Quick note

Just a quick note to say that I have finished my Chantilly, and I've even taken photos. I haven't had time to post them yet, because I've been busy. I've been busy because I GOT A JOB!!! WOOHOO!! I'm waitressing for a local pub/hotel. I'm really enjoying it so far, everyone has been so lovely and welcoming. I have to sort out the paperwork today, and I'll get my hours for this week. Exciting! :)
Ashley x

The return of the mojo

You may have noticed there hasn't been much sewing going on lately ;) I worked on my Chantilly a few weeks ago, got to the hem and stalled. Hems are boring! However, I won KraftyKat's recent giveaway, and it arrived today! I was lucky enough to win the lovely pattern above. It's a very cute little dress with lots of variations. I went straight to my fabric stash (which consists of four pieces of usable fabric, and then lots of scraps!) and chose the cutesy flowery fabric. It'll need to be underlined, which I thankfully have fabric for. I've decided to go for the cape collar variation (the one on the left) and a simple gathered skirt, as I don't have enough for the pattern skirt. 

As for which size to go for, I'm not really sure. When we moved, I stress-ate and comfort-ate and gained back all the weight I'd lost going to the gym. What a waste of money! I'm still annoyed about that. I've now lost it again plus a bit more, by counting calories and changing how I eat (I now eat little but often during the day, and then a larger evening meal). I wish I'd done this before! This combined with a gym membership would have worked wonders. Ah well, live and learn I suppose. 

When I fitted my Chantilly (which I will finish today!!) I fitted it to be a bit too small. It now fits with a nice amount of ease. Woohoo! So I think I'll do the same thing with this dress, I'll fit it to be skin tight and by the time it's warm enough to wear it I should fit into it. Does this sound sensible? 

Right, a quick tidy up, then it's time to finish that hem!

Bloglovin

With Google Reader being retired in the summer, I've moved over to Bloglovin! I imported all of my blogs over from Google reader, which was much easier than I expected. You can find the option in the settings on Bloglovin.

You can follow my blog on Bloglovin here :) 

What about you? I've seen a couple of other blog readers around, but I'd already signed up to Bloglovin ages ago.

Graduate!

Phew, where have the last couple of months gone?! Thank you for the well wishes :) The move went so-so. We managed to get everything into Dom's dad's van ok, and the drive down was fine too. I didn't even get travel sick! We arrived on the Friday, we were to stay in an inn and get the keys on Saturday. But when we got here it was clear that the last tenant probably wasn't going to be moved out in time to drop the keys off at the estate agent. She and her mum were just shoving things into the car, she hadn't even packed anything beforehand! And they were throwing a few things into the car, not even filling it up as much as they could. In the end Dom's dad suggested we offer to help. We filled their car as full as we could, and off they went. They returned for the last few bits and left us with the keys. Hurray, we were in a day early! Right? You'd think we'd be happy, but the flat hadn't been cleaned at all. 

We decided to stay at the inn anyway, as the flat was in such a state that we just didn't want to sleep there. 

So on Saturday morning, we made our way to our new flat. The walls were mouldy (apparently this is a common problem round here, but she'd made no attempt to keep it under control), the fridge was disgusting with mould and the freezer box was frozen over so we couldn't open it (when we eventually got it open there was food in there!), everything was grimey, the bedroom carpet is cream and shows up everything she'd managed to spill on it, as well as a burn mark from an iron! After a couple of days, we noticed that the curtains were also mouldy and had cat hair matted into the lining. And then there were the fleas in the carpet!!! Ick!!

Anyway, we cleaned and scrubbed, and had the land lady and the estate agent round to check out the curtains and told them about the fleas. They were both disgusted, and the poor land lady was embarrassed! They both agreed that she wouldn't be getting her bond back. They took the curtains to be dry cleaned and organised for a professional flea treatment and a painter to come and stain block the walls (after we'd given them a good clean with water and white vinegar) and re-paint them cream. 

So we're mostly happy with the flat now :) We're still lacking in furniture though. We went to a furniture sale during one of our first weekends here and bought a chest of drawers (it's nearly as tall as I am!) and a little side table/coffee table from a company called Underneath the Mango Tree. It's made from mango wood! It's beautiful and is built to last. Plus  the chest of drawers makes our clothes smell lovely! We also have a sofa that the last tenant left, after a good scrub and a hoover out, it will do until we can get a new one (it's not in very good condition thanks to the cat). And a bed, of course. 

The lack of furniture has also meant no sewing! We don't have any kind of table (the side table is too low), and there's no way I'd manage on the floor! I'm sure I've seen a photo of a blogger using a sewing machine on the floor and her legs are bent every which way and she's all hunched over. I think I'd injure myself if I tried that! We've placed a massive order with Ikea and are now waiting for all manner of furniture. There's a desk big enough for both me and Dom, and I can have my sewing machine permanently set up there!! I'm so excited, I can't wait to finish my Chantilly dress and not have to put my sewing machine away every time I'm done with it. And a wardrobe, and a lot of storage in the form of drawers and bookshelves. I really hope we have plenty of storage, I'm tired of having things in boxes or neat piles. 

And now we come to the title of this post. We graduated last week! The graduation took place in the Lincoln Cathedral, with drinks afterwards in the Castle grounds. It was lovely :) Dom and my mum came to mine, but I wasn't able to go to his as we only got two tickets each (for free, you could buy extras but they sold out super fast!) and his dad and step mum went. Dom was also awarded the prize for most creative use of technology! How cool is that?! Also, it's a good job Dom took an extra handkerchief as my mum had need of it during the ceremony :)

I'll finish this long post with photo's from my graduation :) I don't have any on my laptop of Dom in his cap and gown yet though. Here are my favourites:

Me and mum :)

I know this blurry, but it's one of my favourites. I think we were laughing
because I'd poked him in the head with my hat!

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend :) I'll share some of my recent knitting this week. And hopefully some sewing at the weekend! (Fingers crossed that the Ikea order comes when it's supposed too!)

Ashley x

Update: Just received an email from Ikea with the date of delivery. Not until the 20th!! When we ordered, the estimated delivery was the 15th *sigh* I was hoping in would be sooner, we really need a wardrobe. We've been hanging Dom's suits on the headboard of the bed! lol

Little update

Just a quick little update :) It was my 21st birthday last weekend, and my mum organised a lovely family party for me! This is much more my style than a night on the town in night clubs etc. :) I absolutely loved it. So a massive thank you to my lovely mum!  Here are a few photos:

How cute it that cake?!

Dom and I :)

Crazy candle/flower thingy

Cute cupcakes mum decorated :)

Me, my cousin Donna, and my lovely mum :)

He persuaded to do a silly smile and the hand thing!

I had a lovely birthday, and received some wonderful presents :) I think my favourite part was the food! Mum put on a massive amount of food, including my favourite - curry fry! And my granddad (in the last picture) made 'yellow rice', just like my nan used to make it :)

In exciting and slightly stressful news, we've been busy the past few weeks job searching. Dom was contacted by an agency about a software engineer job. After an interview, he was offered the job the next day! He's supposed to start on the 23rd of this month, so we have 2 weeks to move down south!! 

We'll be close enough to visit London at the weekends every now and then, which will be great as I can finally have access to good quality cheap fabric! This will greatly impact my sewing, and I can't wait. Unfortunately it won't be for a while yet, we have to find our feet and I still have to find a job once we're down there. 

So posting here will be few and far between for a while. It will also be mostly knitting for a while, which it has been for a while anyway (apologies to the sewists). I have access to good quality yarn in Lincoln, so I've been much more inclined to knit. But buying fabric online has meant it's not what I want it to be and is usually too stiff for garments. But hopefully, sewing will be more appealing once I can buy fabric after feeling it first :)

I'll let you know how the move goes (once we've got the internet sorted, or I've found a public library). I'm excited and stressed about it at the same time. Wish us luck!

Ashley x

Studying

Just thought I'd check in and let you know why it's been quiet around here. Nothing exciting, I've been writing my dreaded dissertation! Eek! As you probably don't know, I'm studying psychology. As a psychology student I am expected to carry out an experiment, analyse the results using statistical tests and then write it up in a report. I found carrying out the experiment really hard, I'm very shy with people I don't know so it was just awkward. Lucky for me, my uni has just started using an online system where you put your study up and then other psychology students can come and sign up to it. The great thing about this system is that to use it you have to collect credit points in your first and second year. You have to collect 20 credit points to be able to give out unlimited credit points. It means that you don't have to beg people to participate because you can offer them credit points :) But yeah, still really awkward telling people what to do in your study!

Anyway, I finished a big section of my write up today so I decided to take the rest of the day off. I think my need it, my brain is starting to turn to mush! lol

Also, a huge thank you to Sarah from Narcoleptic in a Cupboard for passing me the Liebster award!! :) Thank you so much! I love Sarah's blog, and as a psychology student I love that Sarah shares her experience of narcolepsy. I find it so interesting! :) I was lucky enough to receive this award once before and you can see that here :) Go check out those blogs!!

Right, I'm off to enjoy a cuppa. And then I need to have a quick tidy so I can get my sewing machine out :)

Ashley x

Crazy magic

I just cannot leave these things alone. I must've picked them up at least 20 times today just to look at them! :) (in case you don't recognise the labels, they are Crazy Zauberballs. Zauber means magic in German, hence the title of this post!). 

I hope you have all had a lovely Valentines day! I baked Dom a keylime pie using this recipe on Saturday as he couldn't wait until today (I used all digestive biscuits for the base and it worked fine). It came out looking just like Delia's and tasted amazing :) He had the last slice with his lunch today. I also picked up some chocolate and chilli fudge and some licorice root for him too as a surprise. The fudge has quite a kick to it! 

We're relaxing now with a cup of tea and an episode of 'Ashes to Ashes'. I think Gene Hunt is my most favourite fictional character ever. Seriously.

Did you do anything special for Valentines day?

Ashley x

Changes

This week I joined the gym. That's my key fob to get in and a coin for my locker. I decided to pay a little bit extra to have a fitness assessment and a personal program done. I figured if I'm going to get the most out of it, I need some advice on the best resistance machines to use and how often to go and what not. I've never been to a gym before, so I was a bit nervous. Luckily, the staff are all lovely and really friendly. 

I've found the personal programme is perfect for me, and the fitness assessment is going to be really helpful as I now have a sensible goal weight :) Yep, Christmas took its toll and I have some weight to lose plus some extra that I've been wanting rid of for a while! I also really want to improve my fitness, it certainly needs improving! 

So now I face the dilemma that every sewist faces when trying to lose weight - do I carry on sewing? Do I sew clothes so they're a bit too small so I can shrink into them? Or do I just choose styles that look good belted so I can just tighten my belt? Hmm. . .

While I had my keys out, I also took a photo of the key ring that my youngest sister Ebony made for me :) Apparently she spent ages picking out beads that she thought I'd like!

Ashley x 

Foxgloves

I made these using the leftovers from my cable stitch wristwarmers. The pattern is from the book Brave New Knits, which Dom got me for my birthday :) It's a lovely pattern, not too difficult but with pretty results. I like the yarn, but it's not the best choice for this pattern. I wanted to use up the yarn while using a pattern form the book because Dom thought I didn't like it as I hadn't knit anything from it yet. So if I make them again, I'll choose something a bit more solid, so the pattern stands out more. I'll definitely use them though, as they're perfect for taking to the library while I work. It is cold in there! My Ravelry project page is here :)

Also the yarn made my nose itch. I think I hold my knitting too close to my face so stray fibres got up my nose. Bleugh!!

I have two essays due on Monday. I've had them both finished for about 3 weeks (yay!). I was going to start my essay that's due in January this weekend, but I figure the library will be busy with lots of last minute students doing their essays due in for Monday. So I'm going to wait till Tuesday, and spend the weekend relaxing. I also want to do a bit of work on my dissertation before I go home for Christmas, so there's that to do as well. So a weekend off will be lovely :)

Ashley x

Half way there!

I just posted my fourth handmade Christmas gift over at the Crafty Christmas Club! :) This is the half way mark for me, and I'm excited to get on with more. Because then of course, I can start knitting for me again! And I might even squeeze some sewing in there too ;)

The link is here. Just a quick warning, but it may not be safe for work. So be careful who you open it around!

I'm also starting to think of uses for the bag of dried lavender I've had for a while now. I'm thinking of using the fat quarters that I won in a giveaway to make mini lavender cushions. They'd be great for popping in with the knitted gifts! Plus, I'll get to use up some of the lavender as there's way too much for Dom and I to use. 

Also, this week I finished an essay that isn't due in until the 12th of December!! I feel so organised! I've got another essay in for the same date, and then I need to do some research for my dissertation. Then I have another essay in for the 12th of January. But, I'm feeling pretty confident I can do it with minimal stress if I start now :) I might even get it all done before Christmas, so I don't have to worry about it. That would be lovely!

Ashley x

Pendrell Dress - part 4

That's how far I got today! I re-traced the front bodice pieces as the they were covered in sticky tape. Then I drafted a peter pan collar vaguely following Casey's tutorial. And then I cut the main fabric pieces :) I haven't cut out the collar yet, but I'm planning on block fusing the pieces. I now have sore knees from the scratchy carpet. I also managed to scratch my thigh with a pin which has come up in a super sore scratch. 

I also finished up two knitting projects today! I finally finished the Rosebud socks! It's so good to have them off the needles! And I also finished up the Scroll lace scarf. Now here's the annoying thing. I bought 2 balls of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, totalling 250 metres. The pattern calls for 250 metres. I ran out of yarn with half a row and the cast off to do! I didn't want to undo all that knitting so I decided to just buy another ball and find a project on Ravelry for the left over. It's currently drying on a towel, as it had to be blocked to open up the lace and also to try and get rid of the edge curling that I had going on:

I'll get photos of both the socks and the scarf soon :) I'm going to ask Dom to take them for me with his new Pentax K5 camera. He got it on Tuesday and he's been playing around with it ever since. And of course who does he take pictures of when he's playing around with it? ;) Yep, me! No matter what I'm doing he'll come over to take a picture with a new setting that he's found or to just play around with it. I don't mind of course, but some of the pictures must be awful! lol 

I also bought some more yarn this week. I'm planning on making two more Snapdragon hats. I chose these two colours, as then I will have a hat that goes with everything in my wardrobe. I think I'll do the matching gloves at some point too. 

Cygnet Superwash DK

British Breeds Blue Face Leicester DK

I can't wait to finish up my current secret knitting project so I can sneak in a Snapdragon! :) My current project is my first Christmas knit. I've got three planned, but there might be more depending on how soon I finish them. When the Crafty Christmas Club starts up again this year, I'm going to join so I can share my Christmas makes :) I've been keeping an eye out for sewing projects too that I think friends and family might like. Not sure yet :)

Also, as Dom now has a new camera he has passed his old one onto me. It's a Pentax K2000. Dom felt he had outgrown it, but it's all new to me! I've only ever used it on Auto, so the photos of the yarn and the scarf are from me learning to a bit about the camera. I know a little about aperture and ISO and what not from having a film camera, but I've still got a long way to go!! :)

Ashley x

September - Finished projects

It's October already?! Wow. September went by in a crazy blur, in which I didn't really manage to grab any time to sew much. You might notice my Rosebud socks aren't up there. I'm still knitting away at them, I'm now on the leg of the second sock. I'm going to finish it before starting any Christmas knitting. I'm also planning on working on my Pendrell dress muslin today. We'll see if I can grab the time for me to do that. I actually woke up this morning thinking it was Friday and was kind of dreading my Understanding the Policy Process lecture. Yep, that module is supposed to be my child studies module. They're passing it off as child studies by saying we can use policies to do with children. Humph. I then realised it was Saturday and that I'd already sat through the lecture. Yay! 

It's also Dom's 21st birthday this month!! It's on a Sunday and we're not into clubbing (at all!) so I think the plan is a take away, then maybe going somewhere for a quiet drink. Or getting one of those fancy cheese boards and some wine. Cos we're just that exciting ;) And we like cheese and wine. Nom!

It's also been HOT this week. Seriously, hotter than summer was. I've been so glad for my new clothes, they're so much cooler than jeans are! Even with tights and a light jacket! I'm eager for a new dress to add to my wardrobe so I'm using this as my motivation to get that Pendrell dress muslin done. 

So how was your month? Good I hope! :)

Ashley x

Shh!

I started this on Tuesday. Shh, I know I said I wouldn't cast on any new projects until October and that those would be Christmas presents, but this was calling to me. I foolishly did a gauge swatch on Monday as I wanted to try out my new Knit Pro Symfonie needles. I've had them weeks now and hadn't tried them yet! I liked the needles and yarn (Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino) so much that I only managed to hold out until Tuesday morning! I think these are my new favourite needles. From what I can find, they're made from rosewood but I'm not certain. Anyone know? I'm curious. They've got a lovely finish on them, so smooth and lovely to knit with! And I love the cheery colours too :)

The pattern is the Scroll Lace Scarf by Ysolda Teague. It's another one from Whimsical Little Knits 2. You knit the lace and then pick up stitches for the body of the scarf. I've worked on it for two days, but now I'm going to limit myself to one lace repeat a day, so I can finish my socks first! And maybe get some sewing in there too. I keep putting the second muslin off because I hate making a second muslin only to find that there's more work to be done. But I'm going to get to it today I think :)

Oh I got my uni timetable for this year too. Not bad. The module I'm least looking forward too is Cognitive Neuroscience. Cognition= baaad!! Neuroscience= baaad!! Mash em together to make Cognitive Neuroscience?! Very very baaaaad!!! It's not that I find it boring, but that I find it hard. There's so much to remember. But thankfully for me, it assessed by an essay! Wooo!! I find essays a lot less stressful than exams. But I'm still not looking forward to the essay. Luckily though I find the actual subject very interesting! It's just keeping the info in my head that I find hard! lol

Right, I'm off to knit my ration of lace goodness :)

Ashley x

Pendrell Dress - part 2

First of all, thank you to Very Berry Handmade for the amazing giveaway a couple of weeks ago! I won a package of 4 fat quarters! Polka dot fat quarters no less!

I'm not sure what to make with them yet, any ideas? Tutorials? Let me know! :)

It's been over a week since my last post, how did that happen?! Well, life ran away with me. There were birthdays, cupboards of my left behind junk at my mums to sort through, helping my brother get into college and a lack of motivation to do much of anything craft related. I've been restless and haven't felt like sitting down to concentrate on anything. 

Anyway, this morning I finally got round to transferring the changes I made to the Pendrell dress muslin! To do it, I marked where the pins had been with a sharpie marker. So I ended up with this:

Then I laid my paper pattern over the top and roughly traced the marks. I measured everything to make sure, and then made the lines smooth and redrew the new seam allowance. I also added just a smidge to the side seam at bust level. 

I just have to trim the pieces where there are new seam allowances and then I can start on the muslin! Before starting on the real thing, I'm going to trace the pieces out again so I have nice fresh sellotape-free pieces :)

I also finished the first Rosebud sock a while ago! Here it is:

It stretches out when it's on my foot and the lace is lovely :) Though currently its a little tight getting it over my heel, so I think I'll give it a gentle stretching out when I wash them like I did with my Snapdragon gloves.

Oh, and we had this stunning view from our window the other day!

Happy Sunday! :)
Ashley x

Hmm, 7 things. . .

I've been passed the Versatile blogger award by Reana Louise at Curves, Patterns, and Pins! Thank you so much! :D So, I have to think of 7 things about myself that you don't know. Hmm. . .

1. I like flowers. A lot. We don't have them in the house/flat/whatever because Dom gets hayfever from flowers. I love orchids, carnations, lily's and of course roses :)

2. Talking of hay fever, I get hayfever from trees. I can always tell when we're getting close to trees in the summer because my eyes start to water. Lovely!

3. I played Alice in my primary school production of Alice in Wonderland. Yep, I was a brown haired Alice. Before we found out our parts, everyone was excited about who was going to play Alice. Everyone assumed it would be one of the two blonde girls in our class. Nope, it was brown haired me. Unfortunately I can't share a short video with you as its set to private on my mum's facebook page. I also don't have any photos. I'll share them if I remember to ask mum for a couple :)

4. I've had the same mobile phone for ages! Seriously, I think it's been at least 4 years. I've never been bothered about the latest high-tech phone. Its calls, it textes, I'm happy! :)

5.  Some of my favourite films include: Reservoir Dogs, True Romance, A Clockwork Orange, Watchmen, Sin City, Pulp Fiction, Inglorious Basterds, Inception, Shutter Island, Kill Bill 1&2. I also watched The Godfather for the first time last night, I loved it! :) Oh, and Fight Club. I could watch that film over and over! Looking back at the list, they're all quite violent and a bit bloody (or in the case of Kill Bill, a lot bloody!). I blame Dom for this. Since living with him, my choice of films has been influenced by him a lot. Though I still refuse to watch the end of I Am Legend. I don't like zombie films, and only just managed to make it to the end of 28 days later. Oh, I also liked The Road, but it was very sad. I liked the book too.

6. I love big scary rollercoasters! I scream the whole time, but will always go on again. I went on the Mumbo Jumbo (the steepest rollercoaster in the world) at Flamingo Land 7 times in a row. However, this was not entirely my choice. When my 8 year old sister discovered she was tall enough to ride, she wanted a go. So I took her on and held her hand the whole time. We got off, and she decided she wanted to go on again. And again. And again. . .until we had been on 7 times and it was time for the park to close! By the 3rd or 4th time, she laughed the whole time while I still screamed.

7. Cold food gives me shivers. If a meal goes cold before I finish, I can't eat the rest. It seriously freaks me out. But if it's meant to be cold like pasta salad then its ok. But it's meant to be hot, then I just can't eat it. I know, I have issues. lol

Ok, now to pass it along! :)

Marie from A Sewing Odyssey

Kate from Kate's Creative Saga

Kat from Petticoats and Peplums

Jean-Mary from Meanyjar

So there you go! :)

Thank you for your advice and comments on my last post. I did go into town on Monday and I now have enough nice clothes to last me the week! Woo! I also now have a colour scheme so everything goes with something to make an outfit. I also took a look at the fabric I have, and it will all fit very nicely into my new wardrobe :) I learnt a lot about what suits me, as I tried on *everything*!! I realised I can wear a higher neckline than I thought I could, and I can wear blousier tops than I thought I could. (So I'd be willing to try a Sorbetto!). I was surprised at how well things fit too. The waist was actually in the right place! And I didn't have as much trouble from my boobs as I thought I would. 

I've been enjoying getting dressed in the morning and choosing an outfit and accessories to go with it. Yes, I have accessories! :) I got much more for my money than I expected, so I got some lovely jewellery too. I didn't get any new bags, as I have enough bags. I now have two pairs of shoes that are ridiculously comfortable because they're in the right size. And I even upgraded my foundation and face powder (I've been using the cheapest I could find for ages). And the best thing is, I even have a good chunk of my budget left over! But I'm super happy with my wardrobe for now, so I probably won't spend it unless I see something I like while out and about. 

And I'll try and post about some actual sewing soon! :)

Ashley x

Ditching the jeans and finding my style.

I've been unhappy with my wardrobe for a while. But I didn't really know where I wanted to go with it. And I couldn't afford a whole new wardrobe, and even if I could I didn't know what I wanted. 

Currently my wardrobe consists of jeans, strappy vest tops and two thin cardigan things. My jeans are in ok condition, but I don't want to be in jeans everyday which currently I am. I wear vest tops because I can get them for £1.99 from New Look. And the cardigan things I bought last summer, and I have practically lived in them every day since because they cover my shoulders when I wear my vest tops which is everyday. 

I feel scruffy and crap in my clothes because my clothes are scruffy. Take what I'm wearing now for instance. My jeans, which as I said are in ok condition, but I wear them because they're comfortable and 'safe'. My belt is wrecked, the backing is coming off and I had to super glue it back on. My vest top was black but is now faded and has holes in at the bottom. My bra is the only thing that I'll be happy to keep, as I treated myself to some (basic) bras that fit a couple of weeks ago because the situation was desperate. 

So I'm pretty desperate for new clothes. I went looking for a new jacket yesterday with Dom. We wandered through the shops and I looked at what other women were wearing, what was on the mannequins and what I liked. And it hit me! I liked the shortish above the knee cute and quirky dresses with thick tights or lacy tights and nice cardigans or jackets. I also liked the high waisted skirts paired with a belted cardy. I think this is a style I could pull off and feel comfortable in. I can wear dresses in the winter with thick tights and a cardy, and also in summer without tights or a cardy. It's simple, but much more smart and put together than what I wear now, but still casual enough for everyday. 

So now I've figured out what I want, I'm going to be irresponsible. I'm going to let my student overdraft pick it up for now, until my student loan comes in. I know, but I really am desperate. I feel unhappy in my clothes and its effected my confidence enormously. I can't wait until the end of September for my loan, because by then I won't have enough clothes to last the week! 

So as an example, I like these kind of things (sorry I've had to link to them as I can't get the picture to display):

Dress, with these tights (I can see myself becoming a crazy tights lady with all kinds of novelty tights!). Paired with this cardy worn open but belted with this belt. Perhaps not these particular things, but as a general idea I like it a lot. I think I'll get two or three cardys and try and choose dresses that go with them so I can mix and match. My brogue style shoes would look great with this, though I think I need more than one pair of shoes! Also, and a nice bag and some jewellery would be nice :) 

I hate having to resort to RTW, but I can't sew that fast! My sewing plans will be easier to make once I've got more of a cohesive wardrobe. And honestly, the RTW dresses that I do have actually fit surprisingly well, and still look like new!

I also have a couple of lipsticks that I never wear because I never feel I'm dressed nice enough to wear it. But if I'm dressed nice, I'll definitely feel confident enough to wear my nice red lipstick :)

So now that I've come clean about the state of my wardrobe, what do you think? Am I crazy for using my overdraft for clothes, even if I do need them? Do you think the look I've described will suit me? Or am I just a lost cause? ;)

I plan on scouring the shops tomorrow morning with Dom, trying my best to put together a wardrobe. Wish me luck!

Ashley x

July - Finished Projects

Well, this month was a rubbish month for sewing! I didn't finish anything sewing related! Hmm, not being at uni makes me lazy I think. Having no structure to my day really doesn't so me any good. 

This month I'm going to try to do an hour of sewing related activity a day, bank balance permitting of course ;) And then if you're interested, I'll share what I did in my hour or so. I think this will be a good challenge to get my productivity going again :) Would you be interested in regular updates on what I did with my hour? 

Ashley x

Rainbow yarn

I love this yarn, so pretty and colourful! So in your face and bright :) I went to Spins and Needles today to pay the deposit for my knitting class, and as I've worked pretty hard on revision I decided to treat myself. At Spins and Needles part of one wall is devoted to big chunky hanks of lovely yarn, all with a different set of colours. I've been eyeing them up for a while, so decided to go with one of these. I bought two hanks for a chunky winter scarf as advised by the lovely lady who I assume is the owner. It's Colinette 'One Zero' in the colour way Jamboree which you can get from Colinette here as Spins and Needles don't sell online. It'll brighten up a dull winter day nicely :)

I had my second of three exams this morning too. It was an open book exam so we were allowed to take a textbook and all of our notes. This might make it seem easy, but it was a research skills exam so we had to actually interpret the results not just work them out. I actually enjoyed it as I love working through the rules/instructions for filling in tables etc. I think that's why I like sewing and knitting so much. I like structure and rules and a particular order to do things in. I love doing the statistics part of research skills, as I enjoy working my way through an equation to get to the result. Am I weird? lol

Ashley x

ps. This is my 100th post!!! I'd hoped to have something more interesting to share, but time ran away from me.

Am I done yet?

I'm tired of revision now! At least my cognition exam is out of the way, and I managed not to run from the exam hall crying! lol Though when I first read the questions I certainly felt like it. After about 10 minutes, I started to relax a little and it all started to come back to me. I *think* I did ok, but of course now I've jinxed myself!
Anyway, in other news I got the last place on a toe-up sock knitting class! I'm really excited as I love the yarn shop where its being held (Spins and Needles) and can't wait to meet the other knitters! It's a two night evening thing. It's on the 9/10th of June so after my exams are over. Something to look forward too! :) I've also only got the hem to do on my floral Crescent skirt!! Hopefully photo's of that this weekend :)
More later.
Ashley x

Crescent Skirt - waistband and facing

I've made good progress on my floral Crescent Skirt, though my red skirt has fallen some what behind. I think it's because once I saw how cute the floral skirt was with the waistband attached, I wanted to get on with it :)

As you can see from the funny way the facing is peeking out, I haven't quite caught up yet. I still have the under-stitching, top-stitching and ditch stitching to do. That's a lot of stitching! lol

Yep, the red skirt is still lonely without its waistband. I'll get caught up soon, I hope. I have my cognitive exam on Thursday morning, my research skills exam on Friday morning, and then the Friday after that is my last exam, investigating the individual. I'm not too worried about the last two, but I'm dreading the cognitive one. Seriously, there is a ridiculous amount we're expected to know! It's funny actually, part of the cognitive module is on memory. So I have to try and remember stuff about how we forget, and how retrieval isn't possible if the information isn't stored properly. Pretty disheartening really *sigh* I just want it to be over, and to pass. Even if I only scrape a pass, just as long as I don't have to do it again! It'll be over soon. I keep thinking about the next Doctor Who episode, because by the time I get to watch it, I'll only have one exam left! :D
Ashley x