CAPSULE WARDROBE 2....The Great British Holiday...

OK so this is only for a one week holiday, so it may look like a lot more clothes than my first collection. However it would I am sure stretch to two weeks because of all the combinations you could make. I wasn't constrained either by having to carry my luggage from train to train as before. A car with a top box means I can be a little more generous, but the principle is the same. A limited colour pallet means less accessories but lots more 'outfits'.

My colour choice navy and grey as my neutrals with lime/chartreuse and yellow as accents. Although I haven't included any in this collection I would also put teal with it. You will see just a hint of that colour in one of my necklaces and it really lifts the outfit.

Ttravelling,........... comfort and layers were my main priorities here. Our weather is so changeable at the moment, and cars can get very warm with just a hint of sunshine!

 A navy spot fleece with a short navy striped tee underneath. blue straight jeans, green shoes and green spot scarf with a lime handbag...

For sightseeing (and perhaps a wee bit of shopping!) ....

Navy and grey this time teamed with the yellow, a combination of all shades of grey and then the greens and yellow together.
Of course the combinations are endless. The grey trousers with the grey striped top would look just as good with the yellow jacket and scarf, grey shoes and lime handbag. Or again Green cotton trousers with the navy striped top, navy parka, green scarf and shoes. I actually left out of the photographs a green cross body bag which is the same colour as the shoes in the last picture which I will also take. ( I was using it at the time!)

We hope to do a fair bit of walking so of course we bring our waterproof jackets and walking boots (not shown in the following picture)...

Cotton trousers (no jeans for walking) lightweight cotton tees, walking boots or well supporting trainers depending on the terrain and the distance we decide to walk.....

And finally something for those casual meals in the local pub...comfort but with style...

 A couple of jersey dresses, a smarter coat and a grey cardigan which would again team with any of the other options. I'm also throwing in thick grey tights, 1. Because it still gets bloomin' cold in the evenings and 2. because unlike you brave or perhaps mad young things my old legs don't look good with goose pimples (even though they are nicely bronzed with Doves best body glow lotion).

Altogether 20 items which with a few accessories will take me from day to night, walking to sightseeing and the odd meal out......and I can get up each morning and not have to spend precious leisure time trying to decide what to wear...

So do you plan your wardrobe or are you a 'throw anything that fits you in the case' kinda girl....

Off to sort out DHs capsule now ( like not!) His is definitely the 'Oh that'll do' kind of packing though I do try to get him to be a bit coordinated!

Have a good rest of the week and weekend..

TTFN

Jenny xx

A PROPER CAR BOOT....

Ooh it seems to be ages since I went a-rooting through a proper car boot, so when DH suggested that we head off to Hemswell I was not going to complain.
The sun shone, though the wind did make an appearance, bringing with it a dust storm which will no doubt take all week to wash out of my hair, but it was lovely to be outside again. Hemswell Cliff to give it its proper name, is on the way to Gainsborough. The site of an old airbase, several of the buildings are now Antique and Collectors centres with a really good mix of furniture, jewellery, pottery and vintage ephemera.
Every Sunday they also hold a Sunday market and car boot sale. There are masses of stalls and I think probably something to suit all tastes.

Today I managed to pick up a few pieces so I returned home a very happy bunny...

 Forgive the photos, I am afraid I left it a little late to take them and the light was failing fast......

 First I found this sweet plate from the Masons seaside days range. I love these vintage images anyway but since it was a Masons, which I collect, though mainly the pink vista, and it featured a Morris Minor, our favourite vintage car I just had to have it. DH collects Morris Minor models, so once he gets his own 'den' set up I think it will be disappearing to hang on his wall......

I then picked up the 3 final books in the Beatrix Potter series to complete my set....and all for just £2.....They look lovely on the display shelf that I found some time ago......

Finally the two items I am most pleased with....

Vintage green melamine...a butter dish and a lemon juicer, my collection is growing....

my unfitted kitchen is going to need some more shelves before long.....

Well I think that sums up my haul this time, oh except for a rather nice vintage necklace..

It is actually grey but has a slight gold tinge to it. I was wearing a khaki jacket today and it looked great against that so I can see it being very useful.

Well I hope you all had a good weekend and that the sun shone for you as it has for us. We actually got to sit out in it on Saturday, in fact it was so nice I had to deny myself the pleasure of cleaning!!.Mind it hasn't gone away so no doubt the pleasure will be all mine again this week.

About time I turned in now, but I will be popping by soon to check on what you are all up to....

TTFN

Jenny xx 

VOGUE PATTERN 2659 and other stuff.......

There are times when I hate being a Libran (zodiac sign) not some strange cult! Not the creative aspects, for that read passion for messing about with fabric and scissors, but the imbalance, the indecisiveness that is apparently one of our traits.
Having spent the last two weeks with family and particularly the lovely grandsons and little time to spend in my sewing room, I suddenly find myself with actual time on my hands.  So ignoring the towering Pisa of ironing (there are only two of us living here now, I'm sure someones sneaking theirs in) I shut myself away to enjoy a few hours of sewing.......
So what do I do; sit there for more than half an hour not knowing what to start with first or in fact what I really felt like doing at all.
Do I finish taking in those trousers for my holiday, hem DH's new jeans, do a bit of the patchwork quilt or try to finish any of the WIPs in my basket.
Well you can guess what I ended up doing, coming on here to show you what I completed before my sewers block...

VOGUE PATTERN 2659....remember this

Well having made the dress I showed you the fabric I had in mind for the skirt, but hadn't found anything for the top. A quick root through my stash though revealed some more jersey , again in brown but this time with a self coloured embroidered design . And this is how they turned out.....

You'll note that I altered the neckline on the top, because I was using the same colour as the dress I made, I wanted the top to look a little different. I found instructions on tinternet to alter any neckline to a cowl so had a go. In all honesty it didn't work quite as well with this fabric which is a little firm, but I think with a softer jersey it would work very well.
The skirt is shorter than I would normally wear but I thought more of wearing it with tights and boots so I think I can get away with it.
I am still toying with the idea of the jacket, but have a few things I must definitely finish first!

Following this I was on a roll so I revisited a very old pattern NEW LOOK 6040......

certainly looking a bit dog eared now, well used.....
I bought some lovely rose patterned jersey, quite fine, from either the Harrogate knitting and stitching show, or the one at the NEC and needless to say it had just been waiting for me to decide what to do with it. Well once  I came across this pattern again my mind was made up. ( I do occasionally make a quick decision!)
And this is the result.......

 A better length for me I think. The 'underskirt' is a completely separate dress from the same pattern which works perfectly as a lining and at my age a 'modesty panel'!!. I did french seams on the dress as it is quite sheer and I don't possess a serger.

And finally after procrastinating....there I've been eating dictionaries as well!......I decided to play around with an idea for a few additions to my folksy and etsy shops to go with the needle cases I make.....Alice inspired pin cushions......

Love the design but feel the shape is a bit bulky looking. I have one I made as a wrist pin cushion, shaped more like a small pillow which I think I prefer....I have also created some numbers and letters which look like old typewriter keys which I might attach as the numbers for a clock face and make the cushions round instead.......but that's another decision I have to battle with ....wish me luck..

Hope your day is as sunny and cheerful, though very windy, as ours is...Have a great week....

TTFN

Jenny xx