L. Space

I'm counting down to the Christmas holidays, because I have refurnishing plans.

Because of our move to a smaller apartment in my parent's backyard last year, I didn't have enough space to sew. My mom offered me to use my old room for a while.
Question: Should I 'borrow' this from her? It's my old room, so it means it's mine, right? She claimed it as a 'Everything I don't need, I'll put in here-room'. 
Anyway, she 'lend' me my old room and gave me a liiittle desk in the corner and lucky for me, next to the window. It's not a pleasant experience sewing there, because I don't have enough space to even move, so I'm obliged to make the most out of my evening sewing classes on Wednesdays.

I got so sick of feeling frustrated every time I entered that room with the urge to sew, that I burst out and demanded my room back. I ended up fighting with my mom, but we came to a mutual agreement to start 'renovating' the room.

We'll throw out all the junk we don't need (or give it to charity), place some extra cabinets and a pattern table and of course a desk for my mom, because that was the agreement.

I'm so excited and I can't wait until we are finished. We are starting this weekend, so I can start sewing during the holidays. It's only a temporary sewing room until we find a house ourselves, so it's not going to be big, but I already gathered a few ideas on Pinterest:

A movable pattern cutting table on wheels, so it can easily be put aside. I can build that with little cabinets from IKEA. 

A jar storage shelf:

And I'm going to need a moodboard:

La Maison Victor: DIY Fashion Fair

Two weekends ago, I went to visit the very first edition of the DIY Fashion Fair, by La Maison Victor. La Maison Victor is the newest DIY/Sewing magazine from Sanoma. Only four editions of the magazine were published and they're selling like candy! The DIY hype keeps standing and La Maison Victor sure knows how to keep people busy and interested by designing modern patterns and organizing a fair like this.

The DIY Fashion Fair had a few readings and workshops to offer next to some booths with fabrics, accessories, etc.
I attended readings about labeling clothing, fall/winter trends and body shape styling, where I found out I have the most wanted X (hourglass) shape.

It was hard to choose which workshops to attend, but I went with 'Textile Design' and 'Photography Styling'.
Textile Design was quite interesting and fun! Lotte Martens from 'Textile with a Concept' explained how to cut out a shape out of an eraser and then print it on a linen tote bag. Easy to do at home and even to keep the kids busy on a rainy afternoon. I would really recommend one of her workshops!
At the Photo Styling session I immediately tried out to capture my own designed bag on photo. The lighting was pretty bad, but with a VSCO touchup it turned out quite OK. 

After all those creative try-outs, I strolled around to see the other booths, couldn't help myself buying some fabric again, and found the magnificent Annamarieke. She had the most impressive collection of retro patterns, all well preserved and for sale! I didn't really had the time to dig into her collection, but I will certainly pay a visit to her shop soon! She also offers workshops, sewing supplies and fabrics.

I really think this was a fun day out! I do think, though, that it was smaller than people expected it to be. I was looking for a zipper for one of my new sewing projects, but could only find booths with fabrics and ribbon. The hostesses at the entrance weren't well informed about the event and the workshops as well. But of course, this was only the first edition of the event and it will probably expand, depending on success. 
This was a well organised event, well done!

Coat: Cold Proof

Last week I forgot I had to put my filling (I don't know what it's called in English). Now it's two more lessons until my coat is finished. But that's something I will be finishing after the holidays.
Next week is our last class and I want to make a dress for the holidays first.

Fabric Madness

I had to get filling for my coat to make it warmer.
I couldn't control myself and bought two more fabrics. One for a dress and one for a sweater.
The black fabric for the sweater is magnificent! The other side of the fabric is super soft! I hope I can find some time during the holidays to start on this one. I'm not sure which pattern to choose yet.
The green one is for a dress. It has copper glitter details, so beautiful! I have an easy pattern ready for this, but I need to make my dress for the holidays first.

Coat: Shaped

Yaay. If everything goes well I will finish my coat in two weeks!
Productive day!

Expert Level: Advanced Coat

Finally! Back in sewing class!

I started on my coat today. It's a compulsory piece this semester. I'm really looking forward to the result, because this is an advanced level coat and getting my fabric wasn't easy. 

I wrote about the store where I bought it a few months ago. When I wanted to start with my pattern, just before our holiday, I noticed that the fabric I took home wasn't the amount of meters I paid for. I contacted Les Tissus du Chien Vert about the problem and they advised me to come to the store. The store isn't nearby at all so I wanted them to send me the right amount by mail and I would send their fabric back to them. This shop has very bad service, although it's one of the most known fabric shops in Belgium. The staff I got on the phone (including the manager/owner) were very unfriendly and not helpful. I got really mad about the way they treated customers and about the fact that the shop's staff made a mistake that should be corrected without putting the customer to expenses. I also told him I was on a time limit, because I left on holiday. Even after that the owner was still very confident they couldn't do much more than sending me the right fabric AFTER they had received the fabric I got and I had to pay for the return costs of the package. Also, the packages for mail were going out two times a week and he wasn't planning on sending someone to the post office specially for me. I couldn't convince him to offer me a better service, so I paid for the returning packages and luckily I received the right amount of fabric just before we left. 

I will never ever go back to this store again and I wouldn't recommend this shop to anyone!

Because of this whole game (took two weeks), I couldn't start on my coat, but today the day had come.

I cut my pattern out of the fabric and I also did the lining. I arrived late to class, so I wasn't able to start on sewing. That's something for next week.

The coat I will be making is based on one of my old coats. I'm wearing this coat for over 6 years now, maybe even longer! It's a coat from Max&Lola, My mom sold this brand when she still had her kids store. It's my favourite coat, but he's almost worn out. I can fix him though. It's the lining who's giving me trouble lately. But first I'll finish my own L. coat :-)!

L. goes Africa

No Thai. Yes African! I finished my African style fabric pants!
I started cutting out the pattern for my coat too.
No sewing class for the following weeks, but lets hope I'll find some unique fabrics in Thailand...

Les Tissus du Chien Vert

My mom and I went to a fabric store at Brussels: Les Tissus du Chien Vert.
A coat is an obligatory piece this year at sewing class, so I needed new fabric.
Les Tissus du Chien Vert have a few stores and are specialised in both fabrics for your interior and clothing. Although these are very big stores, I was quite disappointed about what they offered. I'm not questioning the quality of their fabrics, but their variety is very classic. I was looking for some retro fabrics too and couldn't find it. After a long search through the whole shop I bumped into some fabric that's normally used for curtains. I thought it would be nice for a coat too and it wasn't that stiff, so I can do anything I want with it. I bought 2 meters for 30 euros.
I still need some retro fabric for a tricot dress. I will find it elsewhere. In two weeks I will go to a designer fabric sale and I will probably find heaps of fabric I like there. Fingers crossed!
We also went for sandwich between two stores. It was a while ago since we went out with just the two of us. We had fun.
Eventually I'm really happy with what I chose today with the help of my mom :-).

Back at my habitat

Yes, I'm back at my habitat: sewing class!

Butterflies

I bought the cutest fabric for my new sewing project today at a local fabric boutique: Ateljee P.
I'm totally in love with it and I hope I can finish my project soon!
Now I'm off drinking cocktails with my girlfriend Banana...
See you tomorrow!

New Top

When summer holidays started, I began to work on a summer top.
Yesterday I finally had the time to finish it! I matched this with just a regular jeans and orange all stars.
The result:

No time, having fun!

But here's a picture of my dress I made!

Pink Bib for Anna

This was the present I made for Anna, the baby we went to visit yesterday. 

Cute :-)

Baby Sew

Baby visits ask for baby stuff...
I need a drink with that...

Retro Skirt

I finished my sister's retro skirt.
Happy :-)
Up next: Summer dress for myself and a skirt to match my new Chie Mihara's. I need to find some fabric first.

Fix It

I didn't finish my dress today, because I need to know what shoes to wear for the finising touch... And I still don't have any shoes!
In stead I fixed a tear in my Blue jegging from Gas Jeans and made my summer pants from CKS more fitting.
I took a day of on Friday and I think I'm going to start on my sister's skirt.
See you tomorrow!

Sewing Expert Part 2

Because we didn't finish the whole bathrobe last time, my niece finished the seams and the embroidery.
Next week: the bathrobe's belt and its loops and then it's finished!

Sewing Expert

My good deed of the day: learning my niece how to sew! 

We're getting creative with a bathrobe. So far, she finished putting together the hood and the side seams of the bathrobe. She's doing great!

Bongo Boutique Magazines

I just redeemed my Bongo voucher for a magazine subscription. I chose 5 editions of 'Knipmode', a Dutch magazine for crafty crafters like me. Five months of new summer patterns and styles to make. I will not be bored!
Thanks Miss LH for my present :-) !

Made by L.

Oops, almost forgot!

Yesterday I received my labels to personalize my hard work!

And right at this moment, my colleague is trying on her dress. Her best friend's wedding is tomorrow! Fingers crossed!

x L.