Not long now! This is Wiss: handmade toys and other essentials, returns!

I've spent pretty much every night for the last two weeks at the sewing machine, making stock for the next This is Wiss stall. I didn't get round to developing any new products (although I have some ideas in my head) but I have made the usual items in exciting new colours...

And I have lots of new fabrics including the fabulous Kokka linen blend ranges...



Check out my website http://www.thisiswiss.co.uk/ for more details. I've had to make a decision on what to make for Sell it Mama this time as I was up against it time-wise. At the last sale, much to my surprise, the prints were much more popular than the Brights range so that's what I've concentrated on this time. Only time will tell if I was right but I can always take orders for the colours.

I have a few more things that need sorting before the weekend-of-all-weekends arrives but I'm glad to say that most of the hard slog is over! Now, if only I can factor in an early night and some point too....

A Squash and a Squeeze

I know my last post was all about how busy I am and how much I have to do in the next few weeks but... there is always time to stop and enjoy some simple pleasures in life, surely?!

Well, that's exactly what we did last weekend. We booked a long weekend in a Shepherd's Hut in Bodium, East Sussex and it was brilliant! Yes, the huts are small and there's no hot water or electricity but you really do have everything you need. There's solar power, a gas stove and a wood burner and the showers in the seperate block are amazing. (I would recommend taking a flexible trug if you have a toddler like Wiss, who hates showers. It made bathtime a breeze!) The weather was pretty good too (we came prepared for all eventualities!) we saw farm animals, walked in the woods, cooked on the campfire and generally just kicked back.











Funnily, we took this book with us to the Shepherd's Hut. It's one of Wiss's favourites. And if you are familiar with the story then you'll know that after spending some time in a very small space, we came home and no longer felt like our house was a squash and a squeeze. Yes, we're full of fiddle-di-dees!
 This weekend I'll mainly be at the sewing machine (apart from when I'm running or baking a cake for my work's annual cake competition!) Have a wonderful weekend!

Get Ready to Sell it Mama!

Just a quick post to let you know what I am up to now...and for the next four weeks!

'This is Wiss' is making another appearance at the next Sell It Mama event on the 8 October so I am busy sewing a whole new batch of stock. I am making all the best sellers plus some new twists - gorgeous changing mat and wet bag sets sets in Kokka fabrics, Bobby Horses in fab new colours and lots more Flannel Monsters!

I dream of one day having a sewing room - or even just a corner of a room to lay out all my things and not have to pack them away at the end of the night. But until I win the lottery the kitchen table is where it all happens, after Wiss has gone to bed, and after we've had dinner!

I can't complain though as I do have a special helper with me most evenings...

The weekend of the 8/9 October is a big one for me. As I mentioned (once or twice already!) I have Sell It Mama on the Saturday, and then on Sunday morning I will be running the Royal London Parks Half Marathon, raising money for Asthma UK. That Sunday also happens to be my first wedding anniversary so I hope to enjoy a glass or two of bubbles with Mr T in the evening!

You'd think that after all of that I would be planning a rest...but oh no! The Kids Clothes Week Challenge Fall 2001 starts on the 10th October over on Elsie Marley and I can't wait to get involved! The idea is simple: you spend an hour each day of the week making some clothes for the little people in your life. That's it! I know Wiss could use some more clothes and it will be cool to see how much I can acheive in a week. Why don't you join in too?

Another weekend, yet another handmade birthday present!

I told you it was birthday season for us! The scary thing is the birthdays carry on coming until the middle of November...and then it's Christmas of course! (Sssh! Just pretend I didn't write that word, we've got ages until then.)

The birthday in question this week is a little girl's second, and seeing as summer really is over and I couldn't get away with another Warhol dress, I decided to make a Simple Skirt (from my favourite blog, MADE) I figured it could be worn on it's own if we have a late Indian summer, or with tights more than likely! It really couldn't have been any simpler to make and I am very pleased with the results.

I wanted to make it girly but avoid the cliched pink, and I had some great buttons that I've been wanting to use for ages. I love grey alongside a bright colour, and on kids clothes I think it looks sophisticated without being too 'old'. (I realise there is just the tiniest hint of grey on this project but I mean in general.)

The skirt is double layered using a red and white striped polycotton to contrast with the buttons, and a fab red cotton. I used grey cotton for the double stitching on the hems and waistband to add some more detail. I wanted to make some reference to it being her second birthday but thought an appliqued number would be too obvious and spoil the look so instead I went uber-subtle and sewed on a button for each of her years!

Fingers crossed it is dry on Saturday for her party! Now what I really need to do it start making more stock for This Is Wiss. The next Sell It Mama is in less than 5 weeks time.....! Eek

Celebrate the Man!

Hooray! I have finished the man-sized shorts and I am pretty pleased with them : )

If you've read my blog before you'll know that these shorts came about through outfit-envy of the shorts I made for Wiss as part of the Celebrate the Boy series on Made But making a real pair of tailored shorts was a completely new challenge for me. There were so many pieces! And the instructions took some deciphering for a novice like me, but I got there. And they look like a decent pair of shorts, even if I do say so myself!

I used a Kwik Sew pattern for flat fronted mens shorts:

But it was the fabric that was going to make these shorts really unique. The Snorkel range from Cosmo Cricket has some really lovely designs but my favourite is definitely the Life Preserver pattern.

I decided to use a bright red cotton for the pockets and the inside of the waistband. They will rarely be seen but even just a glimpse helps to make the shorts extra special.

As you can see in this last photo, the inside of the shorts is not quite as neat as the outside. I feel like I need a serger and then it will all be much better, but then only a bad craftsman blames her tools! I have learnt so much in the process of making these shorts, and I'm sure if I had to make them again, I could make them even better. But that's the way it always goes!

Now I know that the summer is practically over, but the sun is shining today and the man in question tells me that he is off somewhere hot next month so the shorts will get some wear this year. What I great challenge, thanks for pushing me out of my comfort zone but sorry it took me so long!

More handmade customised dice...and another birthday present.

It has been a couple of weeks since my last post, and I've been busy with a variety of projects.

I had a couple of orders for some customised fluoro dice. So far I've only made dice using 6 lettered names - Murphy, George, Maisie...but this time as well as an Oliver I had an Anna! Names with less than 6 letters are no problem, I just added a couple of fun shapes on the other faces. Not sure that I can think of a solution for longers names though!

We had another birthday party to go to, and I decided to make a pair of Racer Shorts from a plaid mickey mouse cotton. Mickey is one of the birthday boy's favourites and the shorts should be perfect attire for a week in Cornwall (fingers crossed!) I'm afraid that I left making them until the very last minute which meant that as soon as they were finished they were wrapped and taken to the party. No photo! Oops.

With these projects completed I am finally able to start on my man-sized challenge! You may remember that I made some shorts for the Celebrate the Boy Summer event?

Well, they were not only a hit with Wiss but a colleague at work fancied some for himself too. The challenge: to make one pair of tailored shorts to fit a 28 year old man using the Life Preserver fabric in the Snorkel range from Cosmo Cricket.  Hmmm, no elasticated waist then?! I've bought the pattern and all the fabric I need. Now all I need to do is concentrate. Very hard!

I know what I'll be doing this bank holiday weekend...hope you enjoy yours too!

A birthday present and a fancy dress outfit - handmade!

This weekend saw the brilliant birthday party of a very special little girl. Happy 3rd Birthday E! The sun was shining and we all had a fabulous time.

I decided to make E a Warhol Dress for her birthday. The free tutorial on the made website was so easy to follow and the whole dress was finished within two hours. Not bad for a first attempt! I made it using a grey polo shirt from Primark (the pocket is made from one of the sleeves) and some super-soft orange fabric for the neck. Here it is, just before it got wrapped!

As well as a picnic, donkey rides, a tattoo parlour, swimming, ice cream, and birthday cake there was a fancy dress parade. I am not afraid to admit that I got very excited by this and spent quite some time planning Wiss's outfit - handmade of course! We decided that a mini Elvis would be pretty cool and so I got sewing a version of the famous white jumpsuit.

I thought that trousers and a top would be more practical than a jumpsuit for an 18 month old, so I made the flares using Dana's kid pants tutorial with an insert to make them 'flare'. I made my own pattern for the shirt based on one of Wiss's t-shirts. It wasn't perfect but it was good enough (the straining poppers only added to the authenticity!) A simple red jersey scarf, some sunglasses and some fabric paint for jewels were the finishing touch.

I give you, Elvis Presley......

Elvis has now left the building, thank you and good night!