One project (very nearly) ticked off my to do list

I made a start on cutting this out yesterday, and have spent today sewing like a demon trying to get it finished.

Sorry the photos are so dark, but there's a full on rain storm going on outside today. 

I'm just waiting for the postie to deliver me the Swarovski crystals that I've ordered, which I'll then attach to the bodice and sheer capelet, then it'll be all finished.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

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Middleton Lakes

Last week totally ran away with me.  Though I did manage to slow down long enough on Wednesday to celebrate my birthday.

We also visited a beautiful RSPB nature reserve at Middleton Lakes.

We did see lots of birds, including a couple of Woodpeckers, but sadly I don't have a strong enough lens on my camera to capture them.  There were also some sort of reed warblers too, but again they were too far away to get a decent photo.  Perhaps I'll put one on my Christmas list.

Opposite the RSPB site is Middleton Hall.  We didn't visit the Hall itself, but ventured in to the courtyard to sample the coffee and cakes at the little cafe there - it would have been rude not to.

Sorry that I don't have that much to share with you at the moment.

I'd better get back to the various projects that I've got on the agenda for this week:

I have net curtains to make for 4 large windows at Violet's school.

Give Violet's new bedroom another coat of paint - she's opted for a beautiful pale blue called Lupin.  

There's a new carpet and shutters to order.

Two Teacher gifts to make ready for the end of the school year, which will be here before I know it.

Phew!!!  

Don't tell the other half, but I actually forgot that it's our First Wedding Anniversary today.  I'd better pop in to town to pick up a card. Though I suppose I could make him one seeing as the first anniversary is Paper!!!

Wishing you all a lovely sunny week, and I hope to be back with you soon.

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Frozen Costume - Elsa's Coronation Dress & Cape

It wasn't my intention to be away from my blog this week, but other things seem to have taken priority.

I did manage to finish making the Elsa Coronation dress & cape for Violet, and boy was it challenging.

  

There is supposed to be a pretty motif all around the bottom of skirt too, but I nearly lost the will to live trying to bond the motif on the chest, so I thought I'd leave it plain until such time as I can get my head in to gear again.

I've made the costume slightly on the larger side as I know this dress will be worn a lot.  Plus, Violet seems to be growing at an incredible rate at the moment, and I don't want her to grow out of it too soon.

I bought a pretty cape clasps (supposedly in the Norwegian style) for the Coronation Cape.

It's not true to the movie, because Elsa wears an Aqua coloured gem/button on the front of her cape.  However, I tried closing the cape using a hook & eye and sewing on a beautiful Aqua button, but the hook and eye just weren't up to the job.  So I removed those and ordered a proper cape clasps instead.  

Not authentic, but looks just fine in my opinion.

So, what do you think?  I'm quite pleased with it, even though at times it was a real pig to sew.

I suppose the only person I needed to please was Violet, and seeing as she only takes it off for school, baths and meals, I think we can assume that it's a big hit with her.

Details:

Pattern: McCall's Costumes (M7000), which I ordered especially from America.  

Fabric (for the dress): Liquid Satin in Teal, jersey in Black.

Fabric (for the cape): Thick Fleece in Dark Pink, lining in Purple.

Notions: Gold braid, Norwegian style cloak clasp, Zip.

To stick the motif on to the dress I used Bondaweb.

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Light nights

I love light nights.  

It means I can bring out my embroidery hoops and thread.

I wonder what it could be????

What have I let myself in for?

A recent delivery all the way from America.

What have I let myself in for?

Garden Inspiration

On Sunday we visited the gardens at Packwood House.  

They're beautiful at this time of year.

I absolutely love this border.  All those purples, blues and silvers.  It's given me lots of inspiration for my own little plot at home.

Who's that, photo-bombing my shot???/

A favourite part of the garden for Violet to run round and play hide & seek.

I definitely need one of these in my garden.  

You walk up the steps at the side to a pretty little square room at the top, which has a comfy seat for one and old black & white photos of the house and garden on the walls.  

Very pretty - every garden should have one.

What a great Bug Hotel.

The above 3 photos are of an art installation called Hive by the artist Hilary Jack.

They were placed in various nooks and crannies around the Yew Tree Garden.

They're constructed from the remnants of discarded reproduction furniture and found wood collected from around the Packwood estate, and pay homage to the industrious work of the community of gardeners, and pollinating insects who support them in their gardening duties.

It is expected that over time, these little Follies will provide homes and shelter for bees, insects and other small creatures.

Hope you enjoyed that little visit.

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Zaza Zoo Dress

A very good morning to you all.

Today, I'm going to show you yet another dress I've made for Violet - are you bored with them yet?  I hope not, because I've got more planned.

If you remember, I was going to make another Caroline dress (Simplicity #1452) using some bright pink flower fabric.

Though whilst Violet and I were browsing the haberdashery department in John Lewis the other week, she spotted this bright yellow, bird fabric and asked if I'd make her a dress in it.  

I teamed it up with some yellow and white polka dot fabric and it came together beautifully.

She hasn't taken it off since I finished it.

I made a few modifications:

Firstly, the dress length was a little on the short side, so I added a couple of extra inches. 

Secondly, I hate messing on with sewing ties inside out, and then having the nightmare of trying to turn something so narrow.  So I made the ties for this dress using the same method I would use to make bias binding (fold and press the fabric down it's length, open out, then fold a press the edges in to the middle crease).  I then sewed all around the edges of the ties.  Folding one end over twice, and sewing in place to stop any fraying.

Thirdly, I like a concealed zip.  So I sewed all the back panels (skirt and top pieces) together first, positioned the zip down the centre seam and then sewed in place.  I then used my seam ripper to open up the centre back seam to reveal the zip.  For me, this method also means that my back panels align properly. 

I love this dress and will definitely use this pattern again.  Next time I might buy extra contrasting fabric and position it along the bottom of the skirt.

Pattern: Simplicity #1703 (size 5)

Main Fabric: Zaza Zoo Grass in Yellow - £16 per metre.  I used 1.10 metres.

Contrasting Fabric: Scandi Blue Spot in Citrine - £16 per metre.  I used 40cm.

12" yellow zipper.

Lightweight fusible interfacing.

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The Flying Critter Hunt

As promised at the end of yesterday's post, here are a few photos I managed to snap of some beautiful bugs, butterflies and moths.

 We identified this as a Speckled Wood.

We believe this to be a Silver Ground Carpet Moth, but we aren't 100% sure.

 This is an Orange Tip.
 (Sorry the photo isn't the best, but it wouldn't stay still long enough to get a decent shot).

 Small White/Cabbage White.


 We think this is a Burnet Companion Moth, but again we're not 100% sure.

This may well be a Red Lily Leaf Beetle.

 A Common Blue Damselfly.

I haven't the foggiest.  Any ideas???

You can see why people become Lepidopterists.

We used the Butterfly Conservation app, together with a little handbook I'd bought for Violet, to help us identify the Butterflies and Moths.

Did you know that you can also download an app to ID Ladybirds (Android, IPhone).

There's also a Forestry Commission app (Android, IPhone).
Birds of Britain & Ireland (Android, IPhone).
UK Dragonflies (Android, IPhone).
Bug count guide (Android, IPhone).
British wild flowers (Android, IPhone)

We all spent an enjoyable couple of hours chasing around the wild flower meadow trying to spot, sneak up to, and then photograph all these wonderful little creatures.  Violet was so thrilled, that when we came home she asked if she could make a poster about Butterflies to send off to Blue Peter (she's after the Eco Green Badge don't you know).

There goes some of my beautiful gardening magazines, but you can't douse the flames of creativity when they ignite can you?

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