Christmas stocking advent calender

Last year Lyra, over at West 38th, made a Christmas stocking advent calendar. It stuck in my mind as super cute and so I decided that I would make one this year.

I sorted my stash and started in good time. I cut and sewed twelve and had to replenish my stash with a rummage in the remnant bin at the fabric shop on the corner. Unfortunately the rather lovely piece of red and green brocade is big enough to make a skirt from that would match the green wrap top I made. Well I say made, I haven't yet finished it.

So I pootled on and now have around 15 little stockings and a further six or so cut out, but am stalled on the last three. I would like them to be red but can not cut into the red and green because I might not have enough left for the skirt. But can not cut out a skirt because I'm not sure what style to make. It will have to be either A line or fitted but I can't decide.

To keep the project moving I thought I would buy something to go in the stockings, Baby C being a bit small still for festive treats I bought a box of dark chocolate and thought I would pop one in each stocking.

But then I started eating them, well there were only 21 to begin with rather than the 24 required so I figured I would just buy a second box. But I really don't know what has happened because the chocolate box is now empty and it is eight days into advent.

Perhaps I'll just make them as tree ornaments this year.

Secret Santa sleep mask

This year I took part in a Secret Santa with some friends. Our budget was £5 each and the gift could be shop bought or crafted. I opted for crafted. I decided to make a silk sleep mask, trimmed with lace and monogrammed. Everything was in my stash and I was so pleased with it I am going to make more for friends and family.

I imagine the lady who wears this retiring to her boudoir while her husband looks after the children, cleans the house, makes the dinner and prepares her a pre-dinner gin and tonic.

I'm not sure the sleep mask can make all that happen but its a start.

Meanwhile you might have been wondering how I am getting on with covering the blue bedroom chair. Well the truth is, I'm not. Though I have been doing lots of other sewing, some of it festive, some of it clothes and some of it household. And some of it that I hope to up date you on over the next few days.

Recovering a bedroom chair.

My first project for our new home is a blue bedroom chair that I will make a loose cover for.
At first I thought it would be a nice little chair for Baby C's room but I like it so much I think it will live in my room and I will look out for a chair with arms for the baby's room.

I plan to make a loose cover with box pleat trim.


The first stage of the project is to take the ruffle trim off. Looking underneath I found it was stapled on and so I took to it with a screwdriver to prise the staples out.


After removing the trim there were staples that needed to be removed with a pair of pliers.



Here is the chair without the trim.



The next stage will be to make a paper pattern for the cover.

Spoke too soon....

A couple of posts ago I made the rash declaration that my life was settling down. It isn't or it didn't, but it might.
I am now in the process of moving back to the England to live permanently, I have found a house to rent and now need to furnish it with virtually no budget. I thought I might give the blog a re-vamp too and keep you up to date with how I get on with my beg, borrow and styling.

And you know one of the best features of the house? A brand new fabric store has opened up on the corner of the steet - it must be fate!

Birthday bargains

August is my baby girl's birthday month and to celebrate I am offering all the baby girl dresses in my etsy store at 25% off. Grab a Birthday Bargain at just $30.
Sale runs from 1st to 30th August.

Here, there and everywhere.

I really am still here. But I've been visiting in the UK a couple of times, moving into a new flat and generally being busy doing nothing.

But now life seems to be settling down and thoughts are turning to all things crafty. Not only the ever expanding list of unfinished and not to mentioned un-started personal projects but also for my lil shop.

I have started giving it a wash and brush up with some new photos of the dresses and next up is listing some more vintage patterns.

As ever there are more ideas than time but my aim is to do a little each day. Wish me luck!

I really am still here, except here isn't there anymore

In otherwords I've moved to France and am only just beginning to catch up with myself.
I have been sewing, but in December is was all Christmas gifts and since then I have made one top and one pair of trousers for me.

I have two main wardrobe problems at the moment. I am a size larger than my pre-pregnancy size and I am currently living in the snowy Alps after the sunny Canary Islands. This means that even if I have clothes that fit they are generally not warm enough. My new pair of trousers took my total trouser tally to three. So sewing for the shop is on hold for a while. I have however got around to taking my shop off vacation mode and re-listing my maternity patterns.

So if you or anyone you know is expecting and want some cute, vintage patterns do please check out my shop.