Who Gets It??

Good greif!  I wasn't expecting 257 entries to my giveaway!!  I wish I had 257 bars of soap and the funds to be able to post one out to every single one of you.  But unfortunately, I haven't yet developed an empire, so one prize, one envelope is what it's got to be.

The random generator picked number 8!

and I am therefore pleased to announce that the winner is (drumroll) ... 

Knitaddict who's blog is Time for T

Apart from the fact that her extremities will now be fabulously smooth for the summer, I'm very pleased that this lady has won as her's is a new blog, and what better introduction could she have to the fantastic world of the blogosphere, than to win a giveaway.  I hope she likes it! 

Mr Marmalade and I were struck down late last week with what must be one of the most evil bugs of all time.  It made our legs, skins and backs ache and turned our brains to mush (luckily no sneezing though!!).  Today is the first day I feel quite compis mentis, and so due to being mostly horiziontal and asleep since Thursday, I think I only managed to enter a couple of giveaway's myself! 

296 and Counting

This is my 296th post here! So I thought that joining in with the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway day would be a good celebration for reaching the big 300!

So here it is! A little hand made boxy pouch filled with bathtime goodies - all hand made by me ofcourse. The pouch itself is made from lovely linen salvaged from a pair of Laura Ashely trousers. In the pouch there is a large bar of soap containing calendula petals with a fresh citrusy scent made from a blend of pure essential oils of orange, patchouli, may chang, lemon, and orange blossom. There is also a calendula tea bag, and a small bag of bath salts made from pure sea salt scented with another blend of essential oils which includes patchouli, vanilla, and ylang ylang. It smells very exotic and luxurious. Perfect for a pamper!

Calendula petals come from the Pot Marigold plant (Calendula officinalis). The saponins and mucilage in calendula petals have humectant properties which means that it can draw moisture into the skin and for that reason it is beneficial for dehydrated, dry, irritated and delicate skin. Calendula can soothe skin inflamations and help heal damaged tissues where the skin is broken. For this reason it is often used in preparations used to treat dry skin conditions such as exema. It is anti-inflammatory with antiseptic properties.

You can make Calendula oil by steeping the petals in almond or jojoba oil and leaving on a sunny windowsill for 2 or 3 weeks. A stronger infusion can be made by straining the petals and adding new ones after a week or two. It is important the the petals are dried before steeping otherwise the oil will harbour bacteria and go off. You can use the oil as an ingredient in soap, lotions and balms.

You can also put Calendula petals straight into the bath. I make a 'teabag' from net or muslin and just put it in the bath while it is running.

My calendula soap is made by hand with coconut oil, olive oil and palm oil. It feels very luxuriant to use and does not leave your skin feeling dry and taught like commercial soap can. Partly this is because handmade soap retains the glycerin that is made during the saponification process. Glycerin is another humectant which is beneficial for skin hydration and which is removed from commercial soap and sold off as a by product.

To enter this giveaway, please leave a comment on this post - this giveaway is open to everyone. I will do the draw in 4 days time on 31 May with the random number generator. Good luck!

Fear Factor

I haven't had much time for sewing during the lovely hot weather over the weekend.  As my sewing room has a glass roof, it was way too hot in there anyway, and I had far too much to catch up with in the garden and the allotment.  But I'm back on top in that department, so sewing duties will resume forthwith.  But not today.  

As I mentioned a couple of posts back, i've had this idea which is still under wraps for now, but the research, number crunching and planning has also kept me away from the sewing table, my blog and my inbox (sorry!).  I'm getting a bit further along though and I want to get things up and running soon, so hopefully it wont be too long before I can reveal all!  Serendipity has also played a generous hand in keeping me afloat with this idea.  Isn't it funny how an accidental slip of the finger on the keyboard can lead to all manner of accidental discoveries which give eureka moments along with a thousand more possibility explosions in your mind.   I also came across  two posts in particular which gave me little pushes and shoves during moments of doubt.

Don't forget that it's the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day tomorrow.  Pop over there and enter some draws - but come here first and enter mine!

In the Summertime

What utterly gorgeous weather we've had this weekend!  Apparently the forecast is now rain until Thursday!  Boo hoo.  I've been at The Marmalade Patch catching up and catching sunburn.  Pop over there for look!

The Green Lady

You know there are times when you discover something which then leads to the ghost of an idea, and you start researching, fear holds you back, and then a eureka moment happens and it's full steam ahead very suddenly even though the fear keeps lurking menacingly around each twist and turn of your explorations?

Such a ghost appeared to me right out of the blue, and such a moment has happened. So I've been busy asking questions, researching, and feeling very tired with an exploding mind. In part this is mostly down to you lot out there, inspiring me along each step of the way, and I'd like to especially thank Julia at Primrose Corner for giving me an extra shove in the right direction earlier this week.

I hope to be able to report back soon with further details!

Pneumatic Hens?

It seems that Eggy and Peggy may have hidden depths.  They could even be killer chickens, if you're under 5 or over 65.   Infact, they had been nicknamed by my neighbour a while ago "The Queen Street Two" which does seem like quite a menacing tag!

It's Jimmy's job to tend to their daily requirements, food, water, egg collection ... and on seeing his x-ray results today, the doctor, looking quite perplexed, told me that the strain of pneumonia that Jimmy had contracted, is normally passed on by birds ...  "do you have any birds?" he enquired... "Chickens" said I ... the doctor then asked if there were any budgies or the like living in the household ... 'nope, just chickens'.  It was difficult for me to tell if he counted chickens as birds or not, perhaps he didn't like to say ...

Ofcourse Jimmy is delighted as whether it was them or not, he sees this as one less chore for him, and I have to admit that I am a bit reluctant to ask him to resume his chickenly duties when he is fully better... Mr Marmalade isn't being at all helpful either, he's convinced that "pneumonia" really means 'bird flu'!  I'm thinking that maybe it was the big fat pigeons' fault .. I guess we'll never know which bird was the culprit - I'm eyeing them all with suspicion!

Except Mr and Mrs Robin ofcourse.  On my way back from the chicken coop this afternoon, look what I spied in the Honeysuckle bush...

Pictures of ...

For my birthday this year, Mr Marmalade was kind enough to buy me a Wacom graphics tablet which happened to come in a bundle with Photoshop Elements, and the ArtRage painting programme.

Up until now, i've been mostly concentrating on Photoshop as there is a design element to my job and I need to practice. However, today at work, I got time to have a little fiddle with Adobe Illustrator, and that made me remember the ArtRage programme I have here at home. Obviously it's not nearly as sophisticated as Illustrator, it's very basic. But I find that often these basic softwares have a whole range of uses of their own, that the more complicated and professional programmes don't have and consequently, they are much easier to operate.

So this afternoon I have been playing with design, and these are what I came up with. I'm very pleased with these little sketches, but don't be fooled. I'm not that good at drawing. The ArtRage programme has a "tracing" facility (as does Illustrator), so I trace an outline, get rid of the original picture, and then colour in to my hearts content, and add bits and bobs here and there as I go.

Like the Adobe programmes, the ArtRage programme has a "layers" system, so you can add, subtract, and change your mind as often as you like ..

How much more fun could a girl have in one afternoon than painting pretty pictures of underwear???

Testing testing..

After all that frenzied corset sewing of last week, I've been wanting to do something simpler, easier, and less intense this week! So I've been prototyping xmas presents again (oh don't look at me like that!! I want to be prepared this year ok?).

And I've been experimenting with wrappings and accessories for my soap, along with 'packs' and bags and accessories. I haven't got many of the ideas out of my head and onto the worktable yet but I have plans!

This Calendula soap is pictured with a boxy pouch which I made from this tutorial ... and inside the pouch is also a little bag of bath salts and some calendula bath sachets.

I'm entering this pouch and it's contents into the Sew Mama Sew "Giveaway Day" which is on 27 May. I like the idea of lots of little giveaways happening on the same day all around the world! So stay tuned for your chance to win it, or go to Sew Mama Sew for a list of participating blogs, and enter into as many draws as you can shake a keyboard at!

A Blanket of Stories

My friend Susan is expecting her first child in a few months time.  She has emailed all of her friends to ask for some 'special' scraps of fabric to sew into a quilt for her new baby.  Her inspiration came when looking through her own scraps, she found a piece of fabric from the outfit that her late father wore to her wedding.  It occured to her and her husband, that some of the special people in their life may also like to contribute so that the new little soul can be wrapped in a warm and snug blanket filed with special and happy memories.  What a beautiful and solid welcome to the world.  

So I have put together a little bundle for her which includes fabric from my wedding dress, and the outfits worn on that day by Mr Marmalade and Jimmy.  

And for anybody who lives in or near Edinburgh, you may be interested in this website created by Mr Susan  in order to save a historical bridge there which is at risk of being lost forever in favour of redevelopment (ie: shops).  The campaign has already  gathered a phenomenal amount of support from the locals.

Time for a Break

Corset production has slowed down for two reasons.  1) it is nearly finished (hurrah!), 2) Jimmy has been horizontal for the last 5 days.  This afternoon, after refusing several tempting suggestions to sit in the lounge all cosy with mugs of hot tea and rugs watching his favourite programmes with the dog at his feet, I thought I better have him seen to.  A 13 year old boy who doesn't want to watch TV isn't right! But Jimmy is never never ill.  I can't even remember the last time I took him to the doc's since he was a baby, and it's been a job to get him to talk about his symptoms.  "I'm fine" or "I'm better than yesterday" is all he would mumble, but this evening it took me a whole hour to get him out of the house and down to the surgery.  After a further hour of waiting for the duty doctor, it seems that he has pneumonia!!  It also seems that I don't have a son who does anything by halfs!!  So now, while Mr Marmalade has rushed off to get some antibiotics, Jimmy has retired to a horizontal position on the sofa, with rugs, no tea, and has requested a Pot Noodle for dinner.  So things are looking up already!

Special Things

I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to reply to all your lovely comments this week ... it's been a bit hectic!!  

Status report on the corset for today - bone chanels are all done, some bones inserted and the bottom sewn up and trimmed.  This is good.  Now all I have to do is insert the rest of the bones, and bind the top and bottom.  Then it's done!!

Then I have to contemplate the bottom half ...

In the meantime, I found these special 'topstitch' needles.  They are sharper (i think?) than normal ones, and the topstitch they produce is really nice and smooth.  Good for allsorts of topstitching, but at £3.00 for the pack they are quite expensive.

I also made myself a quick purse to go with the corset.  I don't like to take a handbag out with me, too much faff... so I always make something to go with my outfit, for change, lipstick, spare eyeliner etc., and it fits in my hand.

This is a quick post today though because Mr Marmalade and I are out galavanting tonight too!  We're off to Brixton Academy for a spot of Two Tone ..

On the Edge

Could somebody please shoot me the next time I suggest that a corset can be made in a week? Progress report so far -  lining made up and  attached, boning channels sewn in (for the most part), nerves frayed.  All to do now is3 or 4 more bone chanels, bone insertion and binding.  It takes longer than it sounds.  I have to cut the bones to size first.

So here's some light relief.

On Saturday, Miss T popped round with some presents.  A bag of weeds for Eggy and Peggy to rummage through, and this lovely silver charm for me.  She saw it and thought of me!

I have put it on my favourite bracelet which I wear all the time.  Isn't it just gorgeous?  

Miss T is a very nice lady.  A very very nice lady indeed!!

Thankyou L!

Taking Shape

I am pooped! Sewing most of the day again.

This morning Miss L came for a dress fitting. I was so pleased that the dress fitted perfectly with only a tiny adjustment to the bust which I expected. Hurrah!!

Then it was on with the corset.

I've completed the shell. Tried it on. The cups were too big as suspected but I didn't mind as during the night I had a better idea which involved taking them out (and replacing them) anyway. Which I have done now, but post pictures.

These pics are with only 2 bones at the back and one at the front, so the shape isn't perfect yet. By the time it's finished there will be about 20 bones.

So! Guess what I'll be doing tomorrow?!

A Hard Day's Night

I've been at it all day again... well, from about midday after all the usual weekendly chores were done.

I managed to get all my pattern pieces cut and marked up ... there are lots!! And this isn't counting the silver panels and bondaweb to glue it on with.

Once that's done, then building work can begin .. This is the front fastener of the corset. It is called a Busk.

First job is to cover the busk with lining fabric. This stops it wearing the outer fabric. There's going to be alorralorra pressure on this! And covering it first is good practice for insertion to the outer fabric.

After sewing the covered busk into the corset, then the bust gussets have to go in. I'm not sure about the size of these. I've cut them in a "2D" size. The last one I did was too small on a "b" size. It's quite difficult to tell as the squish factor changes one's proportions somewhat. I may have to undo the gores at a later stage and shrink them.


This is where I finished up for the day. One side panel with silvery rubbery fabric glued on. I'm very pleased with the result. By by the time I took this picture it was nearly 6pm! I'd forgotton how long it takes!!

I had good company throughout! Marley has been with us for one week today... I think he looks quite relaxed about things!!

You Gotta Laugh...

In between gazing at my silly Stays, I have been reading.  Too tired to sew today, it's been a busy week what with our new family member and yesterday the arrival of a new sofa (with associated cleaning and re-arranging).  Such bliss, such luxury!   The old one we had for years and years and had practically turned itself into a flat pack!  So here I am, on the bouncy new sofa, dog snoozing at my feet, reading The Laughter of Stafford Girls High.  Oh how it takes me back to my own days at girls school with stiff and disapproving teachers.  Schools today seem like so much more fun! But then I wonder if an uncontrollable and infections explosion of the giggles would be quite so entertaining?

Marley and Me

Today was my first day alone with Marley as Mr M went back to work, and Jimmy went to school.

There's alot of 'good cop/bad cop' routine in this house when it comes to child rearing, and as is common with this scenario, mum is always the baddie and dad is always the big softie who drives the mum to distraction. This house is no different.

However, it seems that when the subject is four legged and big brown eyed, mummy bad cop turns to mush

and slavery becomes the order of the day.

Tomorrow will be a proper "work" day as I will be at work too. So to give Marley some practice being on his own, I went to the shops to purchase the fabric for Miss L's dress.

Very pleased with it.

NOT SO PLEASED with the V&A stays which I have also been working on today. Will report back tomorrow (if I haven't fed them to the dog by then).

WIPCrackaway!

I have so many things to sew!  I'm really going to have to crack on with all of them.  I still haven't started my 'costume' blogged last month, I've got to make a start on the V&A stays, have another pencil skirt or three in my head,  and I've a dress to make for a friend in time for a July wedding.  I have at least made a start on that as it's been worrying me a little, not least because I wanted to make the pattern myself.

This is what I've got to 'copy' 

- really it's the fabric and style which Miss L (as we shall call her) likes.  After a long search I have finally found the fabric.  It's 100% silk with a lovely drape, and at £13.99/metre, not too expensive either.  Miss L, because she is wearing it to a wedding, doesn't want it quite as flared as the picture.  So, after a hefty dot & cross session, I came up with a pattern, and have completed the toile which is now being modelled by Madge who isn't quite the right proportions and has big feet which are distorting the flow.

Even though it is a very simple strapless style made up of 4 panels, I am VERY pleased with it, and myself for that matter!  Who'd have thought it!

Marley the Wonder Dog

Thank you all, for such lovely welcoming comments for Marley Marmalade. He's been settling in well, though it's only day two and I can't help feeling that he's missing his fellow greyhound chums back at the kennel. I think he's happy though. It's a big change for him but he's good as gold.

He's had a shower. I was quite surprised that he just stood there quietly while we rubbed and scrubbed and rinsed. His coat looks much better now.

He's discovered his favourite spot for relaxing. I haven't managed to get a shot with him in full recline yet. VERY funny, all four feet in the air.

(They wouldn't let me call him 'Anubis')

He's had lots of cuddles

and done a bit of sunbathing too

Eggy and Peggy were extremely alarmed at first

But they heard that Marley has retired early, having never raced, so now their faces ain't that bovvered.

A Tail of Two Dogs

The last Dog who lived with us, was a Samoyed called Kola. He was big and white and fluffy and gorgeous. His name was a Sioux word meaning "friend" and never was a doggy name more perfect or more apt.

A Samoyed is a type of husky dog. Originally bred by the Samoyed tribes of Siberia, they have more stamina than Siberian Huskies so they can pull sledges for longer distances albeit with less speed. Their sparkling fluffy coats keep the tribe warm at night, and their high pitched yap carries far across a vast flat and barren land.


The day we collected puppy Kola (a walking cotton wool ball) from his breeder was my birthday and a week before I discovered I was pregnant. Bad timing because Kola was a very naughty dog! That's the nature of a Samoyed. They think they're human but when I say 'human', think "boistrous teenage boy". He was alot of work, needed grooming every day, and never ever did as he was told. Not for lack of training either, that's just what the breed is like. But his gentle and fun-loving nature, and lovely smiley face won everyone over and he knew it.


The day he died, 7 years ago from cancer, was one of the saddest days of our life, so we have been reluctant over the years to fill his space with another but Jimmy has been nagging us ever since.


And so it happened that last bank holiday we went for a walk to a place where last we went, Kola was with us.


We reminisced, we discussed, we remembered, and we thought "wouldn't it be nice to have a dog today", then one thing led to another, and before we knew it, we decided that the time is right. But despite their captivating personality, another Samoyed was out of the question. NO, no no! We need a dog who does what he's told, who is laid back, easy to care for, low maintenance and most importantly, mature and in need of a home. So we called The Retired Greyhound Trust. Two weeks ago - they don't half move fast! We had to choose a dog from a list of dogs needing homes. That was difficult ... how could we discriminate? But choose one we did, and when he came to meet us, it was love at first sight.



The polar opposite of Kola. We have named him "Marley". Because he is black and chilled, and Jimmy already thinks he's a Legend.