brownies

What best to warm your heart on a cold winter day but home-made brownies?

Why, I say, even better than that is using my new matriochka timer to help make them! It's sooo nice to have friends think of you and remember your tastes. Thanks, A. !

As usual, it has been another Sunday filled with lots of good intentions to do things for myself (especially trying out this new pattern I purchased from Michelle Patterns, formerly known as Keyka lou). Unfortunately, everyday life always takes over, and the reality is, without a three-day weekend, I can never achieve all I set out to do. Still, hey ho, not long before I stay at home for more time than I ever imagined...that too warms the heart!

2011

As we wave goodbye to 2011 and look forward to the surprises 2012 has in store for us, I look back at some of last year's memories...and what a ride it's been!

A quiet month despite my birthday, when I had the best meal ever!

A lovely trip back home, with family meals and a couple of days in Paris on the way back. Oh, and my work load unexpectedly rose up when I got promoted out of the blue - all in all a nice surprise. 

Got my favourite cardigan of the year

First attempts at making Log Cabin, and a fabulous, mind-blowing trip to Vietnam and Cambodia.

Patchwork place mats

A few days in Barcelona, lots of happy kids. The end of year approaches...

Using all that free time to start my first quilt, and travelling to Paris a lot. I also had my first ever sewing lesson, comforting me that I was more or less doing the right thing already. Seeing Tree of Life to celebrate my first weekend on holidays was awesome too!

The best feeling ever when I finished my first quilt. Having a lovely time back in the French countryside, and one of the highlights was probably seeing Super 8 one afternoon in the local cinema.

Making yet more pouches, and more importantly finally getting engaged!

Visiting loads of people and venues for our wedding plans.

Quiet winter month

Christmas at home, just the two of us. Bliss.

***  A very happy new year to all of you  ***

Little pouch bags

Here's some of the things I've been up to in the last few weeks. I have to say that I've not been anywhere near as productive as I meant to be. But to break the routine we've had people over every weekend for the last three weeks, so there's not been much time available.
Not to mention that we bought the Millenium movies after hearing so much good about the adaptations. To be honest, they are quite entertaining but, as always, not too faithful to the original story. And who on earth decided to cast that woman as Erika B? I pictured a sexy woman with my big blond hair and a killer dress sense. Bit disappointed on this one. Then there's Mikke himself, supposed to be this Adonis whom no lady can resist...and all we get is this not-so energetic man. Charming, granted, but not irresistible.
Anyway, back to business now: I have completed a handful of pretty pocket pouches, who are awaiting a new home for January 2012. There are still two on the way, and a couple of extra things I haven't quite finished yet.

Cutest poodle fabric from Toto in France

If you are lucky enought to have a beautiful Advent calendar, I really REALLY envy you. This year I have been through and through London trying to find a pretty one like in Berlin, but it was not to be. Snifff. Oh well, I guess it's all for the good cause of trying not to get obese before I fit into Ya certain dressY next year...can't wait to share that with you in a few months' time!

work in progress

This month...

--> -->♥ I loved - loved - loved the Indian summer, but not so much the drastic change of temperatures we've been experiencing in the past few days. Strapless dress to furry coat within days = big cold! -->♥  seeing a whole chunk of my family unexpectedly has been really quite emotional...even more so as we were celebrating the life of a beloved who passed away. Funerals are always bizarre situations, aren't they? -->♥  I found out just how addicted I am to the Internet at home. Not having a working phone nor a web connection has not brought out the best in me at first, and then i sort of re-discovered the joys of being free from it all. Now it's back, and so is my sanity.♥ Still loving the weird and wonderful world of Rock'n Roll bride. Added Un beau jour to my daily browsing too. Are you sensing a theme?
♥ Still busy making some lovely pocket using Keyka Lou's patterns, as you can see. They're a pleasure to work with. My lounge turns into a real factory at the weekend!

 
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things I love right now

Things I absolutely love at the moment...

♥  spending hours watching Rock'n'roll bride's decadent and magnificent weddings
♥  the heat wave - it's not too late to wear summer gear once more, yeah!
♥  seeing happy bloggers on every continent, with a special thought for Alicia. If you haven't read her blog before, run to it, and I swear you will get addicted!
♥   preparing for Christmas (you know it's just around the corner)
♥   Bliss Cocotte's before and after pictures - so cute!
♥   making loads of those lovely pouches

curvy clutch

It has been forever since I have written anything around here. I guess that's what happens in the summer, right?
Only a few tiny days before work has to start again...sigh! Do you remember when you were a child and summer seemed to last for ever and ever? Oh, how I wish this was still the case. As years go by, I get the impression that summer lasts less and less time every year. Am I right, or is something wrong with me?

As for sewing...well...armed with the best intentions for the summer, I managed to do, err, well, not a quarter of what I'd planned to do if I'm honest. But still, another nice curvy clutch, have a look...

Atina Alga took me to the best fabric shop ever in Madrid, and this is where both fabrics for this clutch come from. Unfortunately, they don't do Internet orders yet, but the cute boutique is definitely worth going to. Their patchwork fabrics are some of the best selections I've ever seen.

Right, time to go and have a little pre-dinner drink now. My other half has decided to cook again these days, and tonight I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to his lamb tajine with prunes and almonds...yummy!

See you soon for more...I'm back now!

pouches for wedding favours

This weekend I have tried to make some very simple pouches. I have used the base of the garden party pattern by Keyka Lou.
The pouches will be used to hold favours for a winter wedding I'm preparing. I thought maybe they'd look nice if they were reversible, so that men and women could have a different side. It's the first time I prepare favours, and I'm really excited with this project. Your ideas are welcome, especially if you have embarked on a similar project yourself in the past!

Liberty curvy clutch

This weekend I finally got round to using some of my Liberty fabric from this exhibition and made another super cute curvy clutch. As usual, it has been a pleasure to sew this. I always use a certain pattern most of you know I 'm sure, and I just love making them.
I have added a small inside pocket this time again, with a bit more success than the last time and hope that one day this will be like second nature to me!

pocket purse & pouch

Another month, another Keyka Lou pattern extravaganza. I already showed you the curvy clutch I made a while ago, and I finally got round to making a pocket purse to go with it.
I absolutely love working with those patterns, and all the accessories are always a big hit with friends and colleagues. Have you tried them yet? You can find Keyka Lou's website on my list of favourites on the right!

Check out my new phone jewel thingy! One of my pupils brought it back from Korea as a present for me...cute, no?

work in progress

This weekend I  started cutting some bits of fabric to make an assorted pocket purse to match my curvy clutch from a few days ago, but the lights went dim all of a sudden, and then the phone rang, etc etc. In the end I didn't go any further than this...

I can't wait to finish it, I love coordinating accesories. And as I am really into my flowery fabrics at the moment, the more the merrier, right?

It's back on!!

Oh yes, for the first time in a loooonnnnnng time, I have finally gotten round to doing a bit of sewing. I made this curvy clutch with the patterns I purchased last autumn.

I have added some ribbon on the side, I think it makes it nicer, and you can slip your finger through it.

I am not so happy with the pocket though, it's looking a bit flappy. Any ideas how to improve on that for next time?

curvy clutch

Right. I just have to give up on using natural light these days! That said, I have managed to get home a bit earlier today, and to play with the camera a bit. I am SO happy with my new clutch. Have a look!

I have made it using the fabulous patterns from Keyka lou (see the links on the right hand side) and the precious fabrics sent to me by Atina (link on the right too). It's always very exciting to try a new pattern and see it coming to life. I've become a great fan of KL's patterns. They are really thorough and detailed enough for you to understand each step accurately. It's a pleasure to use them.

Tomorrow if I have a bit of time I'll go and get my fabric and sequins for my new "it" bag. Can't wait to embark on a new project...but what exactly is this obsession with bags, purses and clutches? Can anyone explain it? Are we - girls - just born with it?

time out

I've not a very good blogger this past few days, but I've had a lot on my plate. Far more than I can handle in order to keep sane! On top of regular work, I've undertaken a new project (my fault, you'll say!) which is super time-consuming. Let's hope it pays off one day, hey...
In other news my half and I went to a crazy party last week. The entertainment was provided by an "electric circus" and my oh my was it mad!! Unfortunately, between the drinking & eating, and the dancing, there wasn't much opportunity to get nice pics.

*very Davis Lynch pic, isn't it?*

 

Yes, the two blondes really DID get inside a glass box! They were just amazing. I had a great time, as everyone else.

Now, onto sewing. Today I have made my first curvy clutch using a Keyka Lou pattern. It went really well, and I am pleased with how it looks. But the daylight's already gone, so I'll take a photo tomorrow if I can. Well, that's all for today, folks!