New and Improved

This is the new top I've made which I mentioned in my
previous post. I was busy cutting and sewing on Wednesday
evening and finished it in time to wear on my birthday
the following day.

It is slightly different to the other two summery tops I've made.
It's longer so it's more like a tunic and instead of using bias binding
I've sewn a facing on the neckline and armholes. When I say 'facing'
it's really more like a lining, but it works a treat. I have seamed,
neatly finished edges plus they were quick to do too--hurray!

Towards the end of the evening I was too tired to make a thread
loop so decided to just put buttons on either side of this little slit
at the back instead. I think it looks okey. I've also altered the shape
of the armholes so they fit better and they do.

Here it is worn with a pair of leggings. I really like this 'Galloping
 Horses' fabric from John Lewis. They were two remnant pieces which
 I bought for £11. Not a bad price for a new top!

I think it's safe to say you'll be seeing more tops here in the 

coming months, especially now that I've discovered 'facings'. 

I keep learning as I go along and so many things are new to me

 so it's all very exciting. As always I'm already looking forward
 to making the next one. I might try adding a Peter Pan collar
 like Virna did with her beautiful dress. We'll see!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you're all having a
great week. Back soon!

Lovely Happy Things

I've enjoyed some crafting time this week and this always
makes me happy.

I've been doing a bit of embroidery and crochet and
I have also made this birthday card for a friend--all fun,
happy making projects.



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A new magazine and a cup of tea--always a treat!

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It was my birthday on Thursday, a very wet and cold day.
But despite the horrible weather it was a wonderful day, full of
beautiful treats and presents. I felt very loved and spoiled.

I'm still not too sure though about being forty. It is such a big,
grown-up age and I don't feel forty, not yet. But I guess that's
a good thing. As they say, you're only as old or as young as you feel.



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I've made another new top and I love it.

I'll tell you more on my next post--soon!




Thanks for reading.
Wishing you all a lovely, sunny weekend!

Sewing Lessons

Thank you for the lovely and encouraging comments on my
 summery top. I've been so delighted and excited with how nice it
has turned out that I had to make another one.

This time I've  added a pocket at the front and an inch or so to
the bottom hem.

I made this a couple of weeks ago and have loved wearing it
with a pair of leggings and a cardi.

I like the colours of the fabric and I'm chuffed that I have
another new top to wear this spring and summer. Next time
though I'll make sure I use matching cotton threads to help
 hide the wonky stitches and I'll stick to fabrics with smaller prints
to save me worrying whether the prints on the front and back pieces
are aligned or not. I should also remember to wash my fabrics
beforehand and zigzag stitch along the long edges to keep them
from unravelling later on. The armholes are still a little bit loose
so I've made some changes to the pattern. Hopefully this and all the
other lessons I've recently learned will help when I make the next one.
 I've already got the material and I'm planning to get sewing again
one evening this week.


Thanks for reading. Back soon!

Lovely Happy Things

I loved wearing my summery top last weekend. Actually I was quite
 proud to wear something I've sewn myself and I'm so excited to
be making another one.

I've already cut my fabric pieces and chosen the trimming.

All I need now is one evening this week when I can happily stitch
away in my sewing machine. I can't wait!


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Markie and I made chocolate chip muffins last Saturday.
We used all the chocolate eggs leftover from Easter plus a
chocolate Santa we found at the bottom of the sweeties jar.

It was an easy bake (it's a Mary Berry recipe) and tastes yummy too.
It was also lovely to spend time together baking which we both enjoy.

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Warm(ish) sunshine, a new magazine, cup of tea, and the girls playing
nicely together.

A wonderful way to spend half an hour on a weekend morning.


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I love this Timbergram postcard I bought from here.

I think wooden postcards is a terrific idea, a delightful alternative to
paper postcards and stationery. But this one looks so cheerful and
 lovely on our mantlepiece I don't think I'll be using it for
correspondence anytime soon.


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We went into town last Monday and made a VERY extravagant
purchase. Oh yes, we had to sit down and think about it first. We're
not normally given to splurges like this.

But it's a well deserved treat for my husband. He works hard,
hardly buys himself anything and he loves cooking. So this will be
well used and he will truly enjoy having it in our kitchen. It's very
expensive but worth it too.




Thanks for reading!
 Hope you enjoyed the bank holiday weekend.
Have a wonderful rest of the week!

A Simple Summery Top

This week I wanted to do something new and decided
to try my hand at dressmaking. I've always admired those
who can sew their own clothes but I've never felt brave enough
to try eventhough I like to sew and know a bit about using a
sewing machine. The only piece of garment I've ever made was
a Clothkits dress for Markie a couple of years ago. I managed
to finish it by watching the video tutorial online, replaying every
step til I got to the end.

So what made me want to try and make myself something

I can wear? Well, the whole idea started on Tuesday when I wore

one of my favourite tops. I kept thinking how nice it would be if I
can make one or two of it to wear this summer. I'll have some new tops
that will look nice with jeans, cropped trousers or leggings, plus I can
save some money too. So that evening I laid it on the table to have
 a good look at it. It's from Mango and bought in the sale last year.
There are no sleeves, buttons, darts or linings. After some scrutiny
I (bravely) decided it was doable.

I started off by sketching the top on to pattern paper,
making the back slightly wider, before cutting my fabric pieces.
I chose a material that's easy to work with--cotton, with small floral
prints-- something I picked up from The Great British Sewing Bee.
It was also bought in the sale (you can probably tell by now I like
to buy things in the sale) and I thought just in case it all went
pear shaped at least I won't be too disappointed with the wasted
material. Anyway after this it was on to the sewing bit. It was 

surprisingly easy and by the next day I had a  finished top.
Here it is:

The bias binding was quite fiddly but not as hard as I'd

 expected. I got the idea to use it on the neckline and

armholes from here.

And it fits nicely-hooray!

I really like it and I'm so chuffed with how it turned out.

I could see myself wearing this a lot in the coming months.

I've already chosen the fabric for the next one and I might add
a little pocket too.  Looking forward to making it soon!


Thanks for reading. Hope you like my summery top too.

Have a great weekend!