Update

I don't have a lot of sewing news to update with. Life seems to be taken up with work, going places and doing things and generally hanging out with my mum and dad.
I'm doing a lot better in myself which has to be positive.

I've been buying Burda magazine and planning what I would sew and although I did go to the fabric stalls on Leeds market this week I didn't buy anything as none of the fabric really spoke to me, and having packed all my fabric up around Christmas I knew full well how much of it I already have.

Interestingly my mum, who these days is mostly a knitter and not much of a sewer refashioned a large tunic shirt I was passing on into a blouse which fits her nicely and is very pleased with, so maybe some of my sewingness has rubbed off on her.

I have some things I want to sew, but I hardly dare mention them as I don't seem to follow through at all at the moment.

I've put a few more things in the charity bag.  Yesterday I went to the Meadowhall centre (a shopping centre) and met up with my friend E (slightly nearer to me than half way). Mostly we just chatted first over lunch then later over coffee which was really good, but we also did a bit of shopping, for ourselves and for her little girl who is having a birthday soon.

I brought home two wide elastic belts in black, one with a black buckle and the other with a leaf clasp. Both great for comfortably showing you have a waist, whilst still allowing the ability to breath which can't be overrated.
I also was quite pleased to buy myself a navy striped trouser suit in the Next sale for less than half the original price. Very smart for work, though needs the trousers shortening slightly as there were only Long length left and I'm pretty standard in leg length.

Off this afternoon to get a few final bits from the old house. Hopefully there will be some actual sewing, crafting etc stuff to share in a bit.

Update

I have sewn nothing at all so far in 2011 which is a shame, but life and work have overtaken sewing at the moment.
Moving all my clothes and packing to store or move all my sewing stuff has shown that I don't really need another 11 pieces in my wardrobe at this point in time, so SWAP is out for this year as far as I can see due to both time constraints and actually needing those items.
Instead I am going to sew individual pieces to enhance what I've already got in the wardrobe, so will do a small collection but not a whole SWAP.
I'm back for a week to the old house to clear out the garage, freezer etc. and then I'll be able to properly settle in at my parents and start to review my wardrobe needs.
I'm back to wearing either a matching trouser suit (all purchased) or a top/ trousers which match with a contrasting brighter jacket as my work outfits. I do feel comfortable in these, so need to make sure I have total outfits which work together to make getting dressed easy.


The stay with my parents is only for a few months, and after that I'll be renting a little house for myself a bit nearer to the office. There I'll be able to have a sewing room and get all my stuff back together, so I can shop from my own fabric and haberdashery departments in house!


I think I've been so hung up on churning out Collections the last year or two that I've not looked hard enough at what I actaully wear and whether the sewing meets my needs.
Of course there is the other side to sewing which is the creative part, the colours, prints, textures and details - the stuff which makes sewing fun.


So at a point where I am re-evaluating lots of things in my life and experiencing many changes, I am sure my approach to sewing will change as well.

Update

A little update. I had 2 weeks of holiday with no sewing, then came home and went back to work including a 2 day trip away overnight and a day trip away, all with early starts and late finishes. So I've been buying fabric and sewing magazines, but not a lot else.

I think today's task is hemming curtains which is very boring but useful. They've been waiting to be hemmed for about a year I think which is pretty bad. I find home dec very boring and it doesn't excite me the same way as tees, pants etc do. But it is nonsense to not have the curtains up for the want of a few hours of hemming time so I am going to tackle them this weekend.

My huge order of knits from Totally Fabrics came this week and I also bought more knits in Leeds during the week. Also the lovely Lisette sent me some Adri patterns so I am very pampered.
In the past when I've ordered from Totally Fabrics at sale time, there are always the odd fabric which turned out to be out of stock when they came to fill my order, so I slightly over ordered, and this time everything was in stock! So two big parcels were waiting at the post office collection place.

So once the curtains are done I want to sew something for me. Probably something fairly quick, maybe PJ pants or a tee shirt, that will give me a sewing fix without being a massive project. I kinda fancied a mad print knit dress (I have lots of fabric options now) so I shall see what appeals.

Sadly the weekend can't be all splobbing about reading sewing blogs and sewing, some grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning and laundry need to be factored in as well. I have a cunning plan to travel less with work next week and so to sew in the evenings, but ha!,best laid plans etc.

London Weekend - Update

And the piles were L to R
Hen, Elizabeth, RuthieK and Karen.

1st July Update

We have broadband back and are happily surfing.
I have been away with work as usual, and trying to stuff a week of work into only a few days.
I am lucky as I enjoy my job, but it can be quite hectic.

Anyway here is the dress I made. I wore it with a black elastic belt with clasp, red shoes/jacket/bag and chunky gold tone jewellery.

Also here is a photo of some sweatshirt fabric with a mad print, which I think might become a casual hooded top to wear with jeans. It would prob be too warm for a knit top.

Update

Well I made a dress - knit in a black and white print, and have cut out a navy knit top which I have not yet sewn up.
My home internet connection is broken so just occasional postings from other locations.

Updates

Been away with work for a couple of days so no sewing.
I did however wear a couple of self sewn outfits.
We went out for a big team night out (drinks, food and clubbing) and I wore the Union Jack jeans and the Kimono style top from the Christmas collection.

 

Fortunately there are no pictures of me on the dance floor with a lot of 19 year olds well after my usual bedtime.

Today I wore the pink lace top (with lined body but sheer sleeves) with pinstripe navy trousers and a purchased red jacket, earrings and necklace.

I never used to wear red and pink together but these days I like to use the fairly close colours together.

Ie pink with red, teal with lime, orange with red etc, I am not quite sure why but its a great shot of colour which is very uplifting.

In more sensible news my Knip Mode magazines arrived from the nice people at Naaipatronen.nl.

I've only managed a quick flip through but so far I like September 2009 the best. It has a particularly nice jacket that is very me. Well OK several.

Anyway due to the partying, dancing, working and terrible drive back this afternoon I am frankly very tired and an early night is required, so am not even going to go in the sewing room tonight in case injure myself or any equipment.

Night night

Botanical Garden SWAP Update

Here's the update on the Botanical Garden SWAP now I have finished all the Coral Pink things.