Long time no see!

Hello there!!!

I am just realising how much I have neglected this blog and crafting in general! What is happening to me?! So much has got in the way, namely art and it's ruthless demands.....

Since the last
I have finished my art A level (pictures will definitely follow eventually), such a weight off my shoulders!!! And I finished Alice's dress on time, but a very poor fit (a rather large cock-up on my part, sorry baby g!), so that is in pieces ready to be re-designed, re-drawn out, re-cut and re-stitched. After re-fitting it might just be re-finished....

Alice and I on her birthday
with the badly made dress!!

I also made Sophie a dress for her birthday. This one was much more successful!! She seems to love it, and she looks absolutely gorgeous in it!!! The basic ideas came from a 90's pattern for a much longer, slightly differently shaped dress. I hope to keep adapting this pattern as it has such a beautiful fit on anyone (i.e. I WANT ONE TOO!!! maybe I'll create some sleeves....)

Sophie on her birthday
Looking hot!! 

I am now on study leave, so I have some more free time (which I should obviously be using for revising:/ )
However, because I am going to have an adventurous kind of summer, I need to get some money in so that it's a comfortable series of trips rather than a stingy stressed existence. Therefore, I have started myself an etsy account (not news really, this was a long time ago) which can be found here. At the moment only has some hand cut labels on, but I plan to expand beyond my thoughts of what is possible, after exams end of course (20th June). [Dear lord! That means my exams are over in 20 days time!! arrrghhhh!]

So, Etsy....
Some things to expect!
~ Jumpsuits
~ Reclaimed and reconstructed
~ Summer dresses
~ Home wares
~ Jewellery
~ Gifts
~ Kits

The grand opening: 30th June!!!!  I expect I will have some kind of promotion!! Keep your eyes here!!


Lots of love,
Abi
xxx

PS
I wore my calico jacket to my cousins wedding after taking in the back a bit :) It got some compliments, happy days!!!!

cam's shirt and alice's dress

Just a quick update in-between art and french work...

Wanted tot share some photos of my brother's birthday present - which took me a while but no where near as long as i thought it would! Didn't use a pattern, used his school shirts for reference though!

lovely checked silk.

cuff detail

pocket

 And because I love her, I have bought some fabric for Alice's birthday dress.... We went to our local haberdashery because shopping local is good!!! This was alice's third choice because there wasn't enough fabric in the other rolls :(
So we ended up with a floral green, with a green lining and a green zip. The fabric is by harry glass I think - the same designer as of the fabric i used on my skirt in a previous post.
I'm hoping her dress looks awesome - you deserve it alice baby! xxx

the fabric for alice's birthday dress 

Lots of Love, and -as always - thanks for looking
xxxx

cakey cake

Haven't posted for a while, but hey ho - haven't had the time. Art is very slowly sucking the breath out of my lungs and the sanity from my mind...

HOWEVER, Without further ado

It was my baby brother's birthday on thursday so I made him a cake - and a shirt (post to follow). Well, I say baby brother. He is taller than me by FAR, but technically younger therefore I can bully him still ... with the aid of a stool...

I did a smooth icing, which involves a really runny consistancy
 and a lot of fridge action

mummy did the letters in a fondant...

Used my new bunt tin, so it was like a huge doughnut.
I filled the hole in the middle with haribo... YUM

took off the letters and drizzled over an awesome cream and mars bar sauce...
Heart attack alert

with the letters, haribo bears and candles on top

yum yum yum

OM NOM NOM

Thanks for looking
Abi
xxx

new skirt

So I saw this beautiful fabric in Balwin's fabric shop (shop local people ;) ) and I couldn't resist it. So I made a very new look looking skirt (?) with a badly inserted exposed zip. ha ha I'll wear it anyway because the fabric is stunning. It is called "The Jewel Garden" by Henry Glass and co, pattern 1621. on sale for £5 a metre. HAPPY DAYS

hench calf muscles

drawstring top and exposed zip

Lots of love
abi
xx

cake goodness

My new years resolution was bake more cakes... a month in and this is what I have been up to:

Raspberry cheesecake brownie, hummingbird bakery recipe
.... OM NOM NOM

I have made countless batches of pies - these were steak and ale
Not strictly cakes but hey ho

Lemon meringue cupcakes

having too much fun with my new icing bag and nozzles and italian meringue icing

Chocolate fudge cake for Gemma's birthday

gemma's cake wrapped

Thoughts and comments very welcome!!!!
xx
Abi
xx

Ginger bread making day

Hellooooo!!!

I had some lovely people round to mine to make some gingerbread, brilliant day and it was lovely to catch up.

The current gingerbread aim is to create a gothic/ edwardian mansion in aid of this competition... Check out last years entries - astounding!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

one of many baking trays to go in... lots of flour on harriet's

Anna's creations

Well, the pink icing was right next to me, and I didn't
want to get up to get any other colours...

RAWR it's my dinosuar!

oink oink oink oink oink

Anna's obsessional icing skills

Jessie's work - including mr Blobby

Jessie's beautiful tree and snowman

A little baby jesus

Just to share with you the song that is featured on the sky adverts at the moment - I love it :)

I will do a post with all the lovely presents I made people - haven't been able too yet or they'd see it!

xx

Who doesn't love Christmas jumpers?

OH! The weather outside is pretty frightful... so what better to cheer spirits and warm up than a christmas jumper?

We've got snow... hurrah! but I have to admit, the snow is pretty dominating; I could have gone out and masacred people and it would have never made yesterday's news because the snow is so obviously the most important thing to ever happen. All I want to do is go skiing, but I can't because all our skis are in france :(

Anyway... My great Aunt is awesome. She knits at lightning speed and makes beautiful things, including one of the jumpers below...
I would also like to share with you this brilliant video which is really is worth a watch.

See? It's an awesome cardigan!! The front has a more
snow bobbles and two more stags either side of buttons :)

My daddy's christmas jumper - Rocky mountains,
 complete with cabin, mountie on his horse (left)
and skiers :) - I'm jealous

The 'coatigan' I bought in amsterdam in July.
Seemed like madness in the sun,
 but who's laughing now?

Not a christmas one, but another of auntie janet's creations
lovely lacy knit with pearls and pearly heart buttons

That's all for now... Off to create more christmas presents :)

Abi
xx