Baby Bib

I bought this Simplicity 1950's vintage pattern when I was able to put Ruby down in one place knowing that she would stay there! (approx. 4 years ago) She looked very cute in her red polka dot version of the yellow outfit.

Friends of ours have recently had a baby boy and we met him last weekend. I couldn't resist making a couple of the bibs as a gift.

I used some soft blue and white striped flannelette and appliquéd an anchor on one and a J on the other. I edged them using bias binding.

The anchor one is my favourite.

May: Sewing, baking, Brighton Festival and books.

May has been busy and although I have done lots I haven't had much time to say anything about it. Chris has been nagging at me to write a blog post and it occurred to me that with our kids constantly shouting for our attention in the evenings and weekends it might be the only time he gets to find out what I am up to. Maybe written communication would be easier for us.

So then Chris, this has been my May so far....

I've been helping in school and nursery a lot. I love going in and seeing what the kids are up to and how differently they learn maths now. I now know how to do calculations that I couldn't do at school! The nursery is fun and I get to do craft stuff with them, like bubble painting and mask making.

I normally help at school on a Wednesday morning but as year 2 are doing the sats that they don't know that they are doing I got to do some filing and come home early. Which is good because I am tired today, I went to see The Great Gatsby at the cinema last night and loved it so much that it took ages for me to relax and come down of my pic n mix high. I came away inspired by the outfits, the sequins and with an urge to be very rich and throw lavish 1920's themed parties. If you haven't seen it already, go!

I've been listening to Daft Punk's Random Access Memories and Frank Turner's Tape Deck Heart on Spotify. Frank Turner is my sewing music of choice.

Lots of hanging out with my kids, reading Swallows and Amazon's by the campfire. Enjoying every bit of Ruby's last pre-school days (I don't want September this year) and being forced into taking selfies with her.

We have been reading Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons to Jacob and not only have we all really enjoyed the story, it has inspired Jacob's games and attitude towards playing. I think this will be the summer he embraces the outdoors and adventures.

I also managed to read a book for me. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. I was surprised how uplifting the book was despite it's topic and the ending. I read it very quickly and felt motivated to get on with some things that I have been putting off (like finishing the bathroom tiling). Check it out!

I've been making and baking...

Attending...

...a couple of Brighton festival bits and pieces. The Spiegeltent and The Embroidered Tattoo Parlour.

 Sewing...

A cute little felt ice cream garland for a lovely friend's birthday present.

 ...and some tops and dresses for me using patterns from Make Hey While the Sunshines by Pip Lincolne, burda style as inspiration.

With the exception of G.C.S.E textiles my sewing skills are self/mum taught. For a while I've felt that I have a gap in my skill set. Whenever I make something for me I am always dissatisfied with the fit and usually have to make alterations to the patterns to fit me. In hope of fixing these issues and fulfilling a teenage dream I have booked myself on to a Pattern Cutting Course at MIY Workshop starting at the beginning of June. I am so excited and feel like I'm 18 again with the opportunity to follow the creative path that I deep down wish I had gone down 15 years ago. I'll let you know how I get on!

I've also been cutting out hundred of little flags for a bunting craft activity planned for the school fair.

What have you been up to this May? Any bank holiday weekend plans? Our plan is to enjoy the festival atmosphere and maybe finally make it to an open house or two.

Brighton Festival - Embroidered Tattoo Parlour at Beyond Retro

We popped along to the Embroidered Tattoo Parlour at Beyond Retro today.

The event was run by machine embroiderer Jenny King who creates beautiful pieces of embroidery on her selection of 1950's machines.

We bought a nautical headscarf for a couple of quid and flicked through the book of flash to choose our design.

We went for one of Chris's favourite pieces of Sailor Jerry flash and watched as the machinist transformed the scarf into this...

We're going to frame it and hang it on the wall.

Festival Friday!

Tomorrow sees the start of the 2013 Brighton Festival. It's a month long arts festival and one of my favourite times of the year. I love seeing the temporary venues, street performances and all of the lovely arts and crafts in the Open Houses. Hopefully this year the sun will shine and add to the festival atmosphere.

The children's parade opens the festival tomorrow morning and Jacob and Chris are taking part dressed as Aliens! Whilst I will hopefully be hobbling (i've pulled a muscle in my thigh) into town to watch.

If you are within travelling distance check out the Brighton Festival or Fringe Festival website and pop down to join in the fun and see some amazing shows and art.

Like the clock tower that has been decorated in clothes!

Ruffle Streamers and Giant Tissue Paper Flowers

I love it but Pinterest is dangerous! Not only does it take up masses of my time looking at lots of lovely inspiring things it makes me want to make them too.

I'd spotted these lovely ruffle streamers at the end of last year and planned to make them for Ruby's Hello Kitty party but didn't get round to it. So when Rachel bought crepe paper streamers for her party I suggested that I ruffle them for her. It was so much fun and incredibly easy to do.

I followed the tutorial on Dana Made It popped the tv on and set to work on the 100m of crepe paper.

Here are the finished results, they are so pretty!

We also made giant tissue paper flowers using this tutorial

Photo A Day April Round Up

I found this photo challenge on Pinterest and decided to join in. 

But on the 1st April I found out that this is last year's challenge. I really wanted to join in with an active photo a day so I switched to this years. As I had already posted the old one to facebook and instagram I decided to continue with both challenges by posting daily for #fmsphotoaday and a round up post at the end of the month.

This was my April 2013 based on #photoadayapril 2012...

1. your reflection

I took my photo using my Banksy print for the reflection. I feel really awkward in this photo. I'm not normally in front of my camera/iphone. 

2. colour

I love these Berol felt tip pens.

3. mail

I waited for the postman for ages but he didn't come. Luckily Ruby was playing Post Offices all morning.

4. someone who makes you happy

I obviously couldn't choose just one of them so I photographed them both :)

5. tiny

A tiny blue button next to a 1p. Taken with a fisheye lens.

6. lunch

Raw vegetables and salad with a cheesy muffin and lime pickle.

7. shadow

I cheated with this one and used a photo of Ruby and I that I took a few weeks ago because there was no sun out today. She really is my shadow and always wants to be by my side. Usually just to annoy her brother!

8. inside my wallet

My Orla Kiely purse. I call it my Mum purse because it is big and when I was little my Mum always had a big purse. It's full of receipts and coppers!

9. younger me
Me and my brother dressed as Native American Indians for a picnic in the park. Mum made our outfits including one for my dolly. If you look closely you can see Andrew's arrow that didn't travel very far! I'm guessing that we are 4 and 6 here?

10. cold
I felt cold so spent an hour snuggled under my duvet watching Prisoners Wives on the iPlayer.

11. where I ate breakfast
Jacob went on a sleepover last night. I expected a call at 10pm saying he was coming home but the phone didn't ring! Ruby and I had a relaxing breakfast, sitting on the sofa, watching cartoons and eating toast.

12. stairs
The majority of people who have visited our house ask when we are getting rid of our stairs! We have no plans to, they are one of the reasons we bought this house. As long as you start off on your right foot and keep going till you get to the top you won't fall down!

13. something I found
I didn't actually find this, Ruby did but she gave it to me.

14. how I feel today
Today I feel proud of my little man, who ran the Brighton Marathon Mini Mile. He is feeling proud of himself too. 

15. sunset

I missed the sunset tonight, luckily Jacob made this sunset badge at Hove Museum.

Half Way! I'm loving this photo a day challenge. It's like a diary. I've always intended to keep one but never find the time. Taking a photo a day is a great way of remembering what happens over the month.

16. flower
Forsythia on the way home from dropping the kids at school. I love the colour. It tells me that it is spring and it makes me miss our old front garden.

17. something you don't like
Soggy cereal!

18. hair
This should have been for yesterday when I was having a good hair day!

19. orange
It's always the oranges that are last to be eaten in our house.

20. something you drew

Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?

21. bottle

Jacob's science experiment! A weather barometer now lives on the windowsill. How long till I can recycle it?

22. the last thing you bought

The weekly shop.

23. vegetable

We eat a lot of carrots in our house.

24. something you're grateful for

My sewing machine. It keeps my hands and creative side busy! How cute is Jacob's little machine next to mine!

25. looking down

Hello Baby Bernard and Gobi!

26. black and white

Wallpaper samples. Orla Kiely Acorns and MissPrint Mountains

27. somewhere you went

Rachel's Party!

28. 1pm

Mum Cabs! Dropping Jacob off at the St George's Day Parade.

29. circle
Blue circle inside the Polka Dot Cake!

30. something that makes you sad
Ruby starting school in September. Her pre-school days are nearly over :(

My favourite photo...

...of this challenge is this one of our Guinea Pigs, Baby Bernard and Gobi. Now that they weather is warming up we are able to let them out of the garage and into the garden. I'll be honest I am not a big fan of rodents but these two are growing on me and I find it peaceful watching them sitting in their playpen eating grass. 

And that was it, April is over and now it is May. It feels like this year is flying by but when I look back at the first couple of photo's they seem like a long time ago.