Vodka Queen

I made this for my friend for her birthday but it's something that i've been meaning to do for a while now.  I'd like a line of personalised cushions that have silly words on or can be personal to the person you are buying it for or the interior it's going to match.

This one is made in Grey Wool Felt with a Grey polka dot back, an envelope opening to keep the inner secure but easily removable to wash if needed.  I love the capitol letters i think they really stand out.  The font isn't a font as it was sketched out by myself and cut accordingly but i think they look quite good if i say so myself.

What does buying a personalised gift say to you?
For me it's something unique, something someone has really put thought into for you instead of just choosing something random.  It can be funny, a joke or just plain cheeky.   

What do you think?

A Little Taste of Candy

Candy colours are huge this Spring/Summer and i love them!!  You will see them everywhere from clothes, accessories, nails and makeup so get yours now!!

Here's a little taster of my new line of scarves and my first 'Candy' colours..

I need a light box!! All the photographs i take are in bad lighting due to the time of day i can get them taken!! I will I will I will I will invest in one!!

Here's a few i made earlier

 1980s vintage fab

The Start Of Something New....

I'm starting to look at new designs for missymoomoo and sam, i want to add more grown up lines inspired by my love of vintage.

I have lots and lots of fabric and some of it vintage, in fact i'm obsessed by fabric so i thought about using it up on new designs.  My first new line will be scarves! Yup scarves..and yes i know we're nearly into Spring and soon summer but my range will be fabulous summer, quirky, girly (and manly) fabrics that for the ladies could also be worn as a head scarf!!

The idea came from loving the look of 1950's 60s Hollywood glamour and beautiful stars wearing head scarves, turbans etc.  I just love that glamorous look and wear to wear it well? The beach or poolside with Raybans or Jackie O's!

Here's my very first one.  

                     

1980s Tartan Fabric in navy blue with a red & beige line.  The underside is also a vintage 80s fabric that has very faint chequered lines.

measurements are

78 cm length  x 18 cm width

It's very lightweight so it could be used for the coming few months.  The fabric is new and has never been used and just stored and that shows what a good quality fabric it is!!!

Listed on Etsy

How a design is made

Well it's been a long time since i blogged and i hadn't realised!!!  October was the last time i connected with blogger!.

So.....here's what i'm going to blog about

I thought i'd go through stage by stage by stage so you can see from start to finish how one of my designs are made so here i start with 'Ducky'.

First of all I chose the fabric, size and colour and design

Taking one of my patterns i cut out the correct size in the outer fabric and lining fabric.

Taking my letter templates i cut out the name it's being personalised in, in this case it's being personalised with the word 'Piglet's' (it's going to a nursery) and the chosen design is 'Ducky'.

All cut out and ready to be placed

The design and letter and measured from side to side of the bag i.e. say...4" from the side so they're equal and not one sided etc.

I then pin them in place and sew

Once the design and personalisation is finished then i sew in the hook to the back side of the outer fabric but first of all it's pressed into folds and then it's stitched.

The sides and the bottom of the outer and lining including placing the label which i usually sew into the side of the outer fabric are then stitched and pressed open but a gap is left 3/4 of the way along the bottom of the lining so i can pull the outer fabric through...This will make sense in a mo...

After seams are pressed the outer fabric is now sewn to the lining placing the right side of the outer fabric inside to the right side of the lining.

Then the outer fabric that is now inside the lining is then pull through the gap i made when sewing the bottom of the lining..remember i said this would make sense in a mo?  This then allows the top of the bag to have a neat unraw edge and also the hem lining inside is neatly tucked away.

The lining is tucked inside and the gap sewn. The top of the bag is neaten by pressing with an iron.

I then take a measuring tape and measure from the top edge of the bag where i want to make my first line of stitching to go around the bag to form the first stitching of the cord channel. This is then bar tacked at both the seams for security and again a measurement below is made to then stitch the second line of stitching around the bag to form the channel and again bar tacked.

A cotton cording is then threaded through the bag from one slit and then again from the opposite side slit, this then forms the pulling action needed to draw the bag to a close.

The finished product is now ready to be fully pressed, wrapped and sent!!

From £16.99 at missymoomooandsam.co.uk

Halloween

Halloween when i was growing up wasn't what it is today.  Yes we used to celebrate it and occasionally got dressed up but my mum never dressed our house up and i certainly didn't trick or treat.  It was only until my children were born and they were old enough to be dressed up that i took them with my sister in law around our neighbourhood and relatives to trick or treat.  Every year it creeps up on me and i always say to myself in the years missymoomoo and sam was up and running that i will design some little bags for trick or treat but guess what i never did!! This year on my return is a little too late i guess to do but i may find some time to make them anyway and store them away for next year.

Isobel wants to go and trick or treat on h er own but i still don't like this idea and i think at 14 she's a little too old to have mum hiding to the side of thedoor or even worse dressed up with her so i've promised her i'll dress up at home, we'll dress the house and have spooky food ready for the trick or treaters to arrive...mwah mwah mwaaaahhhhhhh (supposed to be a spooky sound)...

What do you do every Halloween?  I'd love pics if you have them..

Halloween is an old tradition that came from Ireland so i guess this is why it's so big in America due to the huge invasion of the wonderful people of Ireland in the late 1800s early 1900s and they took their traditions over the Atlantic.

The origins of All Hallows Even or better known as 'Halloween'

What does the name 'Halloween' mean?

The name Halloween (originally spelled Hallowe'en) is a contraction of All Hallows Even, meaning the day before All Hallows Day (better known as All Saints Day), a Catholic  holiday commemorating Christian saints and martyrs observed since the early Middle Ages on November 1.

How and when did Halloween originate?

The best available evidence indicates that Halloween originated in the early Middle Ages as a Catholic vigil observed on the eve of All Saints Day, November 1.

It has become commonplace to trace its roots even further back in time to a pagan festival of ancient Ireland known as Samhain (pronounced sow'-en or sow'-een), about which little is actually known. The prehistoric observance is said to have marked the end of summer and the onset of winter, and was celebrated with feasting, bonfires, sacrificial offerings, and homage to the dead.

In short 'All Hallows Eve' celebrated the dead and the masks and dress were worn to ward off Evil Spirt.

How sad is it that an ancient tradition such as this isn't celebrated so big in this country or is that just me who perhaps hasn't embraced it?

Christmas 2012

I'm opening missymoomoo and sam again for Christmas orders due to many emails asking whether missy would return again.  It's been a long hard decision but i'd be stupid not too!  I love making my storage bags and if i'm really honest i've really missed it so here's the first of a few designs for Christmas Toy Sacks

In four different sizes this year too!

Herbie

Herbie is one of my best sellers. Herbie was developed 'oh, gosh about five years ago' on ebay! A very lovely customer wanted a car on her bag, so i sketched 'Herbie' alas my first custom order was born! He is still going strong.

I designed this version along with Herbie (black) Herbie (blue). I think i need to get PC though and do a pink one too! Girls love cars too don't they! Or is just the fast one's that would cost you 12 bedroom mansion in Maida Vale! 'Well!! Dreaming starts young.......