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

CAPSULE WARDROBE

Love the idea?......or hate it?
I've always quite liked it. Not sure if I could ever empty my wardrobe enough to do the 24 pieces only with just seasonal additions as I think I would get bored wearing the same colours. Though truth to tell like many of you I suspect, I do tend to pick the same old favourites time after time. Especially if I am feeling in a not very confident or 'ugly/old' frame of mind that day.
However I do think this works brilliantly for long weekends away and holidays.
The idea of having less to pack and only needing 2 bags and 2/3 pairs of shoes (depending on the style of break) is one I love.
  I found this very true on my recent trip to Scotland. What I needed was warm comfortable clothes with a few smart casual additions for family meals out.
I decided on an orange/ brown/teal theme based around this pretty scarf.......

one of my TK Maxx bargains and this is what I came up with.......

Travelling by train.....

Orange 3/4 coat a CC bargain about 2 years ago, rust knitted tunic top, Peacocks best but oh so comfortable, straight cut jeans, brown boots, teal  tote bag and 'the scarf'.

Shopping, short walks, relaxing and having a good natter......

 Teal sweater, teal jeans, orange vintage necklace,  then orange sweater, light tan chinos, teal necklace with boots and bag and scarf as before plus teal/tan Mary Jane's

Couple of meals out.....

 Yellow/teal tan tweed jacket, brown dress (recent make) natural/orange small shoulder bag, boots and necklace as before....

Teal dress (M & S outlet bargain £9.99) Teal tights, bag, shoes and necklace as before....

So 2 tops/ sweaters, 3 pairs trousers/jeans, 1coat, 1 cropped jacket, 2 dresses,1 pair boots, 1 pair shoes and 1 large and 1 small handbag. Not forgetting the scarf and a few pieces of jewellery. All of which packed into a medium size holdall together with toilet and makeup bag, underwear and hot brush......

And although I sort of knew what I wanted to wear with what, I had several options for every day with just these few clothes..... Some further ideas......

And I know this may seem a bit crazy to some, but I even make a note of the different combinations I can make, so that if I am suddenly invited out I can decide at a moments notice what looks good with what. (Of course I always try on the pieces together first just to check they actually work). A top that may look stunning with one skirt may look awful with another in a different style!

We are only about 4 weeks away from our next break and I have already been toying with my outfits for that. A combination of sightseeing, walking and eating out. I think I will go for navy, grey and chartreuse/lime this time as I have a pretty good selection of clothes in those colours. If this is something that people like to see I may do a post on that too!

Hope you are all enjoying your Easter break, however you celebrate. We have been doing our favourite thing....enjoying an afternoon and tea with our family....

Speak Soon

TTFN

Jenny xx

PULLING THE WHITE RABBIT OUT OF THE HAT........

Literally..................

Just before I went on my Scotland trip, it was my grandsons birthday and when his mum Mrs Kipperchops said he was going to have a magic party I didn't realise at first that she was being serious. However apparently Master Kipperchops is quite into magic and luckily they had found the perfect entertainer to do the job....meet

BURGER BILL.....the most amazing entertainer and controller of hoards of children I have ever met!

 He really entertained the children for about 2 hours; an hours magic show was followed by their tea, which he even helped serve, and then continued with party games for another half hour or so. No falling out no injured children and not a grizzle among them

Mum is a bit of a whizz when it comes to theming things and when she does something she goes the whole hog. I'm not talking wasting money, which as a young mum of two, running her own business is not an option, I'm talking organising a brilliant do with little cash, loads of ideas and lots of hard work ( and of course roping in willing relatives and grannies who will do anything to help).

So from a little magic bean a huge beanstalk grew.........

Entertainer ....tick (the only extravagance and worth his weight in gold, though for what you get it was not so extravagant)

Food....bought when things were on offer or made by mum, Aunt and granny........

Decorations...sourced as cheap as chips on the Internet or made.....

Party bags....black and white paper bags filled with bargain magic tricks and homemade treats

 Cake...homemade by mum...... and they (mum and dad) even made and painted the giant wand!.....

 And finally a young magicians apprentice couldn't perform his role properly without the right attire...well could he?.....

The cape was made out of red and black sheeting and the 'cards' are embroidered badges which were attached by hand so that they could be removed for the cape to be used for Halloween or as a witches cape at a later date! That was great fun to do!

 And so what was the birthday boys reaction..........

MAGIC !!!

TTFN

                                                                            Jenny xx

A LITTLE BIT OF SPRING SUNSHINE......Please!

I've just returned from a little trip to bonny Scotland to visit my middle sister. It was quite an important visit for me as it was the first time that I had seen her since she had finally been diagnosed as having a severe back problem. In short her discs are collapsing! And I am sure you can understand that having complained of  awful back pain for over 40 years and being rather too often dismissed as 'putting it on' she is a bit peeved ( I'm trying not to swear here so replace peeved with the strongest word you would use) at being told it is now too bad to operate and being offered every mechanical assistance that's going. Shut, Gate, Horse, Bolted springs to mind. But all that said I have to raise my hat to her. No she hasn't suddenly stopped living her life, has not stopped doing as much as she is physically able without assistance, has not confined herself to barracks and is trying to carry on as she has had to for those past 40 years. So my visit was lovely. I was a little reassured by her independence, yes she has given up her car, but is putting her bus pass to good use. We had some lovely walks, a little slower this time but still we walked and enjoyed some good old natters and lots of tea ( and whisky...well it would be rude not to in Scotland...right!) So I am afraid unlike my other travels I have not returned with zillions of beautiful photographs as you couldn't see much in this....

 and the only bright shot I got was from the train on the way home.....

 but even that was surprising as my view went from this....

to this...

..... in the space of a few miles.....what is happening to our weather....

And since I have been home it has been much of the same...rain, then fog then snow and hail and back to rain again....Oh how I long for those first warm spring days, winter seems to have lasted for ever......

But tucked up in my snug sewing room I have been dreaming of lovely sunny days .....if only in my choice of projects. As you will know if you have been here before I love to make little girls party and wedding shoes and so from time to time I search the web to try to find the kind of dresses I see my little shoes paired with.  And that's the problem....I cant!
So what do you do but design and make your own....!......and so here are the first peeks at what I soon hope to offer in my shops........do let me know what you think...I value your opinions.....

The dresses have a full circle skirt and are fully lined. The underskirt has two layers of scalloped organza attached. The hand made organza flowers are attached to the satin sash but could be mounted on brooch fastenings so that can be removed and used separately. So far I have completed this green sample and have a brown spot and red spot version cut out. I intend to make matching shoes and am toying with making dresses to match these.......

I am thinking of offering the new dresses from  12 months to 4 years, but this is all just an idea at the moment.......and my little bit of spring sunshine......

Hope it finds you all soon though I am not holding my breath....

TTFN

Jenny xx

PUTTING YOURSELF UNDER PRESSURE...........

Why do we do it?  Constantly putting ourselves under pressure to achieve something. I like so many had so much pressure when I worked that eventually my hair started coming out! Yet here I am retired, well, not too poor and possibly the envy of a lot if today's workers and I am still giving myself time schedules as if it really mattered to anyone but me. Daft I know, but how to cure myself I have no clue.
At the moment I am cross with myself because my decorating mojo seems to have left the building. Whether its the combination of short dark days, freezing temperatures and the occasional snow blizzard,

(A pain but oh so beautiful)

or just a case of too much in a short space of time before Christmas. Whatever the reason I cannot motivate myself and so I have decided to stop beating myself up about it and to concentrate on those things that have to be done, customers orders and decorations for our grandson's birthday party at the end of the month and then to just do whatever takes my fancy!

At the moment this means dressmaking and alterations.
My wardrobe cull is going well, several coats and dresses sold on EBay and more ready to go, and a fair pile for the local charity shop. All good stuff I hasten to add, having watched that Mary Portas programme on the tat that is offloaded to many of the shops, and I am trying to stick to my new mantra one in one out!
So during the cull I came across several items I really liked, but no longer fitted. Some were colours which I have had to really search for and I was loathe to get rid of. So what do you do but become your own alterations shop and I am very pleased with the items I have done so far. One pair of dark brown bootleg cords now straight leg, one pair of rather wide legged tweed trousers which not only fit but are a much better width for my small frame (and height! being decidedly vertically challenged),  and the chartreuse skirt which I made a while ago now several inches smaller. So three more items I don't have to replace.

And then  I came across this Vogue pattern from several years ago, which I never made up.

 Vogue 2659 

 So I rummaged through my boxes of fabric and found some fairly firm brown jersey and in a couple of hours had this......

 So I don't quite look like the model, but I love it and am so taken with the fit have found this rather super piece of stretch denim fabric to make up the skirt and am trying to decide what colour tee and jacket to make.

 Not too sure about the crops though I suppose I could again use stretch denim or something similar to make them a bit more classic for this old bird.

So you see although I am a bit sorry not to be reporting on my brand new bedroom, my hands will never be idle, nor I suspect will my wardrobe be empty!!

Off to track down some lovely gabardine, and perhaps some striped jersey.............

TTFN

Jenny xx