August so far.

How is it August already? I swear I blinked and July just skipped by in that blink! In fact I am pretty sure I got short changed in July at some point time wise. Although there were some epic moments. There has been a lot of decorating planning going on lately, I saw this picture in B&Q, didn't buy it and should have as I love the sentiment.  

So far August has given us rain. I have spent a while trying to do some origami butterflies. This one is still the best one to date.  I never was much good with origami but I will keep trying I need 10 origami butterflies at least. Maybe some better instructions are needed?  Or perhaps I just need to not look at mine so closely.  Fiddly things never were my forte, but they are fun even if it is only laughing at my attempts at the end.

Last week I came across this fabric in Fabric Land. and knew I needed to make a Sorbetto top from it or a variation of it.  I have a few I have made before and wear them often.  I know there is a new updated version that offers more variations these days but I have yet to download and use them.  It's a free pattern if anyone wants to try it out.

This was how it turned out. I made an inverted (?) pleat down the front and left the bottom open instead of catching the bottom in the hem.  

I would say excuse the mess but it's a tiny room full of book cases and boxes and it really doesn't get much tidier on my bookcases as they are all overflowing. 

Here's a closer look of the front detail. 

I did a bias binding hem! I tried this before and read the instructions wrong and the bias binding was done like a bias bound quilt edge or similar, so was visible.  So I gave it a go on the hem and neck line today and it was so easy and neat.  This may be my new hemming method. This was the bottom hem.

I can tell I have made a few of these before due to fact it only took me an hour and 12 minutes! And that included cutting out the fabric.  I usually play an audio book while sewing so I know how long it took by that.

Here's the neck edge. Different colour bindings I know, I was left at the last moment remembering I needed bias binding and didn't have enough of either.  At least they were both colour coordinated though

I then decided to make some chilli cheese cornbread for the boys to go with dinner. Looked a bit unconvincing to me when it was being mixed up

Looked OK upon coming out of the oven

It was a bit to dry though but tastes ok apparently.  I tried a small bit and reminded me of the flavour of  macaroni cheese but a little wimpier.  Still it got a compliment from Luke and was eaten so I am happy with that outcome.  Been a pretty creative day today.

I was even a superhero whooooooooo, eldest sons car battery died so I went over to give him a jump start.  Drove home and he and his girlfriend had broke down again so went back out to find them and got them sorted and followed them to their destination.  All sorted now.

So for tonight I am ready for an early nights sleep and a good day tomorrow. First though a little family time TV and make plans for tomorrows adventures.

Take care

Jules 

stags head hot water bottle cover

My edition of Simply Sewing magazine arrived the other day and I dived into one project straight away. Isn't this stags head so majestic? After my hand stitching not that long ago I blanket stitched around the stags head by hand.  I quite like it. 

The binding didn't quite go to plan mainly because it wasn't wide enough.  That was my fault for grabbing the first binding I had to hand instead of making some to the recommended measurements. So it is a bit wavy in places.  To be honest this was a practice run at whether I wanted to do another one properly.  Not that I didn't do this one properly. I am rambling sorry. I just decided to use what I had to hand to see if I enjoyed the process of making this.  I did, so I will be finding some fabric that I have enough of to make the correct width binding to match the stags head. 

The back has a handy envelope opening like some cushion covers for putting your hot water bottle in.  Does this mean I actually ought to buy a hot water bottle now then? Might come in handy I guess!

Bad photo but here was the original example in this months Simply Sewing magazine. Grabbed my attention and I am hoping to make a better version of one of these soon. 

I did try to post this yesterday but the app on my phone was playing silly games with me and kept shutting down. Gave up and decided sleep seemed a better option. Looking forward to diving into more of the projects in this edition. 

Take care

Jules x 

Long weekend

Hello, I have had a busy and good weekend.  The great thunder and lightening mini episode yesterday broke my feeling strange spell and I was able to get on with more today.  We have been to Hobby craft and stocked up on a few things today. A glue gun was purchased ready for me to get on with a few new projects :o)

Saturday I went to hang out some washing and happened to look up towards the starling noise from the nest in next door neighbours guttering and happened to see this beautiful starling up on a telephone line.  I slowly backed in to grab my camera.  Was convinced it would be gone when I got back but no it stayed put and got some really good photos. Love the blue green shimmer of this beauty.

Not feeling 100% after a few jobs I settled down to a spot of colouring.  Amazing how it calms you and becomes impossible to put down until your picture is finished.  Makes me remember being as engrossed as a child.

Yesterday I decided to try out a tutorial to make bias binding.  It really irks me that it's almost impossible to get bias binding to match your project unless you make your own.  Back then it was a case of cutting endless strips on a 45 degree angle and sewing all those ends together until you get the desired length. But a couple of weeks ago Babs Rudlin on youtube share this tutorial making over 5 metres of bias binding from 1 fat quarter of fabric.  So I started with this......

........ And ended up with this. All done with 2 seams to sew and 2 cuts into the fabric.  Genius idea whoever thought of this.  My only moan is it involves lots of ironing, and I hate ironing.  But, it was well worth it for all the binding that it achieved.

Which I wanted for binding the edge of......

......this apron. Made from a recycled pair of jeans, this in one leg and one back pocket. I am pretty impressed with how easy it went.  And I think the man himself is pleased with it by the proud posing he is doing. This fabric is just his style and given the choice he would have a shirt made in it I bet.

And finally I got back to my knitting. It refuses to have it's colour photograph well, next time I will take it outside to show you.  It's the back of a jumper for my son. It's a jumper from the book Charmed knits, Projects for fans of Harry Potter by Alison Hansel. A book I have had many years ans have already knitted a red one that has been outgrown and have promised him a new blue one so here is the start of the back of it.

I know the cables look a bit uneven but it is more angles than the cables themselves I think. I will crack on and try to get the back finished soon I have been so slow working on this.  It got put down about 2 months ago ad just remembered it last week.

Bit of a variety of things been going on here.  We are in the last week of the Easter break and hoping to get out and about more this week. Not sure how much crafting I am going to get done, but I am going to have a good go at getting some in somewhere :o) 

Take care and stay crafty

Jules x