Positive Thinking

I intend to begin this new year with a positive manner. After receiving good results for my biopsy  and my friend is on the last leg of her recovery from breast cancer,life is slowly getting back to normal! It all makes you think just what is important in life and how we worry and "moan" over the slightest thing. Christmas was lovely enjoying it with my children and grandchildren. 
 I intend to start making my crafts with some new ideas and designs ( hopefully ),and post some photos to show my progress, including a few tip about sewing.

So I would like to wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year.

A quick thought

Quite a lot has been going on in my life lately. After the upset of my friend  being diagnosed with breast cancer ,and her ongoing treatment ,which is all good T.G. I had a biopsy myself about a week ago. It involved a mark on my face which was growing slowly .I am now awaiting results so hopefully all is well!
Apart from that I am still kept busy with my alteration business (Nips &Tucks) and also my crafts which I love making ,particularly my Christmas decorations that I'm working on at the moment.
As this a new laptop I'm working on, I have not had time to upload my latest pictures of my crafts, so bear with me on this issue. Bye for now!

Simple Change to Sleeves

Making a simple change to this dress. Cut the sleeves to elbow length and then gather the fabric at the centre sides of each sleeve,  sew a couple of nice buttons on and now you have changed the whole look of your dress (for the better)

Piece of left over fabric

After altering this lovely bridsmaids dress into a knee length dress I had enough fabric over to make a matching clutch bag . The bag has an inside pocket and magnetic snap closure.

Another satisified customer ! 

I cannot believe it's been over 4 weeks since I last posted.Where does the time go? Lots of alterations of bridesmaids and communion dresses has put my crafts on the "back burner" for a while but I'm starting to catch up now. The craft fairs are beginning now so my baby blankets and booties are selling well.
Apart from this football has taken over and I must say I'm looking forward to watching  the Ireland and Poland match Sunday.Whether they win or not lets just enjoy the game!

From Fabric to Apron

This was a piece of fabric I bought  last November, "Skulls and Roses" I call it. And I love it!  Every time I looked at it I kept wondering just what to make so as you can see it's now a lovely apron. Trimmed in red cotton with pocket and frill around the bottom. I guess you certainly would be noticed cooking in the kitchen with this apron!!!!!!!!

Take a look at it on my facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/valeries.crafts

Vintage dress restyled

This lovely simple  vintage dress bought in Dublin. A request,from a lady for her second marriage, to change this dress befitting for a bride. The fabric was so beautiful ,delicate,light and simple.
As you can see the neckline was typically vintage, as was the sleeve style.

Adding a satin waistband with a decorative embellishment fitted to the front changed the style greatly,but something was missing!!!!!!!!!!! Yes an underskirt to fill the skirt,now it was complete.

Can't wait to see this lovely lady all dressed up on her wedding day.
It was a pleasure restyling her dress.

Pretty Flower Girl

This lovely "flower girl" dress I restyled to fit pretty Kieri .The bows and headband matched the bridesmaid dresses.Kieri was flower girl to her mam and her brother was pageboy.     What a handsome pair they make!

Easter Chicks Flannel Blanket

This is my newest flannel baby blanket,so pretty in reality trimmed across the top in lemon with a lemon heart sewn under my "Angel" label.
Slightly stronger in colour than the picture shows. Reverse side in white flannel fabric. So soft and cosy for baby.

I love making these baby blankets and  bibs to match.

 I have also decided on making matching baby booties !
What do you think?

Keeping in touch!

Hi all, I seem to be getting very lazy posting on my blog. I worked so hard coming up to Christmas with alterations and crafts,selling at markets etc. Maybe I needed the break! But I have been busy in my workshop lots of alterations including altering a lovely vintage wedding dress and also (for a different customer) a pretty flower girls dress. Obviously I cannot show you the photos yet but I will in the coming weeks! By the way I would love to see some of your work!
Bye for now.

Workshop orders ready to go.

I know I've been neglecting my blog lately, my alteration business has taken up all my time. I really don't mean to complain but I was asked to make some unusual items for customers ,ie, a fabric cover for a water cooler, a fabric cover for a very large wine rack, 37ins wide and 70ins tall (imagine all the wine that holds ).
 I was delighted to receive compliments on both of these finished designs.

I have just finished these covers for a wicker 3 piece suite of furniture .Ready and waiting for the customer to collect!

Back now to my crafts ,hoping to be ready for my first craft fair this season next weekend in Killester north Dublin.

By for now.

Transforming a Jacket

This is a photo of a waistcoat  that was a ladies jacket not so long ago! Unfortunately I forgot to photograph the jacket before the alteration began,but never mind the end result was good !
Firstly I removed the sleeves ,then the neckline was changed to a "v" style and lastly the side seams wear taken in to give the jacket shape. The owner of this waistcoat was very pleased with the result . I hope this will help to give some of you budding dressmakers a few ideas of your own, regards.

Back at last

At last I can log into my blog again and reply to comments also,thanks to "Patricias fabric art"and her advice!Take a look at her blog,it's really good.
Once again the markets are in full swing,ie, Castletown House in Celbridge Co.Kildare,also Buttons and Bows in Crumlin,Dublin, which are both on this weekend Sunday 21st.August.
I love this time of year,in regards to crafts,it's the beginning of thinking of the "holiday" or "Christmas" season as we know it in Ireland. What fabrics are we going to use or trying out new ideas to make an impacted.Yes,everyone wants to be different in their own way! That's what makes it great !
Regards

Celbridge Market

I'm all ready for the food and craft market in Castletown House in Celbridge tomorrow Sunday 17th July,but it looks like the weather is against us,rain,rain and more rain is forecast.This is my first time to attend this market and was really looking forward to it so here's hoping! As the song goes "my bags are packed and I'm readt to go".
I have changed direction in my crafts and am now making some lovely Flannel Baby Blankets (if I may say so myself),hope I get a good reaction for them at the market,that's if anyone shows up!!!!!

Busy Sewing

All this week I have so busy sewing not only for my alteration business but making some new crafts.
Yes! my first craft fair in quite a long time is happening this coming Sunday 3rd July in Dublin,so wish me luck.
I have made some new Satchel Bags and lovely Baby flannel blankets, a first for me,  and I'm really pleased how they look and are so soft, I'll post some photos of them next time. I must say I'm really looking forward to the fair,I love meeting new people and having a "chat".
Bye for now

Sewing for myself .

Back to sewing for myself this week. Having bought a lovely pair of white ,summer cotton trousers, about 2yrs ago in Ibiza ,Spain, while on holiday. I never wore them because they needed lining as they were a bit "see through",if you know what I mean, and of course my own clothes are always the last to be mended or repaired.

Last week as I was clearing out my wardrobe to give to the local charity shop, I came across an old pair of trousers which were lined in white.How lucky was that ,I changed  the lining from one pair of trousers to the other pair. Job done !

Sewing tips

Just a couple more sewing tips I thought might be of some use to you.

I have had a number of people asking me to explain the measurements on the "inch" tape, so I hope this will help.

Another tip is for when your buying fabric or a dress,etc. scrunch it in your hands and if it falls back and holds its shape,great! but if it holds the wrinkles,by all means buy it if you like ,but just remember it might need a lot of ironing!

Busy Sewing Week !

Yes another busy week for Alterations in my workshop. As it's coming into the Christmas season and people are buying some new clothes for parties,etc. I have been really kept going doing alterations. Shortening hems on dresses ,skirts and trousers also jacket sleeves are never the right length.

I also decided to make some lovely pin cushions from remnants of velvet I had left over from making my velvet scarves.

As you can see I embossed them in the "rose" design and they are so handy when working.

I sold some at a craft fair last week in Dublin along with my scarves and bags.

My next fair is 5th December and I'm really looking forward to it. I love meeting new crafters and making new friends .

This time I must remember to take some photos and post them on my blog,so till then ,bye

Your Workspace

Making life easier in your workspace, is easier said than done! But everything gets out of control at some stage and when this happens, (which happens a lot) start by tidying up!!!!
Next put the work that needs to be done first in some kind of order. Now your getting somewhere.
Because I do Alterations and Repairs this is my main agenda, first come first served is my motto!

I have one rail for incoming orders and another (which I have done) for outing, ready to collect.
I find my threads get in a mess so sorting them out is a great help to me, finding the colours at a glance is a treat!

Best of all is keeping all your spare pieces of fabric in one place,and getting "rid"of stuff you really "Do not need".

As regards my crafts I to do my orders first, which usually means Velvet Scarves and Bags,Totes etc. and the part I love best is trying new patterns for my crafts, which gets me back to my workspace being a mess!!!!!!!!!!!