More about me......

I was nominated for Liebster Award by Danielle, Dani, over at One Small Stitch .  Thank you Dani -  And thank you to my 9 followers you guys rock - I was pretty excitied the 1st time someone other than me folllowed my blog!!  So Thank you Danielle. She writes a mean blog herself, with a nice mix of refashions, amazing technical sewing (have a look at this vintage dress) and basics.  She gave me 10 questions.  Here are my answers:

1. Why did you start sewing?

I remember sewing in primary school.  We made soft toys and things out of felt, all hand sewn.  I loved it and had LOTS of cuddly toys as a result!!!  Then I learnt to use a machine at school and did a bit after That but I didn't really start to sew in an obsessive way until I went on maternity leave just before my 1st daughter was born.  I had found some craft blogs on the net after researching ideas for Art lessons and sustainability.  I've not really stopped since.

2. Five words that describe you: 

Cheerful, Positive, Adaptable and (occasionally) Bossy.  I'm sure my husband would change that 4th word to (often)! 

3. What is your favourite make?

My Chloe Dress by Victory patterns.  I always get compliment on it whenever I wear it, I feel really comfortable in it and really feel it reflects my style.  It uses old material but in a modern way.  Not that I don't love a 50s tea dress but honestly they just don't look that great on me.

 4. And your least favourite?

I tried to make a DKNY vogue dress out of very curly jersey.  The skirt was just too full and made me look pregnant again.  I don't like the way the bias cut stripes hang on the circle skirt.  It was a pain to make and I still haven't hemmed it as I don't love it and the material was just too horrible to sew with.  Ho hum.  Maybe one day I will refashion it as I do like the big turquoise stripes.

Start of Vogue disaster

5. What piece(s) of sewing equipment (besides your machine) could you not live without?

Nice sharp scissors and actually a little sewing guage thing that I found in my mum's sewing room that was my grandma's.  I don't know why but the little sticky out bits make it easier to use than a ruler for measuring hems and seam allowances etc.  Oh and my kids washable pens for pattern markings.

6. What are your three favourite blogs?

Thats a really hard one. Probably...
 www.kazzthespazz.com - she just makes amazing things, so different and individual, her photos are fab and her writing great too.
 www.handmadebycarolyn.blogspot.com.au - she makes beautiful clothes, some simple some much more complicated, not always my style but very wearable and her attention to detail is amazing....and I like playing guess the location with her photos.
www.teawithlucy.blogspot.com.au - only very occasionally a sewing blog but beautiful photos and writing about life on the south coast of WA.  

All 3 are very inspiring in totally different ways.

 7.  What accomplishment are you most proud of?

It will sound strange but being a parent.  Finding that I can actually look after 2 little people and provide them with love and what they need (most of the time) is really empowering.  Its made me feel much more confident about doing all sorts of things...and also strangely ambitious in that I want to make things work so my kids can have a good life/childhood.

8. Sweet tooth or savoury?

Definitely sweet I find it hard to walk past a cake shop although its easier now I don't live in France!

9. What's the most daring thing you've ever done?

Climbing Mont Blanc.  It was a bit of a spur of the moment thing, planned just a week or two before.  I've done lots of mountain walking but not lots of the crampon/rope stuff and I wasn't feeling very fit BUT you have to grab these chances when they come along.  We climbed to the 1st hut the night before - lots of snoring in the dorm and nerves meant no sleep, then up before dawn to set off.  I have never been so cold in all my life or so glad when the sun came up over the top.  I still can't believe I walked along that knife edge ridge to the summit with 1000s of meters to fall on either side.  It was howling a gale on top.  We got warmer as we went down and then it turned into an absolutely beautiful day.  I eventually regained feeling in my right thumb a week later An amazing experience but I don't feel any urge to do it again. 

 

On the way down - after my camera came back to life.

10. What's your secret for a happy life?


Enjoy the small pleasures of your day - Birds singing, a nice cup of coffee, a cheeky squeal from your kids, a warm bed, sun, rain, a hug.  This is actually what life is about.

If you are stressed look after yourself - make time, get some fresh air and exercise, eat well.   

Adapt to the challenges and changes life throws at you and see them as opportunities and not threats.
Smile and people will smile back - life is good. 

The Liebster award seems to say that I should nominate 10 bloggers I like with less than 200 followers, and let them know.  Then they answer my 10 questions and do the same. I think I am just going to go with 5 so that I really mean them (and to keep the whole thing going longer, until the whole world has a sewing a blog, becasue if everyone else nominates 10 surely we will run out soon).  I'm keeping the 10 q's though because well its just interesting.

So here are my favourite 5:

Megan at meggipeg. So many of her makes are things I would think to make or wear.  She also seems to share my penchant for op shops and has lots of great upcycling ideas.  Fab photos too.

Julie at joliesbobines.  An absolutely beautiful blog - her clothes and her pictures are amazing.  Its in French but if you can't read it don't worry it would still be great inspiration.  She probably has many more followers now after being featured on Colette's blog.

Cathy at Treadling in Benin.   Cathy makes all her lovely clothes on a treadle machine whilst working for peace corps in West Africa.  Her posts all have really interesting stories about life there, her clothes are fun, in great fabrics and she tries out lots of techniques.  Her photos are lots of fun too.

Kathy at Kathysews.  I think she gets her burda magazines about a month before mine arrive but she often picks out the same things that i would so I always look to see what she's done.  I have yet to do any sports gear but thinking about it (maybe need to do sport 1st!).

Merche at Aventuras de Costuras.  Again I just love the clothese she makes, she always looks great in them and seeing her successes with coats and silk is making me itch to make some more complicated garments.

My 10 questions for them:

1. What got you to start sewing your clothes?
2. What do you most want to make in the next 6 months?
3. Fabric or pattern first - and a favourite example.
4. Which part of sewing your own clothes do you like best?
5. Which part do you like least?
6. Your favourite sewing blogger?
7. What other big obsessions have you had in your life? (real life love affairs not included)
8. What's your day job?
9. What's the most daring thing you have ever done?
10. What are your secrets for a happy life?  (surely its always good to have more of these?)