Sewing clothes

I loaded pictures on the internet for the blog post today, but then something else more exciting came up!

I'm not sure if I should name the culprit, but SOMEONE posted a note on Facebook indicating that The Great British Sewing Bee was once again being aired.  I'm not sure if any of you watched this show when it first came out in 2013.  Season One was four episodes and I watched it and absolutely LOVED the four episodes.

The Great British Sewing Bee

(I believe there is a book and the above picture is the cover).  Check out this link and you'd be amazed at what books are for sale.


The premise is that eight home sewists are competing for the title of Britain's best home sewist. The sewists get three challenges in each episode - make something from a pattern, modify a ready-to-wear garment and make a garment to fit a real model. Two people go home at the end of each episode.

For some reason, after Episode one, I stopped watching the program.  Like I've mentioned, watching TV (never on the home TV), and rarely on the internet just isn't my thing.  Well after Cynthia (ooops - I mentioned her name!) posted that a new season of The Great British Sewing Bee was happening - well I decided to watch again.  I've watched the first two episodes of Season One - yes depsite the fact that I know who won, it doesn't matter. I'm really enjoying them.

Now here's the bad part - I'm thinking I NEED to sew clothes for myself.  I know - give my head a BIG BIG shake.  Where is this coming from????   I know - when I was home all those years, clothes weren't all that important and technically, I don't need any for work, but it would be nice to have something a bit dressier than golf shirts - at least part of the time.

Oh gosh - help me and do NOT let me loose in Fabricland!  I could use our cottons, but I'm not that into ironing clothes, so I need something that doesn't require ironing!!!!   Hmm - well - you never know what I will end up with. Is there a support group that I can join?

Here is the link to the four episodes for Season One   (they are an hour each)

Espisode One

Episode Two

Episode Three

Episode Four


Now if that isn't enough to get you excited, you MUST check out my blog post today for the Husqvarna Viking Designer EPIC.  You will NOT believe some of the features of this sewing machine.  My god - what am I doing at work?  I need to be home sewing!!!!

And here's the other thing that is driving me crazy.  While I was winding down last night, I decided to check out clothing styles for the over 50 crowd.  Good grief - why would they show clothing for the older crowd on young models????   Seriously - I'm not even going to link to the Pinterest pictures - some of the stuff I saw was ridiculous. Obviously, people are NOT categorizing this stuff properly.  However it would appear that pants and skirts are narrow in the shape (I'm OK with that), but you can have fun with the tops.  I don't have any fun tops.  Now you see why I want to make clothes. And they will be different than anyone else's!

On that note, I'm going to lock myself in a room or cut up my credit card.

Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!

Sewing bees!!

 Let's face it - the British are a wonderful lot. They are very creative in their TV shows and I was recently introduced to another neat show that I think you will enjoy!

It's called The Great British Sewing Bee. I believe there are three Seasons, but there are only four episodes in the first season. I haven't had a chance to see all the episodes yet, but the bottom line - they are looking for the best home sewist.

It is interesting because in each episode the contestants  (they started with eight) have three challenges in the first week. They have to make a garment from a pattern (I know - that sounds easy, but many of them struggled with the tasks), they have to alter a purchased garment (those are fun) and the third challenge is to make a garment but it has to fit a live model.

I think I would do just fairly well on the first and second challenge, but I would fail miserably on the third!

Here is the link to the episodes for the first season. Have a look - I know the version that I had was a bit annoying with the adverts, but maybe you will be more lucky than I.


The Great British Sewing Bee - Season One - Episode 1
The Great British Sewing Bee - Season One - Episode 2
The Great British Sewing Bee - Season One - Episode 3
The Great British Sewing Bee - Season One - Episode 4


Warning - each episode is ONE HOUR long.  And not only is there the three challenges, but they provide some history of sewing, tailoring and sewing bees. And each episode offers a very quick simple home dec project. Quite interesting. I have thoroughly enjoyed the episodes that I have watched and I am going to watch more - a great time to sew binding or labels!

Thanks to Anita for introducing me to that show.


Back from the gym. A cardio/weight class. Time to make some changes so that means swapping one spin class for something weight related. I have a feeling that I will be sore tomorrow!


So what did I do while I watched The Great British Sewing Bee last night?  Binding of course!

Binding on my quilt - DONE

 If you want to see the quilt - you will have to come to the Brampton Quilt show on May 2 and 3. It will be hanging and it is unusual!  Nothing earth shattering - just unusual.

|Binding on my sewing machine skirt - DONE

The sewing machine skirt is ready for the upcoming retreat. Yes - another retreat. In hind sight - the timing is bad, but that is OK!!!

I made good progress on the binding of another quilt. That leaves one full quilt, half a quilt, a table runner and a mini quilt left to bind. There are two quilts in the basket that need to be ripped apart  - they are going to have a make over. More details when I get to them.

Wow - that basket could be empty soon!!!   Well - the quilt I just finished binding last night was quilted a year ago! No need for it to be bound!  Now I am going to have to seriously look at my quilts because the number of finished quilts is getting up there and there are a few that I really don't need, although they come in handy for trunk shows or demos!  Drat - may hang onto them for a bit longer.

On that note - I am out of here. It is sewing day and I am actually taking my sewing machine. I haven't done any sewing in a while and I feel the need!


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ciao!!!!


BTW - are there any Clive Cussler fans out there??  Perhaps your husband?  I am trying to find one of his earlier books - Dragon - part of the Dirk Pitt series. If you have a copy - I'd like to borrow it.