Expo May 2012 part1.

The Joker and Catwoman. I am very pleased with how his costume turned out.

As we live over a hundred miles apart I do not often get the chance to do fittings. I think the jacket is brill. S.H. wanted his costume to be more like the graphic novel character than the film versions. However I should have made the waist coat longer, hence the yellow t-shirt.

(image from comicsandmediawiki.com)

This was the pattern I used McCalls 6143. We found the trousers in a charity shop and could not believe our luck. I have not tried to make trousers yet and so was a tad nervous on that part. Next we had to try and find some fabric that matched, as you see we again were very lucky and found the perfect match. I made the jacket and dicki which made the whole outfit come together. I was expecting to make the waistcoat and dye a shirt. But overall I think it works.

And lastly,

from a very hot Expo in London, Cheers. Thank you for joining me on my journey. Have a good weekend. Tomorrow I will show you my daughters and my outfits and later tell you more about the day itself.

Sew Vala. x 

 

Tempus Fugit... and Batman.

And it really does.

I had not realized I had been away for so long. Excuses aplenty but I will not bore you with them.

What I will do is share what I have been up to and here is Loud Shirt number 5.

Yeah, this is the loudest one yet.

I have still not mastered the art of pattern matching but I am rather pleased with how the pattern is symmetrical on the front.

 
A slight blurry back view, and again I was able to centre the design so Batman is central.

A close up of Batman.

A close up of the Joker. I had to import this fabric from America, from fabric.com. It seems it is impossible to buy Batman fabric in the UK. This fabric is called The Joker's Back and Joker is S.H.'s favourite character. He has seen this shirt in preparation stages but as not he has not seen the finished item. I hope he likes it.

A short post for now but over the next couple of days I would like to share with you our outfits for the comic con expo this weekend so next week I will be sharing with you our time there.

In the while happy sewing everyone.

Sew Vala. x

Ex-Po so far...

I have been away from blogging but reading all your lovely blogs.

I am currently working on 4 projects,
another Loud shirt,
a vintage pattern twin set hand knitting
my ex-po outfit
and S.H, ex-po out.

So far all I can share with you are the work I have done so far
on my outfit,

 Here is the neckline of my chemise, using frill and pearls handsewn.

And the satin bound sleeve. I have also satin bound the hem, which is a little wonky but works under the skirt.

The rest of the outfit I have bought because my skills and time are not up standard I would like.

For S.H. we have bought the trousers and I will be dying a shirt but I am able to make the waitcoat and the jacket.

I will share those pictures and others when all is ready.

Happy sewing lovely readers,

Sew Vala. x 
 

Finally a bit of show and tell.

Where has the new year gone?

I finally got myself in gear and been bust finishing off some garments I started last year.

Firstly I have yet another Loud Shirt

Loud shirt no4.

I was almost getting there on the pattern matching, then forgot the lapping of the front pieces due to button hole palacement and lost it. Ah well maybe next time.

And now  another late sewlong. This dress was for New Vintage Lady Plan Pattern Project sewalong that ended last year, and I finished it this week. DOH.

Front view.

Pink buttons to go with the purple/white cotton. the buttons do match, must be the effect of camera phone.

 Side view

And back colar detail.

I didnt really change that much with this dress in the end. Only adding the white satin binding on the bottom hem.

I have also started work on another project this week, but more about that next week as it is a birthday present, so no showing until the gift is handed over. Which today was looking doubtful, I have got to the very last bit of hemming when my machine went, whrrrr, clunk. Bugger. So hand hemming I guess.

On another note last weekend I opened a new packet of stockings, (very much prefare them to tights, yuk) and this is what I got,

One stocking, I can not be bothered to take them back. Luckly I had more packets with two in them, so now I have a spare.

I hope your week is going better than mine. Happy sewing and knitting

Sew Vala. x  

A most wonderful weekend

Last week I spent both physically and mentally spring cleaning. The weather was lovely I think that may have spured me on. Home wise was more moving furntiure and sorting, while mentally I was making lists for all sorts of things including a sewing schedual. Now anyone who knows me, knows this is most unlike me, but I have become so unproductive lately that I felt the need to.

As for the weekend I was very brave and drove myself and S.H down to Bournemouth for the only knitting machine show around this year.

I know many hold knitting machines in a low regard, but to me, does this not in turn make machine sewing a cheat compared to hand sewing.

Well we had a lovely day. After a browse around the stalls and meeting some lovely ladies, we went to the beach and had dinner overlooking the sea. And had a walk along a most windy, wave crashing shore. After travelling home the eveing was spent reviewing our purchases with beer and talk of our future, wedding and honeymoon talk. A most wonderful weekend.

Today I finally got round to some sewing (the first this year). I hope to share with you pictures of my third dress by the end of the week.

Sew Vala x  

Second post of the day.

Ok I wanted to separate the two subjects today mainly to put myself into somekind of an organazational mood.

I am a very very unorganized person, usally I work best that way, I can get stressed very easily. Deadlines, time restraits and time management issues just make me shut down.

However the time has come to take action, so far this year I have not been very productive. I do not know if it has been the change to some what of early spring weather we have been having but I feel very much the need to 'get on'.

Now what has been holding me up, it's this, the mess in my sewing room.

Before I show you the 'before pictures' let me explain. A new and absolutly fantasic shop has opened in our near by town. I went in for a wander and came out after purchasing a fabulous piece of furtniture. Now to make room for this beast meant the dismantling of three large Ikea bookcases and finding somewhere to store all the books,cds etc. And the perfect place happened to be my sewing room. Now then please dont judge me, this is two rooms in one piled high. And i am slowly getting sorted.

The panaramic view-

 How can anyone work in this mess.

Now here's the reason for all the mess. This is a mid 1800's Court dresser in solid oak.

The beautiful beast.

 The middle bottom cupboard.

The top two cupboards.

The top two side cupboards and finials.

The drawers.

And finally the ribbon detail on the two edge bottom cupboards.

I, S.H. and the kids love this. it is so beautiful, delicate, strong and detailed. Over 160 years old and stilll solid. Now all I have to do is move all the books etc into it so I can have my sewing room back.

Early spring clean for me, then lots of sewing and sew-a-alongs to catch up on.

Sew Vala. x 
    

First post today

As I have not posted for a while I thought today I would catch up with two posts first is Happy's first propper walk outside. So far he has just been aloud in our garden but today he was so energetic and as he has had his two injections sometime ago. Off we went to one of the fields surrounding our house, one the the advantages of living in the country is lovely dog walks along the public right of way paths.

So many new smells,

Running ahead,

What's that ? never seen one of those before...

Soon I promise to be back to normal sewing blogging, you will soon see why I have been so unproductive.

Sew Vala. x