So then.....

So no one poked me with a stick ☹ Now, do I take that as no one actually still reads this or maybe life is way too exciting / busy to notice that I had gone back on my word. I promised to pop in and post regular, it didn’t’ happen….again!

I really need more focus streamlining areas in my life, of course I am an expert at procrastinating, aren’t we all. But I feel like, and I know I’ve probably said this a thousand times, I am all over the place in terms of where I am in life. Some people keep telling me that I am focusing on that fact too much but I just wish that I could push myself into really honing in to a ‘purpose’.

So to start myself off I have decided to let my website go, it was due for renewal this month. The money spent on this I thought could be used better elsewhere as I've not added to my website since last year. I will keep the domain name but its time to say goodbye to the site. I've also closed my Etsy and Folksy shops, although I had been planning on doing that last year....its now done :) The only part I cant decided on is whether or not to keep my Facebook page going. I think I'll sit on that for a while longer.

In a bid to actually focus myself, I was thinking about trying a vision board. Have any of you done this yourselves? I am hoping that a bit like blogging, it will be a good way for me to get it down on paper and have something visual to keep me focused.

Vision board = a collage of images and words representing a persons wishes or goals, intended to serve as inspiration or motivation.

I am setting a target for myself of a week to get this down on paper, starting by writing a list and then I’m going to search for some inspiring images to go on my board.

Oh I almost forgot to say that on the sewing front I have (finally) started my Jenna Jumpsuit! Woop woop!! Its one of the items on my #Make9 list (*mutters under breath* lets not mention that list). I love the fabric and hope that it turns out how I hope it will. I have plans for this outfit.

Right that’s me done, does this post make up for the lack of posts? Probably not but at least I’m trying, right?

Take care my lovelies,

Emma xxx

Feeling disconnected

Hello my lovelies, I do hope that you are all OK out there? 

June hey!! How did that happen??? Sheesh! Isn't this year flying over. OK so I feel like I owe you guys an update. Earlier in the year I posted about how I was going to be more present here on my blog concentrating on sewing for me. Well.....what the hell happened there then Emma????

The honest answer...I don't really know. I think it has a lot to do with my mindset and the fact that I am feeling totally disconnected from everything. Do you think I am having a mid-life crisis??? I have questioned many things this year and there have been lots of changes. But I still feel that something is still not quite right. Does anyone else sometimes feel like that?

One thing that I did decide was to close my website. I don't really put anything on there anymore and other than using my email it all seemed a little bit pointless and an expense that I didn't really need. I will always be Bagladee....shes my creative alter ego. However my website lapses in July so for the following month I will be transferring all of my emails over to my personal account. I have put both my Etsy and Folksy shops on permanent vacation and once my website is closed I will be closing those too. Its good to have a clear out. I will still be keeping my blog and Instagram account but I'm thinking of knocking my Facebook page on the head too....any thoughts on that one? Do you follow me over there?

I've been out of action for this past 2 weeks as I had a little accident with my foot so I've been laid up alternating between ice baths and elevating it. So I thought now would be a perfect time to say hi. First off Nell was in recovery and now its me. Ppppfff!!! She is doing really well I have to add, thinks she's a bionic cat now and tries to jump everywhere so we're constantly moving furniture out of the way and telling her to slow down ha ha!!! I still cant believe what a tough little cookie she is, so stubborn....hmmmm she reminds me of someone :D

So while I'm here I may as well make a promise to myself and see if I can actually keep it this time. Every Thursday I will pop in and leave a post even if its just a little wave to say hi and tell you whats happened in my week. Maybe this will help me feel more connected? Who knows....I do know that being here and talking it out with you lovelies does really help me. And I've missed it!

So feel free to poke me with a virtual stick if I disappear again....

Speak soon,

Emma xxx

Fur baby drama

Hello my lovelies....firstly let me say I'm sorry I have been away for so long. I cant believe it was early February when I last posted here. I hope you're all well?

So let me explain where I have been. If you've been following my blog for some time you will know that I am a fur baby Mamma to 3 kitties. Nell, my shadow as I like to call her, my oldest girl at 16....here she is, just look at that face! No not my mug lol :)

On Sunday 11th March she fell off a window sill in our home and ruptured her cruciate ligaments in her right knee. I initially thought that she had dislocated her leg as she was dragging it. We rushed her straight to the emergency vets, who said they would x-ray her leg and call us when they knew more of her injury. 

They ended up keeping her overnight because her blood tests revealed that her kidney levels were high so they put her on a drip. They called us and said that it was dislocated and they had popped it back in and we could go and collect her in the morning. We drove down and as soon as we got into the consultation room it turned into a complete nightmare. 

The vet (who I have to add was not the vet that administered her the day before) said that even though they had popped it back in it had popped out again and that she had obviously done more damage than they thought....ermmmm you X-rayed her, how the hell did you not know this from those??? She then preceded to tell us that it was most likely irreparable and that she was lame in the leg and we would have to considered the option of having her put to sleep!

I still feel sick when I read that back to myself!!!! I almost collapsed, Mr.B (who has a heart condition) went as white as a sheet, I burst into tears and said I just couldn't do it. The vet said we could take her straight to our registered vets for them to assess her xrays and give us a second opinion. Obviously I was a total mess by the time we carried out our little girl in her carrier to the car. I completely broke down....approaching my forties I don't have children, my cats are my babies and anyone who has seen me with Nell would know, she's my girl. I just couldn't bare the thought that our time together was up. I was devastated.

We drove straight to our vets and waited outside for them to open (we had collected her at 7:30am). Through lots of tears we explained exactly what the emergency vet had told us, our vet was completely gobsmacked that we had been told this. She said they would admit her, give her some good pain meds and when they received the x-rays they would assess and call us. The last thing she said was "don't worry, there will be something we can do to help her, we certainly would not consider putting her to sleep, leave her with us we will look after her". I burst into tears again, I wanted to hug the vet!! She could see in my face my appreciation and put her hand on my shoulder.

We collected our little ball of fur at 7:30pm the same day, it was explained to us that she had torn her cruciate ligaments in her knee, which meant her leg was completely dislocated at the knee joint. She was drugged up to the eye balls to compensate for the terrible pain she was in. The vet said that she would need an op by a specialist which would be expensive or we had the option of having her leg amputated. I felt helpless....who were we to make the decision of whether to have her leg off? We asked for a consultation with the specialist. They came back 3 days later to say that they thought it was repairable by surgery and that they were happy for our vet to carry out the procedure as she was in fact an orthopaedic surgeon. We quickly made the decision to admit her on the Friday to have the operation. 

The week leading up to her surgery was the worst week I've had in as long as I can remember. I had to force feed her, water, food and medication because she just wouldn't take anything. My heart was broken, I felt like I just couldn't do anything for her (even though I was). I explained to work that I needed time off to look after her and they were great! We had to buy a dog crate to keep her in, partly so she couldn't move her leg and partly to keep her segregated from the other two fluff pots. I sat by her side all week, I barely slept from constantly listening out for her and giving her pain meds throughout the night.

Friday morning we took her in for her op, they explained again the risks of an old girl like my girl going under anaesthetic and I had to sign the consent form...I kissed her head and told her to be really strong for Momma and that I would be back to collect her later with treats.

Mr.B took me for a cup of tea and then we went to buy her some tasty treats from the pet centre for when she came home. 

We collected her later that day and the first thing I said to her when I saw her was "I told you I would be back to collect you my tough little cookie!". I was soooooo relieved that she had come out the other side, complete with her "turkey leg" as Mr.B called it :)

This was literally an hour or two after her surgery, Clare out vet is just so wonderful. She explained what we needed to do and what to look out for and gave us plenty of meds for our girl. She wore a cone for the best part of a week, then she decided that was enough...she thought it would be really funny to keep her Mamma awake at night by dragging it across the bars like a convict!! So off came the cone and we just told her every time she went to lick it no. She learned quickly it was not allowed and left it alone.

 After two full weeks of cage rest we were allowed to let her have room rest and introduce her back to our other two fur babies. And after 3 very long weeks, I finally had my first lap cuddle! 

That was 5 weeks ago, she is now allowed up and down stairs, but no jumping or wrestling with the other two (yeah that's been hard, try having eyes in the back and side of your head to stop them). We bought her steps to climb onto our bed (her favourite place) and have watched her like a hawk. When I had to go back to work we even called upon Mr.B's Mam to come and watch her :)

This little lady still has a long way to go but I really cant believe how far she had come and how well she is doing!! She is one little tough madam for sure. She already had a special place in my heart, even more so now. I know pets don't live forever, but I am so bloody pleased that we get to have some more time together....we just weren't ready for the end!

I think she's happy, don't you!!!! 

Normal service should now resume, I need to get my butt back into my sewing room to rustle up some of the make 9 projects I still have on my list!!! lol

I did spend some time making another crochet blanket for my great niece and started a cross stitch which I will show you another time.

But for now lovelies, I'm off for snuggles with my black and white warier!!! 

Emma xxxx

Fitting

Hello again my lovelies, I've been lucky enough to spend sometime this weekend sewing!! I know right!! Woop *punches air*.

Unfortunately though the light has not been good enough (whilst I've been home) to take any photos of my finished makes :( Roll on the lighter evenings! Its just so dark when I come home from work at the moment, the only time I get a chance to take photos is a weekend and if the weather is pants then.....pfffff!!!

Anyway, with everything else going on, I totally forgot to tell you about Betty No.2, Betty (No.2) was a gift from my Dad for Christmas. Obviously I'm talking about my Adjustoform Dummy :) and she is now a mirror image of me (or should I say I am a mirror image of her - what a dummy!!) so now I can fit garments to my exact'ish size without having to whip my clothes off every 10 minutes! Yes I was really doing this and at times I've sat in my pants at my sewing machine whilst adjusting a seam. I know you all didn't really need to know that but well I like to tell it how it is.

I just have to add Betty No.1 (a non adjustable dummy) is still in my room, in fact she's behind her replacement, she's just hiding.

So I've still got lots of lovely things to show you all and I promise I will soon. I've almost finished my SOI Ultimate shift dress and my Bettine is done and looking fabulous :D

Hope your Monday has not been too bad...

Have a great week,

Emma xxx

Make Nine 2018

Whoooooo look at me....another post! Hello my lovelies. Since I had such a blast doing the Make Nine 2017, there was no question about doing it this year. Making a plan back in April, even though it did change slightly, gave me a goal to aim for which was amazing for my motivation. Pop back to this post here if you want to see what I did make.

Last years Make Nine list was full of patterns that I confidently knew I wouldn't have too much trouble getting stuck into. I didn't pick anything that I felt was out of my comfort zone. Remember this was my way of getting back into dressmaking and I didn't want to put myself off before I'd even started. As I said in my previous post I was pleased that I had managed eight of out the nine considering I only started in the April.

Now that I feel more confident with my machine and making clothes this years Make Nine I have made a challenge for myself. I have purposely picked items that I know will push me wayyyy out of my comfort zone. And to be totally honest some of the patterns scare the shiz out of me lol

Here is my list (see photo above):

1. The Drop Set by Made It Patterns

2. Bettine Dress by Tilly and the Buttons

3. Overalls by Burda Young

4. Kelly Anorak by Closet Case Patterns

5. The Jenna Jumpsuit by Cotton and Chalk

6. Ginger Jeans by Closet Case Patterns

7. Ultimate Trousers by Sew Over It

8. Agnes Top by Tilly and the Buttons

9. Ultimate Shift Dress by Sew Over It

There are two in the list that make me nervous just by looking at the illustrations on the front, the first one being the Kelly Anorak. I mean come on its a coat!!! Look at all the pieces and the notions required not to mention the zip and poppers!!!! SHIT.......see I told you it made me nervous. I'm totally gonna do it though!!! I have made a promise to myself that even if I'm petrified of it I'm gonna do it anyway!! Whats the worst that can happen? 

I dont have a fabric picked out yet but I'm twoing and froing over plain or patterned fabric? What do you lovelies think?

My second terrifying pattern is the Ginger Jeans, I love skinny jeans and because of my height I do struggle to find ones to fit my gangly legs sometimes. If I could actually pull this off and make my own jeans......well that would just be it for me!!! Life mission accomplished (almost te he!) I mean how amazing would it be to be strutting around in a pair of skinnies that I'd actually made with my own hands!!!!!

I've popped in a couple of patterns so that I can get some practice in of sewing stretch fabric and some dungarees and a jumpsuit, again for those blimmin' legs of mine. I've always wanted an adult pair of dungarees, I practically lived out of them when I was a kid. 

So wish me luck on my Make Nine, I will come back and try to do a review of some sort of each of the patterns.....let me know if there is anything else you would like me to cover.

Till next time my lovelies.....stay smiling :)

Emma xxx

My Make Nine 2017 - almost

Hello my lovelies, well as promised here are some photos of my Make Nine from last year. There were also a pair of pj shorts but I have no idea where the photo has gone so I've popped in a photo of my Linden Sweatshirt that I finished over the Christmas break...didn't quite finish it before the end of 2017 but the intention was there so surely that counts rights?

Its been a busy couple of weeks here again but I have managed a little sewing, I've finished my latest crochet blanket and I've been working on some more plans for 2018.

Hopefully blogging will pick up a little bit now as I have a stash of photos to show you all and still some more to take *thumbs up* could this be a sign of me finally getting my sh*t together and getting organised? 

This is part of the reason I love my blog, its great for getting my head straight. Getting all those ideas and plans down and out there so that you kinda said it out loud so that means you have to get your ass into gear and get them done! :) 

How do you all find it best to lay out plans? Are you a list writer? Have you got any suggestions on how to be more organised? I'd love to hear them, I am a terrible (I should say expert) procrastinator so anything that gets me organised and focused is a win in my book.

Right I'm tootling off now to go and make another (3rd of the evening) cup of tea and start planning the rest of this weeks posts.

Have a fab week guys....see you soon,

Emma xxx

Soul sewing

Hello my lovelies, I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and that it was as all or little as you wanted it to be. For me...it was all over in a flash. One day I will get to take it nice and easy on the run up to Christmas but I'm afraid this year (again) was not...I wouldn't change a thing though, it was lovely. I didn't get to spend as much time with family as I would have liked but still it was nice to see, hug and catch up with everyone.

I have a couple of days before I go back to the day job so I'm taking this time to relax and do some fun (me) things. Yesterday I spent the afternoon sewing, which I haven't done in a few months. One thing that I do know is that I am truly happy when I am sewing. I don't do it as often as I would like but I'm working on that one.

I'm not a one for new years resolutions so last year I decided to choose a word for the year ahead rather than something that I would probably never stick too. My word was "change" for 2017 and boy was there change in my life!!!

This time I'm going to chose the obvious word "SEW" I don't know at this point how but I intend to sew as much as I can in 2018. If I were to chose another word for 2018 it would be "Calm" lol. I think most people would chose that one!!

Its amazing how energised and fired up I get when I've been making something. Its a total mood lifter for me...every time. Its definitely in my soul to sew, I can feel it. And every time I make something new I feel an overwhelming sense of achievement that I just don't get from anything else and almost surprise myself.

I think it was in April this year that I decided to try and aim for the #Make9 pledge you can read my post here. I did think it was a little ambitious considering 4 months of the year were already over!! You will be able to see that there were quite a few changes to the list but it was more to fit what I wanted to make rather than the patterns that I had at the time of writing the list. 

To be honest I've never really kept track of what I did actually make. Until today where I made a list of all the things I have made this year:

1. SOI Ultimate Shift Dress

2. SOI Silk Cami x2

3. PJ Bottoms

4. PJ Shorts

5. SOI Ultimate Pencil Skirt

6. SOI Poppy Playsuit

7. Ogden Cami x2

8. Linden Sweatshirt

So all in all I managed 8, which I don't think is a bad effort. I could actually squeeze in one more if I wanted to but lets not put any pressure on the last few days of 2017....remember "calm".

OK so this is me signing off for 2017.....I will be back after New Year to tell you all about my sewing plans for 2018!

So whatever you have planned, whether it be dressing up and going out to parties or staying in your jammies (I will be doing the latter) have a truly wonderful New Year....here's hoping its the best year yet for us all. 

See you on the other side...

Emma xxx

Homeland

We Hello my lovelies, well what a lovely couple of days we've had. We had planned to travel up to Newcastle on Thursday but we needed to change our plans a little as Mr.B was recovering from an abscess on a tooth. We made it up north on Friday afternoon...boy was it cold :) lol I think I have been living down south too long! We met up with my Dad and had a mooch round the shops and the Christmas Market. 

The lights in Newcastle were so pretty and it was a comforting feeling walking around hearing warm Geordie accents...this is what I miss the most. Mine is ever so slightly diluted now, although some would disagree. We made the trip as 15 years ago we had our first date in Newcastle when I was still living up there. We even had our first kiss on the Millennium bridge. Awwwwww!

We also visited a favourite childhood memory of mine, Fenwicks Window. Every year they decorate their street facing Windows with some sort of theme, this year.....PADDINGTON BEAR!!! How adorable is he!

The Windows seemed so much smaller than I remembered as a child but still as magical. 

Then this morning we walked over the Millenium bridge and had breakfast in Pitcher and Piano. It was such a beautiful view sat overlooking the River Tyne and the Baltic Mill. It was bitterly cold but blue skies and sunshine. After coffee and pancakes we walked back over the bridge.

Now we are back home and unpacked....whirlwind visit indeed. Tomorrow I am ice skating with my lovely friend Mel, let's hope I don't fall on my ass! Then it will be all systems go....the last week of work and time to get prepping for Christmas Day. Food shopping, house cleaning and present wrapping.

Are you all ready for Santa? 

Emma xxx

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

The last week has been so hectic....hectic in a good way though. One minute it was the middle of November and I was casually planning Christmas the all of a sudden it's the week before Christmas and I don't know where I'm at!

The tree is up, however I have to admit that it was actually up with no decorations for 2 days before I dressed it lol 

Mr.B was an absolute star for getting all the outside lights up before we had snow. He's a keeper that one, he knows how much I love the Christmas lights! 

But it's definitely starting to look like Christmas :)

All of my Christmas shopping is done and half are wrapped, I've written my food list for the next 2 weeks so I just need to get myself organised with that. One more week left at the day job and we have a trip to Newcastle planned for the weekend. 

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend,

Emma xxx

WIP basket

Hello my lovelies...I'm so sorry that it's been a while. again since my last post, life is a bugger for getting in the way!!! Even more so at the moment as I'm trying to get things ready for Christmas. I hope you are all enjoying the festive season.

One of the things I have started and is still in my whip basket (there are a few lol) is my second crochet blanket. The colours that I chose (above) were in mind for our snug but when the wool arrived I decided that it needed a shade of red so I ordered some more the very next day. 

I worked out a quick pattern which I would repeat until I was happy with the length and away I went...

I stuck with the zig zag stitch as I love the pattern it creates with the wool but also because I feel that I am pretty confident with this stitch now. Crocheting really relaxes me, I can quite happily sit on an evening with my project on my lap with a cup of tea. I loved how it was turning out but I think I made the right decision adding the red....what do you think?

For now I have put it to one side whilst I focus on other things. I'm looking forward to having some spare hours over Christmas to getting it finished.

Take care my lovelies...

Emma xxx

A note to self....

Happy Saturday my lovelies! Its almost hard to believe that tomorrow is Bonfire night, does that mean its only something like 7 weeks til Christmas!! *insert photo of eyes popping out of head*

Crikey, well I did have a post filled with lovely photos' planned but I feel like today is in need of one of those posts where I like to remind myself of what I haven't done and what needs doing. Do you ever do that? How do you keep yourself focused on the 'list' of things you have to do? Do any of you feel like if its not written down on old fashion paper then it will just get mushed up in the pot inside your head where you store the million things that you know you need to do? And why do the important things only float to the surface when you are either at that point where you should be doing it or after the time has passed? I'm hoping I'm not on my own with this.

Mr. B is always commenting about how much I "love a list"....he'll say why dont you just save it as a reminder in your phone...and I'm like errrrrrm no I will just silence the alarm and forget AGAIN. There is just something about a handwritten list that seems to stick in my brain. So cue my favourite pen and my (one of many) notebook.

So the first thing I did this morning was make a coffee and some toast and sat down to finish two orders of gingerbread men that need to go out Monday morning....good there is one ticked off already. I'm now (well not right now as I am typing and drinking coffee - again) juggling with the washing, ironing, vacuuming and writing lists. I have to also point out that I am sat here typing with nails on one hand painted. That was last nights half arsed job not completed :D yes this is where my head is at at this very moment. I still never got the pieces cut out for my SOI Ultimate trousers :( I have been busy with gingerbread men decorations though which you all know I love to make so at least I'm getting my sewing fix!! I have so many things that I want to make, for myself and for gifts for Christmas, that my list is ever growing and when the time actually comes when I can tick something off I'm almost punching the air and doing a little bit of a happy dance! lol

One thing I did do which I have been thinking about for absolutely ages was to create a group on my Facebook page to host a pattern swap, here's the link if you would like to join https://www.facebook.com/groups/127665174555316/ I have a few patterns that I have that I would love to swap. I also thought it would be a great way to get my head back into the sewing world. I will write another post about it here once I have nailed down all the details. So I guess thats half a tick on the list :D

Right I think I have procrastinated enough, the rest of this list is not going to complete itself is it!!! Have a wonderful weekend whatever you have planned and enjoy the fireworks if you are going to any displays. 

Take care my lovelies,

Emma xxx

Planning: my next dressmaking project - trousers!

Hello my lovelies, I hope you've all had a good week and are once again looking forward to your weekend. Where does the time go? I'm sure in my last job the time never went over this quick!! Monday starts and before I know it it's the weekend again.

I have been able to fit in some sewing and crochet during the week but mainly that's because I haven't been working out like normal. I really do need to get back to it but I just find that at the moment it's either or. And since its getting to that time of year again that peeps are starting to order gingerbread men, I'm pleased to say sewing takes priority. I am obviously aware that the pounds are creeping on again slightly but who needs a Summer bod in Winter when you live in the UK....right?

I had fully intended last weekend to fit is

in some selfish sewing lol but that went out of the window. However I am still determined to get these cut out, then maybe I could get them sewn together in the week. Maybe? 

Even though the dark nights are drawing in and it's starting to get chilly, I think I'll still be able to get away with these colourful trousers. I'm thinking Christmas party with sparkly shoes and a black silky vest. Yes?

On another note, myself and Mr.B are celebrating 15years together this week so tonight it's homemade stew and a glass of my favourite red and tomorrow night were out on the town, I'm over exaggerating, we're off out for a meal and drinks. 

Have a fabulous weekend, I will be back soon to show you a huge stash of fabric I have 'acquired' 😂

...Emma xxx

One off the bucket list

Hello my lovelies :)

Brace yourself this is not pretty...this was me attempting to crochet sometime last year. 

I had bought a "How to crochet" book, a set of hooks and some wool. To say it didn't quite turn out how I had imagined in my head was a bit of an (OK a huge) understatement. How could a creative person make a piece of wool look so ugly 😆 

I decided to put the book, hooks and wool in the bottom of a drawer in my sewing room not really knowing when I would, if ever, pick it back up for a second attempt.

Well I did....eventually, after I had been on the crochet course at Toft. I can't believe the difference. When I read the book over a year, it was like reading a different language. But this time it was different, something just clicked! And look what I managed to do! Not only did I master all of the stitches in the book, including the granny square. I then went onto YouTube and learned how to do basket weave stitch.

At last! I have finally learned how to crochet!

Well that's one off the bucket list... LOL I just wish that I had learnt it sooner, I would've loved to have made blankets or little booties when friends had babies. Never mind, I will just have to make do with making blankets for myself.

Have a great week xxx

My 1st Crochet blanket

Hello again my lovelies! Wow have I got some catching up to do, so I'm jumping straight in with this one. Back in the early Summer I went on a crochet course to learn (at last) how to crochet without it looking like something the cats had been playing with :) I did try to teach myself last year but it was a disaster (probably because I had too much on my plate at the time) all that I got out of it was frustration. My lovely friend Andrea (*waves*) and I went to Toft in Rugby and was taught by a lady called Emily who was a fantastic teacher, she even compensated for the fact I was a lefty!! 

From the second I'd finished crocheting the first row of colour it clicked and I was hooked lol and I just couldn't wait to get started on my first blanket!

Of course it had to be a blanket for my room and of course it had to be mint green and lime green.

It's addictive, I can literally lose myself in it for hours and it feels so therapeutic. Not to mention the self pride when you start to see the blanket take shape.

I literally crocheted every where and whenever I could, I even took it with me when we went to Liverpool for the weekend. It didn't bother me in the slightest that the Lorry drivers were giving me funny looks as we passed them on the motorway :D ha ha!

Even though Mr.B kept asking 'when will that be finished?' I thought it didn't take me that long to make, but when I think back now it took me about 2months to finish it completely. So it was definitely a labour of love.

It's so warm and cosy and will be perfect for the colder days/nights in my sewing room! I just need to learn a different stitch to the zigzag now...the challenge is set!!! 

Emma xxx

Crochet hook rolls, oh yes and pretty button too!

Happy Friday my lovelies, I hope that you've had a good week and are looking forward to the weekend. I know I am, I'm hoping to be able to spend a couple of hours sewing at some point. Skimming through my saved posts I had almost forgotton to show you this....

What do you do when you learn to crochet, you buy some pretty crochet hooks and you want somewhere to keep them safe????? Well you go and make yourself a hook roll of course :D

In my favourite colours too!

I actually added a loop later on to safely store my embroidery scissors too....perfect.

It wouldn't be complete without some cute buttons.

Finishing touch...one of my labels. 

I love it, practical and pretty.

Have a fantastic weekend,

Emma xxx

True x Bias - Ogden Cami

Hello my lovelies....I am so sorry for the extended silence from my blog, let me explain. You know that I started a new job a couple of weeks ago right? Well I am pleased to say I'm still there and starting to settle in. On the down side, I have to travel more which means I am out of the house for longer than normal...so sewing, blogging and generally being creative has taken a bit of a back seat. I'm sure things will settle a bit more and I will find more of a balance between work and being creative. 

Whilst dinner is cooking I thought I'd pop by and say hello and then I realised that there are a load of draft posts that I have yet to finish. This was me kinda preempting that I wouldn't have much time in the first few months to regularly blog!! Win win!

So I thought I would start with another make, I can't remember exactly when I made these, it seems like such a long time ago now. I'd seen so many creatives out there making them and they all looked so fantastic I knew I had to get the pattern and try it myself!! So off I trotted to down load it from http://shop.truebias.com/product/ogden-cami. The fabric I chose, I did because I had seen others making Ogden's in them and they looked fab....

Again it was an easy pattern to follow, a front and back piece, front and back facing pieces and the strap piece. The instructions were easy to understand and in no time I'd whipped up my first and was already onto the second!!

With the sizing on this one I made the size 4 as per my measurements, although it was a good fit I think for the next one that I make I will go for the next size down or maybe the one below that? Surprisingly I did make a toile in the size 4, which I thought was perfect but seeing it in the finished fabric I think I would like a smaller fit. I think that's the beauty of making your own clothes, if it's not quite right you can change it next time. I love learning from mistakes...trial and error makes it all more worth the effort when you get the perfect fit.

I am still yet to take some full length photos of me wearing them, but I think it will be a while before I get round to that. If you were thinking about buying this pattern I would highly recommend it. I think the style suits a variety of body shapes and you can dress it up or down with the type of fabric you choose. I'm hoping to make some more in a nice crepe for work wear. 

Well that's all from me tonight...hopefully I'll be back tomorrow to show you some more makes. Hope you've had a fab weekend. 

Emma xxx

September.....

Well my lovelies, I can hardly believe that it is September!!! Does that now mean that the Summer is over? I hope not, I dont think I'm ready for tights, big jumpers, log fires....hang on they all sound pretty nice to me, I love being cosy :D Maybe Autumn wont be as bad after all!

As you all know I finished work back at the end of May and I have had a wonderful three months to myself, sewing, baking, cooking, reading....just generally being creative without any timelines or routines. It has been amazing and although I wish it could continue, reality is I have to get back to work. Bills have to get paid, you all know how it is.

So cue the many job applications, interviews and me stressing myself stupid about going back into a job. Then finally this week it happened.....I sent in my CV, I was asked to go for an interview, I was nervous - god I was nervous, so much so I couldn't even eat breakfast. Five minutes into the interview and I was totally fine. The company is small but with a large turnover, the people are lovely, the office is AMAZING, the job is exactly what I was looking and hoping for......it almost all sounds too good to be true!!! And then they offered me the job on the spot!!!!! My first day will be 11th September and I cant wait, I'm so excited. Do people actually say that about going to work lol :D

I just hope it all turns out as I hope and that I am good enough to fulfil the position, 13 years in the same company was a very long time, so it makes you nervy about something so different and new.

So this means that everything changes again, I will be stocking up my website and etsy shop this coming week and I'm afraid that will pretty much be it for the short term. I am still trying to set up my new venture (I can never just do one thing at a time lol) which will be slow and steady. But until I settle into my new job, which is different hours and further to travel to, I have no idea what 'spare time' I will have. I will still hopefully be making clothes for myself and will try to keep my blog updated as much as I can. 

They say, nothing ever stays the same, well that is very true for me. Another unexpected chapter to be written and I'm going with it, who knows where it will take me???

I have lots planned for next week so hopefully there will be a few posts for the next couple of weeks to keep you going :D

Have a fabulous weekend, we have my Dad visiting this weekend so that will mean, good food, good wine and good company......

Emma xxx

Sew over it pencil skirt - by accident!!!

So its Friday night, I am half way through cooking a shepherds pie, I have a glass of wine and The Gypsy Kings are serenading me through the stereo :D Oh shit yeah and I forgot I've left the washing out.....back in a second!!!!!

Right where was I.....Oh yeah this is how I roll on a Friday.

This week has been a busy one, how on earth did I fit in a full time job before???? Lol....well however I did it I will have to master that skill again soon (hopefully). I have two interviews next week, wish me luck!! 

I have realised as well if you follow me over on Instagram that I am significantly behind on blogging....so you will have already seen some of these photos. I fully intend on catching up....at some point ;)

Now I know I said that I promised that I would be posting a make from a pattern other than a Sew Over It one, but, in my defence I did think I was going to make it from a Simplicity pattern, but........

When I went to open the pattern to cut my size out, I thought, hmmmmm where is the size 10???? Then the brain kicked into gear and I realised that I had bought the US 14-22 which I think is UK 18-26. Picture eyes rolling back into head., really!! Yes, that will teach me for speed buying when the patterns were on sale!!! And obviously because I was waaaaaaay too impatient, I was straight on the internet looking for a pdf pattern that I could download straight away. Well I have never been one for waiting for anything, my Mother will tell you that!! So within the hour, I had downloaded, printed and cut out the SOI Ultimate pencil skirt. This was purely because it was a similar shape to the Simplicity one, which meant I could use the zip I had bought.

This was the gorgeous fabric that I had in mind for the skirt....you may recognise it from my bag making days, as I also have it in a sage green colour which I made a clutch bag out of but sadly not enough to make the skirt, so out came the blue.

The pattern again was really simple, front and back pieces with front and back facing pieces. No lining on this one....WINNER!!!! At some point I will attempt a skirt with lining but just not yet :D

It calls for an invisible zip....which to be honest I wasn't that worried about, even though its been about fifteen years since I last sewed one lol I have to add here that I did not follow the instructions for inserting the zip as I followed MimiG's tutorial on how to insert an invisible zip. You know I love MimiG and her tute is so simple and her method I think is the best!! Just look at that zip!!!!

Also I am going to admit that the zip I had bought for the other pattern was an 8" one but this pattern requires a 12" zip, I thought I would try it anyway to see if I could get away with it. Its OK but because of the high waist and where it sits you would need the 12" zip....I have to do a little wiggle dance to get into it.

This pencil skirt is quite high waisted, probably a little too high for my taste to be honest, but as this was my first attempt I went with it. It does look very classy but I think next time I will amend the pattern so its not as high. 

The skirt also has a vent at the back centre seam which I love!!!!! This part was so easy to sew, the instructions are really clear as to what to do.....loving a vent!!!!! I really enjoyed making this skirt and I have to say hats off to Lisa at Sew Over It for making yet another fantastic pattern. I love the skirt, its a snug fit, but not so that its not comfortable. 

And here it is......

What do you think?

At first I thought this fabric/print would be too much for a pencil skirt, but I gotta say it......I love it so much, I've tried it with this white vest and a black one and its definitely a winner in my book!!!

Queue my really bad poses at the top of our stairs lol its the best light in the house for taking photos and considering these were took with my iphone attached to a tripod with a hair bobble I dont think they are that bad :D

So I have to say that this skirt was a fantastic accident (due to the Simplicity pattern fiasco with the sizes) and I can see this one being replicated many times. You gotta love a pencil skirt. Would love to make a black one for work and maybe a tweed one for a bit more of a classic look.

Have a fantastic weekend my lovelies and I will be back soon with some more of my sewing adventures...

Emma xxx