Miss Pelicano

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2011-12-18T20:24:00.000+01:00

When life becomes so busy we have to prioritize. I have prioritized my studies and my family and, of course, my work as a teacher, which I love. Blogging has had to be put aside for ages! But as I feel the New Year will bring me more inspiration and, hopefully, better organisation, to sew and blog a bit more, I thought I should pop in to leave everyone - is there anyone still out there???? - a wish for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I just can't get enough!

2011-08-07T19:26:00.002+02:00

After two weeks away we got home to my clematis in bloom! I didn't think it would blossom as it's always blossomed much earlier, in late June, beginning of July. It's a Ville-de-Lyon variety with a rich deep pink colour and it adds lots of colour to our balcony. The clematis loves the hot sunny balcony!

This year I wanted to train it to climb above the balcony door which leads into the living-room. And it's worked so beautifully that when we're sitting on the sofa we can see the flowers just over us! And It makes me so happy I can't stop looking at it! I just can't get enough of it!

And now that I've finished my studies and got my Bachelor of Arts in Education I'll have more time for the other things I like doing. So when Autumn, and then Winter settle in here in Sweden and the balcony goes into a long hibernation I'll be going back to lots of sewing, which was what this blog was originally about!

By the way, the cucumber was delicious! Sweet and really tasty! But that's a bit difficult to show you here!

Cucumber No.1!

2011-07-09T23:14:00.000+02:00

It's here! My first very own home-grown cucumber! Talk about local produce! Couldn't get more local than this!

We were away on holiday for a couple of weeks and this beautiful cucumber was on our balcony waiting for us! I think it needs a few more days to grow a bit more so we haven't tasted it yet. But it looks great! I'll let you know what it was like.

It's amazing how incredibly easy it is to grow your own veg in a container, on a balcony. And although my produce isn't going to feed us through the long Swedish winter, it's a delight to be able to eat your own cucumber No. 1!

On my balcony - GLAD MIDSOMMAR!

2011-06-25T00:01:00.000+02:00

Today we spent the day with some good friends and dansed around the midsummer pole to celebrate the Swedish Midsommar. And you just can't celebrate Midsommar without the most delicious Swedish strawberries. The strawberries from our balcony!

GLAD MIDSOMMAR! Happy Midsummer to you all!

On my balcony - Cucumbers!

2011-06-21T15:55:00.002+02:00

Growing your own vegetables is easier than you think! If I can do it, anyone can! And not only do you get to eat what you plant, but you also get to enjoy the bright luscious flowers that announce what there is to come! You don't even need a garden or an allotment! All you need is a container. Or several containers. This year I tried growing cucumbers. I grow mine on our balcony in a pot approx. 25 cm in diameter and 30 cm high. It'd probably be better if it was bigger, but they seem to be doing really well!

I always get loads of green flies, black flies, aphids... on many of the plants on the balcony, so this year I decided to follow the advice in one of my favourite planting books, "Organic Crops in Pots", by Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell, which I came across last year in England. Apparently aphids don't like the smell of the orange tagetes! So this year my balcony is covered in orange tagetes, which aren't even my favourite flower, but have definitely become my favourite friend! So far, the aphid situation is totally under controll! Now I'm just waiting for the first cucumber and as at home we all like cucumber, everyone will be very happy!

So I realise that I started this blog for my sewing projects. But since I haven't had the time to do any sewing for the past year, why not show some other things that I like and are also my own produce! I hope you enjoy them as much as Ido!

On my balcony - My little lilac

2011-06-15T00:00:00.001+02:00

Not having a garden is a sad reality. But luckily I have a big sunny balcony where I can make some of my dreams come true! Gardening is a passion and I would like to share with you the beautiful things that grow om ny balcony.

In May, Sweden is covered in lilacs and the scent they spread in the breeze is so sweet! When I was little and still living in Portugal, I had a book which I loved, called The Party of the Lilac Fairy (the book was in Portuguese but this is what the title meant) and I could read it and look at the pictures for ages dreaming of lilacs. So you can imagine how happy I am when they all come out here in the Spring! So I've always dreamt of having a garden full of lilacs. I'm still dreaming of that. But now I have my own little lilac on my balcony!

It's a dwarf lilac (microphylla 'Superba'), perfect for container planting and it's so hardy it survived the harsh winter we had last year! I was too lazy to cover it and was so happy when the first new buds started to appear! I placed the lilac by the balcony door and when the door is open we get this wonderfully sweet scent filling the living room. and then you just feel that Summer is coming!

I love my little lilac!

On my way home

2011-04-27T12:09:00.001+02:00

When Spring finally hits Sweden it's just like being in paradise. And walking through these little woods covered in Wood Anemones it's easy to forget I'm in the middle of town!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-21T18:05:00.005+02:00

The best thing about muffins are the endless variations you can make. With filling, without filling, with topping, without topping. Then you can vary the filling and the topping! Here are some of my favourite ones I've baked for our sweet Easter weekend, and it's going to be such a warm and sunny weekend too! Raspberry filling, raspberry creamcheese topping, chocolate topping.

I used the recipe from one of my favourite chefs, the beautiful and happy Leila Lindholm, from Sweden. from one of her books, A Piece of Cake. If you don't know her, let me tell you she makes delicious cakes and the styling in her books and TV programs are so countryside perfect! Check out her website! There is also an English version, if you're not so sure about your Swedish! I saw that her latest book, One More Slice is coming out in the UK, France, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy and Finland!

I wish you all a very HAPPY EASTER!

Spring!

2011-04-11T11:29:00.000+02:00

To welcome Spring, a bright bunch of daffs, healthy juicy oranges and a nice cuppa tea!

I'm slowly waking up from my long, dark hibernation and busy with the last term of my studies, finishing my teaching practice and writing my thesis. I haven't been doing any sewing and I don't know when I'll get back to it. But I've bought some more beautiful fabric for other projects. I'll be sharing those with you soon!

This basket of oranges and strong English tea, with the bunch of daffodils was a gift to my teacher where I've been doing my practice. She has given my so much support! And she loves oranges!

I hope that there is still someone out there reading my new blog posts, after this long, but necessary break. I'm looking forward to hearing from you and to reading your always lovely comments!

It's nice to be back!

26 seconds

2010-11-25T13:37:00.001+01:00

Snowing, snowing, snowing.
And no sewing!

No, this is no attempt on poetry, but it's actually what's going on!
Just now this is what it looks like from our windows here is beautiful Sweden!
Enjoy the pre-Christmas feeling!

So I made this short film which only lasts 26 seconds. Then I googled "26 seconds" (god knows why!) and found this: Powerful Films in Just 26 Seconds. I really like the concept. Ok, so my film isn't powerful, but it captures reality just a few minutes ago from..... now!

Good Night Cross Eyes!

2010-10-31T20:24:00.002+01:00

Boo!

Bed Time! Good night Cross Eyes!

The lowest-key ever Halloween!

Ok, so Halloween isn't a big thing in Sweden. But we still think it's fun to have a pumpkin. The cross eyes were designed by our oldest son and the happy smile by our youngest. Mr. Pumpkin's name was chosen by Pappa. And I did the carving. A great family project! It's a Happy Halloween after all!

Happy Halloween for those who celebrate it! And a Happy Day anyway if you don't!

Good Morning! It's Snowing!

2010-10-22T12:34:00.003+02:00

We got the first snow today! I think it's a bit early... And I haven't even managed to post some of my Autumn-mushroom picking-photos. Isn't it beautiful, though? My four year old son danced and skipped all the way to kindergarten with a Christmas Eve joy in his steps, so happy with the snow!

I couldn't resist taking some photos of our first snow this morning. I hope you enjoy them!

A slightly (?) kitsch rose...

I love snow! So, let it snow!

Girly Skirt - One More!

2010-10-11T10:55:00.002+02:00

Strawberry Fields

Girly Skirt

Easy to make in endless variations and combinations!

I've lost count of how many of these Girly Skirts I've made now! I love them not only because they are very easy to make, but especially because of their simplicity which really allows for the fabric to stand out and for all the different variations you can make.

I love this strawberry fabric which I got in the local fabric shop, and also found some in this shop in England.

It's a lovely, light, easy to iron, cotton which I have used in different colour backgrounds: in black, white and now this one in blue.

Big Butt Baby Pants - Made by Rae. Made by me!

2010-10-07T10:52:00.004+02:00

I had been looking for a good baby pants pattern to sew when I came across this lovely one by Made by Rae. It's called Big Butt Baby Pants, which is a perfect name as there is really enough space for a big soft cuddly warm bottom with nappies.

This is the back view with the rear pannel to allow extra room for "the big butt".

It was a bit tricky and fiddly to sew the leg seams together, with the rear pannel, and it ended up not very neat, sort of puckering at the bottom. I thought it was me doing something wrong. But then I was relieved to hear that everyone else sewing this patterrn, even Rae herself (!) had the same problem! So Rae was great and wrote a post just about the changes she has made in the sewing instructions, to avoid this problem. If you're planning to sew these pants, and I really reccomend this pattern, be sure to check Rae's alterations here first! Then you're set to have the cutest pair of baby pants!

The pattern says that top stitching of the rear pannel is optional. But I really reccomend it as it does add a little special touch to the pants.

This fabric is a lovely lightweight, smooth to the touch, cotton which I bought during our summer holiday in Shrewsbury, England in a lovely shop called Watson & Thornton.

Blue & White - Autumn Can Wait

2010-10-04T12:28:00.001+02:00

Anda Dress - Burda #7969 - Slightly modified with more fitted waist

Summer shorts - own pattern (using old shorts)

While Autumn is busy out there turning all the leaves into the most amazing reds, yellows, oranges and browns, and while all the other bloggers on this side of the world are already into the Autumn theme, I am, as usual, a bit behind.

So, before there are no leaves left on the trees here I'd like to show you two Blue & White summer creations I made for the summer that went.

Me in my Anda Dress, in our lovely country place in Portugal!

The floral fabric is from my local Panduro.

Summer shorts my my cutest little nephew! Gingham fabric from local fabric shop.

And back pockets cut on the bias with contrasting thread.

Maybe this can be an inspiration for you now, if you're feeling summery, or for next summer!

And just so you know, I'll be posting two more summer projects soon!

But yes, I know it's Autumn!

2 Bunnies and 1 Dog

2010-09-27T14:22:00.000+02:00

A VERY BIG THANK YOU to Annette, from Waxy Pin, for making these absolutely beautiful sock puppets she sent to the Campaign for the Portuguese Cancer League.

Annette is one of the very kind bloggers I've met through blogging. Not only is she very kind but also extremely artistic! Check out her amazing Circus Apron for Angry Chicken's Tie-One-On Circus Theme, and all the other things she creates!

Another VERY BIG THANK YOU to Baukje, form Busy Bee Free, who has also been so kind to send this ever so cute dog to the children's cancer hospital, for the same campaign.

Isn't it cute! Woof! Woof!

I've also met Baukje through blogging and I've really enjoyed being in touch with her! Baukje really enjoys knitting and sewing and makes such beautiful stuff! I really recommend you visit her blog and see her crafty projects and other lovely posts!

If you get inspired and also want to contribute, it's never too late! do like Annette and Baukje and send over a sock puppet!

For the Portuguese Cancer League

2010-08-28T20:19:00.000+02:00

As I had posted earlier the lovely children's clothes shop Piri Piri in Lisbon, Portugal, has been driving a campaign for the children's cancer hospital in that city. They are collecting sock puppets which anyone can make and will then donate them to this hospital. It's a fabulous campaign and they already have a few hundred puppets!

It turned out that one of the owners of Piri Piri was an old friend from school!

And over 20 years later (!!!!!! Am I WE that old????) we met up again! In her shop!

Me with Cristina in Piri Piri

Here we are! And Cristina still looks exactly the same! With her contagious and always so so happy smile!

Isn't the shop just beautiful! If you visit Lisbon don't miss a visit to the shop, for a browse, a buy and a lovely chat with Cristina!

What are we holding?

I was so happy to be able to personally donate the two puppets I made at home with my kids for the campaign. And there we are, holding them!

If you want, join the campaign! Make a sock puppet and send it to:

Loja Piri Piri

R. Almeida e Sousa, 39-A 

1350-008 LISBOA

Portugal

This is also the adress where you can visit the shop! It's located in a beautiful part of town which is really worth visiting!

Check out the link for this campaign on Facebook!

1 Year!

2010-08-13T00:04:00.002+02:00

Yes! My blog is 1 year old today!

And to celebrate - although modestly - I've made a pair of Quick Garden Gloves because that was also the first project I posted about exactly a year ago! And also because it's a nice introduction to the next theme starting very soon on this blog!

This time I added little loops so you can hang the gardening gloves. And I think it really gave them a nice little extra detail which is also very useful! What do you think?
The fabric is from a children's top from a second hand shop. And, as usual, I like using contrasting thread.

Although I don't normally use gardening gloves when I'm gardening it's so fun to sew your own and to have them hanging there where you can always look at them and feel happy!

Gardening gloves in action on my balcony!

Hint to the next few posts! ...

* * *

Now, back to the blog business. Many times I feel I should just stop blogging as I have enough things going on anyway. Many times I'm not even sure why I blog. But when these questions pop into my head, someone drops in a sweet comment, or someone sends me a gift, or someone commissions something... and then I feel that maybe there is a point with my blog.

I have met so many creative and kind people. Some of you I've now even met personally! And the positive and constructive attitude of all the bloggers I've come across has in itself been one of the biggest sources of inspiration. It's been wonderful to get the support of those who pop in for a look and a read.

So thank you so so much for your company! And I hope you will continue to visit me! I have definitely enjoyed having you all around!

And although today is Friday the 13th I'm sure this is the start of a new and very happy and productive year!

Yard Sale Skirt in Vintage Fabric

2010-08-10T01:24:00.001+02:00

Finally, a year after sewing it, here is my Yard Sale Skirt from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross!

It took a year to get some photos of it!

Although at the very beginning of my sewing phase, it was an excellent item of clothing to sew:

It was a skirt, and I love skirts, all year round.
It didn't require a zip
It had just enough challenges that both made it accessible and took me a step further in my sewing.
It taught me how to do a french seam (look here, for example) and gave me plenty of practice on how to do it
It gave me one of my favourite summer skirts!

I found the vintage fabric (60's?) in a flea market last year, here in Sweden. It was sold as a large table cloth and the minute I saw it I knew I just had to have it! I loved the yellow and the leafy pattern on it and after saying I was a student I got if for a great price!
So, with the perfect fabric I got a fresh and very practical summer skirt which I've worn a lot both last year and this year. I like the casual feel of the wrap around and it has a lot of twirl perfect for busy playful summers with my children.

Yard Sale Skirt

With my lovely L. giving me flowers

in the Caldas da Rainha market in Portugal

Now, I wasn't aware of the errata for this book until much later, after finishing the skirt... When I had problems understanding how to sew the waistband on I thought I really should not even have dreamt that I could sew my own skirt, so I just did it how I htought it could be. And it works. But after coming across different customer reviews I realised that maybe it was really the instructions which weren't so clear... And luckily enough I didn't need the extra 7th panel which is really reccomended for the Small size.

So, if you plan to sew this skirt I reccomend you read through the errata and the customer reviews first.

But, I can still say I am extremely pleased with my Yard Sale Skirt in vintage fabric!

And for the book, I still highly reccomend it for its varied and inspiring projects, which you can actually do in a weekend! And use them and enjoy them for a very long time!

Everything Tote - It Sure Is!

2010-07-31T19:49:00.001+02:00

This is my Everything Tote, from Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing.

I made it almost a year ago and finally took some photos of it this summer, during our holiday in Portugal. And I was very pleased that my very sweet Godmother - who is a professional seamstress (so it was a bit nervwrecking having to show her the bag I sewed...) - accepted modelling it! She was very funny with whole thing and of course there were lots of jokes about vegetables...! We had a great laugh! Thank you Gina!

I know a lot has been written about this pattern, and the erratas in the book, and yes I did have problems with the handles, but in the end I got a great tote which really carries EVERYTHING! This summer we've used it as a beach bag, a market bag, a "mum" bag, a shopping bag.... And it just holds so much! And as a user, lover and dependent on big bags this was definitely a great project to have done. And I will do more of these, I'm sure!

The outer fabric is from Åhléns, from last year's collection. The lining fabric is deep pink cotton, from a local fabric shop.

If I Only Had A ...

2010-07-29T23:34:00.001+02:00

... tin full of biscuits!

I've been searching for the perfect biscuit tin, as Dorothy was searching for her way back home. And on our holiday in England I finally found it!

We are all huge fans of The Wizard of Oz and what could be better than this tin featuring our 4 favourite heroes?

I grew up with these old classic musicals and maybe I even dreamt of becoming a musical movie star, tapdancing and singing on the big silver screen.... It's so wonderful now to watch my two sons enjoying this film as much as I've always done! It's really timeless!

Today, a rainy day, we baked delicious biscuits to fill up our new, perfect tin!

And now every time I take a biscuit from the tin I can't help but start singing all those amazing songs. It's a bit like those music boxes which start playing when you open them!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

The Munchkin Song

If I Only Had A Brain

We're off to See the Wizard

And more...

So let yourself skip and jump out on the streets as if you were dancing along the yellow brick road!

And smile!

Which is your favourite song from the Wizard of Oz?

Or, which is your favourite musical?

SEW & SHOW - Gentleman's Challenge!

2010-07-08T11:09:00.007+02:00

I am very pleased that the ascot I sent in for the Sew, Mamma, Sew! Make it! Wear it! challenge was featured in their highlights!

Ascot/photo by Miss Pelicano

I was happily surprised that from people's comments it sounds like lots of fathers and grandfathers out there do enjoy dressing elegantly.

Is there anyone else out there also making "Gentleman's" items?

Neck ties/photos by Miss Pelicano

Here is a challenge for you!

SEW & SHOW - Gentleman's Challenge!

Sew an item for the Gentleman
Post it on your blog and link to this challenge post
Send me the link to your post and I'll list it on the side bar

Have fun!

For the Gentleman!

2010-07-06T17:30:00.219+02:00

Here is the ascot (or cravat) I made for my Dad, for his

92nd Birthday!

My Dad always dresses very elegantly. My sister and I always say he dresses like an English gentleman! So this was an excellent accessory to sew for him. My Dad lives in portugal, where I'm from, but since i'm living in Sweden I hadn't celebrated his Birthday there with him for a few years. This year I made sure to be there with him and I'm so glad I was and to personally give him this present. He was already wearing an ascot, of course! One which I bought in a shop in England a few years ago. But he immediately took it off and put his new one on, commenting on how much better quality the one I made was! It's the joy of handmade!

The beautiful fabric is a high quality quilt cotton with a lovely touch.
The fabric is called "Cocorico", by Hoffman California International Fabrics.

I can't believe my Dad is 92! He looks amazing and as elegant as always!

I even sent this top photo to the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog challenge Make it! Wear it! and it was chosen to feature in the highlights ~~but because of different time zones, by the time I read their e-mail it was probably already too late to send my approval. Oh well, maybe next time! And~~ I'm ~~still~~ flattered!

The ascot was made form the Burda 3404 pattern and it is a very easy one with very effective results! The pleats are fun to make and immediately give it a very elegant look.

"The Modern Gentleman's Neck-Tie ABC"

Then I found this fun little book in a bookshop in Sweden.

Through clear pictures it shows how to tie different knots on different neck-ties.

I had to wear a tie for years as part of my uniform when I went to school but I had no idea there were so many different ways to tie it! With the help of this useful little book I now know that the knot I tied is called English I, and according to the same book it is "the "classic" knot, the most common and easiest one to tie". Oh! What a surprise!...

After some googling I learnt that Plastron is also called Plastrong, the Swedish word for ascot, or cravat.

And here is how you tie it!

You can also get help with the perfect suit/tie colour coordination!

Click on the images to enlarge to get a closer look.

If you're a man, there's no excuse now! If your man needs help, here is the answer!

The mustasch is optional...

Isn't this classy?

We talk a lot about how beautiful and elegant vintage ladies wear (dresses, skirts, blouses) was (is). I'm thinking 30's to 60's. And how much fashion has changed. But for the gentleman (!) has it changed that much?

From the little I know about sewing blogs I haven't seen much men's fashion, so I propose a challenge for anyone who wants to show any sewing projects you have made, are making, could make, for men!

Check out other ties I've made, here!

Happier Days

2010-06-13T10:11:00.009+02:00

Piri Piri, the colourful children's clothes shop in Lisbon, Portugal, has come out with a charity campaign in favour of the children's cancer hospital, together with the support of the Portuguese Cancer League.

All you have to do is make a sock puppet and leave it in their Lisbon shop by July 15th. Not so easy, I understand, if you don't live in the area. But it's still worth mentioning. Maybe you know someone you lives around there! Or maybe you can send the a handmade puppet by post! Or why not run your own campaign in your local area? It's a great cause, to cheer up the children who have to be in hospital. Your help is much appreciated!

Last year I made some sock puppets here and gave them to the local children's emergency hospital. And I wrote a post about it.

One of the owners of the Piri Piri shops - who turned out to be an old school friend who I haven't seen for about 20 years - saw my post and thought that it would be a good idea to run a more extensive campaign using the sock puppet idea. I am very happy that my puppets have inspired this great campaign.

Next week we'll be going down to Portugal and we will definitely meet my friend and take a sock puppet with us!

Finally for the Boys - Shorts

2010-06-07T10:19:00.006+02:00

"Keep Moving"

Shorts

Fabric: "Traffic Jam" by Allison Jane Smith

People (my sister) have been wondering why I never sew anything for boys. I have two sons, my sister has two sons. So it would be more natural to sew for boys. But I do get caught in the flowery universe of the somewhat more feminine fabrics (to be really stereotypical here...).

But finally here are some shorts for one of my boys, which he wore for his birthday party yesterday.

I called these shorts "Keep Moving", which is not the name of the fabric, although it could be, because of the motif but also, and especially, because little children are hardly ever still!

The pattern I used is the same one I used for the other pairs of shorts I made for my boys last summer. The patter for Pajama Trousers in Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing. But I cut the leg bits shorther and added two pockets on the back.

It's a very easy pattern which you can make really quickly!

40!

2010-06-01T10:56:00.000+02:00

Youth is in our hearts and in a red polka dot skirt with a bright green ribbon!

I'm having a great day!

I started this A-Line skirt months and months ago, but decided to finally have it finished for today, my special day! The pattern is based on the skirt ideas from Wendy Mullin's book Sew U .

Girly Skirts - Yes! Again!

2010-05-30T17:26:00.001+02:00

"Sunny Day"

Girly Skirt

Birthday, after birthday, after birthday.... We know so many children who have their birthdays quite close to each other, so why not more girly skirts?

I bought the flowery bias tape, which I used here as decorative ribbon, ages ago and finally found the perfect fabric to go with it. I think it looks so cute together!

Summer Tote

2010-05-17T13:58:00.011+02:00

With the same fabric as the Polka Skirt, a quick fresh,
Summer Tote.

With polkadot lining, for extra freshness! ;)

A perfect project for a quick Birthday present!

Once Upon a Time - Summer Top

2010-05-12T11:41:00.002+02:00

Once Upon a Time

Summer Top

So, a break from the Girly Skirts!

When I saw this fabric in the local craft shop I thought it would be perfect for animal lovers. Aren't all children animal lovers?
With the "Woods" theme I called this top "Once Upon a Time".
It's so simple and made without a pattern.

Girly Skirts - Again!

2010-04-23T14:01:00.004+02:00

Yes, another one! I just love them!

This one I called the "Polka Skirt".
Polka dots on the pockets and enough twirl for a dance and a run!

Polka Skirt

This time with pockets. Reinforced pockets.

Or where would the little girls keep the little treasures they find? Little stones, little acorns, little leaves....

Have a happy weekend!

More Girly Skirts!

2010-04-19T14:20:00.003+02:00

The sun is shining and it's getting warmer!
Perfect for more Girly Skirts!

So I made this one with lots of wild strawberries for a little friend of my younger son who's just turning 4!
She lives in the area where the old Swedish film studios used to be. Greta Garbo, Ingrid Bergman, Ingmar Bergman, and many others, walked on those streets! They've turned it into a residential area with a cinema for commercial films, but all over they've planted wild strawberries!

I called the skirt "Smultronstället".

The literal translation would be "Wild Strawberry Place".

Ingmar Bergman made a beautiful film called "Smultronstället", which got the name "Wild Strawberries" in English. The special thing about the Swedish expression is that it doesn't really mean the Place where the wild strawberries grow. It means any place which is extra special to you. A dear place which you always want to go back to.
Which is your "Smultronstället"?

So much in a little skirt!

Easy Grocery Bag

2010-04-12T13:35:00.003+02:00

I love big bags.
I don't like plastic bags. Not only for their environmental unfriendliness but also because I really think they are so unelegant and impersonal. If plastic bags were the the environmentally friendly way to go I would really have to push myself to follow that....

I had been looking for a pattern for a good size shopping bag and Keyka Lou had the perfect one!

It's the Easy Grocery Bag.

Outer fabric from Åhléns and lining from Ikea.

The topstiching over the handles recommended in the pattern adds strength and is a beautiful detail.
I used contrasting thread. A bright green adds colour to the grey.

And the new labels:

Miss Pe...

...licano!

The Easy Grocery Bag is really easy to sew and it has great curvy handles!

This is really one of my favourite patterns for totes now!

I made it for a friend as a Birthday present.

First things first!

2010-04-08T16:38:00.001+02:00

So, I'm back! I think!

I've been immersed in a nightmare of a maths course since January and literally drowning in numbers, formulas and other mathematical stuff which I just want to forget. I am slowly waking from that very bad dream - which unfortunately was very real! - and although I've started new courses, these will be like a gentle summer breeze! I'm now taking two courses on Second Language Acquisition which is very interesting as I am billingual, learnt Swedish as an adult and have two trillingual children and have always worked with multilingual children! Fun!
It's been impossible to sew or blog but everyday I looked at my fabrics and planned what to do with them. I opened them and felt them. Then put them back.
I also thought I would stop blogging. I know many bloggers go through this phase. But once in a while I got a kind e-mail, or a comment, or a parcel in the post, from fellow crafters/bloggers which really gave me lots of warmth and encouragement! I never stopped visiting all the fun blogs that inspire me - yes, you all! And it's just incredible how much you all are doing and how much that has lightened my days! Thank you all!

A while back I got a completely unexpected parcel in the post from Baukje. Baukje joined my Help Haiti Fabric Auction and has a lovely blog about knitting, sewing and about her daily life!

A lovely letter - check out the cat in the hay! A lovely vintage ribbon and some useful buttons!
Thank you so much!

I will be posting a couple of things and I hope you pop in to see them!

Snow Buds

2010-02-09T14:12:00.008+01:00

When our friends M & D got married last year M asked me if I could sew the dresses for their two little girls.

Of course I could! When, otherwise, would I get the chance to be submerged in pink and roses? I loved it!

The basic pattern is the same one I had made and used for the Polka Dot Summery Top.

Only here I made a longer dress version of the same size, and a smaller version for the smaller dress.

M suggested the design with the ribbons and roses.

Cotton Reel Rack - Tutorial!

2010-02-04T11:52:00.002+01:00

I've always wanted to have a cotton reel rack.

During one of my teaching practice occasions I got talking to the woodwork teacher at the local school where I'm based as a student teacher. I asked for advice on a quick and easy solution to store my cotton reels. And then she said I could just go down to her workshop and make a rack. I thought she was joking, but here it is! She gave me the materials and the scary drill, started me off and.....

now I have one!

Thanks S.!

It really was quite easy, after she explained how to hold the drill at a 45 degree angle, approx. Now I feel I could make another one all by myself.

Here is a quick (maybe not very thorough) tutorial:

All you need is:

a piece of wood, the size you want, depending on how many reels you want to store on it
Some wooden sticks that fit through the whole on the cotton reel. If you have a long stick you can easily saw it to the right length(approx. 6 cm long and 4 mm wide)
ruler
pencil
a small hand drill
wood glue
paint (optional)

All this you can probably get at your local warehouse. Here we've got Bauhaus, for example. There you can find everything you need for this project and you can even borrow the saw on the spot to get the wooden board the right size and rent a drill.

Measure up with a ruler and mark with a pencil where you will be drilling the wholes. Make sure they are evenly spread out and that the distance is big enough to fit the reels beside each other. Mine are 3 cm apart, horizontally and 5 cm apart, vertically. I can fit both small and big reels.

Place the wooden board on a flat surface (with a pice of waste wood underneath to protect the surface), or use a workbench.
Place the drill (make sure it's the same measurement as the stick - your warehouse will help you with this, or you can even do it yourself) on the pencil marks and hold it at a 45 degree angle approx. so you get the sticks slanted.
Drill firmly but carefully approx. 1 cm into the wood. You can measure 1 cm from the drill end and put a bit of tape there just so you know when to stop (when the tape touches the wood).

Dip an end of the sticks in the wood glue and push them in through the wholes. Wipe off excess glue.

Let dry. How long, really depens on the glue. Mine needed approx. 30 minutes to be ready for painting.

Paint.

Done!

The measurements of my cotton reel rack are: 30 cm x 14 cm x 1,5cm.

At least 1,5 cm in width is advisable so you can really make sure the little sticks are properly fixed, although you need some wood glue anyway, before you put them in the wholes, just to make it more secure.
Be careful not to drill right through the wood. If you happen to do that it's really not a big problem. It just means that you have to make sure the stick doen't pop out the back when you glue it in. I drilled once right through, but as it's on the back you don't notice it.

It's really quite easy! If you want to attempt to make one and you find this tutorial a bit confusing, don't hesitate to ask me!

Donation to Doctors Without Borders

2010-02-03T10:32:00.000+01:00

Baujke, from BusyBeeFree has donated 25 euros to Doctors Without Borders in response to the fabric auction I held on my blog last month, on this post.

Thank you Baujke for participating! And I hope you enjoy the fabric!

Lilly of the Valley - Flowers for my mum

2010-01-30T22:29:00.010+01:00

My mum's favourite flowers have always been Lilly of the Valley.

The first time she saw them, I think, was when she went to Paris, France, in her early twenties. They don't grow in Portugal, where she comes from and lives, so they are very special, and exotic, to her. Everytime I see the first Lilly of the Valley delicate flowers shooting up in the late Swedish Spring, I always call her to tell her about it!

When I found this fabulous floral fabric on Retrodepot I just knew I had to make something out of it for my mum. So I made this bag.

It is of course yet another size variation of the Charming Handbag, pattern by Amy Karol, from Bend the Rules Sewing. Only here I have exchanged the handle for a shoulder strap. This is the third size (original size here and XL here!) I Have used for this same pattern. It is definitely a perfect pattern to use in different sizes.

The lining is a recycled old, but almost unused shirt that my partner had, literally, grown out of. It's a lovely thin, smooth cotton of very good quality!

The three little buttons I stiched to the decorative ribbon on the outside were new, but they have a very old-fashioned, vintage look to them, which was what I really liked about them. And they went perfectly with the Lilly of the Valley fabric.

Recycled jumper-bag

2010-01-23T20:56:00.004+01:00

I made this bag using an old shrunken jumper I had kept for ages. It went in with the wrong wash and turned out almost felted. As Betz White explains in her beautiful book Sewing Green a garment has to contain at least 80% wool, or a combination of wool and other animal fibres to felt. This jumper was mostly synthetic and it had a low percentage of wool so it didn't really felt, but it's close, anyway. Not bad considering it was originally an accident!

I cut it straight along the underarm seams, turned it inside out and sewed in a cotton lining the same way I did for the Big Jumps Gym Bag. The fabric for the lining is called Très Jolie - perfect name which fits really well! It's designed by Janet G. Gossard for Fabrics by Spectrix.

For the shoulder strap I used an old belt which had been lying around unused, from my older son's trousers.

I'm very pleased with how cosy this bag turned out and the lining has a - now - worn touch to it which feels lovely when I have to put my hand in it to get something out.

For the string I used red leather - I really like red leather, and it matches my purse (which is in my bag so you can't see it!) - and three cloisonné beads.

NOTE: The HELP HAITI! Fabric Auction - on previous post - will be open till the 31st January. If you haven't donated to any Help organisation yet, you might want to take part in this auction and not only will you be helping the victims in Haiti but also having the opportunity to receive a beautiful fabric pack.

HELP HAITI! AUCTION

2010-01-19T11:34:00.027+01:00

I am auctioning this fabric to collect money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.

cotton: approx. 48cm x 112cm, 50cm x 150cm, 50cm x 142cm, 70cm x 100 cm

All the money collected will go to a help organisation.
In Sweden, the following organisations are helping in Haiti:
Actionaid, Erikshjälpen, Hoppets stjärna, Läkare utan gränser, Läkarmissionen, Plan Sverige, Rädda Barnen, Röda korset, SOS-Barnbyar, Svenska FN-förbundet, Svenska kyrkan and Unicef Sverige.

Leave a comment with how much money you are willing to donate.
I will send the fabric to any country in the world, free of charge, of course. And who gets the fabric can choose which help organisation - Swedish or local - to donate the money to.

HELP HAITI! And tell everyone you know to join this auction!

Thank you for your help!

A Brilliant Cause

2010-01-18T14:20:00.017+01:00

Happy New Year!

It's been ages since I visited my own blog!
The 4th of Advent has gone. So has Christmas and the New Year is now here, roaring on.

I'd like the first post of this New Year to be a colourful one and so I leave you with some ribbons I bought when I went to Lisbon, Portugal, for Christmas.

In down town Lisbon there as still a few old haberdashers with dark wooden cupboards, shelves and a million little drawers which hide treasures like these.
These ribbons were bought in a shop called "Causa Brilhante", which of course means Brilliant (Shiny) Cause! And yes, this was a brilliant cause to spend a large percentage of my already empoverished study loan!

Last Summer I bought some ribbons in the same shop so I decided to go back. I explained to the gentleman working there that I had already bought some ribbons a while ago. He opened a drawer and asked "Was it from this drawer?", then as he opened another one, "Or from this one?"..."Or from this one?"... And he opened five or six different age worn drawers with endless colours and patterns and I didn't know where to turn! So many more I hadn't seen last time!

It's great to be back!

3rd of Advent & Lucia

2009-12-16T17:49:00.000+01:00

Last Sunday was the 3rd of Advent, which means only one more Sunday till Christmas!

It was also Lucia.

More Lucia songs here!

So we baked the traditional lusse bullar. Delicious saffran buns!
And I just love when the dough is rising! And the smell!...

You can make them into different shapes and they all have different names.

This one is a dubbel kusse.
I symbolically give it to Vera at Brikebrok
who, on the 1st of Advent, wondered if I had baked the lusse bulle on the photo, which I hadn't.

We also made pepparkakor, the Swedish gingerbread biscuits, which of course noone could keep their hands off!

"Big Jumps" gym bag

2009-12-10T21:00:00.000+01:00

For an active little girl who goes dancing I designed this combined tote/draw string bag.

It has the cuteness of a little tote and the practicality of a draw string bag so the ballet shoes don't fall out!

"Big Jumps" gym bag
Pattern by Miss Pelicano

The bag is lined with the polka dot fabric which sticks out at the top with the draw string. The lining/draw string bag is sewn on to the tote.

Outer fabric: "Tossed Ladybugs", Retrodepot Fabrics
Lining: Polka dots from local fabric shop in Lisbon, Portugal

Note: Let me know if you are interested in a tutorial for the "Big Jumps" gym bag! You are welcome to use these ideas but I would really appreciate it if you link to my blog/post! Thank you! And have fun!

Commission - Bags and Purses

2009-12-08T20:00:00.000+01:00

I was commissioned 3 bags and 4 purses to be given away as Christmas presents.

I had a pattern in mind with pleats. Pleats have always been a bit of a scary thought, but in the end it's just folding the fabric. I put a simple pleat on each side of the bag and it gives the bag a bit of volume.

Because of the "A" shaped effect of the pleat and the slight "A" shape of the actual bag, I thought "A-Line" Shoulder Bag would be an appropriate name for this pattern. What do you think?

"A-Line" Shoulder bag
Pattern by Miss Pelicano
Fabric by Åhléns

"A-Line" Shoulder bag
Pattern by Miss Pelicano
Fabric from IKEA

This one is the Amy Karol Charming Handbag, from Bend the Rules Sewing, but in an expanded XL version. So now it's more of a shoulder bag, but still quite charming, I think. This is a fun pattern to try in many sizes. The fabric is also from Åhléns.

The orange and the lime green polka dot linings are from a small local fabric shop in Lisbon, Portugal. The light blue polka dot lining is from Panduro.

These are the 4 little purses:

Fabric for purses - left to right: 1. Åhléns 2. Vera Bradley fabric from local shop in Lisbon, Portugal 3. Traditional Portuguese "Chita", from local shop in Portugal 4."Willow" pattern, from local shop in England.
Polka dot linings are from Portugal and Sweden.

I think I like polka dot linings!

Note: The lucky ladies getting these presents don't know about this blog. That's why I can publish the photos ahead of time!

Note: Let me know if you are interested in a tutorial for the "A-Line" shoulder bag! You are welcome to use these ideas but I would really appreciate it if you link to my blog/post! Thank you! And have fun!

2nd of Advent

2009-12-06T20:29:00.000+01:00

To celebrate the 2nd of Advent we of course lit the second candle of our Advent candles.

And to celebrate this Season with you have a laugh with my entry for Amy Karol's
Angry Chicken Tie One On - Peppermint Candy Apron gallery.

Here I am!

And here are more photos:

1st of Advent

2009-11-29T20:38:00.000+01:00

Today Sweden celebrates the 1st of Advent.
Every home lights a candle on their Advent candles.
We do this every year to celebrate the 4th Sunday before Christmas. Then next Sunday we light the next candle, then the next, then.... it's Christmas!

We eat pepparkakor (like the two hearts above) , the Swedish gingerbread biscuits,

and drink glögg, the Swedish mulled wine,

and as Lucia is coming soon, we eat lusse bullar, the Swedish saffran buns.

Delicious and so cozy!

Every house has a shining star on the window and it's such a beautiful sight! Every home looks so warm and welcoming!

This year I got the idea of using a baking tin as part of the Christmas decoration from Drömhem och Trädgård. No ambition of being the perfect design home, but it was fun to try something different.

The magazine suggests you use a vintage baking tin, but I just used my old one. It looks sort of rustic anyway.
We had friends over for the Advent pepparkakor and glögg and they thought it looked great! Wonderful friends!

This is one of my favourite times of the year!

Puppets go to the doctor

2009-11-19T21:38:00.000+01:00

Some months ago I made these sock puppets for my children.
I made them really simple and quickly and it looks more like my kids have made them!

They call them Frans and Frans.

I had to take my oldest son to the children's hospital one day and he took his little Frans with him.

The nurse was so sweet and talked to my son about the puppet.
She said how fun it would be for them to have some puppets at the hospital for the children to play with and for the nurses to use with their little patients.

I promised her I would make some.

And here they are!

Say Ahhhhh!

Now, we'll take them to the hospital.

I leave here a special BIG THANKS to all the nurses who are always so kind and always have a smile on their faces!

I thought of making cute little puppets, but they just turned out like this. Sort of weird. Sort of scary.
I hope the children won't be scared!

My children actually have had loads of fun with them!
I hope all the other children will enjoy them too!

Note: My patterns and names of patterns are registered. You are welcome to contact me for a pattern. You are welcome to use these ideas but I would really appreciate it if you link to my blog/post! Thank you! And have fun!

A table is a table. Or is it?

2009-11-14T15:10:00.000+01:00

Challenged by Concha at Saídos da Concha, who was challenged by Alice, who also challenged others, here I am showing my working table.

It isn't actually a table, but it works as one. And as an ironing board as well (because it is one), which is really practical!
Because of lack of space, this is the best solution. I tried several. And working on the floor - which I still do for bigger projects, like when I make clothes - wasn't so practical with two young children around.
I like being able to leave unfinished projects visible and ready for the next move.

And now I also challenge Mona, Mai and Amélie to show their working tables.
Mona, for her collage like houses, Mai, for her delicate and incredible handsewing of all her creative projects, and Amélie for the perfection in her sewing and her short animations.

Then they must also challenge three other people to do the same!

This table business made me think of a Portuguese children's book I bought a while ago.

A Table is a Table. Or is it?
Isabel Martins, Madalena Matoso
Planeta Tangerina

A little girl sees a table and for her that's exactly what it is. A table. She meets different people that day who have so many different ideas of what a table is.
I like the collage illustrations! Just like Mona's collage like sewing.

It'll be fun to see other people's working tables!

And I hope you enjoy visiting Mona, Mai and Amélie!

Grey

2009-11-11T15:01:00.000+01:00

This week I bought this fabric. Grey, grey, grey.
It's been grey for the last two weeks.
Today the sun came out for 3 minutes.
Now it's all grey, grey, grey.
Again.

Dots and Roses reversible handbag

2009-11-08T15:38:00.000+01:00

Happy Birthday Rachel!

For our 17 year old niece I've made this handbag with bamboo handles.

I wanted to use the bamboo handles and make a simple bag.
I didn't have a pattern and I just started adding little things to the simple bag I had in mind: extra fabric handles, lining, squared bottom, pleats, inside pocket.....
So it wasn't so simple in the end, but it was so much fun to not have a pattern and to be free to add and change as I went along.

And I made it reversible.

I bought this little green tassel ages ago and I finally found a good place for it.

It's more of a Summer handbag, but anyway, time flies and it'll be Summer again soon!

My five year old son took this photo of me with the Rose and Dots reversible handbag!

The floral fabric is by Vera Bradley.

Note: My patterns and names of patterns are registered. You are welcome to contact me for a pattern. You are welcome to use these ideas but I would really appreciate it if you link to my blog/post! Thank you! And have fun!

First commission!

2009-10-28T20:31:00.000+01:00

It's fun to sew for yourself.
It's fun to sew for your friends and family.
But it feels really special when someone commissions something to sell in their shop!

This is the business card i made to leave at the shop.

Today I delievered nine bibs to be sold in Inci! This is a cute little shop in the outskirts of Stockholm, selling toys, scrapbooking material, children's books and now, my bibs!

I'm very excited!

Like a mum to her newborn child takes millions of photos, that's how I felt today as I tried to get as many photos of the bibs as I could!

With Christmas creeping up on us I created a small collection of christmassy bibs, but avoiding the very traditional prints.

I named this collection "Nu är det Jul igen" (Now it's Christmas again) -
a traditional Swedish Christmas song which people sing dancing around the Christmas tree.

Two bibs were a copy of two other bibs I had made before.

I had fun making the labels!

Autumn in Stockholm

2009-10-28T20:17:00.000+01:00

Stockholm is absolutely golden in Autumn.
Although there hasn't been any sunlight for the last week, this is how it can glow on sunny Autumn days!

So simple "Sun and Snow" girly dress

2009-10-25T18:10:00.000+01:00

I made this little dress in only a few hours.
It's the easiest dress I could think of and I didn't even need a pattern.
I didn't have much time and I wanted to make it for a little friend's birthday.

Of course it's sleeveless as I still haven't managed to work out how to sew sleeves.

I used the pink bias tape for the shoulder ribbons.

The dress looked a bit dull so I added some yellow bias tape on the pocket and above the hem line to cheer it up a bit.

Then I found these cute little flowers in Panduro and I just had to add them!

The fabric is a heavier type of soft cosy cotton flannel , great for the cold and grey Autumn and Winter days here. With a long-sleeved top underneath and cosy tights it'll be perfect! And then it's also ok to use in the Spring and cooler Summer days. That's why I called it "Sun and Snow".

There hasn't been much sunlight lately so it was impossible to take nicer photos. Maybe when the sun comes out I'll try better ones....

Note: My patterns and names of patterns are registered. You are welcome to contact me for a pattern. You are welcome to use these ideas but I would really appreciate it if you link to my blog/post! Thank you! And have fun!

Sewing in Japanese

2009-10-19T20:30:00.000+02:00

So I've definitely been hit by the Japanese style!
I've just ordered two Japanese pattern books.
Not only is sewing new to me, but now I'll be sewing in Japanese!
The pattern books I bought from Pomadour24 here were SIMPLE CHIC DRESS PATTERNS and ADULT COUTURE DRESS and SMOCK BLOUSE.

The photos in the books are absolutely beautiful and now I can't wait to get my new books!

A birthday present for my sister

2009-10-06T12:44:00.000+02:00

It's my sister's birthday and I've sent her a Charming Handbag.

The pattern is by Amy Karol, from her book Bend the Rules Sewing which has lots of fun sewing projects.

The outer fabric is from Åhléns. The lining is vintage fabric.

Hidden inside is a matching necklace.

I hope she likes it!

Happy Birthday Ana!

This is the first project I've made from Amy Karol's book but there are lots of other projects I can't wait to try!
Sewing is a new interest, so while all the talented and experienced craftspeople out in the craftosphere who have inspired me to start sewing have already "been there, done that", I am running trying to catch up. But I'm having lots of fun!

Ties

2009-09-22T21:22:00.000+02:00

Here is the first tie i made!

I made the pattern by tracing an old tie and then used the facing from that tie.
I used a vintage fabric which I bought in a flee market here in Sweden. It was an old curtain!
It's really fun to recycle materials. To make something new and completely different from the original item.

The lining was really tricky to sew in as it has to be aligned in a certain way which, if you are making a tie for the very first time with no instructions, is a bit of a mystery. It was for me! So I had to do and undo many times until I finally got it and was satisfied.
For the second tie it was all much easier, although there was still a bit of undoing.

This is the second tie

Tie in the making

The whole project is quite fidly but once in a while I really enjoy this kind of work!

More Bibs for Babies

2009-09-11T11:25:00.000+02:00

Yesterday I finished and gave away these two new bibs.

One for a beautiful girl

and one for a beautiful boy.

I hope they enjoy them!
I think she does!

The fabric was bought at Panduro.

I know that Amy Karol has a pattern for a bib like this in her inspiring book Bend the Rules Sewing.
But I had actually traced an old shop bought bib from one of my children before I got her book.
A project from Bend the Rules Sewing will come up soon on my blog!

Flowers. Floral Fabric. Favourite

2009-09-10T10:58:00.000+02:00

This summer we went to Shrewsbury to visit Grandma.
In a wonderful fabric shop I found this beautiful floral fabric which I immediately fell in love with!
I wanted metres and metres of it. It would be perfect for a romantic summer dress.
But they only had it in fat quarters!
So I bought nine fat quarters and I will make my dress! I'll have to sew all the bits together first, but there will be a dress!
Somethings you just have to have!

This fabric is by Diane Richmond.
(I think this is the right Diane Richmond... I can't find this fabric anywhere...)

I love these flowers. I'm trying to find their name.... I'll get back to this later...

And then...

We went to Portugal, to a little village where we have an old family country place to visit the other Grandma, my mum.
And in the garden were these amazing flowers again! Just spreading everywhere! So beautiful!

We had a family lunch there and of course I had to have some on the table!

And when my romantic summer dress is ready, I can go for walks and have tea in the garden.
In Tasha Tudor's romantic garden!

Classics II - Polka dots

2009-08-23T21:49:00.000+02:00

This is the second post dedicated to "classic" fabric.

Today: Polka dots!

And I made this:

A simple summery top for a little girl.

This little top reminds me of the dresses my grandmother used to make for my sister and I. I don't remember if she ever made something like this, but it has an air of "a long time ago".

I made the pattern myself based on a shop bought dress. I shortened the length to make a top instead and lowered the neck line. I added a pocket and an opening at the back.

Instead of using coordinating thread on the bias tape I used a contrasting orange - which of course follows the polka dot theme.

Bias tape is a favourite of mine!
I might even do a post dedicated to bias tape soon!

Classics I - Portuguese "chita"

2009-08-22T22:12:00.000+02:00

This is the first post entitled "Classics", which I'll dedicated to more traditional or classic fabric. Today I dedicate it to the traditional Portuguese fabric called "chita".

A sample.

I bought this fabric in one of my favourite towns in Portugal, Caldas da Rainha. Known for its ceramics, for the old spa, the fruit and vegetable market and for the beautiful park.
There are still some little traditional shops like the little old haberdashers with wooden floors and wooden counters and shelves. And lovely reproductions of old portuguese fabrics, like these I bought.

My plan is to make some girlie dresses and skirts (I love skirts!).
The fabric with the red stripes is much thicker than the others, so I made a school bag for Pauline, a little friend, who has just started school.

Contrasting fabrics are great to combine. Blue flowers and red stripes with green gingham lining. And outer fabric for an inside pocket.

I wanted to make a shoulder bag to wear across, my favourite way of carrying a bag.
Here modelled by my son:
I also wanted a slightly different way of attaching the strap to the bag, so I sewed it to the outside of the bag, leaving a small loose flap at the end of the strap on each side. A small detail, but which is quite effective. I think.

If there's any fabric you can think of to include in this series of posts please come with suggestions!
It would be fun to have a wide selection of fabric shown here!

Boys in safari shorts

2009-08-16T21:05:00.000+02:00

In July we visited grandma in Shrewsbury, England.
Lovely little town with a lovely fabric shop.
Let's go in just to look, I said...
My kids immediately saw this fabric and wanted it. They just wanted it.

I've been wanting to make them some shorts, but I had thought of something a bit more classic, like stripes.

I would never have chosen this "safari" fabric, but my kids wouldn't have been more pleased with their shorts!

They love their shorts and wear them all the time.
Shame Summer is almost over, over here!

I used the pijama pattern in Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing but cut the leg shorter and added 2 pockets on the back.

I bought lots more fabric there as well! More photos later!

Bibs for babies

2009-08-15T21:27:00.000+02:00

Girly skirts for every girl!

2009-08-14T13:30:00.001+02:00

Back in the 80's I made my very first, and until now, my only skirt. Just an elastic around the waist. Simple. Just like these with added inspiration from Oliver+S Lazy Days skirt with the pretty ribbon along the hem.

These two skirts were for Pauline and Louise. The very cute red Tilda fabric for Pauline and light blue polka dots for Louise. Both fabrics were bought at Panduro (as well as the Blue "Ocean View" Tilda below). Panduro has very nice fabric!

I like the constrasting old green against the light blue.

I have now made six different Lazy Days skirts. I want them all different with different ribbons. Every little girl is unique. Every little skirt is different.

Strawberries on black with red ribbon

Red gingham and flower ribbon

Blue "Ocean View" Tilda and orange ribbon

Welcome! Day One.

2009-08-13T17:29:00.001+02:00

Hello and welcome to my very first post on my very first blog! I am Miss Pelicano!
This blog will be mostly about sewing. My sewing stuff and others'.
I started sewing sometime in february this year, inspired by a very talented crafty blogger, Constança at Saídos da Concha.
Since then I have also been inspired by many other very talented crafts people and their amazing blogs.

My partner has also encouraged me to continue sewing and to create this blog.
For him I have so far made two neck ties. Photos up soon!

I won't be a fluent blogger as I have little time over but I'll try to show the things I'm making, ask for advice and hopefully exchange ideas and inspiration with you.

I'm from Portugal but I've been living in Sweden since 1996. My partner is English and we have two young boys.

I am a Montessori teacher currently doing some further studies in education at Höskolan Dalarna in Sweden.

The photo for the banner shows the gardening gloves I made from Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing. The fabric I used was from a girl's dress I bought in a second hand shop.

More sewing from that book will follow on other posts!

Why the name "Miss Pelicano"?
My name is Barbara Pelicano Soeiro. At the school where I have been teaching the children call me Miss Pelicano. It wasn't my first choice for the name of this blog, but after many, what I thought were original ideas, I realised that nothing is original anymore except your own name! Anyway, "Miss Pelicano" will remind me of all the wonderful children I have taught! And now having taken two years off to study it's nice to have that memory!

I hope you enjoy this time with me!

Barbara

You are welcome to send a link of my blog to your friends and quote me on anything you find interesting, but I would appreciate it if you do not use my photos. Thank you!

Technicalities:
I'm a novice in sewing and blogging. As you will see the quality of the photos isn't the best, a bit fuzzy. when you CLICK ON EACH PHOTO the photo is enlarged and the quality is actually better. What am I doing wrong?