http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgEV3mAnnsQ&NR=1
Love this song by Kathy. Probably the most awesome female voice ever.
This concert by the Kelly's took place about 14 years ago. Wasn't there unfortunately! Time for a reunion...
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Easy Bag Tutorial
This little bag is quick and easy to put together, and you can have alot of fun with fabric and trims. First of all, you need to draw up the pattern. Ruler, pencil and paper is all that's required. It's worth spending a bit of time to get it accurate as this will then be your template for every bag you make - you can then transfer the template to cardboard or template plastic. (Click on link below; right click and select 'save image as'. Save to desktop and/or print it out).
You need;- 20 cm fabric for straps and bottom front of bag. 25cm fabric for back of bag (I use same as bottom front/straps). 10cm fabric for top front of bag. 25cm (cheaper) fabric for lining. 30cm Lightweight iron on interfacing. 10cm Ribbon for loop. 30cm Trim for front of bag. 1 Button.
1cm seam allowance has been included in pattern pieces. Use matching thread for a much better finish. Remember golden rule - RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER before sewing anything.
Using pattern, cut out interfacing, lining and fabrics. Iron the interfacing to the fabric pieces. With right sides facing, sew the top & bottom fronts together. Sew the trim over seam on front.
With right sides facing, sew bottom & side seams together.
To form the base of the bag - match the side and bottom seams - sew straight down this line. It will look like the photo below. Trim the seam.
Repeat with the other corner - your bag should now stand up by itself. Do exactly the same with the lining - sew side and bottom seams. Then match side & bottom seams and form base - only this time leave a 15cm opening in the bottom seam so that you can turn the bag through later.
Fold the straps lengthways, right sides facing and sew together across one end and along the side. Turn right side out and press.
The quickest & easiest way to do this is to use a tube, which you push into your strap (or arm/leg if making a doll) and push a stick into the fabric from the closed end. The stick pushes into the tube and turns the fabric tube right side out in one easy step. You can buy these online very cheaply if you can't find them around the home - it's money well spent.
Topstitch your straps to add a nice decorative touch. It's all these little steps that give a more professional finish (OK, my stitching's a bit wobbly; guess I like the homespun look more)!
Measure 7cm along front and back of bag from side seams and place pin. Use this as a guide and pin handles in place.
At back of bag at the top find the centre and pin the ends of the ribbon in place to form a loop for the button. Sew the loop and straps in place. Your bag should now look like this.
With right sides together and matching the side seams, place the bag inside the lining and sew around the top of the lining/bag sandwiching the loops and straps inside.
Trim the seam allowance around the top of the bag.
Turn the bag through to right side and hand stitch the opening in lining closed.
Your bag is almost finished. Give it a good iron now before topstitching around the top edge, and sewing the button in place.
Once you've got the hang of this easy bag, it's time to start making up a few more in different styles; you can't have too many bags!
MORE PATTERNS
You need;- 20 cm fabric for straps and bottom front of bag. 25cm fabric for back of bag (I use same as bottom front/straps). 10cm fabric for top front of bag. 25cm (cheaper) fabric for lining. 30cm Lightweight iron on interfacing. 10cm Ribbon for loop. 30cm Trim for front of bag. 1 Button.1cm seam allowance has been included in pattern pieces. Use matching thread for a much better finish. Remember golden rule - RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER before sewing anything.
Using pattern, cut out interfacing, lining and fabrics. Iron the interfacing to the fabric pieces. With right sides facing, sew the top & bottom fronts together. Sew the trim over seam on front.
With right sides facing, sew bottom & side seams together.
To form the base of the bag - match the side and bottom seams - sew straight down this line. It will look like the photo below. Trim the seam.
Repeat with the other corner - your bag should now stand up by itself. Do exactly the same with the lining - sew side and bottom seams. Then match side & bottom seams and form base - only this time leave a 15cm opening in the bottom seam so that you can turn the bag through later.
Fold the straps lengthways, right sides facing and sew together across one end and along the side. Turn right side out and press.
The quickest & easiest way to do this is to use a tube, which you push into your strap (or arm/leg if making a doll) and push a stick into the fabric from the closed end. The stick pushes into the tube and turns the fabric tube right side out in one easy step. You can buy these online very cheaply if you can't find them around the home - it's money well spent.
Topstitch your straps to add a nice decorative touch. It's all these little steps that give a more professional finish (OK, my stitching's a bit wobbly; guess I like the homespun look more)!
Measure 7cm along front and back of bag from side seams and place pin. Use this as a guide and pin handles in place.
At back of bag at the top find the centre and pin the ends of the ribbon in place to form a loop for the button. Sew the loop and straps in place. Your bag should now look like this.
With right sides together and matching the side seams, place the bag inside the lining and sew around the top of the lining/bag sandwiching the loops and straps inside. 
Trim the seam allowance around the top of the bag.
Turn the bag through to right side and hand stitch the opening in lining closed.
Your bag is almost finished. Give it a good iron now before topstitching around the top edge, and sewing the button in place.
And of course, the best part - wrapping it up and giving it to someone special...
Once you've got the hang of this easy bag, it's time to start making up a few more in different styles; you can't have too many bags!
MORE PATTERNS
Thursday, 7 February 2008
The Perfect Mother
He didn't like the casseroleAnd he didn't like my cake.
He said my biscuits were too hard...
Not like his mother used to make.
I didn't perk the coffee right
He didn't like the stew,
I didn't mend his socks
The way his mother used to do.
I pondered for an answer
I was looking for a clue.
Then I smacked the little sh*t
Like his MOTHER used to do.
(anonymous)
He said my biscuits were too hard...
Not like his mother used to make.
I didn't perk the coffee right
He didn't like the stew,
I didn't mend his socks
The way his mother used to do.
I pondered for an answer
I was looking for a clue.
Then I smacked the little sh*t
Like his MOTHER used to do.
(anonymous)
Sunday, 3 February 2008
Easy Vegetable Curry
This is based on a recipe from Gordon Ramsay's 'Fast Food'. This cookbook has a great list of storecupboard essentials in it, recipes for 'basics' and a good variety of mains and easy deserts; I wouldn't exactly call this one 'fast' though; I prefer to cook it on the weekend when I know there's plenty of time to let the vegetables simmer and absorb the fragrant spices.
You heat 2 tbsp oil in a large wide pan and add shallot's, garlic and chillies. Cook, stirring for a minute or so until the garlic fragrant. I won't give exact quantities as it's one of those recipes where you substitute what you have in the fridge and add as much as you know will feed your family. I then add approx 3 tbspns curry powder, a few cardamom pods and some cumin seeds as well as seasoning (should be smelling wonderful by now).Add your veggies next such as celeriac, pumpkin, sweet potato, cauliflower, beans etc. all cut into similar sized pieces. Stir over a higher heat for a few minutes. Tip in a 400g can of chopped tomatoes, fill the empty can with water and pour this in too. Bring to the boil. Add broccoli/zucchini and veggies that don't require as long a cooking time and simmer until all the veggies are tender. Take off the heat and stir in about 250ml greek-style natural yogurt. Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving. I serve this with basmati rice and hot lebanese or afghan bread torn into pieces and not forgetting home-made mango chutney.
Craft Friday's
Well - I've decided Friday's are all mine to work on my craft projects. Not quite as priveleged a life as Beatrice and Dorothea but it ain't half bad. I started with a nice easy project - a vintage bear made from a lovely piece of old chenille that I got off ebay a while ago; and vintage lace and buttons from my collection - aged beautifully with my special brew of tea and a few other things (top secret...)!...
....and complete with her own little patchwork quilt. She's packing her bags ready for a trip overseas as she's being adopted by a very special person who put a request in quite a while ago!!
And just to get inspired, I love going through my lovely old collection of sewing stuff.
There's bits of old lace and vintage gloves (were there hands really that small?)...
Lots of old cotton reels and wooden bobbins...
....and complete with her own little patchwork quilt. She's packing her bags ready for a trip overseas as she's being adopted by a very special person who put a request in quite a while ago!!
And just to get inspired, I love going through my lovely old collection of sewing stuff.There's bits of old lace and vintage gloves (were there hands really that small?)...
Lots of old cotton reels and wooden bobbins...
and buttons, needles, hooks & eyes etc.
- did I mention buttons.... I LOVVE buttons - you can't have too many!
Roll on next Friday....
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