Crafty Update (and swappage!)

Well, it's surely time for a bit of a crafty update. I've been as busy as ever, but it's been a good kind of busy and there's been a bit of crafty time thrown in there.

I finally got the sewing machine out of its box and I have to say I love it - I reckon there' probably room for a review of it somewhere when I get the chance. I've managed to pick up how to use it *fairly* successfully but it hasn't been without its own little dramas (as learning any new hobby can be).

In the few months which have passed I've managed to make the kitten ears. I was happy with them as a starter project but I already recognise where I could have gone better and now wish I'd photo-journaled so I could remember how I did it (and therefore change the bits I don't like).

I was lucky enough the other week to get invited to a lovely friend's place who is excellent at dress making and she helped me construct a whole dress in one night. A LOT of mojitos later, and a lot of chatting, and we had one dress and I was able to take a ready-made pattern away too. Looking forward to trying another version of it all alone :)

 And so now I'm half way through making this picnic blanket skirt which I absolutely adore! It's proving a wee challenge (my machine doesn't like the thin fabric and my bobbin is having a hard time with it) but apart from that I'm enjoying it and I can not WAIT for it to be finished :)

Which brings me on to the new exciting project. The lovely @kittykirstykat recommended I join in with the Craft Swap @merialc is organising. To tell you the truth, I wasn't - and still aren't - sure I'm crafty or good enough to actually give my stuff to another person but it's given me a wee rocket up the proverbial and I have a few ideas buzzing around so I'm looking forward to getting started with it and creating a wee bundle of crafty stuff to send along to my secret swap. It's like secret santa but WAY more fun.

So it's busy busy on the crafty front - even if the corsetry course I wanted to do was cancelled. Fingers crossed for the January one as it's something I really want to learn. I must get better at documenting the things I make on here - would be good to look back and actually remember how to do things again.

Itching to get started...

Since my first post I have been crazy busy. Away with work, catching up with friends and basically spending little to no time in the flat. As a consequence, I have barely even been able to take my shiny Brother sewing machine out of it's box even for a trial run.

I sit now - in Cardiff - and I'm absolutely desperate to get back and get making something. I've decided I want to buy a big book where I can (badly) sketch out some of the clothes I want to make and also some of the accessories. On the to do list so far is:

* Picnic Blanket Skirt (link to follow shortly)
* Rainbow Underskirt (link to follow)
* Kitten ears for a friend
* Pinafore dress
* Burlesque Sally Rand Fans
* Fascinator (of some design still to be decided)

Now looking at it all together, I wonder if I'm being over-optimistic. But then, Rome wasn't built by people who decided they couldn't accomplish something and I'll never get there if I don't get off my backside and at least give it a try.

I can't wait until Saturday morning - think I'm going to get the machine all set up. Then at least when I can get a minute or two, I can get something started. Now just to find a sketchy book where I can doodle all my ideas.

Starting Out

I, like most of the UK just now, have been thoroughly bitten by the Great British Sewing Bee bug...which has just culminated in me purchasing my very own sewing machine.

Now, I am an utter novice at all of this but truth be told, I've had the crafty itch for a little while now - and I've decided to throw myself into it and get sewing.

The other week I made myself a bandeau birdcage veil:

I loved it immediately and it was much easier to do than I thought it would be. Just accomplishing that has made me believe I can manage anything I put my mind to.

Can't wait to get started on my own project. Thinking about trying this picnic blanket skirt which I adore!

Started this blog so I can track my progress on projects and hopefully learn as I go on.

Velma x