NIKKI-SHELL

CR*P!!!!

I was happily sewing up my JJ blouse last night.  I had attached the back and front pieces together at the princess seams and since my fabric is so fine i wanted to trim and finish off those seams on the inside.  To the overlocker i went and successfully trimmed and overlocked the seams of the two back seams and one of the front seams.  I was slowly and carefully working on the last front seam when the phone rang (10:30pm), distracting me and the blade of the overlocker caught my beautiful fabric, yes i now have a great big effing hole in the front piece of my blouse and no more fabric to cut those pieces again :(  SOB!!  So my JJ blouse has been put on hold until i call Colette and have her send me some more.

Of course a phone call at that time of night can only be from the UK, my Mam.  She was calling me from Skype on her computer and her voice was all crackly.  She sounded like one of these from the 80's Smash ads and even though i tried to tell her through my tears of laughter that i couldn't have a serious conversation with her sounding like that she continued to chat with me.  I honestly almost peed my pants and that's not a hard thing to do when you're almost 38 weeks pregnant.  She eventually fixed the problem but Kev proceeded to make me laugh pretending to be one of the robots from the ad:

Sorry Mam!  :)

Hooo!

Last night i attended the first Brown Owls meeting.

That's my name patch which will be sewn onto the back of my uniform.  I managed to get the Nikki part finished by the end of the night.  I'll probably make a t-shirt or shirt as my uniform.

A good time was had, there was plenty of chatter, finally meeting online friends and getting together with friends not seen for a while (Hi KittyB!).

I also wanted to show you Esme's quilt that i finished just after the new year and haven't got around to posting.

It doesn't show so well in the photos, i think because the fabrics are a little busy.  The important thing is that Esme likes it so i'm happy.

I've written a review over on BurdaStyle for the book Subversive Seamster, if you're interested to know what i think then head on over there and have a read.

I'm off to visit my partner in craft now so our girls can play and tire themselves out...hopefully :)

Sewing BurdaStyle....Sidonie skirts

New skirts for when i'm post baby.
Denim Sidonie with leaf appliqué:

Orange rice paper flower skirt with added in-seam pockets:

Read more about them in my column over on BurdaStyle.
I also took my favourite vintage apron which is falling apart and created a pattern from it to make a new one.
The vintage version:

The new version:

More details here and the pattern will be uploaded to BurdaStyle soon.

Steaming hot!

My sewing machine that is.  I seem to be having a surge of sewing mojo recently.  I think it must be the pregnancy hormones and i'm willing baby to stay in there for another 4 weeks until her due date so i can get more done, although i am totally over being pregnant and will be happy to have it over and done with.  So, i've been running my own little sweat shop in my sewing room and have plenty to show which i will do gradually over a number of posts. 
First up is a bag which i have made for my younger sister Natalie.  Natalie's birthday is December 30th, a busy time of year and i've only just this morning managed to finish this off.  She's a very fussy 14 year old and since i've only seen her twice since i moved to Australia in 2004 i'm not quite sure of her ever changing tastes.  I spent an evening on messenger with her sending bag and fabric choices and managed to come up with the following.

The fabric is from Amitie and the pattern is the 'Wasp Bag'.

The dress you see on Betty is something i picked up at the op shop the other day.  I went in looking for something to make into the Sidonie skirt and although i didn't find anything for that purpose i did pick up this cute dress,

Cute huh?  I'd wear it as it is but i just don't think my huge breastfeeding boobs will fit into the bodice which means there will have to be some refashioning happening.  I think i'll keep it simple and just make it into a skirt.
I also found this dress which is from Witchery.

I bought this with the Sidonie skirt in mind but i'm not sure i can cut it up.  It doesn't look much on Betty but i think it could be nice worn open over some jeans and a t-shirt so i think i'm going to keep it as it is until i can try it on without a bump in the way, then i'll decide what to do with it.

I also picked up this vintage pattern and a belt making kit.

I've had quite good self control lately when it comes to op shopping, i used to visit at least a few times a week but since i've started decluttering on a regular basis i've stopped going unless i'm looking for something in particular, of course i come away with things i didn't intend to buy but at least it's only once a month rather than twice a week!

As well as more sewing projects to show you i have some overdue book reviews and thankyou's.

Lovin' BurdaStyle!

Details of how i made this can be found over on BurdaStyle.

The new Sidonie basic skirt pattern on BurdaStyle is fantastic.  There is so much possibility with this simple pattern.  This is what i have come up with so far, a denim version which i is not yet finished, i'm working on some kind of embellishment and think i have a great simple idea which i will show you once it is finished.

I'll be making a few more of these over the next week or so, one from some gorgeous fabric from Tessuti and another using recycled fabrics.  Read more in my column on BurdaStyle.

Calling all yarnaholics!

I have purchased the 'Baby Bella Dress' pattern from Alicia.  Something i've been meaning to do for such a long time but just never got around to it.  Now i have to get around to making it!

 
image borrowed from Alicia's store

The pattern asks for Rowan Cashsoft DK but i'd like some suggestions for a yarn substitute, preferably something i can get here in Australia and made in Australia, preferably local.  Would i be able to substitute with anything from Bendigo Woolen Mills?  Suggestions in the comments section please :) Ta.x

Mixtape Zine-The Launch!

Friday was the launch of issue 3 of Mixtape Zine and it couldn't have gone any better than it did!  Thanks to all that have supported us, Luke and Eloise of Sticky, Pip from Meet me at Mikes, contributors and customers, it wouldn't be what it is without you all.  We are so grateful, we truly are.

Partners in craft

Friday ended up being a huge day for me which left me extremely tired at the end of it all, i crashed on the sofa after the launch.  The rest of the weekend was spent collating, stapling, folding and stuffing zines into envelopes ready to be posted out today so if you're eager to get your hands on your copy fear not!  It's on it's way :)  If you haven't yet purchased a copy you can do so here.

More photos of the launch can be seen over on Flickr.

A moment

My life seems to be so hectic at the moment.  I'm busy doing everything and nothing!
I had some good friends over for a visit this morning and now i'm off to the Mixtape launch!  See you later :)

Sewing BurdaStyle.....night gown and pattern making

I finished my night gown.  It was a fast and satisfying sew and will do the job it is intended for.

After making this i've come up with the idea of making a dress using this pattern with a jersey  top half which is attached to a skirt, maybe from a different fabric?  It could be good for nursing.  My next project is to get started on the JJ blouse which is this months sew along project.  I've ordered some fabric from Tessuti in Sydney, you can see a sample below.

It's a silk/cotton voile which is a fabric i've not really sewn a lot with.  Do you have any tips?  Is there a particular thread i should use?  What size needle in my machine?  I'm  also researching how best to cut and sew this fabric without it slipping around.
It's 'Fashion Week' in New York at the moment and although i don't particularly follow the fashion trends i have discussed my thoughts about it in my post over on BurdaStyle.  Check it out and leave me a comment there about what you have planned for your wardrobe for next season.
You will also find my first ever pattern available for download on the site, baby pajama's. 

This is a new skill i'm teaching myself so be kind and let me know what you think.  It took me a whole day to work out how to put this together using the programs i have on my computer but now i think i have it sorted and hopefully the patterns i make in the future will only get better!

Tune in!

Jus and I will be doing a  radio interview in conjunction with Eloise from Sticky to talk about our launch and the festival this coming Friday.
So  tune in to RRR at 12.30pm this Wednesday to hear us talk with the Aural Text peeps.

I joined the Brown Owls!!  I was never in the Brownies or Girl Guides when i was younger so i'm pretty excited about this.  I've joined up as a Seconder.  YAY!!