2 new handbags

Off the back  of some lady in a back street sweatshop in Glen Eden I am now the proud owner of 2 designer handbags for just $20.  These are one-off bags, not another like them anywhere else in the world. The designer is so exclusive few have ever heard of Jannew.

One Audrey Hepburn tote bag.  Made from Black and White vinyl.  Featuring an embroidered design of the famous rebel Audrey Hepburn who wasn't afraid to smoke in public. This large bag closes at the top with a zip and has an interior zip pocket in the lining and 2 pockets inside for phone, etc.

The other is a black vinyl messenger style handbag that nearly broke the sewing machine in the sweatshop, sewing through 8 layers of vinyl in some places was not what the labourers sewing machine was designed to do.  This handbag features a fold over flap that closes with a magnetic closure.  On the outside there are 2 pockets one on the front and one on the back, handy for keeping those items you want to be quickly accessible.  Inside are 2 compartments, separated by a zippered compartment and 3 pockets in the lining.

Both bags feature the label of the designer to prove authenticity.

Photos and video are attached for your delectation. 

scanncut photos and another Anza dress

This is my 4th Anza dress from Itch to Stitch.  I made the other 3 last summer.  I wear these dresses all the time over summer so wanted another one.  This is another rayon one, hard to see in the photo but it is a navy background with palm trees with purple leaves and white trunks.

The only change I made was to leave out the elastic in the waistband and have just the drawstring.  I find having both elastic and drawstring is very hard to get in the casing.

Another fiddle I have is putting the cuffs on.  You have to iron the side seams on the bodice to an angle at the armhole and then put the cuffs on.  Trying to get them to fit in with that angle is a pain and took me over an hour to do both cuffs.  Next time I'd like to try just extending the shoulders at the bodice.  Although the pattern comes in a jumpsuit I'm not sure how that would suit my figure, so to emulate a jumpsuit I'd like to make the top as a shirt, it would just need lengthening about 3" to make a boxy shirt, and then make some pants in a co-ordinating fabric to give a jumpsuit look, without being a jumpsuit.

Some things I didn't show on my last blog post.

Using the stencil to put patterned chocolate on my coffee froth.

The coffee cup I vinyled.   It says But First Coffee.

the Birthday card I'd made but couldn't find.  I was a bit messy with the glue so couldn't send this, but a learning experience.

Some more Belize shorts

These are my second pair of Belize shorts from Itch to Stitch.  My first pair were in a drill, this pair were made in a cotton that has a bleached look running through the pattern.

Not much more to say.  These were pretty quick to sew up, around 2 1/2 hours sewing time.  Will be good for beach walks.

block of the month and scanncut projects.

January's SweetPea Mystery garden block of the month is a glorious sun.

I had some orange/yellow tie dyed fabric in my stash.  This fabric went from bright orange to very pale yellow and was perfect for this sun.

I also made some more scanncut projects.  I made a popout birthday card.  However I've lost it!  so no photos until it turns up.  I also made a lovely card using the scanncut and using the draw feature to write Happy Birthday.

One of the Brother canvas projects was for a Love Letter luminaire.

This looks lovely at night when it is lit up in a dark room.

2 cushions, another Southport and a new machine

I had ordered a new living room suite in a grey colour.  I wanted some new cushions to liven it up.  So another biscornu by SweetPea

I like the blues and yellows in this one against the suite.  It looks better than the other pink and cream one I made earlier.

The other was an Audrey Hepburn cushion.  The pattern is again from SweetPea and is actually for a bag.

I want to make a bag from this as well.  I have bought some black and white vinyl to make it with.  Now I just need to find time.

Here is my new suite with my me-made cushions.

Another make is another Southport dress.   This is my third.  The other 2 I wasn't very happy with my fabric choices and they will be around the house.  This one though is a casual going out in dress.  As the pattern says, suitable for the beach or out for a meal.

This is made out of chambray from Spotlight.  As in the mustard linen version, I eliminated the front button placket.  However for this one I made a false button placket as I felt the plain chambray on its own would be a bit boring.  I added some wooden buttons to the front.  I used my coverseam machine to get perfectly placed double stitching line down the front.   I also did some embroidery on one shoulder.

I love how this has turned out.   Today is a hot, sticky day and I'm going out for lunch so will wear it out.

Last week I took delivery of a Brother ScannCut SDX1200.  There was a special offer on the NZ Machine Embroidery Addicts Facebook group.  I um'd and ah'd over whether to get it as I wanted it but didn't need it.  I looked at lots and lots of Youtube videos and decided I had to get it.

It comes with a project to get you started for a cute box.

Brother have a website where you can download projects.  The second thing I made was these templates to use with coffee.  You sprinkle your drinking chocolate powder on top and get a pretty design in your coffee.

You also get access to software to design your own files.  The top right design of a cup was one I designed myself.

I've also made a couple of cards, and at the moment I'm making a luminary.  

I bought the machine mainly thinking I'd use it for cutting fabric for machine embroidery applique.  I did find it quick to do for the Audrey Hepburn cushion.  However when I tried a more complex design it was easier and quicker to just trim the fabric once stitched.  I probably won't use it much for fabric.  But there are so many other things you can make with it - add vinyl to projects, make beautiful cards, shadow boxes, etc.  So it looks as though I have another new hobby!

A personal word on 2018 and first make of 2019

I don't normally go into personal stuff here, preferring to keep this blog for my crafting.  However 2018 was a very difficult year for me personally and I think it would be wrong to pretend otherwise.

The worst thing was in March I lost my beloved mother.

Xmas Day 2017 at The Brigham

 She had an assortment of illnesses, including an abdominal aortic anuerysm.  The aneurysm should have been operated on 2 1/2 years earlier, however with her other health issues the surgeon felt it was too risky, something we both agreed with.  He gave her anything up to 5 years, so I was lucky to have her for another 2 1/2 years.

Dealing with her loss was difficult and also at the same time I had her house to prepare for sale, which meant clearing out all of her things.  I kept a few special mementos, including my great grandmothers tea set and some of her wedding presents from 1959.  Other things were given to relatives and friends the rest went to charities and auction.  I also had the house professionally cleaned.  There were decisions to be made, such as do I rent or sell, get new carpets and decorate, etc.  However I decided to sell it and leave it as it was and see what comments came from people coming through the open home.  If not having it decorated was putting off people then would be the time to get it done.  However I had a buyer for the house after a month on the market.  This was a relief as it was for sale in winter, traditionally a slow time, plus reports in the paper said the Auckland market was the slowest it had been for 9 years.  Other neighbours had houses for sale before I put hers on the market and had been for sale for months.

Happier times.  Family event in the 70's. Dad is in foreground, Mam in background, with Grandma next to her

During this time my dear cat Maxie was continuing to fight her battle with cancer but was steadily getting worse.

 I tried changing her to a raw food diet, with advice from a vet, but of course in the end it was a losing battle.  I had to make the very hard decision to put her to sleep in August.

On top of all this, another very good friend lost her mother in April, and another very good friend ended up having a triple heart bypass in April.

Sandy has now become no. 1 cat.  He was really my Mum's cat, spending most of his time with her.  When I was selling the house I was worried if he would settle at mine as he kept going back there.  However he has settled in very well.  Particularly since Maxie went he has decided he enjoys cuddles on my knee, something he has never done before.

Anyway, enough of 2018 and on to 2019 which can only be better.

Apropos of absolutely nothing, just cause it's pretty.  Pohutukawa in blossom at local park

I've already finished my first make.  Another True Bias Southport dress.  This time I:

• Raised the back neck
• Made facings
• Lowered the dart 1"
• Eliminated the front buttonholes and cut front piece as one on the fold.  There is plenty of room for getting on and off so buttons aren't needed.

This is made from linen from SmartDress fabrics.  It is quite sheer, so needs a slip underneath it - you can see the outline of my slip here.  Because of this, I think it will be around the house only.  It's very hot here today, so is getting worn around the house today.