Back From Italy

Recharged After A Week In Italy...

Ready for some great blog posts this week from my trip including recipes, My Top 5 and some vintage Italian finds...


Here are some pictures whilst I sort out the cases...

Back soon with lots to write about, Happy Tuesday..

Love, SS x

 

Baby Liberty Print Dress

I have grown up with Liberty prints and now I'm stitching one for my little girl...

So when I saw this piece of fabric I had to buy it for a Summer dress for my Little L.

I love Liberty and used to spend hours wandering around the store on Regents Street (before baby came along). The haberdashery department is so inspirational and if you want to get something timeless and high quality go to this department. It had a refurb a few years ago and is fresher and easier to shop.

I wanted to know the name of the fabric and Liberty so kindly told me it is called 'Cheever' and was first printed in 1989. I have to admit I am a fabric geek and loved it had a '80's feel about it.

As it had the elastic in the top, designed to make a simple skirt by just seaming and hemming, I thought this was perfect for a Summer dress in a retro '80's style. Just like the ones I use to wear as a child!

Here is how I got on, in less than 2 hours of stitching and sewing...

1. Measuring Up
Measure around baby's chest and the length for the dress. Add on 2.5cm for each seam. Measure your fabric and cut.

You now have your dress cut out and ready to sew, unless your daughter wants to play Seamstress too!

2. Seaming Up
I used the seams under each arm and the elastic top was bulky and would of been uncomfortable on baby's spine as she lay. Seam down the side, open the seam and zig-zag. Then press open the seam and stitch in a square over the elastic to ensure the seam is flat and comfortable for baby to wear.

3. Stitch The Hem
I pinned the skirt up 1cm, machined around, lost the ends and then pinned up again another 1cm and hand slip stitched the hem.
Here is how I finish the ends off with a pull through method. Take the loose ends, thread on a sewing needle and pull through to end of the fabric. Trim off the excess. Hooray- a lost thread end for a professional finish!

5. Making The Straps
Mum taught me this method, to pull the strap through. Machine the fabric together, then on the top right side stitch a thread longer than the strap. Thread the needle through the strap to turn it the right side. Here is the fiddly part, using your needle, pull the strap through using the needle to pull. Over half way through you can pull on the thread and it will all come through! Magic. Tack and the press. Stitch your straps on by hand.

And here it is...

I really enjoyed making this dress and inspired to do more! I may need to give as gifts as they are so lovely to stitch and I have the bug!

Happy Sewing,

My Top 5

My Top 5 Week 1

#sbtbmytop5

I was inspired by MummaFox at www.poppyfoxathome.com to look at a 'My Top 5' for the week and see if I could set a goal of five things and stick to it for a week. Things for me.

Motherhood is beautiful, but also busy, tiring and time hungry at the same time. I wouldn't change it, just be a better juggler! Some days I think I have a few hours in the evening and Little L can't sleep or the washing needs to be done and there is my free time gone. I am not the only one, so the 'My Top 5' sounded a great project to get involved in.

So here is My Top 5 for the week....

1. Time in the garden
2. Next step to my online shop
3. Cook something I have never done before
4. Share my craftiness
5. And breathe!

So here is how I got on...

I worked out that for me to take time the garden even just to weed or tidy up, I needed to make sure Little L love it too. So we watered and grew some garden cress which by the end of the week seemed to be even more interesting!! Good start! 

Sometimes she wants to just throw gravel onto the seeds or play in the water but the whole experience is part of family life. Something we are adapting our lives to,so we don't stop doing things we love. Plus the garden is a little bit more presentable.

I am also in the process of making some beautiful vintage fabric accessories for my new online shop (more info www.samanthaschofield.co.uk). This week I set myself a target of making my vintage fabric purses for the shop.

Here is just a sneaky peek at my colour palette, my old fashioned sewing techniques (no glue here!) of making the purses.

I am really excited to be sharing these online very, very soon.

Watch this space.

 

I decided that to share my craftiness, and take a freshly baked cake to a party on Friday. I never take my cakes out as a rule, as I don't want to look a show off if you know what I mean? I don't want to say that I can be 'super woman' and even bake cakes, run a home, bring a little girl up, set up businesses, be a landlord... I am sure other busy Mum's get my drift. But after looking at the sad cakes in the shop, I went home and baked one in an hour and it went down very well. Sharing my craftiness. I even put it on my blog I was so proud! Well done Mummy.



I also wanted to cook something I had never done before, my husband is not vegetarian and even though he is very good and mostly eats veggie food I decided to roast some chicken for him instead of buying pre-packaged pieces that aren't great. This was a basil and breadcrumb coated chicken thighs recipe I made up. He enjoyed it too.

I also managed a family bread recipe also on the same night, using bananas and cherries whilst cooking the family dinner. I felt such an achievement! My list was nearly complete!

..and breathe!

With our lives with a Little L, I don't have time in the week (at the moment) for pilates or yoga classes, but it is on the list. So each night when she goes to sleep I take time out for myself. I visualise and breathe and then I am ready for a relaxing evening and am getting a great sleep as a result.

Try it yourself... Click here 

So that is week 1, the gardening, purse making and breathing really made a difference.

Go on try it yourself..Click on www.poppyfoxathome.com or follow on twitter #sbtbmytop5

Enjoy your Top 5

Sam x

#Mondaymoods May Day Blue

There is something so calming about blue and at the moment I have a sea of blue in the garden. The forget-me-nots, mascari and hyacinths are in full bloom adding a sense of tranquillity on a sunny and warm day May Day.