Birmingham Fabric Haul

Hi all,

Just wanted to show you all the beautiful preciousssssesss that I got in Birmingham last weekend between the shops and the swap!

First of all, we had Barry's Fabrics. It was like walking into a heavenly planet! There were so many rolls of fabric, I spent the first 15 mins just walking up and down the aisles. Up and down. Up and down.

(trying not to trip up any of the other 30 sewists along the way!)

Eventually I found a cream cotton with roses that caught my eye, but it was £10/m and I didn't love it enough to justify the cash.

But then I stumbled across this beautiful heavy cotton stretch sateen (I think!) in a lovely cream and mauve floral swirl. I decided to get 3 metres. At £4.95/m it was definitely worth it!

Then I decided to pick up these beautiful checks. They looked so vintage, I couldn't help but picture the garments that they could create!

Then, as I was getting everything cut, I mentioned I had been looking for some Broiderie Anglaise (after some inspiration on the train from Elisalex), and I was taken a beautiful array! I had been looking for a simple white eyelet one, but I came across these beautiful embroidered ones. And in a Lemon and Pale Mint. They will be wonderful sundresses.

I love love love them! And thankfully you wonderful people let me cut back into the queue to finish off! My dodgy shoulders could hardly take any more carrying bolts of fabric! 

I was pleasantly surprised when 10% was taken off the bill, the girls had negotiated a super deal.

And that was my race winnings gone in one fell swoop... 3/m of the sateen and 2/m of the other four came to £49.00 after discount. And all wide rolls. Amazing.

At Cafe Soya, we had a wonderful lunch, and an even better swap.. Tables piled high with fabric and patterns.

Claire was the chairperson of the swap!

I brought a few bits of fabric that I had no use for, and a couple of patterns. One girls trash is another's treasure! I only took a couple of pieces of fabric to begin with, but after a while it became clear that some other cute bits weren't moving so I took a couple more. I have more than enough patterns!

This is what I picked up. I sometimes can't believe that people could let them go!

 I really love the green patterned piece in the back, very vintage. I know the green polka dot was from Amy. Thanks Amy! She had a cute little label on with the length noted. Something to remember to do next time! 

The blue fabric is nice and heavy and I think I'm going to make a diyCouture cape from it. I also really like the ivory lace. The pink is lovely but when I was putting it away I noticed it has dark tracing markings all over the back. Hopefully they come out in the wash??

I was actually just about to sign off the blog post here - but I've just remembered that I've forgotten the best bits!!

In the rag market, I basically came across this stall as soon as I walked in. He had the most amazing heavy cottons, and I had an internal mental war over spending! I had to walk away, but I couldn't stay away.

 Let's just say that they are on my credit card.

 At £10/m, it was the most I've ever spent per/m on fabric, but there's no way I could leave them behind.

Maps! In olden language, and in a beautiful muted tone. I got the last of the roll. Ooooohhh yeah.

And these beautiful China patterns. They are the most beautiful shades. I was trying to choose between for so long but I just had to get them both. There was a grey version too. I did try to haggle him down a little as I was buying 6 metres of fabric, but he wouldn't budge. In a nice way though!

I stupidly had gotten him to measure the map piece out for me, as he had thought there was only 1.5m left on the roll, but there was just over 2m. Silly me. 

But I really don't care. They are exactly what I have been looking for.

I am gutted I didn't get to Fancy Silks. But to be honest I couldn't even carry any more. 

You should've seen me running through the tube and train station to try and make an earlier connecting train in London. I must have looked like a mad woman.

Just so you know, I made the train! 

And of course, came upon a friend of Mr.G's, all sweaty, breathless and unable to speak or breathe. 

Attractive.

Squeeeee pretty fabric.

Love you Long time x

International Craft Swap Goodies!!

Hi All :)

I just wanted to do a little spin-off of my sewing meetup post! A few months ago, I joined in House of Pinheiro's International Craft Swap.

I was matched with Lizzy of Sew Busy Lizzy, and was delighted and devastated at the same time! She is such a good sewer (ist?), and I felt like I wasn't up to scratch, but I decided that I would use this opportunity to increase my sewing skills. I didn't want to let myself down!

At this point I had only made a skirt and dress in my Thrifty Stitcher classes, and another skirt at home.  I felt a little behind in my sewing learning, as I had waited until I had amassed all the bits and pieces I needed to really do it properly before I really got into it. That, and I felt like I wanted to increase my background knowledge on all things sewing before I started. I guess I thought it would help prevent me from messing up so much, but I know that the best way to learn is by making the mistakes!

So I racked my brains as to what to make, I wanted it to be something she would like and would use. Something that didn't look too easy, but that I could make with good clean stitching.

Lizzy said she liked to bake, so I decided on one of the Vintage Vogue apron patterns that I got in my haul. It looked good, had impact, and  it looked simple enough for me to aim for.

I did the yellow one!

I worked on the apron for a few weeks as I didn't want to rush it and make a mess. I wanted to give it a nautical feel, as that was the 'Theme' of the craft swap, so I embroidered an anchor on the pocket. I considered doing both pockets, but I didn't want to run out of time at the end, so I decided that just the one would have enough impact. I had done some embroidery when I was younger, and delighted in buying a range of colours and some embroidery hoops.

I tried to use up my stash, as advised by Rachel, and luckily had some lovely navy fabric left over from the shift dress I had made before. I lined the pockets in a blue satin, and the inside of the apron ties. I thought it looked lovely, and also, I had run out of navy!

I made the shortest length and the smallest size, as I knew Lizzy had a very petite frame and I didn't want the apron to swamp her. I followed the pattern instructions exactly, and although there were some tricky bits to master, I was really happy with the outcome! I learned gathering, attaching interfacing and a facing and patch pockets. I'm sure there was more than that but that's just off the top of my head!

As my mini gift, I got her a Royal Blue nail polish to go with the apron. In case she wanted to paint her nails before she started baking. As you do...

This is the finished product!

I think she liked it!

And from Lizzy I got the most amazing knitted hat. It is seriously a work of art. Its sea green, with an exquisite cream shell/fan that comes around at the edge. Its very Art Deco, I saw it and thought '1920's', and  as someone who doesn't wear many hats (no exact reason - I just don't have many!), I am delighted to say that it fits perfectly and looks adorable!

The Fan is cream in natural light but my sitting room light has blown so am multi-lamping it! Will have to get an outdoor picture when the weather turns again!

I also got these amazing vintage buttons from the 1930's/40's that she picked up for me in Paris. Aren't they amazing? I've travelled so much of France with my family, (about 10/11 summers), but have yet to go to Paris. Bit ridiculous, no?

And they still fit in with the Nautical theme!

All in all a roaring success, I will be partaking again next year! I also look forward to seeing a picture of Lizzy in her apron with a bowl and whisk :)

Love Emmie xx

The Fabulous 40+ Sewists

Hi All,

Feel the need to gush about last Saturday. For those of you not in the know, Saturday the 20th of April was The London Sewing Meetup, one of the best days I've ever had. 

This was my very first meetup. I woke up that morning with that sort of nervous nauseous feeling, when you're doing something out of your comfort zone. But I also knew that it was going to be the best day since... well ever. 

The meetup was organised by the beautiful and fantastic Rachel from House of Pinheiro. Who I now find out lives a stones throw away from me! I think I always assume everyone is in London, cause that's where all the cool kids are. That's clearly not true at all!

Her powers of organisation were amazing, and she herded us around London with ease! 

We started off in the V&A, where we all met and had a coffee and introduced ourselves. I met the lovely Katrina from MuffintopVintage in the Tube station, and we strolled down together (and found out that the difference between level 0 and level 1 in the V&A is a mere few steps!). As a sewing beginner, I was shocked and amazed when I saw people arriving with cute little shopping pull-along trolleys and suitcases. I clearly needed to up my game!

Once we had gathered, we headed into the coffee shop, where I ended (by awesome chance) to end up sitting between the amazing Charlotte and Elizalex of By Hand London. That was a wonderful luck of the draw. After seeing Charlotte's beautiful Elizalex skirt (and of course the other lovely Elizalex dresses wandering about) I now have to have the pattern immediately!

       Look, pure joy on my face!

Then we had our photoshoot with Digpal Singh, where we were all shoot in small groups and in our massive group photo!

Look at us! Everyone looked awesome. I was taking sneaky (jealous) glances at what everyone else had made and couldn't stop myself going up to people being all like "I love your dress!". And I think everyone else was doing the same!

The beautiful Elizalex and Charlotte!

It was at this point I got to meet the lady of the hour - Lizzy from SewBusyLizzy, where we finally gave each other our craft swap goodies! But more on that in another post (this one is already too long!)

We then took a sunny journey to Goldhawk Road, and I'm sure we were getting strange looks off the other passengers for being so cheery and chatty. This was when I got talking to the lovely Katy from Sleek Silhouette. We then arrived and sharpishly started our search for the perfect fabrics. 

My usual haunt is A-One Fabrics, near to Goldhawk road station. I was perusing for a while, and then picked a few bits out that I especially loved. I even bought a matching zip for a possible Elizalex dress, and it was handy to have Elizalex there to ask what length to buy!

I was shopping alongside Katy quite a bit of the time, and Tara from The Amazing Taracat, where we convinced Katy that she needed chiffon in her life, and myself and Tara got some turquoise and black fabric at a steal in an offcuts bin. And yes Tara, everyone needs sparkly denim too.

At this point I asked the time, and was shocked when I realised how little time was left before lunch! I speed shopped the last bit and rushed back to A-One to impulse buy the last few bits I had had my eye on. But I did leave one behind (till next time!).

Then it was onto the Lunch. We had it in a Lebanese restaurant, Cedar Village, chosen by Janene of OooBop!

And man it was good.

For a minute we thought we wouldn't fit everyone in, but as if by magic more tables and chair materialised and all was well again. 

And then the plates started coming.

And coming.

And coming.

And then, when we were all stuffed, the manager asks "So do you girls want to wait a bit, or do you want the main course now?"

Main course?????

We were all very shocked by this, but we all managed to shove down some beautifully cooked meat and rice. That was my only meal of the day for sure after that announcement. 

We were an impressive group! Photo borrowed from Rachel at HouseofPinheiro.

After lunch was the craft swap. The likes of one had never been seen. 

I have some dodgy photo's of what lay before us (it was extremely dark down there so you'll have to excuse them)

Mountains of patterns, fabric, thread, ribbons and other various notions! And on top of this, we had goodie bags! They were supplied by Minerva Crafts and Abakhan Fabric. And they were so generous. I got some lovely fabric in mine, and am dreaming of what I could make it into. 

 I got a couple of things from the swap, a piece of fabric and a few scraps that were left behind! I felt so bad that they didn't have a home!

Then we said goodbye to a few people, including Rachel and Lizzy :( But happy goodbyes as you can see.

Then the rest of us hot-footed it to the pub! Wine and cider all round! After a few drinks we all went our separate ways, most home, and some I persuaded to join me in Camden to continue the festivities!

And here are the happy Tube pics! 

And look we have my happy new friends Sally from Charity Shop Chic and Clare from Sew Dixie Lou


And here we all are in The Boom Boom Room in Camden! Also in the pics are the flawless Nicole from Nicole Needles, and my friend Dee from Twitter.

I had to run for the last train, and was nodding off the whole way home!

I can't wait to see everyone again. Am not sure if I can make the Brighton meetup yet (other plans TBC), but am looking at train tickets for the Birmingham one in June! And of course London in August!

Am definitely gonna have to step my game up and step into the unknown world of the solo sewn dress.

Ahhhh!





I know this was a mammoth post, but I will just leave you with a few photo's of some of the fabric that broke my arms and back! But it was worth it!