Fabric shopping

This weekend I went shopping for fabric! Which is a good day out in my world :) Hansons fabrics in Sturminster Newton is the nearest place to really buy fabric but at a 40 mile round trip I can't justify going there too often.

 

 

I treated myself to a few things including this beautiful floral printed fabric to make the above dress. I can't wait to get started on it! :)

 

 

However I also bought some new exciting fabrics for my work at The Emporium. I particularly love the pink print of flowers and deer! I couldn't resist it! And I've wanted to buy the elephant print for a long time, I think it will make beautiful cushions along with the polka dot fabric! I have so many exciting ideas I don't know where to start! :)

Skirt re-style

Sadly, I am utterly rubbish at taking 'before' photos for comparison :( Mainly I think because once I decide on a project I'm in such an eager hurry to get on with it that such things simply do not occur to me...alas! :)

 

 

I've had what was this dress for a good 5 years and not worn it in nearly 4. It was lovely, a wraparound with short sleeves and a little mandarin-esque collar but it didn't fit all that well and was a bit too dressy for everyday wear so I decided I had nothing to lose and chopped it up!

 

 

I'm very glad I did, I now have a beautiful high waisted skirt that keeps the original pleating detail of the dress but is much more wearable. I used one of the original wraparound ties for a waist band and added a couple of lovely glass buttons and a zip fastening. The fabric is gorgeous, a shimmery teal taffeta with stitched white polka dots perfect for dressing up or down! :)

Dress making inspiration

 

I've been thinking about some new dresses for Spring and my head is filled with tulle, sequins, layers of lace and jewel embellishments! :) I compiled this mood board from images from my 'inspiation' folder. The bottom left and central images are Elie Saab but sadly I didn't save any information for the others :( If anyone has any information I would gladly credit them! :)

Ruffle cushion

Something a little different to what I've been doing lately and back towards the work I was doing at the end of my degree which I'd really like to get back to.

 

 

 

Beautiful ruffles in a sumptuous silk dupion in a gorgeous shade of icy blue. To add a touch of elegance to a bedroom or living room. It feels good to get back to an aesthetic that feels more 'me' and I want to try to filter this into my work at The Emporium. :)

Ahoy there!

I've been holed up in the warm today with a constant supply of hot drinks and a pile of fabric - perfect day! I love this snow we're having, it's so beautiful but I do like to stay inside in the warm and cosy! 

 

 Here's something I've been working on today, an applique ship cushion design in printed cotton and tweed which will be for sale at The Emporium in Yeovil in the very near future! :)

Dolly dresses

I took some time out this week from working on full sized dresses to make these tiny dolly sized ones for my beautiful niece.

 

 

Making dresses this size is awesome! I can use up little scraps of fabric and put them together in no time. I had to rein myself in because I have about a thousand ideas for more dolls dresses. I'm thinking dolly definately needs a dress to match each of the disney princesses at least!? :)
 

DIY; vintage chest of drawers

There's so many exciting things happening this year. The biggest is definately myself and my boyfriend buying our first home together! Since I was probably about 12 I have been looking forward to having my own house to decorate and make a home (renting just isn't the same) I've already begun accumulating some of the things we will need so when I saw this chest of drawers I just couldn't go home without it. It was found in a YMCA charity furniture shop and was an absolute steal at £30!

 

  

All it needed was a bit of love; a lick of paint and some lovely wallpaper to line the drawers and it's good as new. I have been told I do have to stop buying furniture now until we actually have a place though, my bedroom is starting to resemble a furniture showroom! :P

Colour inspiration; Ivory

Since starting to knit my quilt I have been obsessing all over again about shades of ivory and white.

* Perfect roses * glitter-flecked wool * pearly beads * lace edged towels *

Busy weekend

I have some very exciting things in the pipeline over the next couple of months, I feel like I have so many ideas and so many things to do that I can't keep up with myself! But this is a good thing! Instead of new years resolutions this year I made a 'List of things to achieve in 2013' and I'm feeling incredibly excited about things to come over the next 12 months!

  



This weekend I have been busy working away on some new products for sale at The Emporium, including these colourful little makeup bags with satin lining, zip fastening and ribbon, lace and button embellishment!

Knit, knit, knit

So, I had this amazing (ridiculous) idea to knit a blanket, seeings I can hardly knit a scarf I should maybe try something a little less ambitious but I do enjoy a challenge! I wanted monochromatic, I chose cream, but with squares knitted in all different types of wool so the whole thing is an array of different textures.

 

 

 

I've started already with two different wools; both very different and I love the way they look together. I'm going to buy a new ball each week and just keep knit knit knitting until it's done! (It may take years, don't hold your breath!) :)