Hello friends! Sorry for being once again so slow in updating my blog. I'm not "how am I ever to manage" busy, but I'm very busy still. Besides, I've been craving sleep like a dormouse lately, and therefore haven't had much opportunity to be online in the evening... Or else it would have meant no stitching whatsoever.
I managed to finish and send off a few gifts this week though - two to my friend Zoanna, one for a friend's Birthday next week, as well as a couple of gifts for a very dear friend in Belgium, who just had her first baby. She once told me they'd decorated the baby's room in red with stencilled giraffes... which I kept in mind while making little Lucie a blankie/playing rug and a matching framed embroidery.
This is the first time I'm making baby gifts, so I hope this is fine!
For those of you who do machine embroidery, the design is from Embroidery Library, as are most of my designs (unless I digitize them myself). Their designs are the most affordable around (to my knowledge). You can get this one here.
This morning I attended a colloquium, which is the reason for my not going to the London Stitch show with San and Ali... (hope you're having fun at the moment, girls!).
But this afternoon, I've decided to forget about work till at least tomorrow afternoon. I just finished tracing a pattern from my Simple Chic Japanese book. I chose this dress:
Have a great weekend, everyone!
In stitching news, I am still plugging along on the gigantic flowers overhanging my Petal Fairy...
This morning I attended a colloquium, which is the reason for my not going to the London Stitch show with San and Ali... (hope you're having fun at the moment, girls!).
But this afternoon, I've decided to forget about work till at least tomorrow afternoon. I just finished tracing a pattern from my Simple Chic Japanese book. I chose this dress:
And I'm making it in black.
Now, I traced the pattern earlier this afternoon, and must confess I was quite happy with myself for having deciphered the various outlines on the pattern sheet (which is a huge mess of 4 different patterns all jumbled together... with captions in Japanese!)... But then I realized I hadn't preshrunk my fabric yet!
I just took it out of the washing machine and hang it to dry... 
Looks like I'll be only starting the dress tomorrow after all! I'm not sure what I'll be making instead today, but I'm sure I'll soon find out. It has to be something for me though, or else Seb is going to scold me. He says I make too many things for friends/family and not enough for me, but then, I am so much more inspired when sewing for others.
Now, I traced the pattern earlier this afternoon, and must confess I was quite happy with myself for having deciphered the various outlines on the pattern sheet (which is a huge mess of 4 different patterns all jumbled together... with captions in Japanese!)... But then I realized I hadn't preshrunk my fabric yet!
I just took it out of the washing machine and hang it to dry... Looks like I'll be only starting the dress tomorrow after all! I'm not sure what I'll be making instead today, but I'm sure I'll soon find out. It has to be something for me though, or else Seb is going to scold me. He says I make too many things for friends/family and not enough for me, but then, I am so much more inspired when sewing for others.And I leave you with a happy picture of Annemiek and me at the SMAC show last Sunday:
Have a great weekend, everyone!
20 comments:
Lovely blanket, Isabelle! I think the giraffes are a grand idea - I shall have to remember that if I ever have another baby.
Can't wait to see your dress - it looks quite lovely! I love your sense of style (but of course, you are a Parisian - should I expect anything less? lol).
I hope things slow down for you soon. In the mean time, I hope you get a few minutes to your self here and there!
Beautiful baby blanket and pic. Love your dress its going to be wonderful can't wait to see the finished article. Now take it easy otherwise you'll make yourself poorly again.
What a great pic of you and Annemiek!!! Thanks for sharing... I sense a Petal Fairy HD very, very soon now!!
The baby blanket turned out adorably, Isabelle! (Is "adorably" a real word?) :)
The dress pattern looks darling; I can't wait to see a pic of it when you finish it!
Isabelle, I am so stinkin' excited about the gifties you're sending me, I can hardly stand it. I know I'll be looking way up the street every day for the mail truck. It's nowhere even near my birthday; how special to get something "just because"! You are way too sweet.
Love the dress pattern. Ooh la-la! (How's that for a French phrase from a silly American?) What kind of fabric are you using for the dress?
That giraffe blankie is darling! Just makes me smile.
So does the picture of you w/ Annemiek. It's the first real close-up I've seen of you. As my Joel says, "You're byoo-da-ful." I still want to hear more of the "inside scoop" from that show. I'd love to know what the percentage mark-up is on most fabrics, for starters. And where is most of the money made by a sewing/craft shop owner, if you happen to know, or can find out?
I can hardly wait to get your parcel. (I even like to say "parcel." Over here it's "package" so "parcel" sounds so, umm...European. Merci beaucoup in advance!!!!!
What an awesome post - full of news and wonderful piccies :) Love your giraffe pieces for your baby gift - tres magnifique :D And the dress pattern looks gorgeous - can't wait to see your version of it all finished up :) And your petal fairy is motoring along now - not much more to go yippee :) And last, but certainly not least, the photo of you and Annemiek is wonderful! And it's no wonder you both look so happy ... you're in stitchers' dreamworld ;D
Isabelle, I forgot to ask in my last post ... if you don't mind my asking, where do you get your smileys from? I got a bit fed up with Smiley Central, and want to find another source ... :D
Glad you've found some time to blog again Isabelle :)
Your giraffe blanket and picture are adorable, just so sweet! Great picture of you and Annemiek - you obviously both had a great time at the show.
Can't wait to see your dress, I'm sure it will be gorgeous, as usual!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
What a lovely picture of you and Annemiek!
I love the dress pattern (and I'm terribly impressed that you can make these lovely clothes!) and can't wait to see it done. Your giraffe gifts are absolutely charming - I can just imagine the delight with which they'll be received. And your petal fairy flowers look beautiful.
Good luck keeping up with everything and getting enough rest! :-)
What lovely gifts Isabelle!! Petal Fairy looks great as well. I am also working on her at the moment as well:)
that wallhanging is lovely! and thanks for sharing the pic :) you both look so rosy.
Very cute baby blanket - I'm sure they will treasure it!
It was fun to see the pic of you and Annemiek. Thanks for posting it!
Dear Isabelle,
So lovely to see your and Annemeik's beautiful smiles.
The gifts are lovely which I am sure will be cherished.
The Petal fairy is coming on beautifully and wow the dress that looks like something very special. I think Seb is right you need to make something for yourself. How you manage to do so much of stitching inspite of having million other things to do! I really must take my hats off to you.
You can make your own wall of yourself with weblogcelebrities! lol
Love the girafblankie. I'm sure the baby will have fun on top of it.
I'm totally agreeing with Seb... I told you earlier. I'll email you tomorrow!
good luck with all the work you have to do. and good luck on the black dress.
(tip from an unexperienced quiltstudent: you can iron the fabric to dry it).
I LOVE the dress! It will look gorgeous on you.
Your embroidered giraffes are so adorable! You always do a great job on these items. Very lovely.
Great progress on the fairy, she's so pretty!
And what a beautiful dress! I am still amazed that you make your own clothes they are so beautiful!
Looks like you have fun with Annemiek!
Hope you have a great week!
Hello my friend :)
I love the pic of you and Annemiek :) I know you had a great time! That's so nice.
Love your gifts-as always!
You are moving along on Petal Fairy! She's looking lovely!!
BIG hugs :)
Good Morning Isabelle! I agree with your Seb...you should do the majority of things for yourself. If we could only know if our labors are appreciated enough but still, time is more valuable than money. Should I be embarrased to say that years ago I stopped making gifts for others as I found in my case, they didn't really appreciate the MANY hours I would put into something like a doiley or stained glass hanging. Not to say I don't ever make gifts..do I sound mean here? ...grin. Ahem...on to other thoughts, I think your baby blankie is adorable..and the giraffe is a cutie. I enjoyed the picture you posted too...you are lovely!
Very cute giraffe things Isabelle.
Loved the dress too... will we see you model you in yours when it is made?
And the pic of you and Annemiek, very nice.
While making things for others is fun and nice, you should be doing for yourself too! Seb is quite wise. :)
Love the pic of you and Annemiek and your progress pic of the beautiful fairy.
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