Another little sewing project from this week. It’s a different and more elaborate pattern than the smaller basket I made last week (meaning it takes 45 minutes instead of 25 minutes to make…still super easy). The outside is made from a delicately thin plasticized material I bought in Canada. The colours are beautifully bright and spring-like. Something we’re all in need of after this spell of freezing cold winter weather. It’s a great size to store all sorts of bits and bobs in. I’ll be busy making lots of these when I get a few moments (might be a while though).
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Cestino
16 FebTutorial: Small Fabric Basket
12 Feb
Here is a very basic tutorial that a good friend of mine designed for a very sweet little fabric basket. Very quick and gratifying. I used oilcloth for the outside and a cotton for the inside but it would be possible to use only cotton as well (or even nicer would be linen). If using cottons or linens I would recommend using interfacing to make it stiff enough to stand up on it’s own. The paper clips are used to avoid getting little pin holes in the plasticized material or oilcloth. Please let me know if I wasn’t clear on any of my instructions (I know the corner part is a bit hard to see in the photo). 
Incubo
7 FebThis morning I finally finished the carnival cloak that I started a few weeks ago. And once again it had me on the edge of complete mental breakdown. That material! That slippery, slide-y, silky nightmare of a fabric. Never again. Ever. But I didn’t give up. And for that I’m very proud of myself. The cloak might have pleats and puckers where there shouldn’t be. And it might be left unhemmed. And it’s even possible not one member of my family would be caught dead wearing it. But that’s fine. I chalk it all up to a really good learning experience in sewing and a reassurance that my mental state is pretty stable (I didn’t lose my cool…not even once). After finishing the cloak we had time to make a quick fabric basket. Very miniature but very sweet. I’ll be making many more of these during these cold days at home.
Here’s the little fabric basket with the famous cloak hanging in the background.
Scivoloso
25 JanI popped into the fabric shop the other day to pick up some black cotton to make a hooded cloak for my son for Carnival. I left the store with a slippery satin-y mulitcolored nightmare of a material. The lady assured me it was a material that is “facilissimo” to work with (she actually said it was probably the easiest material to sew with). Call me dumb to have believed her. Call her evil to have said it. In any case it was the most trying experience I’ve had in a while. That fabric was slipping and sliding the whole time I was cutting and sewing it. I just have to finish the hood of the cloak and it will be done and I can hide it away forever. 
Just look at this material and all it’s shiny slippery evil-ness.
The fix
15 JanDuring my recent trip to Canada I enabled my not so secret addiction and bought some very nice new fabrics (or actually they were very generously bought for me). Not that I am in NEED of any new fabrics (see post about my “addiction” and you’ll notice that I’m not lacking in material of any sort). In any case, I’m very happy with my new fabrics and I’m already busy thinking about some new sewing projects for 2012.
Thank goodness for Canada and their buy one metre get two metres free fabric shops!
Birthday Crowns
12 JanSomething I do for every birthday of my three children is make them a birthday crown. When they were small I would design it myself but as the kids get older they get to tell me the colours and fabrics that they prefer. I have a series of photos from the past years with the birthday crowns and they are great to look back on and see how much they’ve changed and grown. My daughters display all of their crowns on the top of the bookcase in their room.
This year my daughters turn 10 in March and I’m already wondering what kind of special crown I can make to commemorat them turning double digits. I vow to sew these crowns for many years to come. When my son turns 34 he will be receiving an envelope from his mama with a homemade crown. Whether he likes it or not.
Camera Strap II
20 DecIn the end I couldn’t resist making a camera strap for myself as well. This time I used a beautiful cotton on one side and jean on the other. I’m thinking this one is a little more unisex than the pink floral (not that my husband would care about hanging a camera with a pink and turquoise strap around his neck).
Now I’m off to a photoshop course. Here’s hoping there’s a feature to sharpen up all my out of focus photos (if not I’m off to the eye doctor to see about maybe getting some glasses).
Camera Strap
19 DecAnother one of my week-end sewing projects was to make some camera straps. I thought a few photo taking friends would find it a fun gift to receive. Who knows if they’ll ever use it but I had fun making them. And what an easy and quick gift to make! In 1/2 an hour it’s cut, sewn, ironed and wrapped.
Looks as though it’s time to clean that mirror…
90 years old.
19 DecAnother reversible purse was made yesterday. This one is for my grandmother’s 90th birthday which I’ll be celebrating with her in a few weeks. 90 years old! Amazing considering my grandmother is in excellent shape and more active than most 30 year olds that I know. I mean…you have to call weeks in advance to schedule a visit with her. How incredibly awesome is that? Here’s hoping I live a long and healthy life like her (and that she likes the purse that I made her).
I like the fact that the there are two completely different styles to the purse thanks to the materials. A summery floral and an autumny foliage print.
Reversible Purses
18 DecIn between parties I managed to sew a few purses this week-end. We’ve attended 4 parties so far and now we’re all completely burnt out and looking forward to a cozy Sunday at home in front of the fire. I just might have to head up to my sewing room to finish off some last minute Christmas gifts.
Reversible purse made with vintage material and linen found in a store in Belgium called De Vuile Winkel (The DirtyShop).
Another reversible purse made with black linen and a very nice Amy Butler cotton.
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