Sew much to do!

As well as so much to do!

Firstly I'd like to tell you mum moved to a rehab ward today, so far she's only walked 6 steps with her new hip but considering what she went through I'm not worried, onwards and upwards now!

So I really have had so much to do. As you know I'm self employed and if I don't work, I don't earn, I already missed 2 weeks of work at the beginning of the month, then it took me a few days to set up my new laptop, god I hate technology sometimes! So now I'm trying desperately to catch up on work without driving myself into the ground, this is hard, I need the money but I think that I will just have to accept I will work much less hours this month and budget accordingly :o(

However onto the subject of Sew much to do!

I'm off to the Rhythm Riot in November as usual and if you follow that link to the site you'll see it's only 29 days away!!

When I started my exercising and cut back I really really wanted to get into certain dresses by then but life doesn't always go to plan. My size has gone down a bit but I haven't lost a pound in weight, then when I went to see Mum, dieting and exercise did not happen at all!! But the biggest aggravating factor now is that I've hurt my knee, I have been told by the gym they think I have runners knee and to avoid the gym until it starts getting better, well I went back swimming yesterday and I limped out of the pool, damn! So I'm off to the docs on Monday about it, so no exercise and the aim of getting into those dresses in reality is not going to happen, so my back up plan is sewing! In fact my house may end up looking like this!

This is the first Rhythm Riot I've been to for 4 years that I'm just going to enjoy myself, so I'm not thinking about clothes I can work on the stall in, I can wear what I damn well please and I damn well please to dress up, but what I had wanted to wear doesn't quite fit and won't even if I starved myself in this short time - which I won't do, I do have a birthday next weekend, no starving on Birthdays!

Now I have been intended to run up a couple of pairs of trousers for a while now and whilst that should not take too long - apart from getting the fit right - I would really like a couple of new dresses, I'm so blumming pie in the sky, I won't have time but I can hope that I might!!

So I was looking through my patterns and I like the following 3 although I would be making them for evening wear so not in day wear cloth as they are illustrated.
I like the bodice of this dress and the fit.

I've made this pattern before with the shorter sleeves and I put a straighter skirt on it, I really liked it!

I've been thinking about making this for a long time, however I don't think the neckline will be very complimentary to me, however I like the style, so we'll see.

Fabric wise I have a few ideas. Ages ago I bought the following fabric, it's a beautiful heavy satin but I also bought a matching organza type material to go with it, perhaps as an overskirt or part of a bodice, you can't really get an idea, but you can see the colour here! I have had it so long I need to use it but it's that age old problem of not want to mess up good fabric!

I've also got some lovely black velvet although I'm not sure I have enough for a dress, though I have to say I've always wanted a black velvet dress!!

I've got this fabulous lace type material which might go well either with the velvet or for something different.

I think I'm going to run out of time but I don't want to! I haven't got the cash to buy new, I just need the time to make new.

Don't worry I haven't forgotten about my Mexican Tourist Jacket, I got the sample of material I thought might be suitable and it was so desperately unsuitable, so I'm back on the search for the right shade of the right fabric, it could take me a while!

I'm back!

Thank you so much for all your well wishes for my mum on my last post.

It has been a really really traumatic time, I won't lie. I arrived on Wednesday last weekend to find out they were surprised she's made it through the night, as you can imagine that was rather shocking. Then the consultant on the Thursday morning had the 'do not resuscitate' conversation with me! I won't go through the symptoms but at first it seemed like either she'd had some type of stroke or brain injury during/after the anaesthetic. Her behaviour was so out of character and she couldn't move either of her arms.

Anyway after days of this, where she was screaming and shouting, I came in last Sunday morning and she was asleep, this fact on it's own was amazing as even with enough medication to fell a horse she'd been wide awake and severely agitated. So I say by her bed with my trusty kindle and read. Then about 45 minutes later she woke up and said, oh your here good!!! It was truly miraculous! She was transformed from a screeching banshee who when she did talk, talked rubbish, back to my mum. I didn't get my hopes up as things had been so bad and for the rest of that day, she pretty much slept but the next day, she was wide awake and chatting again when I arrived in the morning, consultants and nurses alike were amazed, no one knows what has gone on, the MRI and CT scan showed nothing, however don't worry I will be asking for an investigation.

By Tuesday she was giving me instructions on bills that needed paying, giving me passwords, pin numbers etc to get it all done, amazing.

I had to leave on Wednesday, as you know I'm self employed and if I don't work I don't earn. Also I think my mum will improve quicker if I'm not there to depend on. She has lots of friends so she won't be short of visitors and support and I feel good about that. I'm ringing twice a day every day and have even managed to chat to her. The ward staff are all amazing, so I know she is being cared for. She started to move her right arm before I left and the day I left it was so much better and then when I rang today suddenly her left arm is moving much better, even the fingers, truly amazing news. She has a long journey ahead of her, with all the complications and her recovery won't be as quick as most people after a replacement hip but as Paul said she has the constitution of a horse, such fight!

Anyway as you can imagine I'm so behind on everything, I had nearly 600 blog posts to catch up on, I hope you don't mind but I just drew a line under it and said there is no way I can do that! But I do hope to be back on track now.

The only highlight of my 3 times a day visit to the hospital was this beautiful art deco building I passed. I wished I'd taken my own pic so please excuse the watermark but I stole the pic! It's so much better in real life and is now a luxury apartment building, I'd be so happy to live somewhere like this!

I also have a new laptop that I need to set up, none of my files are on it, so no new pics I'm afraid. It will take me all weekend to get it up a running.

Obviously I also haven't done any projects but I have the right knitting needles for my gloves although I am dreading knitting them as Tasha from By Gum By Golly said fingers are really hard and I am nowhere near the champion knitter she is!

Anyway I'm back, mum is on the journey to getting better and life can soon return to normal. I've been catching up on my sleep the last couple of days, I'm only just starting to feel human again.

As for quitting alcohol, that is out the window this weekend, but back to it Monday and back to exercising too!

It's pouring more

On Monday my Mum fell and broke her hip. She had a hip replacement today but tonight she has had problems and is now in a cardiac unit. I'm obviously driving up there tomorrow.

Just wanted to let you all know as you have been so supportive with my bad luck over the weekend.

See you all soon

Fiona
xxxxx

Bah, It never rains but it pours!

Firstly thank you for the lovely feedback about my hair, I'm really happy with it and think I'll be sticking with it for the forseeable future!

However this post is about me probably not being around much for the next few weeks. I had a couple of bad strokes of luck at the weekend. Firstly I got up really early to go swimming Sunday morning, and my car just wouldn't open with the normal clicker thing, mine uses a card not a key, anyway there is a key for emergencies so I tried that and what happened the alarm went off, at 7.45am on a Sunday morning and no matter what I did I just couldn't stop it, it eventually stopped but not before I'm sure I woke the whole neighbourhood. Anyway I went back out later to see if it could be resolved, it couldn't so I had to ring the RAC (roadside assistance for our non UK people!) and it turned out my battery was buggered, yeah cos I need that like a hole in the head, so that cost me a fortune. 

Next my laptop finally died it's final death on Saturday just after I posted my last blog post, literally! I've fixed and fixed this laptop and I know that it is not worth putting any more money into it, it needs replacing. I'm in the process of loading all my stuff onto my OH's laptop but it's not a long term solution, he needs his, and also his is neither quick enough or big enough to store all I need to, so I need a new one, how I don't know! Eating on a budget, not going out for my birthday and a small loan from the bank of mum I think!

So the bottom line is blog posting - which I've only just gotten back to doing regularly! - might be sporadic until I have technology sorted. I guess the good thing is I won't waste time trawling ebay for stuff I can't afford and might do more sewing instead :o)

Might see you around but might not, sorry, oh and sorry the blog commenting won't be so regular either :o(

I had the chop!

So I visited the very lovely Nina today from Nina's Vintage Hair Parlour, although they are no longer at Alfies Market, they are relocating, in the meantime they are in a super secret location, which was quite fun!!

Now that I take the pictures my hair IN the pictures doesn't look a whole heap shorter, but believe me it is a LOT shorter, it's not even sitting on my neck, but for some reason the pictures don't seem to make it look much shorter, I guess even when my hair is short there's a lot of it. Nina set it for me to show that it will set too, but I've got a couple of other options for mid week post swimming, I'll get a picture when I'm looking decent on day with the alternative looks!

Does it look shorter to you? Believe me it is. I just have so much blumming hair even short it looks like i have loads ha ha! Nina said if I want to go any shorter I'll need to go really short, I may do that next time, I'll have a think

In other news it is unbelievably stinking hot today in the UK. I think they said it's going to be the hottest October day on record, it is like the hottest days we get in Summer - none of which we had this year! It certainly was not the day to be stuck in hideous traffic jams in London with air conditioning in the car, I was so hot when I got home. I'm now cooling with the blinds closed and a fan on phew!

Also remember I told you how fabulous the history was in Barnard Castle? I totally forgot I'd taken these pictures of an amazing old house there, it was so fantastic, I took a picture of the plaque too, read it, it's fascinating.

I have nothing much else to report, apart from my exercise regime continues well, I'm at the gym or swimming 6 times a week, I'm actually enjoying it. I've lost some inches here and there, but no weight yet which seems weird but I'm sure it will happen, I hasten to add I've almost completely quit drinking and quit snacking, so really don't know why no weight loss yet, damn.... In the meantime I'm getting fitter & my clothes are fitter better!

Autumn/Winter Sewing Planning!

It seems to be a bit strange that I'm doing autumn/winter sewing planning when we're in the middle of a heatwave. Yes you heard it, the UK is having a heatwave at the end of September, it's glorious and set to stay with us for a few days, however we all know it won't last so I'm planning for Autumn/Winter anyway!

Despite the heatwave it is getting darker in the evenings which always get's me to thinking of sewing again. I'm not good at sewing in Summer, I have no idea why!

Anyway I am planning a few new makes, most of them run of the mill, more heavier weight skirts, a couple of new pairs of trousers, but I have a couple of more ambitious plans, fingers crossed I get round to doing them!

First up, I have always wanted a Mexican Tourist Jacket, a bit like this example on ebay.

However my large bust has always be a bit of a problem, they don't tend to come in bigger sizes, so I have decided to try to make my own! Ambitious huh? I'm slightly daunted by it, but excited to. I don't doubt it will take quite some time but if I plan it over time, it'll be ready for Spring. Obviously the actual jacket won't take long to make as it's just a simple design, however I need the right fabric. I'm keen to make mine in turquoise which is a common colour for them, I've just sent off for a sample of a fabric I think will be suitable, so then we'll see!

Then of course I need to plan the embroidery, which I may add I have never done before, told you it was ambitious ha ha! I've downloaded loads of samples from ebay and etsy for ideas and then I'm going to make my own design. Gosh I'm getting more and more scared thinking about it!

The other idea I have is another coat, which I think I'd need to do sooner rather than later. My motivation is this picture, how gorgeous!

No no no, I'm not being that ambitious, although how fabulous would a suit like this be! But I thought how lovely a yellow or green wool coat would be with a leopard collar and cuffs. So there's another idea.

Then last but not least, I am totally not taking to knitting, so I have decided to try something smaller to try to get me into it. I bought this pattern today, so I'm going to try to make some gloves, mum has yarn left from some sweaters so she's going to send them to me, so hopefully next week I'll be starting on them. Oh by the way, don't ask how I got on with the sweater I was making.....

So I have some bog standard staple ideas and then some very ambitious ideas!

Have you got any sewing or knitting autumn/winter plans?

Weekend away and a rant!

Hello all, hope you are all well!

As my post title indicates we went away this weekend, actually to visit my Mum but I sadly didn't take many pics, though there is a load online so I'm going to nick those!

I come from the North East of England, in a small town called Eaglescliffe. You would think there isn't much about Eaglescliffe but actually it's a really old place with quite a bit of history despite it not being a particularly big town. The first ever passenger train travelled not so far from my childhood home, it was the Stockton to Darlington Railway and Locomotion No 1 was the first ever passenger train in 1825!

Anyway as usual we had some chores to do for Mum as she doesn't drive so did some heavy shopping for her on Friday but Saturday we decided to go out for the day to Barnard Castle which is nearby. Barnard Castle is a fabulous old town with stacks of history and was established around 1090, yep that old!

Here are a few, cheating internet shots to give you an idea!

This is just the middle of town, or the market cross, fabulous huh?

This is the ruined Barnard Castle itself, established about 1090 and this is what the town built up around

And last but not least the very fabulous Bowes museum, all within a very short distance, amazing huh?

However I didn't visit any of these as I have been to them all many times before, instead we decided to go to visit the many antique shops on The Bank in the town. The Bank is as it sounds the steepest road ever, but packed full of what looked like great shopping. Sadly we were disappointed.

Firstly we went to The Mission Hall Antique Centre which is worth a visit if in the area but I wouldn't travel there especially. There were some nice things but what partly attracted me was the Vintage Clothes section upstairs. Mmmm I shouldn't have bothered. There were some lovely things up there, I'm not complaining about quantity or variety but the prices eeeek, it was not unlike shopping in an expensive London Vintage Clothes shop. I'm really not sure who buys this stuff there, but I only looked at a couple of 40s dresses - out of interest as they were nice though not my era - and when I spotted that they were both in the £120 territory I walked out sharpish. I would have enjoyed having a browse but was asked immediately what I was after and then the owner proceeded to pull out 50s frou frou frocks to show me, I was polite and said not really my thing, but thanks, however the prices and the 'look at this' really put me off.

Next up, I walked ahead as you know Paul is disabled and this was a steep bank, just as well the next really interested shop was shut, on a Saturday? Really? Who shuts a shop on a Saturday?

So we crossed the road to another really interesting shop,which was interesting, but again, sooooo expensive, like London expensive! I was very confused at the pricing in the shops, I'm not saying things should be a bargain but I don't expect to see London prices in a small town in the North East. Then Mum said oh it's always featured on those antique shows, so suddenly I realised, it's a destination antique shopping place. Well they don't interest me. I don't mind paying the price something is worth but some of this stuff was so overpriced I nearly passed out when I looked at the prices, needless to say we didn't buy anything and left rather sad!

As we were driving out of Barnard Castle we spotted a sign for Raby Castle, now I've never been to Raby Castle, so I set off rather excited at the prospect. Here's a picture, how fabulous is this!

It was first mentioned at the beginning of the 1000s, amazing huh?

But guess what, it was closed!!! Again, what closes on a Saturday? Don't get me wrong I do know this is still owner occupied but if it's going to open at all surely a Saturday is the day?

So all in all our day out proved rather disappointing and uneventful. Next time we visit my mum we've decide to go to York for the day, another amazing city with an amazing and long history, founded by the Romans in 71AD in fact.

I would like to say though if you're in the area, Barnard Castle is well worth a visit, there is so much history there, amazing places to visit, but unless you've won the lottery I would give the antique shops a very wide berth!

I know this isn't my normal blog post but I do assume that people who like vintage clothes and other stuff also enjoy a bit of history! Hope you don't mind. There is so much history in the area of the world I come from sometimes it amazes me!