A little alteration...

While browsing Make it and Love it, this blog is inspiring me right now! I looked for some of DD's tops that she doesn't wear because it's too big, long-sleeved or too plain.

It's only something simple, this unloved long-sleeved top with elasticated cuff. I turned into short-sleeved so she can wear it when it's a little warmer.

A Monsoon jersey dress, long-sleeved and shapeless.  I  replaced it with flutter sleeves and sewed elastic on the waist.  I loved it by but DD won't wear it. She's not keen on the sleeves.

These are all good practice for me when I actually make one from scratch.  I was at Dunelm the other day and lusting over lovely fabrics that can be made to little dresses but I can't bring myself to buy them yet until I'm confident enough.

And this unit to go in DD'd bedroom, bought FB selling page for 5.00 (can't find pound sign on my new keyboard).  The owner had a cat and the baskets are a little tatty so I made a liner for them from a left over fabric.  I cut a Next double duvet cover into a single.  DD's bedroom has a new carpet, guess what colour?  PURPLE! It's looking lovely, at first I wasn't convinced.

From tights to leggings

I was planning to buy some leggings for DD because all her trousers are looking like Michael Jackson's (they stop on her ankles) I noticed recently and other parents are commenting how tall she is getting.

On top of my drawers are tights and socks I have been saving to pass onto someone because I can't bear to throw them away.  I had an idea to cut the feet and just hem the legs. A quick google and Make it and Love it tutorial came up! Great! I don't have to buy some leggings. And here are my attempts.  You can add frills too! 2 tights down lots to go!

I tried making a hot pad and oven mitt too.  I like using bias binding but they're fiddly to make your own so I ordered myself a bias binding maker :) Can't wait to make some lovely patterned ones!

These are the tea towels from wilko sale.  I sandwiched an old towel for padding,  you're supposed to use 'Insul-bright' but am making do of what I have at home and read that someone used an old towel.  I haven't used it yet but I will let you know if I burn myself :)  They can be made into different shade too and the heart shaped ones are lovely!

 

Pinterest - dress and spider

I opened a pinterest account before but abandoned it and only just got around to uploading some pictures.  I will see if I can link it here and find others pinterest account to follow. 
I must admit I'm struggling a bit to update and hopefully I'll find it easier to upload pictures first on pinterest then make my post when I have a chance.

I purchased a Dell desktop, only the tower, because my home pc has just turned 9 this year and it's very slow.  I wouldn't usually use this pc but I have given my laptop to my mum.  I  plugged the thing and it blew up! it turned everything off in the house.  The technician will be coming on Tuesday to fix it.

My recent makes:
With the help of my sewing teacher I made 2 little dresses for DD.  I found a tutorial for a continuous bias binding and used it on the 2nd one.  I'm trying not to buy any material so I used DH old t-shirt. It was a bit fiddly folding and ironing but it is worth the effort. 

This spider is for the nursery made from DS football socks that was too small. I am making a striped pink/purly one for DD.

As for painting project, still ploughing on my last carver chair.  I bought some clear PVC from Dunelm £2.69pm to cover seats but am not so sure now.  I like the fabric feel instead of plastic.

Chairs and Sock Monkey #2

If you remember I have been painting these chairs and recovering them at a painfully slow pace...:) I didn't like the previous fabric so but luckily came across these curtains from the CS.  Enough fabric to do all 6 and loads more left over.  I only have 2 carvers to do and will be sanding the top of my table next.  I love the new 'chairs' :)

 

Original cover on the right.  Note: I cheated and just put my foam on top then stapled the fabric.

The foams are bought from Ebay, 99p each. 15''x15''x1'' thick.

Blue foams are better quality than the other coloured ones (orange,yellow)

  

A young cousin of mine stayed for a few days and I taught her to make her own sock monkey and I made her a little bag too :) No photos to show off as I didn't get the chance before she was picked up.

Sock monkey #2 of 5 

Pin board and our purple room!

Improved with pins on the crosses and I covered with fabric and stapled ribbon at the back to hang from. 

Today I decided to make a pin board. My son came home with his school photo and I have nowhere to display it before putting it away with his other ones. I only get the cheapest pack because I order them every year and I would like to put them all together in a frame.  I saw Kirsty Allsop make one in one of her programs and I have all the things already so why not have a go.  I think I need to pin tacks on the criss-cross but I don't have any ( I thought I had everything I need!).  Well, it's staying as it is at the moment :)

 

 

My husband has finally finished painting DD's room.  Just needs tidying around the window, carpet changing and skirting boards painting...and then I can start putting furniture in! That could still take weeks, even months.  Gives me more time to shop around.  Ebay is my friend at the moment as I have a few things to buy on my list. 

 My foam for my chairs have arrived but the seller sent me a lower quality? (imo) so emailed him and he's sending me better ones just like the very first I ordered.  No need return and pay extra, very good customer service. Will mention him in my chairs post.

Oh, am back into the workforce...lol.  Only a midday supervisor, first day today went well.  So will have slightly less time to do any projects :(

Linking with Sew Many Ways 

Sew Darn Crafty Linky Party...Week 106

A painted chair, bag and sock monkeys

I hope you all mothers have had a lovely Mothering Sunday.  We spent ours having lunch with my 3 other friends and kids in Toby's after a trip to Toys r us and picking up DD's trike.  I love a roast dinner, in fact I have just finished cooking large chicken and I should be plating dinner soon. 

Just a quick update with the chairs am doing at the moment.  I bought this fabric, curtain in fact, from CS ages ago thinking it would make a lovely cover but it didn't look good.  I padded it out with 1'' foam bought from Ebay and wadding.  I think I made it too thick. I have another fabric and will be recovering the next one with it. 

How easy it is to make a drawstring bag! I made one for DD to put  her musical instruments in. 

Made little changes to my 2 recent sock monkeys.

 

Sock monkey and a Bake Shop

 It was a lovely Sunday morning, I got up early because I wanted to go to church.  I'm not a regular church-goer but I do feel guilty when I miss a Sunday mass.  All of us went and headed to McDonalds for breakfast after.  I love their sausage and egg muffin but I couldn't finish 2 (greedy!)

We were looking for paint for Dd's room so paid a visit to Homebase, they always good selection in their reduced section but nothing suitable.  Next stop was B&Q, Dh decided to get a 10L bucket of white emulsion and mix my tester pot from Wilko (purple pout)  to get the right shade of purple I didn't want it too dark as her room doesn't get a lot of sunshine.  Did I mention that Wilko had some of the dulux tester pot for 10p in their reduced section while some shades are still available to order online (free pick-up in store) for 3 for £1.  There was only 2 shades in my local.  Dh has painted the first coat and Dd said she didn't want a white room! LOL it was pink, very light shade.  So need to make it darker.

In the afternoon, me and the kids decided to do some baking and my not so successful attempt of  bread :( was trying to be healthy and did half white and wholemeal.  But still DS had some in his packed lunch on Monday.

The kids (Ds, really) decided to open a shop and sell them to Dad, they made £1.30 which they halved between them.  Bless! young apprentice, watch out Lord Sugar...lol.  He's written prices and offers too!

I tried the silicone cake cases for the first time. I think they were from £1land can't remember how long I've had them in the cupboard.  They peeled easily.

This is the first of 5 monkeys I'm making for the Dd's nursery.  I just noticed his missing his nostrils and am making changes on his eyes, not happy.  I needed this to practice on, I've forgetten how I did them properly.