Special Delivery

This has been an exciting week on 11th May, our first grandchild, George Steven arrived.  Everyone has been lovely and so excited about it all. Mother, father and baby are all doing well and should be coming home tomorrow.

All this has meant Lindy's Loops has been distracted too.  I did manage to finish a Funky Purple Cord Bag to go with the top I made for the Make and Mend Fashion Show at the Star and Shadow on Sunday.  I can't wait to see the full outfit put together.  Do come along and support the local designers and crafters who will be there.

I deviated a little from my usual lines to re-cover our old Moses basket, which all 3 of the Chapmen chaps have slept in and now the new little one will be able to take a rest in it.  Not for long I think as he was quite a big chap, 8lb 15.5 oz!  His mammy likes beige and creams so I found some lovely beige polka dots which I think are quite becoming for a young chap.  It was a tricky task but I enjoyed it, but I don't think I will be taking orders.

I started knitting something for him a few months ago, but we didn't know then that it would be a boy, so I finished off the hat and shoes with some little blue teddy buttons.  The next project will be a little Winnie the Pooh sleep suit.

I think I can see an idea for new lines for Lindy's Loops, retro baby grows!.

Frills and Spills

It has been a busy old week, lots to cram in at the 'day job' in just 3 days but I could get used to that.  But more importantly Lindy's Loops has been busy catching up with orders for bags and getting things ready for the fashion show which is being organised by Make and Mend as part of Newcastle Fashion Week.

I enjoyed making a customised bag for Karen which is a Seaside Bag but this time it was a small bag, with a long strap, worn over the body.  Take a look at the bigger version over here .  Karen is a talented lady why don't you pop over here and see some of her work at ArtieD on Folksy.

I have a couple of dresses ready which you have seen in earlier blogs which will go to the fashion show but I have been working on an outfit which is inspired by Englebert Humperdinck and the fact that I have been singing Les Bicyclettes des Belsize  all week, (there is also this lovely version )  What would make me sing such a song?  I have booked a trip to that London and am staying in Belsize and intend to recreate the cycling in the lovely short film of the same name.

Anyway to outfits, I thought of all of the lovely frills and flounces, not least on Engelbert's shirts and so decided to make a top with a frilled front and flouncy sleeves.

It is a loose fitting top in cool cotton, lovely for hot London days.  It has darts in the front and back to give it a little more shape and structure and I have added a purple ribbon so if you are super slim you can pull it in with a lovely little bow to show off your figure.  If you prefer things more loose and flowing the ribbon isn't attached and you could just tie it in your hair.  The background is lilac and the print is purple and green circles and swirls.  What do you think?

For the fashion show I am suggesting teaming this up with a pair of purple velvet trousers. I am going to make a little purple bag with a draw string top and trim the lining with a little left over fabric from the dress.

So this week has had me humming favourite tunes from the 60's I love a little bit of Cilla and Lulu and of course Engelbert.

Oh yes, and at last I got to see Soul Boy, what great memories of Northern Soul Dancing in the Chelsea Cat in South Shields, our very own version of Wigan Casino.  I am wondering what inspiration that will provide me for dressmaking!

All good things must come to an end

I was looking forward to 11 days of working on lindysloops, relaxing, eating, drinking and generally having fun.  Where did the time go?

It went like this:  

Fulfilling orders for bags 

Working on some designs for the Make N Mend Your Style event on 15th May which is part of the Newcastle Fashion Week.  

Knitting a little more of the baby blanket that my son has asked me to make for his friend, it is a beautiful pattern of butterflies and triangles in purple and cream.

A couple of visits to our favourite drinking establishments in Ouseburn.

A bit of gardening, mine and my dad's garden.

Enjoying home baked bread and pizza courtesy of Chapman minor.

A bit of dancing and keep fit to keep the llb's at bay

Watching the Royal Wedding, wearing my best hat.

The kind folks at Our Local Crafts gave me a shout out on their blog which was really kind and as a result I seem to be gathering more followers on my facebook page.  That's how it went, and the sun shone and made it even more jolly.  There are so many reasons to be happy if you just look for them.

And so it must come to an end and normal life resumes well for 3 days at least.  We need the normal bits to make the other bits seem event better.

Looking forward to my next little break in 20 days time.

I hope your bank holiday weekends have been fun.