Liberty Open Call - Last Chance to Vote

Today is the last chance to vote for me if you like my design.  Please vote here:

https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/features/design-and-living/liberty-open-call-voting.html

Thanks for all the support received so far :-)

Macmillan Bake Off Apron

It's that time of year again .... last year I posted about the Tracey Island cake I made for our work coffee morning.  I actually won 'Best Baker' with it!  I'm reluctant to lose my title so this year, I decided to make a special baking apron which could be raffled as a prize and so raise money that way.  I used a metre of Michael Miller 'Home Ec' fabric which I've had in my stash for a while now.  I used a toning purple bias binding for the finishing touches.  I made a couple of changes to the pattern, which is a Simplicity 1940's repro, as I didn't have quite enough fabric to make thicker waist ties but saying that, I quite like how mine turned out ....  I also missed out binding around the whole apron itself but I don't think that matters either - it might have been too much ....  I might add the rick rack which should go on the pocket borders next time I make it, which I will!  I really didn't want to give this away ....  I love the fabric and the apron shape itself is great - it looks like a little dress :-)

Minerva Product Testing - Monogram Bag

You can read all about how I made this initialled bag over on the Minerva Crafts website here  It's my latest product testing project.

I honestly didn't realise how complex bag making actually is ....  It involves as much time and effort as making a whole garment and there are a lot of decisions to be made about how to decorate it, what fabrics to put together, etc etc ....

Anway, I  hope you hop on over to Minerva and enjoy the read :-)

Minerva Product Testing - Astrakhan Jacket

You can see how I made this jacket up on the Minerva Craft Blog here now.  It's still a bit chilly out and I'm glad of it to wear!

Minerva Product Testing - Zandra Rhodes Vogue Jacket

You can read all about how I made this Vogue Zandra Rhodes Designer Jacket here on the Minerva Crafts blog:

https://www.minervacrafts.com/blog/product-reviews/zandra-rhodes-vogue-jacket-by-diane

It has to be one of the most technically demanding garments I have ever made ....  worth it though.

It's a New Year

Well all the festivities are over now but they had a sad tinge for me due to the loss of Oscar ....  I'll never forget him but I am helping myself to get over the fact that he is no longer here by doing some of my favourite things.  I've started a needlepoint cushion which I was given for Christmas and also did work on my next project for the Minerva Craft Blog (it involves a lot of quilting which took the best part of 8 hours to do ... the repetition was very therapeutic to do though).  I'll carry on into the New Year healing in this way ...

I am also starting the Make It In Design Winter School 2018 on Monday so I have that to look forward to ....

Minerva Product Testing - Vilene Bag Kit

You can read all about how I made this cute bag up on the Minerva Crafts Blog as it has been published today.  Find all the details here.

A Hint of Africa

The idea for this dress started after I visited MOSI – Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester, where you can find out about the  manufacture of African Wax Prints.  I also managed to find some wax fabric in Manchester itself in Abakhan Fabrics, located in the Northern Quarter.

The colours of wax fabric are vivid and bold and I used just a small quantity of it as an accent to my dress - I wanted it to be something I could wear in a British summer.  I also wanted a dress that had some kind of African design element to it and so I chose this pattern with a neckline that reminded me of African beaded collars.  The fabric carries through to the tab details on the waistline. 

For the main body of the dress, I managed to find fabric in a similar colourway in the haberdashery department of John Lewis.  It also has printed motifs on a smaller scale to those in the wax fabric and the two together are harmonious.

The dress went together quite easily and I achieved a flat collar with some stiff interfacing.  I love the shape of the dress on me and is a lot more flattering in real life than in the photo.

I have lots of the wax fabric left and I think I’ll make a bag to match the outfit … 

A Grand Day Out

Yesterday, I took time out and went with family to the East Lincolnshire coast on a coach trip.  Amazingly, the weather was fabulous for the day.  So, I tried to re-create the famous Vintage Poster which promoted travelling by rail to the area.  There were a few tries before I could get it more or less right ... but I had a lot of fun!  I am wearing a Goldhawk Road fabric skirt ...

Running for it ...

Nearly there ...

Ooops - slightly out of frame ...

That's the one!

Mystery revealed ...

My lily skirt ... as featured on Sew Weekly last week ... perhaps one of the only good things to come out of all this rain we're having here in the UK, though it is supposed to be summer next week, fingers crossed!

A Passion for Print

Just a round up of some recent projects that I haven't yet blogged about - they all revolve around my love for print - particularly unusual ones!  I've been messing about with Photo Editors too ...  I quite like the first effect as it's called 'Delauney' - after Sonia Delauney, one of my favourite fabric designers - found at Lunapic.  I made a skirt from a print of vintage shoes and handbags which I found in a department store in Newark some time ago.  The pattern is one I use a lot, it's Simplicity easy-to-sew 2257 and there is also a straight skirt option which I used as my 'Fenland Skirt' in an earlier post.

The 1920's ladies print had been in my stash for a long time - from when Liberty used to have a branch in Cambridge.  I bought it when the shop was closing down.  Again, there was just enough to make a skirt with - the Simplicity pattern again but the shorter option than above.

I can't remember where I got the 1940's ladies print from - I think it might have been from a Cambridge Market stall - but it's by Timeless Treasures, one of my favourite fabric companies, and I had sufficient to make an apron from a retro 40's pattern, .  I used the 'Fairy' effect at Lunapic when editing and I like the retro sepia effect it produced on my photo.

Tartan Tote

I managed to get this made from the bits of tartan I had left over from my 'plaid week' disaster.  I've teamed it with some curly pile chocolate brown fun fur to make a strong base and handles.  There was a lot of pulling and stretching and tugging involved with the tartan - it had distorted in the washing machine, which is why I had such a hard time of it making a skirt.  Anyway, I managed to get two rectangles of it back in shape and voila!  I made the bag design up myself, working around the pieces I had left and lined it with some deep brown cotton sheeting, adding an internal pocket for phone, keys etc.  This is up for sale in my Folksy shop now ... fingers crossed ... someone has listed it as a 'favourite'!





Bohemian? Maybe / Maybe Not ...

1970's style tiered skirt made from a vintage sheet with lace detail

My inspiration for the skirt - I trimmed the tiers with the lace sent to me by Amanda D in my 'Travelling Package' 

Here's me trying to be all gypsy like and bohemian in an unweeded part of my garden (unweeded because I'm too busy sewing these days!)  I'm not sure that it's worked very well, number one because I couldn't find the top I had in mind to go with the skirt and this one kind of emphasises the top half.  Number two because it was uncomfortable standing around in the weeds - unsettling is the word I think - I really want to get at the weeds!  But I like the skirt and I know I'll wear it again.  Bringing back carefree art school kind of memories of years ago ...  I found the unused kingsize sheet for £1 in a charity shop - there's loads of it!

Mum's blazer - a detail ...

Here's a closer look at the twin stitching, print lining and button detail of the blazer I made for my mum ....

Mum's Blazer

I promised to make my mum a blazer the same as the denim one I did for the V&A Swap Meet.  I find it really hard to duplicate my efforts, especially within a few weeks of each other, but I was determined.  I finished it!  All the details were the same apart from a different print for the sleeve lining and back neck facing.  She loves it .... 


An unexpected find - Op Art fabric

I wasn't particularly looking for fabric in Hunstanton, I went for fresh air and a change of scene, but I must be tuned in to finding it now and came away with this pillowcase set from a discount store!  No way would I use it as bedlinen, but I love the 70's style pattern and am thinking along the lines of making a top with it ...

Repeating Seashells II

This is a companion design to the one in the previous post.  Although both were requested by my agent at the time, it's still a subject I love ...

Repeating Seashells I

Using densely packed shell motifs, rather than an allover effect, this design has a range of possibilities and here are just some of them ...

Coast

Continuing on the beachy theme is 2 designs I did as a set of 4 for wall art, coasters, mats, in fact anything needing a square format...  I collaged them with torn papers and drew in with fine detail for the flowers, boats etc.

Ships and Lighthouses

Ships and Lighthouses are a favourite subject of mine even though I was specifically asked to produce designs around this theme by my agent at the time.  It's the watery/beachy theme that appeals ... always has, and it fits in with my favoured technique for painting, in a watercoloury style.  This design is a side by side repeat.