Getting there..

Took costumes back last night, and I think we are winning, the details on the flower bodices have been agreed, so I was cutting petals last night. Five petals per bodice, eight bodice-worths cut, overlocked and hemmed, between 8.30 and midnight. Six more lots to go, and then attach. Then shoulder straps, and they will be more or less done.
Swans need trimming and then slitting to give a feathered effect, and some more hooks and eyes applying, the bodices gape slightly where the gap is. I got more tape on Sunday so I can do that today.
Breakfast and then SEW.

What do the trimmings from overlocking thirteen bodices for swans look like?

A bin full!

On another note, my first rose is out!
Graham Thomas. Thus far, this year, holding his head up , usually he has drooped, but looks like he may now feel able to sit up, rain permitting!
Five years I have had these roses in, and either they droop, or the rain turns the flowers into soggy balls of nothing. Perhaps, this year... Don't count on it...

And camellia?  A birthday gift some years ago, from my children, flowers a little later than a lot of them, glorious in it's dark foliage and those pure flowers. 

And lurking in a hidden corner, this pretty rhodedendron, I hadn't even noticed her come into bloom. I like secrets in my garden.

And my guilty clematis, Bought a year or two ago. Cheap, from the supermarket. It is the cheapest clematis in the garden, and the best doer. Rampaged up the trellis, flowers like there is no tomorrow, but bought against my better judgement, as I do not like the buying tactics employed by the 'big boys'. Such a joy to have though.

photo tales

No time for this really, but, inspired by Lucy, I made this for myself. It is a really useful size, I have never had a pincushion as such before, popping stray pins into the tray under the free arm of the machine, or scattering them liberally across the table, or, sometimes, back intheir box. However, this with its handy pot for dropping scissors, cutters, whatever, is just great. why did I not have one before?

Well, Lucy hadn't shown me where to find the tutorial of course! And I couldn't justify making this just now, as I am struggling to get these swans done in time, but it is hand sewing, so I can do it while down timing with the idiot box, so it happened over a couple of days. And is so useful! And very simple to make, with Penny's tute.

Phew.

Laid out ready to assemble

I have been factory sewing three sets of back bodice, three sets of side backs, all overlocked now, ready for seams, but I need to cut the side fronts, and the fronts, now . I have finished- bar a few attachment details - five,  three are part done six not started. Shopping for hook and eye tape tomorrow, and hopefully I will get most of them finished ready to fit, tomorrow. But just now I am zonked, so time to stop.

in order, ready for the machine

DD2 has been angelic today, sorting out laundry, dishwasher, FOOD, and gardening, as I haven't time to do it!

 putting the wigwam together for the peas,

 Rescuing last years fuschias

 Some of our haul from last weekend







  Some bought at the show, others acquired from my generous friend's garden.

  

Veg grown from seed

And the promise of goodness to come, that funny fuzzy 'bean' is a damson! And it has friends! So I am hopeful. Not confident, but definitely hopeful!

weekend, no sewing?

I had a very busy weekend, so no sewing got done. But some sowing was planned. And planting. An amazing weekend down at the Spring Garden Show in Malvern, where I bought more than I should, and less than I wanted, I will take photos soon, and put any half good ones up.

And what news today? Fluffy sheep has opened a shop! She already has delicious fabrics in- but I am currently banned from buying- next time I am in need I will head over there, to look. And she will have Aurifil thread. I am keen to try this. I just need the right project.
Meantime- please go look , Cindy couldn't be more helpful, and deserves some custom!
She is based in Eire, but do not panic! there is a dinky little tab at the top Right hand corner, you can buy in Euros, or stirling or dollars. So she is trying to accommodate all of us as well as she can!
Neat idea!

Swans ahoy

So today was busy again. I did the last three purple bodices, yes, one member of the troupe has dropped out so we are down to fifteens. So I now have a set of purple bodices ready to fit. Then a few more hours on each of those to finish.
And I started a swan.

Has anyopne out there sewn with the ruffled fabric out there at present?

It is not fun. I am going to have to cut and sew each one individually, as it is not easy to see which piece is which, once unpinned from pattern. The fringey bits try to get in the wrong place, so they have to be directed constantly, which slows the overlocking down . A lot.

We decided to extend the fabric beyond the bodice finish line, and will cut it to be feathery later, this means I have to overlock the bottom edge of the lining first, then overlock the other three side with the ruffle fabric, and then sew the pieces together. This bodice comes down to a point, so needs boning down the centre, so a casing for that has to be included. After fitting I will finish the top edge with bias, which will tidy it up.

One down, fourteen more to go!

12 in one day? Too many.

Symmetrical, this is how to do it!

This... is how NOT to do it

Ok, I have had a day of it. Sewing bodices,that is. Started first thing this morning, and have cut out and sewn, six bodices, size A. Four bodices size A plus a little bit, and two bodices size B. These are sewn in batches. Have to be really, with having so many to do. So the first six went a dream, before lunch. Now ready for fitting. Next four, after lunch, fine, ready and waiting. Then the two bigger ones. I stitch, side fronts to front. Side back to centre back, twice. Then side backs to side fronts.


 Ok, so how and why did I sew a centre back onto a side front? and then sew the side backs together. Producing the most lopsided bodice ever. Oh well, Mr Seam Ripper had been feeling all left out and neglected... No longer.

Yes, in this photo, that is the centre front at the extreme Right.

There can only be one guilty party, and that is me. Maybe it is time to stop for the night!

More on Wednesday, perhaps.

Delft look

The latest challenge from Leila is Y-seams. these are a little tricky, but beautifully explained, by Leila and also by Faith, and they do work, especially if you follow the instructions. And do not confuse yourself by thinking you sewed the wrong seam, 'cos you needed to turn the piece round to get it the right way up... Yes, it was fine, I didn't have to get the stitch ripper out, though it took a minute to realise what I was doing (err, yes well, shrug).

I looked at the design, and just thought, blue and white would look fantastic. So, here she is.

I am now tempted to make the identical block, but reverse the fabrics? And then I would have to make a few more, and set them on the diagonal, and a quilt feels like it is coming. Just don't hold your breath, as I have so much else on, first.

Six red waistcoats await fitting, the blue one at the back was the sample I was copying. They need buttons and may need darts to pull them in.

On to bodices now! Hurrah.

And the tree peony has flowered, at last. Just the one flower, but who knows, next year?

It has only taken 5 or 6 years to get around to it. Worth waiting for? I am not sure. Maybe a few more flowers next year will help.





















And a plant I thought I had killed is also flowering.

I had not intended to kill it, but thought it was gone. Then up it came again.

Do not ask me what it is called, I really do not know.It was given to me by a colleague, purple, arum lily shape, elegant. Nameless. Anyone who recognises and can name this creature, please enlighten me.

Potty?

I had gone out to get stretch interfacing, of the iron on variety.

So lets go back a step. On Wednesday, DD2 came in,
'Mum, I need you to perform a miracle. Or a reality check. One or the other. Please?'

She had bought this gorgeous T-shirting, pale grey with a tiny white polka dot. And now she wants a dress. Sweetheart neckline, puff tops to the sleeves, and then a straight sleeve below that. High waist, and inverted pleats for the skirt, stitched and then left to flow. By Friday?

Well, I tried. I did not succeed, but we gave it a go. Having assembled it, I realised, as I had suspected, the sweetheart neckline needed interfacing. Interfacing I have. Not, however the knit stuff. So, reluctantly, we have had to delay the project. When it is realistically wearable, I will get photos.

So whats with that photo?

Whilst out and failing to buy knit interfacing, I spotted that fabric. I cannot think of any suitable use for it, but could you have left it behind? Well, yes, I suspect you could, but it was so cheerful, I really had to get it, 'cos sometime it will come in! Honest! And it was less than £5.00 a metre, and it is fun, and, if not got at the time, you can guarantee you would never see it again.

Last week I did get to the equilateral triangle block, and was pleased with how it went together.

This week it is Y seams. I shall get to it, but I am on waistcoat number 5, and will have one more to do, first.

And May's hive 2 block is delayed as I am not yet in possession of the right colour to start. I have been promised it will be available next week, from Simply Solids, and if all else fails our lovely Queen Bee has offered to send some, but she cannot supply all materials, and that feels like a slippery slope, so I plan to make a purchase of the coal, and black fabrics  ( black for June block) as soon as they are both in stock. Panic in case they are not in in time....


I hate to say it- but that purple teapot fabric may end up fugly... Not yet though, as at present I am trying to mentally turn it into a tea cosy, or oven gloves, or,... any suggestions?