Adventures in the sewing room.

William Morris never fails to inspire and the same goes for his talented and courageous daughter May. I was lucky enough to visit The Morris Museum last year to see the exhibition of May's beautiful textile work and jewelry design.What beautiful,painstaking and innovative work! It always gives me a kick start when I see an exhibition of textile arts. When I was given this piece of

 fabulous, vibrant fabric by my sister in law Deborah it caught my imagination. She had picked it up at a sale and was drawn to it but did not know what to do with it. The colours are vivid and it depicts the bohemian life of Montmartre when Lautrec,Renoir,Aristide Bruant ect. were frequenting The Moulin Rouge and La Lapin Agile. It is taken from Lautrec posters I think.

I decided to make Deborah a wall hanging and was rather pleased with the result. I tried a bit of hand quilting to add emphasis . She seemed very happy with it. and I think she had forgotten that she gave it to me when it turned up in her Christmas presents she was pleasntly surprized.

La Vie Boheme oo la la!!!!!!!!

Season of Mists

Season of Mists!

Time to freshen up the wardrobe for Autumn,I love the colour and the feeling of peace that comes after the mad August  blousyness.

Autumn comes in through the door and we get our woolies out again.Do we need new socks and tights ?

Lets have a look at some ideas for seasonal outfits that will make the already glorious time of year even more so.

Just the hat for strolls in the woodland under the falling leaves with a gorgeous companion.

To keep the chillier breezes off your neck?

This skirt would be ideal and if you are any good with sewing machine quite easy to copy.I have been busy for a bit and have made two warm skirts

This is a really easy idea for making in fact I made one just like it last year and the underskirt makes it special.

I lke the idea of this eye catching Autumnal flower .

Cosy and lovely subtle colours.

As the winter approaches and the leaves fall the warm rustic hues come into their own and a sense of cosyness HYGGE as the Danes say.

When I see this how I wish was a knitter it is so delicate!

Imagine this with the delightful hat!

Love this so much,I am going to try to make one! Does anyone know where to get artificial flowers like this?

So easy to make and look great under skirts to add a bit of warmth.

Layering seems to be the most practical thing in Autumn when the weather can be warm one minute and chilly the next!

Essential warm trousers!

This is from a Russian fashion house and I really love the use of the belt.

Wondereful reds, greens and browns

These are so classic.

Another easy look to put together either by sewing it youself or raiding Charity Shops and recycling.

This is really flattering and looks cosy.

I would love to trot around Truro wearing all thes layers!

Well that was fun .I hope this gives everyone some ideas for Autumn clothes ,enjoy the vibrant colours of the season and bask in the glow of the first lighting of the wood stove as the time for hibernation approaches !

Material things!

This is my first post on Sweet Disorder for a long time.It does not mean that I have not been enjoying the pleasures of my lovely little sewing and craft room. Things have taken my mind away from sharing but I hope to be better from now on!

I have been exploring some different techniques and I really love hand printing with indian wood blocks. Two friends who love sewing and craft and I went to a large craft Fayre in Devon and it was there that I saw a stall  which was ethically trading these amazing  blocks and paints from India. It has been wonderful to play with these and gradually get better at placing etc So far two cushions !

I think the joy of colour is so important and my love of flowers and nature inspire me. I hope to have more time soon as I am thinking about retiring from my library job which has been an education and an inspiration however the recent savage cuts are great disaster and many marvellous projects will never be or will end.. So time to do my own thing now.

Whenever I walk into the sewing room a kind od safe and peaceful feeling takes over it is aa place of magic and creativity and with a cup of Steve's speciial blend tea what more could I want .....I suppose world peace is nor reeally an option...........

I have enjoyed  looking at many beautiful  paintings depicting home sewing hope you have enjoyed them too. I am on Pinterest and there are lots of things there that are very inspiring to me ,There is that word again INSPIRATION ...love it!

The need to loose weight!

Here we are at a recent event Steam punk Saturday at the library! It is all very well for me to sew and make pretty things but I really must loose a bit of cushioning. Both Steve and I are getting too comfortable. Less sitting and more doing is called for! I am beginning to resemble a cottage loaf which has always been a dread of mine. Well ,less wine,less food and less honey I guess. When I was 16 what I would have given for the bust I have now! I feel like a ship in full sail  now,where did it come from? So the odd man says,you are cuddly well I want to be a bit less cuddly think

Could this be the remedy? 

or this perhaps?Futher bulletins  on flab fighting to come!

Latest finds

This is what I am going to do with an old white blouse. Quite easy I think. I have some white broderie anglaise and some dainty buttons. I think it might flatter the tummy!! 

This is the last thing I have made ,it is a pinny for my Mum who is 92 but insist on wearing aprons to match her outfits. 

I used a bit of antique lace to make a pretty drawstring pocket. She has now given me my orders for 3 more,I am half way through a blue on!!

Last year I made three frilled slips for the summer and now the pattern is so simple I think I would like to make some winter underskirts. I am looking for red flannel or brushed cotton for this. It seems sad to be thinking of warmer clothes especially as I am off to Baziers in southern France soon for warm break. I just can't wait to trawle the markets for fabrics. Last year Toulon market yielded some treasure

What  has been going on in the sewing room

I have made two slips with frills and a long lacy dress and am now in the middle of a quilt for the small guest room. I love lavender and this is the theme for the room.I am putting the top together and will have to buy the wadding. I bought some very wide material in Toulon Market when we were on our last holiday and this has sprigs of lavender on a plain back ground, it  was 4 euros a metre amazing!, This will be the backing. I made some good charity shop finds for this room,a  deep lilac single sheet and two pillow cases that still had the label on for £3. I will add some dyed lace to these.

Some lovely things have caught my eye and they are a never ending source of inspiration!

This is lovely and timeless!

I like the simplicity of this.

This too is simple and it  would be quite easy to copy this look

I love the idea of contrasting panels and I would love to wear this.

This is really dainty,love it.

This is really nice,looks so easy to wear!

Lovely summer dress by Ewa y Wallla

Must get back to the sewing!

.

New Inspiration

This is a simple but I think rather attractive wrist band.

Easy to do too!

I just love this blue dress and want to make

Lovely upcycled dress !

An outfit by Pucerone.

I love this patchwork skirt ,real log cabin wear!

Lovely,mystical coat, the stuff of dreams and fairytales!

Think I could make one of these,love the pockets.

Well that is a little inspiration,I am in the middle of an experiment  with a pattern at the moment.  and hope it turns out well!! Since I have had my sewing room I am making less mistakes. the feeling that I can get up and leave everything were it is and then return to it later is really liberating. No more hysterical must finish itis!

I just want a tailors dummy and everything will be perfect,I am sure that one will materialize if I think and wish hard enough!!!!!