Shall I sew us a ric rac rainbow?

Hello peeps,

I am writing this from freezing cold Melbourne (Australia)  We are visiting friends and family as the girls are on Hong Kong summer school holidays.

It has been great to get some respite from the heat and humidity of Hong Kong.  I am missing home though.  We are all missing the Shropshire boy/daddy.  We will be home next week, and school commences again for Abbey in the middle of August.

I have to share some photos of a recent creation.  I joined the lovely Cam from CurlyPops to make a hot water bottle cover for the 2013 Hottie Challenge.  There was a recent exhibition of all the amazing hotties (see lots of photos here on Cam's blog)

The finished hotties are donated to the Margaret Pratt Foundation, so that they may be sold to raise funds.  The aim of the Foundation, as stated on their website is:

The Margaret Pratt Foundation Heart Lung Transplant Trust is a registered charity whose aim is to encourage, develop and maintain Australia's world class expertise in the field of organ transplantation by supporting research that addresses the problems faced by children and adults after heart and lung transplant. 

If you know Cam or follow her CurlyPops blog, you will already know she is the recent recipient of a double lung transplant.  She has been given the gift of a new life.  The hottie challenge is important to her.

My entry to the hottie challenge was an idea I have had rattling around in my head for months: to make a rainbow out of ric rac.  I love how it turned out.  This will not be the last ric rac rainbow you will see in the land of the Raspberry Rainbow.  When I get back to Hong Kong, I have plans.

Have a great week.

Cat xox

My (guitar and space invader) Creative Space

Hi peeps,

Last week, I was secret squirrel sewing.  I knew the Shropshire boys birthday was coming up, and I wanted to make him something. It was his turn for some home made goodness.  He has had a kindle for almost a year now, and it really needed a cover to protect it.  I was determined to make that cover.

So last week, in the one sitting, in between toddler demands for food and cuddles, I finally made the Shropshire boy a cover for his kindle.  I was so chuffed at how great it turned out, I was buzzing.  I was on a sewing high.  But I could not tell anyone or show any photos on Instagram, Facebook, Flickr, Twitter or this blog. It had to remain a secret for almost a week.  That was really hard.

I did show the kids, I had to show some one.  Abbey, at 6 years old, was gorgeous and told me it was good and that daddy would love it.  Gosh I love her.

Cam from CurlyPops has a fabulous tutorial How to make a Pouch for an Electronic Gadget that I used.  I have had this tutorial printed out for a long time, waiting for just the right moment.  I can make fabric zippered pouches with my eyes closed, but I have never made anything like this before.

Cam's tutorial is very easy to follow.  Since making the kindle cover, I have made some wet-bags with the same method (minus the quilting and the padding, and I added a velcro closure)  I will definitely be making more of these for our other electronic gadgets.  Thanks Cam for a great tute!

Have a great Creative Space day.  Or a Space Invader day.

Cat.

 

Lisette Continental Dress Sew Along

Hi peeps,

Only 2 months after it started, I finally finished my Lisette Continental Dress, part of the CurlyPops fabulous Sew-Along.  To be fair (to me!) I was not able to begin my dress until the end of March.

 

I am not that happy with the sizing on the pattern, it is very confusing.  The pattern measures up quite big - it is a roomy dress. It needs to be roomy to get it on and off, as there is no zipper.  My bust measured up for a size 12, and my hips and waist measured between sizes 15-16.  I measured the actual pattern pieces, and there appeared to be enough room for me to cut out a size 14 of the dress.  I used a fabric I was not that bothered with, just in case it did not work.  My gamble paid off - the size 14 is good on me, a little roomy actually, so I could probably make the size 12 next time.

I adjusted as I sewed, trying it on after each step.  I took 1.5cm off the shoulder seams and a similar amount off the armholes as they were gaping (I tapered the seam like Cam did in this post)

There were some very helpful instructions with the pattern to make it a multi-size, if you did measure up differently for bust, waist and hips, I chose to ignore these this time as I liked trying on as I sewed, adjusting to my actual body.  I noted all the adjustments on my pattern, so when I make the dress again, it will be even quicker.

I did find it a very easy dress to sew. It comes together so quickly.  I added belt loops too, I thought this was a good idea Cam.  I want to add some pockets, they would be very handy.

It is very comfortable to wear.  I will have to make some more as Hong Kong is starting to heat up, it feels like summer is here already - but I know it will get warmer still.

I have the Lisette Passport dress pattern too, I am now eager to make this one, and see which one I prefer.

Thank you to the Shropshire boy for taking these photos of me in my new dress.  I am wearing it as I type this, it is so comfy.

Thank you to Cam from CurlyPops for holding this sew-along.  I have finally made some thing for me!

Have a great weekend.  Cat

The kindness of bloggy friends

Hi peeps,

I am continually blown away by the kindness of bloggy friends.  Lovely people I have not met in real life (yet) but who I have gotten to know via our blogs, twitter and now instagram.

First Jennie from A Little Vintage made me the most divine zippered pouch.

Then just before Christmas, Cam from Curlypops sent me some gorgeous fabric panels of her own illustrations. Plus she sent some other little goodies (pocket mirror and badges)  I love them all, thank you Cam, you are really, really bulk ace!

As a Christmas present to me, I bought some of Cam's Go Granny II 100% cotton basecloth fabric.  It is gorgeous in the flesh.  I am so making me a zippered pouch with this fabric!

As you can see, I am still addicted to instagram.   If you want to see my instagram images, they are over here or you can find me on instagram, my username is raspberryrainbow.

I hope you are all warmer than me.  It is 11 degrees celsius today in Hong Kong.  I am frozen.

Have a great (warmer) day peeps.

Cat