Resolved to Sew 2012

There is a fab giveaway going on over at Very Berry Handmade with 11 amazing prizes!  All you have to do to enter is blog about your sewing resolutions, as I haven't done this yet, I thought it would be a great time to do so.

My newest purchase, I didn't know this pattern existed!  Anyone remember the Wuzzles?

(1)  Sew more and procrastinate less. 
I have an awful habit of picking a pattern, fabric, notions and saving until I can buy them, thinking about my new dress for weeks, then the stuff gets here and suddenly I find something I HAVE to watch on tv, a blog I HAVE to read or a cake I MUST bake and it gets forgotten even though I was so pumped up about this before.  I am not sure why I put off the actual sewing as I love it, maybe it is because once I start something I like to sit and see it through rather than stop then come back to it.

(2)  Complete my 12 in 12 challenge
I didn't quite complete it last month, I skipped one month, but I am trying to sew one garment each month to improve my sewing skills and create a home made wardrobe.

(3)  Take part in The Sew Weekly Challenge
I am not going to do every week but I sew more when it is to a deadline and I love some of the themes that they come up with for people to sew along with.


(4)  Learn a new sewing technique(s)
My main aim with sewing different patterns is to learn new tips, tricks and techniques.  I like to try something different with every project and would like to try pattern drafting, french seams, sewing sheer fabric, hand embroidery etc

(5)  Start a monthly book review section on my blog
I always have a book on the go and I love to read maybe more than I love sewing (eeep can't believe I just said that!) and was thinking about doing some book review posts.  I'm not sure whether to just make them part of my current blog or if I should start another that would deal with them but I tend to read 4 or 5 books a month and people I know often ask me what they should read next.  Plus I like to keep a record of what I have read just for my own pleasure.

So thats it!  Not too specific as I don't think I would keep resolutions that are too difficult or time consuming.  Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Good News!

I won a competition today :)  Hooray!  It was run over on Beebee's Vintage Dress blog http://beebeesvintagedress.blogspot.com/ and I got some really nice patterns.  I know more patterns but can you ever really have enough?

Today I finished my birdy skirt too and will get some pictures tomorrow when the light is better and I can hopefully make it into an outfit.  I also made a Victoria sponge which Is really yummy.  Do you reckon I could win any WI competitions with this?

For Mother's Day I made my mum a card and bracelet as she deserves something nice.  I sent a couple of books too but these were my handmade items.

The flowers were brads from a stationers and I just added the rest.

It's pretty simple as that is how my mum likes her jewelry and she should be able to wear it to work without it stopping her from typing as chunky ones sometimes do.

Hug from a Mug Rug!

Today I managed to finish off my mug rug which I hope to give to one of my friends tomorrow.  Mug rugs are basically oversized coasters for a hot mug and biscuit and are usually made using patchwork and quilting methods.  They have become very popular on carfting websites at the moment and I just had to give one a try!

This is my first attempt, its for someone who loves monkeys so I went with that theme then played about with fabric scraps and bits I had and some really cute binding I found in Knitters and Sewers World, my local sewing shop.  I am pretty pleased with it and the wonky sewing just adds to the homemadeness!

 On the back view you can see the quilting better.  This stripey fabric annoys me as although it is pretty it NEVER stays in a straight line so always looks wonky once you have sewn with it.  I have loads given to me by a friend so I expect you will see more of it!  I haven't yet used it in a garment as I think it may be a little overpowering on its own.

Also this week I recieved these loovely ceramic buttons which I won in an Abakhan competition.  No idea what to use them for yet but they are really sweet.

I also got a great ebay package which was a complete bargain, some pretty pastals which I am busy thinking up ways to use.  I don't wear pastals that often but I really liked these prints so I expect some sort of summery dress or skirt.

I have started my next project, a carrier bag holder, not very exciting but very practical and hopefully something that can be quite pretty.