scrap-a-rama

As you probably know if you have read many of my posts, I have a certain fondness for scraps.

Truth be told, I love a good scrap pack. I bought one just the other day.

They’re like a lucky dip, full of variety and excitement. It’s such fun putting the scraps together in different combinations. An inspiring excuse to mess around and get the creative juices flowing.

I also find it very difficult to throw away any of the scraps I produce.

My next stall is at the Secret Garden Craft Fair in Sherwood next month. Sherwood is where I used to live and is also home to The Textile Workshop where I do all my sewing classes.

Sherwood peeps are a pretty crafty crowd.

I thought they might appreciate some choice scrappy goodness from my stash… so I’m going to contribute to the happy scrap-a-rama and make up a few scrap packs of my own to sell on my stall.

After all, my vintage fabrics are likely to be new to the Sherwood punters and I do have some nice bits, though I say so myself.

I’m going to do five inch squares in packs of ten for £3.00. Scrappy goodness enough to make a cushion cover front – with a bit to spare.

Or sufficient pincushions to stash the most enthusiastic collection of pins.

Or to add some cute pockets to some summer t-shirts. Or… or…

I could go on…

And it will also mean that I have something to tempt those people who always come up to your stall and say they’re going to go home and make something similar themselves, rather than buy what I’ve made.

So there’ll be no excuses and no escaping modflowers’ vintage fabric web (*evil chuckle*).

Genius!

trim-triminy

I have to admit it, I’m a bit of a trim-aholic.

So when I spotted a multi-coloured scraps-and-trims de-stash listing on Etsy recently, I just couldn’t resist.

They’re only tiny bits, but perfect for pockets!

The only problem is, there’s only enough giant yellow ric rac for one pocket, not two.

So I think the pockets on my skirt-in-progress might end up being a bit of a mix & match affair, rather than identical twins.

One happy surprise though, I found something in my button jar that I forgot I had…

Bought on the other side of the world from the fabric, and over a year before my apple skirt was even a twinkle in my eye, it’s funny how things come together.

Some trims are just meant to be. ♥

pop-up market

This is where I am today!

Please forgive me if you turn up bright and early at 10 am and I’m a little late setting up my stall.

I have to walk lad to school, then rush home and grab a taxi to get me there as my partner is away (another bit of motivation to sort out my driving!).

There are compensations though. The organiser, Sam, has promised copious tea and home made cakes will be provided. Fab!

If you’re in Nottingham city centre, why not pop down during your lunch break?

We’ll be happy to see you!

pure gold

I had to pop into Hopkinson yesterday. Just near Nottingham railway station, Hopkinson is one of my favourite places in town.

Needless to say, it is a vintage emporium, but what an emporium!

Formerly H. Hopkinson Ltd, established around 1880, the building was an “Engineers Merchants” selling to factories, collieries, textile mills, anything relating to engineering, steel, aluminum, brass, nuts, bolts, tools etc.

Nowadays it houses four floors of vintage, antiques, art and creative studio space.

Here’s just a teeny corner of what’s on offer…

I couldn’t resist a little browse… and whilst browsing I stumbled upon the perfect thing for me: The Golden Hands Encyclopedia of Dressmaking.

It’s from 1972. Lets take a closer look at that cover…

That’s me that is, right there!

But they say you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover. Luckily, inside it just gets better and better!

I’m in love with the illustrations…

The typeface is terrific…

And there is lots of information on everything from fabrics and trims…

To techniques and design tips, measuring and fitting, projects, patterns and troubleshooting.

It’s exactly what I need to help me sort out my skirts, perfect my patterns, and generally sharpen up my stitchery.

Lord knows, I need it. I can’t afford to keep going to classes all my life!

Seriously… if, like me, you are trying to master the skills of dressmaking, this book could be your best friend.

The kind of friend that gives good advice, inspires you to greater things and is always there when you need them.

Ok, so it won’t feed your cat or babysit your kids, but hey, you probably have real-life friends for things like that.

Amazingly enough, you can find copies to buy very cheaply on amazon here.

Trust me, it’s pure gold. ♥

cushion commission

Just a quick post to share my most recent cushion commission.

I absolutely love this fabric!

It did need starching after washing as, despite being of a good weight, the fabric has a soft drape and a fair bit of “give” in it.

This required careful handling, as cutting the fabric straight was quite tricky. In the end I did it by eye rather than by measurement. After all, when you see a cushion, you don’t generally get your tape measure out. Well I hope not anyway.

Although, now I think of it, I do recall an elderly customer of the wholefood shop I once worked in, who always carried a tape measure about his person. We spotted him in Boots once, measuring the bath sponges.

Anyway, I think this commission has turned out lovely. I hope the recipient agrees.

I have another one the same already cut, which will be finished off today. That one will be appearing on my stall at the Lace Market Gallery pop-up market on wednesday.

As an added bonus, I am planning to make the off-cuts into lovely circular pincushions.

If you’d like one, just let me know!

statement made

I find I often forget about things once they’re finished.

They have their moment in my mind, usually when I’m first all fired up with an idea, and then they either work or they don’t, and I move on and forget all about them.

So it was with my statement necklace.

I spent quite a while making extra buttons and sewing it all together, but then I forgot all about it.

I think it’s because I haven’t found an occasion to wear it yet.

It started life as a few buttons left over from making other things. I decided to “utilise” them, as I hate wastage. The ribbon was another bit of salvage – it arrived wrapped round some pyjamas bought for lad from Primark!

So I didn’t start out by choosing fabrics to fit with my wardrobe – which means it doesn’t, really.

Three of the buttons are offcuts of a frock adapted from an Indian salwar kameez made from Liberty lawn. I found it in a local charity shop – a most unusual and serendipitous find for £3! 

I wore the frock in Australia. If I wear the frock, I could wear the necklace with it.

But it’s a summer thing.

It’s still just too darn cold for it at the moment. I am writing this sipping hot tea, swathed in the thickest cardi I own, my legs swaddled in woolly tights. When will Summer finally deign to arrive, I wonder?

My necklace also suffers from being a little bit floppy. I think I need to stiffen it up a bit by stitching on a backing, so that it doesn’t droop when I wear it.

After all, it would be no good making a limp statement, would it?!