blackberrying 2010

(husband's hands!)

:

I cannot remember a year, since we have had children, when we haven't blackberried. It's now a family tradition, and must be done!

:

Both this year and last we have picked them at Ditchling Common & Country Park, which is a popular spot for blackberry foraging. We were perhaps a little early, as there were lots of berries still unripe.

:

Even though our sons were told that they would not get a slice of pie/ crumble if they did not help to pick, they chose to play instead. I can't blame them, as I got very pricked and scratched.

Austin 7

I was lucky enough to go for a ride this weekend in a 1930 Austin 7. (The one above is not my friends, but an image from here.) It was the most incredible experience.

*

The car was exactly 80 years old, and it was in great condition. It is navy blue like the one pictured, and is a convertable. The roof was off, and we had a blast. Going at 15 miles an hours in one of those, feels like 40 miles an hour in a modern car!

*

The car belongs to our friends, who bought it earlier this year. Apparently there is still a surprising number of them around. We drove it to Anne Boyleyn's former home, Blickling Hall, where we had a picnic and a lovely afternoon. (Apparently Anne's ghost is there!)

*

We were in Norwich for the weekend, where was warm and dry (unlike my home town which was cold and wet!). We had a lovely break, sharing a great weekend with good friends.

burda style magazine

I have just bought my first issue of Burda Style Magazine (I'm a user of their website), and have been very impressed. I was looking for patterns for work clothes, see what you think!





I like the way they lay out the contents in a really clear way, so at a glance you can see the designs and what page they are on. It makes it easy to work out of the issue is one for you as well. At nearly £5 it's not the cheapest sewing magazine, but the best one I've picked up for clothes patterns (apart from Ottobre Magazine that I subscribe to).






So flicking through the workwear photoshoots, I can see myself in quite a few of these garments:





This coat is effortless and looks smart enough for the office for autumn (before I need my wool winter coat)




I wanted a grey wool skirt with folds/ pleats in, that looks a bit special. I've only seen ones like this in designer's collections (not on the high street) I think this skirt should be knee length and then it would look great. It looks a little too long for me here, verging on frumpy length.

This skirt is a runner up, but if I made it, I would miss off the hip pockets. Again I like the folds in it.

I like this top, but don't know if I would bother making it.



I like the pencil skirt, it looks really sharp and polished. Very nice indeed.



And if I was going to a ball this dress is gorgeous!

The preview shots for the September edition look pretty strong as well.




This dress has caught my eye. I think it looks great.




There might be some nice skirts from this shoot.




I'm loving the gold leaf on this bag. A bit of autumnal cheer!

As you might expect with a magazine like this, the patterns are a nightmare, as they are printed on top of each other. Extracting a pattern from this has never been an enjoyable thing to do for me. I do think I will persevere, and give one of the skirts a go to start with.

But to sum up, I was impressed. These are professionally put together designs, that I would be proud to wear.

summer wedding

Well it's been a little while since I last posted. I did not mean to be away for so long. Steve and I have had a few busy weeks, packing lots in to the school summer holidays.

A couple of weeks ago I started a new job, and the children's grandparents took them home for a week. This meant we could attend a dear friend's wedding and stay out late.

For the first time, in a long time, we went to a wedding where we actually live, which was nice. It was held in Due South, on the beach, on a lovely, yet typical, overcast summer's day.

Steve took their wedding photographs as our gift to them, and I was his glamorous assistant! (Although running up and down stairs in 3.5" heels to bring memory cards and tripods is not easy!)





The wedding was great, the bridesmaid's outfits totally rocked, with their summer beach theme.

The groom looked very smart and stylish with a bespoke suit made in Brighton from here.

I have to say, completely unbiased, that Steve has done a terrific job.

The bride and groom are really pleased, and he has been getting loads of great comments from everyone who has seen them. I'm allowed to share them as well, so please go ahead and have a look. They make my heart flutter with joy, as it's so wonderful to see your friends so in love and so happy.

capturing the essence

Cheeky little ad for our new business!

As you might have picked up my husband and myself have started a photography business. We have done a few jobs, which have gone well, and we are now starting to market ourselves to the wider public.

Our main area that we are specialising in is portraiture, for both children and adults and events such as weddings, balls, celebrations and so on.

I am just showing some of our portraits from a recent studio style session, but we like location shooting as well.

Please go look at our website: http://www.stevenoake.zenfolio.com where you can see what we are about.

We are based in the South East, and we will happily travel for a photo session. We also travel to the North a lot, (Yorkshire mainly - will be there next week).

If you are interested in having some great family photographs, or an occassion captured, please do contact us. You can contact us via our website.

I know Xmas is a dirty word in July, but some great photos would be a fantastic pressie, or turn them into a calendar (very popular with Grandparents that one!)

Please do have a look!

end of term

It is not only the end of term for my eldest son, it is also the end of his time at infant school. In September, he will be moving up to the junior school and into year 3. It is hard to believe that he has already got through 3 school years. We have been very lucky with our local school, it is run so brilliantly well. There is a genuine caring and warmth that runs through the ethos of the school, and also great attention to teaching in an engaging way.

As a thank you to his two class teachers this year, I have made presents for them. I wanted to be a bit more personal this time round.

So my eldest and I worked together on making 2 bags.

I apologise, as I did not take photos (duh!) What I did was a row of patchwork at the bottom of one bag. One of the pieces my son embroidered. (that was his contribution!) And then I made up the rest of the bag. It's linen, with a cotton calico lining. The patchwork pieces are from an Amy Butler Midwest Modern charm pack that I had over.

The pattern:
Front of bag: 13cm x 52cm piece of linen, 4 x charm pack squares and 1 piece of linen that is embroidered (we did a simple heart). and 32cm x 52cm piece of linen.
Back of bag: 50cm x 52cm piece of linen
Lining: 2x 50cm x 52cm calico/ cotton

• Sew all the patchwork pieces together (I centered the embroidered square).
• Sew the 13cm x 52cm to bottom edge of patchwork strip
• Sew 32cm x 52cm to top edge of patchwork strip This is the front of the bag
• Sew right sides together to back piece, around the 2 sides and bottom (use 2cm seam)
• Make a bucket bottom by sewing a triangle across the bottom corners (about 8cm from the point). Trim point off.
• Repeat sewing the lining together (BUT LEAVE A 10CM GAP IN THE BOTTOM EDGE FOR TURNING)
• Repeat making a bucket bottom in the lining
• Attach lining to main bag. Put the bag (right side facing out) inside the lining. You will see the wrong side of the lining.
• Line up seams, and pin round at the top. Sew together (2cm seam)
• Turn the right way round, by pulling the outside of the bag through the lining. Press, top stitch 0.5cm from edge to keep lining in place.
• Attach handles. One one of my bags I used a tough woven ribbon. The other I made handles using 5"/ 13cm wide fabric, and made them as long as I liked (roughly to waist length). I actually patch worked the front handle with more charm pack squares and linen. Attach by sewing them firmly on (I sew a square with an X inside at the top of each strap to the fabric.
• Trim all threads, press and your bag is ready to go!

I loved the green fabrics against the linen. It looked great (I'm kicking myself that I did not take a photo!) It was a good way to use up spare charm pack squares.

It all came together very straightforwardly. I hope his teachers like them!

Sale

I've kinda given up on making clothes at the mo, time, disappointment etc I'm happy to do skirts, but can't be bothered to give anything else a whirl at present.

However, sales seem to have started 3-4 weeks earlier than usual (hooray!) so I've ordered a few things to try on and see.This is the Leilani dress from People Tree, reduced to £25, which is great, as they are an ethical and eco friendly business. It is made from 100% organic cotton.


The dresses below are from Boden. Unfortunately they have yet to go eco friendly, but I hope they will, as I'm sure that would fit in with what many of their customers would like.

This is the Pebbles sundress reduced to £29. I ordered the pink, I'm not sure that was a good colour choice on reflection! I think this is a try it on and see dress!


This dress, in the grey and coral, I have been drawling over all season. It came down from £95 to £38. I'm hoping that it suits me!



The postman has not delivered a thing yet. when he does, some things will be returned, but I'm hoping at least 1 dress will suit me!