Vintage haberdashery and fabric

In between the day job and getting ready for the Handy and Divine exhibition next week, I have been helping the Macmillan charity shop in Midhurst, West Sussex get ready for their vintage fabric and haberdashery sale!

Lots of clothes and other fabric are donated to the shop which for one reason or another can't be sold as clothing, so we have been collecting all the good stuff to make tempting little fabric bundles (only £1.50 each!)

Pop in if you are in the area for lots of lovely fabric, wool, patterns, buttons, workboxes, even a vintage sewing machine!

The shop is in the High Street in Midhurst, but hurry before its all gone! A brilliant chance to find some unique vintage sewing stuff, and to support a wonderful charity.

(please excuse my reflection in this picture of the window display..)

Now back to last minute preparations for the exhibition next week, the last few teacup pincushions to finish...

French inspiration, and Goodwood Revival

We had a lovely few days in France last week, and visited the Bayeux Tapestry, which must be one of the world's oldest cartoon strips. I can just imagine the 11th century women who embroidered it slipping in little stories of their own along the top and bottom borders:

'Ethelred would like to get his big red hands on Guinevere, so he tries to impress her with his great strength and hunky muscles, and by fighting the shaggy bear of Bayeux....'

It was inspiring to see the embroidery close-up, especially all the centuries-old darns and patchings. You get a very real sense of the hands of the makers.

France was at her September best- I especially love the municipal flower displays on every verge and roundabout, and almost every windowsill in Normandy has a pot of geraniums. 

Then we were home in time to go to the world's biggest fancy dress party at the Goodwood Revival last Sunday !

,http://www.goodwood.co.uk/revival/about/about.aspx

What a fantastic atmosphere- everyone dressed in the fashions of the 1940's, 50's and 60's, and how sophisticated everyone looked, especially the men in uniform. 

There were ladies in hats and furs ,

Mods and rockers,



Men in suits and spats, a whole class of St Trinian's schoolgirls, policemen, land girls, mechanics, and men who dig the road up..

Oh yes, and beautiful, immaculate cars and motorbikes, racing with passion on the old Goodwood circuit.

Some of these cars must be literally priceless but its great to see them being raced as they were intended to. The most wonderful day out, and the sun shone on us too!

lovely things made by local people

Its been rather quiet here lately because I have been preparing for this:

Its the latest venture by the Handy and Divine makers group. Following our two 'pop-up' shops in Midhurst last year, we are presenting a cross between a shop and an exhibition at the Oxmarket Arts Centre in Chichester.

http://oxmarket.com/

I am busy making more teacup pincushions, and I have even dragged some paintings out from behind the sofa! Looking forward to seeing what everyone else has made too.

ruffled

Do you know the feeling where you find a pattern for something that looks really exciting, and you can't wait to make it? I have been looking forward to making this ruffled top from the Simple Modern Sewing book that I bought recently.

This meant a trip to the wonderful Eternal Maker to choose fabric, and they had just the sort of thing I had in mind. I think its a Japanese fabric, but it had lost its label so I can't tell you its name!

I wanted something which looked good on the front and on the back because both sides would show on the ruffle, which is left with a raw edge so that it frays a little (although not too much because it's cut on the bias).

The top was quick and easy to make, just two simple body pieces, and the strips for the ruffle. The neck and armholes are bound with bias strips, and then the ruffle added at the end (not without some swearing as I tried to gather it to just the right length..) 

Mr P thought I would look like a bumblebee with the stripes going horizontally, but I am pleased with the look.

I love this top, it worked out just as I had visualised, which doesn't always happen. I already have ideas for another one, and I'm going to wear it with a thin long sleeved top underneath in the winter too.

After celebrating with a Nice Cup Of Tea, we had a lovely evening walk around the field at the end of our garden, which had just been harvested. Our shadows came with us, elongated by the golden evening light.

p.s. isn't 'ruffled' a nice word? Ruffled...ruffled... very onomatopoeic. It also makes me think of chocolate raspberry ruffle bars from my school tuckshop days, wonder if they still exist?

festival of quilts inspiration

Wow, the Festival of Quilts was SO inspiring!

My sister and I enjoyed the coach trip- by the time we'd caught up on the gossip we were pulling in to the NEC car park. We decided to split up to look at the quilts on display, and it was interesting to compare notes and photos at the end. We didn't manage to see everything- You can see why some people go on each of the four days.

Whilst I am in awe of the skill in the more traditional quilts, it is always the 'art quilts' that make my heart sing.

This one was easily my favourite:

'How do we know when its night' by Dorothy Caldwell. 

It was difficult to get a good photo of the whole quilt, but the details of the stitching are works of art in themselves.



also this long skinny piece, which cascaded off the wall. 'Memories of Dungeness' by Sarah Wellsby. I love the monoprinted textures.

..and this stunning painted and stitched swallow by Laura Kemshall

the gold background makes it almost like an icon.

I was very excited to see Mandy Patullo's  work. I follow her blog 'Thread and Thrift',

http://threadandthrift.blogspot.co.uk/

 and it was great to see these 'in real life'!

I only bought a couple of pieces of fabric at the show, because I am lucky to live close to the fabulous Eternal Maker shop, who had the biggest and best  stand at the show. I can pop in anytime for a fabric fix!

I am looking forward to sewing with these delicious perle 8 threads, though! 

looking forward to the festival of quilts

Its nearly time for the festival of quilts in Birmingham. Its two years since I last went, and I can't wait for Saturday!

http://www.thefestivalofquilts.co.uk/

My sister and I are going on a coach this year, and I'm very excited- I've never been on a coach trip before, but my sister tells me there will be cups of tea (and a loo!) and she's booked the front seats so we can admire the view. I will be packing my thermos flask and sandwiches, and stocking up on werthers originals for the trip!

At the festival of quilts in 2011 I bought the fabric squares which I've used in this quilt, along with lots of old tablecloths and embroidered linens. (thank you Daisy for the assistance with the photos)

I'm ashamed to say that its still not finished- where have those two years gone? Too many other projects have intervened.

I think its going to be one of those projects that run and run (did I hear someone whisper hexagons?) 

I have machine quilted it into random squares but I think I might do a bit of white hand stitching using perle 8 thread as and when I get round to it. I'd like to try out some of the stitches in this book:

...detached wheatear, anyone?

Why did I make this quilt so big? It will fit our double bed if and when I ever finish it, and Daisy will be able to generously cover it in hair every night...

I'm looking forward to being inspired at the show, and of course also to splashing out on some delicious new fabric! I'll be sharing some pics next time...

dressing up

I was very excited when the Japanese pattern books I ordered arrived. I decided to get two in the end, (might as well make the most of the Amazon delivery!)

I couldn't wait to make something so I decided to try out the dress on the front cover of the Stylish Dress Book, using a piece of spare material. On reflection I don't think the smock-like shape was right for me as I am a smallish and oldish person and what turned out to be the generous proportions of the dress made me look rather pregnant!

Apart from that, the instructions are nice and clear and the dress couldn't have been easier to make. All the patterns are included at full size, although you have to trace them from the multi-pattern sheets. This is easy once you get your eye in though, as each piece is clearly labelled in different colours. I used a roll of greaseproof paper for tracing, as it was what I had to hand. And of course once you have traced a pattern you have it ready for the next time.

I like the dress from the front, and think the pregnant look comes from the back being gathered onto the yoke. It might look better with a central pleat, or with a back cut from one piece of fabric, which I might try if I can be bothered to take it apart again!

 Just as well I only made it from an old sheet. Maybe I can find a younger or slightly more pregnant person to donate it to?

My enthusiasm is still undimmed though, and I can't wait to try some other patterns. I love the look of this ruffly top from the Simple Modern Sewing book:

also this wraparound dress which can be made as a top too:

This book looks like good value, as each pattern can be adapted to make different garments by changing the length, the sleeves, etc. can't wait to make something else now!