keelysews... sometimes

I'm heading into exams over the next 2 weeks but afterwards I have 3 weeks off. Yayyy !! My "in the holidays" list has grown to ginormous proportions. Luckily I didn't specify which holidays I was going to do it all in. ;-) Anywhoo - whilst clearing the decks a bit and putting the covers on my machines, I unearthed the ever growing UFO pile. I figured I could give one last night to tackling a couple. Any excuse to procrastinate a bit more. First up was the mesh Ottobre Rose top I started a few weeks ago. It was sitting here waiting for the hem to be done. I'm not entirely happy with it and I obviously need some better support with those floobies at the side! The side seam easing from the fba is also off even with taking the side seams in. What the heck - it'll be fine under a jacket. Or, I could just never lift my arms. Of course then I could never do anything. That appeals. See, there's always a silver lining - sewing mistakes mean you can get a hous...

Seeing as Judy and the twins caught us all by surprise, I didn't have any baby presents prepared and on hand. Luckily, I had these embroidered polarfleece pieces in the stash along with some velour which will be lovely and soft on little preemie skin. We're going into winter here so I think a nice cotton velour backed by polar fleece should be toastie warm. Hopefully it won't be too long before they get to use them. And this is why I have a stash!

Yesterday my best friend, Judy Williment, had her twins. A bit early at 33 weeks but all are doing well considering. (And yes, that's decaf, lol) This is Isabella - 2.42kg (5.3lb) And Nicholas - 1.78kg (3.9lb) CONGRATULATIONS JUDY !!!

Or how to score Mommy points..... Yesterday I handed in the last assignment of the semester. As I dropped the last week of my life through the slot I felt like celebrating. Naturally there's only one way to do that - I went shopping! No surprises when I say for fabric, lol. I actually went to Spotlight for a specific piece - some parka nylon to make some quick curtains for the bathroom windows. When you combine dark mornings requiring lights on, the screening shrubs having been cut down over summer and neighbours potentially going past whilst people are having showers....... Some curtains are in order! I was happily minding my own business walking to the corner I needed, when this fabric screamed out "Look at me! I'd be perfect for (DD2's ) disco tonight! Buy me, buy me, buy me...." (Well, you all know how the refrain goes.) I didn't even hum and ha for long. One metre of spotty fabric had to come home with me. It insisted. :-) There was only one problem. By t...

The new Jalies are up on Patternreview . And next week some will be winging their way to me! They should arrive around the time my exams finish - great timing. I couldn't blog about this until I broke the news to Judy that Jalie 2787 was also winging it's way over as a present for her. I think she's happy. ;-) On the way are 2805 - A good basic tee. I can see this getting a lot of use for my 2 DD's. J 2806 - This one's for me. And maybe DD1. J 2795 - I can just see this on my two DD's . I'm intrigued by the 'Hoddie' title. and J 2794 - I really liked the top Debbie made so I've decided to give it a go. And just to make it fun, the stash contest will be running again at Patternreview so I might even get to enter something. :-) Does anyone else do this? You can't sew, but you keep thinking about sewing so you end up buying fabric and patterns instead. I need to sew something and soon - otherwise I really will be keeping the economy going!

It looks like winter has decided to make it's prescence felt with a vengeance this week and while I have a practical, warm coat, I'd like a 'nice' coat. It seems everywhere I go, coats are calling my name. Today I saw a lovely jacket and I was tempted to buy it but, it was a short jacket, not a coat. Then there was that voice saying "I could make that.... it's only a simple jacket.... that denim jacket pattern I've got at home would do....". (At least I don't say it outloud, lol. Well, I don't think I do...) I also saw a really lovely fabric made into a coat shape. I hesitate to call it a coat with it's unhemmed, overlocked edges. Hmmm, it would look good for all of about 5 minutes, then the fraying and pulls would start. So, I need to think about making a coat. Although thinking about it isn't the problem. Making it however is another story. :) In my stash I have navy cashmere and a satin lining put aside for a longish coat. I don'...

Oh dear. I was let loose in Spotlight for my Mother's Day pressie. I didn't buy too much - just some brown Bengaline for trousers and a large remnant of a knit for a top. Pretty restrained I thought. But over the last few days I've been thinking..... and that can be dangerous to the stash figures. Anyway I thought it might be nice to have a jacket as well, so I popped back today and bought another few metres of the Bengaline. I think I have way too much now, at least I hope so. :) As Judy pointed out, I'm not really a suit person but something about it appeals. Besides, it might be handy to have a 'suit' of sorts. One day I'll finish studying and I'll need a job. At the rate I'm sewing this might even be finished by then, lol. While I was there I also found some chocolate Valencia, the same fabric as my red Ottobre tee. I love this fabric, it is so soft and comfortable. This will be..... well, I'm not sure which exact pattern, but I have it for w...