Tree Fall

My Favourite. Ever.

I am happier with this than anything else I have ever made. It's not original, it's not designed by me and it's not going to be in use for very long. And yet it's the best thing I've ever made.
I've spoken a lot about how I want to learn to make the girls clothes and about how I want to be able to understand patterns etc. And I've obviously made lots of steps towards that recently.
But what I've really wanted to do is make a particular sort of top for the girls. All along I've had a picture in my head of the blouse that I wanted to make.
It's a simple one. Nothing special. But it's one that would look great with everything and one that wouldn't look handmade.


And I've done it. I've made exactly what I wanted to make. It looks exactly how I wanted it to look and fits exactly how I wanted it to fit.
I've used the perfect fabric for it, with a print that I adore. It's lovely and soft and hangs perfectly. It's both comfortable and flattering.
And Lily looks great in it.


But the reason I love it so much, is because last night I sat down and looked for a pattern for a blouse, found the pattern, traced that pattern, cut out the pattern and made the blouse.
Without instructions.
Yep. I've finally come of age. And made something from a Japanese craft book.
And I love it. (did I mention that?)


The fabric is actually from an Ikea pillowcase that I bought for 10p last year and the pattern is from this book - ISBN978-4-579-11100-8.
The only fiddly bit was making the casings for the elastic, particularly for the arms. I did think about using fold over elastic (FOE), but to be honest I think it can look kind of cheap, so I perservered with the casings and the threading (hate, hate,hate, threading elastic) instead. And I think it was worth it.


I get a lot of emails asking me for sewing advice (!) which is lovely and very flattering but I just want to say that I've actually only been sewing for the last 4 years and that before that I had never made anything. I'm completely self taught and am constantly amazed that this stuff works out.All of which I say, because I know that there are lots of people out there thinking that it's too scary to try and do it themselves and I want them to know that it just takes a bit of practice.
Seriously, if I can do this, anyone can.


And it's so worth the effort when you can sit in the garden watching both of your children playing, wearing clothes that you made them.

Ever hopeful...

It's not all skirts and dresses around here (although Bella thinks it should be). We also have squirrels, new cushions and a few old favourites. And should the gods be smiling and my energy levels suddenly raised, we may even have some new quilts in the shop. You heard me. Quilts.
I know, I'm like a crazed woman.

Fun....

There are some days when everything just goes right.  I sit down at my sewing machine or at my cutting table and everything pans out exactly how I want it to. Leaving me wondering how I managed to do that. And leaving me pretty sure that that was all a fluke.
And the reason that I'm pretty sure it's a fluke is because of weekends like this one. Weekends when everything, everything I do turns to crap!
I can honestly say that my best and closest friend this weekend has been my quick unpick. Seriously, we're now best buds. Because that little piece of plastic has been by my side constantly, holding my hand, only laughing at me quietly, when it thought I wasn't looking. Unlike my sewing machine, who laughed at me right out loud, to my very face, at every given opportunity. Bastard.
But on the bright side, I now know that I hate shirring, and that linen hates it almost as much as I do. Not to mention that toweling, organic or not, is a bugger to work with and looks lousy as bloomers. And oh so many more interesting and useful tidbits that I would have been very happy not to learn this weekend.
So thanks weekend. It's been fun. Lets do it again sometime, because, you know, I've got shed loads of time to just throw away.
Not.

Just a little bit of boasting...

If I was ever going to boast about anything, it would have to be about just how lucky and loved my girls are. I'm very proud and more than a little humbled to say that both Lily and Bella have received some of the loveliest gifts in the last year. And this little bundle is no exception.
Those of you that read Amy's blog will recognise both the kimono and the bootees.As I've mentioned before, I've been wanting to try her new kimono pattern and have been waiting (not so patiently) for her to finish it ever since she posted a picture of this. What I didn't know was that the actual kimono that I wanted to copy was actually winging it's way to us. Along with the pair of gorgeous matching bootees.


And as you can see, they both fit perfectly. And look wonderful.
So you see, if, if I was going to boast, I think it would be understandable. Don't you?


Thanks Amy! And thank you for the books - I can't tell you how much I enjoyed listening to my father try and read them to Bella with his scottish accent!

The Skirt

There's been a significant change around here in the last few days. Some thing that I've been waiting for has finally happened. Bella has discovered that I might just be useful. Although she's always known that I make things for her, she's never before put two and two together.
And yet in the last week she's suddenly worked out that she can actually ask me to make stuff for her. Stuff that she wants. As opposed to the things that I say she has to like because I made it for her!
Because she's been showing a marked interest in my fabric recently, I thought it might be nice for the two of us to choose some fabric together so that I could make a skirt for her. It's the first time that I've actively involved Bella in the decision making (I'm too much of a control freak) and the first time that I've set out to make her something with her in my studio with me.


So with Lily asleep, Bella and I spent a couple of hours in the studio with me sewing and her 'sewing' and talking (and talking) and playing hospitals (fabric bandages) playing mummys (quilts and covers for the babies) and most importantly, planning. Planning all the new things that I can make for her. Planning all the quilts that I can make for her babies, because they always need more covers. And all the dresses and skirts that I can make for her. And the new bags. And even more quilts. For Bella, the possibilities are suddenly endless (especially as she's unhindered by any concept of a limit to my skills!) and I have to say that I'm loving that. And finding myself unable to say no.
This skirt is the first of many to come. I finished it a couple of days ago and Bella has worn it constantly since. She loves it. But now she wants a dress. Actually, let me rephrase that. She wants a dress now.
So that's what I've been working on today. And whether it was finished or not was her first question on returning home from nursery. (it's not, but it will be tomorrow).






In the meantime though I'm thinking she likes the skirt.

The fabrics we chose are Umekko Wasabe in red, from Alexander Henry and the grey print is from the Come Quilt With Me collection, by Pat Yemin for Marcus Brothers. The pattern is from a tutorial by Tanya of Grand Revival Designs and can be found here.

3 Months

Lily you turned three months old yesterday. Three. Months.Already.
Time is going by so fast that I have to make a real effort to stop and notice the small things before they disappear for ever.
I think the biggest shock for me is just how fast it's going this time around and just how much seems to happen whilst I'm not looking.


Your personality is already wonderful. You smile all the time, but especially when I kiss your cheeks.
You are the wriggliest baby that I've ever met and you are already trying to turn over. We struggle with keeping you in one place when you're in your cot and you are constantly facing the wrong way or back to front when we get you up in the morning, even though your are both swaddled and in a sleep positioner. You are in fact the Harry Houdini of babies and we're completely stumped by how you get out of your positioner and swaddle. And when we ask you, you literally laugh at us. I think you're pretty proud of yourself, and so you should be.


Like your big sister, you very rarely cry and then only when you want something specific, like milk or to be left to go to sleep. But unlike Bella, you don't like to be comforted when you're tired. We feel really bad that you cry yourself to sleep most nights, even though it only takes five minutes. If we try and calm you you get hysterical and cry until we leave you alone. We learnt that the hard way.
Your favourite toy is the parrot on your playmat and you already love books. You also love the television, so that doesn't go on in the day anymore.


You found your hands today and have started trying to put things in your mouth and we're pretty sure that those rosy red cheeks and very drooly mouth mean that you're starting to teeth.
When you lie on the sofa you stare endlessly at the patchwork quilt and when you're in my studio you literally smile at the fabric. I think you're a girl after my own heart.
You sleep wonderfully and we're very grateful that so far we've had not a single sleepless night. Long may that continue.
I worried a lot about having a second child and who you would be and how you would fit in, but all my worries have been completely unfounded. You are a delight to be with and have had a wonderful influence on all of us. Bella loves having you as a sister and can't wait to teach you everything.
And we love having you as a daughter and can't wait to see you grow.
Thank you for being you, Lily. And thank you for making it so easy for us all.

 

Blooming Marvelous

This kimono/wrap around top is taken from a pattern in Ottobre. It called for knit jersey, but because I don't have a ton of experience sewing with knit and because I can't get hold of any knit ribbing (can anyone tell me where to buy some online?) I decided to make it using natural linen and cotton instead.


The look of the kimono is quite obviously inspired by japanese craft books (duh) but I have to say that there's also a definite tip of the hat to both Alison  and Amy , two of my favourite bloggers. Both revel in clean lines and simple design and I admire that. And the fact that I am lucky enough to be the proud recipient of baby wear made by both of them, only increases my admiration.


These bloomers are also from an Ottobre pattern, but the real inspiration for them was the gorgeous pair that Alison made for Lily (from her own design). She's been wearing them a lot recently and looks so lovely in them that I decided she needs more.
The Ottobre pattern suggests using embroidered eyelet cotton, and lots of lace, which looks nice, but I wanted them to look a little more stylish and a little less twee. Although I did succumb to a tiny amount of blue lace.


Lily has already worn the bloomers and looks as cute as pie in them, but the top is newborn size and is a gift for a very soon to be born baby. I'm definitely going to work on a bigger pattern though (the one in the magazine is for newborn only) as well as making a couple of changes to it.
The patterns in Ottobre are pretty easy to follow, although I have to admit to staring at the bloomers for over an hour before finally understanding how to sew the very simple pattern together!
For the binding on the kimono I used my trusty bias binding maker after deciding that store bought bias binding was just too harsh for a newborn baby's skin. Plus the matching binding looks much better than  plain old binding would.


Next in line for Lily is a new dress (she's already pretty much outgrown this one). I've already finished a new skirt for Bella, who's away today, but is very excited about seeing her 'bootiful new skirt' when she gets back (bootiful is a favourite word at the moment), so I think it's a new dress for her too.
Definitely enjoying this.

It's a family thing

I've been working on this...

















And Bella's been working on this...


It's her 'bootiful patchwork carpet' . I guess she likes fabric too..

It's a good thing...

I think that I gave the wrong impression the other day when I mentioned that I'm feeling the pressure to make the girls some clothes. Because I didn't mean it in a negative way at all. Quite the contrary.
When I first had Bella, I was still pretty new to all of this stitching malarky and couldn't have found my way around a dress pattern if you paid me (I still wouldn't recommend paying me!). But I really longed to dress her in handmade clothes and felt a little disappointed in myself for not being able to do so.
Now though, I'm finally conquering the pattern fear and I have no excuse not to dress both Lily and Bella in clothes made by my own fair hands (although we're a good few years from them also being designed by my own fair hands). And I really like that.

So the pressure that I'm feeling is a positive, lets get this ball rolling, kind of pressure. Which is the type of pressure I love to be under. It gets me up a little earlier in the morning and keeps me up a little later at night. And it always feels good to have something in the background that you want to get back to. It gives me purpose and that's something that I lacked for a massive amount of my life.

So with that in mind, I have all of my copies of Ottobre magazine out and I'm slowly but more and more surely, working my way through the patterns that I think that girls would look great in.
The top two pictures are obviously all for Lily and are noticeably inspired by Japanese craft books (the next thing I have to conquer).
I've so far managed to make one dress and a pair of bloomers, but I really want to make the blouse in the top photo next.

For Bella I'm looking at being  a little more adventurous and want to make her this coat (not in white) for the winter.

Although I think I may have to build up slowly to that one.
In the mean time I'm going to tackle this shirt and bubble skirt, as soon as I can decide on a fabric (and by that, I mean, as soon as Bella and I can agree on a fabric).

My big plan eventually though is to get good enough at understanding patterns to be able to finally decode the ones in any of my many Japanese craft books! Which reminds me, a new one arrived just the other day from the lovely Leslie and I really must photograph it. I think it's my favourite girls clothes one yet.

Stash/Collection/Library

These are my latest favourite fabrics. I love them so much that not only do I refuse to put them away, but I actually carried the pile around the house with me the other day. Just in case.
The top print is Amy Butler's Midwest Modern, in my favourite colourway. I bought some of the greener prints the other day and have to admit that they only got a small "hunh" out of me. They're not horrible, but they also don't make my heart quicken the way this one does.
The second one down is part of Sandi's Ginger Blossom fabric collection and I have big plans for it.
The third is a Michael Miller print called Pod Vine. This one's the surprise in the pile because when I first saw it I wasn't that impressed. But I'm in the middle of making an outfit for Lily out of it and now I love it. It looks particularly nice with natural linen.
The bottom fabric is the Micheal Miller Organic Terry Cloth in natural. Now this one may not look like much, but I'm telling you, it's the softest, sweetest terry cloth that I've come across. And I shall be buying more (sorry Grainne!).

This little pile also got carted around for a day or two. I'm sad enough to admit that it was mixed in with the top pile and every now and again I would thumb through the stack and get a little jolt when I saw these beautiful, vibrant prints. And yes, I am truly that pathetic when it comes to fabric. I just love it so.
The first pile are predominantly for household projects, like cushions, but this second pile is mainly for dressmaking projects for the girls.
The top fabric is another print from Sandi, except this time it's flannel. And it's such wonderful flannel that as soon as it arrived and I got to feel how soft it is, I went straight back online and ordered another 3 yards. Just in case. And now I'm wondering if maybe I should have ordered more.
I'm going to be using it to make some pj's for both the girls and to make a blanket for Lily, amongst other things. Actually Jim looked pretty interested when I mentioned using it to make pj's  and I have to admit that I am too (matching pj's for the whole family? Too much? Really?).

Sandi's prints are scoring high points with me at the moment, especially the Vintage Dots range. And have you seen that she has a new  collection debuting right now?  Farmer's Market looks like it's going to do just as well as Ginger Blossom and I have to say that I'm pretty excited to see it in person (when it hit's the online stores that is). At the moment I'm torn between the Summer and the Fall colourways, but it all looks good.

The other two prints are  part of the  Swell collection by the Urban Chicks for Moda. And they're just lovely, bright basics that I'll use for dresses and pants for both the girls.

I often get asked how I chose the fabrics that I use/buy and I've been thinking about it for awhile. In part it's just down to personal taste. There are some quilters/crafters out there that I have to admit make me shudder when I see their fabric choices and I have no doubt that there are plenty more people out there that shudder when they see mine. But it really does just come down to what floats your boat.

The other major thing for me is that I suffer no guilt whatsoever about the amount of fabric that I own (this is only a small part!).

I'm not one of those people that thinks that I need to diminish my stash in any way. I don't feel the pressure to use it all up before I die, the way some people do. In fact it's quite the opposite for me. Because I don't see it as a stash, I see it as a collection.

Fabric and print has always played a huge part in defining design era's and I see my collection as something organic that I want to pass on eventually. As sad as it sounds, I see it almost as a reference library. And when I buy fabric I think about how well it will age stylistically. About how out dated it will look in ten years time and about whether or not it goes some way to defining my personal tastes right now.

I also think about how wonderful it will be in twenty years time to have original prints from this era, instead of reproductions. I sorely wish that I had kept hold of far more fabrics from my youth and don't want to make that mistake again.

So when I use a print up, if possible I try and replace it. Because I hate for my collection to be missing a piece. And I'm just a little obsessed (you think?) with never running out of the prints that I love.

This is also why I simply don't struggle with keeping all of my fabrics folded neatly, all of the time. I can't stand for it to get messed up in the same way that people that love books hate to see corners turned over. There's just no excuse for  a messy fabric collection (although I am dreadful for not washing fabrics before I use them).

So there you have it. I'm actually a crazy, megalomaniac who thinks that it's my job to preserve the mainstream fabric prints of this generation.