A fresh start...

I love this time of year. It feels great to look forward to a fresh start and have time to think about what I hope to achieve in 2011.

There are some amazing bloggers out there and I am officially loving Elsie's blog a beautiful mess. Elsie has posted details of the fantastic Project restyle, click on the link below for full details. I have taken the plunge and pledged to blog about restyled items fashion, gifts or homeware. I anticipate I will be mostly blogging about fashion and I'm really excited to see all the fab ideas I can borrow (steal!).

I have sew many resolutions for this year (you'll pardon the pun), here is my list:
#1. Project restyle
#2. Complete my long started (and languishing ever hopefully) Amy Butler Anna Tunic dress
#3. Sew my Cath Kidston handbag (the bag came with the Sew! book I received for my birthday
#4. Set up and launch my Folksy shop
#5. Add some more flair to this blog by taking part in Elsie's blog love e-course

Phew! After all that I will be exhausted...

Yesterday I made the pretty felt brooch above using a kit my sister bought me for Christmas, as a test for the first time around I used some felt I had and didn't expect it to turn out so well. I will be giving this one to my sister to wear when she goes home after the holidays.

Emma x

Lace! the obsession continues and other nice things...

Unless you have barricaded yourself indoors, most of you will have noticed by now how much colder it's been getting recently. As I am one of those individuals who has very poor circulation and feels the cold like a granny, I decided to take action! Firstly as a part time knitter I have learned the art of using circular needles - the greatest time-saving device ever. I am in the midst of knitting this gorgeous Rowan snood (the pattern is called Hoodwink) in a heather coloured Aran. It will be gorgeous when finished!



I am also thinking ahead to those Christmas lunches, I wanted something smart and warm to wear. I was given some gorgeous silver vintage look buttons and had bought some lace that was just hanging around at home. I decided to buy a black jumper from a retail chain and customise it to save some money. It took me a good hour or so to pin the lace in place and I'm pleased with the result.



Whilst I was working on the jumper there was a welcome knock on the door from the postie. I received the gifts I ordered from Cath Kidston for christmas. Love the packaging!



I also received the Winter edition of Cloth Magazine, I love this inspiring mag as it has loads of ideas for the fashionable seamstress. I subscribed for 4 issues for the bargain price of £12 and received this lovely sewing kit by Fred Aldous.



Thanks for reading, Emma x

Catching up!

I've had an incredibly busy few weeks - Bette Noir's Vintage Fair, a holiday, a birthday, a trip to Langage Farm and a weekend to get over it! I wanted to share some photos from the fair and some highlights from the past few weeks including presents and lots of cake. My mission over the next few weeks is to get back into some sewing (dare I say it 'for Christmas!"). I can't believe how fast it has come around this year and I'm looking forward to impressing (hopefully) friends and family with some creations.

I'm so grateful for the lovely presents I received. I love my Cath Kidston and Amy Butler sewing kits, the Sew! book came with it's own bag sewing kit which is at the top of my list to make. I'm also planning on customizing a black dress and a cardigan. I'm looking forward to getting started again this weekend!

Over on Tilly's blog those who are interested can register their interest to join a Christmas crafting group on Flickr. Hoping to get lots of ideas for lovely festive crafts.

Until next time...

A sneak preview...

Dear blogosphere, I have been busy sewing and knitting as if my life depended on it. Bette Noir's Handmade & Vintage fair is next weekend (eeek!), I am both excited and daunted by my fellow stall holders who will be talented craftspeople and vintage experts. To lighten the mood I thought you readers might like to take a peak at my sewing equipment which always looks very beautiful when set out, even if nothing is accomplished!



My sewing machine is a lightweight Brother model, I chose this one specifically because of it's weight and petite size. I started sewing a cushion cover at a class and initially I was borrowing their machine. Sadly the class ended after only a few weeks. The sewing machine arrived a week later. I would really recommend a lightweight machine to anyone who needs to pack away their equipment after each use. It's really handy to be able to stow away when you don't have much storage space!



So as you can see I have plenty of fantastic haberdashery, ribbons, buttons, lace etc. to get on with some serious crafting. I thought you all deserved a sneak peak of the items I will be selling at the fair next week. Here are a couple of items, a handmade bookbag, which when finished will have corsages and buttons attached, and a yo-yo necklace (now finished). If you have any ideas on how much I should charge for these items please add a comment to this post. Pricing is the most difficult part I think!





Thanks for reading, that's all for now. I hope to see some of you at the fair next Saturday! x

New fabrics from Saints & Pinners

I have been looking longingly at the Saints & Pinners website for a while now trying to decide which fabrics to order. I decided on these sale fabrics for my bags. I want to give them a vintage feel as I will be selling the bags at Bette Noir's Vintage and Handmade Fair in October. Very excited that they are here...



From left to right: Pop Garden Rose Bouquet brown, Love Bliss Bouquet teal, Champion feather

I also have to mention I purchased a new pair of black pumps for the autumn, they are beautiful. The box impressed me the most though, the vintage design in candy colours is gorgeous. Belle & Mimi is available at barratts.



And the shoes...



Time to start cutting out fabric :)

Vintage yellow polka dot dress

The yellow dress was a gift from a work colleague. Her daughter hates yellow and didn't want to keep it. Her loss was most definitely my gain. I started by taking up the hem as it was below calf length on me.



Next I made a lining and sewed it into the waistband, being careful not to catch the elasticated waist.



I added multi-coloured buttons and found the perfect belt for just £5 at Matalan, et volia! I wore this dress at my mum's 50th birthday tea party and received loads of compliments.

Bette Noir's Vintage & Handmade fair

When I set up this blog I absolutely intended to track my projects as I progressed. I haven't done very well with this up until now, but I wanted to share with you my next foray into sewing. I'm making bags, needlecases and brooches for this handmade fair in October. I'm really excited about gathering items together.

This will be my first fair and I am really feeling the pressure of a fixed deadline! I'll be taking photographs of the stall on the day for you to see the finished product. If you live in the Plymouth area please do come along!