From My Mother to Me #4 - and Last Call for Miss Matatabi Giveaway!

It's my turn on the From My Mother to Me tour of nostalgia.

Now please forgive me, but I'm a little late with this post. (The sun shone and I went camping with my family instead of writing/sewing this weekend).

And to be honest, I was a little stumped about what to write...

Two years ago for this series I wrote a lengthy post which took hours of picture research, describing how my mother really was an accomplished, perfectionist seamstress, making her own fabulous Vogue coat aged 16.

So what could I write that was 'Fresh' this time round?

Now this is a bit of a niche - but sewing during my childhood was synonamous with one brand; Clothkits.

Clothkits was a 'Big Name' among certain families in the 70s and early 80s. They produced pre-printed kits to be sewn into clothes for kids and women.

They produced a mail order catalogue, and I remember the little thrill of it arriving and choosing dresses with my mum.

The clothes were a bit 'folksy' and very designy - just perfect for my art teacher mum and architect dad, who in their own way liked to break away from conventional design.

This picture above, shows me  (on the left) and my twin sister in our matching red Clothkits dresses.

And this one, me on the left again in blue. I think this is my sister and I on our first birthday. Again in our Clothkits folky dresses (on a basket chair and sheepskin rug - How 70s is this?!)

I'm on the right in this one, in the orange dress. It's another Clothkits dress, and I remember loving it so much! The printed yoke and the orange colour! My sister (in the middle here in a green Clothkits skirt) had a matching white dress which was very pretty. Clothkits printed kits would usually come with matching dolls clothes too. Somewhere I might even be able to dig them out.

And here's the home made 70s family. My mum is wearing a Clothkits vest, my sister and I are in hand embroidered cheesecloth blouses, made by mum, and pink floral skirts made by my grandmother, who is cuddling my baby brother in this picture.

My grandmother used to make us clothes occasionally too, two of everything and she'd use the scraps to make dolls clothes. I still have tiny doll's skirt in this pink floral print somewhere. 

Not everything handmade was Clothkits, these floral dresses weren't. But aren't we cute! 

And this picture I think must be one of my favourites from my childhood..... This very image inspired my mother to take a creative journey.... But I'll need to share that for another day.

 I still love Clothkits, and the company was revived and rebranded in the 2000s and still sells printed kits for clothes. But there's something about those original 70s designs that was so ground-breaking, and so quirky that I really, really loved.

And I love that my mum was bold and brave in her taste.Thank you!

Now, if you're very quick the Miss Matatabi giveaway is still open! Last call... clickety click!

Thank you also to all my wonderful contributors. I do so love your stories and taking time to share. 

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From My Mother to Me#3: Just Add Fabric, and La Folie Sewing Booth (and $50 Miss Matatabi Giveaway)

Oh isn't this series lovely?
From My Mother to Me carries on today with more tales of motherhood  from another two of my dear sewing friends.

I would so love to meet Emi of Just Add Fabric - which sadly would involve a flight to Japan - but I know it would be such a pleasure.
Her sewing is beautiful. I love her fabric choices, always so pretty, and the little glimpses of Japan in her blog photos. And isn't this picture sweet! I love her mother's matching suit, and pretty floral pring (which is something you see often in Emi's sewing!) I'm so intrigued to learn more of her family history.  Follow me over here to find out more....

Next up is Ines of La Folie Sewing Booth
And I have had the pleasure of meeting Ines in real life in London recently (keep your eyes peeled for more about that adventure) and she was so much fun to be with. I love her little story, share over here, particularly her hand embroidered baby muslin squares, and that she's planning to collaborate with her mother on a new craft project!

And the giveaway to win $50 of wonderful Miss Matatabi fabric is still open... There have been so many lovely comments on the blog posts (you can comment on any blog post in the series to enter, just so long as you've clicked your entry on the rafflecopter).

It's really moving to read through them, this one from Sissy, is just an example:

"As I age I realize that I am more of a clone than an offspring of her. I am aging exactly as she did in looks and in everything. There are few days that go by that I don't remember something that Momma said or taught me. During those middle years when I thought we were worlds apart, I was just a fool. I just cut up a chicken the way that she taught me. With a wishbone. Thanks for everything Mom. I miss you."

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My Mother to Me #2: Do Guincho, Made by Sara, and Gaafmachine (and that $50 Miss Matatabi giveaway)

The celebration of Motherhood continues, with gorgeous contributions from some great European bloggers.

First up is Marta who blogs at Do Guincho. Marta has been a blogging friend since the early days of As it Seams. And  having met in Paris last year, (and London last week!) She's a real life friend too. Marta is an architect and her sewing creations have a clear sense of design and style. I'm very much looking forward to finding out where her 'designer's eye' comes from? Her mother perhaps ;-). Find out here....

 Secondly today we also have another Portuguese blogger, Sara at Made By Sara. Sara has three children (soon to be four) and yet still is a busy blogger sewing at a phenomenal rate. She's full of creative ideas, hosting a wonderful Alice in Wonderland series and Japanese Sewing series last year. I'm guessing there must be some serious creative genes somewhere in her family.
 Her tribute to her mother is over here. And isn't this photo wonderful? This is her mother in her grandfather's sewing machine shop!  I can't wait to read the full story. It's over here

Thirdly is a newer blogging friend Nelleke from The Netherlands. She's only just launched her blog GaafMachine but I'm delighted to have her here. I love discovering new blogs and friends, and I sense a kindred spirit here. She's a sewing addict, but also trying to juggle camping trips in the spring sunshine, as well as write blog posts (this is my life too!) Discover more about Nelleke, and her mother,  here!

 And the Miss Matatabi giveaway is still open! You can enter from any of the posts in this series. Comment on any, or all of them, as part of the giveaway which runs until Tuesday. There were some wonderful comments yesterday:

"I'm glad my mother passed down to me the importance of trying to fix things and relying on my own hands. I can sew, cook, garden, and take care of myself because she taught me that. In a word of consumerism , it has helped me tremendously." Kaitlin Statz

"my mother taught me all about hoarding :) but also sharing, lol, but I do love to hoard fabrics :) Keeping a pretty unicorn print from Miss Matatabi to hand down to my daughter as a dress." Mara

"My mum is my best friend. I have just found out I am pregnant with my first baby and hope that I have as close a relationship which my child x" Claire Sutherland

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From My Mother to Me, A Jennuine Life... and a Giveaway

After a two year break, My Mother to Me is back!

It was Mother's Day yesterday for American mothers and I do hope you all enjoyed your day.

This series began, because I realised that sewing is a way of connecting across the generations and sharing our skills.

And those gifts also tell stories about our heritage, culture, and family legacies.

So I'm extra thrilled that some of my blogging friends have also agreed to share their stories.

And that all this week we're running an amazing giveaway, thanks to Miss Matatabi. Scroll to the bottom to win $50 to spend in her gorgeous shop.

First up is Jenn from  A Jennuine Life

Don't you just love these old photos? 

Jenn  blogs at A Jennuine Life  where she's a real multi-tasker.  She sews some of the cutest outfits but is also a skilled pattern designer with her lovely label Jennuine Design. 

Her Naples dress is one of my favourites. So sweet for summer! And I love the beautiful line drawings with all her patterns.

Pop over here for Jenn's lovely story

And Frances at Miss Matatabi is spreading the motherly love with this incredible giveaway. Open til May 17 there's a chance to win $50 to spend in her incredible shop. Enter via the rafflecopter below!

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'From my Mother to Me' is back! With a Miss Matatabi giveaway..

It's Mother's Day in the US this weekend and the perfect time to relaunch the series From My Mother to Me!

After a two year gap, From My Mother to Me is back with an amazing sponsor, a new line-up of bloggers and an incredible giveaway...

Just look at this dreamy selection of fabrics? Can you guess who our wonderful sponsor is? With an amazing giveaway running all next week!

Back in 2014 I invited some of my blogging friends to pay tribute to the 'gifts' that their mothers had passed on to them.

My mother passed her sewing skills to me, almost without realising it, and I am so grateful. Sewing and creating connects us with previous generations and cultures, and I wanted to hear other bloggers' stories.

We had some amazing stories, and I loved hearing about history, heritage and amazing mothers.

Check out Celina, from Petit a Petit's gorgeous mother! Is it any wonder that Celina is the queen of style? Full post here

Here's my mother, aged 16 wearing the coat she made from a Vogue pattern, assisted by the lady next to her, Miss Taylor (!) who taught her to sew.... details here

And there were some other wonderful stories and pictures. Here's Suz from Sewpony's mother on her wedding day. She sewed her own wedding dress and all three bridesmaid dresses. Aren't they beautiful? Her post is here

And An at StraightGrain went back a generation and wrote about her grandmother and her seamstress skills, it was so lovely to see these two generations together

, From My Mother To Me returns, just in time for Mother's Day weekend

All next week, there will be  a new team of bloggers sharing their stories of their mothers..
I'm thrilled with this line up of new friends and old friend bloggers from across the globe.

Monday May 9

A Jennuine Life

Little Cumquat

Tuesday May 10

Gaafmachine

Do Guincho

Made by Sara

Wednesday May 11

La Folie Sewing Booth

Just add Fabric

Thursday May 12

As it Seams

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And  throughout the week we're hosting a  wonderful giveaway, thanks to the lovely Frances and her wonderful shop Miss Matatabi....Keep your eyes peeled for the giveaway which launches on Monday....

What I learnt from Mie: The Ultimate Coat

Sometimes a sewing project fills every moment so much that I go to sleep thinking about it.
This coat was that project. 

It's been an all-consuming journey;  a step up for my sewing ability and shift in  my sewing confidence.

And part of that confidence has come from learning alongside my sewing blogging buddies, such as the lovely Mie of Sewing like Mad,  the master seamstress. Today, is 'Mie day' with a group of sewists, including me, celebrating what we've learnt from her skill and advice. 
For me, that has been that attention to detail really, really makes all the difference. This coat is testament to that. I've made a complete effort to sew every step perfectly, no short cuts, no quick half measures.

Missy chose the fabric - and if I'd thought for a minute longer, I would have said Noooo, don't choose the plaid, or tartan as I have always called it, as I'm a Scot . It might be a lovely Italian wool bought in a Boxing Day sale from the Village Haberdashery but doesn't it look so perfectly British? Just perfect for strolling in our lovely valleys.

This is Burda coat pattern 145. Look princess seams front AND back too for added cutting 'fun'! Extra skirt panels that are pleated! And on the back too! Faux pocket flaps! The perfect pattern for cutting in plaid ?  I was mad. Sewing like Mad perhaps, Mie?

But I did it! It would take me a whole evening to cut out just two pattern pieces. I would pin the plaid together at every 'crosspoint' of the check in order to get a perfect match on both sides. Then stare at red and blue lines for hours before taking the scissors to this.

And look - the checks match! Not just across the princess seams, but continuing around both pieces of the sleeve and across the back. I am soooo proud, I've been pointing this out to random non-sewing friends; "look! follow that red line round Missy's chest and back!" and they look at me like I'm mad.
But Mie, she would 'get it'. She would know that it's getting that plaid to flow, that 'makes or breaks' this coat as a project.

Thank you Mie, I will never, ever sew over a pin again! Xx

Now something very special has happened today - bloggers across the globe are showcasing their sewing skills, as inspired by Mie.
And you can see us all come to life, including a glimpse of Missy's new coat, with this incredible video created by Celina of Petit a Petit. 
And keep going to the end of this post for an extra little film of Missy, with her own special sewing tip, never, ever forget the Notches!


What I learnt From Mie from Celina Bailey on Vimeo.

And there are blog posts popping up all over the place today from my sewing buddies, take a look at some of the creations by my sewing buddies:

Celina . Petit à Petit and Family, Abby . Sew Much Ado, Rita . Conversas de Hermanas, Heidi . Handmade Frenzy, Olu . Needle and Ted, An . StraightGrain, Jenya . While she was Sleeping, Trine . Groovy Baby and Mama, Andreia . In a Manner of Sewing, Jess . Sewing Rabbit, Hayley . Welcome to the Mouse House, Marta . Do Guincho, Maria . My Cozy Co, Natalie . La Gang à Nat, Holli . Hello Holli, Erin . Erin Always, Olga . Coffee and Thread, Delia . Delia Creates, Alida . Alida Makes, Gabriela . Chalk and Notch, Victoria . As it Seams, Rachel . Stitched Together, Chelise . Chelise Patternson, Emi . Just Add Fabric, Inês . La Folie

World Book Day Blog Tour - My Top Five illustrators

When Rebecca at Dobbins Bobbins invited me to join her World Book Day tour, my sewing imagination hurtled through a zillion ideas.

Then life got in the way, and we  had a big family trauma this week and there was no way my One Big Sewing Project  would be ready in time.

But I so wanted to take part.  Then another idea hit me... 

Children's book illustrations are already everywhere on As it Seams. 

I grew up with a world of books. I never, ever stopped reading. Anne of Green Gables, Fantastic Mr Fox, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Pippi Longstocking, were alive in my head, pages and pictures that danced through my childhood alongside me.

I 'read' pictures as much as pages. I know these pictures like old friends. Looking through my blog it became obvious just how much Missy's wardrobe has been shaped by great illustrators.

So apologies, I haven't (yet) been able to create something new, but here's five of my favourite illustrators - alongside a few of Missy's creations 

1. Mabel Lucie Attwell

Who could not love  Mabel Lucie Attwell's chubby babies and fairies?  Her Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan are my favourite representations of these characters. Her watercolours are beautiful, but not sugary, and Alice aand Peter Pan become real, solid characters not whimsical 'princess type figures'. Her colors are strong and her clothes have the beautiful drapey silouhettes of the 1920s

2. Cicely Mary Barker

I'm staying in the 1920s, with Cicely Mary Barker, creator of the Flower Fairy series. 

Cicely's illustrations may be  whimsical, but look at the clothes! Aren't those fairy dresses just an endless source of inspiration?

3.  Kate Greenaway

What can I say? She was the first, the great, and her illustrations are a record of Victorian style. I loved these pictures as a child, the soft colour palate, the dreaminess

4. Jan Pienkowski

Oh look! I'm almost up to date. Next up is Jan Pienkowski, best known as creator of Meg and Mog. But it's his fairytale silhouettes I loved most as a child. These are pictures that in themselves told a story, with echos of Russia, Eastern Europe and age-old myths. And I know that I like to create clothes for Missy that create stories too...

5. Mairi Hedderwick

Mairi Hedderwick is the creator of young heroine Katie Morag who lives on a Scottish island where she roams freely on the wild beaches. 

Mairi's pictures sing to my soul. Her paintings capture the light and drama of the Scottish landscape. They're full of the quirks and details of a childhood of the late 70s and 80s. She has depicted the memories from my own childhood. I spent every summer playing in the near midnight sun on these remote beaches, creating stories in my head and clambouring over rocks and seaweed.  This is my sister and me in 1980 I guess, flying our kite as the sun set at around 11pm...

Little Katie Morag and her Scottish adventures were part of the inspiration behind my as yet unfinished World Book Day sewing project. Here's a sneak peak, to be revealed in its full glory very soon...

As I put this long post together, I realised just how much stories are part of my life. Of course, I am a 'professional story collector', a journalist. 

This week has been a very raw one for the As it Seams family, facing a big change. The next chapter for our little family has plenty of blank pages...Daunting and exciting...x

Rebecca at Dobbins Bobbins has some FOUR fabulous prize packages to giveaway with the World Book Tour .  And there's a great list of participants. Do click around and see the actual creations this week

Sewn In The Attic

While she was sleeping, Just Add Fabric,  Fairies, Bubbles & Co , English Girl At Home,  As It Seams Made by Sara Sewing With Kate MinnieMie Call Ajaire Sew Country Chick Paisley Roots Bel'Etoile

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