December Catch Up

 Hello everyone I hope you are doing well, it has been a while.  I have had little motivation to post here mainly because as I have said before there seems to be very little in the way of traffic these days and I know I had comments stating that yes blogs are still read these days but the stats show otherwise. It is another on my list of things to do and I suppose I need to get back into the mind of it being something for me to document on and stop wondering about if these is an audience?  Of course it is not fpr profit so it makes very little difference but I suppose it is that feeling that we have, that what we are doing has some use, a purpose and we all want that don't we. 

So December is quite for us and not the chaotic rush it is for some families, we are having my mum for Christmas day  and my older son also joins me, my husband and youngest son.  This did used to be a bigger get togther but now my dad has passed away and mother in law it has shrunk somewhat. 

We don't do any parties, or mad Christmas shopping.  I have to admit to missing the children in school around Chritsmas time,  when I worked in School there was always so much going on and the excitement of the little ones was quite contagious.  I do not miss some of the staff getting all bent out of shape thinking that the nativity play was a west end show and that every child should be perfect however!  

We are going to see the film Napolean at the cinema, that is our one night out and other than that I will be reading , sewing and walking the dogs.  That is my kind of holiday.  

Here are a few of my recent makes to catch you up on the sewing side of things...

This sweatshirt was a Minerva brand ambassador make and I used a McCall's  8070 pattern, john Louden fur back sweatshirting.  I recycled the cord from my stash of things taken from old clothes so that was a win. It is very warm and cosy so it has been worn lots already.

I also made a hoody for my husband in grey...

This particular one is a Simplicity pattern 9240 again this is getting lots of wear I feel like I am finally making some things are in constant rotation as I love all the pretty dresses but they don not get worn as much do they,

These jeans are to back to minerva but I couldn't help sharing them, I will make another for me.  There has been quite a few makes for minerva that I can't share but they will be coming up at some ppoint on their channel or minerva at youtube.

Next was the Davenport dress that I made as a blouse, I extended the bodice pieces and also left off the frill detail this time.  I am very happy with this and love the fabric, it is also available in black which is also very cute.

That is just a few makes as I said I can't share all mainly because they are for kits which are not out yet. 

In reading I have had a couple of good reads, The Incendiaries by R. D. Kwon,  The Hemlock Cure by Joanne Burn and most recently Kindred by Octavia E, Butler now this one is quite harrowing but a really good story and also make me think that the Time Travellers Wife idea may have come from this.  They do always say there are no new stories just old ideas rewritten, who knows.

Well I hope you have a wonderful Christmas whatever you are up to, or break if you don't celebrate it and I will be back with you in the new year. I am going to think of a challenge for myself to get back my blogging mojo.  Take care. 

October...ing

 Hello everyone I thought I would share a few things that I have been up to this month, and today we change the clocks here in the UK so it definitely feels a little different already. 

Sew...ing So one of my recent makes this month was a  pair of trousers from burda September, they were a success and I will make them again. The fabric I used was one of the the ones I was given a while ago after a clear out.  It is a linen blend I think and I just thought I would try the pattern first of all but I have actually worn these a few times already.  My only issue with this type of fabric is the slubs in it, it always looks to me as being worn or damaged already and i know a lot of people love that linen look but this is an issue with it I feel, you don't want your clothes looking snagged immediatley do you? Or am I just being fussy? Well anyway I love the trousers, the pockets and fit are really good.  I did choose to make these all in one colour but in the magazine the pattern is designed for a two tone effect on the bottom of the leg.

I do have  a sew along video on youtube if anyone would like a peek and you can find it here

Another make was a bag I made for my friend as a gift, she wanted something a bit bigger for her holiday and she had certain colours in mind so I made this for her birthday.  It has a zip closure and an adjustable strap so she can wear it across her body (with two little ones she needs her hands free).

I have made some other things of course for work but my own sewing has taken a back seat just recently.

Watch...ing the ballet 'Giselle' at Buxton Opera house last Sunday, we really enjoyed that and it is a little reminder to get out and do something different every once in a while.  I haven't been to see a ballet for a while now as the theatre we usually go to seems to have stopped putting it on (The Penistone Paramount) they used to be quite reasonable.  This particular show was more expensive but as it not something we do often we justified it with an upcoming celebration.  There were a lot of people in Buxton but then it was the first weekend of the School holidays. 

Eat...ing or trying to eat a bit more variety especially in the morning.  I have been having a bit of a relapse with my stomach so trying all I can to settle it down. Last week I documented a different breakfast each day mainly as a reminder to myself to change things up and not just eat porridge every day.  I did find though that the gluten free muselie by deliciously Ella is a trigger so I won't be eating that anymore plus it is very expensive. I am glad it was on offer when I bought it or I would have been very annoyed!

So my selection if anyone is looking for ideas was. Gf branflakes with fruit and flax seeds, the muselie (that i will swap for soemthing else!) gram flour vegan pancakes with blueberries, scrambled tofu and tomatoes, soya yogurt, fruit and nuts,  gram flour wrap, vegan sausage, salad and advocado and porridge with apple and almonds. 

Read...ing Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue, I enjoyed this,  it is historical female centred and had relationship at it's core but i would say I found it very graphic.  I don't know why every book I pick up recently has to be like that but there you go! Well written and super characters but a bit much in places. 

Then 'Pine' by Francine Toon this was very atmospheric  for this time of year and another good story, a great one to pick up for the cold dark months or maybe halloween if you are into that kind of thing.  Not very scary just spooky.  After that I read 'Loved Clothes Last' by Orsola de Castro, I loved this book it gives you so much to think about.  As someone who makes clothes I know the hours that this entails so seeing clothes so very dirt cheap in shops has always made me feel that clearly people are being exploited for this to be so.  Then of course the sheer waste as all the fashions change over each season, well worth a read for anyone.  The Witches of Vardo was my next read, another historical fiction about a very real topic and so very sad, I don't think this topic comes up enough in regards to needless loss of life and also how beliefs can be twisted to cause harm or even death to others.  My Current read is Babel by R.F Kuang and I am loving this! Fantasy mixed up with real language and historical facts, the issues of race and colonialism there is just so much going on, a very clever book indeed.

Look...ing at the coming month and wondering what positive habit I can add.  I will get back to you on this one as I feel it is always good to start something new.

Have a lovely week. Back soon. 

October Plans

 Hello everyone I hope you are all well. This past weekend I attended the Minerva Pop up shop in Manchester and was there all day. If you were there too you may have spoken with me, I met lots of lovely people who love sewing and it was such a nice atmosphere. Now that it is all over I may keep adding in a few of the recent makes I did for it as I was uncertain about sharing before the event.  I also have a few things to make for myself now that the rush is over. 

Unfortunately one of the things i had planned I put in my order for on Sunday then today recieved a message that there wasn't enough fabric left so I have had to cancel the whole order as it contained matching thread, buttons zip etc which were no good without the fabric, also sadly it cannot be reordered.  It was a lovely dusky pink twill for some cargo trousers, oh well I will have to choose another shade.

I have just finished reading Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue, the story was very engaging and she writes very well but I have to say a bit vivid in places! I am always interested in books that are based on real life people or historic events. As we are in the Autumn now I feel the need for some spooky reading so I will choose later which book to start next.

This week is a slightly slower pace as I am waiting on some work, I do however have a bag to make for my friend which is almost complete.  I have been working on it all morning while listening to a podcast, now I can't normally do that when I am filming.

October has a few plans ahead, we don't normally have very much going on but this month we have a birthday, an anniversary, a meal out with family, a meet up with friends and a trip to the ballet at Buxton planned.  That is a very busy month for me, I think I am very much a close to home person and I have accepted that is ok as we are not all the same.

Here are a few recent makes, some of these are actually for me and a couple were event pieces at the bottom.  First up is the croissant bag that I spoke of in a recent post, I opted to make it in a leftover pieces of cotton sateen, I backed it in linen, lined it in lining fabric and also did a youtube for it here is the link I haven't used it yet but as we are out  for a meal soon I will use it then.

So the bag was from Burda September as was this next make, and this is a zip through top also in leftover fabric but this time a vsicose jersey.  I am making the most of all these bits I have left. 

A very easy top that I have worn twice already as it is so comfy, I had to do the sleeves in two sections as in scrap busting there wasn't enough fabric to cut them all in on piece.

For the event I made two more coats recently, the named Isla trench coat...

This was a very time hungry make, I had thought I may make one for me but realistally I am thinking when would I wear this, unless I modify and make it a short version so perhaps I will do that.

Then I made the kelly anorak...

I had to save a frame from a video here as I can't find my still images of it, my son took a fancy to this as I think it is quite neutral. 

So that is all for now as the dogs need walking, enjoy your sewing whatever you are making this week and I'll be back soon. Take care.