A gift for CP

I spent her Birthday weekend with her and we had a lovely time but didn't get her a gift. So instead I said I would maker her some PJs and here they are. As it is a gift I also made a small lavender bag and a bag for the Jama's to go in. Just need to buy a white vest now and job done

Getting ready for Christmas

So I just spent a lovely hour making Christmas cards and gift tags - I am not sure who I am or what I have become but I really enjoyed it.

Here are some (fuzzy) pics of my efforts so far:

The Cloth House, Berwick Street

Oh my, oh my what a beautiful place. As I have mentioned I have recently began sewing a lot and am really enjoying it so last week after using my Liberty voucher (thank you lovely people at Liberty) to buy material (this, this & this) I went to Milk & Honey to meet the Lovely CP for drinks and saw The Cloth House on Berwick street. It was closed but I decided there and then that I would be going back.

So yesterday, I was in Fancy London and had the day to myself. After meeting the lovely InsomniacFrieze for tea & cake (well I had tea and a scone, she had coffee was very restrained by not finishing a slice of lemon drizzle cake) in Selfridges I went on a little shopping jolly and made my way to Berwick Street - an oh my.

I didn't have my camera with me so will have to rely on my limited descriptive skills but it was beautiful. It's a very bright and light shop with rows and rows of rolls of fantastic material. I was a little laden down with shopping bags so didn't go downstairs but went into the back to browse amongst the poplin, linens and other beautiful materials.

So I bought some lovely linen and some sublime ribbon which I will use to make Christmas gifts so can't show pictures. I can't wait to go back once I have planned some more projects or just to spend some more time looking through the lovely merchandise.

I'll be back lovely Cloth House, you may very well be one of my new favourite places.

Finding my inner domestic goddess

So I got a new sewing machine and decided to go for it I've been knitting again since the beginning of the year and wanted to do something else. I have never been what you could call creative being more of a practical sort but recently have wanted to create something.

So after knitting a few scarves (mothers day gifts and my first darn awful attempt for the lovely JD) I decided to sew a dress. I got the pattern from Ebay, it's an original 1950s one. Got my material from the only material shop in Leeds that I knew and set about making. You know what for the first dress I have ever made it's not too bad, I even sewed in a side zip:

It's purple linen, took about 6 hours total and whilst not perfect it fits and I felt pretty proud of myself.

So I decided to make another dress. This time a new pattern and in red linen:

I had to adapt the pattern slightly to fit but again it fits perfectly (both bust and hips) and makes me very happy. If I am honest I have a little bit of finishing to do on it, and with hindsight wish I had lined it (though I still could line it I suppose) but all in all a very good second project.

So what was next, well I went on a trip to John Lewis in Sheffield and treated myself to some lovely materials to make some gifts (yes friends you will be receiving some homemade Christmas gifts this year - apologies) and some suiting material to attempt to make a shift dress for work.

Then I decided I wanted to make a patchwork quilt. We were in Scarborough and nipped in to the lovely Bespoke Country on Bar Street and I picked up some fat quarters of homespun fabric; ordered a large piece and some wadding on line and made this:

So what do you think? Next I will be starting on the aforementioned gifts and my work dress...watch this space.

From feminist to domestic goddess

So this weekend was interesting - I started with my bog questioning whether or not I was a feminist and ended by spending hours at my new sewing machine making a dress.

I got an original 1940s pattern from Ebay and some lovely purple linen from a shop in Leeds and set about it. Well it is by no means perfect (some of the seams are a bit dodgy thats for sure) and sewed my first ever zip (straight enough). To top it all it fits (blimey) and doesn't look too bad - not going to win any prizes but for the first thing I have sewn for more years than I care to remember I am really please. I will take and post some photo's at some point. Bought some more patterns on line today so will get some more material the next week or so and keep making - eventually I may make something I would be prepared to wear in public.

Today with the left over material I made a book bag - not sure it will take much weight but it looks great. I have also made a Chocolate Fudge Cake and started to knit a shrug-cum-poncho......I am not sure what has happened or who I am but my house smells lovely.

Might even have a cup of coffee and a slice of cake.

Marathon Cleaning Session in Planning

So a few weeks ago my Mum phoned to tell me that as she didn't know when I was going to next go over to see them she was coming to see me. She would arrive on the 12th and be here until the 15th. No discussion, no questions - a statement. I have since found out that she has booked in with her hairdresser on the Friday, lucky coincidence or all part of the bog plan.

But here we are the weekend before they come over for the visit and this weekend will involve some major deep cleaning. I'm going to have the day off today, going to the gym, collecting my specs from the opticians and meeting The Boy for lunch, stocking up on tights (back to work next week) and buying something nice for supper (wonder if M&S are doing the £10 meal deal). Think I will get some new wool as well as I have just finished my last knitting project,time to move on from Scarves, perhaps a shrug?

I'm really looking forward to seeing M&D, we went over in May and speak all the time but it's not the same as seeing them (they used to live 6 miles away). Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on perspective) I start work after a 2.5 month hiatus the day after they arrive so won't be spending as much time with them as I had hoped (I also have to be away overnight on the Thursday night) but will still see them. My Brother's are off to Paris today and M&D are getting the TGV up tomorrow to meet them - I was really jealous but now I know that they are coming to see me next week I'm just jealous of Paris.

this has become a ramble.......

Sunday Sunday

So here we are again the end of another week that just seems to have merged into the last few weeks. I have achieved very little again but feel the need to list what I may have achieved in the hope that it will make me feel better:

I met with a recruitment consultant which resulted in

An interview for an interim role (that may or may not exist)

Had an eye test and am only partially more blind than last year

commenced operation office sort out (on 6th bin bag and having to give shredder a rest)

started a 2nd blog (here)

went to the gym (once- not good)

bought new bike helmet (oh and a new bag which I don't really need and regret purchasing as it's another £40 but wanted and have no self control good job I live in BFN otherwise I would shop everyday - good job I am too lazy to go out to the shops in the nearest town......)

commenced knitting again (an effort to not snack on crap whilst watching crap on TV)

retreated further into my self as the despair of not having a job sets in and the realisation that I really need an income as I don't want to tap into the reserves/savings although isn't this why we have savings and reserves for this very 'rainy day scenario' - why when The Boy was out of work we didn't tap into the reserves is because I paid for everything which in turn depleted my pre-savings reserves which have kept me going for a few months but will need to be supplemented - GAH, I need to work not just for money but for me, I am bored and boring and lazy. Having nothing to do just magnifies this laziness, at least when I am working I can be lazy at home as I have been working hard - now I have nothing to hide behind my procrastination and general lazy sluttishness is laid bare for all (well The Boy) to see......feck.

So next week it's The Boys 40th, I am planning to finish the office sort out and then move on to the spare room (Parents have indicated that they may be coming to visit in a few weeks and this will require a bed for them - which is currently covered in overflowing from wardrobe clothes, bags and bedding). I will bake a chocolate fudge cake and a carrot cake; I will go to the gym 3 times; I will get a fecking job - enough of this rejection ENOUGH.

Today will be mostly cooking and eating with a soupçon of ironing thrown in for good measure (just because my weekend and week days merge into one long blur of time some things should stick to Sunday).

Blimey I am a miserable, feel sorry for myself, oh woe is me, lonely pity party aren't I? Feck it, today will be lovely and tomorrow I will start a fresh, chose my attitude and JFDI.

There that feels better.