Tilly and The Buttons - Mathilde Blouse

After seeing some really gorgeous versions of this top - most recently from Maude I decided I needed this top! Plus I have been wanting to make a heap of tops for Me Made May since this is the garment most lacking in my self-made closet!

What can I say about this pattern, it's beautiful and I love it! It's the perfect fit for me which is sometimes a bit difficult as I have wide shoulders. There was no pulling at the shoulders or sleeves, it was fitted yet still roomy and most of all its a cute/pretty design. I highly recommend this pattern!! I loved it so much I did what I typically do when I love a pattern.... I made it 3 times :)

Tilly and the Buttons Mathilde Blouse

I do apologise as these photos are not the best. It was only just light enough outside to take the photos but I probably should have timed it a few hours earlier!

White snap buttons on the back!

The top front yoke and the sleeve bindings are a slightly different material!

Fabric covered buttons on the back.

I used snaps for the back of this top! I love snaps they are so easy!

Tilly has also done an incredible job of explaining this pattern step-by-step. Her instructions are so easy and you end up making a really beautiful, well finished top in a matter of a few hours! Make sure you check out the Makers Gallery for more inspiration!

HENS PARTY DRESS!

Now this weekend I am trying to pin a dress to make for my Hens party in only 3 weeks!!! I started making the Gerties Bombshell dress (as shown below) but then realised its starting to get a bit cold in Brissy and I might have to reconsider. However, this dress will be amazing for summer and possibly my honeymoon in Hawaii so I will definitely finish it!

There are too many choices when you can make your own outfits!!

Me Made May, Blogging Buddies & Fabric!

There has been lots of excitement in Me Made May 13 for me! I have been wearing something self made each day, with a few repeats but trying my best to capture my month journey! 

Here is some of my outfits so far which I have been posting on my Instagram and also on Flickr (that's thanks to everyone on Twitter letting me know that's where its at!)

BurdaStyle - Pleated Top Dress

BurdaStyle Tie front Top

Tilly and the Buttons Mathilde Top

Tilly and the Buttons - Mathilde Top

Megan Nielson - Banksia Top

Burda 7494 Dress

Burda 7132 Dress

Tilly and the Buttons - Mathilde Top

Mad Men Dress

BLOGGING BUDDIES

DIXIE DIY

In other exciting news I received a lovely surprise in the mail from the beautiful and gorgeous Dixie from Dixie DIY (All the way from TEXAS!). She has seen how I get a little obsessed with patterns/printed material and thought I might like this material she had, which I did!!

I pretty much want to copy her exact dress she made (seen below) with this fabric its so cute and I love the Colette Macaron dress!!

Dixies Colette Macaron

SEW ME LOVE

Its been even more exciting because I ALSO received material from Neeno from Sew Me Love!

I recently bought some Megan Nielson patterns and after making the the Darling Ranges dress decided that the style of dress didn't suit me as good as it would Neeno! So I sent that off in the mail and in return got the BEST swap ever!!! Her beautiful green and brown butterfly fabric and 2 meters of it!! Neeno I am trying to plan to use this fabric for my Hens party!! If I can find the perfect pattern. I love it that much!

Check out Neenos dress in this fabric (below), I need to make sure it lives up to this!!

Neenos beautiful dress!!

FABRIC

I recently went onto Spoonflower to order my mum some fabric for mothers day and was just amazed at the gorgeous prints. We were trying to find some fabric that would suit a canvas to try and decorate a few rooms. 

PLUS I made some Retro PUG fabric with my very own Busta and Bella!! This site is incredible how you can design it yourself and order it (cheaper than the local store) plus shipping to Aus was only $14!! What do you think!!??

Retro Pug Fabric

Laundry Fabric

Pink Primrose Fabric

My Lovely Laurels

Well, my sewing plans this week took a sudden turn towards the Colette Laurel after seeing Rachel's version from House of Pinheiro! I loved her dress so much I wanted to make my own version. I then managed to make a lace and also a blue cotton twill version. All three dresses are fully lined and finished amazingly thanks to the brilliance of this pattern. This dress is such a nice fitting dress and perfect for something casual, comfortable but also very pretty!

It took me a while to find a pattern that I could make into this lace version and I am pretty happy with the result considering this was my first time working with lace. I also managed to use French seams, another first! There is only a small pleat at the front and two back pleats so it was really easy to work with the lining to create this dress. I then used the cotton lining to bind the sleeves and around the neck.

So this is my knock off for Rachel's version. I pretty much tried to copy it exactly, just using different fabric. I loved the use of buttons and its funny when the actual buttons end up costing you more than the dress! Thanks Spotlight! Check out Rachels original if you can it's amazing!

This next dress was just using some extra fabric I had in my stash that I thought would look nice. I ended up cutting a size 4 for this pattern for all three but I had to take it in quite a bit at the back and down the sides. I always try and cut larger pattern sizing because you just don't know when things will be too big or small in certain areas. It was pretty easy to take this in at the back and I would probably continue to do this. I also found for all three I had to cut a small amount off the arm holes to accommodate for my shoulder width. I then used the Colette Macaron sleeves. I find I tend to use the Colette Macaron sleeves for other patterns as well because they just fit so nicely.

All three dresses fully lined and overlocked around the arm holes.

This week I am back to my previous plans on making some more tops and my Modcloth lookalike dress.

I also have my Hen's party coming up so I really want to make something fun and special for the night. I'm thinking something Pink! I will have to do some more Pinterest research for that one but I only have 5 weeks left.... eeiikk its going to be my wedding day before I know it!

Totally booking myself into the hairdressers tomorrow after seeing these photos haha!! Thanks for putting up with my daggyness!

♥♥♥ Erin ♥♥♥

Me Made May 2013

Its getting close to May and I have just signed up like hopefully everyone else for Me Made May! My pledge for this year is to wear one self made garment each day for the duration of May 2013. This may include my favourites multiple times and I will also document as much as I can on Instagram.

I am pretty confident I could do this since I've had a year behind me in sewing now! There were a few more things I wanted to create for May like some lightweight tops, but I got totally distracted this week when I saw Rachel's (House of Pinheiro) version of the Colette Laurel. I completely changed my sewing plans and diverted all attention to getting myself one of these!! I was even trying to hunt down this exact fabric lol.

House of Pinheiro version.

I have only just realised that there was a sewing contest for the Colette Laurel which is why there are so many amazing versions of this dress going around! Check out Reana Louise's blog she has made a couple now and they are fantastic. But I think my vote goes to Rachel since I was so inspired to make my own version (see below) and also a lace version. P.S this is a really cute little pattern, hopefully be able to take some more photos and details coming soon.

Lace version and copy of House of Pinheiro Colette Laurel.

In other news I have completely updated my sewing room and decided to make a few decorative things to brighten it up. I had a canvas lying around my room and decided to go buy some cute fabric from Spotlight to cover it. I absolutely love the result and already plan on making some more. I may even scour the internet for some pug fabric!! Did I mention I bought a pug bookend this week. So can't wait for that to arrive!

Wall Fabric Canvas

I will enjoy this upcoming month seeing lots of new sewing creations and everyone getting involved in Me Made May in some way.

Don't forget I am still running my Copy Cat Challenge and have plenty more BurdaStyle 25% off vouchers for anyone who gets involved.  I have had a few more entries this week which is now showcasing some really amazing outfits. It doesn't have to be a new garment so check your blog and see if you already have something you can enter!!

Also, I know there are so many social media networks out there and its hard to keep up but I have found Twitter to be much more helpful than I originally thought. I have discovered sooo many new blogs and people its been great! Also, a bloglovin link below for anyone who is interested in following me by Bloglovin.

FOLLOW THIS BLOG WITH BLOGLOVIN

As our lovely Judy would say, Happy Sewing!

Megan Nielson Kelly Skirt and Banksia Top

This is my first attempt at the Megan Nielson patterns, trying out the Kelly Skirt and the Banskia Top. I did actually make this top fairly quickly and I have to admit I didn't include the front panel with buttons. I was being a bit lazy! However, I still really like the result.

The top is probably an extra size too big so the next time I make it I will do it a size or two down. I think I might also make the top end a little higher on my chest as I felt like if I bent over you might be able to see down my top hehe. Otherwise, I really like the sleeves and the peter pan collar and its a really comfy stylish top.

Its a little hard to see the skirt because its black so for those who cant quite see the detail in the skirt I have drawn out the contrast using Photoshop in the image below. I would have to say I LOVE this skirt pattern!! I just realised my top button isn't done up completely in the photo below, woops! hehe but I can already see myself making a million of these skirts in every colour!! 

The pluses for this skirt is that it sits nicely on my waist and it only took me about 2 hours to make. So for a first attempt this is pretty darn simple!! I also decided to make fabric buttons for this skirt which I think made it look a little more shop bought.

There are so many lovely versions of these patterns and I can't wait to make a few more.

Now to end with another puggy shot :) my little girl Bella.