Photo swap

Megan, over at the Scent of Water, is holding a photo swap and I'm taking part. Fun!

The theme is 'simplicity' and this is the image I sent to my gal:


I saw the roll of twine and started thinking of "my favourite things" from The Sound of Music, and the blue satin sashes and the brown paper packages tied up with string, and walah! A photo was born.

I sent the tiniest little print of the photo. I wanted it to be like a keepsake, you know, like the pebble kept in a drawer, like the dried flower in a book. A simple item that warms the heart.

Photo post: Remy with apple

The only thing better than a cup of tea is another cup of tea

 

It was a funny old day in our house today. Remy has started crying whenever he realises that I'm going to put him to bed. Hrrrmm. Quite a problem when he needs at least two naps a day...

So, not a lot got done.

I'm going to Craft2.0 in March - yipee! - so I really need to get on with sewing little people's clothes.

Babies, huh? No respect for deadlines.

Corpse Brides

My darling dear friend Natalie is getting married in January - Hurrah! - and I'm going to be a bridesmaid for her.

She sent me some links to some stunning frocks she's considering for her big day. One of the links she sent me was this - the Vera Wang website. On it is a video of the runway of the spring/summer collection.

It's shocking. So, so shockingly bad. Not the bridal gowns - those are mostly very pretty and it's nice to see some movement away from boring old strapless A-lines - but the make-up and hair on the models. They look like the walking dead.

Don't get me wrong - I like runway shows that are exciting and unexpected, those that juxtaposition pretty, flouncy clothes with loud delicious punk music or minimalist, tightly structured clothes with gorgeous floral backdrops. This show attempts those things with the ugly hair and make-up with the pretty dresses but it just doesn't hit the mark. It's just plain old weird and mismatched.

Sunday; family fun day

 

 

 

Pretty thing

Ooooh, I'm very close to 100 posts and I've noticed that other crafty types tend to have a giveaway with their first 100. What, oh what, shall I do?

So, the jacket I'm using couture sewing techniques on. It's not as far along as I'd hoped because there is a little person in my house who appears to despise sleeping. It's how I imagine living with Margret Thatcher would be - you know, she of four hours sleep a night - but possibly a little more fun.

I'm using a black velvet (I think it may even be crushed velvet - let's call it trashy chic), with a border print as the outer and a pink patterned silk as the inner.


Both fabrics are a blerdy nightmare to sew because they're both slippery little beggars, so hand sewing them is probably faster and easier than doing it at the machine. That, and my machine would chew them up and spit them out - anything that's not a medium weight cotton gets badly treated by my machine.

Also, the pink silk is fraying like crazy. I'm not sure yet how to deal with that. Might have to consider zigzagging it with the machine...


I've surprised myself by bothering with basting before I sew. When I'm using the machine I almost never baste. As it turns out, it's a very handy thing to do. You'd never guess but it actually helps keep the material in exactly the right place for when the permanent stitching starts! I know. Shocking.


I've done something a little silly though. I forgot to plan the closing. And it's going to be difficult because there's all that lovely pattern on the front that I don't want interrupted by buttons or buttonholes. Really should have thought this through.

Couture goodness coming your way

I'm working on a little velvet and silk jacket and I'm using couture techniques, most for the first time. I'm teaching myself from a book so it's taking me a while...but there will be photos tomorrow of the beginning stages.

Wohoo! Go couture kids' clothes!