How ya doing?

Hello,

I know I've been neglecting this blog for a while, sorry about that, but if anyones done a degree or postgrad course, you'll understand why.

Really, though, If you pop over to my other blog, thedressmakingdiaries.blogspot.com you will find a couple of recent posts and my attempt at a Christmas craft series, 12 Crafts of Christmas.  I can't say for sure that I'll finish them all in time, but perhaps some post Christmas crafts wouldn't be too bad.

I'm also moving my thrifty adventures over there too, so check them out.

I'd love it if you fancy following the dressmaking diaries, You'd be making me smile like noones buisness!

Love,

Freya May

Found on Pinterest #18

Source: justmakestuff.com via Freya on Pinterest

Isn't this the cutest idea!

I sew this and decided quickly that I needed to make one for our own place!

I had to decide on white board vs. chalk board, and settled on chalk, because I'm having a love affair with it!

Last summer Dave and I made a whole bunch of chalk boards for presents etc, this is the last one we had left- it's so lucky it's the perfect shape for this project!

I used acrilic paint on top to write the 'I love <3 you because.....'

Ta da!

I wish I had come up with another way to write on the first bit, I'm not a big fan of my own handwriting, but It makes it match with the rest of the note when I use it, I guess.

What do you think?  Now Dave and I can be super mushy even when we don't get to see one another in the
mornings or whatever.

Freya May

Found On Pinterest #17

I love date nights!  Spending time with Dave, without coursework or marking or planning to get in the way is precious.  But between us, we are two of the most indecisive people you might ever meet.  Perhaps it's because we're both quite easy going, we want to do something, but don't mind what that is!

So this pin is going to save us some arguments and wasted time trying to think of things to do on our date nights.

Source: lifeinthegreenhouse.com via Freya on Pinterest

Instead of coloured sticks, I have gone for an easy option of coloured paper to differentiate date types

I've used Red Paper for expensive date, costing more than £30 a time.  It's likely that these dates will only get selected once, maybe twice a year, for special treats!  I included-

1. Groupon Weekend Away
2. Theme Park Tip
3. Theatre Trip (London)
4. £££ Meal Out (her choice)
5. £££ Meal Out (his choice)

I used pink paper for less expensive dates, costing between £10-£30.  I imagine we'll select these to do one of these dates every month or so.  Ideas include-

1. Cook Three Course Dinner Together- Go all out, cook your favourates and enjoy
2. Bookshop Date- buy coffee and pick up a new book each
3. Pub Walk
4. Weekend Cinema Trip
5. ££ Dinner Out (her choice)
6. ££ Dinner Out (his choice)
7. Order Take Out
8. Bowling
9. Dessert Only Date- head somewhere a little fancy and pick from the dessert menu (yum!)
10. Dress Up for Drinks- make the effort to get all dressed up and go to a local bar.
11. Breakfast Date

Then, white paper, dates which cost less than £10.  These are the ones we'll use most, maybe weekly or fortnightly if we're busy.  My ideas so are are-

1. Orange Wednesday Cinema Trip
2. £ Dinner Out (her choice)- to a fast food place or something
3. £ Dinner Out (his choice)
4. £5 Tesco Challenge- Pick a main course, like pizza, then each get to choose a side and a dessert, not costing more than a fiver total.
5. Blockbuster Film Evening (her choice)
6. Blockbuster Film Evening (his choice)
7. Walk at Bradgate Park- with or with out visiting the cafe.
8. £10 Dinner Date- Tesco or M&S meal deals
9. Trip to Starbucks
10. Charity Shopping- each is given £5 to buy the other a gift
11. Board Game Evening with wine
12. Picnic
13. Indoor Picnic- set up a rug, or a den, and enjoy the feeling of the whole world disappearing.
14. Cook Dessert Together

These are ones that I've thought up over this afternoon, but I want to keep adding ideas (and ask Dave for his ideas) as life goes on. 

It was really easy to put together, I'd recommend it to any couple that, like us, can never decide or agree on what to do on date nights.  And the fun is not knowing what you're going to get!

Easy as pie,

Love
Freya May

Found on Pinterest #15

I first saw this when a friend was planning her wedding decorations, she used wall paper and was making absolutely tons to decorate heer reception hall.

Source: homemadebynancy.blogspot.com via Freya on Pinterest

As the pic from Pinterest shows, it really is easy!  I've enjoyed making it, but without an event like a wedding, there is certainly a limit of how many you can, or should, make.

These are the ones I made to put up in my new craft/office desk.

Very cute indeed.

Freya May

My New Craft Room

I've been super lucky this last week, and had my dreams of a dedicated craft work space realized!

Until now, I have had a set up on out dining table, in the middle of our living room, and it was a pain to keep the madness that is craft supplies tidy, especially when guests were coming over.

But, now, I have moved into our office, replacing our spare bed with a desk made from two bookshelves from Ikea and a door.  It looks great!  And it's huge!  Plenty of space for both my crafting and my studies.  Read about my inspiration for decorations here.

I still want to decorate the wall some more, I have plans to hang a calendar  some bunting, my paper hearts and some photos or something.  Time to make some more crafts!

Freya May

Found on Pinterest #14

Source: moredesignplease.com via Freya on Pinterest

When I found this on Pinterest I knew it would be ideal for a DIY from one of David's old shirts I've stolen over the years.  In fact, when we went to see Coldplay in concert back in June I did this to his Viva La Vida concert shirt so that I, too, could look like a hard core fan :-)

I also did it with another random shirt to increase the number of vest tops I owned for the summer-

This is such an easy, no sew, project that I love!

I see many more of these in my future...

Freya May

Best thing's I've Ever Made (So Far...)

Four of the things I am most proud of making myself so far, so early in my handmade career.

1.

Dolls Scrap Quilt- so many mistakes in it, but I love it all the same.

2.

Dip Dye Shorts- Summer Fun!!

3.

I'm proud of all the dresses I've made, but, so far, this is probably my favourite!

4.

This Tea Cosy I designed by myself after checking out how other people did it, super proud of the construction and design of these.

So, there you have it, some of what I think are my best projects yet.  Stay tuned though, plenty more to come!

Freya May

xxx

Found on Pinterest #13

Hey,

I'm working on setting myself up a proper sewing and work area in out flat, because currently I do all my sewing at the dining table and I don't have a study space either.  We do have the perfect space in our spare room, where the spare bed currently is.  So, the plan is to sell the bed (email me if you want it- black metal day bed, super cute!) and replace it with a nice large desk space where I can keep myself busy.

I know the desk I'm getting, but I want to make the whole space much more homely and creative, so I've scoured Pinterest and found some inspiration.

Source: craftomaniac.blogspot.com via Freya on Pinterest

Source: everythingetsy.com via Freya on Pinterest

Source: madeitonmonday.blogspot.com via Freya on Pinterest

Source: weheartit.com via Freya on Pinterest

What I like about these spaces is the use of the walls to hang inspiration and art work, the colours are all bright and welcoming and they all show individual flair.

This is the kind of space I want to create for myself, so watch this space...

***UPDATE***
Read about how I've set up my new craft space HERE

Freya May

Found on Pinterest #12

Heya!

Following on from last weeks 'Found on Pinterest' I've decided what I really want to do with my embroidery is write inspirational, cute or biblical quotes to hang around the house.

Here is my short list, let me know what you think.

Source: etsy.com via Freya on Pinterest

Source: eighteen25.blogspot.com via Freya on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Freya on Pinterest

Source: ibibleverses.christianpost.com via Freya on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Freya on Pinterest

So, less of a short list than intended, but I've choosen one to go with for my first attempt, this one-

                    

Source: Uploaded by user via Freya on Pinterest

Lets be honest, I'd quite like to do them all, so I'll keep them as reminders of that, I'm just quite slow at stitching and I get distracted easily on to other projects.  More ideas than time- that's me.

I'll show you how I'm getting along with this later in the week.

Freya May

Found on Pinterest #11

Hello,

This week I've been inspired to dust down my cross stitch equipment and have a go at some embroidery.  Unfortunately, I'm dreadfully slow at it, but I thought I'd share with you some of the beautiful projects from Pinterest that have encouraged this idea.

I would LOVE something like this in my home, and it would have to be home made, of course.

Source: whererosesbloom.wordpress.com via Freya on Pinterest

Isn't this the cutest? Totally can see this some where in my home.

Source: littleloveliesbyallison.com via Freya on Pinterest

I think this is a great idea to add interest and texture to a cushion- must do this! 

Source: translate.googleusercontent.com via Freya on Pinterest

So, many hours on Pinterest and some nice inspiration to come from it. Not too shabby.

Until next time,

Freya May

Start of a Project

Hello!

I've started making a knitted blanket, however, I've only managed one square so far :D

It will be yellow, light green, light blue, pink, white and lilac.

At this rate, it's going to take a year or so to finish.

So, just in time for next years Greenbelt!

Freya May xxx

DIY Dip Dyes Shorts

I'm loving this trend of dip dyes shorts that I've seen around this summer.  And when mum and I went to the Vintage fair earlier this month, I saw a pair that I really liked!

However, I'm a DIY girl, and I knew it would be so easy to recreate the look, without the price tag of £20 (or £35 in Topshop!)

1 2 

So, that same day, we went to the charity shop, picked up a pair of jeans for £1.50 (!) and got to it. 

If you too want to DIY it, here is a quick tutorial.

You need; 

Pair of jeans, bottle of bleach, bucket, rubber gloves, salt, dye and a poky stick.

Cut the jeans short and submerge in approx 1/3 of the bottle of bleach in 5 leters of water until they are the colour you want and light enough for dying.

I had quite dark jeans, and it took me 3 attempts to get them to the right colour.

But when they came out they looked great!

Following the instructions in the packet, make up one of your dye colours, and dip the bottom of the shorts in and leave for a hour.  I used a clippy clothes hanger to hold them up.

Take them out the dye and rinse the bottoms out in the sink with fresh water until the water is clear, then make up the other colour of dye and repeat the process, turning the jeans upside down.

Once you've rinsed out for the second time, put them in a warm wash and Da Daaaa!

Finished jeans, for less than £9!

Dress Making Fun

Hello,

I thought I'd share my current dress making project with you.

My current favourite blog is 'Adventures in Dressmaking', written by the talented Suzannah.  I've been totally inspired to get dressmaking again.  And like I said yesterday, I made three in May!

As inspired by another wonderful dressmaking blog, and the awesome Hunger Games film, I'm currently working on a version of the Dress Katniss wore in the reaping scene.

In case you haven't seen the film

 Amy suggested the New Look 6069 pattern, which I think is perfect.

I like Dress C the most, even if D is most similar.

Now, the thing to remember is that these girls are really good seamstresses, and I am a very novice beginner.  So practice is still the name of the game.   With that in mind, I have started a practice version.  I picked up this fabric, which is an old duvet cover, from a charity shop for £3.  I think its cute, so if the practice dress turns out well, I will still wear it!  

Once I feel like I know what I'm doing, it's time to use the 'real' stuff.

Here is how I'm getting along so far-

Made the bodice and am quite happy with it.  The only thing I want to change is the amount of rouching around the shoulders. I want more.  I'm thinking that I need to widen the yoke and the top of the front pieces, but, wiser and more experianced ones, is that the right idea?

Having fun with my sewing machine, makes me happy :D

Freya May