Passion for Patchwork

In 2018 at a moment in time when I was feeling low I decided that adding some colour to my home might help my mood. I went through my somewhat large fabric collection, and found the most wonderful remnants I had collected over the last few years. 

I got to work by sourcing the fabrics I liked, measured the size of a quilt, and figured out how many squares I would need to make it. Then I cut out all the squares and in a random, yet non random way (its hard to be random - I think our brains are designed to be logical, symmetrical and organised) pinned them together to make a pattern. I wanted to personalise it too, so I did some embroidery (which you can't see in the photo), to display the name Foxy Lady on it. I also wrote positive happy words in all four corners, like 'Love' and Home, then I sewed all the pieces together, and backed it with wading and a lining.

I love my quilt, it certainly brightens up the place, and I love nothing more, than snuggling down on my sofa on a sunny winters afternoon, pulling it over me and having a cat nap, its so comfy, and no-one else in the world has one like this. 

Quilting might sound a bit twee or old fashioned to some of you, but believe me, it is so satisfying, and you can still make it look contemporary or funky if you don't want the country cottage look. I intended on getting more knowledgeable about quilting and creating wonderful patterns with hexagons or triangles, but to be honest, I think its a bit too mathematical in the planning for me, and my buzz, is about choosing the colour and creating a pattern with the fabrics, I also like to produce things quickly, so that sort of patch working isn't for me,but I will never say never. In the meantime, I have too many other projects in my head to be focusing on.

A bleak January in 2020

I decided this week to check through my stash of fabrics, to make plans for my next projects. I had lots of scraps of beautiful vintage cloths, and decided now was the time to get them out of my way.
A quilt I would make.
I love patchwork, I love looking at it, feeling it, and making it. I like a quick fix with my creations, so my patchwork is mainly just squares. Don't get me wrong, I would love to be able to do the more intricate designs with diamond shapes, but that's very technical and more time consuming, and I haven't the patience. I also prefer to work free style.
Whether I am making a dress or a cushion cover, I don't tend to draw my designs, I work more organically, and start with some fabrics that match well colour wise, and take it from their. Sewing and developing as I go.
I am a modern woman, and generally like contemporary looking homes, but I have a love affair with patchwork quilts. If I am in someone else's home and see one, on their bed or a sofa, I immediately feel like cosying down with a good book. I like the colours, the randomness, the story, the detail, the workmanship, and above all, the comfort of them. Comfortable and yet aesthetically pleasing, its a win win for me.
You an buy patchwork quilts of course, but to make your own is something else. Its a personal piece of history that may tell a story, like it has a life of its own.

Can you imagine lying in your own bed, ready to sleep and having the satisfaction of knowing you made it yourself? definitely a good way to induce a quality nights sleep, and then waking up to it, and reminding yourself, that you are skilled or creative is definitely good for the soul. Its also an heir loom, which shows my love for my life, my home and my family.
The icing on the cake for me is that my partner and I work well as a team, and we have created this beautiful home within a small space. He does all the woodwork, plumbing and electrics, and I do all the curtains, cushions and bedding. So wherever you look around the boat, its what we have made ourselves, which has only got to be a good influence on our daughter. So not only have we created this awesome space we are proud of, it also moves, so the aesthetics outside change from time to time too.

Home is where Foxy Lady is (the boat not me!) King size quilt made from vintage fabric scraps

A personalised quilt will cost you from 200gbp.

Enquiries at 

ukfoxylady.co.uk

Mod Style Shift Dresses

I have named all of my dresses A_Z, using prolific women from the 60s and 70s, These are the first three, Anita (Pallengburg), Bridget (Bardot) and Cathy (McGowan).
They are all size 12- 14 and cut from a genuine 1960s pattern, that I have adapted to the larger sizing of our millennium bodies. They wouldn't look out of place on the set of British cult Mod movie Quadrophenia.
They are all made from genuine vintage fabrics, by myself, to a high quality, these particular dresses are unlined, so nice for a hot day.
This style is so flattering to the body, and would suit day or evening wear.

Anite - Red Check mini dress - Mod style
available at Button Boatique

Bridget - Black flower print viscose 1960s reproduction dress

Cathy - red cotton mini dress Mod style

Plus size shift dresses

Patti - Size 18
See more of Patti

Olivia - Size 18 Shift dress
Buy at Button Boatique

Lulu - Black & White gingham Mod dress - size 18
check out Lulu at Button Boatique

Vintage Vixen

Vintage Vixen is my designer range of women's wear. Each item is unique, and made to a high quality of craftsmanship. The fabrics are genuine vintage, and linings are generally old remnants, I even try and use genuine vintage trimmings where possible (e.g zips and buttons). I will always state how genuine the resources are.
I chose an appropriate vintage pattern, usually mid 60's to early 70's, to suit the fabric I have sourced.
I have over 35 years experience in making and design, and can adapt patterns accordingly, should they require it. As you may be aware, the 1960's body measurements for specific sizes have changed over the years, I roughly estimate a size 14 in the 60's is a size 10 now, so I have to adapt the pattern to the correct sizing measurements for 2018.
Personally, I love bright colours and psychedelic patterns, they make the world a better place, be daring, be a Foxy Lady. I am aware that everyone doesn't want to be loud, so I also chose more subtle but still beautiful fabric colours and patterns. These days its called dopamine dressing, I didn't actually realise it was a thing!
With reference to the environment, I am aware that many of the original 60's and 70's fabrics are synthetic and do not believe synthetic fabrics have a place in industry in 2018. However, I am up cycling, and I'm putting something that has already been produced 40 - 50 years ago. If I buy modern fabrics, which is very rare, I buy natural preferably organic, although it is still quite expensive. 

The vintage synthetics though, have stood the test of time, many of them wear well, wash well, and are difficult to crease. The fact that they are so durable means they will last you a lifetime, I would however recommend washing them rarely, so the synthetic fibres aren't going into our oceans.
If you like something you see, but want a slight alteration (eg length) I can adapt this for you at a minimal cost, or should you wish to chose some fabric and a pattern, then you can contact me as I take commissions too.
Here is a selection of some of my favourite up cycles I have made:-

Dusty - 1960s/70s pinafore made from true vintage scraps

Edie - 1960s /1970s pinafore dress from reclaimed tartan

Bridget - 1960s Mini Shift Dress from vintage cloth

Jerkin made from vintage Andrew Foster

Jerkin from true vintage '70s

Step back in time

Hi there, Its Friday again, woah that came round quick, and Spring has arrived too.
Foxy Lady has had a very creative week, I've been inspired by some amazing fabrics I have, and indulged in lots of sewing and creating. I delved into my vintage fabric collection, and made decisions as to what I will be making for my summer range (and next winter). I had a real mess on my cutting room floor today, and if you know me well, you will know those pieces won't be going to waste. 

Apart from, my daughter laughing, good music, bird song and my washing machine (view previous blogs), I love nothing more than to hear the sound of my tailors scissors cutting into some fresh fabric. I also love working with colour, the brighter it is, the happier I am, It's great for my endorphins

Vintage Fabric Remnants

I finished the hotel boats soft furnishings (7 pairs of curtains, 4 cushion covers and 2 bed runners), which meant I could then get started on a project I have been desperate to start on; a range of 1960s and 70's clothing. I have original vintage patterns, and I have the skills to adapt should I need to, and at bed time I have been revisiting some of my old fashion encyclopedias from my degree days 20 plus years ago. I thought I knew about the 60's and 70's fashion, but there is so much more to it than mini skirts, Pop Art, Psychedelia and flares. It's easy to identify outfits from these eras, but for me it's about recognising the transitions, and picking apart the different sub cultures within the fashions. I am immersing myself in these eras, hoping to discover something new (new to me), and as it happens I have already (later)

I am going to Australia next week, so I doubt I will have a blog for next Friday (as that is when I arrive after 20 zillion hours of travelling). Though I am sure I will get many inspirations whilst I am out there, so will do adhoc blogs, or save it till I get back. If it's ridiculously sunny, then I will be focussing on that, relaxing and getting some much needed vitamin D, as well as having a fun time with my family. My brother lives out in Sydney, so me, Mia and my mum are going to visit him and his fiance.

Firstly, I made Mia and I some short skirts, from some white cotton with foxes on it, a remnant I bought from Lizzie Norris. I used an old pair of cut off denim shorts I had made a couple of years ago, as there wasn't quite enough fabric for a skirt that would be respectable enough to wear without tights.

Recycled jeans and fox print cotton skirts

Next I got my mitts on some fabric I had treated myself to a couple of years ago, again, if you know me, you will know I am reluctant to buy new as my ethos is all about recycling, and having as little impact on the environment as I can. However, I was in a fabric shop, and spotted this awesome fabric with a tape measure print on it which had my name on it, a quality cotton print from New Zealand, that are in fact an ethical company. I wanted to make a statement piece, that I will wear when I am doing events in the summer.
It fits like a glove, here is a preview.

Tape measure dress

The next thing I made was a Jerkin.... yes that's right a Jerkin. 

I had a few funny jokes with my mum about this when I was quizzing her on fashions of the sixties as she is my first hand expert. My mum was a Mod, and she made all her own outfits (I'm sure many people did this then if they wanted to keep up with the latest fashions from Carnaby Street). She reminisces to me about how she would buy the fabric from the Tuesday Market, and be going out to a gig in her new outfit on the Friday.
So a jerkin.. Perhaps not a particularly memorable fashion front the 1960's but it was, and I see it as a versatile piece of clothing that I would like to experiment with. Basically a jerkin is a historic garment that had been worn mainly as a protective piece of clothing like an apron.
I bought one of my favourite pieces of vintage cloth recently, but unfortunately it wasn't quite big enough to make a dress, so I decided to try it out as a Jerkin. I wondered how it would work as a reversible item, making it even more versatile, so that's what I have done. I'm really pleased with the outcome, and I'm in two minds whether to keep it or sell it.

2022 update - Kiki is available at Button Boatique on the following link Button Boatique shop

Kiki -60s Jerkin Vintage pattern and cloth

The ying yang buttons are vintage

I still had a couple of hours left today before I had to pick Mia up from school, so apart from finishing tidying and doing my twice weekly floor wash, I could make even more plans, and started a few shift dresses. I am making them size 18 or 16, as larger sizes are in demand for vintage dresses. I recently did some market research, and this was the outcome. So I chose the fabrics, and cut them all out.
Ready to sew when I return from Australia.

Memory Quilts

Hi there
This week I have been busy completing some memory quilts that I have been commissioned to do. When I was initially asked to do this task, I was a bit dubious I must admit. The task being, to make two memory quilts from baby grows. Now, baby grows are made from stretch fabric, so to cut the out into squares and sew the together, I knew I couldn't get a tidy finish. The person that commissioned me, convinced me I could do it, and that they would pay me accordingly, as they knew they were expensive to produce. I didn't really know that memory blankets were a current 'thing', I know that American quilts were all about making a beautiful pattern with your old clothing or blankets to create something new that would last a life time, but didn't realise it was a modern day trend.
When Mia went from a Moses basket to a cot I made her cot bumpers, curtains and a thin quilt that I used making fabrics that I had already made her things from, so I have actually made a memory quilt for my own daughter (2 in fact) about 5 years ago, without realising what it was called.

Mias Memory Quilt 2012

Mias Memory Quilt Cover

The first one is my favourite, I put a lot of time into designing it, wondering what lovely appliques to put on it, I chose Butterflies, Hearts and flowers. Everything used (apart from the backing and wadding) was resources I already had. Soon, I will make this bigger for her. The other one also has fabrics on that have some memories, like scraps from dresses I made her, but I had to compromise with the design as I didn't have enough fabrics, If you look up close you will see that I used the smallest of pieces to make a pattern, as I didn't want to waste a scrap. I don't have the same love for it as I do the first one.

So my dear friend turns up to my boat in August 2017 with a giant Sainsbury's bag packed with baby grows, 

Hmmmm!, how am I going to do this and make them look great? The other quilts I have made are from cotton, which is probably the best fabric to work with when patch working. In the back of my mind I know that I probably need to back the material with interfacing so it doesn't lose its shape, but I check on line to to see if there is an easier way... there isn't. Obviously this will add to the cost, the price of the interfacing, and the extra time it will take, and the electricity to fire up an iron.

It takes 3 hours alone just to cut them up. I hack off the feet (ouch) the tiny hand mittens (ouch), then the arms (ouch) and finally the popper strips. I tell my partner it feels a bit barbaric hacking away at tiny baby clothes. I end up with a bag full of these body parts (in fabric) and pass them on to my friend and colleague Gillian, who may make something crazy out of them, as I do not have the time.
The next job (after figuring out the size of the quilts and how many squares I need to make the patchwork - 140 per quilt - ouch again) is to cut out the squares and half squares in interfacing. The baby grows aren't all big enough to provide the size squares I need, and so as not to waste fabric, I have to put to halves together to make a complete square. This I do in opposing fabrics to make it more interesting. Sometimes , Its a hard to be random, you actually need to plan randomness.
Once I have cut out the interfacing, I iron it to the grows...

2 squares and 2 half squares of interfacing ironed on ready to cut

Once I get all 280 complete squares, I then shuffle them around and design my pattern, as I don't want to similar squares next to each other. So as to individualize them, I also decide that the middle section will have their names on, I use graph paper to design the pattern, then plan out which squares are going to go where. I sew them up into a patchwork, do loads of seam pressing, then I add a top and a bottom of white Egyptian cotton to make them long enough, The aim is to make them similar size to a single quilt so that they (the girls) can use them as adults. I then attach the wadding by sinc stitching (stitching between the seams of the patchwork to create a pattern and the 'quilted' look. It really isn't easy working with wadding on a big scale. After this I add the backing, which adds Egyptian cotton sheeting (we may as well use something decent as these are made as a luxury item), and finish off with some blanket ribbon at the top and the bottom. Voila, done. As I was waiting for the blanket ribbon to arrive, I started on my next project, which I am really excited about. Its a buzz finishing something, but I get my real creative buzz at the start of a project, when I have the concept, but need to figure out what my colour scheme and resources and end product is going to be. I love working organically, and I love going through all of my fabrics and trimmings to see what I am going to use.
To have a single bed size 'memory blanket' made I would have to charge £200 plus postage and packaging, and if you check out the costings from competitors this is a very reasonable price. 

Loris Memory Quilt

Edens Memory Quilt

Upcycled and Uplifted

Hi there, Hope you have had a good week.
I am feeling totally elated today, as our genny (generator) is fixed. Hip hip hooray, the sun has got his hat on, so I am on my second load of washing now, as I can use my washing machine again. It feels great to not have this on our minds anymore, especially as for the next four months, we will be relying on our generator as a source of electricity, as we do not get enough sunlight hours for our solar panels to match our consumption.
I have had a busy week getting back into all my exercise routines, Pilates, Body Balance and Thai Chi, as I haven't been much since my bike accident.
This week, I finished off a few things, so I can make headway on making stock for the Christmas Pop Up shop at Pineapple Palace at the end of the month.
One thing I completed is this cool skirt that made from a pair of jeans from a charity shop. I hope you agree it looks pretty funky. I used some 'reclaimed' trimmings that I had in stock.
When I source fabrics or trimmings, they are either old vintage fabrics, garments that I have upcycled or unwanted remnants.
If I say that I have reclaimed something, it may be that I have an old pair of trousers that are unfit for purpose, so I will salvage as much as I can from them/ I will unpick the zip, take off the buttons and cut off any trims that I like. I will cut the fabric up into usable pieces, even if only big enough for patch working. If I use any of these things again, then they have been 'up cycled'.
This skirt is made of a pair of jeans I got from a charity shop, they looked hardly used, but I wanted to re-invent them, so I deconstructed them into a maxi - skirt. The front zip, which can be used to make a split as long as you like it, was taken from a jacket that was being thrown away by a charity shop. The funky patch work details on the front and back, I made from tiny scraps of fabrics, and the buckle on the back was what I had left over from a belt, I had used the rest of it as a strap for a groovy handbag I mad a few years ago. I never throw anything away, as I will find a use for it some time in the future.

I have called her Janis, after Janis Joplin, I think this skirt is a mixture of hippy, punk and utility wear, completely unique.

2022 update - if you like Janis she is a size 12-14 and available at Button Boatique

Namaste

Upcycled Boho Denim Maxi Skirt

Janice- Maxi Skirt Back view

Peace in your Home - Cushions

Pink Floral Tie dye mediation cushion

Meditation Cushions

Triple Moon meditation cushion

Tie Dye Yin Yang mediation cover

Purple tie dye yin yang meditation cushion

I love doing applique, although some shapes are easier than others, it takes some skill to make sure its symmetrical and precise. Being an activist I love the CND peace sign and have used it a few times on clothing and accessories now. I am also influenced by spiritualism hence the use of the Yin Yang and triple moon symbol.
Everything I make is from vintage or reclaimed fabric remnants, and each product is unique

CND appliqued Port hole Bung

A square mediation cushion - hand embroidered

The orange cushions below are made completely from vintage fabrics, and wouldn't look out of place in a Starsky and Hutch programme.

Vintage orange fabric cushion covers with CND applique

The large cushion covers below are made from large off cuts of denim and acquired and some scraps of a hippy print cotton.

Love and Peace cushion covers

Love Denim 16' cushion cover

 I love these butterfly cushion covers I made so much that I have some on my sofa. Like all of my products, each one is individual. The retro print fabrics are so vibrant and funky, I get lost in them. The other main fabrics are corduroy, a hard wearing fabric, which reminds me of the 70s. With a zip fastening they are easily removable to wash.

I made a patchwork and applique bed spread, with matching pillow cases and bungs. The sentiment of home is where 'Foxy Lady Is', is very apt when your home moves

Finally, I made this Yin Yang cushion for my cousins 50th birthday. I used true vintage fabric from that era, I I chose to do Yin and Yang apart from the fact I love the symbol, which represents balance, if you look at it a certain way it looks like 69, which is the year she was born

Girls Summer Dresses - from Vintage scraps

I don't like to waste anything, so apart from patchworking and applique, the best thing to do with small pieces of fabric is make childrenswear. Throughout the years I have made my daughter clothing, and sold some to. Some of the fabrics are so pretty, the photos don't do them justice.

I just want to share with you, that any scrap of fabric can be made into something new and wonderful.

Scraps make cash

Look what can be done with small bits of remnants. I like to have a zero waste policy, I actually enjoy being given limited resources, I feel it stretches my imagination, to me that's the essence of being creative. I would have been useful during the war - Make Do and Mend!!

Head bands and head scarves made from scraps

Even the smallest of pieces get used

Storage bags made from vintage remnants

Vintage remnants patchworked together