Featured — I Want To Be A Turtle

July 2016: #Vintagepledge Guest blogger - A Stitching Odyssey

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October 2016: Cut Out + Keep Sewing Superstar

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one for sorrow, two for joy - Obscurae Magazine Volume 6 Issue 1

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I Want To Be A Turtle

A creative lifestyle blog which mainly focuses on my personal sewing, drawing and thread painting projects.

Claire

Self taught sewist, fabric hoarder and handmade wardrobe builder. Say hello:

iwanttobeaturtle@gmail.com

Over on Instagram

Sneaking in some sewing time before another day of garden maintenance. Excited to finally use this Art Gallery Fabrics voile that has been in my stash for too long.

I’ve not been spending as much time as I would like with this painted lady butterfly due to work and life. Hoping to make more progress this weekend in between the garden, sewing and family.

Select highlights of a lovely few days in Edinburgh. Adam and I took a much needed break and of course spent it walking miles and miles. I get to stay on for a couple of days for a work conference but really I’d rather be out and about exploring more.

Sunday morning sewing to finish up another dog coat for my mum’s Yorkshire Terrier. Definitely not suitable for a muddy walks.

Organised mess. That’s how I used to describe parts of my environment - at home and work. My new inability to work and live with “organised mess” has taken me by surprise. It started as I was working through old emotions. It’s almost as if my emotional “mess” was playing out in my physical world.
My sewing and craft items need some attention. I’m starting with winding embroidery threads to avoid the big knots that skeins are prone to. The cards are recycled leftover comic book boards which I no longer use for folding and storing fabric.

I made a pair of seasonally inappropriate pyjamas from a cut of Liberty lawn that was languishing in my stash. Reasons why are on the blog. Anyone else face so many factors at night?

There was a time when sewing clothes for myself was one of the most exciting ways I could spend my time.
I lost that feeling last year as I peeled back layer after layer of my experiences and therefore my identity. Choosing a pattern, a piece of fabric, became too much - how could I possibly know if I was making the right choice for present Claire when I didn’t really know she was.
That excited feeling is slowly creeping back in and I’m making tentative plans to sew for myself. One project at a time, pausing to consider if the pattern and fabric fits me. Next up is the Kaste dress, assuming I can find the fabric. I must be excited to attempt to trace these pieces!

When your stash delivers the perfect fabric for a project you’re just itching to make right now

Saturday evening. Need I say more?
Spirit of York Hawthorn Berry gin infused with a touch of maple and tonic.

Sometimes you create something that you utterly adore. It’s been a while since I made for myself and what better way to begin again than using a fabric you brought back from your honeymoon and have been dreaming about for months. Fresh off the machine on Thursday morning, this Ginger skirt has already been worn twice. Full details of this slightly unusual cotton are on the blog.