Frugaldom: Reminiscing in Frugaldom - Part I

Frugaldom: Reminiscing in Frugaldom - Part I
I have just read your two part synopsis of your world. it has a lot that runs true and that makes me realise that one of my failings is to notalways follow through.
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 So if there is anything that I need to face then that is it. To follow through with my ideas, challenges and commit myself more. Financially I am terrible at record keeping. Creatively I have the tools and fabrics yet continue too amass more, which is stupid.
Health wise, living to the frugal food would also be of benifit.

Th as nkyou for the insigbt into your world but more importantly the lightbulb moment that I just got about myself.

No Sew Day!

Well today is a no sew day. Its the day for the hairdressers, the councillors, getting William to sign on, and I am going to meet up with Christine and little Lucy at a dance exhibition in Northampton.
I have some trousers to shorten and then take in at the waist band. (Not my favourite place to alter trousers, especially mens ones!).
Time to get on.

Continuing with the baby clothes

Well yesterday and today I have kept myself busy sewing for the grand children.
I finished the smaller pinafore dress for the baby, with a hat to match today.
I have also started on a skirt out of the same daisy fabric, but have no more elastic until I get to town tomorrow.

I have also been working on the black and white patchwork, thought I would show you a bit of it.

Childs Dress

Well I have been sewing today. Made a little stripey dress for my granddaughter. I scaled up the pattern from the Magazine Sewing for Kids. (although the piece of elastic that I have was a little too short, so the dress is a little stretched around her waist). Although she doesnt seem to care.
Took me an hour and a quarter to make. So quite pleased.
I have cut out a further one in the original size for my other granddaughter, but dont have enough elastic to make it yet.
I also have made the original green dress, but still need to do the button holes.
I was sewing at the table outside and the clouds got a bit threatening so I packed it all up.
Have tomorrow still to do other bits and pieces while I am here.
Wednesday is my busy day so I dont get to sew then.

If I have enough energy I will sew some of the hand patchwork pieces.

Canvas Bags

I cannot believe that the last time I posted was in March! Its July! What happened?

anyway besides that I have been trying to get to grips with working in my bedroom. A very small space I hasten to add. Most of the things I want seem to be the stuff in the loft and so it takes me far too long to make anything. So frustrating.
I did start to think about building a Shed or summer house in the garden to give me more room, but I would need a few £thousand. So for now, its the bedroom and frustration.
But I have been making some canvas bags.
I bought some lovely fabric from www.myfabrics.co.uk.  One is digital photos of scenes from Kenya. Now those that know me, will know that as a child I lived here for just short of 3 years, with my family. The films my parents have of us children all seem to be here in Kenya, or on the beaches in Cyprus later in life.
Anyway, this fabric inspired me to create some more tote bags. So out came a piece of canvas, from the local market. £5 a metre. I cut out 4 canvas bags from this.
One of the bags is going to be for sale, and one is for my brother for his birthday. He loves Kenya and goes there regularly with his partner.
So this is for Paul.

And this one is for sale. The handles are made from two string belts, also bought on the market, at £1 each.

These are the patchwork pieces that I bought in a charity shop last week, for £1.25 I think it was. Someone had done a lot of work, and I couldnt see it wasted, so I have finished them off and sewn them together. Now I will need to think about finding some fabrics to complement these and try to make this into a bigger quilt, or lap quilt.
There is another piece of patchwork I bought, but I havent photographed it yet, and the batteries have just run out on my camera!.
Typical.
I have donated 5 of my purses, to the school collection for the teachers. They wanted £5 from each of us "parents", but I didnt want to give them cash, so I said they could have my purses and give one to each of the helpers.
I will have to make a few more now. But thats not a problem, it will get my work out and about a bit more.

I am going to see if I can actually get to the sewing machine again today. Fingers crossed I get the chance.
I spend far too much time on the computer and not enough time at the sewing machine.

Street Party

I just found out that the street has a committee and are going to plan for a Diamond Jubilee street Party.
That sounds like fun.
I shall have to enquire about it and see what its about. Missed the interest about it before? Then I dont walk far, so probably didnt see any notices etc.
Wonder if I should offer to make some bunting.

Bunting

Well this weekend I have had a few requests for Bunting, so I am quite pleased. Lets hope that its the start of some more sales. I could do with the vote of confidence. Been feeling rather glum this weekend, even though its mothers day.  I didnt feel particularly celebratory today.
Started to make DGD a pair of jeans out of BF's old jeans. no pattern so we will see if they come out or not. Nothing ventured nothing gained.
Working from the table in the sittingroom until the workroom is done again. Not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. We will see.

Baby Booties

This months craftseller had some booties to make out of a set of Cath Kidston fat quarters. Although I have started to make them i havent actually used my Cath Kidston stuff, although the fabrics are similar to hers.

Love is in the air

This is the string or hearts I made. My latest creations.

January Makes from the Mooloo household

Well I have finally gathered together my sewing from this month, and laid it on the bed to photograph.
So if you see the duvet underneath, I appologies.!
When its all together it looks a lot more than I thought I had done.

Tote shopping bag, 60 style fabric, lined with a sheet.!

Handy clip for the keys or shopping token.

Mini Skirt, just the right size for a shopping bag.

Added a patch pocket, either side, so as to make use of the false flaps that were originally on the skirt. This is lined with a bright yellow/orange liner with pockets to compliment the outside colours.

A variety of the purses - Cath Kidston fabric, with pink Canvas

Cath Kidston and pink, reversed.

A pair of Biggest of Mooloo's jeans- another bag. With added ribbons and diamante details

One of the deamonte details added to the back of the bag.

Brightly lined with a remenant of fabric

Scented lavender sachet, for hanging in the wardrobe

One of the two sets of square lavender bags, ideal for drawers.

A couple of another double set of hanging lavender bags, this time they are supposed to be circular

This lavender bag, has used a piece of fabric that we printed off the picture from the computer. Then the lace is some vintage from the stash. The other side is actually blues and purples in a paisley rayon.

This is a set of animal based lavender bags, an american idea, called Owwies. Ideal for soothing bumps and bruises. Put in the freezer for a while, or heat in the microwave. DGD loves hers.

Sticking to the animal theme, a couple of full length aprons, in yellow gingham, reclaimed from a childs duvet set, and the remains of some animal print fabrics donated to the Mooloo household.

A few more of the purses in a variety of the Purple colours this time. I love the one with the umbrella's the best. Its lined with a plain purple fabric, but the others are lined in the remanents of the moses basket cover from DGD2.

This is a piece of furnishing fabric, wool appliqued that was bought in a bunch of odds and sods from the charity shop. Note that there is a seam in one corner, as the piece of fabric was not square. But it was a shame not to try to utilise the fabric.

This is the back of the same cushion. Again fabric donated to the stash from my SIL's mum.

This is a skirt. It was a full length A line skirt that was plain and boring. Its now a mini with a few patch pockets, and a frayed edge. Alas its a size 10 so not for me. Its ownerless at the moment. But I am sure it will find a home soon.

This is a half, waist tie apron, with the combination reversed.

And finally this is a pincushion that I made while watching TV the last two nights. Love the fabric, and have a panel probably enough to make a cushion, or another tote bag. I cannot make up my mind.

So all in all I have done quite a bit of sewing. Not the make a day I had wanted to do, but at least there is something to show for my efforts.

Still sewing

Hi,
Well I am still getting to sew, but for short periods of time.
I have been making lavender bags and some of the purses cut out from last year.
I am aiming to catch up on the odd jobs that have been hanging around, and to get on and create.
I received my issue 32, February 2012 of SEW magazine today.
I am rather disappointed with it, and feel justified in cancelling my subscription. Once again the pattern is a dress, and the one for March- you guessed it another dress!
Much as I do wear dresses, for the last 2 years or so of buying this magazine its been dresses, and most of them are dresses for the ball!. At least this one is more of a day dress. But the thank goodness i can see passed the colour schemes they used, as the dresses look absolutely awful!.
They have also decided that the pattern is to come in two sizes, and instead of contacting the subscribers and working out which size combination to send, they sent the larger size. Alas for me, I am a small. So if I do want the copy i have to contact the website and go through a few hoops no doubt.

My fabrics from Jackie's Fabrics arrived, via a detour to my old house! oops. My google account was defaulted there. Trust me, I have changed it now!.
My Abakhan order is still not with me, so after emailing them, I received a call to tell me they were out of stock of the pen I wanted, and were not getting it replenished. So now they will release the rest of my order. (Alas again, too late for the market I was wanting it for). Maybe next year.

I have a couple of hours tomorrow, where I am hoping to sit at the sewing machine, and I hope that I can get help with photographing the things, and getting them up on the web. Can't start to sell if they are not up for sale after all!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Well its a Happy New Year to everyone.
I am slow off of the mark this year. Taking things as "laid back" as i can. I intend to get to the sewing machine today and get making for the Valentines market! If I am not too late.
I still need to get some better photographs for my stuff. I really need lessons in photography!
I think DGD will be a better photographer then I am, she is always taking the camera and snapping away!.
The weather here is wet and wild, windy. Only going to go out to collect a friend and coming straight back again!
I hope that 2012 will be a successful year for you all, especially all the crafters out there. I hope that the economic downturn will not stop people from buying everyones georgeous makes!
I intend to make even more presents for the coming year. Those I did make were received well, and it has inspired me to try harder.
(Except my BF, he was not thrilled with his phone case or his card wallet)< but he is not very easy to please anyway, so he wont count).