The longest to do list ever!

Please, please tell me I am not the only one who has about a million billion projects on the go at one time??

This is the PinUp dress that I am working on and hoping to wear out to a meal with the hubster and our friends on the 25th.  I really, really need to pull by finger out and get it done!  See, I've got the bodice all cut out and ready to sew BUT the skirt  I have put off repeatedly because I know it's gonna need to go on the floor to be cut out and it always hurts my back doing that. *sigh* I may just have to bite the bullet and get on with it!

I also have a quilt that has been in production for, ahem, 2 years, that I NEED to finish because it has owls and it just know they will look awesome in the end.  I'll photo it when I've done a wee but more.

I'm also planning on making my very first garment from a Burda Magazine (from 10/2013 if you're interested).

I'd like to make a girls and boys version of this for each of the kidlets.

And these are only the start of my list.  Sheesh, do you guys plan loads too? 

Thanks guys xxx

Me Made May 2014 I'm in!

This is the first year I have actively taken part in Me Made May and it's making me super busy as I don't have all that many clothes that I have made just for me!  It tends to be Bug that gets the spoils from my time at the machine.

Without further ado I bring you my Week 1 Roundup!

Day 1:  Ok so I may have forgotten all about #memademay14 until I was actually getting dressed and had already picked my outfit so I ended up wearin me made knickers that I blogged about here I didn't take an action photo of them so don't even ask, but it was the red if you're interested. 

Day 2: Scout version 1

I hand on heart LOVE the Scout Woven Tshirt from Grainline Studio You'll see just how much I love it during this month because they are so quick to whip up I can't actually stop making them! I'm pretty sure I bought this fabric from eBay but it was a while ago so I can't remember who from.  The only change I made to the pattern on this Scout was to increase the length of it by 2".  I'm pretty tall (5ft10) and my length is in my torso so I lengthen all tops.  No one needs to see my post baby tummy hanging out under tops hahaha.

Day 3:  Last year I blogged here about my proudest make til that point which was my Maxi Dress When I made it putting it on made me feel beautiful, proud, graceful (you get the drift) until I started wearing it when I was pregnant, like a lot!  It totally kept it's shape (the knit fabric is amazing) but after having Squish, the couple of times I put it on I just felt clumpy and dowdy so I finally took the decision to chop it.  I used the skirt to make my second Scout and that became Day 3s choice.

Usually if I make a pattern meant for woven garments out of a knit I do the right thing and go down a size however on this occasion I wanted a relaxed, slouchy top so I stayed true to the pattern (except for the extra 2") and I love this top! The pic above isn't great but you know how I said 'I don't have much made for me'? Well you'll likely see this top in another roundup post anyway so I've not retaken it. 

Day 4:  Not entirely made by me, day 4s top was a refashion of a dress I was gifted for just that reason.  I also made a skirt but it wa rubbish lol so no point sharing. 

I began by cutting the dress in 2 which created it's own peplum as the waist is elasticated.  I hemmed the peplum and swapped out the buttons for cute heart ones and voila! I was done!

I have to show off the shoes here too as I picked them up in Asda for £6!!!! 

Day 5:  A slight copout today I wore a dress I drafted myself using a dress I liked that was already in my closet.  I used a tubular, thick knit for it and then popped a top over and wore it as a skirt. 

The bottom hem needs to be redone I think.  This was one of the first things I think I ever made for me so it's not fantastic but it is wearable! 

Day 6: Another Scout BUT . . . It's hand painted and I just love it! It's my favourite outfit for week 1.  

(I don't know what that facial expression is all about)

I made this version up with a thick yellow knit from eBay.  I cut the pieces and then used regular acrylic paint mixed with a fabric medium to paint simple hearts on it.  The placement of the hearts is fairly random which is one of the things I love about it.  I then blow dryed it with a hair dryer and took it to my neighbours house to lie on we table flat for 24hours.  Why? Because my children would never manage to leave it alone long enough to set so she was awesome enough to agree to it being there.  When the fabric was ready I got it all sewn up and wore it Day 6.  It has obviously been washed since which was nerve wracking incase it all ran but guess what? It didn't yay! I can't wait to wear this again and equally I can't wait to create more clothing painted by moi!

Finally, if you're still with me. .  .

Day 7: The Simple Tshirt from the Great British Sewing Bee book written to accompany season 2 which I made out of a crepe fabric and bias binding. 

This is my first attempt and as you can see the fit isn't exactly great but I'm showing you it anyway in the interest of full disclosure.  I will make this pattern again but with some alterations, including  adding darts and making a bust adjustment. 

So how's this for a first week and a return to posting?  Thank you so much to anyone who managed to read it all the way through and also thank you for sticking with me. 

See you again very soon, Gem xx

Hiatus

Many apologies for my recent blog break.   I am in the process of setting up an at home sewing business and as you can imagine it is taking up ALOT of my time!  I really do hope to be back soon.  

I've not been totally idle though, here are a few recent makes for my Bug.

Thank you for your continued patience, Gem xxx

Love is in the air!

Valentines with Bug & Squish

Happy Valentines Day everyone!!!

I've a few bits I would like to show you however I haven't given them to hubby yet so they will be on here tomorrow.

Today I'd just like to share the fantastic cards that Bug & Squish sent out. They were made by the fabulous Laura at Daisy Rae Design Facebook.  You should go and check her out.

What do you think? These were sent to their little besties and Bug also sent this card to a little friend.

Aren't they beautiful?

Much love to everyone today, Gem xx

Pinterest problems

Hey all

Just a quick post to tell you all I've had a slight problem with Pinterest and had to start a new account so if you were following me previously please come and find me again.

Here are my deets:

The lovely peops at Pinterest had put my account into safe mode due to some strange activity which I am realising is true as a board I didn't set up is on there but unfortunately I've been unable to get out of safe mode so new account it was!

Hope to see you there, Gem xxx

Lurgy

The lurgy hit the Bug & Squish household well over a week ago and we are still not closer to being better so I've barely done anything except . . . . I completed my pink cowl and a Scout Woven Tshirt by Jen at Grainline Studio.  I think nearly EVERYONE in the blogosphere has completed this project but it was a new one for me!  Actually what am I saying they are both quite the achievement!  I can't show the Scout yet as I need to wait til I've revealed it in a Facebook Group I'm in since we did it as a group challenge but here's a sneaky peak of both the top and the cowl.

I enjoyed sewing it so much that I ordered fabric for 2 more and wouldn't you know it I got redcarded for it yesterday and don't have time to collect til Monday. Eeeeek I hate when that happens!  Never the less I can show you what it looks like.  This fabric I bought from Rose-Fashions37 on EBay. 

You will notice these are the same fabric in different colours.  I do this a lot! Not just with fabric either! 

Since I have been so unwell rather than sew I have been trawling t'internet for new wares and have come up with a few.  Wanna see??

First off I ordered (and have taken delivery of) the Anna pattern from By Hand London.  I'm super excited by this pattern and fully intend to start with the maxi version complete with split!  I've ordered this material for it I'm just waiting for it to arrive. 

What do you think? 

I also ordered a huge selection  of preowned patterns from another Facebook Group.

Since we last 'spoke' I've been getting into crochet, working on my Cynthia Rowley again (I under ordered fabric though so I need to wait to continue) and knitting nightly.

What have you been up to?

Nice to 'see' you, Gem xxx