michelle made this

Ta dah!

Here's my dress

Made by me :O)
 

Not bad if I say so myself :o)

I've also made a couple of granny slips (well that's what I call them).  The first one is pretty plain but the one I'm doing at the mo is much prettier - when it's finished I'll share a pic.

I've also drafted a pattern for a shirt dress.  Made a toile today and am most impressed with my princess seams ... despite reading lots of horror stories on the internet! 

The dressmaking bug has well and truly hit me. 

Gingham dresses

I started the week with a plan to make a dress inspired by a few metres of gingham I found in my very large "to do something with" pile!

I then went online and started pinning and several hours later (thanks to pinterest) I was inspired by the dresses below which led to my sketches above and hopefully by the end of the week I'll be showing you (maybe even modelling) my new dress!

How is your week going?  Have you made anything nice?

Something new

I've been working away from home a lot lately and drinking lots of take out coffee in yucky plastic or cardboard cups.  If you follow my blog you'll know how fussy I am - I even ask for a cup when I'm out !

So ... on my way home the other day I stopped off at Avoca and bought myself this lovely cup and saucer.

Let me tell you the coffee was good, reeeeealy good :o) 

Maybe that was to do with the fact that I was back on my sofa in front of the fire with a few magazines by my side too.

That's all from me folks! 

Lovely blog

I just had to share with you

this lovely blog I just found

by-ilona.blogspot.com

it's full of really cute crochet

and super cute makeovers.

So in LOVE with this caravan that she made !!

Have you found any pretty blogs lately?  Feel free to share ... 

Commissions

I know my posts have been few and far between but there's lots going on in the background in my little cottage.  Promise to share all with you soon!

I've been working on quite a few commissions over the past few weeks but unfortunately I can't share most of them with you but here's a few I can share ...

The cushion and tea cosy set below is made of hessian and gingham .. my new favourite combination. Unfortunately I was rushing to deliver them so I didn't take proper pics - the back of both is in gingham.  I love the tea cosy so much and I've had a few orders for some too :O)

The doll below was commissioned for a girl emigrating by one of her friends.  She gave me a claddagh ring and little angel brooch to pin on her.  I accessorised her with a little handbag so the girls could each write a note which could be kept in the bag.  I wish someone would commission me a doll.  I had a hard time letting her go :O)

What's the nicest handmade present you've ever received?

So pretty

How pretty are these jam jar candles?

You can find details on how to make them here.

On a totally differet matter ...

Is anyone out there on wordpress? 

 I'm thinking about moving over but not sure, I'm a bit of a blogger lover :O)   Having a big re-jig at the mo and also wondering about my website? 

Do I keep it or leave it??  Does anyone use websites anymore?

It's so much updating - blog/facebook/twitter/pinterest/etsy/website ... where does it end?

Injection of colour

As lots of you know my cottage is called "An Teach Ban" which is Irish for "The White House". 

As I've said before, this is nothing to do with politics but more to do with the fact that I seem to paint almost everything I bring into the house white!

However, over the past few years there seems to be more colour creeping in, mostly pink, which surprises me as I never really liked pink but it seems I do ... a lot!?

The only problem I find now, in particular with my bedroom since I (hmm .. Mum) wallpapered one of the walls, is that I am limited to what I can put on my bed.  This is the beauty of white ... you can change the colour scheme anytime quickly and easily. 

But then this morning I saw this lovely duvet set in an email from Not on the Highstreet and I have to say I'm tempted ........

I

and it's such a great offer too ...

This is why I love/hate the internet ... it's such a tease!

Have you found anything online that you're lusting after lately?

A Greengate summer

Summer is on the way .... well the Greengate Summer catalogue is out so it can't be that far away :O)  

I can't say I was jumping head over heels when I opened it but maybe that's because I've seen so much of it in blogland in the last couple of years.  However, despite that it's still really pretty to look through.  You can see the full catalogue here and all the images below are from that link.

I love the car and caravan above. I know I've been lusting after my beloved Nissan Figaro for years but I'd be quite happy with one of these.

I love the floral and gingham mix that's going on.  I've already had my fabric statsh out matching ginghams and prints for some new bags and cushions that I've been busy sketching. 

I really like this bike applique cushion.  Probably because it reminds me of my Grandad's bike outside the cottage.  I might have to make my own version.  Another one to add to my ever expanding list!!  Honestly, sometimes I think I should just give up on blogs and pinterest and all the rest because I'm pretty sure in my lifetime I will never get through all the tutorials and sketches and to do lists I have !!  But it's great to get the creative juices flowing so fear not pinterest and blogland I'm not going anywhere.

Finally I'm LOVING the gingham bow.  I'm really into bows.  Not sure I'd be brave enough for this look but I might just try it.  Afterall I went out with pigtails the other day!

So there you go.  A little Greengate summer injection for you all. 

I'm dying to get out in the garden this year.  It was very neglected last year as I was busy with the knitting world record but I'm determined to get lots done this year (famous last words!).

Anyone got any recommendations for some cottage flowers (easy to grow!) ???

New Year New You?

Sound familiar?

 I think a vison board might just be for you.

If you don't know where to start how about coming along to one of my

Vision Board workshops

commencing

Wednesday 11th January 7-9pm

or

Wednesday 18th January 7-9pm

As the New Year approaches lots of us start thinking about New Year Resolutions. We all have dreams and/or visions for what we want in the New Year whether that is a new job, a car, a new house, a relationship or even setting up our own business.

Even though we start with good intentions many of these visions are not achieved as they get forgotten about. However, if you translate your visions and goals into pictures they are more likely to be achieved as it allows you to visualise them and make them more real.

Pictures are much more powerful than words.

That’s what the Create your own Vision Board workshop is all about.

Come along and learn how I use vision boards to achieve my own goals. Then I will show you how to create your own vision board.

All materials will be provided – paper, pens, even paints if you’re feeling artistic, and copious amounts of magazines* for you to take images from. I will also show you how to create a vision journal if a vision board isn’t for you.

This is an interactive workshop and my aim is to help you make your dreams a reality. Just bring yourself and all your dreams.

*If you have any magazines yourself that you no longer want feel free to bring them for the group to use.

The workshop will take place at Sarah Browne’s Cookery School, 

on Wednesday 11th January and another on the 18th January 7-9pm

The cost is 25 euro and includes all materials and refreshments.

To book your place call Michelle on + 353 851111984 or email michelle@michellemadethis.com

Happy Blog Birthday

source

It's my little blog's birthday today

Happy Birthday michellemadethis.blogspot.com :O)

4 years old today!

Wow! 

Where did that time go?

I started this blog in New York with dreams of living in my cottage in Ireland and eventually running workshops in sewing and knitting. 

I'm so happy to say that I've fulfilled all of those dreams. 

I'm sitting here in my cottage proof reading ads for local papers to advertise my upcoming workshops!

So ... if you are starting the New Year with dreams don't dismiss them because dreams do come true, I'm living proof of that!

How did I do it?
I dreamed and dreamed and dreamed

and most importantly visualised it all.

I cut pictures out of magazines and from the net and pinned them up and made my vision board.  At times I thought there was no chance of some of them happening, especially appearing on tv, but all of it did.

Thank you for reading/following/commenting on my little blog over the years.

Michelle x