Schedules ....

Well the girls are back at school, I have caught up with all my friends I haven't seen over the holidays, and now it's "get back into the routine of things".  I'm going to be very boring this year - and try to run my life on a schedule!  I am going to schedule the dreaded household chores (this will hopefully ensure that the house stays clean and organised, leading to a calm and organised me), schedule time for the garden (which has turned into a jungle with all this summer rain) and, most importantly.... schedule time to sew!  I will however have plenty of "unscheduled" time in my diary to do whatever I please (hopefully sew).

I know this sounds very dull, but I find in this ever increasingly busy world we live in, if I don't make time for things, then they just don't get done and I seem to spend my whole life trying to catch up.  Not sure if this will work, but I'm going to give it a whirl for the month of February, and see how it goes.  I am very flexible in my schedule, but I am going to try and stick to it as best I can and see how I feel about it by the end of the month ...... stay tuned!!

Something floral, something blue ..

This week's sewing challenge was to use some of the blue floral fabric everyone has in their fabric stash.  At first I didn't think I had any such fabric, but sure enough - there were several pieces!  While looking through my stash I found a blue floral blouse half made.  (I had abandoned this project after I realised I didn't like the pattern or the fabric!).  Anyway - I thought I could salvage the blouse for this week's challenge. I have to say that the end result does not reflect the time I have spent on the top.  First, I cut the neck and made it lower.  As I didn't have enough fabric to make facings, I decided to go with a contrast fabric. I didn't like the way the facings sat, so I ditched them altogether and decided to go with an "unfinished" look.  To finish it off i have stitched large rick-rack around the neck and sleeves.

This isn't any fabulous piece of sewing, but I don't mind the end result.  Not sure how much wear it will get, but I think it will look ok with white shorts or a denim skirt.

Anyway - here are the picces .....

The salvaged unfinished blouse

The end result



The pattern it started life as



The Great Gatsby

Well it turned out that the trip to Spotlight did get the inspiration going.  I decided to do a short version of the 1920's flapper dress.  Once I started flicking through the pattern books, I remembered that I could use my new Simplicity 2586 dress pattern and the lovely silver fabric in my stash.  So all that was needed was 1/2 metre of black sateen for the trims, and then off home to get sewing!

This is the result .......

I'm very happy with the dress, although I made it a little too short.  When I wore it on Friday night I put knee length black leggings with it, which I thought looked ok. 

While I was in the sewing mood .... I then finished a dress that has been hanging around for almost 2 months, just waiting for the hem to be done (I hate doing hems)! So I can tick that off the list (haven't taken a piccie of it yet). 

Then I whipped up another dress - the green Moo Moo.  This is the same pattern as the Great Gatsby dress, but with sleeves.  I wasn't really sure about this dress, it is quite a bit louder than what I would usually wear.  But I wore it today with a big chunky silver necklace and silver flat sandals, and I felt nice wearing it!  It is quite cool wearing stuff that you made - even better if people compliment you on what you on what you are wearing!

While I'm waiting for the next Sew Weekly challenge, I am trying to get all unfinished projects done.  I just have one more to finish and I have an empty "unfinished projects" basket, and I have that well in hand (I was a sewing demon yesterday)!

I'm wondering if I will be able to keep up the pace now that the holidays are over and the girls are back at school (tomorrow).  I am trying to plan my week so that I get plenty of uninterrupted sewing time!  I'm actually feeling brave enough to have a go at a jersey dress.  I found some fabric today, just got to find a pattern now.  I'm also wondering if I can do the Colette Patterns Spring Challenge?

We are heading towards Autumn here, but as our seasons are so mild, I don't think it will matter. I'm working on my palette and ideas this week.

Sewing - Week 2

In keeping with the task I have set myself - that being to TRY and keep up with the Sew Weekly weekly challenge, I am trying to come up with a design that fits with this week's theme of "Unrequited Love".  I think I am going to use The Great Gatsby as my inspiration - a wonderful book / movie, and I do love the fashion of 1920's.  Now this is where I hit the wall ..... using this idea and turning it into something that I would actually wear - giving the idea a modern twist and not simply trying to replicate a dress from the 1920's.  How do I do that????

This is my inspiration - how gorgeous is that gown?  I love it.  But it would be cheating to just copy the dress, plus.......where would I wear it??
I have had a flick through my patterns, nothing there.  So it is off to Spotlight tomorrow in the hope that some fabric and a pattern will "speak" to me.  then I will have to sew like the wind so I can wear it out on Friday night!!  Wishful thinking? I work well under pressure ..... stay tuned!

The wonder of human spirit

This last week has seen the most devastating natural disaster in Queensland history - over 75% of the state is under water.  People have lost their lives, thousands have lost all their possessions, and for some their home has been completely destroyed. And now many towns in Victoria ae facing the same disaster.  It is heartbreaking to watch.  I feel guilty about being able to go about my daily life with very little inconvenience, when so many are doing it tough.  But with disaster comes the most wonderful human spirit - I have cried as I watch communities come together, help each other and support each other through these difficult times - strangers coming together to give a helping hand, to offer support or just a shoulder to cry on.  It is this, the generosity and kindness of people that fills me with hope and reminds me that the world is a wonderful place, filled with more good people than evil.

I pause to think of all the people around the world facing adversity - hundreds are dying in floods in Brazil, Haiti is still struggling to get back on its feet after the earthquake that shook it to pieces and many countries are torn by war and civil unrest.  But in the end, it is the human spirit, the will to survive, and to care for each other that will triumph.

Sew Weekly - Chanel Challenge

The first of the Sew Weekly challenges was to come up with a garment inspired by the legend, Coco Chanel. I have to admit that I know very little about the lady and her designs.  When I think of Chanel, I think of the boxy jacket she was famous for.  So with very little insight, I set myself the task of making a Chanel inspired jacket. I had the perfect pattern in my small stash - Simplicity 7107 (1990) and I had some cotton fabric that I thought would be ok. 

I'm not crazy with the end result.  I have been fussing with the finishing details for 2 days now, and am well and truely OVER IT. I was going to do the swirly, fringed things as buttons, but just couldn't make up my mind, so decided to leave them off - as I wouldn't wear the jacket done up (if I wear it at all). 

Even though I am not crazy about the jacket - I am very happy with the way it came together.  I am making a huge effort in my sewing this year to concentrate on the construction of the garment, and to take the time to do things properly. It does look better in person than in the photos.

Anyway, enough of the chat, here is the end result .....

This is just the beginning - I will get better ..... won't I?

Now off to do research for this week's challenge!

Is this the beginning ........

Well it has been quite some time since I started my blog - and here I am with my second entry!

This is the beginning of a year filled with fabulousness (is that a word)!

In my first post I was looking for a way to tap into the hidden creative side (if it exists).  I am going to attempt to do that through sewing, and pushing my sewing skills in directions previously ignored.  Around the time I made my first entry, I discovered the blog Sew Weekly  - which has been the inspiration I was looking for.  I have been addicted to Mena and her sewing journey from day one, and now she has given me the challenge I was looking for - a way of expanding my sewing skills with her "weekly challenges".

Now I'm not sure I will be able to keep up the pace every week, but I'm going to give it a good try, so here we go ......