my first sewn garment

Posted on Posted in sewn2 Comments

So, a role-playing character enters the bar:

“Where you been? Haven’t seen you in ages.”

“Sewing-land” (sighs heavily, hand tremors)

“Bad, was it?”

(nods) “Bad like you wouldn’t believe” (drinks deeply) “Ah, that’s better!” “Yeah, real bad, but I survived!!! I made it through the dark forest of topstiching, the swamps of non-stick interfacing and finally I fought the dreaded zipper-toothed dragon”.

Yes, I’ve really and truly completed my first sewn garment. Burda 7947, view C, I think I should have chosen something easier … not a 3 out of 4 dot effort. Also, I made it needlessly difficult for myself deciding to do mock flat-fell seams. Yes, of course, I see all the imperfections … the interfacing is too stiff (but firmly stuck!). There’s some problem or other across the front at hip level, same issue I often have with RTW clothes. And it’s really too big for me, who knew tape measures were so subjective?

But I’m really glad I’m done – not just relieved, I feel I’ve learnt so much, and now have new confidence to tackle sewing challenges. And let’s face it, any sewing is still a challenge for me … ah, the joys of being self-taught.

Out of interest, I scrolled back to when I first got interested in sewing, it’s about a year of reading, thinking, dreaming …

design + mulberries

Posted on Posted in design

Yes, there’s been a recent site redesign. Sorry if you popped in earlier, mid changes … but as this blog’s not exactly a mission critical service, I make my changes incrementally and check them out on the (live) blog. I do back up.

And yes, I’ve finally succumbed to the minimalist white craft blog look (do a little survey of major craft bloggers – most use white or another assertively neutral background). Interestingly, L doesn’t like the white look, he prefers brooklyntweed’s greens … is it a guy thing? I say “succumbed” because in real life, I’m much more maximalist … but I do appreciate that websites need different colour schemes compared to, say homes … or clothes … or toys. At least a minimal surround can show of brightly coloured photos…

I really like mulberries. I know they grow like weeds here, I know they’re really messy (particularly the black sort, the white is better). But I like their taste. We had a spell of dry weather as the fruits were forming, I was reluctant to water due to the restrictions, so the first ones were rather bitter. I froze them and hopefully with a bit of apple and sugar, they’ll make a nice pie. I watered, now the newly ripened ones in the photo taste great 😉

There’s a little neighbourhood wattle in the photo and an Uzbek bag, too.

corner #04

Posted on Posted in food gardens

The only plant in the garden that doesn’t produce food, and never will. I’ve moved about every 2-3 years for the last 10 years or so. Housemates, who I won’t describe. Landlords who move back in, sell the house or tear it down. So my garden has become highly condensed, potted, ready to move at a moment’s notice. Over ambitious, none the less … but I DO like to eat plums (one day); mulberries, mandarins and raspberries (already).

The clivias, I almost left them behind at the last house, but L’s Mum convinced me otherwise. They’d not flowered for 2 years at that stage, but wow, look at them now!!! And they’re shaded by a brick wall on 2 sides, a tree above. And they live on rain water. And their soil is poor … gotta admire their flowers then;)

It’s Spring and so

Posted on Posted in random

I want to trash my blog. Summerset from Pins and Needles was recently thinking about what she’s learnt about herself through blogging. Well, I’ve learnt about annual events. Like the “rabbit gets sick first week back at Uni after the long Summer Holidays” event (says something about family stress levels, I reckon). And the “whole family gets sick at the end of the Winter Holidays making it difficult to complete Uni assignments” event. Guess why I haven’t blogged much for a couple of weeks?

I also realised that every Spring, I want to trash my blog and start again. Sorta like Spring cleaning, only more brutal. It’s one of the reasons for the interesting gaps in my blog archives – no, I haven’t been deleting posts … yet;)

As you can see from the funny little figlets on the fig tree, it’s Spring again … so this year, I’ve decided to make some changes. Some you’ve already seen (more drawings), some I haven’t started yet (a photo day; a regular knitted swatch and more regular updates). Above all, I’m going to remember what Tricia from bits and bobbins says about wardrobe remix: “be nice to yourself! no negative stuff […] post ONLY what you LOVE.” Although I think this still allows for the odd critique or two?