A month has gone....

I cannot believe it's been a month since my last post. As I do work a bit more now, there is not really much time for sewing plus there hasn't been any sun for ages, so taking pictures has been literally impossible.

So what have I managed to make?

Few Christmas presents, apron and a chef's hat for my sweet stepson Oscar, with his name embroidered on a pocket, pair of jeans for my lovely boyfriend. I have used an old pair of his Levis jeans, cut them up and copied them to create a pattern. I have done few alterations, so they really fit him well. Now I'm working on a second pair, but I'm lining them with lining from his old work trousers, just to make things a bit more complicated :-). Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of them.

And my last Christmas present was a handmade fabric basket with couple of homemade chutneys. It's been first fabric basket I've ever made. I must say that making it was really satisfying, nice result in no time! My shortest ever sewing project! I've used fabric from an old skirt and vintage trim for the outside and old men's shirt for the inside. Very green as always! Was planning to make few of them, but only made one.

So what do you think?

I was given the best Christmas present ever, an adjustable dressmakers dummy. Now I feel like a real professional.

Oh, some great news, I have made my first sale on Etsy, hurrah!!! I've sold one of my tunics. Posted it to Canada last week. What a strange idea, that someone on the other side of the world is going to be wearing something I designed!

Last weekend I finally managed to take pictures of four of my items, 3 tops and one denim jacket, which I started listing on Etsy. All of them are made of recycled fabrics.

1. Colour block asymmetric tunic, which I think looks kind of interesting and it's made out of recycled men's shirt and a bed sheet, yeah really a bed sheet. I've made a summer dress for myself few years back out of it and had a piece left. Never know when it's going to come handy.

2. Sleeveless top, very simple top with vintage lace detail, three vintage turquoise buttons and vintage light blue bias binding. And it's also made from recycled men's shirt, can't really define the colour, something between light brown and lilac.

3. Oversized silk top, I combined red silk sari fabric with blue cotton with nearly invisible paisley pattern from men's shirt. I like how it worked out, it creates a slimmer silhouette. Was thinking to keeping it for myself, but then decided to list it in my Etsy shop.

4. Denim jacket, this one is a bit different than my other jackets, I went for a classic cut and kept some of jeans features, used pockets, waistband, even three sets of buttons and button holes and created hidden buttons. The sleeves can be turned up to uncover flowery cotton. This one is a smaller size, UK size 8. Having a dressmakers dummy really helps.

Do you like any of them?

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! Make it the one to remember!

Happy holidays!

Hope you're all having lovely Christmas, got presents you wanted, are enjoying great food and company of loved ones without any stress. Happy holidays! xxx

Chunky knitted cowl scarf

Apart from sewing I occasionally knit, or shall I say I used to as this is probably my first knitted item this year apart from my knitted t-shirt rug. Last night I knitted chunky cowl scarf. I can't believe how popular they are. Last year I knitted one for myself and I don't think I saw many people wearing them. And this year everyone's wearing them. They're really comfy.

So I had this purple and green yarn from of course a charity shop. It wasn't thick enough, so I tripled it and combined it with colourful yarn. I made it wider at the bottom. They do not take long to make at all. One evening while watching TV and you're done. So today I'm making my second one, green one, with purple and colourful stripes.

Haven't decided what I'm going to do with them. Might keep one for myself and give the second one to someone for Christmas or sell them or sell one of them. I'll see.

So this is my finished one. Oh... it's so warm.

 

And the one I'm still working on.....

Upcycled bangle

Last time I went to charity shop and seen a lot of bangles, I've decided to have a go and reuse one to create a unique accessory. I've decided to cover it with a red silk sari fabric, which I bought on Etsy, I have managed so far to use it to create two oversized tops, of which one of them is being sold in my Etsy shop, and the other one will get there soon. Also use pieces on my white linen bag. Didn't just want to cover the bangle in fabric, sort of boring, thought. So I created sort of pattern by gathering the fabric. I do like the result, hope you do as well.

Time flies.... and "Fabric Party" bag

I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post. Time seems to fly. Do you also sometimes realise after another week passed, that you haven't managed to do any of the thing you were planning to do? I planned to do lots of sewing projects, but only made two tops and a bag, but only took pictures of the bag. I must admit that it's more difficult for me to take the pictures, than to create something. So I really like to make bags and bracelets as there is no need to bother my boyfriend to take the pictures for me and pretend to be a model, as I really don't like it, not really photogenic, or to bother someone else.

So it's probably going to take a little while to take the pictures of my tops.

"Fabric Party"

I've been carrying a bag design in my head for ages. I had a piece of lovely heavy white linen left from a curtain project I made for someone. Absolutely gorgeous fabric, was pretty expensive. I've decided to combine it with few different fabrics to create unique applique on the front, red silk sari fabric, recycled denim, blue cotton from men's shirt and tweed fabric bought in the charity shop, all stitched by red thread. Hence the name "Fabric Party".

The bag has 4 inside pockets, two on each side, and is closed by a fabric flap made of the same fabrics and vintage black button.

Comfortable wide strap is made of all the above fabrics cut in different shapes and again stitched by red thread on one side and blue cotton from men's shirt on the other with two metal bangles, one golden, one silver, which look like buckle.

The lining is made of flowery white cotton and red silk fabric. There is silk applique and two blue vintage lace strips sewn on the back of the bag.
I used to go to charity shops to look for pieces of clothing for myself. And now I usually find myself looking of stuff that can be reused, upcycled, reborn.

I must say that I absolutely love my new bag.

 

This is how it started.....

 

 



And this is the finished bag....

Two new cuff bracelets

I must say I really enjoy making leather and embroidery bracelets. I do though have to buy needles for sewing leather as using normal needles is not much fun. On Monday I finished two bracelets, if you remember two pieces of cross stitched linen I was working on, I ended up using for my bracelets.

I absolutely love the triangle one, I think I might make one for myself. There are two holes cut into the leather, so you need to pull thinner end in through one hole and out of the other (hope it makes sense :-) and it's fastened by vintage plastic brown button and elastic loop. The cuff has two blue ceramic buttons sewn on.

The second one is simple, yet very elegant. I did not want to 'overdo' it, as I thought that cross stitched piece of linen deserved something really simple.

Both bracelets are stitched by dark blue thread. You can wear them with just about anything, your favourite jeans or a dress...

I am just in a process in listing them onto Etsy, so if you like them, please just stop by. It's Friday tomorrow so have a lovely last working day and look forward to the weekend! Good night!

And here are the pictures, of course...