Ellie's Birthday top : #9

As soon as I saw this pattern for a cute spring top on Sew Mama Sew I knew I had to try it out. Mainly because instead of using a pattern to trace round that only goes up to a size 14 or 16 it simply gave you a formula of how to make the top exactly to your specification. Given that Im a larger sized lady this works out well for me.

However, I also knew pretty much straight away that I wanted to make one of these tops for my sister for her birthday. My sister has an awesome figure so I knew the shape and style of the top would flatter her to no end. Add to that, I had been given a length of silky material for a Secret Santa gift, that I thought would look gorgeous as a top and I had just been waiting for the right project to use it.

I have to say that this pattern is really straight forward and it comes together in a few hours (probably less but I am really easily distracted). There are also some options built into the pattern meaning that you can create a few of these for your wardrobe and they can look different (pockets, sleeve ruffles, shaping).

Here is the one I made for Ellie:





I also made myself a pink leopard print one and have just cut out all the bits for making a blue skull and crossbones one. I will post them as soon I have pictures of them, but I will warn u....they might not be pretty. :-p

Time for Tea Swap - What I sent Megan - #6,7,8

My brain has been the haziest thing lately. When I made all the stuff for the Time for Tea swap, I forgot to photgraph it before I packaged it all up prettily and sent it away to Megan (Vintage Violet).

Thankfully, Megan is NOT so brain dead and did take pictures of the items she received and it helps that she is a pretty good photographer. Im really hoping she wont mind that I have borrowed this picture to use to show items 6, 7 and 8 in my make 50 challange.

You can view the rest of her pictures and the post HERE

Heres what I made:

An apron, tea wallet and cute little purse.

Time for Tea Swap

So I took part in my first EVER swap (other than secret santas but they officially dont count :p). Kinda fitting that the first swap I take part in is run by my very, very good friend Vonnie (Adventures of a Lady in Training). True to her nature (since the only time I ever actually drink the stuff is in her house!) she ran a Time for Tea themed swap.

For this swap, we had to make a Time for Tea crafted item to a retail value of £10 and also include a crafty item for your partner to use and some tea, of course.

I was matched with the very beautiful and extremely talented VintageViolet (Maximum RABBIT designs). I was actually very pleased to receive Megan as my partner as I know her work is gorgeous and Ive bought things from her before so I knew this would turn out well. I have to say though, I was slightly intimidated with her as my partner as I thought I couldnt make anything as good as what she would send me.

Unfortunately, I was a bit silly and forgot to take pictures of the things I made to send to her but she has blogged about them here: Time for Tea Swap

I made her an apron from some gorgeous fabric Ive had my eye on in Dunelm Mill from when I worked there (9 months ago!). At the Craft Show at the SECC I picked up a fat quarter of fabric with cups on it to make the little tea wallet and I included some felt as Megan likes to make felt brooches. I had to stop myself at one point as I had picked out a baby pink, a fuschia pink and another pink as she said she doesnt like too much pink so limited myself to the fuschia pink (turns out she loved it so I could have got away from forcing more pink on her :-p).

Now onto the gifts I received. I was actually taken aback at how gorgeous the items were.



First thing I opened was this Alice in Wonderland, Mad hatters brooch. As a kid I was given a copy of Alice in Wonderland as a gift and I held that copy dear to my heart.



Next I read the card she included, she always gets really nice colours.



Finally I opened my last little package. Boy have I glad I left it to last. When I opeend this I exclaimed to my parents "MUUUUNNNKKKKEEEYYYY" but they were blissfully unaware as to what I was going on about. But the detail in this is absolutely lovely, I particulary like her tiara and her little pincushion teacup.

Everyone I would like you to meet Princess Tea-ara:



I just want to say thank you to Vonnie for running this swap and to Megan for being an awesome swap partner. Thanks ladies!!!!

The Thursday Night Project and 50 things

I decided to partipate in the 8th Jan Thursday Night project on Crafteroo as I wasnt working that day and ended up not going to Brownies because of a rib injury. I also had a pile of like 5 bags that had been cut and were ready to get sewn.

First of all I sewed up these clutch bags. I cut these out way before christmas and theyve been sitting in the kitchen (? I know strange) since. They are all made from beautiful fabric and I remembered almost at the last moment that I wanted to put magnetic closures on them, which I think is just the perfect finishing touch (had previously made with velcro and then buttons).



I also made this bag as I had cut out all the relevant. I had also made two of them previously and they had both sold. However, Im totally not hapyp with this one. I think I just rushed it and it doesnt feel right. Im not sure what I will do with it yet.



This last bag is one of my favourite things to do at the moment. I saw a skirt on Thriftstore UK on LJ that I really liked and thought wow that would look really cool as a bag as it was one of those puffball skirts. Anyway that bag is currently not photographed but it made me beon the lookout for more cute skirts on there to do this. And i found a realy cute one in a size8 (to give an idea of size. Very simple yet effective technique.





So all in all a sucessful TTNP and 5 things towards my 50, thats 10 % done. woo!!

2009 - The Year Ahead

Last year was fun. I got into my crafting more and got involved with Crafts Unlimited Association and got myself out and about for Craft Fairs. I didnt sell a great amount but I have learned a lot about the scene.

I also joined a very small crafts forum (at the time) Crafteroo and got myself involved with others with similar interests. I have, for the most part stayed involved in that forum as it has expanded and gotten to know lots more people. The people there are great and they are soooo friendly and helpful.

The forum is also what will supply my 2nd blog post of the year as every Thursday we have TTNP: The Thursday Night Project. This is where we work on certain projects and post up pictures of our works in progress and then the next day post pic of the finished objects. I took part last Thursday as I had loads of stuff cut out and just ready to get sewn together. Will post them later.

Final thing for the moment. I often lose my way with blogging and I hold my hands up to that. However, this year I plan to blog at least once a week. I wont make any unrealistic targets but I think once a week is a realistic target, not least for the following reason.

I am going to take part in a little incentive for myself: 50 things in 2009. In other words Im going to make at least 50 items this year which I think should be alright for me, especially when I will be creating new things for fairs and for the shop. So I think this is attainable. We shall wait and see.

Hope those who are reading this are all well!