Macmillan Night In...

My sister is hosting a 'Macmillan Night In' party in a few weeks...her Theme: 70's Disco

As she's arranging for a 'glitterball' and all sorts of other 70's Disco themed 'things' I thought I'd throw myself wholeheartedly into things and decided to make my own '70's' inspired party outfit - none of your cheap n tacky fancy dress online purchases for me...oh no... my sketchy memory of the 1970's meant home-sewn party dresses...
So, I dug out an old Prima magazine 'tunic' pattern that I've made before (nice and simple, 2 darts...thats it!) and bought so nice and shiny black and shiny cream polyester and some black/cream chiffon....

Ruffles are now done (once I worked it out in my head it was nice and easy to do...bring back 70's ruffles, thats what I say!!! ;-D)  and I've made a little tie belt - that I suspect will end up as a head band instead.

I have some very tacky 'wet look' black leggings (purchased for a night out to The Rocky Horror Picture Show last year!) that I also want to put some matching ruffles on, but I'm having some doubts about what will be the best way to attach them...I've got a weekend to figure it out in my head...this is where my lack of sewing/dressmaking knowledge is really highlighted!

and as the weather had been so nice....

I thought I'd make a selection of new tops....

I have a pattern I used last year - and unusually for me - I actually like the finished result, so having 1 metre of nice pretty light cotton I ran up a new little summer top...and I love this one just as much as I loved the first.

little summer top.

and inspired by my success (and so I had something new to wear should the weather change) I made the same top yet again - but this time with sleeves...  Sleeves can be so fiddly to 'ease' but this was a nice 2-way stretch jersey fabric.

This one is my current favourite....but thats only because the weather took a turn, like it does in April :-)

well....the bake off happened....

A few weeks ago I held a little mini Great British Bake off with some friends as a little excuse for our 'gang' to get together for some 'fun' things to do (we have a friend battling the big C and are trying to do fun yet 'gentle' things with her).

I ended up with 10 people in the house (4 bakers and 6 testers!!) ... it was somewhat chaotic, but good fun...especially as 2 of the bakers were boys (in their 30's) who have never baked before - so the bake off rules were quite simple: a 3 egg Victoria Sponge :-)

The kitchen got totally trashed and well all felt a little 'caked out' when we finished testing the results but all in all a lovely way to spend time with great friends...and thats all that counts.  Cherish the moments - you don't know how long they'll last and if you'll get the chance again.

Glad of my resulting Vicky sponge, but even more glad of the little half aprons I made for the weekends fun!!!

my raspberry n cream Vicky Sponge

half apron no.1 (drafted my own pattern - using the local free newspaper - thrift all the way!!!)

half apron no. 2, with an additional little pocket...trust me, the balanced spots on the pocket was a very happy fluke....I kinda forgot all about 'pattern matching'!!