Friday 28 January 2011

My name is Jen, and I am a fabric addict

Despite the lack of somewhere to work, I seem to have several projects on the go at the moment.  As is often the case I've been inspired by fabrics I wasn't planning to buy, and patterns I wasn't particularly looking for.  

Most exciting though, is the dress I am planning for Lauren; I had been planning to use some shot satin type fabric, but when I saw this beautiful printed cotton I knew I had to get some (this is also why I have a massive blanket chest of fabric in my dining room, I often *have* to get some of something...).  It will be a simple, classic design - a sleeveless, long-ish summer dress with a ribbon round the waist (I would also quite like to knit a matching short-sleeved wraparound ballet style cardigan to go with it, but I knit VERY slowly).  The design is still in my head and needs to be put to paper but photos will definitely follow in time.  This is what I love most about sewing - I see some fabric, I can picture in my head what it could look like in a garment, and then I can make it.*

*when I have somewhere to work again!    


This is Miriam's nappy bag, work in progress


Summery seersucker for the ringsling I am making for myself.  I will also make a sling for Lauren to carry one of her baby dolls.  I've already bought the rings, I just need to dig out some fabric for her sling.


Some gorgeous printed cotton which caught my eye when I was looking for something else.  I'm going to use it to make a dress for Lauren to wear this summer to weddings.


Wednesday 5 January 2011

Not a New Year's Resolution.

New Year is a great time for reflection on the year that has passed and making plans for the year to come.  Generally speaking I don’t make New Year’s resolutions; losing  weight and exercising more never last more than a week or so and besides, having spent four of the last six Januarys pregnant, there is a limit to what I can achieve. 
Last year (in about May, not January!), I decided to start being more proactive about building my handmade children’s clothing cottage industry and this year I hope to do the same, once the chaos surrounding a loft conversion and the arrival of my fourth child has subsided a little. In the meantime though, I will be keeping my eye out for beautiful fabrics, creating new designs and fine tuning old ones, generally looking for inspiration in the world and people around me and reporting how things are going via this blog.
So - Number One Inspiration of this week goes to my friend Janine Smith; not only has she made a truly excellent New Year’s Resolution  - to try something new every day of the year, but also has grabbed opportunity with both hands and is spending her days in beautiful New Zealand making lovely things and writing a book.   You can find her at http://janineaswriter.blogspot.com/ if you are interested...