Author: Natalie

For The Love of Sewing and The Hate of Bias Tape

Categories Home, Sewing19 Comments on For The Love of Sewing and The Hate of Bias Tape

Recently I have had plenty of time to re-connect with some of my hobbies; mainly sewing and photography.

Back in the UK, I was a Primary School Teacher and absolutely loved my job!  Ensuring that children enjoyed learning and had experienced different things was my passion.  I liked to do alternative activities and worked in a school where everyone worked hard to provide all children with opportunities that would set them up for the future.  As a teacher, I always found it hard to get the work/life balance right!  When I did have spare time, I would be decorating our house, walking the dog or just relaxing!  I know these are hobbies but there are other things that I love doing too; like sewing, photographing, blogging, crafting…..the list goes on!

For the last couple of weeks, I have fallen back into these hobbies and I LOVE it 🙂  There are so many ‘perks’ or ‘positives’ about sewing, so I thought I would list mine!

Continue reading ➞ For The Love of Sewing and The Hate of Bias Tape

The Vintage Sewing Pledge

Categories Clothing, Sewing10 Comments on The Vintage Sewing Pledge

Recently I have been spending many hours reading different sewing blogs.  I came across a very interesting post; The Vintage Sewing Pattern Pledge, courtesy of A stitiching Odyssey.  I can’t lie, I loved the post but was a bit disheartened when I saw that it was posted back in February.  I thought I was too late!! However, further reading made me find that Marie had pledged about using at least 5 of her Vintage patterns in 2014…and we are still in 2014…woohoo!! I can get involved.

So I pinched the button and realised that my first dress could be part of my very own pledge!  I think it is a great idea to get involved in projects that other bloggers are doing.  This little button on my blog also spurred me on to make the other dress from the 2 patterns that I bought from the antiques store a couple of weeks ago!

So here it is!  The Butterick 3379 – 1970’s pattern!!

Continue reading ➞ The Vintage Sewing Pledge

Starting on the List

Categories Alabama, Food, TravelLeave a Comment on Starting on the List

We are in Mobile, AL for Adam’s work.  We are becoming more aware that we are not holiday so we are trying to eat more home cooked meals rather than going out.  When we are on holiday, we eat out every night.  As nice as it can be, it also costs more.  We have decided to eat out once (maybe twice) each week.  We still want to experience what food the USA has to offer us.  If we have friends and family over, we want to be able to take them to places we have tried and approved!

We decided to head out for some food last night.  Quite often we find ourselves driving or walking until we find somewhere that has something we fancy on the menu.  This can be great when you find a good place to eat, but not so good if the food isn’t that great and the online reviews we read afterwards are rubbish!

Last night we went to Kitchen on George.  This restaurant is #1 on the Tripadvisor restaurant list for Mobile.  We know that not everyone likes using the reviews.  I don’t always review everywhere we go so I presume that is the same for others too.  I generally write a review if the food is either outstanding or rubbish……I hardly ever review the ‘in the middle’ good food restaurants.  Anyway, with over 500 restaurants in the city, we have made the decision to work our way down the list.

Where better to start than number 1!

Continue reading ➞ Starting on the List

The First Dress

Categories Clothing, Sewing14 Comments on The First Dress

The time had come to make something that was a little more complicated.  I had picked up 2 old patterns a couple of weeks ago but was a bit hesitant to use them as I have never used a ‘proper’ pattern before.  I have cut around items, used simple printed patterns from the internet and freestyled a bit.  I decided to go for the Butterick 3664.  I wasn’t really sure how to find the year the pattern was made, but it was bought in an antique store so that makes it old right?

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Continue reading ➞ The First Dress

Ooooooohhh Sewing Take 2!

Categories Clothing, Sewing4 Comments on Ooooooohhh Sewing Take 2!

Coming to Alabama meant that I had to leave ALL of my sewing supplies at home.  As I walked out of our house, I could hear my sewing machine crying. 😦

When we arrived in Mobile, Adam found a bargain of a machine online and bought it for me on the understanding that I made him some pyjamas!  Good deal!

We found the local fabric store and it was AMAZING!  There isn’t just a couple of isles of fabric…..there is a full row of fabric isles at Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft!!!  I got some essentials; pins, scissors, cutting mat etc and bought a range of fabric without going overboard.

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Continue reading ➞ Ooooooohhh Sewing Take 2!