more quiet books

just to give you an update on my quiet books :

giraffe with bow ties that turn around or can be removed

fish with bubbles (pearls from an old necklace) in a labyrinth

beautiful butterfly fish

it's a puzzle !

cookie monster ate a lot of...

cookies !

tree with owl and fimo birds

owl can fly away, there's a frog too...

flowers can change appearance

monkey in the tree (can go upside down too)

what is hidden in the corner ?

i love to make them.  These pages are inspired by what i see on pinterest, some of my own imagination, and also by all the nicnacs i saved over the years, that finally have found a destination....

patchwork mania

I love flea markets.  that's partly because I love old things, and partly because you don't spend a lot of money and have a nice afternoon.

When I see old dressmakers items, old odds and ends, pieces of lace or threads turned yellow by the years, I really can't resist.
The box I keep these things in is starting to pile over, so I really needed a project where I could use some of these.  and in a magazine I noticed a small patchwork with a lot of left overs and ribbons that would be just perfect for my stash.

The most fun was actually sorting out the fabrics and the ribbons, choosing the perfect position for the old buttons and nicnacs, arranging and rearranging.

and then finally putting it all together, embroiding a little, adding a piece of felt, and here it is, my finished object.

I choose 'Chic et pas Cher' because that is the name of my sewing club. It's an old expression meaning  something 'chic' but not expensive.  And that's exactely what it is.  Nice, but not expensive !

circular needles in a bag

I have several circular needles, but I have a serious problem : how do you keep them tidy ?  I tried a bag, a box, but somehow they get all messed up.  Don't you hate it when you are looking for a 4mm 60 cm one, and can only find a 5 mm 80 cm one.  I was desperate for a good system to put them carefully away.
At Knitpro or Prym you can buy these expensive cases, really nice, but I wanted something personal.
That's when I found a reference to a pattern by Butterick,  to make your own case.

I ordered it, paid through paypal, and 2 days later the pattern fell into my letterbox.  Great service !
half a day behind my sewing machine, and this is the result :

it's slightly stuffed with interfusible filling

Sesam, open up

Tada ! all the needles are safe, and in clear sight

the points have their own place

I put a little paper with the size and length visible

ready to be taken anywhere now.

I kinda like the big bag on the front picture too. Maybe I could make it to put all my knitting gear in when I 'm off on my knitting holiday .... In  this rainy weather all you can do is stay inside and sew.....

granny squares bag

My first attempt at the famous granny squares ! 

  
 

well, first isn't quite right, I remember having made plenty when I was in my teens.  They were very fashionable then.  I made a poncho and a cushion, for my mum (she still has it !)

Now I'm into bags.  The old felted one is getting a bit worn out, so it's time for a new one. 
I started it with the summer in mind, hoping for some sunshine, and choose beach colours.

 A very bright combination, it makes me happy to walk around with it, even if the sun isn't shining as it should. 

I chose a nice dotted lining, from Rebecca's collection.  But the result wasn't quite what i expected.  too fluffy, it had not enough strenght.
So i undid the lining, and added a plastic sort of lining, I secured it to the grannies on the inside, and then finished with the dotted fabric.  That's much better !

it's light and invisible,  but gives body to the bag

the bag can stand up straight

I added 3 side - grannies for more volume

It can easily hold a book.

I'm happy with my new bag !

a little bag

To take my mind off the son I occupied myself with stupid chores around the house.
Like ironing. 
I mean ironing everything, also the big table napkin that has been deep down below in my ironing basket, beneath all other stuff.  It has been there a while....
And there I also found some old jeans of the above mentionned son.  I kept it just for the fabric - the legs were damaged badly and beyond repair.  (mountainbiking... !)

I used the jeans  to make a bag, the same pattern as the Cath Kidston bag.  I used some leftover fabric from the summerdress I made, the one with the small flowers.  I think it looks good.  It has all the pockets on the outside, so the lining was very straightforward to make  !

So, that's been a busy afternoon.  Tomorrow I'm off with my girlfriends for a couple of days. ( 3 mad women, who know eachother from schooldays,   way back in the good old seventies) 

some new summer dresses

The sun is supposed to shine, but instead it's a becoming a typical Belgian summer : gray and dull weather, rain, clouds, and temperatures not rising above 18°C.  Only the brave are on the beach, and fully clothed as well.   
To keep my spirits up, I have made some summer dresses, in flower power colours.  Sitting here, at my kitchen table, sewing and ironing, it feels like a winter holiday. 
Who or what do we have to offer to the sun goddess so that she will remember to shine on our little spot on this earth ?
Any suggestions ?

Here are the dresses, in different stages of completion.

I bought 2 patterns from burda

Love the fabric, makes me feel rock 'n roll

dress nr 1 is finished !

dress nr 2 is lined with cotton, I can wear it now.

I like the little bows at the top

cut on the biais - flattering for any girl !

another bag... to give away !

Yes, I couldn't resist.  I made another bag, same design as the Cath Kidston one.  Made of real 70-ies fabric.  It used to be a curtain in a children's room. 

so many flowers to make me happy

Vintage flower power ! I love the green, it makes me happy.   Perhaps you think it's a bit over-the-top, but hey, it's summer isn't it ?  I always go a bit crazy when it's summer...

I added a piece of vintage lace

In the book C. Kidston recommends to wash the bag a few times and put it in the dryer, to give it a vintage look.  Well, this already has the vintage look....

I made it a little bit bigger than the original one

Do you like it ?  I still have plenty of fabric, I can make another one, just like it - especially for you ...

It's my first give-away, so please :

a) become a follower
b) leave a comment
 c) mention this on your own blog

Perhaps this bag will be yours....   You'll know on july 3rd !

Cath Kidston bag

Since I have been on the sewing workshop, I have rediscovered the fun in sewing.  It is like a bug, leaves you alone for a while, and then it bites you again.  There you go again : installing all the machinery, choosing fabric and cutting it into a pattern.  And then the puzzle begins : what do you sew first ? 
How do you pimp it up ?   But when the object is finished you are so proud !

bought in Brugge in the new Veritas concept store

I used to make many dresses and skirts.  But now I prefer to keep it simple, and small.  So when I found this book by Cath Kidston, I was thrilled with all the great patterns.  It is a real treasure trove. I have made the bag that is pictured on the cover of the book.  So lovely, how can you resist ?

the fabric and the label were included in the book

I used my own vintage buttons

a perfect bag for my knitting...