Belgian Flea Market finds

Salut!!!

I came back from Belgium on Tuesday, and saying its been manic at work will be a major understatement.

I had such a great time in Belgium although I did not do 2 things I had been looking forward to doing.

1) I did not go to Amsterdam. Complications complications. I had to go with my cousin, but she could not take time off work, so I was limited to Brussels and Antwerp.

2) I did not meet up with Santie as planned for our fabric shopping date. She unfortunately was not working in Antwerp last week, so no meet-up.

That did not stop me from going fabric shopping though. I managed to track down one fabric shop I found online called Maison Doree in Brussels. And it was really lovely. So many nice things to see, and touch. They had a wonderful jersey collection, but the price!!! I came out with 1.4 metres of a lovely fabric for €15...gasp!!! yes, I coughed up that much. and in my forgetfulness, I did not take a picture of the fabric. So I will have to do that at some point in time.

On Sunday, my cousin and I went to a flea market in Antwerp.Inspired by Molly, who always blogs about her wonderful finds, I persuaded my cousin to go bargain hunting with me. And what a trip it was.

First up, though not from the flea market, I got these two magazines. The first one, is in french, which is ok, since I read french, but the second one is in Dutch ( or Flemish??), so I have no idea how I will use that one. but no matter, if I can buy Japanesse craft books, then I can handle this too.

The french one, Tendances Couture, is really nice, and such a bargain because it only features Simplicity patterns. Imagine having to pay about  €5 max for about 12 Simplicity patterns. I first saw this magazine when I went for Zoe's MMJ Brighton meet-up. Santie brought it along for the swap, and I was so confident I was the only one who could read French there, I kept my desire to have it quiet. Too quiet, and a tad late. Tilly, it turns out, lived in Paris for a while.....yes....she took the magazine. lol.

At the flea market, I bought 11 past issues of Burda for the grand sum of €2.40. Yeah!!! They were 20cents each. They are all in Dutch too.

Then this ironing sleeve board for €2

A knitting bag with knitting needles inside for €2

A wooden bowl which I intend to use to block pill box hats with  - 50cents

A leather organiser - €1

vintage lace galore €1 for all

more lace, 3 thimbles, brown velvet ribbon, green buckle and sutff for jeans, all for €1.50.

I also bought a bag of 25 silver buckles for €3

a cute little battery operated hand sewing machine for €1

some fabric which I was told by the seller was from the early 90s.  Roughly 1.8metres each, at €1.50 each. The grey corduroy will hopefully end its life as a Beignet skirt.

Oh, and look what I found in a newspaper store? Karen this reminded me of you!!

And I leave you with a picture of my new hairdo!!

Afro Baby!!!

I'm coming for you L.K Bennet

For long I have been looking at L.K Bennet clothes and shoes and drooling over their beauty, but clutching my heart with sadness at their prices. Today I went to their website, just to check if by some stroke of luck, they would be having 90% discount sale ( stranger things have happened). But no. They persist in tormenting me. I think they know I am watching. Countless sighs have escaped my lips when I think of their dresses.

My expedition to their website today did not result in any pin number punching activity, but it did introduce me to this:



The Selina Dress



The normal procedure everytime I visit the LK Bennet website usually goes something like this

•  Dibs visits http://www.lkbennet.com/
• Dibs gets excited by beautiful dresses
• Dibs checks prices after having fallen in love with dresses
• Dibs's eyes threaten to fall out of sockets ( trust me this happens all the time, even though i know how expensive they normally are)
• Dibs quietly logs off
• Dibs sits in the darkness for 30 minutes, pondering at life's unfairness, and her lack of a bank account  to rival Paris Hilton's.
• Dibs resolves to play the lottery (again).
• Dibs goes searching for Dulche de Leche hagen daaz ice cream.

But not this time LK Bennet. Because this time, Dibs found a friend in Burda magazine May 2011. And that friend gave her this



Not quite the same but it will do. The only difference, from what I can see, is that the Burda dress does not have front in-seam pockets like the LK Bennet dress. But thats all right. I don't mind, because for once, I will make something for myself that is similar to an LK Bennet dress, and no, I will not spend £195 to make. Thank you very much.

This takes priority over any project I was going to shop for on saturday at the Goldhawk Road Fabric Fandango. Except of course stuff I have to make for Me Made June. Oh, the thought of actually making this dress. I wonder what fabric I would make it in. The LK Bennet version was made with silk shantung. I am not that crazy. Not yet anyways, when I have no experience dealing with such experience fabric. Hmm.....

What do you reckon?

Where are they?

I have not been able to sew a dress this week, but I have noticed one thing about myself this year. I have been wearing the dresses I have so far managed to make this year more than once. Which is alot in my case. Last year I made a few dresses, wore only 1 out of the house, and now I don't know where they all are.

Last year though, I was not so fussed about the finishing of my garments, and I was not remotely bothered about seam edges and all that. Coupled with the fact that my machine(Brother LS 2125) was the most basic machine on the planet, I did not have fancy things like an overlocker foot which I now have with my Pfaff. Plus being the lazy little minx I am, hong kong seams and french seams were not to be even considered.

I think I am taking a more healthy approach to my sewing this year, and even my husband has noticed, and is asking me to consider buying more expensive fabrics ( who would ever have thought men would encourage you to spend more aye?).

So, I thought I should show some of the things I made last year that I was prooud of ( for about 1day).

First up, the coffee date dress. Things did not go quite as planned with this one, so I changed the neck. Fortunately Elaine May (the selfish seamstress) was quite understanding, and actually helped me with more instructions on my all in one facing.

Where is it? - I have no clue. Will have to tackle it again this year because I really like the pattern, and it reminds me of me when I just started sewing seriously.

Next, the vogue 8470. I managed to do this dress, wore it round the house, then decided I did not place the zip well, took it off, and never put it back. I saw it the other day, and have kept it aside, to be looked at later this month hopefully. So I might (torchwood) be inspired to put a new zip by the time I go on holidays. I think it will be a nice holiday outfit.

Where is it: - Future project basket. Waiting for Princess Dibs to take pity.

Then I made this Burda magazine dress. I did actually wear this one to work, but i think I outgrew this. My pear hips decided to acquire more fat. So, I can't fit into this one anymore, and I THINK i donated this to a charity. Who will buy this, I don't know.  The pleats at the front were a bit dodgy i think . but nonetheless I wore it a couple of times.

Where is it: - no idea.

What I was most proud of that I made last year was the Vogue 8280. I cried a couple of times during the making of this dress. My husband had to tiptoe around me during the week I made this dress. I was quite happy with the end result though. I still have this pattern, and plan on making it again when i get a really good fabric. I will be using a cotton or wool fabric that has some stretch, so it will fit better. I did wear this one to a party the very day i finished it, and also a couple of times to work.

Where is it?: - I don't know to be honest. I grew bigger round the hips, and could not fit in anymore.

So, those were the things I made that I was proud of. The rest did not reach a noteworthy state of completion, so sadly (thankfully), won't be getting some blog time here.

Other things I made, and which I was proud of last year, were my wedding cake ( which I decorated mysefl) and my fascinator.



I bought a plain cake from M&S and decorated it. I made the flowers from sugar paste.




I folded the fabric and attached it to my top, to have that pink effect, and I just loved my fascinator.




I also put together the bouquet.

 I hope this time next year, I will be going through a list of what I made this year, and hopefully wearing one of them every week. Thats a big challenge, but I think with sewing, you have to push yourself all the time. I have 8 months to prove to myself that I can do it.

I am away for a week from today. Going to spend Easter with my in-laws. Unfortunately I won't be taking my beloved machine. So I won't be overlocking my seams. My mother-in-law has a machine so I will be able to make at least one dress. Hopefully I will have time to actually sew it and put some pictures up.

Happy Easter to everyone.

XX

Dibs