Not much time for blogging today but here's a picture of the skirt I'm making

I have a friend coming over and it's another beautiful sunny day so I'm just going to leave you with some pictures of the skirt I am making.I'm nearly finished, just have to do the hemming now.I have to admit this has taken a bit of a back seat since the vintage fair on Saturday as I am no longer in desperate need of clothes and anyone who has ever hemmed a similar skirt will know it takes forever.I am planning to use bias tape for the hem.I think it will match the bias on the pockets nicely and besides I don't have a rolled hem foot so I don't have too many options.I have worked out it needs 5 metres of bias.It also needs a bit taken of the front so that it hangs evenly.As I don't have one of those super gadgets my fiancee will have to help me with this. I'm planning on making a whole bunch of these in different fabrics, planned next are a large floral print and a plain red one with a high waist and straps.

Cushionpads too expensive? Try this!

I wanted to make some cushions but the shop didn't have the pads I wanted and my feet were too sore to try anywhere else.They did however have pillows for a very good price.This got me thinking how simple it would be just to make my own for a fraction of the price of the cushion pads. I know you can get filler for exactly this purpose but that's quite expensive and if you use a cushion you can reuse the fabric as well although you will need a bit extra if you are making four like me.
I won't do a tutorial because it's very simple and there are a lot of good cushion tutorials out there allready. It worked just great and I don't think I will ever buy a cushion pad again although I probably will use a better quality cushion.
I know you know what cushions look like but here's a picture of my finished cushionpads anyway,You can only see three because the 4th cushionpad is in the washingmachine as I 've allready spilled some wine on it.

Miss W is having a give away!

I am giving away this gorgeous 1970's pattern for the dress or top.

Just right for spring 2011 with so many lovely 1970's inspired clothes back in the shops.

It's uncut and it's a multisize pattern bust 34 inch to 40 inch that's bust 87cm to 102cm in metric.

Just to clarify it doesn't include the cream skirt but it does include the dress and shirt.

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is be a follower and leave a comment.

Both are very simple: to be a follower just click on the follow or the subscribe buttons you can find these on the top and left of my blog.and to leave a comment you just click on the word comment below this blogpost.

Smart Business Cards Using Stuff You Probably Have In Your Recycling Bin

So I don't need business cards just yet and I won't be using them as that but I was just playing around with some ideas when I came I came up with this. Admittedly not the quickest way to get business cards but almost free,good for the environment and you probably have all the materials to make them.

1. You will need:Cereal boxes,envelopes,Cuttingmat,Craftknife,glue stick,ruler,labels
2. Decide how big you want your cards to be,if you have other peoples business cards lying around you can use these as a guide.Mine are 8 cm by 5,5 cm. Business cards seem to vary a fair bit although they are roughly the same size.
3. Cut up your cereal boxes and envelopes so you have usable pieces.
4. Cut pieces of card to the required size taking care to select nice clean uncreased cardboard.
5. Stick your pieces on to the envelope so that the white cardboard is at the back and the pretty pattern is at the front now trim the edges so they are neat.
6. Print sticky labels with your details and put on your cards.

It's that simple!

I love getting comments so please let me know what you think!
Anyone can comment regardless of whether or not you have a blogger account just click on the word comment below but I do moderate them to avoid spam.

Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Vintage Fairs

So I had a great time at the vintage fair on Saturday. I didn't think I was going to buy anything but ended up going home with 3 dresses,an apron and a top.I would normally consider this extravagant but as I haven't managed to find anything I wanted to buy for a very long time it's absolutely great!
Here's a picture of my new buys I admit they do look a do look a whole lot better on.Things can look a tad shapeless on the line, but you still get the general idea.One dress you can't see but that's because I'm wearing it as I write.

I had not been to a fair for a while and in my rush to get out I forgot my all important tape measure. this got me thinking: I should write a post about how to get the most out of going to vintage fairs. you might not know this but I used to run my own antique and vintage textile stall so I know a thing or two about buying and selling at fairs.

1. Wear a full slip or petticoat and cami under your clothes:Preferably one that doesn't look too much like underwear.Changing booths at fairs are hit and miss and you may have to change in a communal room or quickly slip a dress on somewhere discreet.Vintage clothes have also not always been washed so you may not want them against your skin if they smell a bit weird and lastly the right underpinnings really do make a difference to how a dress looks so if you really like full skirts make sure you take a full petticoat so you can accurately judge how it really will look.
2. Take cash and change:A lot of stall holders are not professionals so may not have chip and pin machines or even the correct change. I wouldn't advocate walking around with lots of cash but you do need some if you are not to have to constantly nip out to find a cashpoint which can be a real pain particularly if you don't know the area.This can also help you stick to a budget and stop you overspending.
3. Take a tape measure:Useful for measuring whether clothes are likely to fit. Although I admit you do get an eye for this in time, there are places where you really will not be able to try something on and you may have to make a decision based on the measurements.
4. Take a handbag with a long strap so you can  wear it accross your body: Useful for hands free browsing.
5. Take a large bag with comfortable straps preferably one that stands up by itself:As you may be buying lots of items you may well accumulate lots of smaller bags.these can get lost easily as you are browsing so take one large bag instead. If it can stand up by itself so much the better as it won't keep falling over and spilling your new purchases.
6. Wear comfortable shoes but take some heels with you: You might well be doing a fair bit of walking so you don't want to be crippled half way through but take some heels in case you spot something a bit more more dressy to try on.It's hard to appreciate a beautiful taffeta evening dress with flats/sandals/plimsols/trainers.Or have the best of both worlds and wear some wedges.Comfy and some extra height at the same time.

So those are my tips for getting the most out of vintage fairs. Please let me know if you find them useful.I'd love to hear your comments!

Trying Out My New Sewing Machine

I  got out my new sewing machine today

I have been putting this off  because to be honoust I really don't like new machines.

Give me my old trusted sewing machine anytime!

But off course my old trusted machine deperatly needs to go and have a service which is why I got this one.

Not just for this off course.

I realised I needed a spare and this is the newer version of my old one

 ( See I really don't like new machines)

It was very good value too at £60

I have to admit I do prefer the look of the other one as it's red and white which is one of my favourite colour combo's

This one does have a carry handle though so that slightly makes up for it.



Going A little Crazy on Amazon

I just went a little crazy on Amazon and bought 3 of the books I have been meaning to buy for ages.

 And no I wasn't even tipsy!

 Damn you one click ordering!

Still I have been collecting this series for a while and the others have been absolutely fantastic.

So I guess it's an investment.

Having A Spring Clean And Rediscovering Last Years Creations.

I am very short of clothes at the moment but just found these two creations from ages ago and they both fit!

Can you tell I have a thing for ginghman and Polka dots!

Am happy now!

Gorgeous New Polka Dot/Stripe Material

I got this gorgeous new fabric!

It's lining so wouldn't really be suitable for a dress as it would be too thin.

So I'm thinking what to do with it!

Some bunting would be nice.

Some lightweight shopping bags.

Cushions maybe.

A new petticoat from the blue and red polka dot fabric would be lovely but would take a bit more time.

I have quite a lot of it as I bought all that was left on the roll.

8 metres of the stripy material and 3 of the polka dot.

Any suggestions?

Perfect for bed time :Dutch Anisseed milk recipe/ Anijsmelk recept

Just recently I have been missing food from home a lot. I am half Dutch.In the Netherlands you would just buy the mix to make this.It comes in the form of a cube a bit like a sugar cube.

However without access to dutch shops.And Believe me I tried! I had to make my own.

As It turns out it's very simple!

Ingredients:

1,5 tablespoons of Star Anise

500 ml Milk

Sweetener or Sugar



Put the milk and the Star Anise in A large pan and simmer for 15 minutes to an hour.

When done scoop out the Star Anise with a slotted spoon.

There will probably also be a skin on the milk so scoop this out too.

Sweeten using sugar or sweetener. I use 2 sweeteners but you should just sweeten to taste.

This makes a very large mug full but if you want more or less just adjust the recipe. It's roughly 3 tablespoons of Star Anise to every litre of milk.

You could put the Star Anise in a bit of muslin if you don't want to have to scoop it out after.

If you want it to be a bit thicker you can thicken it with a little cornflour but I don't think it's necessary.

Lovely to drink before bed!