with me

OK - please bear with me until I get used to Blogger. As there are some great blogs I love to read that use Blogger, I thought I would too.

The last week of the school holidays has passed so quickly and now Keanan is back in school tomorrow. After spending an obscene amount of money on school shoes for both boys, Keanan's school uniform is laid out ready for tomorrow. Ethan isn't back in school until Thursday.

We managed to get on boot sale out of this weekend - and it was surpisingly good. Or not (according to Stephen. It just depends on your point of view!). I found a card and a half of vintage Welsh Lady keyrings - HAD to have those. I am sure they will be incoporated into something.

I also bought a plaster Virgin Mary statue. Poor Stephen was NOT impressed. His comment was along the lines of not even being able to go to the toilet in peace without being watched! Mary has been placed in the cloakroom windowsill, which means that you can see her as soon as you walk through the front door.

I did try and post a photograph, but subsequent photos kep appearing at the top of the blog post. Something for me to work on .............