My First Dress

Since I recently got out my sewing machine I have been wanting to make some clothes for myself as well as the boys. For my birthday I bought this beautiful material that I am determined to make into a skirt but I still haven't found the time yet

However I have been slowly working on a spotty affair and I am so close I thought I would start this post as I'm sure I will finish it soon. 

While sewing though I have discovered my favourite pins of the moment. I have to admit I like to get results quickly so tacking rarely happens. Fabric goes straight onto the sewing machine, so to finally buy and use this flower headed pins which I see on so many blogs was brilliant. They really work and my machine will sew and keep on sewing I'm so happy, small things. 

Right well I have now finally finished dress it is a Anna Maria Horner Socialite Dress

I saw it on a local website Saints and Pinners and thought I could do that.

I bought Kaffe Fassett blue dots which is lovely.

On and off this dress have taken me most of the summer to make, taking a break to make a cushion for Rita and Tate's PE bag. 

It has been sitting by the sewing machine half finished so last weekend was the time to finish 

I did find the yoke quite a challenge, and found some great help here on Sew, Mama, Sew! But it was my first attempt at making a dress and I am pleased with the results.

Didn't quite go as it should but it works, lining up is very important will remember next time. 

when I'm feeling braver I take a picci of me wearing it. 

It does look good and I have worn it to work, just wanted to tell everyone, 'I made this' hopefully I didn't bore too many people.

What to do next.......x 

PE kit bag

Tate needed a PE kit bag to start school back at the beginning of September, it took me until last weekend to make it, slacking a bit I feel.
I went to a show at Exeter last weekend and found the perfect fabric for the job

 

However I couldn't help buying some more for future projects 

I have my eye on a Colette pattern for this 

Finally picked up some jersey to make pants for the boys

Just because 

So I hunted around for a suitable tutorial and found a great one at Kitschy Coo, which looked great and was straightforward to follow, to have a look click here

Last Saturday night we decided to have a non TV night and I got on the machine. I'm really pleased with how it came out and Tate loves it. However it has yet to make it into school as he wants to take it everywhere to put in his toys. So old drawstring bag is still in school and Dino bag is full of Octonauts.
Oh well might have to make another one soon x

No PE kit for my bag 

Pot holders

My pot holders have become a little worse for wear

So as I live miles away from Ikea where these came from, and hubby would not relish a visit with the boys I thought I would have a go at making some.

Tracking down some smart fabric was easy from 'Prints to Polka Dots' I tend to keep fabric I fancy in my wish list for when I feel like a spend. Next I got hold of some Heat Resistant Insulating Wadding from Ebay and away you go.  

As you can see it had to be spots

I knew I would have to make some bias binding which was a bit daunting but after reading Dana's' Made' blog, I love what she does I wish I could be half as creative. I thought right let's have a go. Dana's how to and everything you need to know about bias binding is here It took a bit of mastering but actually I found making it was easier than using the stuff. 

finding the bias to cut on

The cut strips 

Off we go

Once I had my binding made up it was pretty straightforward. I used my old holders as a pattern, measured and cut out the fabric and wadding ready to sew. 

Pinning on the binding came next which I did find a bit tricky

I did find that the first time a sewed around I didn't catch both sides of the binding very well so I had to go round again, taught me to take my time a bit. I tend to find I'm working to a nap deadline which can make me cut corners. Must try to calm it down. 

Well new pot holder are up and ready to go and despite my little mishap I'm pretty proud of them and I do have loads of my own binding, not what to do next x

Playdate cupcakes

This week Tate had a friend round to play and we were having blinds fitted. So how could I keep two young children busy and away from the man who came to fit the blinds?

My theory was let's decorate cupcakes, so I very quietly made up a dozen. While Tate and I take it in turns to mix I did worry that we would end up with more on the floor with two little ones.

very simple mix
100grams of caster
100grams of margarine
100grams of self-raising flour
2 medium eggs
1/2 tablespoon of vanilla essence

cream the sugar and margarine until light and fluffy, I  use my electric whisk
Add one egg then a little flour then another egg and vanilla essence with the rest of the flour until nicely mixed.

spoon the mixture into cupcake cases and cook for about 25-30 minutes.
(don't forget to lick the bowl, unless you cannot eat the raw ingredients)

I bought some icing in tubes which I let the boys go mad with .....

The finished results ready to go home 

Blinds successfully fitted without any mummy meltdowns and I got a couple of cupcakes thrown in

Thanks for reading x 

Blackberry Crumble

By our front door is a blackberry bush. It hangs over from the Leisure Centre next door. I have been looking at them for a while and seen people eat as they go and thought I really should pick some and bake. So this morning during a break from the rain I popped out with my trusty plastic tub and went picking.

There is something calming about being outside and peacefully picking fruit. The last time I did it was last year in the same spot in the sun, while 8 months pregnant, so with baby now sleeping a picking I went.

A managed to get quite a tub and there are plenty left for other would be pickers as well as those who grab a few as they leave the gym.

I decided to make crumble, husband was very much in favour of this. I do love it when I have the supplies in to bake, it doesn't happen often but on this occasion it did.
Here's what I did

225g of Plain flour,
110g brown sugar
75g of butter
450g of Blackberries (about a plastic tubs worth)
2 tablespoons of caster sugar.

I got out my pie dish about the size of a dinner plate and placed in the washed and sorted blackberries.
Next I measured out the flour and butter (at room temp) and rubbed them together until it went all crumbly and well mixed. Next throw in the brown sugar and gave it a mix.

On top of the blackberries I put two tablespoons of Caster sugar, then spread out the crumble topping carefully on top smoothing it over with a spoon.

In the oven for about 30 to 40 minutes until the top is brown and there you have it

oh oven temp about 350f 180c or gas mark 4.

leaked out a bit but tasted yummy.

yummy either with ice cream or custard, with the weather we have been having, its custard all the way for me.

Thanks for reading x

Cushion for Rita

Hi
Today I had a rare couple of hours to myself and decided to finish my latest project, a birthday present for Rita.

There is a background to this present. Rita has been starting a veggie patch this year in her garden and is very proud of her planting, I haven't seen them for a while so I have yet to see how they are getting on.
We were visiting with our boys, the weekend after the little plants were safely and carefully put into the ground, you may have put two and two together already and seen where I'm going with this.

My eldest is a good playmate to Rita's Charley dog which is where the trouble usually starts.
Charley came in the house with a half mangled lettuce in her mouth. They had been playing in the veggie patch.

So when I saw this veggie cushion in the June copy of Handmade living magazine I had to have a go.

   It was designed by Woo Gilchrist of The Devil Makes Work . It really is a lovely pattern and has the chance for me to practice machine embroidery which I love having a go at with mixed results here is one of my first attempts

You can still see the hoop, ironing isn't my strong suit, need to work on that.

So for my cushion I am quite proud of it and I hope it will go some way in making up for lost lettuces.
Thanks for reading Claire x