MMM 2016 - Day 7

It was, as they say 'proper sunny' today.  So much so, that it was time for my seasonal wardrobe turnaround. Sounds rather grand but actually involves dragging a very heavy suitcase out of my hall cupboard, heaving it onto the bed, taking out my shorts and summer tops, re-stuffing it to the gunwales with chunky jumpers and cardigans, and hauling it back to the cupboard were it will remain until winter, (or August, which ever is the chilliest).

It also involves a bit of a cull and a trip to the charity shop.  

But, it did mean I could venture out with short sleeves today - a self-drafted top, copied from one I bought several years ago, and now made up in a batik seeersucker cotton. 

I didn't make the cut off jeans, (one day I WILL make jeans, one day) but I did make my earrings and bracelets.

MMM 2016 - Day 6

A stroll along the river in the sunshine this afternoon with my friend Val - and I wore my second pair of SewOverIt Ultimate trousers, this time in dark stretch denim with white stars, and a Sew Liberated Schoolhouse Tunic in faded denim (Eeeek!! - Double denim!)

I quite like the style of the tunic, but it works better in a softer fabric, I might try a chambray version.  The trousers are a better fit than the first pair, but still need some work.  I wouldn't wear them to impress, but for an extreme ramble .....

MMM 2016 - Day 5

Today I wore two of my favourite Me-Mades, firstly my latest TATB Agnes top - its a great pattern and I've made 5 or 6 of these in cotton jersey.  The pattern goes together really well - and is a quick make, you can do it all on the overlocker, with just a bit of twin needle stitching around the neck and the hems.

I bought fabric at the Stitching show at Excel last month from M. Rosenberg and Son - its dark grey with little lemons all over, and I think it must be a polyester or viscose jersey - anyway, whatever it is is lovely.

On top is my denim Merchant and Mills Factory Dress - the dress you are most likely to see worn more than once in May.

I wore it when I went to my see my friend Jane who very kindly showed me how to make a large tote/bucket bag (AND made my lunch!).  All finished in just a couple of hours .....

Jane teaches dressmaking and all kind of sewing skills to adults and kids at The Creative Sanctuary

and also in her own right as The Sewing Room Hertford

Oh, and I'm also sporting a Me-Made badge, finished just today

I got the free pattern and tutorial from Tasha of Stale Bread into French Toast having heard about them from the Zoe  - the inventor and organiser of Me Made May.

It'd be great if everyone who took part in MMM wore a badge so we could identify each other, should we happen to pass in the street

MMM 2016 - Day 4

I wasn't going anywhere special today so I wore one of my TATB Coco dresses and my original pair of SewOverIt Ultimate trousers 

I love the Coco pattern and I've worn this dress loads, which means it's no longer one of my 'best dresses' and I was even doing a bit of gardening in it this afternoon.  I made the trousers at a workshop at the Islington SewOverIt shop.  I'm not 100% happy with the fit, although it's loads better than some other patterns I've tried, and worn with a long tunic-y top they're ok.  

I would LOVE to get a perfectly fitting trouser pattern that I could make over and over, but I think it's a way off.  I've had a few goes at perfecting the pattern, but I'm still on a quest for the Holy Grail of trousers.

In fact, if I was ever a contestant on that Shane Richie lottery programme on Saturdays, when they get to pick their own prizes, I'd play for a fitting session with a Savile Row tailor (Patrick Grant would do) to make me a perfectly fitting pair of trousers, together with my personalised pattern.

MMM 2016 - Day 3

I was working in the Creative Sanctuary today, so although its a pretty fabric and yarn shop and definitely NOT a factory, I wore my Merchant and Mills Factory dress made in grey cotton/linen fabric,  trimmed with free machined cut-out 'newspaper' dolls

Mmm - I think its time I did something with my hair.  Perhaps I should make a hat?

MMM 2016 - Day 2

Another day of beading at the Stapleford Flower Festival with ladies from the beading group I belong to - and another Emery Dress  This is the first one I ever made a couple of years ago, in black and white gingham .....

 trimmed with a couple of strips of Matryoshka doll fabric

The dress actually fits well - in spite of how it looks in the photo.  I think it had ridden up owing the the extra layer I had underneath to combat the chills.  Worn with a 'vintage' Next embroidered cardigan.  I bought it over 30 years ago from 'Next Too' and it still looks as good as new - I was brought up to look after my clothes!

There were four of us beading today, and again we got lots of complimentary comments on our display

Almost as complimentary as I was about the piece of Lime and Coconut cake I had for 'lunch'. 

MMM 2016 - Day 1

I had a good excuse to wear a frock today - I was with a group of beaders demonstrating at Stapleford Church for their Annual Flower Festival.

I wore my sewing machine Emery Dress, with a hand knitted denim cardigan.  

When I say demonstrating, I mean we were sitting in the Church displaying our jewellery and demonstrating various beading techniques.

I thought I'd better explain that, just in case you thought that we were marching up and down carrying placards and chanting "What do we want? BEADING! When do we want it? NOW!'

We got lots of lovely comments about our work and almost every person said 'You must have very good eyesight'.  I don't, I just have some magnifying specs that I only use for beading and threading needles.

Despite the sunshine, it was very chilly inside and I'm glad I wore my cardie, although I did remove it briefly for a photo.

Now, that's somewhere you don't often see me.