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Tom takes the honours of picking the winning comment...he dug right to the bottom of the cup!
Emily from Emily Hooper designs thank you so much for your posts and if you email me your details the book will be on its way to you hopefully before the strike!
After a week of sewing for my new venture I have decided that Friday's should be a day for stitching & sewing clothes for the family and home (well me & Violet as the extent of acceptable 'homemade clothes for the male element of the family stops at pj bottoms!)
I have had this green velvet coat cut out for a while so decided to tackle it today. When I was at Art college I had an strange obsession with chiffon, heaven knows why but Velvet is as frustrating to sew but I adore it so its worth the struggle (not so keen on the chiffon now thank goodness).
I always pin & baste each seam because when I try to skip one of the steps it always ends up in unpicking so its just not worth it. Although as time raced on this afternoon I got a bit cocky & didn't baste the side seams or the undercollar...just used 100's of pins and the power of positive thought to will it not to slip! It seemed okay but we shall see in the cold light of the morning whether I am happy with it or i will spend the morning brandishing my seam unpicker.
This was my progress at lunchtime and a point that I always get ratty with what I'm making, the halfway mark where through years of experience and many unfinished projects I have now learn't to walk away and return in a few days, fresh and ready to sew.
I am hoping to get it finished in time to take to Holland with me but we'll see what comes up next week.
I picked up a copy of Homes & Antiques this month, I don't know why as its not a mag that I usually even flick through but it called me from the shelf. So imagine my delight as I came across this article.
Our very own Julia at Vintage Heaven. It was lovely to take a proper peek into Julia's lovely home & the photos were great.
I am so glad that people share their homes with all of us, it is such an inspiration & a kick up the rear for me when I'm feeling a bit gloomy about a messy corner or plaster falling off the wall.
I know some may feel it's a bit showy offy but honestly if you think that about people then shame on you look at the delights you are missing. We all take inspiration from different sources so thank goodness for those who open up and share their homes...
And on that note thought you might like to see my new pew...I absolutely love it and its my fave piece of furniture to date and yes I think I am going to show off about it!
So the moral of this post is please keep inviting us into your homes because they are wonderful, inspiring, exciting & they brighten up my day!
ps... thanks for all your comments regarding the sewing machine I am really grateful and I think I am going to look around for someone I trust to service the old girl before I rush out and buy a new model...will be choosing a random comment on Sunday and then the notebook will be on its way.....
After 20 years of faithful service, appalling treatment, being carted around the countryside and generally used and abused my wonderful Bernina is just not cutting it anymore.
This delightful workhorse came into my possession whilst at art college and mooning over it for weeks and thinking how on earth can i spend over £900 on a sewing machine when my car at the time cost me £250, it was the little box of feet attached to the back that finally got me.
So I handed over my hard earned pennies...oh the joy....its made so many things over the years and still has many left in her but I just can't get a decent top stitch out of her, no matter how much I tinker.
I am loathed to get her serviced (doing the basic maintenance myself over the years) as so many people I have spoken to have said their Berninas are never the same when returning. All metal, heavy and delightful they certainly don't make these machines like they used too.
So I have decided to buy a new machine basically for top stitching, nothing fancy but a good stitch quality and can cope with regular use. I would be really grateful for your comments on your own experience with today's sewing machines & your preferred models as I haven't a clue where to start and don't have the time to trawl & traipse about trying various models out.
As a thank you I will choose a random post and send you something for helping me out (details later when I've rustled something up).......and so to the bathroom
its almost finished but I just haven't had the time (or the inclination) to strip the toilet cistern & pipes so we will live with them for a bit.
I was browsing through Homebase on a farrow & ball mission when I spotted this fab wallpaper, it reminded me of the lovely wallpaper that I had admired & swooned over that Manda at Treefall Design has on her bedroom wall.
So I am pleased with how it turned out and was hoping it might inspire the boys of the house to spend more time in there washing & perhaps brushing their teeth without me threatening them first....ha no chance!
Inspired with my sort of new bathroom I decided to get busy in the dining room as a new carpet is on its way followed shortly by a church pew (very excited about this addition)
so will have a few more make over photos shortly.....also some exciting news about getting back to work & finally stocking my little store.
Edit ....share your thoughts good & bad about sewing machines and this little lovely could be yours.
will be chosing a random comment a week sunday....
