Make it: Mothers Day Workshop

Mother Day Workshop

So this Sunday (that's the 11th, so you don't forget!) we are going to be doing a drop-in workshop down at the Craft Coop's Mother's Day Pop-up shop in the Nicholson's Centre in Maidenhead.

For further information on the Craft coop, check out our who's who post from February or check out their website.

So, what are we going to do?

Well, we will be making Mother's Day Corsages with all manner of fabrics, ribbons, buttons, beads and imagination for you to use.  Along with helping you with your Creative Wrapping of your mother's day gifts, which I am sure you will be able to buy plenty of at the Pop-up shop.  We will be helping you learn how to make your presents extra special for that lovely woman in your life - your Mum!

H has done many a workshop and this will be Sammy's first, so be gentle, but I am sure it will be all fun had by all!

Children and adults are welcome to come and make corsages or wrap their presents and all we ask for in return is £1 for a corsage and £1.50 for gift wrapping.  Oh yes and we may take some photos for our lovely Blog, so get those big grins out!

So please do pop on by, we will be there from 11am thru to 5pm at the old Waterstones shop in the Nicholson's centre. That's this Sunday, 11th March.

Live it. Love it. Make it

H and Sammy

Live it: This week

Wow. so after a hectic weekend of cake, sweets and Alexander McQueen! (more of that later in the week) We were looking forward to a quiet week, however.... we have found ourselves volunteering for a little event, which we will announce on Wednesday, still a few little things to sort out first... watch this space.

Live it

Sammy xxx

Live it: Happy 30th Birthday Sammy

It's Sammy's birthday today and it's a biggy, the big 3-0!

Last night we had a slumber party at her house where we had lots of party treats and cake, which I am sure there will be a post about soon. I just don't do it justice enough with that sentence!

We met 14 years ago and pretty much been best friends ever since!

We first met at college where we studied 3D Design together. I had the fortune to sit next to 3 girls called Sam and I'm proud to say I have 2 of them still in my life!

We have been through some good, very good and some dark times together and without getting too mushy, if it wasn't for her I would't be who I am today!

So, I want you all to help me wish her a very happy 30th! And look out for the pictures! My sugar coma is starting to wear off now and so I think I need some more cake!

Live it!
H

Make it: H and The never-ending Dress

Image Courtesy of www.sewessential.co.uk

About a year ago I embarked on a Dressmaking course at an Adult Education College in Hammersmith.  I wanted to learn more about how to use a pattern to make something rather than just knock things up in my own unique way!

I started with an easy 1960's shift dress style from Simplicity, I learnt how to measure myself, find out the size on the pattern, usually go the size bigger by the way, just to give you a bit of room to manoeuvre, as if like me you are a different size on top than on the bottom part of your body!

Then came the cutting, sewing, shouting, unpicking, Zip inserting (a concealed zip by the way!), Darting, more shouting, unpicking and then the basic shape was formed!  It then took me another 8 months to get around to finishing off the hems and seems and finally yesterday it was complete!  Please do excuse the chopped off head photo, it really was not a good look!

So, yes I did make it easy on myself and do it in black, rather than a bright or patterned print.  I thought it easier for my first attempt!  I am not completely happy with it, but a few things I can improve on is better for the next time, right!  At least I can wear it out of the house now as it's made of suiting fabric and so not ideal for the summer months!

My next challenge is to make a dress that doesn't take me 8 months to complete!!!  hmmmm, this could be harder than I thought!

Make it
H

Love it: My V&A Obsession

So to make a change, H decided to take herself down to the V&A this week, I think it is becoming an obsession more than I thought actually!

I took myself for a serious walk around the Jewellery gallery, which unfortunately you cannot take photos of and so you will just have to take my word for it that it is AMAZING!  Some of the detail that has been used through the years is brilliant, I am particularly in love with the Berlin Iron Jewellery from the early 19th Century. But then there were all the very sparkly jewellery from Russia and a man called Leopold Pfisterer, so pretty.

So I went for a wander around the Silver collection, when I saw some people taking some fashion photographs in the gallery, always fun to watch!  I saw a lovely set of three Silver Lions which are copies of the 17th Century original ones which were made to guard the royal throne at Rosenborg Castle in Denmark.

Then through the Silver Objects galleries, where I found these Beauties:

A modern Silver cast vase.

An ornate Silver Cup

I then went to see the Golden Spider Silk Cape, which I have seen before, But its so amazing that these tiny spiders can make something so big and so beautiful.  I know there are many people out there who hate spiders, but there is something about how beautiful the spiders themselves are and what they can do to make you appreciate them that little bit more.

The Golden Spider Silk Cape

A close up of the cape

The Original Drawing for the Cape

So, that's it for another visit to the V&A, although I am sure I will be back soon and tell you all about it.  I am looking forward to the British Design Exhibition which opens at the end of this month, the Ballgowns Exhibition which opens in mid May, the Thomas Heatherwick Exhibition (it does help his name has my name in it!) which opens at the end of May and last but definitely not least, I am looking forward to the Hollywood Costume Exhibition which opens in October!  Phew, lots of do!

Love it
H

Love it: Marie Claire S/S 12 Runway Edit

This week my lunch hour has been filled with McQueen, Jacobs, Vuitton and Chanel! I love a good magazine fashion edit, mostly the pretty pictures, but also getting to know key trends. I am not a 'trendy' dresser I wear what I like, but I always enjoy looking at fabrics and colours and cuts.
I highly recommend picking up a copy of this one, I love the layouts.

It is great to get ideas for designs, customising clothes in your wardrobe and even for colours combinations to use for all sorts of craft projects. 

Love it

Sammy xxx