Skirt complete

After a few makes I have managed to get the construction time of this skirt down to around 3 hours for the unlined version and 3.5 hours for the lined. Its proving quite popular so I am going to grade the pattern up to a size 18 and see how well they do. Selling price will be around £85 depending on materials. Made to measure of course will also be available at an extra £60 for new clients and £30 for existing clients. Peticoats are sold seperately at £45 each.

Origami flowers

I have been trying out origami flowers to go with my butterfly project. These are my first attempts and im quite pleased with the result!!

Jetted pockets

These are simple but daunting.  One mistake and you can wreck 16 hours of sewing.  Tomorrow I make the cut. 

Making the butterfly templates

First I drew a line down the centre of the paper,  then sketched the outline of one wing of the butterflies.  Next I folded the sheet of paper along the line and cut out the wings making the complete wing template.  I now have 12 unique templates to work with. 

Butterfly templates

The templates I made for a butterfly project came in useful for making a birthday card for my girl.  It's very quick and easy and I could have spent more time and glitter on it,  but she loves it!

Design sketches

Here are a few design sketches from my latest project. 
In the process of toiling the short dress.  It's going well. 

This week's project.

Currently making this little lot into something interesting. 

Silk paper vases, experimental stage.

Over the last couple of weeks I have been experimenting with silk paper again and perfecting a method for covering a vase in silk paper for a decorative effect. my first experiment has turned out reasonably well but I hope to be able to create a cover that can be removed from the vase so that the vase can be washed.

The experiment so far...

Starting to lay the tops over the netting.

Building up the layers.

Preparing to roll the vase.

All rolled up. Ready to paint on the solution.

Solution on.

The finished vase.

Back to work

It was nice to take a little break over Christmas, spent the two months before Christmas buried under several metres of taffeta in various colours for the ball season. All over now so back to concentrating on a bespoke trouser and top combination for a client.

Also planned for the coming month is a major website overhaul and the construction of as much stock as possible for my online store. Its all cut out, it just needs attacking with a sewing machine to turn the heap of fabric into the fabulous garments they are destined to be.

Then its on to planning for the Easter craft fayre, silk paper is going to feature heavily, I have plans for several vases and experiments with colours and textures to complete. As the phone and tablet computer cases sold well pre Christmas, I think a few more of those might be in order too. I have ideas for quilted, crochet and leather work pieces, the latter aimed at a more masculine customer.