A parade of handmade spring/summer tops!

This summer I'm not working only on bags and other accessories to improve my shop's offer!

Since it's summer I'm into tops making! :)

I really like to make fresh and comfortable t-shirts and tops using knit fabrics and cotton jersey (I usually buy them at our outdoor market and are very cheap - they are leftovers - but high in quality).

I have three of these handamade spring/summer tops to show you today.

The stripes + flowers top

A very simple design. It's a self-drafted top, t-shaped, without sewn sleeves, but with a curved hem on the bottom.

The things I like about this top is that it's very fresh and soft and it has some of my favourite peculiarities for clothes: the colours (blue and white!), the stripes, the floral pattern (climbing my left side)! :)

I sent these snapshots to my mum and she said she liked it very much!

The inspiration for this top came from this pin: I realized I could place the floral part of the fabric on one side, to create a lovely asymmetrical look.

The grey petal sleeves t-shirt

Some weeks ago I finished a more complex top: one in grey with petal sleeves and mother-of-pearls bottons.

I learned how to modify a basic t-shirt pattern to make a petal sleeve thanks to some tutorials I've pinned in my Pinterest board about "sewing clothes" (this one for example).

I've altered the pattern I've previously used for this cardigan and the work has been simple. 

But I'm not 100% satisfied about the final result, I see too much folds here and there and the t-shirt is not so good on my body shape :(

However, I'm going to try again, because I'm in love with petal sleeves!

The knotted blouse

There another thing I like when I make/buy tops, t-shirts or blouses: knotted necklines! I'm a bit obsessed.

So this spring (in april) I decided to make a blouse of this kind.

I have only one photo of me wearing it, because now it's too hot (july!!!) to take other images of me with a long sleeved blouse!

To make the blouse I've altered this pattern (yes, again!) and self-drafted the neck band.

I think I made a good work!

Since I'm obsessed by knots, I'm going to make other blouses with this caractheristic: I'd like to test the "Mimosa blouse" pattern by SBCC: it's a .pdf pattern for a t-shirt with raglan sleeves (love it!) and a flat knot. I like it because it's sporty and feminine at the same time!

If you like knotted blouses, but you are looking for something more elegant the Lottie blouse (free pattern!) is for you!

Some notes

If you have suggestions about handmade spring/summer tops (or want to share with me the tops you've made), please, leave a comment!

If you're looking for some inspirations, you can take a glance into my Pinterest board about sewing clothes.

Speaking about my future projects... I'd like to go on with asymmetry making something like this or this. But also the Harper blouse (free pattern!) by Spit Up & Stilettos is a good choice for my body shape (I'm a curvy hourglass).

Hope I've inspired you to make some summer tops for you! :)

Sicilian spring

Sicilian sunny spring is here!

Mount Etna is still covered by snow and smoking, but the sky is blue blue blue and the fields are green and yellow.

So many yellow flowers everywhere!

They are the home of tiny snails sometimes!

Animals are happy and needs some snuggles.

Others give birth to their children, because spring is the time for love and new families.

April is probably my favourite month.

I'm happy to be and april girl. I'm turning 38 the next week (on wednesdey) and I hope the day will be sunny and warm.

I work at school as a teacher everyday. I teach italian, history and geography (+ legislation of tourism some afternoons).

I'm busy and often tired, so I'm neglecting a bit this blog and my creative journey (my list of things to try is growing, waiting for some free time).

But I'm still taking pictures to document my life.

I reach my school by feet and I'm noticing here and there some wild flowers I like. They are very small but strong. Some of them look like orchids.

My life is full of beautiful things and today I can't resist in show you some of them.

Happy Sunday!!!

Easter in bloom

Hope you've enjoyed Easter like me!

I had sun, deep blue sky, warm wind, tasty food, family time (oh, the kids!!!) , some good news (a little cousin is on the road) and flowers everywhere!

I've started to take snaps of the flowers we have in our garden on saturday (the sky was cloudy, so perfect for good photography!) and haven't stopped yet.

This is a little selection of my favourite.

[purple tulips! what a surprise!]

[the elegance of calla lilies (we have 20 of them) + the rustic simplicity of wild hyacinths]

[yellow daffodils on our balcony... they smell so good!]

[the big red tulip]

Of course we are sorrounded by a lot of species of little wild flowers, too! 

I can enjoy their company while walking to work everyday.

I love this season for the flowers!

I can remember my dad picking up a big bunch of fresh flowers of our garden every saturday for mum in spring. A sweet memory.

Yes, another striped t-shirt

I love stripes!

I love them like polka dots.

You've probably noticed it before, because, since I've started sewing clothes for myself, I've made striped t-shirts everytime I had the right fabric for.

And again, I've just finished another striped t-shirt, the second one this year (here the first).

You've seen it (unfinished) in my last post.

It has striped in different colours. Although I'm not 100% happy about the colours scheme of the fabric, there is something I really like in it, probably it's to mix of blues and greens.

The things I like most of this t-shirt are that I had enough fabric to make 3/4 sleeves and that the quality of the knitted jersey is very good (so fresh to wear!).

To make it I've altered the pattern of this cardigan.

I've already worn this t-shirt for a very hard morning of work at school. And it was so confy and fresh!

And 3/4 sleeves are perfect for school in this period of the year, because they are fresh but more elegant than short sleeves.

The only thing that makes me sad about my new striped t-shirt is that I haven't finished it in time for "Spring top sewalong 2014" -___-

Oh, well, it's not so important! :)

Burda disappointment + adjustements = uhm, it's ok

Recently I've started some new sewing projects for me and of course they include some new clothes for spring and summer, because I like fresh skirts and t-shirts and blouses of all sorts.

I decided to test a Burda pattern on a knitted fabric I've bought at the outdoor market (mum has the same fabric, but in different colors). 

The pattern is the bluse n. 140 in the issue august 2013 of italian Burda style (plus size section). I was in love for the knotted neck.

I've measured my body with attention to cut the right size, but when I've finished to sew the most important part of the blouse I got this boxy, large and too long thing:

Uhm :/

You can see by the neckline that it's my size, but the model is really bad and it's really wrong for curvy people like me. We don't need clothes that add volume to our body, if you don't want to look like Homer Simpson in his obese phase.

So, after some days of nervous disappointment, I decided to make some adjustments.

I've shortened (a lot!!!) the blouse and its sleeves. I've also modeled the waist line on my body.

This is the final result:

Uhm, nothing special. But now it's ok. It works.

I think I'll wear it in some elegant occasions during spring and summer. Or at work (I'm going to start a new experience as a teacher next april).

I'm happy to have tested this pattern on this fabric: I don't like it too much, so I'm not desperate about wasting it on this project. I've been lucky (wise?) enough to save my favourite fabrics for other projects. And I'll make a muslin before!!! Lesson learned!

DIY clothes I'm working on:

- a long sleeves t-shirt: knitted fabric, raglan sleeves and flowers

- a black&green skirt: the fabric is a bit small, I think I can make only an a-line shirt

- something like this (isn't it clever and cute?)

- a long tunic/shirt to wear with leggins

I've also to finish some projects I've abandoned last summer.

And you? Have you got some projects for your spring/summer otufits?

Two new rustic bags for spring

Spring has officially started!!! :)

Here in Sicily it's warm and sunny, after some weeks of bad weather I spent sewing new things for the shop.

Today I want to show you two bags I realized with a sturdy cotton fabric with a simple and funny floral pattern, printed on cream background.

They are quite big and roomy, with a rustic style, perfect for spring adventures!

The first bag I made is this one:

Design by Ithinksew.com ("Melody bag"), pattern available on their website, but also on Etsy. 

I tested this pattern, new to me, making this bag and it works very well, like all the patterns of this company I've used before.

The things I like most of this bag are:

- the circular bottom and its pleates:

- the elastic pockets inside (so roomy!!!):

- Some details like the closure (vintage wooden button + cord):

I've uploaded this bag in my shop; it's listed as a bucket bag or a satchel, because it's shape it's particular and it's different from the flat totes I use to sew.

Making this bag required a lot of fabric, but some of it left and I decided to use it to make another shoulder bag:

100% designed and made by me.

It's a simple tote with some pleates on top and a pocket inside (closed by a metallic snap):

It's large and leightweight. You can find it here.

Probably I like best this tote, although Melody bag has a lovely design, too.

Recently I'm also working on some projects which involve the use of very tiny scraps of fabrics. Are you interested?

Simple happy things: yellow flowers

Little things which make me happy: the coulors and the elegant smell of these yellow flowers. 

S. and I are growing them in three different pots situated in differents corners of our home. They look like little stars at night :)

I call them "narcisi" in italian. I used to translate this word as "daffodils", but after a quick reaserch into my english dictionary I noticed that there is also the word "narcissus". Now I'm a bit confused about their real name, can someone help me?

They are so delicate and beautiful!

I like to have nature outside and inside my home, I need to stay connected with nature!

Share with me what you like into your home and if you have some little happy things with you in these days! Write a comment!

Other editions of "simple happy things" serie: October 2013, March 2013, February 2013.

A bee came to me...

... and told me that spring has already arrived here in Sicily!

A kind bee. She visited me while I was studying like a crazy girl some days ago. She left me a message of new life and fresh starts.

And this is what I'm feeling right now, because a new career is open in front of me: I've got my licence thank to a very hard exam and I'm going to start working as a touristic guide!

So happy :)

And now that I finished to study the whole day, I can start to create again.

And to take photos and blog about my creative life.

I have some little things to show you... see you soon!!!

June: last chance for setting up a vegetable garden

Time runs so fast that June arrived totally unexpected. And we hadn't planted the vegetables for our summer garden yet!!!

First days of June are a sort of "edge" for working on it, expecially here in Sicily, so S. and I started the new month outdoor, with little plants, seeds, cans of water and a little special helper (our niece).

A lovely way to spend a sunny weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

Celery, tomatoes, eggplants, onions, zucchini, pumpkins... we are waiting for you!!!

Stripes+flowers ... my 4th spring top for 2013!

Before starting my crafty adventure some years ago, I used to have firm positions about my likes and dislikes.
Among other things, I used to say: "I hate black&white, I hate mixed patterns on clothes".

But (this often happens when you walk) I changed my mind.
Luckily.

I made a black&white t-shirt for me. And it has stripes and flowers.... oh, mixed together!!! What a strange thing is that I adore it :)

Finished yesterday and worn today at work, eh eh :)

I found this lovely jersey fabric on a stand in our outdoor market for only 3 €. Some days after, I noticed that Promod used a similar one for a mini-dress in the current spring/summer collection (no longer available on their website, so I can't show it to you, sorry)!
I hadn't the right amount of fabric to make a dress, so I made a t-shirt (the best choice for me, I don't wear dresses, if not in special occasions).
I self-drafted it, helped by this top from 2012 and another very comfortable t-shirt I bought last year. It's a very simple design, large around the armpits, easy to make and to wear.

 

It took about 2-3 hours to be completed.
Super fast! I love fast sewing with these results! Consider that the most of the time went to make the neckline and finish the edges.

Thanks Naomi for inspiring me!

Lately

Lately...

 

... I did some spring cleaning on my sewing/study/everything table and couldn't resist in taking photos of my supplies and working space (and arranging them in a collage, you know, I'm addicted)

 

... I found a job!!! :)

Oh, so exciting!!! I work three days a week in a school not far from my little town (I teach history+geography). And during the short travel by car I enjoy an amazing sight of Mount Etna covered by the last snow of the year and "smoking"

 

... I made 3 t-shirts for me. I'm so happy to be able to se clothes and to find so cheap knitted fabric at the outdoor market to experiment with.

 

... My camera has a big problem :(

I can take photos, but the screen doesn't power on, so I have no idea if what I'm focusing. This thing is driving me crazy and this is why I'm not photographing my new t-shirts and uploading them into "Spring tops sew-a-long" this year! Annoying!!!

I love poppies

 

Our home is alongside of a large field and it is full of amazing poppies right now! :)

I love this little flowers, with so delicate petals but so strong in colors!

They are visited everyday by a very big number of bees, I can hear their "bzzz" from my kitchen's door!

 

I've taken some photos of these poppies.

Doing it is not so simple here in Sicily, where wind constantly blows and moves poppies' lightweight heads. But I got some beautiful shots the same!

This picmokey collage is for collecting them in a single image and remember how nature can be generous!

 

Spring is here. We are having a very warm april, temperature is around 20-25 °C during the day. I'll celebrate it wearing my poppy skirt! :)

Pastel bags in recycled damask

Yesterday I published two photos of two new bags I made, writing a little note about the new "country inspired" background I'm exprimenting with.

I photographed them near to an old cement wall: it is in the back of our little house (ehm, ruin!) in the country.

Some photos on some trunks under the big mulberry tree, too.

Love these new backgrounds and the clean light! :)

 

And what about the bags?

They are made of recycled damask, received by my friend-upholsterer, Vincenzo. He gave me some sheets from old pattern books, in perfect conditions, as usual. They are very small, so I decided to sew little bags... pastel colors, classic patterns... perfect for spring events, like weddings, etc.

 

The first one  (an envelope clutch) is pink:

 

 

The pattern is by Ithinksew.com (Alanis clutch), but I've altered it a bit, adding vintage plastic buttons and ribbon.

It's a simple pattern, but the first time I tested it (last June) I made a disaster: this clutch needs interfacing, of course, and I choosed rigid fusibile interfacing, because my idea was to make a rigid clutch.

Big error!

It was almost impossible to turn inside-out, after finishing it, and I ripped some seams.

Lesson learned: for this bag I used my faithful plastic net and all went right!

So, if you want to make this clutch, remember to choose the proper interfacing!

 

The second bag is green, in a lovely tone between sage green and jade:

 

 

For this bag I worked again on Josy clutch pattern by Ithinksew, one of my favourite patterns of this brand (probably you'll remember I used it a lot in the past).

I love the back of the bag: it has a pattern of roses:

 

 

Both the bags have a lining in a natural cotton+linen fabric in cream: it makes a nice contrast with the shiny and soft damask and gives a touch of "rustic".

 

I'll love you the same, little ugly bird!

 

Following my wish to work around springy themes, I decided to make a bird with felt leftovers this week.
I drew the pattern and started to work with enthusiasm.

 

My intentions were also to use for the first time in my life some plastic eyes I bought here.

Embroidered details and a floral fabric for the tail looked like great ideas.

 

 

But this is what I got:

 

 

A strange bird with an ugly face!

Something went wrong!

 

But, hey, not only beautiful creatures deserve to be loved. Also imperfect men and animals need something who gives them love.

So, little ugly bird, I'll love you the same :)

 

 

It is now in his new place, near my craft (+study) table, with his new friends: paper angels I made two Xmas ago.

 

 

I'll offer him a smile everyday.

No matters it has eyes like fishes, a beak like a hook and an out-of-proportions bottom!