But it all was bull%@&*

 

Pattern: Sewaholic Kelly skirt

Size: Large

Fabric: Teal corduroy from Fabricland

Apologies for the cursing, but this project is my homage to Robbie Hart's "I wrote half of it when I was with Linda, and I wrote the other half after we broke up, so it's a little uneven, you know?"

I started writing this blog post halfway through the Kelly skirt. It started so heavenly - wonderful, speedy, and then went so very wrong. I really hope our relationship has a happier ending that Robbie and Linda's and that Van Halen don't break up in the process. Oh, hang on...

Triple whammy!

Pattern: Sewaholic Crescent skirt

Size: 10

Fabric: Denim cotton from Cupcake Cottons; black flower suiting from Saeed's, Walthamstow.

Happy new year everybody! As predicted, the 12 days off work have flown by but I am pleased that I managed to get some sewing in between eating and drinking too much, watching a ton of films, traipsing around the muddy countryside, and completing a jigsaw of the London skyline.

I have been wanting to work on my weekend wardrobe a bit as I tend to make nice work dresses and not a lot for more casual wear. So I decided to make a denim version of the Sewaholic Crescent skirt. As it's so gathered I was worried that denim might be a bit thick so opted for a denim-y cotton instead. I love this fabric with its cute little flower pattern and it's just what I was looking for.
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The year of the Minx

I noticed a few of the blogs I follow are currently featuring round-ups of their sewing year. It occurred to me it would be a good idea to have a look back at the first year of One Crafty Minx, and review my projects and be realistic about how I feel about them all! So - here we go...

Liebster award!

One Crafty Minx has been nominated for a Liebster Award by the gorgeous girls at Tea for Two Diary. Thanks, ladies! I must confess I hadn't heard of this award until recently but it is possibly one of the nicest, most positive things around.

The Liebster Award is an award set up to bring recognition to and increase viewership for blogs with fewer than 200 followers.

As part of the award I now have to tell you 11 facts about myself:

1. By day, I'm a production editor for a medical communications agency.
2. I love country music.
3. I have an insatiable appetite for hugs.
4. I am a big fan of market towns.
5. I have a fear of pipes. Yes, pipes.
6. I would always choose a starter over a dessert.
7. I was vegetarian for 18 years. But now ribs are one of my favourites.
8. I have a Blue Peter badge.
9. I write to two death row in-mates.
10. I'm happiest frolicking in the countryside with my big and little minxes.
11. I'm old before my time and love a good Horlicks before bed.

Bonjour, Belladone!

Pattern: Belladone from Deer&Doe

Size: 10

Fabric: Cotton from Village Fabrics in Wallingford

I spent aaaaages trying to find a pattern to make a dress for my work Christmas party. Once I'd whittled out the ones that just wouldn't work with my figure, and the ones using terrifying floaty fabrics, I wasn't left with much. Luckily I stumbled across Belladone from the wonderful Deer&Doe. It's a simple enough construction, to be made from a sturdy fabric, but that back opening is enough to make it party and beautiful.

I found some great fabric in Mason's - blue and gold, really snazzy and festive but once I started sewing I realised it had a weird diagonal stretch to it and just wasn't going to create the neat, crisp lines required for Belladone. So it has been relegated to cushions. With only two weeks to go until that party, things were getting desperate so we decided to check out Village Fabrics in Wallingford, and what a find! It's no good if you're after fancy fabrics, but if you want a comprehensive range of cottons, then this is quite the goldmine. The one I chose is black with stripes of grey and a bronzey-gold with a slight shimmer. I wanted to bring in a bit more colour and so opted for a burgundy satin bias binding which really highlights the awesome bits of the dress.