The End

Days 30 & 31

Day 30

Although I was only going to my beading group today, which doesn't normally involve any dressing up, I thought I'd have a fancy frock day - SewLaDiDa Sweetheart dress - I love this dress - it's one of my few dresses which suggests I really do have a waist - although sadly you can't tell from the photo cos I forgot to remove my jacket (second hand from a vintage fair)

I spent the day finishing the bracelet that I started at beading last month at a workshop led by Shona Bevan

Day 31

Final day of the challenge - and I wasn't going anywhere, and it clearly wasn't going to be a day for gardening, so I put this dress on, mainly to decide whether to keep it or not.  It's definitely not one of my favourites.

It's another Laurel, but I don't know if it's the fabric, it just looks a bit sack-like.  I don't like the neck much, nor the length of the sleeves - nothing to do with the pattern, which I really like, just my treatment of it on this occasion.  I'm beginning to think in future I should make a size down.  

Added to that, I hadn't done my hair, or put any make up on, so let's just have a close up of the only redeeming feature of this outfit ...........

Absolutely no reason to wear these indoors, except I love them.  As my intended day in the garden was thwarted, owing to inclement weather, I've had a day in my sewing room, crossing things off my 'to-do' list.

And I've finished another bit of beading

Very pleased with this, and it's reversible

So, that's MeMadeMay over for another year.  I've enjoyed fulfilling my challenge, and I've definitely exceeded the frock wearing element of my pledge.

The only slightly tricky days were when I was away on holiday - I probably need to make more sensible day-to-day outfits and leave off the fancy frock making.  

But I don't suppose I will.

The End - Kings of Leon

48 Hours

Days 27 -29
Day 27

Denim Schoolhouse Tunic and grey jersey leggings made from McCalls 6173 (couldn't be easier!)

Day 28

 I was off to see the Prism exhibition at Hoxton Arches, so I wore my Comic Book skirt (I've done a close up and mirrored the photo so you can read the speech bubbles, if you are so inclined) I wore it with a John Smedley cotton jumper and a denim shirt - both at bargain prices from a charity shop a year or two ago.

 

I've been to see the Prism exhibition several times in the past when it was at the Mall Galleries, but this was a much 'edgier' venue and I loved it - in fact I think it's the best Prism exhibition I've seen.

My friend Gina's work was stunning - Graffiti style images with very dense free machine embroidery

and a close up ...

I also like these tattoo-inspired pieces by Julie Harper, again very densely stitched

and another close up ....

and these beautiful appliqued and machine embroidered images mounted on cotton reels by Jacqi Adkins -

in fact, I liked them so much I bought one (with the pink and orange cotton reel at the front, towards the right)

This clever piece was also by Jacqi -

The work was incredibly varied, and whilst I liked lots of the work, including some of the delicate, ethereal pieces, it's the smash-you-in-the-face colours that draw me in to look closer.

The puppets by Charlotte Sewell were fun too..

As those who know me are only too aware, I have boycotted Tesco for about ten years, so I was amused that I liked this piece

Having spent a couple of hours wandering around the exhibition, I made my first visit to the Geffrye Museum, which was just around the corner.  The Geffrye is set in almshouses built in 1714 by the Ironmongers' Company, and shows how homes have changed over the past 400 years, and shows period room settings from the 1600s.  Well worth a visit, with gardens and a restaurant.  Needless to say I stopped for cake.

Day 29

Tartan dress using the Colette Laurel pattern

 Only two days to go.

48 Hours - The Clash

Flatlands

Days 21 - 26
Day 21

I've been up to visit my parents in Norfolk for a few days, so there's a slight variation of scenery for my photo backgrounds. It wasn't quite as warm as it looks here (it's windy up in the Flatlands!) so I wore my handknitted denim jacket over the birdie Camber top, and self-drafted snakeskin denim skirt, 

Day 22
Fine weather, so I helped out with some gardening for Mum and Dad - denim jumper and starry denim Ultimate trousers

Day 23

On Saturday I took my Mum and my niece Sarah out for afternoon tea at a posh hotel.  The occasion was a treat for my niece, who is expecting her first baby in a few weeks time.  She's enormous! You'll have to take my word for it because, although I took her photo, she may never forgive me if I post it on here.

So, instead, here are a pair of the booties I knitted.  Like Sarah, they, too, are enormous.  In fact, they are so big that when I showed my Dad, he asked if I was going to put studs on them.  Saz said she was seriously concerned about the whole 'giving birth' thing, if the baby was going to come out with feet the size of these boots.

I also gave her a quilted play mat that I'd made - I bought the fabric as soon as I knew she was expecting, but I only got around to making it a couple of weeks ago. The picture was taken in the Creative Sanctuary, which is where I got the fabric).  Since my lovely sister is no longer with us, I thought I should step up to the quiltmaking mark. I've never machine quilted before, but I used the walking foot that came with one of my machines, it went like a dream. Anyway, Sarah said that her Mum would have been proud of me, so I'm more than happy with that.

Back to MMM.  Afternoon tea at a smart hotel called for a ridiculous frock, so it was the Christine Haynes Emery dress made in black and white gingham with a couple of rows of Russian dolls appliqued around the skirt.

Day 24
Black Ultimate trousers, with a Laurel top

Day 25
Pottering in my own garden today, so I wore shop bought jeans and a very bright Jalie top (I can't ever see myself stitching my own jeans, but you never know)

Day 26
Working in the shop today, so I wore another Merchant and Mills Camber dress that I made with this fabric that I bought there, (but I forgot all about getting a photo taken while I was there)

Well, we're on the home run now, only five more photos to inflict on you!
Flatlands - Mark Lanegan

Mirror Mirror

Days 19 -and 20

Day 19 - I always feel a bit conspicuous in this top, so I decided to wear it today as I'm not planning on going far.
I screen printed the fabric myself on a course years ago, and eventually got around to using it, a year or so ago, for a Schoolhouse tunic

The leggings are a recent make, using McCalls 6173 and grey Ponte jersey.  I'm really pleased with these, I cut them longer in the body, and in the leg than the pattern said, but other than that, the fit is fine. They only took about an hour to make, so I'll definitely be making more, as soon as I find some suitable jersey.
That may mean a shopping trip, or there again, it may just fall out of the cupboard onto my head.

Day 20 - My original Coco dress (I've made two since this)

I think I've now found the best place to take 'selfies'.  One day I might try a bit of Photoshop-ing to take out the backgound. Of course, if I master that, it'll only be a short learning curve to lose two stone and maybe a few wrinkles.  As if.

Mirror Mirror - Pinkerton's Assorted Colours.

In These Shoes?

Days 17 - 18

Day 17 - Sunday, working at the shop this afternoon, so I wore two recently made garments

both already blogged and both made from fabric purchased in the shop, (which is HERE)

To prove it, here's the fabric I used for my skirt, 

what I can only describe as a kind of snakeskin denim with a bit of stretch

I might have to get a bit more for another pair of Ultimate trousers.  Talking of which .....

Day 18 - back to taking my own photos - a hand knitted denim jumper (when is it going to properly be summer and warm enough for no sleeves?) and my Ultimate trousers in the navy denim with white stars.  I really love these trousers, and although the pattern says to use a concealed zip, for these I made a lapped zip and attached a zip guard, and added a trouser bar to the top of the facing.  These are close to perfect now fit-wise, just a bit of fine tuning to be done.

Oh, and you know I said no new clothes since Chritsmas, weeeell, obviously that didn't include shoes - I can't make them.  So I did make one wearable purchase in Whitstable

a beautiful pair of Irregular Choice shoes with small heels.  They only had them in two sizes, and luckily, one of them was mine.  I'm wearing them around the house at the moment, just because I can.

In These Shoes? - Kirsty MacColl

(There'll be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover

Days 9 - 16

I've just had a wonderful week away in Kent with a couple of friends - a great cottage, with a lovely garden, and a visiting rabbit

and Colin, our pet robin, who ate the cake crumbs that we'd missed ..

We had (mostly) fine weather, lots of eating - some healthy, some not, long walks and almost continual laughter.  And, of course, fabric dyeing - doesn't everyone do that on their hols??

Anyway, I have to say that packing for MMM resulted in more careful planning than usual - I have lots of fancy frocks and silly skirts, but my wardrobe is not particularly well-stocked with handmade walking gear or outfits for potentially messy dyeing incidents. Consequently there was a bit of frantic sewing to make another pair of ultimate trousers, a pair of leggings and some pyjama bottoms. Definitely time well spent, and I managed to dress in me-made items everyday (without even counting the pyjamas!)

And, of course, I had someone on hand to take photos all week too.

Day 9 - my Merchant and Mills Factory dress for travelling

Day 10 - On Sunday I am afraid I only managed a hand knitted denim jumper - for a walk around Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve in the morning 

and a trip to Sandwich after lunch

with a bit of live music in the sunshine.

Day 11 - Monday and a trip to Margate - unfortunately we picked the day that the Turner Contemporary gallery was closed, but the Cupcake Cafe was open, so there was cake.

Me-made black and white Jalie top 

I managed to convince my obliging companions that they should pose by this poster ...

Day 12 - Tuesday was fabric dyeing in the garden.  Knowing how messy I am I didn't want to risk getting splashes on my decent clothes, so I wore the recently made grey leggings, on the basis that the dyes wouldn't show.  

I'd put my cardigan on by the time the photo was taken, but underneath I was wearing this tee shirt - it's a bit synthetic, but I knew that meant the dye wouldn't stain it, and even if it had, it's not like it would notice.

We left the fabrics to 'stew' in the dye, and went for a walk with typical Kentish views

returning in time to rinse and hang the fabrics out to dry.

I was delighted with the results - the colours  were stunning.  The subtle, tasteful pieces belong to my friends, and needless to say the lurid, in-your-face pieces are mine.

Day 13 - Wednesday was spent at Goodnestone Park Gardens 

really worth a visit.

I wore my new Ultimate trousers made from dark blue denim sprinkled with white stars

Day 14 - Thursday - was our one rainy day, so we went to Canterbury to visit the Cathedral - beautiful stained glass, and such grand architecture 

for which I wore one of my Coco's, and black Ultimate trousers, with a knitted denim cardie

Day 15 - Friday was Deal, with lunch on the pier, followed by a walk along the white cliffs of Dover to the South Foreland lighthouse 

I wore a Merchant and Mills Camber top 

made from this fabric.....

You'll no doubt be pleased to know that I refrained from singing.

Day 16 - Our week was over all too quickly and Saturday meant it was time to go home.  We decided to take a group photo using the self timer.  I can't tell you how many times I hurtled across the lawn, only to be beaten by the timer.

Eventually I realised I had the camera set on two seconds delay, rather than ten. Doh! 

I'm wearing a self drafted skirt with machine appliqued and embroidered paper dolls and a hand knitted red Miette cardigan.

My NY resolution this year was not to buy any new clothes for the month of January.  At the end of the month, I decided that wasn't exactly a massive challenge, so I extended it for an indeterminate period, and so far I haven't bought any new clothes since before Christmas.  It hasn't been too difficult - until yesterday, when we spent the day at Whistable on the way home.  There are so many independent shops and boutiques there with really lovely clothes, it's true that I was sorely tempted. But I am proud to say that I resisted.  I'd better not go there again until next year.

(There'll be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover - Dame Vera Lynn