Where does the time go?

Hello all. Sorry it has been such a long time since i was last on here, time has really gotten away from me lately. I'm going to have a lot more free time on my hands in the near future, i lost my job back in January, so i figured i would put pen to paper whilst I've got the extra time just now.

Well it is only 19 months till the wedding which i cant quite believe. So far i have got Lynda (my sister and only bridesmaid) outfit organised. She will be in this simplicity dress which i have bought the fabric for. I have got the lining and organza for the interlining and a beautiful heavy purple duchess satin for the dress itself. I will also be making the bolero for her too (you never quite know what the Scottish weather will be like in September) which will be made of silk dupion tartan to match Graemes kilt.

For myself i have picked out a few patterns to emulate the dress that i have fell in love with. I have been dress shopping to try on lots of different styles so i know what suits my body shape and i have settled for this beauty by True Bride.... the only downfall of it is that i don't have £1200 to buy it! so i will be mashing a few patterns together to make it as close to this as possible.

We have the venue booked, the photographer booked again (long story), i know what i will be doing for favours (just need to get the supplies) i have our stationary for the save the date cards (just need to order the main invites once we have a better idea of a guest list). I still have to pick out flowers, road test the wedding cake trials with me mammy, decide if we are buying mammys dress or am i making it, and get the guys to order their kilts.

Craft wise I have recently signed up to do a distance learning dressmaking course so i will be making regular updates on how that i going. hopefully this will fine tune my skills for when it comes to make everything for the wedding!
I have been crocheting away. I have still yet to make the baby blanket i spoke about below (again long story) but i have made one in a green and blue version to welcome my handsome nephew into the world last month. And here he is with his blanket. I think he looks rather comfy!

He also has a quilt and matching bag for his pram that i will add another day.

Well i will be off just now and i will be back tomorrow!

Speak soon
Samantha

Saturday

Good morning all! I so don't want to go back to work on Monday =( I stitched up a swatch of my baby crofter wool. It was a joy to do. I can't wait to crochet the full blanket. Still can't decide what to do? Here's the swatch. The colours are beautiful together. I really hope she will love it. I'm off for just now, a roll and black pudding is calling my name.
Speak soon
Sam x

It's June already!

 I can't quite believe it is the 1st of June already. I have been off work this past week so I have been able to get some crafting done.

I've finally caught up with the Craftsy Block of the month. So I have completed all the blocks from January to June. Here they all are on my Craftsy Profile. I have also been able to turn our spare room into my crafting room rather than hijacking our dining table all the time. So no more sewing my tablecloth through my quilts!

My sisters dress pattern has arrived! its beautiful. I will be making it in a deep purple fabric. I have been learning how to draft my own patterns so i might tweak the top of the bodice to look more like this....

Failing that, I am going to make her a bolero from Pride of Scotland Tartan. The purple really pops out next to the swatch of Dutches Satin for my sisters gown.

I have recently created a profile on Wedding Bee. Its a wedding forum for all things to do with your big day, from rings to dresses to etiquette and everything in between. There is a DIY section for all crafty brides to be. It allows you post on whatever takes your fancy. some of the things these girls so is unbelievable, I have so many more ideas for our wedding now.

I have had some ideas on my dress. I will be keeping it all under wraps until the big day just in case Graeme is having a sneaky peek!

One of my colleagues in work is having a baby girl so Ive decided to make her a baby blanket. I ordered the wool off eBay (after having a look in John Lewis first) as she was far cheaper than the shops. I ordered Sirdar Snuggly Crofter in Colour 0151. Its called Keltie.

Its full of heathery purples and pinks. Just what a wee Scottish lassie needs! its soooooo soft. I cant wait to create it. I'm thinking of doing lots of granny squares and stitch them all together rather than one big granny square? what do we think?

Anyway I'm off for just now.

Speak soon

Sam x

It has begun!

Hello all! Well its official. I will be Mrs McShane on the 27th of September 2014! We have booked the venue and our photographer for the big day. Our wedding will be held at The Three Kings http://www.thethreekings.co.uk/Gallery/Web%20Optimised/default.htm just outside Falkirk and our photographer is Kingdom Photography of Kippen http://www.kingdomphotos.co.uk/gallery_222987.html.

So with the major things booked its now onto my dress. I had my first dress shopping appointment last week. It went well, we weren't aloud to take photographs(???) Why? I have no idea! so i have only my memories to remind me which dresses i liked the look of. Hmmm. I know I've still not found "the one" but i know it will happen... eventually.

My sister is going to be my MOH and only bridesmaid. Ive never liked the idea of loads of bridesmaids and its only ever been my mum, sister and I at home so we are all really close. We have came to a decision on her dress  

She will be in a deep purple and she will have a matching bolero which will be in Graemes tartan. I think it will be stunning! I cant wait to go fabric shopping and get started on it.

Its soooo exciting!

Speak soon

Sammy x

I'm getting married!

That's right folks, Graeme asked me to marry him.... and of course I said yes! It still hasn't sunk in yet. We've been looking at some venues this week, my mind is in overload! There is so much to think about, but I will be aiming to make as much as I can, my dress, my bridesmaid dress, invitations, favours, cake and anything else that may crop up.

Ive been on looking online to see about dress patterns, nothing I've been totally bowled over by yet. I have seen these beautiful dresses by Marfy, these are advertised for experienced sewers only, as they come with no instructions or pattern layout. Eek! They are beautiful though.

Ohhh I'm soooo excited! once things start getting booked i will update you all on my progress, especially the dress making. This will be a challenge!

Sammy xxxx

New Year

Hello all. i know im a bit late for new year wishes... but ive been so busy. For 2012 I am following online course The Craftsy Block of the Month. Its free! (major bonus!!) Amy Gibson is the host and tutor. I love Craftsy courses. So on the 1st of every month a new video is uploaded for you to follow along with to make a full quilt, I cant wait to see this quilt grow... and of course i will share it with you all.

Januarys blocks are complete...

The fabric I have chosen to use is Meadow Friends by Deb Strain for Moda. I spent many hours just looking at all the wonderfull fabrics in the line. I cant wait to see what Feburarys Blocks are like!

Speak soon

Samantha x

Soap!

Hi all.

Well I have nearly finished my mammys quilt (below) I just have the quitling and then the binding to do and that is me finito!

To go with her quilt i've made her a bar of Raspberry soap which has just over a week left of curing then I can have it wrapped up and looking purty. (pics will follow then)

Seing as I have another Saturday off I decided to make another batch of coconut soap. There is something about the smell of coconut that I just love! So my house now smells like a bottle of Malibu!!!! Again pictures will follow once I take them out of the molds tomorow night.

On surfing for new fragrance mixes to try. I just don't have enough time in my day to try everything! Does any one else have that problem???

Sammy xxx

Mammys Quilt Topper

Here we have it, My first quilt topper. I enrolled online on Jenny Doans Quilting Quickly as my local quilting class had a year and a half waiting list! After watching her online classes I scoured the internet looking for fabric and i fell in love with Moda Fabrics Strawberry Field. So far I have created the topper, i am waiting on the release of the matching fabric (the topper was made with the pre cuts) so i can have the backing and borders done. I am making this for my mums birthday which is the 3rd week in July so hopefuly i can get it finished soon so i dont have to worry about it anymore lol.

Heres the topper so far

Speak soon

xxxx

Summer Dress

Hi all, heres my latest addition to my wardrobe. This beautiful Vogue summer dress. I am off to Inverness for a week in July for our summer holiday and my mums birthday is during the week we are away so no doubt we will be out for dinner, so now i have the perfect dress.

Not the best picture, i know, i will get my dear partner to take some proper pictures out in the sunshine. Although you all get to see my "new" dress making dummy. My aunty brought that all the way up from Dover on a plane- in her hand lugage!!! how they let her on the plane i don't know, its older than my mammy. Its got an old wire frame for the body that you have to mold to your body then hang it on the dummys sholders.

My next project is one of Amy Butlers Liverpool shirt, again for the holiday lol. So far i have cut out all the pattern pieces and i have sewn the darts. I have hurt my back so hopefully sitting at my machine wont be too painful to finish it off.

Speak soon
Sammy xx

Flared skirt take 2

Hi there, ive started to make another one of the flared skirts that i made above but in the beautiful strawberry print cotton fabric i got from ditto fabric online a few weeks ago.

It is simply stunning, and its quite a thick cotton so i might be able to get away without lining it???? just need to wait and see.

Well so far i have cut the pattern out and joined the centre seam and fitted the zip.... now i have to fit the stupid waist band. This is such a fiddly bit as ive got to get the pleats in the right place so the skirt flares right lol. I gave up for tonight, i will hopefully go back to it tomorow night after work.

Speak soon

Sammy xxxx