Liberty Skirt

It's a long time since I had my sewing machine out. Too long. More than a year I think. I'm not an experienced seamstress and really would prefer to sew by hand. Machines scare me a little. I'd love to be able to sew more of our own clothes but I don't have the patience to learn. 

I found this pretty Liberty print fabric in a vintage shop last summer and thought I could use it to make a simple skirt for Alba. Finally today I decided to dust off the sewing machine and get started. 

I got as far as measuring and cutting the fabric before this monkey woke from her afternoon nap. 

We abandoned the sewing and headed out to the park to enjoy the late afternoon sun. 

And Alba's skirt will have to wait for another day...........

Love

Sarah Elizabeth

x

PS. If anyone has good tips or websites to help novice dressmakers please share them in the comments below.  

Spending Hiatus Update

I'm 4 weeks into my 7 week spending hiatus and I'm so glad I decided to take up this challenge. In the past month the only 'non-essential' things I've bought are some writing paper and envelopes costing €4 and a new body brush costing €5. I am amazed that I've been managing so well. I suppose it helps that I've been really busy at work and so haven't had much time for shopping. Instead of buying new things I've been trying to make better use of the things that I already own: I sorted out my wardrobe and have started taking better care of my clothes, I've been rearranging and reorganising little corners of my home trying to improve my surroundings without having to buy anything new. I was in need of some sort of storage for various sewing bits & pieces but instead of going out to buy new containers, I 'prettified' some old jam jars by tying them with scraps of lace I had in my sewing basket. I reorganised the whole space where I keep my craft things and I felt like I had something new even though I hadn't spent a penny. I hope that I can keep up the good work for the remaining three weeks of the hiatus.