Friday 2 May 2014

It has been a busy week.......but I am back

Hello all my lovely Friends, I hope you are all well.  It seems ages since we last spoke and I was hoping to write a post earlier this week but work was particularly busy unfortunately.  I hope you have had a good week and enjoyed some fun and relaxation.  I have been doing some work though on my giveaways in order to have them ready for posting to two winners.  My blog is one year old on the 5th May so I will have the draw then to see who are the winners so there is still time to put your votes into the box by making a comment.  I have logged everyone who has already commented so thank you for taking the time to do this.
 
One of my lovely daughter-in-laws love a programme called Downton Abbey, I must confess I have never watched it myself and for a long time thought it was called Downtown Abbey!  She has loved the programme since the first episode and followed it religiously.  When I heard that they were bringing out some fabrics related to it I wanted to get my hands on some.  I know that it is a big range but was keen to have the name on the fabric and won this on Ebay.  I do like it and there was more than enough for a cushion for her.  However I wanted to make it very special so got hold of her favourite photograph of the little Peeps with their Dad (my Son) and asked the lovely Sarah from Molly Felicity Designs on Etsy.  I was so pleased with the photograph and she had put on a little message for me as you can see below.  The photograph was taken outside a stately home so it was highly appropriate for the fabric.
 
 
Rachel from my sewing class sells small pieces of Liberty fabric for £1.50 which are such good value and I picked this lovely design for the ties and the inner sections of the cushion.  As always I was following the lovely Lillyblossom pattern which is so useful and easy.  I am so comfortable with this pattern now and can even do it without checking the pattern - real progress for me.  I hope you like the Liberty design, I think it just fits in with the era.
 
 
This is the back of the cushion and you can see the full design of the fabric, it was such good quality and so easy to sew.  I think that this range is particularly popular in the USA in the quilting circles.
 
 
The photograph below shows the lining fabric a little more closely.
 
 
I had some scraps left over so had a go at making a little brooch and I should get two of these out of what is left which is not bad for £1.50 outlay.
 
 
 
After reading the wonderful Daisy's blog about making Tilly's Coco top I really want to have a go myself.  Great excitement yesterday when the pattern finally arrived so I have to go out and buy some fabric, am really nervous about it as I am not sure about working with this type of material - any hints would be warmly welcomed.
 
 
 
The pattern says medium knit fabric so I am not sure what I am looking for - I am going to try and make the sleeved top without the collar to start with...............so fabric shopping in order sometime soon.
 
 
Now how is the giveaway getting on?  I am sorry about the quality of the photographs today as the light was just awful.  Below is the inside of the second bag - I am using a 1930 tray cloth which I had to trim to get the best out of it.  It is a sweet little design which I thought would look nice.  I have put a couple of hearts in the outer fabric to try and bring inside and outside together.
 
 
 
Below is the second part of the inner bag.  The zip is not perfect but I am trying!
 
 
I love this fabric - it is a tea towel as usual but a Sanderson print and really reminds me of the Festival of Britain era - just after WW2 in the early 1950s when there was a huge surge of British designs available. These are now very popular and I love the work of Wayne Hemmingway who is a lover of this era.  I hope you all like it.
 
 
I have tried a new method with my zips after all the tears and frustration.  Rachel thinks that I will cope with this type a little better, I hope you agree.  I am going to start to embellish it now in readiness for the giveaway so watch this space.
 
 
Well lovely Folks I want to apologise to my fellow bloggers as I have not had time to keep up to date with your posts but I intend to do this over the weekend.  I hope you have a good evening/day depending on where you are in our wonderful world.  Keep safe, be happy and I will see you all very soon.  Big hugs and loves to you all, Dorothy :-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

10 comments:

  1. The zap looks great! Perhaps you have found your method!! I said that it would click for you and it looks as though it has! Love the tea towel that you are using, it is very retro! Hope that your week has been OK and that you have a good weekend. xx

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  2. You are very good to make such an effort to find the perfect material. I think you and I are the only 2 on the planet who have never watched Downton Abbey!

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  3. My Dear Dorothy, special cushion there, I'm sure DIL will be delighted, and another lovely bag coming up - it seems a shame to hide all that beauty inside for it's so very pretty - and I love that Sanderson print tea towel; gosh, you have a gift for finding all those beautiful tea towels Dorothy! I'm glad you're happier with your zip, it looks good!
    I think it's time now to say a big congratulations on a whole year of wonderful posts - well done you, in all your busy-ness, still keeping up with showing us all your gorgeous makes! Keep up the good work! Lots of love coming your way, Joy xoxo

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  4. I love the pillow, really special and I'm certain your dil will love it. The little flower brooch is very sweet! I would love to try making something like this, the fabric print was perfect for it. I still haven't mastered zips, and I think your are doing really well with them. Have a lovely weekend!

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  5. The cushion will certainly be loved. I can't believe you get Liberty fabric so cheaply, and the brooch is very sweet. The new bag is coming along beautifully. I would never have thought of using tea towels but they come with such fun designs so this is a really good idea. Happy weekend. x

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  6. Ooh, I have never seen the Downton Abbey fabric before Dorothy and I so love the Liberty design....it's fab that you can buy small pieces just as you need them...x
    The vintage embroidery is a treasure and will be a lovely addition to your design and the 'Coco' pattern looks lovely too,
    Happy 1st Blog Anniversary!
    Susan x
    P.S You must watch 'Downton' Dorothy!

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  7. Just love that fabric. Happy 1st blogging anniversary.
    Jacqui xx

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  8. Wayne Hemmingway gave such an inspirational talk at my son's, Bret, graduation. It was so interesting to hear how he and his lovely wife started out on their business. Your zips look fab, no problems with that method.
    I adore the Liberty fabric inside your wonderfull "Downtown Abby" ;0) cushion. you made me laugh with that as I had also called the series that when telling a friend.
    Hugs x

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  9. Hi Dorothy, I'm sure your DIL will love her cushion and it is so special to her as well with the photo. I've never watched Downton Abbey either but that fabric is lovely as is the liberty print you have chosen to go with it.
    Your zip looks great to me, much better than the ones I have attempted so would love to know how you did it.
    I shall watch your progress with Tilly's top as I'd love to have a go at one but I've never sewn with knit fabric either so I shall be interested to hear how you get on so sorry no tips on this one from me
    Not long now until your blogaversary and the give away it's very exciting and I'd love to win something you have made
    Take care
    Hugs Jackie x

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