Burda Sewalong in May

After completing a reasonably sucessful Winter (our summer) 6pac from Stitcher's Guild here.  I have joined the Burda Sewalong which is hosted by Kat and kaitui_kiwi.  These wonderful bloggers are kiwi's like me, although they live in the coolest city in New Zealand - Wellington.  I love to visit as my oldest daughter is finishing an architecture degree at Victoria Uni.  The hubby and I spend weekends there visiting the bookshops (Unity is a fav), eateries, Slowboat Records and the amazing Global Fabrics. One of the wonderful things about Wellington is the exciting creative scene and I now have an invitation to join Kat and kaitui_kiwi when I next visit.  Whoo hoo looking forward to talking to other sewing people face to face.

Check out the sewalong pinterest board. to check out all the exciting ideas and garments.  The bloglist of participants is here.

I was fortunate to be gifted with 10 years of Burda magazines from 2000 - 2010.  I have sewn a few garments from Burda and know what I need to do to make them fit well.  I shorten the bodice, back and sleeve, widen the sleeve to accomodate my bigger than German biceps.  Usually I make a size 48 for tops and dresses.  I tried Burda trousers without success but I might give them another go after this sewalong.  My first item to make in this sewalong is garments from January 2013 Burda Plus section.

I have not been a fan of recent Burda Style patterns - the garments often have a naive quality that make them look like something that was homemade but in a bad way IMHO.  This might suit some people but I just look like a backwoods Nancy in them.  I was very happy to see the selection in the plus section was more fitting and stylish.  I love the draped coat which is first on my list to make.

Rain at last...

We finally have rain and the grass can begin to grow again.  It has been a long hot drought and even our cows are glad to see the rain, running around like mad things in the rain. We are hoping that we will have some more warm weather before the frosts begin so the grass will put on some good growth.  We spent the morning out in the paddocks mushrooming, enjoying the rain and picking beautiful field mushrooms which seem to love a drought. Once home and dry, I peeled and fried these beauties for mushrooms on toast for lunch.

I have spent the rest of the day looking at sewing rooms on the net - I have a mess from sorting out the stash and notions.  The plan is to consolidate to one area (3 rooms at present) which will make everything easier to locate and use when I sew.  A favourite was Karen's Sewing Room from her blog Sew Many Ways. 

I love the way she has repurposed things to make such a wonderful room.  Unfortunately I do not have the space available but I got lots of good ideas from her posts about her room.  I have lots of handme down furniture which I now will set to and paint.  

At the same time I am destashing, as it has got out of hand.  I have found that it has become easier to get more fabric than search through all the bins if I want to sew.  I have put aside some pieces to offer as giveaways in the month of May -  so watch this space for some vintage, some famous (TV series) and just plain fabulous fabric.

Just a hint of what I have listed for sale.

New Beginnings...

Welcome back to me!  I cannot believe that it has been so long since my last post. 

In the last few months the entire North Island has been declared a drought zone, the drought has devasted the rural area that I live in.

What was once beautiful lush green hills and valleys has turned into a brown wasteland.  Farmers around here have struggled to feed the cows but have finally had rain in the past week.  Funnily enough Guy has been working in the Australian Desert at the same time and they have had so much rain (over 100mm) that the whole project had to be shut down for time and the drilling staff helocopted out.  

At the same time we have been busy reroofing the house and completing painting the house.  The hot and sunny weather has been perfect for this and we now have a beautiful weatherproof house.  It can rain as long as it likes now!!

I am more than ready to get back into the sewing room and I have a new baby to help me.  After a lot of comparison shopping I finally purchased a Bernina 780.

  
Bella,as she is called, is a dream to sew on.  I am working on learning how to use this amazing machine and have been going to classes at the wonderful Bernina Sewing Centre at Tauranga. Watch this space as I learn how to use Bella to create.