2021 A Few Makes

 We are nearly there, the end of the year and I just put togther these nine earlier for instagram as everyone seems to be posting that.  It was quite tricky as I have made so much this year but included here are a few that are worn a lot for example the hoodies, also a few unexpected favourites. The the bear dress which I had doubts about halfway through but it is really easy to wear and can layered so I have worn this quite a bit.  Have you got any favrourite makes of the year and have you shared them on instagram if you have let me know in the comments if I don't follow you already.

My jackets have all been favourites and there are a few more that are not featured here that I love just the same.  I have also noticed I have a lot of black in my wardrobe even though it does not appear so looking at the above image. 

 Just  this morning I have finished a project in black print  and there are a few more waiting on the sidelines.  Maybe I will have to make 2022 the year of colour, I did branch out and made a hot pink dress last week but my husband is not into the colour and I did read recently that the colours should not be wearing you, so maybe I have to be cautious of that.

There is a selection of sources above, the two top center and top right are from the same pattern from a magazine a sinple sew pattern sienna I think.   The green coat, white blouse and black skirt are all traced off from Burda magazine that I had for a year as a gift from my husband.  Top left hoodie is from the Tilly Walnes stretch book that I borrowed from the library ages ago. Navy coat and the bomber jacket were both from patterns made for Minerva and the zip hoodie bottom left I traced off from one of my own hoodies that I knew fit well.  I have to say looking at the fabrics above they were all minerva! I have made garments from fabric from a local store to me and a number of refashions this past year too, a few of those can be seen on my youtube channel.  If you haven't had a look at that please do and maybe leave me a comment.  You can find the link in the sidebar.  I haven't done any for that for a while as i have been busy with other filming so I must do some refashions for that soon. 

I am about to go shopping so I hope people are not in there going crazy like they do when any shop will be closed the following day!  I went a few days before Christmas and people were there trollies full to the brim shopping for the apocalypse, I just want a few things so I will try to be quick.

Hopefully you all have your New years eve planned and are all set, we will be celebrating at home with maybe a glass of wine and a good film that will do me. Maybe a few chapters of my book that I am reading (I know how to party;)  

Well I am going to get on with things now, have a wonderful evening and take care. 

Books and that bit inbetween

 Hello I hope you are all enjoying a good rest and not too bloated from a week of over eating and drinking ;) I have to say it is 5 pm here I am about to start a curry for dinner and I am drinking a glass of rose!   Just the one mind although not usual on a Wednesday, it is Wednesday right?  We are currently in that bit of the holiday where I really don't know what day it is or what I am supposed to be doing with myself.

I do like a new start to the year, some people think it is pointless to start with new intentions but I like to plan something new.  That does not mean calling them resolutions though because I feel people miss a day with those and give up.  I prefer to try to do more of something and write it down, that way if you miss a day it doesn't matter as you can always reset the next day and still see all the days  you have been successful and not stress about the one day you missed.  I think doing something most days of the year and occasionally slipping and having a day off is far healthier than doing something every day for a month then giving up!

It is also fun to look back on my notebooks as I can see what I was doing or being interested in a year or two ago.  I have only done this the last few years but is very enlightening and there are also some super quotes in them and I have wrote some of them out again as a reminder.

One thing I did today was to move my cook books into the kitchen, now years ago I had them in the kitchen at my first house.  I did say never again as a few got a lot of splashes on them, looking back they were too close the oven area so that is why but they are to be used.  Up to now I have had them on the book shelf in the dining room and walked back and forth everytime I wanted to check something.  So no more of that but my son has had instructions not to splash milk every where when getting cereal as they are near the fridge unit.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you keep your books close to where you need them or in a safer place?  I didn't pay a lot for any of these, the oldest one there is possiblt the Rose Elliot one and that was from a charity shop along with Veg, Deliciously Ella and the Abel and Cole one. The big Vegan Cookbook there was a recent gift from my son, the Aine Carlin ones were all new but a fiver each and I have to say they are very well used.  The vegan baking one on the end was also bought new and is very good.  A few of these  books I had from the library first before finding second hand for a few pounds.

Personally I have never had the Abel and Cole veg boxes but a friend did and used to pass on some recipe cards now and then so that is why I spotted that particular book.

I have just been to collect my car from the garage and it has passed its MOT (that was before the glass of wine of course) we use a car centre that is very local to us so we walked there with the dogs then my husband carried on and I drove back.  It is always a relief when you don't get a big car bill after these things.

Well I had better go and get on with that curry as no one else will cook it. Just a bit of a check in today so stay safe and rested everyone and I will be back soon.  

Year end

 Hello I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas however you chose to celebrate.  We had a quiet one which is just the way I like it, dinner with close family and a walk with the dogs that left us drenched due to the wet weather we are having at the moment. 

We have no plans for New years eve we never do, just a quiet night in again, that may not seem very exciting to some people but I have no desire to be in a crowded, over priced venue as the clock strikes midnight I am very content in my home.  Another bessing to this is that my dogs have us here with them when everyone starts going crazy with the fireworks for hours on end.  I don't know how you find this where you are but they are so loud here and seem to get worse year on year, I may sound a grump but it is very hard on the dogs and I don't see why such a loud explosion is deemed entertainment!

I can now share a blouse I made for my friend for Christmas...

It is cotton chambray with slightly gather sleeves at the shoulder and a little button at the back.  I do think this is nore of a classic look, much as I like all the wild prints I know not everyone shares my style and people do like a simple look.

I was going to do a flounce on the bottom of the sleeve as sleeve details have been a thing this year but if what she normally wears are an indication then I thought she would prefer them plain.  It is also easier to get your jackets and coats on  because lets face it here in the UK we generally need one of those.

Today I am wearing a dress I made for  a video a few days ago, the style is very baggy so I am wearing it with a belt.  This is another fashion trend of this year that does not suit my body.  As I am quite petite the looser style tend to just look ill fitting on me so I do prefer a more fitted look.

I have a red belt on with it and this works much better.

Here I will share a few of the cards I made, now I made all of them but what happened was I was making them and writing them as I went to be organised.  This did mean that I only thought about photographing them when I was nearing the end so a few pics for you but the rest were already sealed.

Even though I have a lack of images for all my hard work I am pleased that I managed to make everyone this year. I have read over at Three Stories High that Jo makes hers for the following year as she is taking down the old ones. What a great idea!  I am going to do this rather than saving bits and starting the following winter it makes much more sense.  Also you are still in the festive mood. 

In my true nature of getting the most out of all my fabric I made a bag with leftover bits from my colourful bomber jacket.  I am pleased to say it sold on my Etsy shop the very next day.

Well I must be going now as we are off to visit family shortly, enjoy the rest of the holiday season and take care everyone.