Productive morning for me!!!

Hello there peeps

Today is BITTER COLD, but productive indeed!! The war of endless housework rages on ;) I have a semi tidy abode... You know what that means?!?!?!!? SEWING for me = Happy Traci!!!!

I've fueled up...... Yum Yum!!!

And now I'm prepped up my fabric for more caravan curtains.... This is the last time we'll see this fabric in curtain form.... The caravan will be kitted out with all it's curtains, so just 2-4 cushions to go then bye bye!!!

I have a new dress to alter..... Stretchy lace, I'm thinking zig-zag the hem then hand stitching.... Any tips out there?!?!?!? 

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Mothers Day lovelyness

Hello there 

Happy Monday everyone

So were we all spoilt...... Spending the day with little ones and mummies???? I had the very best weekend. We got to do some planting, I also got loads of handmade goodies from my boys.

 Finn sowed the cyan peppers... I love to make chilli!!

Frazer sowed the parsley..... 

Look at the concentration!!!

All very precise!!

Look at my wee boys aren't they jut too cute!!!

I love this one..... Frazer chose mummy, Finn & Frazer's fave colours!!

This is getting kept in the ever growing memory suitcaase bag!!!

Finn even coloured in my best mummy pic just right, brown hair and a purple dress!!!


Me and the boys even go out for a wee meal too

So to round up, I had the best day ever!!!! The boys were as good as gold. And I was proud to be a mummy. My wee dotes :) xx


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Thought I'd give you a peek of my chilli..... Would anyone like a recipe?!?!?!!? It's a regular for dinner party guests!

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My Burda Style faves this month ~March 13.

Hello there peeps 

How is everyone this grey Saturday?!?!?!

We are suffering a "Cold Snap" here in Derry... The weather doesn't like is getting to comfy!!! I have had a rather productive morning, so I felt no guilt having a pour over the latest Burda Style (March 12). I have to say I am inspired... There are lots of yummy pieces to drool over!!! 

These trousers are just to lush.... I personally wouldn't wear that fabric BUT I love the cut..... Are you a fan of ankle grazers?!?!!? I think with a set of heels to set theses of you can't help but look HOT TO TROT!!!!

This is another pattern where I'm not fussed on the fabric but love the cut!!!

This dress is too yummy! I have to say I would raise the hem a little but all in all NICE!!!!

Now this jacket...... How could you not love it, so effortlessly casual and confident!

I'm REALLY happy to see a decent boys pattern... The trousers look class and the top is cool, the top sleeves could be lengthened and used for pj's!!

And this is so on my to make list for the boys..... I will be changing the fabric selection for a boys fabric, it's just a little too girly, I might have to add a eye patch for the added BOYNESS!!!!!!

And look at next months preview (April 13). It looks to be a goody!!!! Father & Son section, I'm rubbing my hands together in anticipation ;)

Has anyone used Burda Style patterns from the magazine?? Do you have any tips??

Anyways have a fabby Saturday... I'm off to finish the housework!

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Laura Ashley Alteration Tah-Dah!!!

Hey there peeps 

Well that's another Friday creeped up on us!! Where did the week go... I have had a week filled with sewing, school work and very little house work!!

As you know Friday night is movie night at chez Traci! Tonight the boys are opting for THOR, I'm loving that the boys are choosing actual movies and not cartoons! Gone are the days of iggle piggle! I wave them bye with much happiness, I never did see the educational reason for a show with a farting ship!!!! I mean come on!! 

Anyways on to the alteration Traci your waffeling on........

This alteration was for a Laura Ashley dress, The dress was for a petite lady....

I needed to shorten the shoulder straps by 2 inches......

I also had to drop the neck line at the back of the dress by say 1 inch, it would have been to high....

I then had to ladder stitch the arm hole closed again...

I then raised the hem with a ladder stitch by say 1.5 inches & the same with the lining..

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AND HERE SHE IS!!!!!!!

 All done....

I have to say I am enjoying the challenge of alterations... There is a element of problem solving that you just don't get making curtains!!!! Talking of curtains, I have 1 pair to make, 1 to take up & then 1 pair to join together so I may get a wriggle on!!!

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Another alteration a go go!!!

Hello there peeps

How is everyone??? I'm just finished Sewing class... I love my sewing class, I'm learning the RIGHT way to do stuff. I love that I'm self taught BUT that being said, doing alterations etc the way they are meant to be done is great. I see now there is a easier way to go around doing certain things.

Woop woop to learning I say

I am working on a dress for a wedding guest, It's another shoulder alteration. This time I had to alter the back so that the front and back of the shoulder straps were the same width....

Her she is on the mannequin

See the width difference?

This dress is lovely. It's from Laura Ashley, I have to admit the fabric is just divine, I think it would make a fab skirt! But alas IT is a dress and it is NOT mines to cut up and refashion!!!

I shall get some more photos up tonight. 

Me and the boys have a wee treat after school, they are on a promise of a homer style donut, Ah bribery isn't it great! All to get a little peace and quite sewing!!

Anyways I'm off to finish my coffee and then pick up my wee guys..

Have a fabby Wednesday peeps 

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Learning by my mistakes.....

Hello peeps 

How is everyone???

I planned on showing you a fabby tutorial on altering a dress....

At first glance everything in this photo seems "all good".....

INSTEAD

I have this....

WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!!!!

YES. I went with the polyester bias binding, YES. I ironed rather than pressed...

AGAIN

WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!!!!!

So I have the seam ripper out again. I plan this time to cut 2 separate pieces of black cotton, one on the grain the other on the bias.

Have you ever made a boo boo in a sewing project?!?!?!?

I know the answer.... But are you brave enough to share?!?!?!!?

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Ripping out & Fancy a wee chat?!?!!?

Good morning peeps

It's looking like a dreary Sunday here in Derry, The sky is looking very grey!

Please ignore my dirty window!! That is something else I never managed yesterday ;) But you get the jist of it..... This is grey, you know what that means???? A day for sewing, OH YEAH!!

So last night I got the seams ripped out of this dress, so I am a go go on this project. It is now in the Que.... This was totally a sofa craft for last night, I knew I had curtains to make but after all my cleaning and sorting out the boys, I just wanted to do something easy!!! 

So today I shall be getting the curtains done, or started at least.....

We'll see how long the Lego and Sunday TV gives me!!!!

Look at the concentration..... Who said boys can't multitask!!!!

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So regular readers might notice a change in the right hand column.... I have added a chat box, What do you think?? All very interactive, so now if you have a quick question, a suggestion or even just want to say Hi.... There's a wee box for that!!! Now peeps don't leave me hanging, I have left a wee hello up there..... We Scottish just love to talk!!!

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What I'm altering now.... H&M Dress

Hey, hey, hey!!!!

How is everyone? I am feeling oh so very productive, I have a very tidy house. This is not a regular thing, I'm too busy baking with the boys, going for walks, sewing crocheting etc... It is a very chaotic but happy way to live!!! I managed to get the whole house sorted today everywhere but my bedroom sorted today!!! But that is tomorrows task... 

So today I am starting a wee project for me.... A alteration on this dress,

Isn't it LUSH.... It's from H&M, Sold out now.... To be honest, I think I bought it in a sale hence the size 6 UK. I am a 8UK...

I just love this this it's soooo cute!!! I plan on taking a seam ripper to the side seams and add 1 inch to each side... I think I'll probably make it 1.5 + seam allowance when I think about it this dress could have a little room and still work!!

Now that I have put the seam ripper in to action, I can see I need to cut my black inset on the bias. The cogs are turning.... I might use thick bias tape?!?!?! Mad on right on?!?!?!?

RIGHT
I'm off for a wee cuppa and a few ginger nuts.

Wish me luck!!!

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Alteration Tah-Dah!!

Hello there, How is everyone?? 

All I have to say is 

TGIF!!!!

It has been a hectic but productive week.

To add to my Alterations, a sequins dress... The shoulder straps were 1-2 inches to long and  the gathers needed sorted, they were ruining the hem line. It was all uneven.

To be honest it seemed a little daunting.... But when I took the seam ripper to it, it wasn't that scary at all.

I had to do a gradual seam so that the arm hole wasn't too small, but the support was still there for the chest....

There were lots of fiddly bits....

BUT

Tad-Dah

Here she is all fixed up!

A wee close up.....

And the other shoulder....

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The skirt was way easier, just a couple of stay stitches to sort out the hem line...

so there we have it a scary project... Not so scary when there is a little confidence on the burner!!!

I just received a text that said that

"It fits like a glove, Thanx so much"

I am a happy Traci

Here's to having a little confidence!!

Have you taken the leap on a project lately??

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