My Truffle Dress.

I love my new dress, MrPB also loves my new dress (he mainly says he likes stuff just to keep me hapy) but I know he really does like this dress.

I started this as apart of the Colette sew along of all the items in the handbook, I only got as far as cutting the pattern out. The next step was to be apart of the indie pattern challenge in June. I did finish this dress by the end of July.

All I can say is it was worth the wait, I personally feel this is the nicest make I have completed. It hasn't all been plain sailing though, a few aleterations to the top and the truffle ruffle. I also decided not to line the dress ans I took time to perfect my rolled hems that are 5mm wide. I'm so proud!!!

 

 This is the first time I have made a dress with a bodice and skirt, I always felt that my pot belly wouldn't be very flattering but I'm really impressed. 

The fabric came from a boot fair a few years back, an old bed sheet in perfect condition. cotton with lovely blue flowers that aren;t too prissy.

Can you tell, I love y new make! If I only get round to making two or three items a year I would be thrilled. Anyone else loving their sommer dresses?

A Little Sewing

I have great pleasure to inform you that I Charlotte Pb has ventured back to the world of dressmaking. It has been over six months since I have last made myself anything, taking the pressure away and treating myself to some shop bought clothes really help my busy times. Although I have actually missed my crafting/ hobby times, so with a week off work I indulged myself, just a little.

Firstly I have to say I was going to enter this into Faye's essential top sew along, I even finished it in time BUT I lost the lead to my camera and had to order a new one. So the sew along has been and gone and it was tremendous with over a hundred participants, so well done Faye!

My little effort as you know I don't tend to push the boundaries of effort was an easy top, taken form this lovely book.

This book is a real gem, so may other have noted that often this style of book comes with limited sizing. I used small pattern and I am generally a size 14.  The garments in this book really lend themselves to English weather, lots of layering of clothes to suit ant season. I chose a basic top, but I am also eyeing up the drawstring trousers and a a cute dress.
 

I was true to form very easy to make up, and I am enjoying the way it hangs, I don't like anything too tight around my middle! It does have an essence of a smock, due to the lack of darts, but with home made binding a cute sleeves I think this is a wearable little number. Note to self though, is to improve with the binding around the neck, I had give it a little pleat as it gaped. I'm sure there are better ways to deal with this.
 

The fabric is thrift from a duvet cover bought from a boot fair last summer. I just long for a bit of warmth to wear it now.

Beautiful print.

I had this wonderful dress, must be '40s or '50s. A heavy fabric maybe linen. Sadly now way would it fit but it has also be rather moth eaten. But worth saving as much as possible just look at the print.

So I'm not the most cleverest of refashionists, in fact some may think it's a terrible waste but all I did was make a little elastic waste band. Although I rather like my finished product, sadly it really wont last for long, as the fabric is rather old and falling apart. I' m glad to have a little life in it for the summer.

CRAFIVISTS

I have been recently following Craftivist Collective http://craftivist-collective.com/ who state a spoonful of craft helps the activism go down. Well anyone who loves Mary Poppins and crafts as much as I do will have a friendship made in heaven!

There is a serious side, using craft to put across messages about human rights, environmental issues the list gos on as do the worlds in equalities. By highlighting issues hopefully we make the world think and act.

So my first attempt at craftism has take some time, I struggled with my message, I wanted it to come from the heart and also know enough about my comment that if I was challenged I wouldn't wilt away.
I though inspiration messages or quotes, then I thought something simple goes a long way. BE KIND, as simple as that. Then ofcourse the time spent sewing of which I chose to hand sew, I also spent time pondering the message for myself and how I hope it will inspire others.

So my inspiration bunting as the collective call it is placed in my village bus stop. Yes it's a little dark and dingy but the local notice board is housed here too so most of the village should get a peek and hopefully take some note.

As I was putting up my bunting an older lady asked what I was doing and said what a wonderful idea and not enough of us where very kind these days and could I make a be happy one too!

If the idea of prompting goodness has sparked an interest have a look at the website with a valentines project coming up http://craftivist-collective.com/  . There is also book for avid knitter called knitting for good by Betsy Greer.

Give it ago it's surprising how liberated you feel !

Thoughs on clothes swapping.

Tonight we  (WEN the women's environmental network ) http://www.wen.org.uk/ The Crediton bit anyway held a clothes swap. I thought I would just say how great an opportunity it was to get together with other women, make an evening of drinks and nibbles, chat and laughter.
I had a number of clothes to swap, I thought it was about time to rid myself of all those items that I thought I might one day fit t into again, lets face it, it's not going to happen, so swapping seemed better than simply handing it over to a Charity shop.
I discussed with a friend how liberating it felt to give clothes away that held emotional baggage. That it was good to feel renewed giving to others.
I also felt that this was a great opportunity to add to my wardrobe some lacking items such a s trousers. Joining in the seamless challenge http://seamlessblog.wordpress.com/ so no buying new meant this was a great opportunity.

Then the darker side of swapping hit me when everyone had gone home and I was looking through my new pile of clothes, yeas quite a pile. Four pair of trousers, seven T shirts, Two cardigans, two pair of shorts and a bikini top . This is where my hoarding takes over the need for quantity rather than quality has hold!!! AAAArgh, is clothes swapping good for me ask? Well if I find I am not wearing the new items I will be handing them over to a bigger clothes event in March. But it does make me wonder a little about what is my style, what do I need, how many pair of trousers do I really want?It's not that I disagree with the cause or the objective of swapping, maybe I just can not trust myself.

Last Offerings

I have finished my last Christmas present, which means I have been a true follower of the Crafty Christmas blog, which makes me smile :-)

Last offering is a bamboo handle bag, made for my Mum to put her crochet bits and bobs into!

A quick summary : thrifted vintage fabric in and out, design from a Molly Makes Magazine, although my bag seems a little longer so you can fit more in I suppose.

Merry Christmas everyone, hope you all get your crafty offerings done in time, only one more sleep you know!! x x x

DRESSMAKING join the go slow clothes movement

I would like to invite you all to join me in the Go Slow Clothes Movement. This is simply aims to celebrate and support those that make or refashion your own clothes. By making or refashioning we are  breaking the curse of fast fashion which actually comes at a price to the environment and those that work within the industry. We are also celebrating the fact that we are not all a standard shape and by making our own clothes we are able to look good in clothes that fit properly. Finally if you make you love, which means are clothes are cared for and last longer which is a positive outcome in a material/ throw away society. I have created gadget/ picture, please feel free to put it on your own blog to show your support, just remember to mention this blog. There is also a go slow clothes group on flickr.com to join and share photos (only one photo per day please).
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1721158@N23/

Thankyou for your support.

THRIFTING in the kitchen.

I am in love! I have confessed all over the place that I am a lover of the 70s, this is true, as I am in love with Hornsea kitchenware straight from the 70s! I started collecting it last year but luckily in my local boot fair I have picked up two boxes full, so my collection is looking rather good and usable everyday for the whole family.

Yes it's brown and flowery, fantastic!

It's a really hard stoneware so should last forever, the most exciting is that I have reclaimed its life for another generation, now to look out for some more cups and saucers and maybe a tea pot.

THRIFTING/ FAMILY LIFE big table cloth to smaller place mats

Well this post is self explanatory. I found a lovely big round table cloth, but with no round tables in my house something needed to be done

In fairness it had a few small holes and a stain. And yes everyone has made these before but I really did need some new place mats. So in true stash busting style I have reused and refashioned my table cloth and used up some old ric rac too.

As I have joined Sarah from Rhinestones and telephones in her pledge of usefull meaningfull and joyfull,I hope she will be pleased with my efforts.