Baby Pinks

This is Meg's FAVOURITE Christmas present this year. After being repeatedly messed about by a thick bloke who doesn't know he's born, she asked me (jokingly) to make her a "full size boyfriend shaped cushion so I don't have to bother with men". So I did. And his name is Fogarty, given that he's stuffed with 4 bed pillows, thus named by the Mumatron.


Decs are down, house is clean and on with the planning for this year.

All I have to do really now (other than repair the damage the bloomin' wind has created AGAIN) is clean out my craft den.

I got a lovely dressmakers dummy for Christmas and when I got her up tp the den I realised that there is SOOOOOOO much mess up there that I had nowhere to stand her!

She's not got a name yet either ...

I'm going to be using her shortly too - I made Meg a gorgeous 50's style black and red spotty frock that needs finishing quite urgently as she needs it for a photo shoot.

But I met a new person yesterday to make clothes and lovely things for. I defy you to not make cooing noises over her deliciousness!

Today I have Mostly Been Fabric Shopping ...

...and doing 1940's barrel rolls for Meg's photo shoot this evening.

I made my advent calendar yesterday. I can't take the credit for it, it's a Martha Stewart concept, realised by my good self and fashioned as a result of two year's worth of collecting.

It's made of 25 baby socks, sewn on to a washing line style red ribbon. Each one has 3 sweets and 3 gravy bone biscuits in - one each for the whole herd. I;d love to show you it, but I can't find my little mini gold pegs. When I do, I will show you. Unless I get fed up of looking and post it anyway.

As usual, I had a really specific idea in my head of the Christmas presents I was to be making for my most important ladies this year. And as usual, when it came to buying the raw materials, I bought something totally different and, I think, better. Lovely chestnut corduroy handbags with amber handles and a beautiful print to line and decorate with and co ordinate with the brooch. I'm chuffed to say that I'm making one for my good mate El's Mum. She's setting up a little soap and cream business and is making dreamy products on her kitchen table - I'm thrilled to be her guinea pig.

And I do hope it all turns up soon or it's going to be a 3am finish every night until Christmas again like last year. Lordy, I'm just not as organised as I'd like to be... but who is?

SO in the mean time, this is the "lady garden warmer" I made for Meg's, ahem, "special day" last week. You like?

Oh knickers to it .... here's my calendar.

Anger Management

So, yesterday, I got to spend a couple of rare and relatively undisturbed hours with Lady Jess of Evanshire, and she gave me the good talking to that I'd been trying to give myself. She succeeded where I failed miserably.

No change there then.

And she looked like a hot 1980's teenage boy's "damp night time hallucinations". You could go off some people.

So she pointed out that I have once again failed to be looking after my well-being in a holistic sense, and accidentally neglected my creative side, resulting in my being a bit grumpy and cross.

So I made two dresses. And I love them both.

I'll love them a lot more when I've lost the 1/2 stone I've put back on so they're not screaming at the seams.

Coming soon .... my coffee table adventures. Ooo - er, sounds rude - I'm disappointed to report that it is not possible to be less rude.

And cake.

Tea, Sweat Shops, Haberdasheries and Dresses

What a lovely weekend I have had!

Amongst other people we have had the pleasure of this weekend (my favourite of all being the actual most adorable 5 month old German Sheppard puppy in the universe, called Huntley - his human Mum's alright too!) we had my niece come to stay, Bexy Bizzle off ofcrownheartstarfame. We only had her for a couple of days sadly, being the end of her degree time, so we crammed a lot in!

On Wednesday, I unwisely decided I was going to make a dress to wear out on Friday night. I managed to pull it off, somehow, at the 11th hour and I don't think it looks too bad! I'm quite chuffed with it actually. My first pattern made dress - I rather like it. Especially as the pattern was free from Prima and the fabric was 1940's vintage stuff given to me ages ago, so it cost me nothing except the zip.

Must get a full length shot.

So, after a couple of days of dress making, I was hot to trot when the idea of fabric porn came up for our day out on Saturday.There's a gorgeous trendy haberdashery in Monmouth, so I thought it would only be right to take my Niece on a little trip to perv at the fabrics. And we accidentally bought nearly ten metres while were there! The actual most beautiful fabric ever seen by human eyes, I do believe. Photos to follow.
So, just when you'd think a day for two fabric nerds just couldn't get any better, the Cancer Research Foundation shop pulled a blinder and we went home with a selection of more than decent sized remnants in retro style prints for less than £2.50 each. At that point we couldn't bear the excitement, so we bought a couple of cakes, and went home to overdose on tea and a dressmaking masterclass for Rebecc, who had not touched a sewing machine since school.
So, by eye, nicking a bit from patterns I already have, and drawing around things, we, together made a rather spiffing 1940's inspired tea dress. And then we went out and got pissed.
I challenge you to have a better Saturday than we did :)

Oh and for exciting Twisted Sisters news, have a look at OUR BLOG, and please follow us, we look like Billy No Mates :)

Prom Heaven

I'm lucky enough to have some jolly splendid friends and nothing makes me happier than having something to make for them. My good mate has asked me to write a few of my inner wisdoms (?!) down for her so I've decided to make her a nice book. This is how it has started it's life - an inexpensive hardback jotter. He's not going to look like that for long!

And it's coming up for that time that most parents dread - the school prom. I find it very alarming to hear about the friends of my pet teenagers from low and normal income families who are spending HUNDREDS on frocks for growing teenagers determined to out do the others. I'm very sorry (well actually I'm not at all sorry) but I cannot and will not subscribe to that mind set. Even if I had the money and the inclination to purchase said frock, I bloody well won't - that's no fun at all.

So, the story so far, 35 metres of delectable emerald green satin off of the lovely ebay, and a Butterick pattern for £8.15. Don't get me wrong, we had a bit of fun in Cardiff trying on all the dresses we had no intention of purchasing, all in the name of research. I'm also going to be making opera gloves....ooo - scary! Never done them before!

I actually anticipate having sufficient fabric to make myself a little frock for the wedding of the year in October - no, as much as I'm looking forward to the Royal wedding, the golf royalty wedding is actually the wedding of the year, eh Hels?!

And the beetle? Everyone knows I love the old insects in jewelery ( I am assured that these bugs are all from "sustainable sources". I have a couple already and I picked this one up the other day as he goes totally and brilliantly with the fabric (I know it doesn't look like on the pictures but they are the exact same colour) and while he's currently a keyring, he will very shortly be a necklace. Perhaps as soon as tomorrow - I might wear him out tomorrow night. He is the prom jewelery. Beat THAT for individuality in a prom outfit!

Speaking of Individuality - I should mention that my step-mother's shop is called that and it can be found in Pontypool market. My step mother has come to the rescue as far as a dressmaker's mannequin is concerned. I collect her tomorrow, so once I have her, the creativity can commence! Watch this space!