A 99th blog post - thoughts and reminiscing

It's my blog-aversary... Actually it's not really,this blog began two years ago, in April, But this is my 99th post, and that's enough of an excuse to pause and reflect.

.

I've been really pondering where all this sewing thing is going.

I have a fabric stash that has grown and grown (thanks in part to Paris Sew Social) but also because of my insatiable ideas. I look at piles of folded fabric and think - that's supposed to be my swishy summer maxi skirt, and there's would-be beach dress, and that's a pair of shorts for Missy, and there's a little skirt... and ... and...

And of course I have just a few spare hours a week and so the fabric remains folded on the shelf, and I have an awful sense of time running through my fingers.

It will be autumn soon - and then my little girl will be growing up, and next summer I imagine she won't want to wear a vintage-ish summer dress. I start to have slight sewing panic.

And then it all starts to seem ridiculous. She doesn't NEED that new dress. She has a rail full of dresses that still fit her that she barely wears. And I don't really need another dress either. So what is all this sewing, and blogging, and stressing really for?!?

And then I look back at the things I've made over the last two years. There are 99 blog posts here, and I guess 75 feature garments for Missy. 

75! That is crazy! She wears school uniform five days a week. It's no wonder that some of the things I've made seem to have been outgrown before they've ever been fully worn.  

Like this blouse...

This blouse was my first ever blog post, titled; 'It started with a 'Fat Quarter'

Yes in one idle moment I bought a fat quarter of fabric on eBay, before I even knew what a 'fat quarter' was. The original post is here. And here is little Missy, two years ago aged three, when I was still trying to take indoor photos. Missy's cheeky dimpled smile is unchanged though. The sleeves were way too long then, with the cuffs turned back, and I improvised with bias trim round the cuff seam.

Back then it was 'dress length', now it's definitely a blouse.

When I look at it closely, I can see how much my sewing has improved. I made my own piping for this, but didn't know I should use a zipper foot to make it.  And the pattern is an improvised hack, based on Straight Grain's bubble dress, with added button placket and box pleats.

I took these photos a few weeks ago, um months, when the buttercups were still out, and I hadn't yet cut Missy's hair. 

Since then I've been hit by blogging blues. For one reason and another, we've had a really rather difficult summer, and haven't managed to get away for a proper holiday. I'm finding it hard to manage all the tasks of family life, and work. And increasingly I find the face we present online hard to sustain. I look at other bloggers pix on their instagram feeds and facebook and their blogs, and see lovely holidays and children and it makes me feel a little overwhelmed. And I know that other people might look at my photos and feel the same. So I feel I need to add some words of honesty to balance out the 'online facade'.

 I live in a small house, and sew on the kitchen table. I don't have lots of spare cash for beautiful fabric, it's a little treat to myself. My children are gorgeous beyond compare, but they also stretch me to my limits, and I get tired and grumpy. 

But I am also learning to count my blessings, to see these magical dark eyes of my Missy, to perceive the reality around me, rather than the unreality of social media and perhaps to slow down a little and pick the buttercups....

Oh, and also to start to think about my 100th blogpost...

'Summer' encapsulated in a dress, by Nani Iro

Oh summer why do you torment me so?

I love long days, blue skies, sandcastles, rockpools and more. And I love summer sewing - the chance to sew glorious prints and easy dresses - like this dreamy Nani Iro print.

But I never have enough time in summer - there is just too much to cram in to these short months and long days. And barely a minute to get behind the sewing machine. In my head it drives me crazy. Because, you know, it's August, and autumn is looming (at least in England, where the summer is all to brief) If I don't  make those summer sewing projects a reality, it will have to wait til next year.

So I have a confession - I really did not treat this fabric with the respect that it deserves. 

It is quite simply heavenly. The birds in this stunning print have a lilac metallic finish, that ocassionally glints in the beautiful understated touch that Naomi Ito adds to her Nani Iro designs.

I bought two metres of this from Miss Matatabi back in the spring, and intended to sew it up for Nani Iro month in June (Yes, I know - see what I mean about summer, it slips through my fingers...)

These photographs don't do justice to this dress, or the fabric, or me for that matter. They were taken after I have walked a mile across cliffs to reach our secret beach in North Devon. 

So my dress is creased. 

And  I couldn't resist a quick swim in the sea and leaping in the Atlantic waves. So my hair is damp and salty.

And then I had to persuade Mr As-it-Seams to photograph me, and he'll do that for two minutes max before we start arguing. 

So these pictures will have to do. Because heaven knows when it will be sunny again and I'll have 'another summer moment' in my Nani Iro beach dress. 

OK - so here's the sewing details.

The pattern is self-drafted. I made a muslin and experimented.

I wanted a dress with no zip, to simply pull on.

I managed to achieve this and have a slim-fitting dress, with simple bust darts.

The neckline is faced, front and back, and understitched and interfaced, just to give this soft double gauze a hint of structure.

And the sleeves! Well I was in such a rush, that I cut them so that the selvege forms the hem. No hemming (although this does mean the birds are flying 'up' my arm rather than around - but I can live with that)

The hem  is faced, and has splits in the side seam. I love this detail, and I was going to take more photos to show, you... but for all the reasons above, I didn't..

And that's it - it was an easy-peasey dress that I sewed in a frenzy in one evening flat. And it used just over a metre of my fabric, so I'm hoping I can make a blouse too. Watch this space....

We've been going to this secret beach for nearly 20 years and it's one of my favourite places on the planet. The surf, the rock pools, the cliffs, the green and the blue and the silver.

And we're lucky enough to have dear friends who live near here. For little girls running in the sea, this is paradise. And that roar of the ocean, calms my soul and eases my panic about summer slipping by.

Alice in Wonderland 150th birthday celebrations and giveaway. Chapter One, A Tea Party

As it Seams has joined the 150th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland celebrations organised by Made by Sara, and has got a little bit carried away. Honestly, this idea has REALLY inspired my sewing mojo.....Welcome to..

Missy in Wonderland by As it Seams... 

Chapter One

(I know, I know... I'm sew loopy)

Take a journey with me and Missy down the rabbit hole....

Where the Mad Hatter's tea party has seen tablecloths spring to life.

Look out for some Alice in Wonderland elements, a tea party, a white rabbit, playing cards, red roses and a little Victorian whimsy....

Once, there was a little girl - and a pile of tablecloths and teacosies beautifully embroidered by the clever seamstresses of the 1930s but left abandoned for decades. 

The little girl's mother bought a bundle of exquisite tablecloths for just a few pounds on a local market. She savaged them with scissors and they were re-born as a pair of dresses.

The little girl was terribly well behaved at the tea party....

A little Victorian lady, in crisp pure linen, with a handdrawn threaded hem, and hand-embroidered yellow daisies.

But then  she ran off into the fields...

while her mother cut up more tablecloths and napkins....

And another dress appeared from fragments of linen and embroidery, and the little girl found herself twirling... and twirling...

Until suddenly she found herself spinning down a rabbit hole....  and another little adventure.... 

To Be Continued,.....

....But you'll have to wait till for Chapter 2 of Missy in Wonderland....Honestly I really have got carried away with this Alice in Wonderland adventure!

Missy in Wonderland - the Credits.

Yellow dress

Fabric - vintage linen table cloth, and hand embroidered tea cosy, lined with vintage sheet, all from Mary's stall, Stroud Shambles Market
Pattern - self-drafted, very loosely based on Hanami dress by Straightgrain, square neckline back and front, invisbile zip

White dress

Fabric - vintage table cloths from Mary's stall, Shambles Market Stroud, pieced with Robert Kaufman chambray, ribbon tie in Artisan Cotton both from Imagine Gnats
Pattern - Ribbon tie dress from Sew Chic Kids Happy Homemade by Tuttle publishing.


Giveaway

These dresses have been created as part of the fantasically fun Alice in Wonderland Series hosted by Made by Sara. All week some of the best seamstresses have created something special.
Take the tour and look around! My dear friend Suz at Sewpony is also taking part today.

Monday July 13th ||  Kid Approved  |  Call Ajaire

Tuesday July 14th ||  Sew Country Chick  |  Feathers Flights  |  StraightGrain

Wednesday July 15th ||  Sewpony  | As It Seams  |  Dotta

Thursday July 16th ||  Boy, oh Boy, oh Boy Crafts  |  Brooklyn Pattern Co.  |  Pienkel

Friday July 17th  ||  While She Was Sleeping  |  My Cozy Co. |  Girl Like The Sea

Saturday July 18th || Falafel and the Bee  |  Huisje Boompje Boofjes  |  A Jennuine Life

Sunday July 19th ||  Paisley Roots  |  La Inglesita  |  DoGuincho

And there's also a giveaway with whole packages of patterns to be one from some of the best independent designers... 

Winner #1:

• 1 pattern of choice from SewPony
• The Paneled Suit pattern by Designs by Call Ajaire
• 2 patterns from Paisley Roots
• 1 pattern of choice form MadeIt 
• The Bubble shorts pattern by DoGuincho
• 1 pattern of choice from Brooklyn Pattern Co.

Winner #2:

• 3 patterns of choice from Jennuine Designs
• The Ishi Dress pattern and the Jaanu Dress pattern by StraightGrain
• 1 pattern of choice from Compagnie M.
• The Mulberry Tunic pattern by Kid Approved
• 
  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Bedford Dress! Plus discount and giveaway update

(STOP PRESS - The Big Paris Sew Social Giveaway is still up and running! Hop over here for the first step, to win a choice of pattern from LBG Studio, then cruise around to win 16 prizes!)

If you've ever photographed a little girl, especially my little girl, then you'll know that their favourite trick is to run away.

But hurrah! With the Bedford dress that's perfect!

Because it's the back that is the real 'wow' with this dress.

I was delighted when Erin of Brooklyn Pattern Company asked me to test her new pattern, the Bedford Dress. Mostly I was thrilled because her first dress pattern, the Franklin Dress is one of my all time favourites.

Like the Franklin Dress, Erin's new pattern, the Bedford is really beautifully designed, and deceptively simple. It looks like a classic idea, yet you can tell a there's a lot of skill and design eye, behind that simplicity.

 But the Bedford is also very different from the Franklin. Whereas the Franklin was nostalgic and vintage little-girl-style, the Bedford is sharp, funky and playful. It's named after Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. And I've actually been there! It's fun and funky area and is where I bought this vintage dress (which sparked a whole sewing adventure - see here)

And now my little girl has her own Bedford dress! 

And I'll be honest, I wasn't sure if I would love the Bedford Dress as most of the dresses I sew are old-fashioned look.

But this dress has surprised me.

I mean - that back!

It is so elegant. 

The straps are narrower than I expected, and somehow that slimness just contrasts with the loose A-line shape of the dress in a really pretty and dramatic way.

(Now a quick note about these photos . It was a hot day,  Missy wasn't in the mood for photos. I did my best, by asking her to dance with this rainbow slinky spring thing, before she ran away. Since then, it has either not been sunny, or we have been away camping and busy. Honestly photographs is BY FAR the hardest part of this blogging thing...so the pix aren't brilliant. Please bear with me.... but I digress)

So the details: Erin's pattern comes with little drawings in the instructions, which I tend to prefer over photographs, they're much clearer. This is a straighforward sew, and Erin has a clever technique for making sure that armhole facing stays perfectly in place.

And this was my first ever exposed zip. I haven't got the top very neat - but that's my fault not Erin's.

The fabric? Well I must admit, I went really thrifty with this dress. This is a re-purposed sheet, possibly Ikea, I'm not sure. I liked its large lime green print. To me it had a bit of a surfer-vibe, which fitted the line of the Bedford dress. I finished the hem with pink bias trim. The Bedford has this lovely scooped detail, which I think the pink emphasizes. 

This is a dress for playing in! For camping trips and digging sandcastles on the beach. I am so hopeful that we can find the time, and the sunny weather to spend more days full of play in the Bedford dress this summer.

And in the meantime I'm going to work on my photography skills! (and my ironing)

Now Erin at Brooklyn Pattern Company is offering a special launch rate for any of her patterns (Check out the Henry and the Franklin!) with 20% discount on any pattern in her shop with the code SUMMERFUN15. The code runs until 11.59 on July 15.

And look at this line-up! They're are going to be some wonderful Henry's and Bedford dresses popping up this week.

Giveaway reminder - 16 prizes up for grabs until July 10. Details here!

Babyshower! A letter for Jenya

STOP PRESS - Don't miss the Big Paris Sew Social Giveaway! There are 16 patterns on offer. It's here 

Have you met Jenya yet - over at While She Was Sleeping?

Jenya is just the sweetest blogging friend. We stumbled upon each others blogs about two years ago, when we were both just starting out on this online adventure.

Since then she's been a wonderful online companion. Not only is her sewing impeccable, but she's also funny and friendly, makes me laugh and keeps me going when I've lost my sewjo....


Which is why when Renee of the Nearest the Pin and Alisa of A Stitch in Between

asked me to take part in her online Baby Shower I said YEEESSSS....

And then....oops....

I don't know what happened to June. It disappeared in a flash. And I had a few other sewing commitments, and the summer weekends have all been busy, and before I knew it I had missed the deadline for Jenya's Online baby shower....

So instead Dear Jenya,  all I can offer is a  few thoughts on the imminent arrival of Baby Number two - some transglobal wishes and love for your growing family...


Here goes....

Dear Jenya

When Missy was born, my son was four, I guess a similar age to your sweet Little Monkey. I'd had four years as his constant companion, he filled my soul, made my heart leap and my world fresh.

I was so busy with him and everything, that my pregnancy with Missy whizzed by...then she arrived with such speed and ease that she shocked us all. (Note to Jenya, second babies can be quick - don't delay in calling the midwife!)


And then all of a sudden there were two little people making my heart leap and I didn't know where to turn. I couldn't be my son's constant companion any more. He would ask me to play, and I'd be feeding the baby, or cooking dinner, or cleaning the kitchen. 

And here's the strange thing, I adored my little girl, this funny dark-haired tiny baby. Because when you have a four year old, you really HAVE FORGOTTEN what a tiny baby is like. And then suddenly it's like DOH! I remember this now! Those sleepness nights, that little head nestling on the shoulder...

But, yes just as I adored my little girl, I also felt sad. I missed my boy. I couldn't be with him like I used to be, and I tried, but somehow I always felt like I was not in the right place, like there wasn't enough of me to go round.

My midwife explained it all to me. She said when you have one child your family is like a triangle, now you are a square and everyone has to readjust to their new position.

So it took a  bit of pulling and tugging to make that  triangle a square. 

It was a tiring time, but also it was all ok too.

And there were the many moments when I could see that my son was finding his place in that square, perhaps ahead of me. 

And now, Missy follows him and adores him. They argue, and chat, but they also play at Roman Soldiers, at Harry Potter, at being animals together. They've learnt how to make this square be strong.

I remember him watching his sister trying to walk, aged 13 months.

"Come on Missy!" he called. "If you can walk, you can dance!"

And you know, that's how it's been. A funny old dance. It took a while for us all to learn the steps, and we're still learning. To learn how to make a dance for four people, when once it had been three, and before that just two, and even how to make room to be yourself in that four-cornered square.

But we've found our rhythm. It may have involved a year (or two) of at least one of us not waking up in the same bed that they went to sleep in. And it may now mean that I dream of the day when ALL the clean washing is put away, and there isn't a pile of laundry that needs to be SOMEWHERE ELSE.

But I can live with that.

And it is such a joy to welcome a new little person into the world. There is nothing bigger, better, or more exciting.

I'm massively excited for you Jenya and your family, and honestly I fully intend to get sewing to welcome new baby little monkey very soon!


Victoria xxxx

Now some of my sewing friends have been much more organised than me, and have managed to sew something for Jenya's baby. Hop around the blogs to take a look...
Naeh Connection- A softie
Straightgrain-Doll's Lua sleepsack
Siskobymieke- Baby Jacket
Threading My Way - Baby Wash Cloth+fabric basket
Lil' Pip Designs - Boobook owl taggy toy Sew Delicious- travel nappy pouch
Things For Boys -Mega bibs
Sewpony - A softie
Made By Sara- Baby fabric toys
Sew n Sow- Baby Hat
Nearest the Pin- Leather Baby Shoes