Another Esme (Lotta Jansdotter's 'Everyday style' book)

I wouldn't normally blog about this as I have made several already but I just love it so much I had to share it with you!!

  It is another Esme tunic (lengthened to a dress) from Lotta Jansdotter's 'Everyday Style' book It is made in a wonderful purple stretch denim that I picked up at the first sew bee's meet up at Ditto Fabric's in Brighton (also online) They don't have it in anymore but have lots of other great fabrics! The stretch in the denim makes it soooooooooo comfie and purple + mustard yellow is one of my favorite colour combinations! I am also planning several more makes from this book for summer.

  Not much more to say about it only that I love it and have been wearing at every possible opportunity!

  This is fast becoming a TNT (tried and true) pattern for me, do you have a favorite pattern that you have made again and again?

   Thanks for stopping by!

          Su xx

A couple of Julia cardigans (Welcome to the mouse house creations)

These two Julia cardigans have been in constant rotation since I made them. I had been looking for a pattern to replace a much loved old RTW cardigan and this pattern is so perfect for me. I never wear cardigans done up and prefer a loose but not over loose fit.

  Construction was very simple - for both of mine I chose the double collar version as I wanted a slightly stiffer collar to have a slight jacket feel to it and also because the inside was neater. I made both of these entirely on my overlocker (a big step for me!!).

They are just perfect for layering.

I love a longer arm but these are a little long even for me!

  Thanks for stopping by!

        Su xx

More True Bias Mini Hudsons

After the success of my previous True bias mini hudson pants which the boys choose to wear frequently I thought I had better make some more asap!

 I bought a thickish french terry from Fabworks and got going! There isn't really much more to say other than the boys love them even more than the other pairs I have made! The only difficulty with these is that in places the fabric layers were too thick for my overlocker so the inside is a little messy.

I struggled to get a good photo of the mini hudsons specifically as the boys were having so much fun on our first seaside visit of the year.

  Thanks for stopping by!

       Su xx

A trio of Terrariums and other ponderings....

When I think back to the Easter holidays last year I shudder. I was really quite unwell, my husband was mostly away on business, and I was coping with side effects of medications plus all the symptoms of my illness - I could only concentrate on getting through each day at a time. If we made it through the day without any serious injuries I considered it an achievement! And I'm sorry to admit that childcare consisted of lot of telly plus other screens, pizza and sandwiches! I just wasn't able to be in the moment and enjoy the time off school that the children had. Things this year I'm glad to say are very different, medication is controlling my illness and other than weight gain (at least I have an excuse to make/buy new clothes - as if I needed any!) I have very few significant side effects.

  I have been able to enjoy precious time with my little people, we have a 'going out' activity most mornings, followed by some imagination play (my kids are especially good at this!), some home school work (one of my little people is really struggling at the moment so we all do some home school together so he doesn't feel left out), we take the dog out for walks, and usually fit in a movie/or screen time too! I have been able to cook wholesome meals (as well as some pizza!). I have loads of 'work' that I should be doing but have been able to put it to the back of my mind (not an easy task for me!) and just enjoy what each day brings!

  This morning it was rainy so our going out activity was limited to a garden center to buy supplies. I was given these huge sweet jars a few months ago, at the time I had no idea what I would use them for and then last week I read an article about making Terrariums.

  I guided the little people with what order to put the layers in and just let their imaginations take over. (I think I may have to do some sneaky night time replanting for the sake of plant survival).

Step 1: Pebbles (supposed to be grit but we didn't have any).

Step 2: Moss

Step 3: compost plus activated charcoal

Step 4: planting - this was tricky as I really struggled to find a) the right sort of plants and b)small enough plants. They also added old drift wood and the boys added toy soldiers (because theirs were army bases of course!)

All things considered there wasn't really too much mess!

  This activity has spiked their imaginations and they have all been story writing and building 'real life' dens inside ever since we made the terrariums.

  I have been enjoying spending this time with them and will be sad once the holidays end.

  I read this post from Enjoying the small things yesterday and it has made me think even more about how important time is, and how everything changes no matter how much we don't want it to. She quotes part of a Mary Oliver poem - 'Have you ever tried to enter the long black branches?'  I love poems and song lyrics - one of my favorites that always makes me think of the little people is Bob Dylans Forever Young, I know they can't stay young forever but I hope that one day they grow up to be strong and happy adults.

"Forever Young"

May God bless and keep you always 
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others 
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars 
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young 
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous 
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth 
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous 
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young 
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy 
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation 
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful 
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young 
May you stay forever young.

  If you have made it this far - thanks for sticking with all my ramblings!

      Su xx

Finally a Colette Moneta...

 Hello everyone!! It has been a while since I last posted. I have been sewing lots but have been very busy at work and just hadn't felt like blogging - until now! We are in the second week of the Easter holidays and I guess I finally feel relaxed - prepare yourselves for a blogging bombardment!!

  When I first started my sewing journey one of the first proper patterns I bought was the Moneta by colette patterns there are lots and lots of wonderful moneta's out there as it is not a new pattern. On my first trip to a fabric shop I bought 3m of a turquoise blue jersey. My inexperience meant that I bought some kind of clingy, shiny stuff and although I got as far as cutting out the pattern I soon realized that the fabric was horrible and it lay as my only UFO for over a year.

  This spring I decided that I finally needed to make this one up! I bought new fabric and also had to purchase the PDF pattern as I had changed sizes. Construction was straight forward, the only issue I had was with the clear elastic - I think this was because I used the same clear elastic that I had originally bought when I first bought the pattern. When I stretched it to gather the skirt a proportion of it didn't return to its original state meaning that I had to do some gathering in combination with the elastic.

  I'm pretty pleased with the result, if I was making it again I would shorten the bodice as where the waistline sits is a little unflattering on me. I wear this with a belt but chose not to wear it for the photos so you could see it without.

I think it will be a great spring and early summer dress

At the moment I am mostly wearing it with a cardi and scarf.

  Thanks for stopping by!

         Su xx

True Bias Mini Hudson Pants OR 'How cute is this pattern'!!

My 'models' had just finished watching Kung Fu Panda (one of my personal favorites!) Hence the 'expressions' (especially of the smaller of the two!).

This is the Mini Hudson pant pattern from True Bias there really isn't much to say about it other than it is a great pattern with wonderful instructions and is a joy to sew!

For my first makes I decided to stash bust so these are made up in just jersey fabric - perhaps the fabric is a little lighter than intended but I think these will make good trousers for warmer weather. I made them up simultaneously and really enjoyed the sew - wondering if I should purchase the grown up sized pattern for me.

My littlest boy is a bit of a squirt and I made a size 5 for him - fits perfectly I think.

My bigger boy is not big for his age either so I sewed up a size 7 - I think he could have done with an 8 as it is a little tight around the calves.

He totally loves them though and says they are very comfie!!

Boys are much harder to get to 'pose' than girls - they just wanted to be taking the photos rather than being in them!!

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend with plenty of sewing (or dreaming of sewing!). I am soooooo exited as I am off the the knitting and stitching show next weekend with some blogging buddies! - It is a little present to myself for having to work so hard over the past few weeks!

Thanks for stopping by!

Su xx

Valentine Appleton dress with a cherry on top!

I didn't realize until I was cutting out that there are tiny hearts (green and red) on some of the cherries - you can just about see them on this picture.  It will be perfect to wear on valentines day!

I went for a contrast neck band and waist ties - it does accentuate my 'curves' somewhat and I'm still deciding weather this is a good thing or not!

Unfortunately I sewed on the neckband on Saturday evening and obviously wasn't paying attention - I got my left and right mixed up and managed to sew the neckband on the wrong way! I thought  might get away with it but it does gape a little so I think I will have to unpick it. I just hope that it hasn't stretched too much as I am out of the plain navy fabric!

My youngest thought trying to photo bomb the pictures after I pressed the remote was the best fun ever - So I didn't have many photos without him (or part of him) in them!

My next project will be the Roberts collection dungarees - this is a bit experimental as I am not sure it will suit me but I have seen so many lovely versions in the interweb I just have to give it a go!

I have bought this gorgeous black denim with a red underside - perfect for turn-ups!!

This will be a slow make for me as I haven't made anything like this before, I also have a busy few weeks coming up so not much sewing time.

Thanks for stopping by!

Su xx