ICHF Creative Stitches and Hobby craft plus weekend fun!

On Saturday I went to ICHF Creative Stitches and Hobby craft exhibition.  I have to say I was a little disappointed really.  I suppose I was expecting more stitching stuff or better prices at a show but really there wasn't much I went "wow" over.  I did however spot some grey moda walk in the woods fabric but it was only in charm packs and I really want yardage so I was disappointed with that.  I couldn't get over how many stands there were with beads or that were pretty much unrelated to crafting at all.  One stand was supreme nails.  Now they were the only stall I bought from but how are they craft related really?  I did however buy some fabulous nail pens from them.  I currently have cow print finger nails which I am a little in love with.  I also have a rogue strawberry on my pinky finger, though my husband tells me it looks nothing like a strawberry.  Opinions are very much welcomes (but only if you agree with me! )

I wanted to take loads of pictures in Brighton especially as I was childless however I forgot to put the memory card in my camera so I had a camera but no way of taking photos which was disappointing.  The day was lovely and we found an amazing antique shop in the Lanes.  There were all sorts of wonderful things in there including a giant telescope and some fabulous antique jewellery.  I utterly fell in love with an 18ct gold bangle with loads of old cut diamonds.  Shame I didn't have £3k knocking around really.

Today we went to Lakeside Country Park and went on a miniature steam train which was great fun!  Jake had a whale of a time as he loves all things train/Thomas related.  We also stopped at a park halfway round and almost sent the boys into orbit.

I've been a bit rubbish on the sewing front the last couple of weeks.  I couldn't tell you exactly what it was that's put me in a downer but I do need to make one really amazing dress I think to boost my confidence back up.  I also think I need to try and make a different dress.  There's the most gorgeous chiffon dress in this months Sew magazine which I might have a crack at during the evenings this week.

Cars dress

Well this weekend I have mainly been trying to get a Disney Cars dress made.  This didn't happen over the weekend at all.  We had my stepdaughter this weekend so mostly the plans for sewing went out the window.  I did manage to cut the pieces which turned out to be an absolute disaster as my C (my stepdaughter) decided to write on the fabric.  I am less than impressed as C is 8 and more than old enough to know you don't draw or write on things that a) don't belong to you and b) aren't paper.  She also decided to write "Jakes" on it.

Thankfully it's mostly come out with a wipe from a baby wipe and when it's washed it'll totally come out.  Thanks C.

So after the writing disaster I decided to try and get it done while Daniel was sleeping and Jake was engrossed in cars and painting  This didn't quite go to plan as Jake decided to 'help' me pin, and then screwed up all my bias binding.  Thanks Jake.  He did look incredibly cute (and messy) when painting though so all is forgiven.

As a result it did take me about two hours to get to the sewing stage which went fairly well.  The dress isn't finished though as the bias tape I was using was just awful thanks to being screwed up.  It would just not lay properly at all so I need to unpick what I've done and get some more bias tape and hope I can salvage it.

As well as dealing with Jake and the addition to the fabric I had a cat who suddenly thought she was roaming the plains of the savannah.  Please note the blue hand print on the chair!

As a result I have no concluded I am NEVER sewing while the children are around again.  I thought it would be fine but clearly as soon as I do something slightly different to our day time routine it results in small fingers becoming very interested. It's sweet that Jake wants to join in and help Mummy but it's such a hindrance.

Just to show you the dress so far. 

An example of how the bias tape will look (but better)

It's just been one of 'those' weekends.  Here's hoping for a better week and fingers crossed a move date!  I have lots of plans for our new house which includes a nice sewing cubby which will keep little fingers out!  I may well manage to make the sewing cubby while we're still here as I definitely need it sooner than later!

Today is #Blogitforbabies

After a pretty rough week I managed to get the dress finished and sent last minute yesterday.  Unfortunately the ruffled nappy cover didn't make it purely because I ran out of time.

Tuesday night Mr D. was poorly.  He had a raging temperature and we were unable to cool him down.  This resulted in me over reacting (of course!) and staying up until 2am when I deemed he was at an acceptable temperature for me to go to bed.  When we awoke the next morning Daniel mostly slept all day which resulted in extreme neurosis and checking him every 5 minutes.  This is in between falling asleep on the sofa, my eldest causing havoc because I had fallen asleep and some pretty horrific stomach cramps.

Thankfully we're all back to normal now, well as normal as we'll ever be!  So pictures of the dress I sent.  I appreciate people have seen it before but the idea was to donate the dress I'd already made and make a lovely ruffle nappy cover for it.  Oh well such is life and I'm just glad I could donate something to such an amazing cause.

I really need to discover a better way of showcasing my dresses.  It's particularly hard to get these wrap around dresses to fall the right way when not on a child.  Notice my stealthy buttons!  I could not find any buttons I liked to go with the dress then I remembered I had some self cover buttons which I think look ace.  The print is quite 'busy' and I'm now thinking that perhaps it was too much with obvious buttons.


I then moved onto the next disaster of the week.  I'd lost the sellotape.  No matter how hard I looked for it (in between comforting a groggy baby, tantrumming toddler and throwing the massive pity party for myself) it was no where to be found.  I was running out of time and had no other option than to improvise a way of wrapping the dress to send.

Yes in my infinite wisdom and creativeness I used stickers and a paper envelope (the dress was wrapped in a plastic bag so not likely to get wet).   I keep flicking between smug for my inventive use of stickers and embarrassed that I've covered a package in whimsical stickers.  At least it's a donation to a charity event raising money for babies and maternity services and not something more serious like leprosy.  Although someone with leprosy might be cheered up by the whimsy.


I'd like to wish A Cupcake Mum the best of luck for this afternoon with her Save the children #blogitforbabies event this afternoon.