I am in love with these dresses!!

I am so in love with these dresses  from Hawaiian heaven 

 I am doing the  bomshell dress course I had debated as to whether I could wear it until I saw these shrugs on their website, its perfect cover up and goes beautifully with the dress!

Thanks to a member of the sewing forum who showed me a pattern that is similar to the Hawaiian heaven's shrug which is view A of this pattern simplicity 2478 I cant wait to get started now

Remember I was given a box of vintage patterns?

I finally made a dress using one of the vintage patterns that I was given, it took me ages trying to grade the patterns as sizes were 6 inches smaller than today's dress size!

It was the only picture I could find of me wearing the dress on Saturday night out with friends

Gypsy top

I went out last night to see AC/DC tribute band and quickly made this gypsy top yesterday afternoon! it was so easy to make! 

Bombshell dress sew retro class

I  signed up for an online class taught by Gertie of Gerties blog for better sewing to learn how to make this bombshell dress and loving the course! She guides you through cutting up your pattern and making a muslin, to fitting the bodice and making the dress! I am loving her teaching style and everything is covered with clear tutorial videos and she answers any questions you may have. I signed up simply cos I love the 1950's dresses  only ever did boning once for my eldest daughters formal dress but my goodness this course has showed me so much more tips and techniques for boning! I cant wait to start making this dress!

Picture stolen from http://www.blogforbettersewing.com/

Vintage patterns

I love the 1950's dresses and coats,  I was given this box of 1950's patterns last night, and they are gorgeous!! I cant wait to start my new winter wardrobe!! the sizing is amazing as a size 16 is a 36 bust! whereas now a size 16 is a 40" bust! I am in seventh heaven getting these patterns! the patterns were 3 shillings!!

Bags and purses

One of my twin daughter is away to Cyprus for two weeks I made her a wash bag, make up bag and a small wristlet pure that can hold her Ifone,  luggage tag and a passport cover. The passport cover is not shown as she took it before I could photograph it will get a pic of it when she gets back from her holidays!
The washbag was lined with pink shower curtains which I got from poundland!

She loved the purse and mobile holder as it is perfect for her holidays, it took me a while to work this one out as the first one I made was too small, it fits my phone so I drew a template of her I phone and using  combined tutorials of make up bags etc I got this one and I am pleased with it and my other twin DD wants one for her holidays next month! she chose a completely different fabric from my stash.

 first one was too small, it fitted my phone.

  after drawing a template and working round the size of her phone, I made this one for her and she loved it said it was the best invention ever to carry her phone inside her purse for her holidays with the choice of keeping the wristlet on or off and it is quite comfy to hold in your hand. 

Make up bags

I made this makeup bag using flossie teacakes pattern My DD who didn't like the rock dress loved this makeup bag, I made three on Saturday in between 15 hour double shift, DD took a pic of me sewing in my work uniform lol 

Charity shop find!

I got this mirror from a  charity shop for £4.99 and it is perfect for my kitchen hoping to paint it today ... please excuse the mess in the background and the light fittings I hate them! I so want crystal chandeliers just waiting to get them at a bargain price as I need two!

Another Dress

I made another dress! that a total of 7 dresses! I love this style of dress its so easy to make and very flattering to wear.

More Auction Bargains!

I was not planning on going to the auction last Thursday, there was only two items I liked one was a fire screen that folded down into a coffee table and the other was a narrow folding table but at 8.45pm I changed my mind  and took a race over and I am so glad I did as I got the fire screen for £5 the folding table for £5 too! I had been after a fire screen for ages but kept getting out bidded , I guess last Thursday night no one was wanting one!

Folding table which is perfect for my sewing machine, it sits nice and flat when folded down. I am thinking of painting it and either stencilling it or decoupaging the top with roses.

Painted photo frames

I got these photo frames from TK Max they were reduced to £3  

 I got this silver one in a charity shop for £1.99 it had a few scratches but I just loved the roses around the frame

The after Pics...  

Out came the spray gun and I painted them I used one for a photo of my son  before his hair grew long! I have yet to get a picture of his long hair as he avoids the camera :-(

I have mislaid my gold rub and buff tube, I put it somewhere safe it is so safe that I cant find it! I wanted to use them on the roses.

I used the rose one for my darling late partners photo which was taken few weeks before he passed away suddenly. I painted the frame mount that his photo was in as it was black with gold stripes around it..when I find the gold rub and buff  I will apply it on the roses,.

Bathroom makeover

I also picked up two mirrors at the auction for £6! perfect for my bathroom! at the weekend I decided to do a bathroom makeover which was long over due

 My drawers unit the before pic... I hated the dark wood I bought it for £19.99 for both of them at argos 4 years ago.

  the other mirror that i got along with the oval one £6 for both of them, yes that is my leg in my painting clothes and crocs lol

The after pics, My daughter Rachel says the mirror reminds her of  the magic mirror in Snow White, 

"Mirror mirror on the wall, who in the land is the fairest of them all"

Charity shop bargain Glass jars for £1.29

 I also made these shelf sitters and plaque for the bathroom at the weekend.

My £2 bargain!

I went to the auction last week and saw this drinks cabinet and I thought it was perfect for storage and for my hall, the bidding started really low at £2 and I bidded on it and got it!!

 the after pic, 

I still need to re arrange the bits and pieces on top of it it went perfect with my £12 mirror another bargain!

Bracelet and Earrings

I made the bracelet and earrings to go with the Rock dress,  I have now removed the skull with wings, so that I can continue to wear it , there is mini skulls and music notes on the bracelet, and I could get away with wearing the earrings on a casual basis as the mini skulls are not noticeable. :-)

Wallet from my DS jeans

 My DS ripped his favourite jeans last week, I felt I could do something with them, so when he asked me to make him a wallet and the jeans was perfect for it! I used .noodle-head' s tutorial

I used the pocket linings and unpicked the size label and sewed it back onto the wallet it made my son laugh, he was panicking because he thought I was going to use his shirts!! which is too small for him and he keeps saying they are not and insist on wearing them and knows that I am patiently waiting for him to finally give them up as they are gorgeous checked cotton prints!! 

 

My baby twin daughter looking all grown up

It was my youngest twin daughter's formal tonight, it brought a tear to my eye to see her all glammed up! and  it is the last of my three daughters to dress up for a formal...

Cushion covers

I started off making a gingham patchwork quilt covers and failed miserably and ended up with these heart cushion covers for the sofa in my kitchen. I made them envelope style as I had no zips, I cut the heart fabrics using the cricut, I realise now I should have used wadding on the squares, but overall I am pleased at how they have turned out as I think they compliment the other two flag cushion covers I had made last month.
 The smaller cushions were filled with Ikea's 70pence cushions so overall the five new cushion covers cost me £1.40 and fabric from my stash which I had hoarded over the years!!

I found a forgotten fabric stash in the back of the hot press!!

I am doing the happy dance!!! 

I cleared out the hot press yesterday and there is a bag stuffed at the very back top shelf, usually I just leave it there but yesterday I got a stool and got it to see what was inside it, I actually shook when I saw what was in the bag!!  It was these gorgeous fabrics!! I remember now buying them about 9 years ago from a USA eBay seller very cheaply as the £ was strong, with moving house twice I do not know how I could have forgotten about this stash!!

I am so excited I think I am going to make a quilted ken wood mixer cover with the Gingerbread one!

My Rock dress

I found a pic of me wearing the dress, made this dress using the top part of New Look 6980 dress pattern and the bottom part of New look 6966 dress pattern. I loved wearing this dress to a dear friends DH 50th which was Rock Themed. It was a great night out and the music was fantastic! ( rock chick in my teens and a closet one now lol)  I am too old to wear it as as  a dress as my DS so eloquently put it it I must be going through a mid life crisis if I think skulls and crossbones is lovely and that it would give him nightmares lol!! I also made earrings and bracelets to match the rock theme, I will try and take a photo of the jewellery.

I have been Sewing!

I made two maxi dresses and a swing dress and two glasses case in the last 24 hours! I will try and get a photo of the maxi dress the rock chick swing dress is not photographed very well as it does not show the swing part of the skirt very well.

I simply adore the rock chick glasses case, the inside is lined with the tattoo print fabric I got the tutorial from craftyady's