Vintage Baby Dress - Weldon's 8624 #vintagepledge

 

  

Hello,

Today I'm sharing this beautiful vintage toddler dress I made for my little girl as part of the 2016 #vintagepledge challenge. It's shown middle top on the pattern.

 

 I found this pattern in a charity shop basket whilst I was on holiday in Devon back in 2012 when my Little L was just 8 months old!  Initially I bought it for the christening gown pattern but put it away until she was a little bit bigger.

I loved that it was a sleeping bag, dress and top pattern all in one. The dress has an inverted pleat under the arm to give fullness on a princess line and a really vintage feel. I was in love, I didn't care that the pattern may not be complete, I paid my 50p and left!

I made this dress up for my little L in soft 100% cotton fabric with a ric-rak trim and added bows on the shoulders. I made it over two evenings and the pattern all fitted together really well.

 

The petticoat dress was perfect for crawling looked great when Little L was wearing it with leggings. The puffed sleeve and inverted pleat made it look 'quirky vintage' which is look I love and makes it wearable today with little girls cardigans, leggings and t-bar vintage inspired shoes. I still love this pattern, I wished them made in my size!

 

 

The cute inverted underarm pleat to give more shape to the skirt shape of the dress. I've never stitched this type of pleat on a dress before and it was a lovely little finish.

 

 

The pattern as many vintage patterns was a little bit of a 'fill the missing instructions in' and when you are used to commercial modern patterns, it's like re-reading the rules when you pull an old pattern out of the sleeve. The challenge is always a good one and it was great to complete in such a short period of time!

Ric rac in soft lime one the pink floral fabric

 

The seams were pinked to about 1cm from the seam and then zigaged with a small stitch to make them soft on her skin. Maybe over engineered for such a small project.

 

This was a lovely make and I am looking forward to making it again for other little girl toddlers in the family!

 

This is my first #vintagepledge write up for 2016. I am looking forward to sharing more little makes through the year on the hashtag.

 

Happy Sewing,

 

Samantha xoxo

 

My First Children's Party

On Saturday we held our first party for Little L, it was a crafty party with lots of hat making and bake icing and of course a tea with lots of cake!

We held it in the local village hall which is set in the local castle grounds, so the setting was perfect for a children's party, away from traffic on the edge of the park woodland. 

We played pass the parcel in our party hats and sang nursery rhymes before tea. At this point birthday girl got too excited, we hady a few tears so Grandma had to step in!

I'll post more pictures and projects this week.

For now here is the birthday girl decorating her cupcakes.

Bye for now,

P.S.For all my latest new 'like' me on Facebook www.facebook.com/samschof

Born In Derby Hearts

I have had a busy week, last week I was over at the Royal Derby Hospital merchandising all the beautiful pieces for sale in the Banks Mill Shop.

I have to say the standard is really high and the work is varied to give so much choice.

I have for sale some of my new baby keepsakes, 'Born In Derby', bespoke canvases and cards. A percentage of the sales goes back to the hospital to support the great job it does.

So, if you have an appointment at clinic coming up, drop by and say 'hello', we are next to Costa in the Kings Treatment Centre.

See you later in the week,

Book Review - The Art of the Special Occasion

For any event from a Garden Party to a Wedding ...

This book has the answers...

I first saw  this book in magazines around the time I was planning our Wedding (2009/10.

I had seen Lucia Van Der Post's previous book 'Things I Wished My Mother Had Told Me', when I was a graduate living in London years before our wedding was on the cards. The subtitle attracted me 'Lessons in Grace and Elegance'. 

I love old fashioned polite manners and when the 'Celebrate' book came out I had to buy it for our Wedding planning. And now I use this book all of the time.

Why do I like it so much? It's a really easy book to read, pick up when you are super busy and take snippets out of. The etiquette parts are great too, so you know for a special event that you don't screw up.

I used it to save a small fortune on our Wedding, taking ideas out of the book to make our day unique and special. I have gone on to use it for Christenings, Christmas, Picnics and Garden Parties.

This weekend we are having family over and again the book is out for ideas. Here are a few pictures of the best bits...

The reference pages make it easy to look up exactly what you want to read and quickly.

If you are flicking through, the sections are really clear to find.

The key points of the chapter are bullet points in this gorgeous border with references to the page for more details.

The books goes into lovely detail like for picnics, the type of rugs to take. Details are so important at events and Lucia make the planning all that special.

If you have an event coming up I really recommend this book as it makes the planning simple, fun and oh so elegant! Tried and tested.

This is an independent book review, I have not been paid to write this.

Happy Planning,

When The Vegetarian Married The Meat-Eater, Had A Baby...

..And lived happily ever after...

If you are here for a crafty post, you might want to skip this one...

I have never written about being a Vegetarian on my blog, it is just lifestyle  thing for me, but after commenting on this post by Suzannah http://www.adventuresindressmaking.com , I thought I should let you into our secret.

A few people have said to me, how can a Veggie and a Meat-Eater live together? Well, I will tell you how we do just that.

A lot of things in a married life are about compromise and Mr S said he fell in love with me after having my Princess Pie (a veggie Shepherds Pie). Flattery indeed!


Our new family, on Little L's Christening Day
July 2012

I have been vegetarian for 29 years (since I was 8), doing the maths, that is a long time. As a child I lived in the countryside and didn't want to eat the lambs in the field opposite our house. They would wake me up at 5am one day and the next day they were gone to market. I was upset and that was the big thing that turned me off eating meat, the bond with the animal. In the 1980's it was a big deal but now it is more accepted and I don't get the questions I used to get growing up.

Good time, family get-togethers

July 2013

We were having dinner last night and I was telling Mr.S how Suzannah had turned after 13 years and was reviewing books on bacon joints! This is some turn. For me, I would never go back, but some of my boundaries as a vegetarian have changed since I started living with Mr.S.

All these dishes started out as Veggie options and then I added the meat to them.

Pasta's, tagines, salads, chilli's...

I now cook meat for him, put cold meat in his pack up lunch and include his eating habits into our food shop. I do most of the cooking and shopping as he works long hours. We have a lot of meals that are 50% cooked as a veggie and then 50% for meat or more veggie (adding beans etc).

We have casseroles, he has steaks (I used to work in a pub so I am used to it!), we cook both types of sausages in a Toad in the hole, 50%/50%. Veggie and Non in two separate dishes in the oven. We just don't notice it anymore. It is a way of life. 

I don't eat fish, but he does and I cook this for him as I find it easier than meat. I won't cut up meat, but he cuts it up and I cook it.

As he watches his weight for his sport, he is not a big fatty meat kind of man. But I couldn't let him go veggie for me.


When we had Baby L, this was a hard one. We agreed to meet each other half way and she has fish when she is older she can choose. At the moment this works well for us all.

 

Little L and Me!

 

I find that a Vegetarian lifestyle gives me a healthy lifestyle, a low cholesterol level and loads of energy! I had a great pregnancy and a even better drug free birth. I put this down to being a healthy person.

 

Everyone finds there own way of being healthy, this is mine.

If you are interested in more information on being Vegetarian contact the The Vegetarian Society

We are off to have a Spag Bol 50/50 for dinner!

 

Baby Boy Cards 1 Year On...

Choo, Choo...


Train Birthday Card

 

 

I can't believe it's a year since I blogged about a new baby in our family and created this keepsake. Now he is one and time has just flown.

 

Baby keepsake

 

 

This little train card was an handmade, project, well how could I of not made a special effort for a first Birthday?

 

Some tricks I picked up to save time...

 

Dye cut cards are easy to come across on the internet or in craft shops. Save lots of time cutting out one.

 

Since I discovered washi tape I have not looked back! The little train motif is stuck on with double sided foam tape to raise it from the card.

 

I covered the plain card in textured craft paper and cut out the details with a spark knife. Any uneven edges where disguised using a stamp pad which was brushed against the edges in a contrast colour.

 

Letraset is fab for simple words on cards and it's super quick. You can place it and just rub it off.It may take a few goes to get the technique right but then you can customise cards and tag in seconds!

 

To add some posh details, I used a foamed backed paper then in a stamp cutter and cut out a few squares to frame the card.

 

Choo, choo to a cutie who is one!

 

 

 

More baby boy ideas you might like, keepsake cards , baby bib and baby cot bumpers .

 

Happy Crafting,

 

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Baby Safe Coasters Project Thursday

Now Little L can grab, I have made these oh so simple coasters...

Glass coasters are lovely, but with a little one I find that your drink either sticks to the coaster or they can reach them. They are now unsafe objects in our house. I have a solution! 

I am sure I am not the only Mummy in this position. These coasters are made from oil cloth and table protector. I am using oil cloth from Cath Kidston purely as its a great design and great quality.

So this Thursday I am making this very simple baby safe coaster tutorial.

You will need -

• Table protector (half a metre is more than enough. You can buy this from anywhere that sells oil cloth)
• Oilcloth (again half a metre is enough)
• Sewing Thread
• Use of a sewing machine

1. Cut out a 3in square of table protector. 
   Cut out the oil cloth on the grain slightly bigger than the    protector.

2. Then cut a small test piece of protector and oil cloth to test your zig zag stitch is right. I use a 100 needle as he's a tough one! The test piece is great as a sewing machine foot support!

   Place the table protector pattern face down and put the oil cloth on top pattern up.

   It is now sandwiches together and your ready to stitch. 

3. Zig zag around the coaster being careful not to touch the sides. Make sure you keep the pieces taught to they don't bulge up in the middle, making your coaster wonky. If you pin it you will get pin marks in the oil cloth.

4. Cut off the thread ends and there you have it...

Coasters you can use around your little one.

Happy Thursday!

N.B. These are not toys, always watch your child around hot drinks

Baby Girl Card

Baby pink bow card with lace effect ribbon

 

I have had this bow stamper in my craft box for a few months, I bought it to stencil onto fabric and yes, that tutorial is coming. But it looked so cute, that I had to use it on a baby girl card.

 

I started with a linen textured card, some lace effect ribbon and two satin pink envelopes. One was for the finished card and the other was for stamping! I stamped and used a silicone glue to attach the ribbons and bow so they were firmly stuck. The lettering in silver was from some stick on letters I had by me.

 

What I love about the card is that it isn't flat and the bows are floating on the ribbon.

 

 

 

Happy  Crafting, SS x

 

 

 



Welcome to our little Prince!

We are so happy for the safe arrival of our future King!

SS x

My Guest Post For Little Star Cottons

Handmade Baby Quilts

When Emma at Little Star Cottons asked me to guest blog I was delighted!

Read my post on how to hand make a baby quilt from retro Laura Ashley fabrics. http://littlestarcottons.blogspot.co.uk/

 



Love to know more hints and tips as I learnt from my Grandmother and most quilting books these days are for machine only.

SS x
 

A Week Off

I haven't blogged for over a week, due illness, DIY, starting my crafty business (*coming soon*) and just any spare time spending it with the family. It seems that we don't get that much time together, so on sunny days it is great to get outdoors and enjoy those precious moments. But since midweek, the bug got the better of me and by Friday I was no use to anyone.

Thankfully, I am on the mend and wanted to share with you our favourite family craft from the last seven days...

Cooking...
It is enough cooking with a little one, so I am including her in what we do. We fold clothes, peg out washing and now cook. Sometimes it is hard and messy but always fun and she loves it (she doesn't cry, so I take it she loves it!)

 

We make shortbread which is great fun, quick and easy. Mixing the ingredients together, watching me and then playing with the dough! I gave Little L some food colouring to try and make some patterns with and some currents to add, cover, coat - whatever!

The mixing and colour changes really kept her concentration. The rolling pin was substituted for a tin foil inner but she copied me and we made biscuits.

I hope this is just the start of our cookery adventure together and we can eat home cooked food too.

I really want to show her where our food comes from, how we grow it, mix it, bake it and then eat.


I have just been in the garden and the raspberries are ready to be picked so any recipes for these would be greatly received..

SS x

 

Fathers Day Cards 2012

Making & Crafting For Grampy...

I love this card that I made with Little L for Grandad aka Grampy. It is really rewarding to take time out to create something so unique and sentimental. We stuck on stickers, she scribbled on most of he card and we posted it off to Grampy for his Fathers Day.

We got the call to say thank-you, very touched so I thought I would share our artwork with you. Sometimes something small can mean so much.

Well done Little L,

xx
 

My Top 5 Week 3 #sbtbmytop5

My Top 5  Week 3

#sbtbmytop5

What a lovely week away, I think the whole week was time for me so for this week I decided not to make time for five things in my life just the one.

I spent the week doing things I just love; spending time with my family, eating and cooking gorgeous food and being in a beautiful country seeing new places.

My main one aim from our week away was to catch up on some crafty reading! Hidden with the maps and toys I packed my latest edition of Mollie Makes on purse making which I am still perfecting for my on line store.

So for this week sit back and let me share a few of the lovely moments from a week in Italy...

Beautiful Buildings - where else would you get scenes like this?

Italian Food - lots of pasta in every shape and size!

And some shopping too...

The idea for the 'My Top 5' project came from Leigh at www.sixbythebay.blogspot.com and I have been following Poppy Fox who is blogging about her experiences at www.poppyfoxathome.com  

Take some time for yourself and share #sbtbmytop5

Love,

SS xx

Liberty Print #Homemade Baby Dress

Picture Wednesday

Liberty Print #Homemade Baby Dress

 

My Top 5 Week 2 #sbtbmytop5

My Top 5  Week 2 #sbtbmytop5


I wrote before holiday about My Top 5. It is a project where I set time aside for me and have 5 achievable things on my list per week. As a new Mummy time is not always on my side and as my role has changed so much since having baby I decide to join in!

The idea came from Leigh at www.sixbythebay.blogspot.com and I have been following Poppy Fox who is blogging about her experiences at www.poppyfoxathome.com  

So here is week 2,on my list was -

• Detox my garden
• Get arty!
• Make a baby holiday dress
• Pamper time for me
• Pack for a family holiday

Sorting Out The Garden...with some help.

After a busy and very cold Spring we had a bit of a detox of the garden. I washed out the old plant pots and split plants and potting them on. There is a plant sale at the local gardening club in a few weeks so they are going to a good cause. Little L did her bit to help me out.

Card Crafting

I really love upcycling textiles and taking an old fashioned fabric and giving it a new twist. I needed a card for a wedding anniversary and so I gave myself an hour and make this heart card from antique fabrics and old books. Really proud of my efforts especially as we were packing for holiday as well. A job well done I have to admit (I am not a big one for self praise!)

Baby Summer Dress

I came across this vintage beautiful Liberty print fabric a few weeks ago and after contacting Liberty to find out it's name and date of print I set it aside for Little L's holiday dress. Time ran away with me and this week I put on my list to make it.

Check out the post on my blog. I even got a reply from Liberty this week about the project.

and here was the final dress before holiday.

Pamper Time

Going away is a great excuse to have some prep time for yourself and for me this wasn't happening until the end of the week. I needed to pamper myself; put on a face mask, deep condition my frizzy hair and treat my poor old feet after a Winter in socks. After only an hour of pampering whilst also baking a cake and packing (so not that restful!) I looked so much better. Polished toes, shiny locks and sparkling skin. It made me feel so much better and ready for a holiday. Try it for yourself.

Stressless Packing

I decided that the best way to pack was to give myself enough time and even when my little gem wears all her swim nappies at the same time. Breathe and start again!



If you are inspired come and join in #sbtbmytop5 and make time for yourself.

Love, SS x

p.s. I'll be on Instagram for week 4. Week 3 (holiday week to yesterday) coming tomorrow. I need some sleep after Little L's time clock is all out!