TizDuster

Dressmaking the impatient way

Gosh I haven't made anything from a paper pattern for years but I decided that if I could find a good basic pattern for a tunic-type top that I could wear over leggings and jeans then that would be my winter wardrobe fixed.

So I got a pattern and some material for the first attempt. Patterns are so expensive now that I think I'll have to make about five dresses to get my money back!

I'm just too impatient though. I don't read the directions well enough. I'd hardly started cutting it out before I realised I'd made a mistake. But luckily there was enough fabric to move it up and start again.

My sewing teacher would have been proud of me because I did use tailor's tacks, if you look closely you can see them, but I couldn't be bothered to cut all those little notches in the seams. It didn't look like it was going to be necessary. Then I got to the bit that said "finish off the un-notched seam in the facing". What? Mine were all un-notched!

Undaunted I am persevering. But I may grind to a halt when I have to put in the zip!

On the make

Well I'm trying to kick start myself into making things again. I did manage to solder a few things together this week in anticipation of a big assembling session.

I finished a small link bracelet. The rings will become part of a necklace. The leaf shapes will be earrings. The headpins are destined to be a pearl drop necklace. And the small linked chain will form the basis of another necklace.

Sorry for the quality of the photograph but the light was going.

Just off to East Sussex today to take one of my daughters to The Mount Camphill Community in Wadhurst. She will be here for a year as a support worker.

Back home

Although I got back from Edinburgh over a week ago it has taken some time to get back down to earth.

We had such a great time. Nineteen shows over our four night stay! And only two rubbish ones.

My legs were aching by the time I got home. Not only from racing across the city between venues but also because out flat was way up high. Our windows were the second ones down from the roof!

Here's looking down the stair well.

And the fantastic view from the window.

Now to get back to regular blogging and start making things as well.

Beach sculpture

Back from a glorious week on the North Yorkshire coast.

Here's one of the delights I spotted on the beach between Robin Hood's Bay and Boggle Hole.

Don't you just love it when someone feels inspired and places the rocks with such care knowing that they will only stay there till the next high tide?

Thank you anonymous artist.