Weddings, Holidays, and a new School Year

Just that really. I had a last minute change of mind about what I was wearing to my mother in laws wedding, and instead went with this: collectif atomic flamingo dolores dress, my MohedaToffeln clogs, a cheapo shrug from ebay, and the bag I won from the British Belles/Audrey Stars Boutique competition. apparently the feedback from the guests was that I looked 'exotic'. Thats fine by me :)

We visited grandma on the morning of her wedding:

This makes me laugh because Noah had fallen in the river 10 minutes beforehand, so he has one bare foot in the photos as he refused to keep his shoe on! The twins on the left are their brand new cousins and the man at the back is Richard, my step-father in law.

  

 One for the family album. Noah is looking thoroughly fed up in this! 

We went to Menorca:

I made the beach bag below just before we went, with some glittery vinyl from Dunelm Mill. The bag fits EVERYthing in it. Unfortunately it also shed glitter all over the place!

View from our apartment

Cheesy grins on the glass bottomed boat

Wearing my other collectif flamingo dress

View of the fort 

Chillin'

Cocktails!

And last but not least, school started the day after we returned from Spain:

Bagmaking: The Layla Bag by Cozy Nest Design

I'm now what I consider a 'regular' tester for Sarah of Cozy Nest Design. Her mind works in incredible ways, and this latest bag, Layla, is no exception.

I had been fretting for ages about what bag to take to my mother in laws wedding, and when the testing call went out for this bag, I knew I had to make it.

Its such a clean, cute design. You can either make with, or without the metal handles (now stocked by Emmaline bags in Canada, but hopefully soon by Bobbin Girl in the UK) but for me there was no question of using them!

The pattern, as usual, is easy to follow. I wouldn't call it a beginners pattern though - more beginner to intermediate. I would tackle it if you have made a couple of bags already and know the basics.

I chose to add piping all the way around the gusset. This was kind of tricky due to construction and I would omit this the first time you make this bag if you're a beginner, so you know how the bag comes together.

It doesn't take too long to make either. This would be great for a night out. 

There is one inner zipped pocket which is always useful. The bag is plenty big enough to fit purse, keys, makeup. Even a pair of ballerina pumps!

In the end I didn't use the bag for the wedding due to a last minute outfit change. I did make it specifically to go with a dress and these shoes, but the shoes hurt too much. (I love Irregular Choice though. )

Bagmaking: Dolled Up Train/Vanity Case in Zebra and Cherries! Plus: frocks, days out, and clearouts!

Its still the summer holidays. I'm still not getting much done, however I can show you my most recent completion.
This is a really lovely pattern, but quite hard work. Its the larger train case from DiedelbugHandmade, and as I was commissioned a very long time ago to make a vanity case for an old friend, I decided this would be the pattern I would use.

The spec was basically zebra, pink and cherries for a teenage girl.
It was supposed to be just a 'box' rather than a 'two piece' but I could not resist making this pattern.
The lid has space for brushes etc, and then the bottom has a clear zipped pocket, then space for larger items like hairdryer/bottles/tongs and so on.

The pattern is very clear, but there is a LOT of cutting out to be done. My machine struggled around the edges where foam interfacing met foam interfacing.

Overall though I can't quite believe it went together so well. You just need to follow it slowly, step by step, and it does come together. 

One day, I will make one for me!

In other news: Noah had his first taster session at the olympic gym. He loved it, but sadly they are only on in the school holidays, for a few sessions, so next time probably October.

I had a wardrobe clearout. 6 bags of clothing gone. This is what my wardrobe looked like after the cull. Too many dresses for the tiny space on the left. 

So I took out that bar on the right and re-arranged. Ta-da!!

We visited Burghley House and the beautiful grounds. This coincided with a family fun day, so the boys got to do activities, followed by the Gardens of Surprise (water gardens)

I bought some dresses. Because its August LOL.

This Hell Bunny is very cute.  Please note - I had just come back from aqua aerobics so Im' not looking my best. Also, our bedroom has since been cleaned :)

This Lindy Bop May dress sadly didn't fit at all. Bodice too long. I'm holding down the sleeves here as otherwise they sit an inch above my shoulders. Also skirt is a bit A-line - I'd prefer more fabric. Too much work to fix. Went back. Love this fabric, although I do own 4.5 metres of it so one day I'll make my own :)

I purchased items in the collectif sale. Two Fairy dresses for our hols, and a Dietrich swing coat. (work toilet shots - nice)

I love Collectif, as their dresses are generally very flattering, although I had to take some little tucks in at the neckline to stop it gaping. I also reduced the bodice  length by 2 inches on the pineapple dress. Haven't got around to doing the atomic flamingo mods yet!

Love this coat. I've been wanting for ages. Well its my birthday this month so, y'know, why not!

I completely changed my mind about what I'm wearing to mother in laws wedding. It will now be this:

Its the atomic flamingo design- but this is Dolores style (the one with cap sleeves which I modified a while back because they were TOO TIGHT) The sourpuss bag is one I won from Audrey Stars Boutique/British Belles. The shrug was ebay. The shoes MohedaToffeln. I have since bought a slim belt which I may or may not wear :)

Other news:

I sold the tent! 

I bought (another) paddling pool! 

The Punto failed its MOT (boo hiss) and the Peugeot required over a grands worth of work (faints) but otherwise - its going well!!

A sweet makeup case for teacher, what we did on our holidays and win win wins!!!

Unfortunately I'm not getting much done at the moment. 

Its the school holidays, which of course means I'm either at work, or looking after mine, and possibly other peoples children. I cannot do ANYTHING with children in the house, as I'm either cleaning up their mess, cooking their food, pumping up paddling pools or similar, or responding to 'muuuuuuum' or 'Lyynnnnnnn' followed by 'can I have this/Joeys hitting me/its my turn on the tablet/can you help me with this' and so on...

Anyway. I did get a superquick makeup bag made for Joeys teacher who has been great with him this year. These are so quick and easy and look much more professional if you box the corners. 

My mum sent me the external fabric which has a linen feel. The lining came from Japan (I had an etsy spree). The 'handmade' zip pull is from Emmaline Bags (also available from Bobbin Girl in the UK)

In other news, we've done our best with the british weather. Some days were good - like when the Huntingdon churches laid on this beach in the town centre, as well as free entertainment and food. It was very windy, but the sun came out.

We have of course, been to the woods. Hinchingbrooke Park is always a good option for kids.

They have cheap inflatables and fun stuff outside the garden centre too. 5 quid for endless bouncy castles, trampolines, and boating? ok then.

There was of course our camping holiday last weekend in Norfolk, which we cut short, because it rained endlessly.

Made more bearable because of a) the outdoor pool right next to our tent which the kids loved even though it wasn't that warm and b) being able to meet up with my lovely friends Anna and Nic and their spouses and children - I still have no plans to attempt camping again any time soon. 

Give me a hotel room any day :)

vintage tea room in Swaffham

Dressing like an Egyptian in Swaffham museum

At http://www.greenbritaincentre.co.uk/

In the tent. 

Little Egyptians

Oh and I nearly forgot - I've been winning some prizes lately too!!

I sadly didn't get to go to the British Belles picnic in the park, but I did win this lovely combo in their raffle:

Prize courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/AudreyStarsBoutique and https://www.facebook.com/thebritishbelles. 

The Bag of the Month prize winners have been selected.
Sadly I didn't win any of the prizes over the 6 months - although my vinyl companion bag was a finalist for the January prize - see http://handmadebymrsh.blogspot.co.uk/…/2015-finalists-bag-o….

However, I did randomly win a prize for my small companion https://www.flickr.com/…/1630776…/in/pool-bagofthemonthclub/  which was a $50 gift certificate for fabric.com (guess what they sell?!!) - which is a huge yey (as long as the delivery, customs and handling fees aren't larger than that LOL)

Full winners list here: http://sewsweetness.com/…/bag-of-the-month-club-winners.html

Well done to all the winners. Go have a look in the album at everyones entries:

https://www.flickr.com/groups/bagofthemonthclub/

Finally, I  won a bundle of beautiful fabric from the Sewing Directory!!

Bagmaking: The Seneca Creek Mint Glitter Flamingo bag!

There's a lovely little independent shop in Huntingdon called the Parsley Pot, which sadly I don't think its going to be open much longer. The back of the shop is now empty and they are selling off display goods.

Amongst the shelving and jewellery bits was a large roll of mint green glittery fabric. I don't know exactly what it is - its not like vinyl as its textured, and thinner (more deco weight) but I think its made of glitter thread as its like its woven in. 

I didn't buy it the first time. I went home. And I mulled on it. And a couple of weeks later I went back in.

It was still there, and it was marked at twenty quid for 3 metres, so I bought it.  I have all sorts of plans for it!

This is the first incarnation. I've had my eye on this 100% cotton flamingo fabric for a while, and I thought it would go lovely with the mint, so I printed out the May Bag of the Month Pattern

This is a sweet little convertible bag which can be worn over the shoulder, or around the waist if preferred.

It has an inner zipped pocket and and outer pocket with a magnetic snap.

The buckle is just for show!

I really like this combination, and I really love that glitter and I already have its next incarnation planned!

Sadly my Pfaff has broken again though, so I'm using the backup machine. Its quite hard work when you're used to precision and quiet, but beggars can't be choosers :)