* Lazylol *

Sew-A-Long Update

You will not be surprised to hear that I missed the deadline for finishing my skirt in  Kitschy Coo's Sew along.  Sometimes I wonder how or why I even bother to join in these things.  My life is overflowing with stuff.  I have so many ideas and absolutely no time to spare for them.

Full time job + caravan weekends + endless washing/ironing/cleaning + natural laziness = nothing done :(

However, I have been trying my best to make something. I've been pinching 10 minutes here and half an hour there and I DID draft the skirt pattern and make the muslin.  Unfortunately it was too big and I need to start over.  But I have learned a lot. One of the hurdles I need to get over is the fact that I am a plus size and fitting is difficult.  I have been sewing since five years old and have made piles of successful garments.  I worked in a fabric shop when I left school for a few years and sewed like a mad woman. It was a dream job for the fabric addict in me! Once I had my family and steady put on weight over the years, I lost all  confidence in sewing  something that would actually fit. I have lost some weight during the past year and gone down a few sizes so I am feeling the urge to sew again.  Being able to draft some simple patterns that fit well is my aim.

I can not tell you how much I love this book. I've read it twice. Already. I have taken all my measurements (shudder) and jotted them down in my little notebook.  I made the muslin out of an old duvet cover, much to my families amusement (!) I practiced french seams for the first time and am now addicted, I love how they look.  I also bought a concealed zip foot and plan to practise my zip fitting.  I feel like a beginner but I am loving learning all over again.

Sew ~ Along

I am joining. I  signed up here. I've bought the book. All I need to do now is get my Flickr Account sorted (it won't let me sign  in for some reason) and I am ready! Come and join too - you know you want to!

Fresh Spring Air

I've had a hectic but enjoyable week and weekend.  I just got back home after attending my little 5 month old neice's Christening.  I must be getting old because all I could think about in the car on the way home was changing into comfy clothes and having a big mug of tea or two.

It is a lovely sunny spring day and I don't know about you but these first days of spring really lift my spirits.  I was so fed up of dark nights and dark mornings.  It is so nice to get outside in the fresh air and I am in the mood for some spring cleaning this week.  Opening the windows and letting some fresh air in. I am giddy to peg out the washing, sad I know but it I love the smell of line dried clothes.

   I did manage a trip to the fabric shop this week and found just the fabrics I was looking for and all very reasonably priced.  My Ottobre Woman magazine arrived too so now I have patterns and fabric, I might even make something(!)  I have been sewing this week but only to do some alterations.

Saturday Fabric Shopping

I thought I'd do my bit to support the high street yesterday and so off I went shopping.  I visited my favourite fabric shop (sorry about the rubbish photo) looking for some fabric for PJ bottoms.  Although they do have a half decent selection and it is reasonably priced, they never seen to have quite what I am looking for.  It was wools, linens and tweed coat fabric. The only cottons they had were ginghams (which I love but I didn't want gingham this time) and some dodgy strawberry print stuff that they have sold since I worked there myself when I was 16! They didn't have a single printed jersey or t-shirting. It's annoying when you see all the gorgeous fabrics used to make ready to wear clothing. I wish some of it was available to buy.

Does anyone know anywhere online I could try?  In the past I've shopped online from the US but with the £/$ thing at the moment it is too expensive. I read somewhere that late in 2009/10 there is  going to be a home sewing  boom - oh I do hope so!

Closing Down for Winter

Yesterday we had a ride to the coast for a nice long walk and to shut up the caravan for the six weeks the site is closed down for the season.  We will not go now until the February half term break when it opens back up again.  I will miss it but it will give me a chance to do some of the jobs that I can never manage with spending lots of weekends away.  I need to paint a few ceilings, gloss some doors and redecorate my hall stairs and landing. I would also like to make some new Roman blinds.

It also means that I can spend my Saturday mornings shopping at Ikea and visiting local markets and towns that I haven't seen for a while.

So yesterday, after we'd closed down the caravan we called into Beverley shopping.  What a pretty little town it is. I was giddy when I managed to find not only this (my favourite magazine of all time and believe me I LOVE magazines)

but also this little magazine (one of my new favourites). I had been meaning to subscribe but haven't got around to it. Just snagged it in the nick of time because issue three is due any day (goodie) 

Lots of ideas, patterns and inspiration.  First on my list of things to make for 2009 is this lovely Flirty Florence apron.  I need a new apron badly so I am going to raid my stash for fabrics.

 

Sew Hip

If you haven't seen it already, get over to the very talented Manda's Blog and read all about her super exciting new project.

It's it amazing what can come from writing a blog.  I am going to subscribe.  I am glad to support anything that promotes crafting and especially sewing here in the UK.  Hopefully this will lead to more and more people requiring fabric and supplies and help keep the few remaining shops here in the UK in business.

Good Luck Manda - I can't wait to get the first issue!

Rubbish.

Thank you to the person/people who thought it would be funny to steal half a dozen wheelie bins from our street.  Now I have to sit and wait for the bin men to come and go out and plead with them to take the bags of rubbish away (they're a bit jobsworth & aren't allowed to take bags only bins.  Bins yes, extra bags.... no.) so let's hope they are in good spirits this fine and sunny morning.

While I wait, I am going to peruse the Heather Bailey website.  Have you seen it.  I nearly fainted with delight when I saw her new fabrics and scrapbooking supplies. OMG. And she delivers to the UK at a reasonable cost . I must surely be in heaven.

I have my eye on these two fabrics so far....

Blogs...so many to read, so little time!

I was up early this morning. I made myself my usual huge mug of tea and instead of jumping straight on the computer, I decided to get all my jobs done and out of the way. So I've been grocery shopping, to the post office to mail some ebay parcels, to the garage for air in tyres and petrol (wow - that stuff is getting expensive!), washed the car, cleaned the whole downstairs, and done three loads of washing - phew! It's all pegged outside drying too because for once it isn't actually raining and we are some slightly spring-like weather.  Actually I am keeping one eye on the washing line while typing because it suddenly became cloudy.

I've been thinking lately that I spend too much time on the internet.  It seems to suck my whole day in and only leave me with only a few hours to do everything else.  No wonder all my craft and diy projects are left unfinished.  I need to do more but I'm addicted to the internet.  Does anyone have any tips?  Maybe I will only allow myself a set amount of time online or only log on certain days? I am interested to how much time everyone else spends online.  I love reading blogs and my blogline feeds are growing by the day.  (I have over 250 - is that ridiculous?) There are so many fabulous blogs about.

If only  i could drag myself away for a while I maybe could make this apron  I've been drooling over...

isn't it fantastic? - I have to go here and have another look!

Now I am logging off for a bit. I'm going to do some sewing and make Chargrilled Chicken Pasta for dinner. yum.

Have a lovely weekend x

New Sewing Sites

I found this website today, it looks good & they ship to the UK (with reasonable shipping costs, up to 4 yards of fabric for under $12.00).  I have been buying from the US but the bigger sites have increased their shipping costs recently.  I know it is expensive to ship things but sometimes they just overprice the shipping to put international buyers off I'm sure!  Some have a set shipping price of $30 - $40 dollars which is fine if you want lots of fabric but no good if you only require a couple of yards. However, I am not complaining because the choice is fantastic compared to the UK and it is usually half the price for the fabric in the first place, so this balances out the shipping.

Another site I found was isew which is UK based.  At last something about sewing that is up-to-date and based in the UK!  I will be joining the forum later. Lots of ideas & tips. Great.

Handmade for Christmas...or for me!

Over at SewMamasew they have a fabulous idea......

 

Everyday a different item to sew.  Lots of ideas to get you started on that gift list.

I am not planning on sewing all that many gifts this year. (If only I had the time!)  I don't have that many people I can give handmade gifts to.  But I am planning on a few cushions and some decorations. I also would like a christmas apron for myself.

Today's item on the Sew Mama Sew '30 days of gifts to sew' is this beautiful bath mat by Montessoribyhand...I am drooling over this mat and have to add it to be 'to sew' list.

Isn't it lovely?  I love patchwork and the combination of red and aqua is one of my favourites.