FEBRAURY - MONTH OF MAKING
OK, so following on with my New Year’s Resolution with ‘a month of...’ I chose making. I love making stuff & love to be creative but have to admit that I get the fear. The fear of starting a project, the fear of not being able to do it properly, the fear of failure. And so a lot of my ideas just lay idle on a to-do list that never gets done. I decided to be ruthless, to just make. Adding the deadline helped push to get me started. It took away the fear. Nothing had to be perfect it just had to get done. No idea was too silly or too ambitious.
I started with making Ada her own personalised cushion for her bed like I did Judy’s a few year back. Ada’s reads Ada Ladybird which is her little nickname in this house. (Remind me to get my proper camera out to take photos! Oh dear!).
I had purchased some sale items from Oliver Bonas & loved the wrapping so much I had to do something with it, so I kept it. ( I am a self confessed hoarder). I also kept a tin from a christmas haul of cashew nuts which I painted & stuck the wrapper to it to make a brightly coloured plant pot! Hurrah!
Judy got homework to build a dolls house in a shoebox. I tell you it took all of my might not to bulldoze this project & not let her anywhere near it. Haha. But I remained soley her glamourous assistant & only helping out where she needed the help. We planned it properly & she even wanted to design the wallpaper as thats what mummy did as job. (Aaaah), The final project was super & Judy loved it. She also thanked me umprompted for my help. So I must have done something right! Yay!
I had saved the above photos on my pinterest page a little while ago & was looking out for some nice cosy jumpers similar in the shops this winter... but no!! There was none. I decided to make myself one & ordered a selection of iridescent sequins in all colours & sizes. The girls caught me making mine & also wanted one each... Here is the lovely Ada modelling hers as I finally finished them this month!
I have been struggling with ideas for decorating our loft. It’s a bit of an awkward shape. Its basically used as a dumping ground/ the husbands bathroom/ guest room & I think for these reasons we can have lots of fun with it. Its been a long time since I have drawn on my skills aquired at university for making visuals for interior design. It was a fun process & I think I have it all worked out now!
About 2 years ago I discovered Donna Wilson’s free pattern for making a cap sleeve top & downloaded it. It has taken this month for me to get the courage to try it! Oh man, it was hard. It wasn’t too complicated but I definitely have issues with instructions - I kind of want to do my own thing & I get frustrated (this is also true when I play with lego). But I perservered. The pattern requires an overlocker which I don’t have... but I was too far in to give up. I also think I didnt scale the pattern right to print it as its a bit short & a bit small. I haven’t yet put on the buttons as my month ran out. I have never attempted button holes before but look forward to a free morning to have a go! Despite me have a few problems I am really proud of my effort! And I think I will have another attempt. Not bad for an old curtain!
Last summer I promised Judy’s friend a cardboard aeroplane... I said I would get it ready for painting & then they can have a crack at painting it. I got this done too! I just need to add a propellor & steering wheel! EEK!
Two years ago I started the above cushion for my friend’s baby. I then decided it was really bad & stuffed it in a drawer to not be seen again. That is, until I was digging out my embroidery threads for Ada’s cushion & thought that it actually was quite retro & cute. I had decided to finish it & post it to my friend & her now two year old!
I have been wanted to sew subversive slogans onto Tshirts for years & finally got started - watch this space as I do more!
I have had a super month of trying new things, finishing old things & just cracking on with it. I think it has given me the confidence to start things which is brilliant. I am game for any sewing project now!
And now we start March - my month of COOKING! YUMMY!
