Northern Quarter, MANCHESTER, Easter 2011

I like the layered bodice detail on the orange design.



I sincerely hope that 'Shell Suits' DO NOT come back into fashion!

 The first two photos from my trip back 'home'.  The Northern Quarter is a hub of creativity and little independent shops.  Many new ideas start out here - the 70's trend was first apparent at least 5 years ago.  Shame about the cracked window of Oxfam Originals, which sells second hand designer clothing.

Travelling Lace

I've taken part in a sew-swap and this is the lovely package sent to me by Amanda D.  I've already used the ric rac and the Mickey Mouse buttons are too cute!

Ric Rac and Bias Apron detail

50's inspired half apron

Aprons - another favourite subject.  Particularly because I can be let loose with bias binding and ric rac!  I enjoyed the technique in this, involving trapping the ric rac within the binding, making for very strong pockets.  Also I could use the fabric I found at Stitch and Craft.

'Ugly' details

Ugly into Wearable

All my posts recently have been involved with The Sew Weekly, which just goes to show how much I am enjoying my sewing at the moment. Particularly this project, which has resulted in a wearable dress for this time of year. Turning an 'ugly' pattern into something new. I love this fabric, which I've had some time - the colours and the pattern have a retro feel. The daisy trim just finishes it off.

Liebster Award

Deb of http://pomegranite-anewbeginning.blogspot.com/ has kindly awarded me this! How cool is that, since I've only been blogging seriously since the start of the year!

Here are some blogs I've enjoyed:

http://heartscottage.blogspot.com/

http://sunnygalstudio.blogspot.com/

http://chickchicksewing.blogspot.com/

http://janedennerly.blogspot.com/

The Liebster award asks the recipient to list up to 5 blogs that they particularly like.

Stitch and Craft Olympia, LONDON 2011

Here's the first set of images from the Stitch and Craft exhibition at Olympia 2011. A great place to go to for embroidery and card making and OK for knitting and sewing. Plenty of demos going on around the place and some bargains to be had. Found some alpaca yarn to try, along with a suppliers address. Also pleased to have the 50's inspired kitchen fabric which I'll be using in the Sew Weekly Apron Challenge!

Green Theme

The challenge to create something green for Sew Weekly resulted in this. I've been keeping the main fabric for ages because I love it so much and it has happy associations of holidays in Lancashire for me.  I bought it on a market stall in Fleetwood which I now believe is a shop and you can buy online here. It has a silky feel to it and is printed on a weave which itself has satiny areas on it.  The contrast fabric is itself a weave of a trailing leaf fabric which matches in with the print of the main - I found it in John Lewis.  Anyway, I can now enjoy wearing my fabric!  The pattern is Burda and has a flattering loose fit from an empire line bodice.