Another challenge

This time I was challenged by Ana.

Here are the rules:
1. Go to your photos archive

2. Go to 6th folder

3. Pick the 6th photo

4. Show that photo in the blog and talk about it

5. Invite 6 new people for this challenge

6. Link them and inform them that they have been challenged.

so, my 6th photo of the 6th folder in my job's computer is this one:

Me and my twin sister, completely crazy at Madonna's concert last year, September 14th 2008 in Lisboa.

Since teenagers we ahve been Madonna's fans and our mom gave the tickets as a birthday present.

We love it!

I challenge anyone for this game.

I'm getting addicted...

In fabrics!

Today during my lunch hour, I wnt to a fabric store near my job. My sister requested a baby fabric so that together with me we coluld make a baby purse for a baby due for this year. I would sew the lining and she would do the outside part with felt.

I bought this one so cute for only €1,70.

And then I couldn't resist and bought also this one grey for me for only €2,30.

Today I saw in the website Burda Style this TOP and found it gorgeous. I'll do a pattern that I saw in the Patrones magazine to do one similar.

New Project - Blouse with flowers

I have started a new project. Also very simple and a model that I already did. The shirt Burda Style is still in "stand-by" until I feel confortable in this sewing things. Meanwhile I'll do simpler models.

This time I'll repeat the model in the Patrones magazine. The one that I already did in white eyelet. This one:

I will do it in the white fabric that my mom gave me.

As the fabric is all white I decided to embellish it. So, I'll put red flowers and stitch them in the fabric. The fabric of the flowers is the one left from the knot top from Burda Fashion which I did for my sister a few months ago.

I foun in the blog Painel Criativo the design of the flowers. I printed them in A4, sheet and enlarged and reduced the size of them, so that I got several sizes of flowers.

Then I passed them onto some cardboard paper.


And then after to the fabric

Then I place the flowers in the front part of the blouse already cut with pins. And with glue tape and iron the flowers into the fabric.

First I tried to sew them in the machine, but it was not working well. So I did a blanket stitch in each one of the flowers.

In the middle of the some flowers I sew a white button.

This was the result. Now all I have to do is sew the blouse.

I will only repeat the red fabric in the bottom of the blouse.

Grey embroidered Bag

I've made another bag! This time is for myself and to take my lunch. But I think it didn't look so great.... I think I could have got a little better.

The pattern used was from website Burda Style. It's the Charlie bag and you can find it here. It's one the few which is free downloaded.

The fabrics used were from two long skirts which no longer fit me. So, I made a sort of recycling.

The embroidery, I did it and the design was taken from Quilter's Muse.

To take my lunch I think it'll do. I'll do it better next time, I'm sure.

May I announce...

My twin sister has also a new blog.
It's called Crafts e Experiências.
Caught by the "handmade" bug, she started to do cute stuff with felt.
And, she managed already to sell some brooches to a colleague of mine.
All I can wish her is good luck and "Go Girl!"

More fabrics

I have more fabric with me. Some were given by a colleague of my sister and others were bought.

1. Dark blue cotton/canvas. The fabric that I used to make my sister's tote bag.

2. Bordeaux silk. In the picture looks red, but it isn't. I have enough to make a top or a blouse.

3. Green silk. Also given. I have anough to make a top, but I don't really like the colour. Maybe I'll have to incorporate a balk or white fabric.

4. Dark blue cotton. I don't have much. It will do to make another tote bag or a purse.

5. Very thick canvas, it lloks like denim Ideal for a skirt or a bag. It was given.

6. Printed canvas. I bought it. I lined my sister's tote with it. I have enough to do a skirt or more bags.

7. Light blue cotton. When I bought it I had already a model in my mind. This one. Without the inner part and with short sleeves. It must have been the first time that I bought a fabric thinking of a model.

8. dark blue cotton with small holes. This one I brought from my mom's house. It was chosen by my sister so that I could make her a blouse.

Thank you note

Agradecimentos...

I've sent an e-mail to Shelley Gardner thanking for the the design and showing what I have made with it.

Here's her answer

"Hello Catarina,I love the idea of our design being used all the way in Portugal - the internet is so wonderful!

The top looks very good - we are glad you liked the pattern and we will be trying to put some more up soon - well done and thanks for showing us!

Go well,Shelley"

Embroidered Top Burda Style

I've finished yesterday close to midnight.

It took long, I had those set-backs, but I think it turned out ok.

During the weekend I undid the elastic cord, and put it correctly underneath my breast .
Yesterday, after I put in bet my son, all I had to do was sew the green ribbon in the bottom.

Does it show that I was very sleepy?!

What was really hard work were the sleeves, but I managed to fix them. I decided to make very small pleats to thight them up. They stayed like this... puffed.

Here's the detail of the sleeves.

It's a very fresh top and I'm looking forward for the summer so that I can wear it.

Embroidered Tote Bag

During the breaks that I have of the more complicated models, (blouses, etc.), I'm doing things more simple. This time I made a tote bag as per my sister's request.

She asked me to do this bag so that she can take her lunch in it.

The fabric used was a denim not too thick and the lining was a printed canvas.

It was not hard to do, but it wasn't easy also. I made the pattern, and I used the help from Blog Sew Mama Sew, which has excelent tutorials to do this sort of bags. HERE to do the bag and HERE to sew the lining.

On the outside I have sewn a pocket and embroidered a kitten. The design is not mine, I found in the web, but I can't find from where.

As my sister asked a bag which she could close and as I'm still not very at ease with zippers, I've sewn a velcro tape in it.

I think it looks good, for a first bag. I'll try to make on for myself also.

Embroidered Top - Set-backs

My finger indicates where the elastic is. The orange pencil indicates where it SHOULD BE, right under my breast.

In the next image you can see it better. The side seam looks ugly, but it's only basted.

And the sleeves... It seems that I'm preparing to fly. I also have to do something about them, so that they won't be too "stiff"?!

On the week-end I'll do the proper fix.

Top Burda Style Embroidered - Progress

I know I said that after the embroidery, all I had to do was sewing.

Just sewing...? Not just yet.

As the fabric was all white and it had only that emboidery in the front, my mother suggested that I put a green bias tape to give it another look. So far, so good.

Her it is.

It has a tube form. I chose the green colour, to contrast with the white of the top.
I decided to put in the sleeves, neckline and hem.


It was very hardworking, as I had to pin it, while I was doing the hem. In the sleeves, which are rounded, was also very difficult.


It got like this:

After I placed the bias tape, I sewed the cord elastic where the pattern indicated and I basted the top and I tried it on.

Here it is on top of the table. It will look like this.

But.... I still have to fix it.

As this time I used sleeves, and the sleeves are shorter than the straps, when I tried the top, the elastic was through my breast and not under my breast line.

That is to say, the top gone up.

On the side I also have to enlarge it, as with this modification, the breast area got too tight.

I also found the sleeves too large for the model. They don't fall over the arms.

I'm trying to find a way to fix them, so that they get smaller.

But as they are already sewed in the neckline, and as I'm a bit lazy I don't want to undo them.

I thought of making small pleats to tight them up.

I'll post later photos of top after the fix.

Buttons

Last week I went to my mother's house and I "assaulted" her buttons basket.

I brought these. I still don't know what I'm going to do with them, but I think that sooner or later, I'll have some ideas.