NIKKI-SHELL

Steffi-take 1

It seems i've had an small unintentional blog break.  See, i told you my brain isn't working as it should be!
Anyway, i managed to get my Steffi jacket finished except for the lining, you can read more about it here and see my How-To here.

(I sooooo need a haircut!)

This week i'll be making the Steffi jacket again but this time i'll be giving it an entirely different alteration, i'm thinking of making it into a bolero.  I may leave off the collar or change it somehow and i'd still like it to fasten at the front somehow. What do you think?
After this i'll be making the Jane pattern (pajamas), altering the shorts slightly so the waistline will sit underneath my bump and i'd also like to alter the top to a nursing top.  I'm thinking of somehow making it like a nursing bra with the flip down cup that clips onto the strap or another suggestion that has been made is to make an opening under the bust and have it fasten with snaps or something else which is easy to fasten with one hand.  Let me know of any suggestions you have.

My brain isn't working!

I totally forgot what it's like to be pregnant even though i only gave birth to Esme 22 months ago!  I've been so tired and my brain doesn't seem to be working the way it should.  I can't get my words out, i blabber nonsense.  Justine will back me up on this, she's had a few too many giggles at me.  So, if i owe you an email and i haven't got back to you it's because i've totally forgot, send me a reminder email please!
Anyway, i thought i'd show you something i made aaaaaages ago,

Tea towels to replace my grotty old ones. The pattern is from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing.

Steffi- the muslin

Thanks for the lovely comments you all left about my green Celestina dress.  I wore it today and received some complimentary looks!
This past week i worked on a muslin for the Steffi jacket.  Thanks to Catherine for suggesting this :)

I'll show the finished garment next week then i plan to make another Steffi but with a different alteration.  You can read more about it here.  Then i will start working on Jane, i plan to alter the waistband of the shorts to accomodate my bump and for later the top to allow for breastfeeding.

Any suggestions for either my Steffi or Jane alterations are encouraged.   Any clue how I can change the Jane top into a breastfeeding friendly top?

 

Special edition!!!

Hello crafty people!
Issue 2 of Mixtape is going to be bigger and better than the first, can you believe that? No? Well be prepared to be shocked! In fact the first 30 zines will be special editions. These will be packed with extra goodness and will come with heaps of free gifts, all stuffed in a handmade envelope. They will cost more but will be totally worth it for those of you that manage to grab one. We are looking for samplers to include with the special edition, in addition to getting exposure through these we also offer a free small ad inside the zine (not only the special editions). So if you think you have something to offer and would like some exposure for your handmade goods please email us (mixtapezine@gmail.com) with the artwork for your ad (details below) and post your samplers to PO box 2020, Moorabbin, VIC 3189, AUS.

Ad needs to be 7cm x 7cm 300dpi and it will be in black & white sampler needs to fit easily into an A4 envelope and be flat.
Samplers could include such things as buttons, postcards, discount cards for your store, small handmade goods etc...... please email if you need more info.

Celestina- altered and refashioned take 2

I've improved on last weeks alterations and this is what i've come up with,

 

Read more about the dress here and see my how-to here.

For next week i'm going to be altering the Steffi jacket.  I've had a number of suggestions but my favourites are to either make it into a bolero or to cut away the front of the jacket from the collar to the side seams to create an opening for my growing bump.  Yes, i'm making it for myself now, who wouldn't with those ideas?!  I'm going to shorten the sleeves too, maybe cap or elbow length.  What do you prefer?  Or so you have a different idea altogether?  What about fabric?  Something light for summer.  Suggestions please!

Come on! Get involved in Mixtape

Submissions due NO LATER than Oct 1, if you can get them in early all the better. We may not use what you send in for the next issue but it will be kept on file for future issues. We will contact you when we receive your sub and let you know what we intend to do with it.
Issue 2 is going to be bigger and better. The first 30 sold will be a "limited edition" more expensive but jam packed with goodies. We will also have a subscriber offer that will ensure you get a years worth of goodness without the worry of missing out on an issue.
Hey come on send some feedback in, we want to know what you think, good and bad. We have already been asked for vegetarian recipes, and Justine has thought of adding a "collectors" page. Do you collect anything? Want to write 400 words on it and attach some pictures? Well don't dally send 'em on in. Is there something else you think should be in the zine? Write in and we will take it on board. This is a "community zine" so your opinion is valued!
Cheers
J&N

10 weeks......

...and growing.

More about the dress tomorrow.

Flashback Friday!!

I'm eleven or twelve and on holiday in Majorca with my parents and brother.  Shell suits were 'The Thing' to be seen in, oh and check out the perm.  Stylish!

This weeks theme is meant to be fancy dress but i couldn't find any, i suppose shell suits would be classed as fancy dress now, or are the cool again?

See more Flashback Friday's here.

Our baby has flown the nest

Yes!  Mix Tape Zine has gone, it has been sent out into the world and should be landing in your mailboxes soon if not already!  Please do let us know what you think won't you?  You can leave a comment here or on the Mix Tape blog or send us an email (se inside the zine for details).
Justine and i have worked hard on this project and we are so proud with how it has turned out.  I'd like to thank her for being so organised and giving me the kicks up the arse i needed now and again.  I'd also like to thank Simon for all the hard work he put into it, Simone for proof reading, all of those that contributed and of course you, the people who have bought it!
We hope you like it as much as we do.  We are now taking submissions for issue two due out in November.

In other news i scrubbed my house from top to bottom today for a house inspection that lasted all of 1 bloody minute!!  My pregnant hips were not impressed but hey at least my house is the cleanest it's been for a LONG time....who knows how long it will last though.  The girls made a roulade (with some supervision of course) which was delicious and the kitchen was a mess again.  Oh well, at least they were entertained for an hour.

Celestina- altered and refashioned take 1

Last weeks challenge was to alter Celestina.

I'll be making this dress again this week and making even more alterations, although i like how this version turned out it's just not going to fit for long.  I'm going to try it in a more floaty fabric and try to lengthen and widen the torso even more then adjust the side panels to fit.  Maybe change the sleeves again...cap sleeves?  Ideas?
I was thinking of jazzing up this one somehow, maybe some embroidery or something, what do you think?
You can read more about how i made and altered the dress here.
My how-to is here.

After remaking Celestina i'll be altering  the  Steffi jacket.

My intentions were to make it for some unsuspecting friend as i thought altering it to fit my growing pregnant belly would prove difficult until someone over on BurdaStyle suggested i crop it and make it into a bolero style jacket.  Now that's an idea!  What do you think?  Do you have any ideas of how i could do this or any other alterations that might work?  Leave me a comment over the next week and i'll show you what i come up with.