I am disgustingly addicted to Pintrest. It’s so damn fun.

You can find mine here: pinterest.com/becmatheson

Grey dress from Savers. $17. Shortened by 20cm or so. Added belt also from Savers ~$2. Brooch from Oh My Cavalier.

Geoff and I have been married about 2 and half years now and marriage is truly excellent… but I can’t say I’ve really gotten over looking at wedding things. I actually enjoyed planning our wedding, despite all the odds (not being very girly etc). It must the whole thing where there is an opportunity to play with colour, creativity and lovely things. Who knows what I’d do if I had to have another go at it (with Geoff naturally).

Anyway since my little sister has just gotten married and I have a few friends with weddings in the pipeline (one of which I will be second photographer, one of which I will be in and doing invites for…) I have decided that I have a wealth of most excellent wedding blogs up my sleeve and wish I’d known about them when I was looking around for vintage/indie/diy/creative/different/non-traditional ideas.

In no particular order:

Wedding Bee

Perfect Palette

Once Wed (Just waiting for the pro-photos to submit my sister’s wedding here fingers crossed)

Green Wedding Shoes

The Knot – Real Weddings

Style Me Pretty

And some beautifully different photographers (where I still think is one of the best places to look for wedding inspiration) - something I wouldn’t mind getting into a bit one day.

For You Love Me

Shannon Leith (this link goes to my friend Claire’s wedding…)

I do (sic*) hope these are useful for someone out there.

*sic also could equal sick (which consequently makes me a dag for saying such – yes American friends, look up that word or let me help you… definition here)

So… I redeemed somewhat the potato sack that eventuated from the first run. It was at the start too big. And now looking at the pattern I’m not super happy with the choice. I wanted a more scooped neckline with back to match – more flattering. Speaking of which the belt bit is NOT flattering at all (yes this photo disguises a bit, looks passable here) it needs to be narrower and unfortunately this colour was the only contrasting colour I had – which I originally bought NOT for a belt at all but from some decorative thing at the front. AND… the bits around the sleeves that are kind of odd – well they are to disguise the actual sleeves that are TOO WIDE. I skipped the interfacing because I hadn’t bought any and the inside of the sleeves in the pattern was a mystery so I made it up – or followed as closely as I could.

So, it does all look a bit handmade, but it is wearable. Whether I will wear it is to be seen.

I did learn how to do buttons & buttonholes with my sewing machine and I did get back in the zone of how to read a pattern. And. It was fun.

Something quick to actually get things happening. Made this scarf. It worked fairly well – I’ve never ‘felted’ before. I.e. buy old woolen jumpers from the op-shop and then wash them in a hot cycle to shrink them… not sure if they shrunk quite as much as they should have but I don’t have a dryer to get them that extra step. Cut circles (or whatever) and sew them zig-zag all the way down. Next time I think I’ll make the scarf a tad longer, this used 30 circular pieces in total. 10 of each colour. I also have navy blue waiting to be used and there is STACKS of leftover material. I could also possibly be a tad neater on my circle cutting but no harm in smoothing things out a bit later. I just wanted to make something. And I have. Pretty happy with the effort.

*Next time triangles???

(Definitely assisted by my bargain jacket purchase… sadly not so eco friendly. But do love 50% off. One day I’ll work out how to sew jackets. Slowly, slowly)

I have two initial projects in mind. My lovely mother got me this ‘Sew Green’ book for my birthday and I intend to felt some old wool jumpers and make a scarf from circular/oval sections of felted wool. And I also went and got a fairly basic dress pattern and some super cheap cotton to try that out too.

I’ve had bouts of sewing-machine related creativity throughout my life… but I can probably still claim novice when it comes down to it.

Projects/Results to follow!

I love any chance to take photo of willing subjects… it’s SO fun. And am thinking I should investigate if there are any photography classes around, that will make me get out there a bit more and try some new things. This photo is from a rather extensive lot I took of my lovely cousin who is due in April.

I would share more but she hasn’t seen them all yet and it is only fair.

The brainchild of Jay Jeffries – is a book called Awaken the Spirit – The Sacred Texts is finally online (At least in sample chapter form).

I’ve worked on the book design and a number of very talented artists and photographers have contributed work. I think the project is well worth supporting in any way possible.

You can view the sample chapter Awaken the Spirit – The Sacred Texts of Jesus, read more about the project, and sign the petition to get it published.

I’ve never made a pattern before and I’m not sure this is a prime example – I didn’t want it to be an exact repeat but I don’t think the balance is quite right.
Anyhoo, no harm in documenting some kind of process. Leaves are fairly straight forward things. And I’m so over swishes and swirls (working with template based wedding invites does that to you).

Happy to offer as a freebee if anyone thinks they might have a use for it. Just comment – and I’ll put the file up. Suggestions/tips are welcome. I have yet to do much reading on pattern making.

I am also trying out some things and finding inspiration for my sisters’ wedding invitations so you’ll have to bear with the delightful style of: vintage/old books/foxes/trees/acorns/hand script/maps… of which nothing is confirmed (It’s mostly an excellent excuse to look at pretty things)

(I also made a pom-pom… because I could)