Astoria Tops By Colette Patterns' Seamwork Magazine

Hello. I hope you're enjoying the bank holiday weekend.  Hubby and I had a fun time yesterday taking photographs - outside was too sunny and inside was a bit dark. We did get some useable ones though, so here's the first of my new tops.

I do love my Cath Kidston skirts but as they have elasticated waists (which I like to cover) it's awkward finding tops to wear with them that sit nicely. I thought Colette's Astoria top would be perfect as it's quite short and fitted at the waist.

It's made out of black Ponte Roma which was really easy to work with - I probably should have started my jersey sewing with this rather than the slinky stuff. 

Hubby thinks I'm too old for them but I think they're fab. They have a gorgeous garden gnome one at the moment which may have to join my collection..........

I made the size as small as it comes for this one. It's perfect with the skirts but too short with jeans - even I think I'm too old for flashing my tummy!

So I made another one to wear with them. This time it's in grey Ponte Roma and I lengthened the sleeves and body by 2". 

The sleeves are hemmed and the neck topstitched with my Janome Coverpro that I got for Christmas. I'm slowly getting the hang of it and I love it. It gives the garment a professional finish even for a beginner like me.

It's a great pattern and I'll definitely be making some more.

I can never resist adding pictures of Maya so here's another photo that Hubby took yesterday.  

One last thing, as I've been sharing photos of myself I'll share some news too - I've decided to ditch the hair dye. I am sick of having it done and it never looks as nice as my natural colour did, so I'm going to let it grow and see what happens.  It's a good job I like wearing hats as I think I'll have one on permanently for the next year or so............or I may cut it shorter..............or I may hate it and dye it again.

Can grey haired ladies still wear Cath Kidston skirts?  You bet!

I'd better crack on. I have Clarity samples to make and with Hubby on leave I keep getting distracted. Don't forget that Paul Church is on Hochanda tomorrow (27th March) with More Clarity.  11-12am, 3-4pm and 5-6pm. 

Happy Easter

Lynne

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My Dad's 70th Birthday Card

Greetings! I've been in sewing mode for the last couple of weeks but some new Clarity stamps have just arrived so I'm back in card making mode and thought I should say hello. I've not made any cards for a while but I do have one left to blog.

It was my dad's 70th birthday last month and this is the card I made for him. It may look familiar to NDC members as it's based on one of Barbara's January projects. When I saw it I thought it would work well for my dad as he is a keen birdwatcher. 

As I added the branch stamp I changed the sky to clouds and a sun so that I didn't have to mask it off. 

I'd better go and get started on my samples. If I can get Hubby to take some photos I'll blog my sewing until I have more cards to share - I've made 5 tops in the last few weeks. Let's hope my card making goes as smoothly......

Stamps Used

Garden Birds and Blossom Branches

Happy Words

Numbers

Wordpress Letters

Lynne

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A Groovi Mother's Day

Good morning. I probably couldn't have picked a worse day to blog my first Groovi cards, as all the DT will be sharing their masterpieces from today's shows on Hochanda, but they are appropriate for today so here goes.....

I did have a try at the Catterick Open Day but I didn't get my own until this week when Hubby bought me some bits for my birthday.  Thank you. x

I picked these plates as I thought they would make pretty Mother's Day cards and looked quite simple. The problem was I had to get them in the post the day after they arrived! That didn't give me any time to practise so these are my first two attempts.

This is the one I started with. I've also joined the Groovi Club, so I began by tracing out the ovals from the Mini Plate Mate for the text to see how it would fit. Luckily it was the perfect size for the centre of the floral wreath so I just took it from there. One of my favourite things to do in stamping is building up a picture with masking so I love how the Groovi system makes this so simple.

When I'd traced all of the design I coloured it in with my Spectrum Noir pencils. I decided to avoid the white work as I didn't have much time and I was worried about messing it up. 

I was feeling a bit more adventurous when I got to this one and decided to have a go at the white work. The only problem was I didn't have a clue where to do it. When you're not colouring it in is the white work the light or shade? Does it matter? I do know I need to do it for longer as mine isn't hugely white but at least I didn't go through the parchment!

I thought the hard bit was over when I'd finished that but then I had to make them into cards - I hadn't thought about that part. White work does not show up well on white card and different coloured card changes the look of what you've coloured. What to choose? In the end I used some of the Clarity blue pearl paper for both. Next time I will think about this before I start.

So many things I have to learn. If you have any tips for me I'd love to hear them. The main thing I've learnt so far is that Groovi cards are a lot of fun but can't be rushed.

I'll be glued to all of the shows on Hochanda today and Monday. I'm sure I'll pick up lots of hints and I know I'll be inspired by Barbara and the DT's samples.

Happy Mother's Day Mum. I hope you like your card.

Groovi Plates Used

Butterfly Wreath and Meadow Grasses

Lynne

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A Gelli Blast From The Past

Hello. Thanks for the comments on the last post - they did make me smile. Purple jumper has been popped in a charity bin. Its fate is now out of my hands. :)

Today's card also has me reminiscing.

Do you recognise it?

When I was looking through my Gelli prints for the last card I blogged, I also found this one. It's from an "In The Classroom With Barbara Gray" show on 3rd August 2013. I thought it should be made into a card so I added a bit to it, trimmed it down (as the middle was a little bit wonky) and did just that. 

I have missed those shows but Hochanda are planning on doing their own version; so that's something to look forward to.

 I used to move my stuff downstairs so that I could craft along with Barbara. 

These are my other pieces from this lesson.

The Birdhouse Set is still one of my favourites and I've used it so much.

Hopefully I'm getting better! Have you still got yours?

Stamps Used

Birdhouse Set

Leafy Swirl

Lynne

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Farewell Purple Jumper

Hello. Today's post is a bit different - it's knitting. Despite my Mum and Nan being good hand knitters it's not something I ever got into but in the early 1990s I did buy a knitting machine. This was much more me (you know I love my gadgets) and I made myself a few jumpers. I recently got rid of the machine after it sitting in the loft for many years and most of my knitting has also gone. It was mostly just plain jumpers and cardigans but there's one I am rather proud of. I know I will never wear it, as it's nasty acrylic yarn and so out of fashion but I haven't been able to part with it.................until now. I thought I'd put it on for one last time, photograph it, blog it and then bin it.

Fashion Police please note - it has been unworn, tucked away in a drawer, for about 20 years.

The photo shoot was very quick and I'm afraid this is the best one. I don't think I'll be getting a job as a knitwear model or Hubby as a fashion photographer! You can see the jumper though and that's what the post is about.

I think the pattern was created with the help of a punch card system but that's all I can remember. I don't think I could even cast on now! Still it was fun at the time.

So farewell purple jumper, you will still live on in blogland.

Lynne
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