MAILBOX SURPRISE . PETIT PAN BUTTONS AND PIPING

A série Mailbox Surprise chegou ao fim… Mas eu ainda tenho algo para mostrar.

 

Mailbox Surprise Series has come to an end... But I still have something to show you.

Além do tecido que usei para fazer estas blusas, a Marte enviou-me mais uma serie de coisas tão giras que não podiam ficar guardadas na gaveta.
Com o vivo e os botões forrados com o mesmo tecido fiz duas saias para as miúdas. Duas saias que, tenho a certeza, vão ser usadas de sol a sol durante todo o verão. Sabem porquê? Porque ao vivo e aos botões da Marte, juntei um dos meus tecidos preferidos: crepe de algodão com riscas, e um molde incrível: Ayashe Skirt da Figgy’s.

Besides the lovely fabric I used to make these shirts, Marte has also sent me some neat notions I could not leave forgotten in my very messy sewing supplies box.
So, with the piping and matching fabric covered buttons I made couple of skirts for Teresa and Ines. Two lovely skirts that I'm sure will be worn from sunrise to sunset throughout next summer. You know why? Because, to the piping and buttons, I added one of my favorite fabrics - striped seersucker - and an incredible pattern - Figgy’s Ayashe Skirt.

A saia da Inês foi feita primeiro e segui o molde à risca. Mais precisamente, quase à risca... Como a saia tem elástico ajustável na cintura, os botões da frente são falsos (detesto fazer casas de botões!) mas ficam bem na mesma, não ficam?

I made Ines skirt first and followed the pattern to the letter. More precisely, almost to the letter... As the skirt has adjustable elastic waistband, my skirt’s front buttons are fake (I hate making buttonholes!) This way the skirt is really easy to put on and looks great too!

Para a saia da Teresa já não tinha nem botões nem vivo suficiente para a carcela, resolvi fazer uma versão batoteira do molde original! Omiti a carcela, substituindo-a por um macho central, e usei o vivo e os botões nos bolsos. Ficou mais simples e se calhar vou ter que desencantar uma forma de lhe juntar um cinto, mas acho que não está nada mal.

For Teresa’s skirt I didn’t have enough buttons or piping to make the placket, so I’ve cheated a bit more! I omitted the placket, replacing it with a central inverted box pleat, and used the piping and buttons I had left for the pockets. The final result is a very simple and wearable skirt I am in love with. I think I will only have to find a way to add a belt to make it look perfect...

Estou fan incondicional dos tecidos e retrosarias da loja belga Petit Pan! (Estaria com toda a certeza arruinada de vivesse lá perto! Mas a loja on-line tem sido uma tentação...) Óptima qualidade com cores e padrões incríveis que não se encontram facilmente. Passem pela loja online e vejam com os vossos próprios olhos!

 A Ayashe Skirt é a minha segunda experiência Figgy’s – a primeira foi uma versão reversível do famoso SunkyDress – e não poderia estar mais contente com este molde. Acho que o vou repetir muitas e muitas vezes! Adoro o estilo da Figgy’s, mais radical e prá-frente (o “cool” e “edgy” do último post, lembram-se?) e parece-me que, à medida que as miúdas vão crescendo, os seus moldes vão ser um sucesso cá em casa.

Obrigada a todas as participantes e à minha amiga Marte que a organizou comigo! Petit Pan fabric and notions made these skirts look very special. This Belgian shop has great quality products, with incredible colors and patterns and I’m sure I would be ruined if I lived nearby! (On day I will lose myself on their on-line shop...)Check out their online shop and see with your own eyes!

Ayashe Skirt is my second experience with Figgy 's patterns – I’ve made a reversible version of the famous Sunky Dress last winter - and I could not be happier with it. I think I will sew lots of Ayashe skirts this summer... I love Figgy’s cool and edgy style! Head over their shop and delight yourself with their great patterns!

Thank you so much Marte for putting together this series with me!

And a big thank you to all the participants! You all have made a wonderfull job!

MAILBOX SURPRISE . BEHIND THE HEDGEROW

É sexta feira, ou seja, dia de Mailbox Surprise!
Hoje a Laura, do blog Behind The Hedgerow, está de visita à Marte. Aqui fica uma fotografia do avental de jardinagem que ela fez só para abrir o apetite. Vejam mais fotografias e todas a historia por trás das maçãs aqui.

I

It's Friday again and that means Marte and I have another great Mailbox Surprise guest post on our blogs! 
Today the great blogger and seamstress Laura, from Behind The Hedgerow, is visiting Compagnie M. with this lovely Gardening apron. Check out all photos and the story behind the apples here!
And don't forget to take a look at Laura's creations - she sews for super stylish garments for her and all her family - in her blog...

MAILBOX SURPRISE . SAIDOS DA CONCHA

Creio que, pelo menos em Portugal, a Constança e o se blog Saidos da Concha dispensam apresentações... Estou contentissima por a ter (e ao Rodrigo também) de visita ao meu blog!

 

In Portugal, Constança and her blog Saidos da Concha, need no introduction. But it is the first time she is taking part of a sewing series so you may not know her and her lovely son Rodrigo...

Check out this tunic she made with Trine's fabric and then head over to Saidos da Concha and delight yourself with Constança's incredible projects.

 

Hello everyone! I'm really excited to be a part of Mailbox Surprise, not only because sending and receiving fabrics all over the world is a fantastic idea, but also because it's my first sewing series ever!

In December I got a very generous package from Trine with a metre of navy fabric, a metre of blue stripey fabric and a couple of wooden buttons. The fabrics are really soft and lightweight and I thought they were the perfect choice for a little boy (I had told my Mailbox Surprise partner that I was quite conservative in terms of children's clothes... so I wasn't expecting any crazy prints). So thank you again for being so thoughtful, Trine!

I haven't used up the stripey fabric yet (still searching for the perfect pattern) but as soon as I saw the navy material I thought: sailor top! I love traditional sailor suits but I think they can be a bit too much for a modern boy... a top is quite enough, especially when worn with a pair of jeans jeans (see? I'm not that conservative!). So I went hunting for a suitable pattern — and I found one in the book Pretty Little Things to Make.

Now, this book is A5 format size and you have to enlarge the patterns at a copy shop... that was my first adventure. Then luckily I made a quick muslin (which I never do) and realised that I needed the cut a size 5 for my son who's just turned 2. Uhm... And to make matters worse, the instructions on how to sew the top are sparse, to say the least, and I found attaching the collar extremely tricky, especially because the pattern doesn't include a facing. Thankfully the classic Reader's Digest The Complete Guide to Sewing came to my rescue and I ended up using some bias tape to finish it off.

The sailor top turned out OK even though I find the V neck too deep (but that's the only way it'll go over Rodrigo's head). He might be wearing it over a white t-shirt in the future...

Anyway, I learned a lot and now Rodrigo's got a sailor top of his own. Thanks again to Trine, Marta and Marte for making it possible!



MAILBOX SURPRISE . JAPANESE SEWING BOOKS

Estou mais uma vez a publicar tardissimo o meu Mailbox Surprise post...
Desde sexta-feira que podem ver no blog da Marte, Compagnie M., a roupa que a Yi Farn fez para a sua filha com os tecidos que a Heidi lhe enviou. Passem por lá que vale a pena!

Once again, I am so late publishing my Mailbox Surprise post... Sorry!
Since last Friday you can see, on Compagnie M. blog, the beautiful clothes Yi Fran made with the fabric and notions Heidi has send her. blog. As an appetizer, I will share with you some photos of this lovely frill blouse. Check out the skirt here!

 

E se, como eu, gostam de livros de costura japoneses, vejam também o blog da Yi Farn. Chama-se precisamente Japanese Sewing Books e tem todas as novidades editoriais, imensas dicas para entender as instruções em japonês e uma série de traduções para ingles de modelos específicos.

And if, like me, you like Japanese sewing books, head over Yi Farn blog. Japanese Sewing Books - great simple blog name, isn't it? - has news about all Japanese sewing books releases, plus great tips to understand their instructions and several translations of specific projects.

MAILBOX SURPRISE . S IS FOR SEWING

Hoje a convidada da série Mailbox Surprise é portuguesa! O seu blog, S is for Sewing, é conhecido pelas roupas impecáveis que faz para a sua filha. Os tecidos que usa são escolhidos a dedo (não consigo deixar de ter inveja da sua colecção de tecidos Liberty...) e os moldes que escolhe são práticos, simples e clássicos. 
Fico sempre impressionada com o aspecto professional da suas roupas! Aqui fica mais uma!

Today's Mailbox Surprise guest is my friend and compatriot Ana Sofia! Her blog, S is for Sewing, is widely known for the impeccable and stylish clothes she makes for her daughter. Ana Sofia always uses gorgeously chick fabrics (I always get a bit jealous of her Liberty fabric collection...) and simple, classical and practical patterns (once again, I wish I had - almost - all Oliver and S patterns, as Ana Sofia does...).
I'm always so impressed with the professional look of her creations... Check out this one:

One of the best things of sewing and having a blog are ... Sewing Series :)
There are quite a few amazing Sewing Series going on and (sometimes) I get lucky and find myself involved.
Back in 2013 (I know, seems so far away now ...), Marta and Marte invited me for the Mailbox Surprise (more here) and soon afterwards I received the best package (ever) from Laura (love, love everything in it and the pincushion is already my new best friend. I don't know how I managed so long without one).
The challenge, of course, was to sew something from the fabric (gorgeous and utterly perfect Liberty knit) I got from Laura. Seriously, that's the sort of challenge everyone loves, right?
To be honest, the sewing part was the easiest one. I used the Boat Neck Dress pattern from the Wee Muses Sewing Pattern Collection (tested and approved here) and followed the tips provided by Laura(huge, thank you!).

The doll dress was self-drafted but I could easily have duplicated the Boat Neck Dress pattern in a smaller size (It would have been too cute, but I just missed the opportunity).

The challenge was, as usual, convincing my girl to model a summer dress in the winter (while she was still recovering from a recent flu).
It took us several days to get the final pictures - and these were only possible after my older boy suggested a "music lesson" (bribery with candies and nail polish are not working anymore).

 

MAILBOX SURPRISE . ELEGANCE AND ELEPHANTS

Esta semana na Série Mailbox Surprise a canadiana Heidi, do blog Elegance and Elephants, está de visita à minha amiga Marte e seu blog Compagnie M., com duas roupas que fez para a sua filha com tecido português que lhe foi enviado pela Ana Sofia do blog S is for Sewing.

Aqui fica um vestido de flores amoroso.

A outra roupa foi feita - imaginem! - com um tecido baseado nos antigos lenços dos namorados. Podem vê-la aqui!

This week at Mailbox Surprise Series the lovely Canadian blogger Heidi, from Elegance and Elephants, is visiting my friend Marte and her Belgian blog, Compagnie M., with two fantastic creations made with Portuguese fabric sent by Ana Sofia from S is for Sewing. 

Here is one of the outfits (isn't it gorgeous?). 

Check the other one - made with a very special fabric - here!

MAILBOX SURPRISE . STITCHED TOGETHER

É sexta feira e por isso hoje tenho mail um post da série Mailbox Surprise para partilhar.
Conheci o blog da Rachel, Stitched Together, quando estava a organizar a série com a Marte e fiquei imediatamente fã das roupas que faz para os seus filhos. São simples, práticas mas divertidas.
Aqui fica o vestido que a Rachel fez para a sua filha adoptiva Tarikua.

Today I have a great friend visiting DoGuincho!
I didn't know Stitched Together before Mailbox Surprise but, as Marte told me to check out Rachel's blog, I got immediately hooked. I love her simple but special creations, her photos and they way she speaks about her life in Texas with her fun family.
Today Rachel is sharing with us a lovely dress she made for her daughter Tarikua.


I'm Rachel from Stitched Together.   I'm so happy to be here today with my creation for the Mailbox Surprise Series.  I feel like I won the fabric lottery having An from StraightGrain as my 'sender'.  She sent me three yards of gorgeous and unique Belgian fabrics.  I can't wait to make something in each of them!

I decided to start with the fabric with the turquoise dots, which I felt paired well with the Geranium dress pattern.

An sent me bias binding in one of my very favorite colors - mustard.  I ironed it flat and then turned it into piping by inserting some cording and sewing it closed.

 

 

I finished it with some simple white buttons on the back.

And there you have it - one geranium dress in Belgian fabric with mustard piping!

Thanks so much for having me, Marta and Marte.  And thank you, An, for the gorgeous fabric. Anytime my Tarikua wears this dress, I will undoubtedly think of you!

MAILBOX SURPRISE . SEW PONY

Esta semana a Suz, do blog australiano Sew Pony, está de visita à Marte com dois vestidos com os tecidos que a Rachel lhe enviou. Passem pelo blog Compagnie M. para os verem!
E desculpem o atraso no post de hoje...

 

I am a little bit late posting my Mailbox Surprise post... Sorry!
This week Suz, from the wonderful Australian blog Sew Pony, is visiting Marte with two wonderful dresses made with the fabric she received from Rachel! Check them out here!

MAILBOX SURPRISE . GROOVYBABY... AND MAMA

Hoje é dia de Mailbox Surprise!
Como prometido na semana passada, a Trine (e a sua filha Wilma) vieram fazer-me uma visita!
E trouxe consigo não uma mas três criações cheias de estilo. Mas outra coisa não seria de esperar da criadora de Groovy baby... and mama!

It's Mail Surprise day!
As promised, Trine and her adorable daughter Wilma are visiting DoGuincho today!
And they brought from Denmark not one but three stylish creations. I am as impressed as I always am when I visit Groovy baby... and mama and delight myself with the funky clothes Trine makes for her family!

Thank you so much for inviting me, Marte and Marta.

And let me start by saying - I won!!! As in, I won the best mailbox friend - ever. Thank you so much for the gorgeous fabric and ditto zippers, Yifarn - spot on! I simply love it.

Without further ado I present to you my creations - yup, plural - 'cause I managed to squeeze 3 items from this fabric.

A skirt for yours truly, a Louisa Dress for Wilma and a makeup pouch for me Luna. 3 happy girls with one fabric!

It was a puzzle but I succeeded in matching up the fabric for Wilma's dress. Hopefully you agree when I say that you can't see the center seam front on the pocket part? If you can just lie to humor me!

The dark blue twill for the rest of the dress was found in my stash! (I know it looks black - but it is a dark navy blue color - as is my sweatshirt)

My skirt is just a simple low waist version with side zipper.

If you study the photos of the pouch you can see the gorgeous zippers Yifarn send me along with the fabric. I've used the other one for Wilma's dress.

Thank you so much all of you great, creative women - it's been a pleasure!

MAILBOX SURPRISE . STRAIGHTGRAIN

Tenho a certeza que já conhecem o blog SraightGrain e as lindíssimas criações da belga An.
O vestido que ela fez para a série Mailbox Surprise está hoje de visita ao blog Compagnie M. Passem por lá porque vale mesmo a pena!
Para a semana a dinamarquesa Trine, do blog Groovy baby... and mama, vai estar por aqui...

I’m sure you already know StraighGrain and An’s gorgeous creations and patterns.For Mailbox Surprise Series she made this lovely dress for her daughter with a piece of fabric that came from the other side of the Atlantic… Check out at Compagnie M. all the details!
Next week I will have the pleasure of having Trine, from Groovy baby... and mama, her on my blog!

 

MAILBOX SURPRISE . DOGUINCHO CREATION WITH COMPAGNIE M.’S FABRIC

Passaram uns meses desde o início da serie Mailbox Surprise e vamos finalmente começar a ver o resultado da troca de tecidos. Acho que vai ser divertido e vão aparecer por aí crianças muito bem vestidas…

I’m so excited today! It has been a few months since the beginning of Mailbox Surprise series and we finally get to see the result of our fabric swap. I think this will be fun and lots of very well dressed kids will pop up around here…

Adorei o tecido que a Marte me enviou por isso resolvi fazer algo que, tenho a certeza, vai ser usado muitas e muitas vezes. Tinha que ser uma peça de roupa simples e igual para as minhas duas filhas (nos fins de semana gosto de as vestir “de manas” e já percebi que a roupa que as duas têm igual é muito mais usada)

Como o tecido tinha 1.50m de largo era suficiente para fazer duas camisas de manga curta e, com sorte, ainda me sobraria algum para um pormenor noutro projecto. (Sobrou!)

Aproveitei o caderno que vinha a acompanhar o tecido para começar a esquiçar a minha ideia. Depois medi as miúdas, peguei no papel vegetal e nos meus moldes tipo e pus mãos à obra para desenhar o molde final.

As I loved the fabric Marte sent me, I had to sew something that would be worn again and again. It had to be a simple and practical piece of clothing and it had to be alike for my two daughters (on weekends I like to dress them as "little sisters" and I have already realized similar clothes get a lot more use.)With 1 meter of 1.50m wide fabric I had just enough material to make two short-sleeved shirts. P.S. - Actually I got lucky and had a bit left over after finishing the shirts. Hurray!
I picked my new notebook (also send by my friend Marte) and sketched my idea. Then, after measuring my daughters, with the help of my sample patterns, I drafted the final patterns (size 6 for Teresa and 4 for Ines.)

Usei o tecido Belga em toda a camisa mas, para não o desperdiçar, forrei-a com um pouco de tecido liso cor-de-laranja que tinha cá em casa. Como não encontrei vivo com a cor que queria acabei por faze-lo eu mesma com cordão e fita de viés. Pensei que fosse mais difícil mas é realmente bastante fácil.

The Belgian fabric is the shirts’ main fabric but, as I didn´t want to waste it, the linen is made out of plain orange fabric from my stash.  My local shop didn’t have piping in the right color for these shirts so I made it myself with bias tape and cord. You know what? It was a lot easier to make than I thought.  

 

As camisas são simplicíssimas e práticas. As miúdas gostaram imenso delas (mais pelo colorido do tecido, claro!) e eu também. Ficam impecáveis com jeans e podem ser usadas no inverno com uma camisola gola alta ou no verão sem nada por baixo.

Espero que tenham gostado! Para a semana passem por cá (ou pelo blog Compagnie M.) e vejam a criação da An do blog Straight Grain. Vai valer a pena!

The shirts are super simple and wearable. Just what I wanted! My girls liked them a lot (more for the colorful fabric, of course) and I think they look adorable on them. During winter time I know I will pair their new Belgian shirts with basic pink turtlenecks and jeans and for summer time they can wear these shirts by themselves with lighter pants or skirts.
I hope you liked my creation! Don’t forget to stop by next week (or head over Compagnie M.) and check out An’s creation. She blogs at Straight Grain and is incredibly talented!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Desculpem a falta de movimento do blog nas últimas semanas mas, com as miúdas em casa, o Natal e uns dias na Costa Vicentina para a passagem do ano, só hoje consegui ter cabeça para escrever...
Mas os próximos dois meses vão ser recheados de costuras! Vou visitar vários blogs e outras tantas bloggers irão passar por aqui.

Sorry for the lack of movement on my blog in recent weeks, but with the girls at home, Christmas and a few days in the southwest cost of Portugal, it was hard to find piece of mind to write...
But don't worry as the next couple of mouths will be full! I will be visiting several blogs and will also have lots of exciting bloggers here at DoGuincho.


Já no dia 14 de Janeiro vou estar no blog Elegance & Elephants com um projecto para a série Roots inspirado nos trajes minhotos. Este é um projecto muito especial porque os meus trajes de criança foram feitos pela minha avó e são absolutamente incríveis!
Além das criações das bloggers convidadas, a Heidi organizou também um sewalong com prémios fantásticos por isso passem pelo seu blog e participem!

On January 14 I will be at Elegance & Elephants with a project for Heidi's new series: Roots. My inspiration will be the northern Portugal traditional costumes. This will be a very special project as my original childhood costume was sewn by my grandmother and is absolutely gorgeous!
Stay tuned as this series has sew along with great prizes!

Ainda em Janeiro, no dia 21, vou apresentar no blog Imagine Gnats a minha versão do Bess Top. Vai a primeira vez que vou costurar para mim! Vamos lá ver como fica... Mas vai ser divertido!
Passem entretanto pela loja da Rachel porque este mês todas as suas patterns estão com 20% de desconto. Aproveitem!

Also in January I will be part of Imagine Gnats pattern tour. But I will not be sewing for Teresa and Ines. Actually I will be sewing a Bess Top for me! It will be the first time I will be sewing a garment for a grow up so I am really excited. And I love Rachel's Bess Top! Check it out on January 21.
Meanwhile head over Imagine Gnats blog and shop as all patterns are 20% off until the end of the month!

Logo no início de Fevereiro, no dia 3, vou visitar o blog As It Seams. A série chama-se Take One Dress... e começou hoje! Adorei a criação da Natalie e gostei ainda mais do vestido que ela escolheu para ser a minha inspiração.
Mal posso esperar para começar a costurar!

At the beginning of February I will be visiting Victoria and her blog As It Seams. Her new series, Take One Dress..., started today with Natalie's wonderful creation. Mine will be ready by February 3 and will be inspired by a lovely vintage dress Natalie used to wear as a child.
I can't wait to start sewing!

Por fim, no dia 10 de Fevereiro vou apresentar um projecto baseado na letra T, de Teresa, no blog No Big Dill. A série,Sew All 26, já começou no ano passado e já participei no sewalong da letra I, de Ines, com esta saia tingida.

Last but not least, on February 10 I will be at No Big Dill sharing a project inspired by the letter T (for Teresa). Sew All 26 series has already started so do check out all the wonderful creations that have been posted so far. This series has also a sew along and I've already made this skirt for Ines inspired by the letter I.

Mas também vou ter muitas convidadas a passarem por aqui entre o dia 24 de Janeiro e 28 de Março... A série chama-se Mailbox Surprise e estou a organiza-la com a minha amiga Marte do blog Compagnie M. Passem pelos nossos blogs todas as sextas e vejam as criações de 10 fantásticas bloggers de todo o mundo!

But what about DoGuincho? Well, between January 24 and march 28, 10 wonderful bloggers will stop by for Mailbox Surprise series. I am putting together this series with my good friend Marte from Compagnie M. and I am really excited about it. So don't forget to check out our blogs every Friday and be delighted with some wonderful creations from all over the world.

Bom, agora tenho que ir costurar (e fotografar e escrever...) para ter tudo pronto a tempo!
Bom ano novo!

Well, now I have to start sewing (and photographing and writing...)! I have a lot to do!
Happy New Year!