Little monsters

It It's been a while since I blogged, but I have been busy making these little monsters for the Boy's classmates:

Each one is made from a single sheet of cheap Hobbycraft felt (50p) plus white and black felt for the features. 

I also made this:

It's a handbag organiser made out of 2 bits of felt and some interfacing. There are pockets for my purse, phone, diary, pens... And when I change bag I can just lift the whole thing out. It's made it so much easier to find my stuff in my capacious bag! If I make another one I will do a little tutorial.

Spend spend spend

Ah, the dangers of a glass of wine and internet access on a Saturday!

So far I have bought a book: 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1408170884

Recommended by a friend, apparently it is the answer to all my fitting  problems.

I have also been over to http://sewoverit.co.uk and purchased their wrap dress and the dress pattern. Reckless. And that's not mentioning the luxury holiday to Norway I also booked tonight. Yikes.

The tea dress pattern is for this fabric :

Which is actually slightly lighter blue than it looks in the picture. At £2.50 per metre from Tahim's in coventry, it doesn't matter too much if I mess it up! And I still have some Drape Drape patterns to attempt... Going to be busy. 

I made something that isn't crap!

I haven't blogged much lately because I've been busy turning 40. It's actually fine, although I find it utterly unbelievable that I'm that old. One surprise birthday party and a reunion with the Brighton girls later and I'm ready to just get on with it.

In sewing news, I've abandoned my wrap dress because it's a disaster. But I have made a skirt. I don't really own any skirts and I had a sudden hankering for a denim one. So on my trip to Brighton I picked up some slightly stretchy denim from Fabricland (£4.99/m). The selection was a bit disappointing because it was all getting a bit Halloween in there. But I got my denim and my friend picked up loads of co-ordinating cottons to make bags (I've really got to get my Christmas-present-making arse in gear!)

So, I dug out my Burda magazines and found a pencil skirt pattern. I added a vent at the back because, well, I wanted to be able to walk.

I'm chuffed with the result. The invisible zip went in fine, despite the lack of an invisible zip foot. The skirt is a little snug, but I shall wear my Spanx and wiggle my tush.

So, finally, a sewing non-disaster! I would like to finish the seams though as they are a bit fray-y. I may bind them in some way but I haven't thought how yet... But I'm back in the sewing saddle. Now to tackle Christmas presents!